jonny777

Yes, we have one of those combi boiler things, complete with little water pressure gauge. The installer told me not to let it go below a certain value, and, if it did to move a tap on the underside of the boiler. However I have forgotten the value and also which tap to adjust, so I just pray the gauge stays relatively high. We had our header tank removed when the boiler was fitted as it works by heating cold water on demand. The mains pressure is more than enough for me, plus the washing machine and dishwasher appear to have coped with the change ok. Our only problem is that the new boiler had to be on an outside wall, so we had it installed in the utility room, whereas the previous boiler was in the kitchen with a flue up to the roof, but the fitters would not install the new boiler there - for reasons that they probably explained. This means that effectively the flow of hot water has been reversed in the system. Whereas the bathroom and shower were first on the circuit, now they are last. This means that if someone turns the hot tap on in the downstairs toilet, or the kitchen, anyone in the shower at the same time will find the shower flow vanishes to a dribble for the duration. With just the two of us, this is not a problem; but when folk come to stay they have to be briefed on this idiosyncracy. I think we should have changed to an electric shower, but its too late now.

And if I thought that was bad, the first 17 pages of today's Guardian are devoted to the US Election, and just in case I start to get withdrawal symptoms towards the end of that lot, they have kindly included an extra 12-page US Election supplement as well. Still, at least I have something to light the fire with.

I have no objection to switching the telly off, or to not having one in the first place - but why must the folk who advocate this always assume a position of superiority? Why is it not sensible to keep it on, or even have it switched on at all? I have learned some very interesting facts from watching tv. Only last week I watched an hour long programme of reminiscences from former members of the Home Guard and other emergency home occupations in WW2. There were women who at 18 years of age had driven vans and tractors, ex-Bevan Boys who had been vilified for working in mines when the popular (but false) belief was they were draft dodgers. Other women had worked in aircraft factories and seemed to have really enjoyed the experience. All were in their 90s or older, and one chap (who sadly died between being interviewed and the programme being shown) was 106. You cannot get the character and personalities of these people or their real experiences simply from reading a book or newspaper article; and it is unlikely that I will meet all of them for a face to face conversation - so tv is the best chance that I will get.

Agreed. BBC News have a vastly over-inflated view of their own importance. I switched on to watch Pointless but it is still News24 spouting speculative nonsense. I did the only thing possible which was to watch The Chase.

From my conversations with police representatives, when I was at work - their procedures changed some time ago, and now virtually all RTAs are treated as potential crime scenes. This was what made a recent episode of Coronation Street (sorry, I have watched it since the 1960s) unbelievable; when David Platt overturned the car he was driving along a cobbled back street (which would most likely be a 20mph zone nowadays) and collided with a child, who was miraculously unhurt. Despite the obvious speeding charge, never mind dangerous driving etc., the police just allowed him to walk away from the scene and go home. They didn't even breathalyse him. . And to make matters worse, although most of the witnesses repaired to the Rovers Return for a drink, none of them were interviewed by the police immediately after the accident.

You think that is bad? I have The Guardian delivered each day, and this morning's edition has 7 pages devoted to an election when polling had not finished at the time the paper was printed.

Hello from a sunny Somerset. Finally the visits to here, there and everywhere have stopped for a while; and I can laze around for a few days. It looks a bit white on the Ribblehead rail camera.

Now that is a proper train at Margate. I would have loved to know that I travelled behind a Schools, but I very much doubt it; even though I went on holiday to Broadstairs from Lincolnshire in 1958, but no one knows (or can remember) anything much about the trip. I dont' think that there would need to be an H&S panic at Temple Meads, because in my experience the staff in the Yard Box could keep order just by shouting threats across the tracks to any misbehaving soul on that platform. However, the arrival of 61050 would justify quite a lot of over-excitement in many areas (even Boston in Lincs) in those days, as it was a Canklow loco and I don't remember seeing it much in my area. Now I know why. The b****y thing had gone to Somerset for its hols.

Well, my comment appears to have stopped this thread stone dead, which is a shame. Of course, I am not oblivious to the obvious riposte - therefore.... I would volunteer myself if I had the model railway contacts and the programming knowledge to create a rolling webpage with accurate product information; but I don't, although I do have more enthusiasm than sense.

I think you have hit the nail on the head there Legend; and the moral of the story is pretty obvious. If we want to continue a thrice weekly (or even daily as it used to be) "MREmag-style" website, someone (or maybe more than one) with more time and enthusiasm than sense is going to have to step up and volunteer to create a replica themselves.

Over 400 votes for a loco class that was very restricted in its allocation, at least until its final couple of years, and barely lasted more than 10 years in service?

90024 and 92034 at Crewe on 23rd May 2002

And 56036 (in its new livery) had moved around a bit by Aug 1979, because I saw it at Canton depot on 17th July that year.

Well, you get full marks for trying hard to prove that added chemicals are not to blame for headaches. Maybe you have shares in companies who are trying to sell poison such as nitrates? However, I will hope that others will try organic beer/spirits; and not just follow the bar room bore/ daily mail story that organic must be rubbish.

I don't believe that, although it is a reason repeated regularly by those who wish to pontificate on the subject. Maybe that is the excuse put out by the big brewer sponsored scientists? It must be a very very coincidental occurrence that I only suffer from dehydration when imbibing with non organic produce. I have been almost legless from not realising the strength of my home-brew, and drinking too much; but no headache in the morning. The same happens with very expensive malt whiskey and cheap supermarket own brands.

I do not want to intrude on your personal issues, but I have found that changing to organic beer, wine and spirits has removed my alcohol related headache problems. Yes, I do get a hangover (which is basically feeling bad for half a day) if I over-indulge, but not the debilitating headaches that I used to get. I brew my own beer, and I find the same thing with this; even though the gravity of my home brew can indicate 7% alcohol content. Sluggish hangover, yes; - headache? no. But then, I don't add anything to my beer; it just clears naturally, however long that takes. My theory is that for some people, the headache does not come from the alcohol. but from the chemicals added to the beer/wine; probably as improving clearance and preservative qualities. I have even heard of chemicals being added to wine in order to improve the taste of poor quality products.

Goodness me, I go away for less than a week only to find MREmag has gone by the time I get back. Thankyou to Phil, Brian and previously Pat, for all your hard work over many years; plus all the regular contributors to "Having Your Say" whether above or below the previous ( Pat era ) 200 word limit. Personally, the longer and more rambling the replies mean I have something extra to read - which is a bonus. I hope that something useful and informative emerges from the MREmag ashes in a few months time...

Good morning from a decidedly dull Somerset. We are back from our stay in Folkestone, which was very pleasant - with lots of dry and sunny weather. The 1430 from Paddington was full on leaving London, with virtually all seats reserved in second class; so heaven knows how 'turn up and go' passengers felt. They probably paid twice as much for their tickets and then had to stand. I hope the 800s will have about 12 coaches, or be running every 15 mins to Temple Meads otherwise the problem is unlikely to go away. The GWML electrification progress is very intermittent, with some stretches wired between Slough and Didcot but others not. West of Swindon there were only a few isolated masts. Mrs Jonny did remark on how obtrusive she thought the overhead knitting was. The cables all seem to be thicker than on HS1 through Ebbsfleet. Although most Folkestone rail travellers seem wedded to the class 395s on the St Pancras run, we went back by 375 to Charing Cross. I much prefer the 375s; they have big wide windows and many seats are aligned with the windows and with tables. Maybe not so good when packed with commuters but in the off peak they are very light and airy and a great way to see the scenery, which is most attractive in Kent at this time of year. I would gladly sit on a 12-car pantographed 375 from Paddington to Bristol once electrification is complete, rather than take my chances on some airline-seated train and find myself next to a pillar, and with no knee room. We also had a trip on a Stagecoach Gold service to Canterbury (free with a bus pass - what's not to like?). Very pleasant with high backed leather seats and air conditioned double-deck buses running every 15 minutes. I have bought a large collection of b&w loco photographs at auction, although they are at present entrusted to Royal Mail 48 delivery; but if any are of historical livery interest I will share them on the relevant threads. Now to put my feet up for a few days before I visit my Dad in Norfolk from Thursday.

Hello from dull and dreary Somerset, but the wife and I are off to Folkestone on the train today - so here's hoping for no delays, cancellations, etc. As for flying, you will probably never believe this but my first flight was a light aircraft jolly over Cardiff and Barry about 35 years ago, courtesy of a friend of a friend, and I have been on the helicopter (now sadly discontinued) between Penzance and Tresco; but that is it. I have never flown in a commercial airliner. This is not because of any phobia, but just because whenever I have travelled abroad it has been by car, train or ship.

Yes, they are ACT containers. http://www.bluestarline.org/act/ships_act.html The bent arrow is just part of the logo.

I shall be thereabouts tomorrow, but I discarded the idea of the Burstin in favour of The Southcliffe on The Leas.

Thanks everyone for your kind responses. My quote of £650 was a minimum, and I know there are places that charge double this, as it depends on the level of care he might need. Yes, there are cares who will visit for any number of hours per day; but the price soon rises rapidly if the patient needs a high level of looking after. He is depressed enough at not being able to read and the macular degeneration has reached a point where even the hospital have said there is little more they can do, so I can imagine how low he will get when he realises what the future holds. My thinking was that if he is under the same roof, then at least I can monitor his progress and maybe pay a nurse to visit as frequently as necessary, but at least in between times he will be with someone he knows well.

Hello from a cold and breezy Somerset. It was dark when I got up at 7.30, and very depressing. I have discovered that my father's sight is not as good as he tries to make out. The reason for this is if he admits he is half blind, he will not be able to stay in his bungalow and fend for himself. He is 93 and has done well to stay there this long. However, he is miles away and I don't really want to bundle him off to a care home where he knows no one and the surroundings are alien to him, even if he can't see much of them too clearly. The average costs would be around £650 a week for this 'privilege', and as he has few relatives now, having outlived them all, he would not have many visitors. So, I have tentatively decided that he can come and live with us, but as you might expect Mrs Jonny is not too delighted by that prospect, and I'm not sure how he would cope with our house, stairs and the like. The ~£3000 a month saving would soon stretch to adding a disabled-friendly toilet and shower as an en-suite to the bedroom earmarked for him, and the rest is just down to my patience and how much help he would need with everyday requirements; which as I am home all day, and he is my dad, would fall to me to provide. I feel that there is a large emotional roller-coaster just ahead, and I have just volunteered to get on it.

Is that one of those Russian warships in the distance?

Now, you will understand how much of a naive prude I am, when I mention that I saw the two shapes on the loco as a pair of wine glasses.