Dave Hunt

Despite still being more lurgy-stricken yesterday than I thought I was early in the AM, I actually got a bit of workshop time in and got the first steps done in making a silicon rubber mould for the Centricast white metal casting machine so that I can make some loco spring and other castings. Today is starting more promisingly as my inner workings, whilst not yet what you might call cheery, are a bit closer to the bright, sunny and spring-like outside world that greets the Salopian eye than of late and the light at the end of the tunnel probably isn't the 7.45 down coming the other way. First event of the day is that Jill has a hospital appointment for an ENT related issue then with luck some more workshop time will follow and the mould making will progress along with the job I dread more than anything to do with modelmaking - painting. I have a DeVilbiss airbrush that my parents bought for me years ago but despite long practice I still can't guarantee to get a good finish with it first go and it is far from unknown fora model to spend the night in a bucket of Nitromors following one of my efforts. Ah, well, we shall see. I'm also aiming to do a bit more Templot wrestling some time today and trying to apply some of Martin's guidance, although the Hippo is fixing up a teaching session for me with someone who knows what he is doing. The downside to that, as will now be common knowledge via this thread, is that my allegiance to a certain international rugby team who play in white shirts will cost me considerably. Anyone who attends model railway shows wearing a Wales shirt is not likely to let a chance like that pass by. Mention of Templot brings another thought to mind - anyone know how to wire a 3-way for DC? Have a good day everyone and have a thought for the afflicted. Keep smiling. Dave

Hippo, I'm afraid that my avatar isn't a Welsh dragon, it's actually a wyvern (if you look closely you'll see that it hasn't got any legs) and was copied from the Midland house flag used on its ships; so I'll be sure to practice my 'not bovvered' face before we meet. TTFN Dave

Welll, the one good thing about yesterday's disaster is that whilst watching the game my lurgy symptoms seemed to recede a bit. I suppose that the same thing happened to people on the Titanic. However, this morning, which is fisty and moggy here in top end Salopshire, the lurgyitis seems a little less debilitating and since SWMBO is off to Derbyshire with a friend to visit No. 1 son and offspring for the day I may even get in some workshop time. Once I've had got a couple of sudafed inside me to dull the headache a bit and spent some time with Mug O'Coffee that is. Of course, if I admit to feeling a bit better there is the distinct possibility that some domestic duties may be found to occupy my time but since the hacking cough is still apparent I may get away with it. Of course, I still have the gloating of Welsh friends to look forward to...... Cheers everyone and have a good day. Dave

I too am a member of the bionic meccano man brigade, in my case the left foot that was heavily rebuilt about four years ago. The surgeon said that I could have the screws and bits taken out eventually if I wanted but there was so much stuff in there that it would be quite a prolonged procedure and unless it was really bugging me he recommended leaving well alone. When I went for a check-up last year the x-rays showed that one of the screws had come loose but he said that it wouldn't cause any trouble so we've left it alone. The only downside is that my feet are now of different widths so buying shoes is a pain in the butt, or, rather, foot if I get it wrong. Since I also have two false knees and a replacement hip (my eldest son says that if any more bits are replaced I'll qualify as the first independent android) getting through airport security can involve setting out the day before the flight departs to leave enough time for the scanning process. Dave

Anyway Bob, the chap concerned wasn't even scratched so it couldn't have been you . Dave

Thanks Martin. I've actually got to grips with some of the basics and managed to produce the start of a track plan but I don't think I'm going about things the best way as although the tracks and turnouts actually line up it takes me a lot of fiddling to achieve it and the timbering is a mess. Anyway, I'll persevere and once I've read the link you sent I'll see if I can do some more somewhat less laboriously and with better results. Regards Dave

Greetings ERs from a bright and breezy N Salop. Unfortunately I'm not in the same category as the lurgy is still doing its thing albeit having moved on somewhat with less dribbling but now painful inner ears to go with the sore throat, headache and hacking cough. For a bit of light relief yesterday I tried to get to grips with Templot and to start designing my layout but I seem to be a complete numpty and even with the guides written by various people to say it's slow going would be an understatement. Is it just me, an age thing or has anyone else struggled to reach Templot nirvana? Anyway, before it made my headache a lot worse I'd sort of done some constructive work but the end result would, I'm sure, be laughed at by anyone competent. The main event today will, of course, be England v Wales; the outcome too close to call but it should be an exciting game. I just hope that the excitement doesn't make my cough worse. Hope that those who are fit and well have a good day and that the lurgied ones get better. And prayers for the more unfortunate. Dave

Blackrat, welcome to the club and commisrerations on joining. So far (3 days) I haven't found anything to relieve the symptoms and my throat still feels as though someone's attacking it with hot razor blades. As far as age is concerned my 43 year old son, me at 71 and my 96 year old Dad all seem to have the same symptoms and severity so you seem to fit right in there - bad karma or what? Not much else going on here at present so I'll just settle for good morning all and thoughts for the afflicted. Dave

Once in the Falklands a Wokka (RAF speak for Chinook) pilot thought it would be a really amusing idea to hover over the building in which our crewroom and offices were situated. It was............. until the roof started lifting off that is. Fortunately we managed to call air traffic and get them to move him before it became a real disaster. Boy, did he owe us some beers! Dave

Isn't that one of those things you play on a guitar? A bit grey and murky this morning - and the weather isn't much better either. Still lurgified and feeling 'orrible, ODing on Lemsips and anything else that promises to make you feel better instantly but to little effect. Wonder if I can get one of these compensation law firms on the case and demand payment from the manufacturers for not making me feel like a box of birds? Not much else to report really except shares in Kleenex on the rise. Have a good day awl and thoughts and prayers for the real sufferers. Dave

Yes, it means the murky depths of humour.

Howdy Hippo, No, I didn't see the GR4s yesterday but heard them when I was in the vicinity of Cosford. My own Tornado variety, the F3, disappeared a while ago of course. As you say, a pity they didn't pay a last visit to the Mach Loop - always an enjoyable ride and our preferred route to Anglesey when transiting from Coningsby to Valley providing the head shed would sanction low level. Thanks for the sympathy. Cheers Dave

There's one about ten miles from me - will that do? Pretty much all of them Good morning from a grey Salop borderland. During the night the dreaded lurgy struck and I now feel like sh mark 1 t - throat like sandpaper, head throbbing, nose like a tap and even the bits that don't usually ache in the morning these days do. SWMBO has rallied round, though, and is being quite solicitous, plying me with Lemsip and Mug O'Coffee. I'm due to go to the medical centre for a blood pressure check this morning but will call them in an hour and cancel. One bright spot - when we were seeing our friends yesterday the subject of the Kettering GOG show a week on Saturday came up (quite accidentally you understand) and I was granted leave to attend so may well see some Webbers there. Haven't managed to get much sleep during the night so I think I'll try and doze for a bit now. TTFN Dave

Again in pre prat nav days a friend of mine was setting off on a journey with his SWMBO who queried why he had turned left at a particular road junction when she thought they should have turned right. "Because we need to go west," he said. "Well, I think we should be going the other way," she retorted. It was a bright, sunny morning and the sun was directly behind them. "Where does the sun rise?" he asked patiently. "Usually over next door's garden," came the reply. Dave

When I worked in San Diego my USN colleagues were intrigued by the fact that back in U.K. I was living in Boston and my 25 minute drive to work (at RAF Coningsby) took me through New York.

As the old saying goes, "If God had meant the Army to fly he'd have painted the sky brown."

I agree totally. Unless he gave a very good reason, if the man can't be relied on to turn up as promised what chance is there of him doing a good job on time?

A bright and sunny land fit for hippos greets the eye here in N Salop this morning whilst Mug O'Coffee kick starts the still dozy system. We're off to see some friends today who may be familiar to some Webbers - Pete Kibble who some years back had a lovely little S7 layout called Severn Mill on the exhibition circuit and his wife Jackie who used to run Modellers' Mecca in Kingswinford. We'll probably have lunch in the old station at Codsall and at some stage SWMBO and Jackie may well go and do some of the retail therapy thing much loved by the fairer folk and disliked by my wallet. Have a good day everyone; thoughts and prayers for those in need. Dave

Not over and over but a couple or so times.

That's what I understand it to mean too.

I'd say eye - ott

Definitely let's have some more Tony. To your £1,000 you can add donations that I and I'm sure many others have sent to CRUK directly after watching your previous offerings. As a firmly committed S7 Midland modeller I find LB and your videos fascinating, which says a lot about the quality of the modelling and the presentation. Best wishes and keep it up. Dave

An overcast day here in the Shropshire/Staffordshire borderlands. SWMBO is sufficiently recovered from her lurgy to go to her art group this morning, although she still has a hacking cough at times. Hence there is much activity with the preparation of materials etc. whilst I am communing with Mug O'Coffee and contemplating the day ahead. A Probus committee meeting followed by giving my talk then checking on my Dad's house (he's still living with us at present after his broken hip episode) and some more work on the various writings I have to do will pretty much fill it up. Sorry to hear Jamie's verdict on the new Endeavour series; since SWMBO is a firm fan of The Midwife I've recorded Endeavour and was looking forward to watching it so we'll have to see.... What is MYOB anyway? Everytime I start to compose a post on this thread the reply box contains one that I started composing days ago that I have to delete. Any ideas how to get rid of it permanently? Have a good day awl. Dave

I knew that red kites had made a comeback to Britain but the spread of red cranes in France is news. A bit cloudy here in N Salop but warm for the season. Lots of activity on the bird feeders outside our bedroom window, especially on the coconut shells with fat and berries in them with blue tits well to the fore. The resident robin has become lazy in his habits and now spends time loitering on the ground under them waiting for the bits they drop and casually cleaning up. This annoys the dominant male blackbird who reckons that he thought of it first and the robin is on his pitch but the robin now recognises that the blackbird is all mouth and trousers, as my grandad used to say, and ignores his posturing. SWMBO now claims to be largely over the lurgy and has brought Mug O'Coffee to kickstart the day for me. Much of my time will then be spent writing for the Midland Railway Society newsletter and preparing a display board concerning Midland locomotives that Adrian Tester (Crimson Rambler to this site) and I are doing for a small exhibition the Society is putting on at the Hallmark Midland Hotel in Derby over the weekend following May 10th in recognition of the 175th anniversary of the formation of the Midland. Then I've got to make sure that a talk I'm giving tomorrow on the great railway contractor Thomas Brassey is ready to go before preparing dinner, as I have contracted to do. Any time I have left may be devoted to painting a small, four wheeled, self propelled, rail guided vehicle. A fairly busy day therefore in prospect so I'd better get on with it. My prayers go with Q and the others who are in a bad way. Glad you are recovered Jamie. 'Bye for now awl. Dave

If it was an N gauge crane?