Happy Hippo

Lovely cloudless sky: Sun up and no wind. A little bit of frost and my daughter has commented " It's proper cold like" This change in the temperature stakes has coincided with a failure of our central heating boiler to fire up this morning. This is made worse because the new gas fire is sitting awaiting installation, so it might be a bit of a chilly day for us. The upside is I could run the live steamers on the kitchen floor (on temporary track) and get steam effects as you would outdoors. Saves coming in to make the tea! Ashers acting workshop sounds fun; Lathe trundles on stage left: 'Where's the brass bar?' Milling machine: 'He's behind you!' Or have I got that wrong? All have a pleasant day Regards Richard

Grey and cloudy after a damp night. Wife and daughter off to the shopping extraveganza that is 'Cheshire Oaks'. My credit card is getting quite excited by the thought of a spending spree. The bank account is already starting to wimper. Ashers: Your thumb ought to get a bit more flexible soon. talking of stiff joints made me recall a friend who had been prescribed viagra. The first time he took the tablet, he took it with insufficient water, and it got (temporarily) stuck in his throat. He woke up the next morning with a stiff neck! Regards Richard

Mike She is a teacher so can cut firewood with a withering glance Very good with mortar and excellent and cleaning and tidying. around the house as well as tools of the trade When she come home it is hard to stop her talking. She even talks in her sleep! Wrong shaped ball, although she thinks canaries are sweet. Very good at cutting 1:12 scale sleepers on the circular saw without losing any digits Anything with peas: especially peas, mayonaisse stuffed into a pita bread. Soldering and building volcanoes and any form of fire related activity.............arson excepted Also good at painting and decorating and varnishing window frames from a ladder. Regards Richard

The loaf came out of the oven, like a 'bap out of hell' to be replaced by a 'Megga Pie' This is really only an enhanced cottage pie, with a mashed top of potato, sweet potato, carrot and parsnip covered in double gloucester cheese(with chives). The meaty layer had mushrooms and some petit pois small peas added to the gravy, onions and lean mince. Goes down nice with a glass of cider and some Branston Pickle. My daughter is home for the weekend from Reading, so the Happy Hippo laundry department is now in full swing. (P'raps I should sent her around to prey on Mr and Mrs Stationmaster?) Regards Richard

Have we finished with the sax yet? I need to take the cheese out of my ears. Although having said that Jerry Rafferty's Baker Street would be quite appropriate, as I've just finished mixing up a wholemeal loaf (by hand). As Dr Quinn would have said : She's resting now! Regards Richard

It also covered Croes Newydd, last working home of the ex GWR 56xx/66xx class. 5605 and 6697 being withdrawn in the last gasp of ex GW steam in May '66 (According to the GWR archive). 5605 lead a typically insignificant but hard working life and spent her entire career in the Welsh Valleys before her last shed at 5C, and died quietly without fuss at Great Bridge. 6697 escaped the torches of Cashmore and went on to greater fame as a GWS loco at Didcot. I'll now get my anorak, tartan flask and repair my glasses with more sellotape. (and wipe away my tears after writing such sentimental drivel) Regards Richard Edit: Punctuation

Don, I never realised you were a fellow Welshman! Cewe(sic) loads of jokes about coming from Baaaaaarry Island, Baaaaangor, Baaaaaaala or Baaaaaaargoed. Lovely day here, I'm off to do some target shooting this morning. My trigger finger being in top form, unlike poor old Ashers' thumb. Regards Richard

The local polling station to our club in Wellington is our clubroom! So we had some of our club members manning the kitchen all day, keeping a close eye on the layouts and other bits and the returning officers were quite happy for us to keep the kettle going for them. They also were quite happy for the door to be kept shut. (On ecological and environmental grounds naturally) There was a big sign outside telling voters they needed to come in to vote! Regards Richard

Dave, As one who is also retired, and to quote the Dowager Duchess of Grantham: 'Pray, what is a weekend?' Regards Richard

Ian will be absent from ER's school tomorrow as he will be suffering from a surfeit of Bacon. Regards Richard

Pete, You be careful! Calling MI 5 crap, might get you thrown off RMWeb, Regards Richard

Mike prompted by your self googling, I did the same for myself; Page 12! I really am an internationally washed up 'hasbeen'. And the further down the listings I sink the happier I will be! Obscure is good Regards Richard

Whatever I had to eat this evening....it tasted fowl don't you just love the old corny jokes? Onto much more serious matters, I'm currently consuming a glass of single malt whisky, courtesy of the Penderyn Distillery near Hirwaun. Regards Richard

Andy, I'm sorry to say this, but that is the worst chocolate sponge I've ever seen. Must try harder (a recurring comment on my old school reports) Regards Richard

Mick, Did you manage to pick up the extra three on special offer in Waitrose? Regards Richard

Train storm .......... or rain from Yorkshire? Regards Richard

Ian, Happy birthday! Being a hippo with little brain I decided to put in a load of washing before we went to church yesterday. as the weather was so good, I hung it out to dry, and in the afternoon, went out to do garden centre type shopping. On our return, we found there had been a rather violent train storm, which had rendered the washing on the line wetter than when it had been put out. If I'd known it was going to do this I could have hung it out dry and got a free pre-wash! Today the weather is Shropshire's finest: Grey, miserable and spotting with more rain. One of those days which make the bones of us oldies, groan and creak with protest. With this in mind, my wife booked us on a cruise. I thought a week in the Caribee, just before Christmas would be a fine thing. But this cruise is for the Christmas markets in Antwerp and Amsterdam. Somehow i cannot see myself wearing shorts and sipping cocktails alongside the pool whilst steaming across the North Sea in December: I suppose I could, but I wouldn't need to be reading '50 shades of Grey', I could see it, horizon to horizon! Back in the garden, the trees are now in full shed mode, so that will mean continual raking sorties until about August next year, when the cycle will start all over again. Regards Richard

Well, today we have a clear blue sky, the sun is out and there is just a very slight breeze. A beautiful day on which to remember those who have given their lives in the service of their country. Richard

Believe it or not, it's not uncommon, we have a family of feral GP living under a woodpile in next doors paddock. Not often seen but often heard squealing in typical GP fashion. Regards Richard

or liquorice allsorts

The sun is out and although there is quit a bit of cloud around, it's light and high. Up a little bit later than usual this morning, but this is my third posting! Having jet washed the conservatory and the patio yesterday (Note to self do the patio first next time!) I can feel some 'shed tidying' looming. No Blue Pullmans, or curtain rails to get in the way, although the light sabre would be so useful for trimming the hedge. Regards Richard

Mike You may not have a blue Pullman, but you will have the Hornby GWR Heavy freight collection! And they can Pull, Man! Regards Richard

I just have mine poured down a discarded boiler tube from a 94xx pannier tank, as I have veins like gas pipes (according to the practice nurse). Having just noticed the time, I fear I'm not such an early riser, I'm a later bedder. I shall bid you both good morning and goodnight. Regards Richard

Mr Speilberg, Mrs Spielberg, We've had an idea for a sequel: 'ET: The Rotation.' Just looked out the window to be confronted by 50 shades of grey. Although there is no rain lashing at the window yet. Definitely not a blue sky today. However, tib delivered and Elsa is lying in trip mode at top of stairs, pretending to sleep judging by the snorts and grunts. Don't worry Tony, I used to have a recurring dream of getting leave from the Army, coming home and being sent back to school in my pajamas! I'm sure there was a deep rooted psych thing going on there. Regards Richard

I have just been reading through the last page of posts and have been stunned by the wisdom and compassion displayed here in by fellow ERs. Fantastic Thank you all Regards Richard