tetsudofan

Sun is shining down here in the south east corner, coffee has been drunk, lemon curd tartlets consumed (reduced at Sainsburys so had to try...), washing machine has been busy so time to get back out the garden. Got to see how much more can be done to convert what was a long bridge into an embankment: Should keep me out of trouble for a couple of hours...... Keith

It's a mop isn't it?

Clicked on this link and got an advert for the "Cutest Bras for Older Women" with a picture of a number of rather large women sporting rather large bras and the contents therein...... Why I got this advert goodness only knows, no interest whatsoever in large older women, not been searching for such items either older large women or large bras. The shock!! Will I wake up screaming during the night.....will I need counselling...….. what to do? Keith

Neil, At least you've got those black and red things out, nothing moving here as bridge replacement activity is taking place: The original base was made of marine ply (which cost a mint) but has lasted for at least 12 years but has now delaminated and needs replacement: Luckily its not going to cost me anything to make the replacements as at the time I bought the original marine ply I had to buy the entire sheet so next job is to cut out the new bases: On the lookout now for some flexible waterproof stuff that I can wrap round the bases and nail them underneath to prolong their life - as the retired bases have lasted for at least 12 years the new ones should see me out..…... Keith

Reading an earlier message which mentioned "chocolate" reminded me that I've got some chocolate Easter Eggs and Toblerone to be consumed: Apart from chocolate biscuits and the like I don't normally buy much other chocolate myself - the Easter Eggs came from my chiropodist (as I always provide coffee and cream cakes when she visits ) whilst the Toblerone came from my next-door neighbour who keeps in regular contact with me to ensure that I'm alive and kicking. The Toblerone looks interesting, have not seen a gingery orange version before but, then, must admit that I haven't bought any Toblerone for ages. Keith

That's exactly why I did my weekly shop yesterday instead of today!

Most surprised to read about what you say about your visit to your local Waitrose, I thought they had a reputation of being at the top of the lot. My visit to my local (but out-of-town) branch of Sainsburys this morning was completely different. It was 7:45am when I joined the back of the "wrinklies" queue and was in the store by 8:25am (the store having opened at 8:00am. The queue was very orderly, everybody keeping the correct distance apart. Plenty of eye-contact with the guys on the door ..... but had to careful as one of them was a ghurka. Once in the store it was a shoppers bliss. Most of the shelves were full but still no tins of baked beans and sausages (no problem as still got 6 tins in the cupboard) and plenty of space between customers whilst navigating the isles. There were no p.a. announcements to get us to hurry up, just regular announcements about the items that were freely available having been removed from the maximum number purchase list. Check -out was a doddle, was the only customer in the queue, Each till now has a safety screen. Every other till is in operation so plenty of spacing between each active till. All-in-all the total time taken for my visit was not much longer than my regular shopping trip in normal times but, once in the store, was much more enjoyable than my "normal" shops. Even managed to get a large refill of Round-Up which reminds me it's time to get back to the garden...…. Keith

Think the guy needs to upgrade to LGB (45mm track) as they have done at the place in Prague - wagons are big enough to transport a beer without it falling over.... Keith

Be careful about enjoying time spent in the garden, it might take over the garden..... Keith

Today was the first time I've been out on the public highway since Thursday last week. At 8:05am this morning I joined the old foggies queue at the out=of-town Sainsburys and, after circumnavigating the adjacent empty McDonalds, 30 minutes later was given access to the store. Once in the store it was shopping bliss, not many people about and many filled shelves since my last visit. Managed to get some milk both fresh and long-life, deli and dairy products, crisps, bakery items (including some Belgium buns normally gold dust at this branch of Sainsburys), all the fruit and salad items on my list and a pack of loo rolls which was not on my list but as it was standing all on its own took pity on it and placed it on my trolley. Only Item I couldn't get was a couple of tins of Sainsburys baked beans and sausages. Check out was reasonably quick, only difference was that the till did not accept cash, all transactions had to be done by card and, after that, by 9:35am was on my way home. Later this morning decided to walk round to the pharmacy attached to the doctor's surgery to collect a prescription ordered on Monday. After waiting about 20 minutes got to the front of the orderly queue and found that they had the prescription but had prepared the items. Returned outside to wait for another 10 minutes or so whilst they prepared the necessary. The afternoon, as it has been for the last week or so, was spent in the garden. Last week before lockdown managed to cut the grass and get the cuttings up to the local Dump. Was quite pleased to see that I managed some straight lines on the grass: Since then I've been deadheading the daffodils and started to weed and tidy-up the other flower beds. It's time consuming but then, weather permitting, like everybody else I've got plenty of time. Time for bed soon, pleasant dreams, Keith

Invest in a Wahl Self Cut Elite Do it Yourself Haircutting Kit. My brother used to cut my hair so I bought an ordinary set of Wahl clippers. At that time every time he cut my hair put what I would have paid the barber in a jam jar and when he and his wife moved up to the Midlands we split the contents of the jam jar which he used to buy a dining table for his new house. My share went into the train fund. Soon as he moved bought the Do it Yourself and have used it ever since. The clippers even have a rotating head for comfortable use on either left or right side. Keith

Having read some of comments above it was with some trepidation that I opened the box for my Large Logo Cl.66 and removed the loco from the box. There was a smear of something on the roof of one of cabs which was quickly removed by a piece of tissue. Other than that all the axle box covers were present and correct. Placed the loco on the programming track, set up the loco address, reset the sound level at 45 (as mentioned by others above) and then loaded it onto my Z21 and when that was done placed it on the track for its first run: and off it went on its inaugural run passing a somewhat overcrowded EMU depot: After a few circuits of the track pleased to advise the there was no sign of the loco wobbling and there were no missing axle box covers all of which made me a happy bunny. Left the loco to toddle round the layout for about half an hour coupled up to a Stobart Mk.3 coach and then parked it up in the station area (yet to be built!) and turned on the parking lights: Also like the ability the turn off the rear lights on the rear of the loco when it is hauling a load. The sound decoder and speakers installed top off a great model. Many thanks Hattons and Legomanbiffo. Keith

Not much action from my road but when I opened my upstairs bedroom window I could hear the clapping, horns blowing etc. from the centre of Folkestone.... and that's a mile away! Keith

My large logo Cl.68 was ordered on May 16, 2018 and was processed yesterday so I would assume that they are processing by order date. One thing to check would be to ensure that the credit card used for your transaction is still in date. I would have got mine today if I had renewed my card as it expired end of February. Updated the details yesterday, they took payment this morning at 09:00, picked and packed the item 14:49 ready for delivery. Bearing in mind what's going on in the big world at the moment, I think that Hattons are working flat out and deserve a thankyou... was going to say "pat on the back" put don't think that would be appropriate at this time. Keith

Heard from my brother this evening that his son-in-laws father was taken into hospital on Thursday evening with breathing problems, died early Friday morning and was buried today. Covid is being blamed but understand that he had not been well for some time. This afternoon my next-door neighbour passed away. Not being blamed on Covid, he had been suffering from MS for many years and started going down hill last year when he went into hospital and returned home with bed sores which turned nasty. Spent an hour with him last Friday, he could hardly talk but he knew that I was there (sitting some distance from his chair) and smiled when I reminisced about the past. Good memories, nice guy. Keith

Great stuff but £1.05 a jar at Sainsburys, all other jams are 75p a jar. Don't bother trying the Folkestone Sainsburys, I took the last jar this morning!! Keith

8:00am on a Thursday is normally the start of my regular weekly shopping expedition to the local out-of-town Sainsburys and, not having been out shopping since last Thursday, thought I better start the weekly shop at 7:00am today. At that time the car park was already crowded and, once inside the shop, it was pandemonium. Somewhat different to a normal peaceful Thursday morning. I was just amazed at what people were buying and wonder how much of what was being purchased today would be discarded or thrown out in due course. I had my regular shopping list with me and was able to purchase virtually all of what was on my list. There was no ordinary milk on the shelves but I was able to get one of the last containers of Cravendale on sale. There were no fruit loaves available so got a couple of packs of hot cross buns instead - toasted hot cross buns with ginger jam for breakfast for the next week or so. The checkout queue was orderly but spent more time waiting in the queue than doing the actual shopping. Having lived in Japan for nearly 20 years with the ever constant risk of a major earthquake I always maintained an emergency pack containing all the basics close to the front door easily accessible in case of an emergency. Since returning to the UK I've always ensured that I have a sufficient supply of things like loo rolls, water, long-life milk, ginger jam, coffee, tea, malt drinks, biscuits, corned beef, corned beef etc. which, if necessary, will keep me going for at least a month or so. Keith

My car does not get much use during the winter so I use a "trickle charger", quite reasonable price purchased from Halfords. Having had to call out the M-B assistance people to get a dud car working the Dealership suggested the trickle charger, even suggested where I bought it!! Keith

Surely its Danish, Danish steam locos have the red ring on the chimney ….. and Lego is Danish..... Keith

Talk of Forces Radio reminds me of my time in Singapore between 1975 and 1976 at which time there were still some British Forces based in Singapore who had their own local radio station which broadcast daytime programmes. Made use of the broadcasts to wake me up in the morning but one morning there was nothing but silence until some minutes later there was a rather exhausted announcer puffing and panting, "sorry folks, overslept this morning" Keith

...and in Singapore speak "what to do lah!" Keith

I can vouch for that! Keith

Heard on Radio Kent this morning that this monstrosity will be docking in Dover today, its first port of call in the UK. Supposed to leave Sunday evening (with a firework display), visit Liverpool and then off to New York and down to Miami where it will be based. Don't think there will be many return trips to Dover..... Keith

...and there is also the linkage of Tim Mulhall of Golden Valley with Hornby.

My copy of "The Hornby Book of Trains - the first one hundred years" by Pat Hammond has just arrived in the post. 7 inches x 10 inches, hardback, paper outer cover with a Hornby Centenary sticker, 448 pages, plenty of pictures and many hours of bedtime reading. Keith