Gwiwer

Commonly used now in place of stitching for minor injuries and some surgeries. Also, I believe, for more major surgeries where suitable. It leaves minimal scarring which can fade to nothing noticeable. Which, for those for whom it matters, is probably better than having a visible "zip" scar.

I see its bright yellow class-mate has challenged an Oxford Street shop-front to a duel.

And all other Meta platforms. We shall have to talk to each other with our voices instead.

Have you watched Collingwood play? Have you driven both under and over the same river within five minutes?* Have you watched the sunset from Frankston beach? Have you watched the flares / dragon’s breath at Crown Casino? Have you hung out of the carriages feet-first riding Puffing Billy? Have you been to Omeo? Have you seen the Mutton Birds come home at Port Fairy? These and more require completion before you can “tick off” Victoria. * Domain Tunnel - Bolte Bridge or Bolte Bridge - Burnley Tunnel. Substitute Westgate Bridge for Bolte Bridge but it adds 10 minutes to the double-crossing.

I will admit that, in ignorance and out of unfamiliarity, I once did perform a direct right turn rather than the required hook. I received the blessings of a trammie for my efforts - he serenaded me with a lengthy session on the gong!!!

Given the alleged (and often very apparent) use of the police as state revenue-raisers I suspect a low tolerance policy usually prevails. That seems to be true of the Albury - Wodonga “joint” city which also sits astride the state border divided by the Murray. There is absolutely zero tolerance for non-compliant hook turns despite them being almost unique to Melbourne’s CBD. Common failures are to make the direct right turn, to sit on the tram tracks whilst waiting a gap to directly turn right or to pull left as required but then to go across in the correct “hook” move immediately rather than waiting for the green light on the cross-street as you should.

In Victoria - permitted unless banned In NSW - banned unless permitted Which means that if you cross the river bridge from Moama into Echuca you can legally pull a U-ey and go back. But not if you’re travelling the other way!

That is perhaps the finest description I have yet come across to describe them! Freezing, drunk, barely dressed, falling everywhere, well past caring who might see what that should not be showing. And their uncomfortable and embarrassed chaps in, as you say, morning suits by now in need of a very good deep clean before going back to the hire-shop. And also often drunk, relieving themselves liberally in full sight of everyone whilst trying to drag or cajole their uncertainly-clad inebriate ladies safely home.

It seems my p.a. skills might have been needed. During Reading Festival when the teeming hordes of testosterone and Chanel were bound for that event the platform announcements were “Bums on seats - beers, bags and bongs on the racks or on the floor”. If I saw a seat “bagged” I would not let the train go if others were standing. Which they usually were. Often indecently close together. But hey - teens and twenty-somethings, y’know? Royal Ascot brought out the well-heeled and well-endowed (i.e. having multiple credit cards). Champagne breakfast parties on the platform were de rigeur. Lady’s Day was the best. No matter what the weather there were minuscule frocks and faintly ridiculous fascinators. Unless you had a Royal Enclosure pass in which case it was a bit more discreet and sober. Chaps in toppers and hired suits ….. Aside from working the crowd by shoving the microphone up their noses and asking for their race tips I wasn’t averse to asking what they were drinking - “Good morning madam. Very pretty in pink there. What’s in the can this morning?” - (flustered and flattered mode) “This one’s a merlot” - “Ladies and Gentlemen “Merlot Lady” is here this morning. Let’s giver her a big cheer” And they did When the train arrived it was a case of “All runners and riders to the yellow line please. No stepping over the yellow line until I say so. ……. NOW! Go on Sir, squeeze up tight, your lady won’t object! Shake hands with a stranger as you board.” ”Ladies and Gents the white bat is up and they’re under starter’s orders. And they’re off! The 8.28 is off and running. The early leader is Richmond followed by Twickenham then Feltham and Staines. Close behind it’s Egham then Virginua Water with Sunningdale trailing behind Longcross and last of that pack it’s Royal Ascot who is the back marker at the moment …..” Miss Management would have had a blue fit if she had heard. I got a lot of thanks, cash tips and even written / emailed compliments. Bag on seat? No problem 🤣

The use of the “Rock Umlaut” has not göne unnoticed. As used by the likes of Motörhead for effect more than for pronunciation. I sometimes reflect upon what words might have passed between Lemmy and myself. We yelled at each other over pints in the Ruskin Arms (London E12; a famed hard-rock venue in its day) but truthfully could never really hear each other above the band. In any case the sum total of the late Mr Kilmister’s “conversation” was often no more than a husky “alright?” Ah the days. Puppers et al might in passing care to note that the younger and carefree Gwiwer - complete with waist-length pony—tail - was the only non-biker in the place and the only one not wearing leathers. Patchouly was optional 🤣

I know the road well. And that sign which sits above the Westernport Freeway. I have yet to become acquainted with the earnest w@anke in question It’s the butt of much humour. In the same vein as those delightfully-christened townships of Iron Kn0b, Koolyanobbing and Burrumbuttock.

Good to see Penhayle Bay mentioned. A layout which seemed to strike a chord with a lot of people and inspire some of them. I would still like to be able to re-create it in some form but until the lottery pays out enough to rent a small industrial unit I doubt that will happen. The rolling stock, some of the buildings and the one scene I was able to keep are safely stored here now. Penhayle Bay was itself inspired by Carbis Bay, Hayle, St Erth, Redruth, St Germans Viaduct and Marley Tunnel, all bar the last being in Cornwall, plus a recalled daydream of my school days in which trains would run above a sandy beach before passing through a station and emerging from a tunnel into a completely different scene. Which, in the end, is what I built. Many images on RMW have been lost to server failures / “upgrades” and to third-party hosting issues such as the Photobucket fiasco. Those posted to the Facebook page all remain there. For anyone unfamiliar with the layout try these links https://www.facebook.com/penhaylebay

And that is why you will seldom find anyone of that faith travelling or even out and about after around 2pm on a Friday. They are not willing to risk being caught out away from home unable to light the candles and breaking Shabbat observance laws. You will, however, notice an urgency among them approaching that time. This is especially noticeable in places with a high percentage of such folk among the population. The streets of Stamford Hill and Golders Green in London would be bustling at lunchtime, crowded just after with people clearly moving with purpose and almost deserted by mid-afternoon.

In other news. Some years ago the Dragon-in-Law and late Father-in-Law decided it was time to "go bush" and moved out of Melbourne to run the Nullawil General Store in the middle of nowhere. He suffered a major medical episode within a year and was air-lifted back to Melbourne leaving her out there with a business to run which was relied upon by a number of extremely rural locals across a wide area of bushland. She eventually had to sell up and return to Melbourne to oversee his care and, eventually, a temporary return home. He was moved on to a care home as she couldn't cope with his 24/7 medical needs. It was about this time that I was first introduced to them as the future husband of their daughter who had brought me back as a souvenir from her backpacking travels to the UK. That never really sat well. FiL was a totally changed man and was OK with me but she never was. And to this day holds me responsible for her not having a daughter at home. A couple of days ago the Nullawil General Store burned down. The area is left without any of the services offered; postal, general store, community meeting-point and all. The nearest now is in Wycherproof some distance away. No-one was hurt. Dragon-in-Law is again distraught that a part of her history has been taken from her. I make no apology for having as much empathy. It was she who drove the move out bush. FiL never wanted to be there. No-one would wish the return to be under the circumstances that played out but had they not gone FiL would have been hours closer to specialist medical help when it was needed and which, had it been accessed faster, might have altered the long-term outcome for him. He passed away some years ago now as a result of the serious brain trauma he sustained. Dragon-in-Law will almost certainly renew her pressure upon Dr. SWMBO to now "come home" and keep her company. In other words act as her carer without any sort of career option and without any decent income. A tough call. Because there is no way I am going into that situation and they both know it.

I remember finding that vein on a school trip. I'm sure it is still there because a vein of pure tourmaline doesn't just vanish. It might be weathered or overgrown but when it's not blowing a hoolie (and when I'm not filming someone's life-changing special moment!) I'll go back and have a better look.

Good afternoon all. I have been missing - presumed having a good time - for several days. I will likely not be able to catch up with those posts. On Monday I dropped Dr SWMBO at the station, drove quickly back to the Distant (Signal) West and had an hour to clean it through and re-set her workroom into guest bedroom mode. At 6pm our guests arrived for the week. I have known Wendy for 22 years but her chap Kevin is a new addition. Both local to Thanet they too have been long-term acquaintances but only “got together” last year. In short we spent those days visiting spots on and off the tourist trail, chilling, generally being relaxed and taking our time about everything. Wednesday was Wendy’s birthday; a perfect excuse to visit Trevaskis Farm for dinner. But not before we had visited a few spots including Lamorna Cove which were spookily quiet in the fog except for the slop of the sea. Yes. That tiara says “Birthday Girl” Thursday’s weather was better so we called into Porthgwarra and made it to the End of the Land. And then, with it being Leap Year, this happened. Some months in the planning (secretly between Wendy and myself) and hoping for a good sunset (which we almost got) ….. IMG_5919.mp4 He was taken totally by surprise but of course gave the right answer! Yesterday was swap-back day exchanging guests for Dr. SWMBO whom they met only briefly over breakfast. A birthday week Wendy will never forget, in their own words the best and freshest food ever (and generous portions with it) and of course a once-in-a-lifetime moment carefully prepared for and suitably staged in a stunning setting. And that was a week in the life of me.

Perhaps Bear would be interested in the dessert counter at our favourite local restaurant IMG_5883 2.mp4

How dare you use her full name. She is "Shelly" to everyone 🤣

My current show layout has its OO section (but not the OO-9 section) on a foamboard base. Superglue or UHU seem to work as adhesives. The edges have turned up very slightly which only notices when I hold a spirit-level across the board join. Nothing has delaminated yet. The layout was built to be carried by one person (me) so weight was always a consideration while retaining rigidity. I’ve been happy so far.

Yeah we do but lots of them are clustered and some are very short. We are a crowded island covered in humanity, bitumen and the occasional c0ckwomble. The humanity is now conditioned at birth to regard the use of tin boxes upon bitumen as its right and gets very frustrated when there is inadequate bitumen for the purpose and / or when others are propelling their tin boxes at a slower rate than "super-hare". There is a competition in progress. In perpetual progress. The winner is the person who presents with the least-effective manhood but most-expensive and fastest tin box. One is in inverse proportion to the other. Not all M-numbers are in use. There are more than 60 "M"s but some have much longer numbers like M275 or even A27(M); is the latter an "M" or is it not? The answer is both yes and no at the same time. Confusing? Some are, as Grizz notes, ridiculously short such as the M26 which is really only a link-road of a few hundred metres between the M25 and M21. That which qualifies for an "M" and the road rules applicable thereto differs between UK and Australia, not unreasonably, but there are close similarities. An "M" is a Motorway in the UK but a "Freeway" in Australia yet the latter are not numbered with an F-prefix. In the UK they are sometimes regarded as the safest roads because traffic largely travels at similar speed without frequent deviations, entries or exits. In theory at least. In Australia they seem to be regarded as unlimited-speed playgrounds for those (aforesaid) with inadequate manhood and egos off the other end of the scale. They can also be car parks in both nations. The South Eastern Freeway into Melbourne is still often referred to as the SE Car Park" so regular and so severe are the jams. There are parts of the UK motorway system where you are lucky to be travelling above 20mph with any hint of clear road; it only takes the intervention of one (aforesaid) C0ckwomble to bring everything to a grinding halt. If I have to drive to London I have two practical choices eastwards from Exeter. The A303 (which eventually joins the M3 for its last few miles) is slower, can suffer long queues at the roundabouts and at Stonehenge but forces me to concentrate and actually drive. It is fewer miles and usually quicker than the M5 - M4 option up the motorways despite those having mostly a 70mph speed limit against 40 - 50mph on the A303. The motorways can lull any driver into a false sense of security. Mile after mile at a fairly steady speed can turn on the "autopilot" and can certainly encourage use of such things as cruise control. But the driver must remain vigilant. Too often they fail in that and have to take some form of evasive action so late that it can affect others around them. I am far from alone here in being a very experienced motorist of many years and miles. I still prefer the "old roads" just because I have to think every inch of the way. But sometimes they are not an option. Or not a sane one. West of Exeter the only realistic option is to sit on the A30 and plough along. It is near-Motorway standard much of the way to West Cornwall now. It could even become the A30(M) with a little more refinement. But that cannot come about. That (M) implies that you will encounter fewer sharp bends/ steep gradients, there will be emergency phones and a hard shoulder (or at the least emergency refuges at intervals) but the road is not open to traffic not able to use an M-prefix road such as bicycles and tractors. There is no reasonable alternative to the A30 therefore to "upgrade" it to the A30(M) would inconvenience the many farmers who use it and the fairly small number of cyclists and other non-Motorway users. If the signs are blue then it's a Motorway; if they are green it is a Primary Route but not a Motorway. Australia is the same. In Australia all traffic is permitted on certain designated freeways because there is, in a vast open land of sometimes nothing at all, no other route available. Signs advise this where it applies.

My ‘02 was a derailer. Upon close inspection it also had only three of four body-fixing screws in place. The pan-spring was loose in the box. I would like to thank Kernow MRC and specifically @Graham_Muz for quickly accepting and managing a return. I now have what I suspect is a replacement rather than a rectified loco. It does not derail, it has four fixing screws and the pan spring is on the lugs where it should be. Very much appreciated. Quality customer service.

These are very finely detailed models with many small and fragile parts. Touch wood I haven’t lost any yet but a delicate repair has been required to the plastic rodding. Very pleased I decided to invest just before they arrived.

Likewise. There’s always been adequate warning - thus far - of the need to make the nocturnal dash. But why oh why does Captain Slackbladder* have his way less than an hour before the alarm is due? Does one attempt to sleep the last little bit, shrug it off and get up early or turn the alarm off and sleep in? * © Blackadder Goes Forth

I knew him as a part of ship’s company. Bosun ‘arris.

If you get called the c word it means you've made a friend for life. It does depend upon the context. There is a universe of difference between "I love you, you c***" and "You're just a c***" Or were we talking the other c-word? Collingwood. 🤣