JohnDMJ

Good Afternoon Awl, however it may not remain thus! Being a (relatively) responsible citizen, I have voluntarily undertaken PCR tests to monitor my C19 status. I have also availed myself of a Lateral Flow home Test Kit which arrived in less than 24hours of its being requested. I have read that this is, probably, not the most accurate and reliable method of testing but, hey, let's give it a go! All tests carried out per the instructions proved negative, i.e. C19 free. Then the Engineer in me kicked in and I 'wasted' a test to see what result it would give. I took the swab out of its sheath and rubbed it in the solution as prescribed then applied the four drops to the device. Marker went straight to the C (i.e. clear, negative) position. Want to fake your results - seemples! Don't even need to shove the swab up your nose!

Good Morning Awl, for with an Engineering train passing though later, it may well be! I note: The technology, per se, is not usually the stumbling block. It is usually the end-user's perception of what it can do which is the problem!

Good Morning Awl, for there remains every possibility of it becoming thus. Bank Holiday morning has dragged a bit but there is impending danger of some eyelid inspection anytime soon! It has been said: Perhaps leaving it switched on and working out how to ignore some calls and respond to others might be their next point of tuition!

Thanks for the info, @PhilJ W; where is 'locally'? Whilst marching to demonstrate my style (in which I do take Pride!) is not my thing, it is always interesting to map the progress of such things!

A propos of nothing in particular, it would seem that both Southampton and Crawley's Pride marches have gone ahead today! Some of us can live with that!

Good Evening, as it is becoming such. I will refrain from upsetting @chrisf any further! (For now, at least!!) However, the Highway Code also applies to pedestrians and horse riders, as few realise!

Good afternoon Awl, for it has that potential! In current times, with the existence of, as you so frequently describe it as ""that ruddy virus"", the NHS has been trying hard to indicate its spread by using mobile phone technology. If your 'phone is not switched on then you are selfishly unable to benefit from these generous efforts! But not all. IMHO, the whole philosophy of driving in the UK is down to inconsistent practices. We have The Highway Code, which many people do not realise applies to them as it "only applies to road users"! It applies to everybody who walks, cycles, etc. on a public highway. IMHO, it should be taught in Junior School. In sailing terms, power gives way to sail. In road terms, pedestrians cyclists, horse riders, and so on, take precedence over the car. THE CAR IS NOT KING!

As also someone who has the qualification to PAT certify equipment, @John M Upton's remarks are relatively understated. The only thing plausible with that piece of trash is, as has already been stated, condemnation by sledge hammer! All too many railway modellers have little or no comprehension of electricity and how components can degrade over time. If anyone calls, in my professional capacity, to discuss anything Hammant & Morgan, I will give them concise answers and mention asbestosis! IMHO, the equipment should be condemned and the user certified!

Good Afternoon Awl, for being the first in a series of 16 at home, it has the potential so to be. However, the world seems to be at odds with itself: So Sail now gives way to Steam or powered? Was the ""offending"" vehicle of UK registration? All non-UK drivers are taught to respect pedestrians! It would be interesting to have a take on this from any Police Response drivers! It certainly would be!! Me too! Checking my bank accounts and transferring funds are the key requisite. Texting comes next as it is very much less intrusive than calling the recipient! IMHO, the telephone is the rudest invention ever - it interrupts your flow and demands attention. Unless I am expecting a planned call, tough, it will go to voicemail! I may respond to any message left. (Case in point - whilst behind a shop counter, I was talking with a customer face2face and the 'phone started ringing. He asked me if I was going to answer the call, to which I said that I was engaged with his business!) @chrisf, I abhor your attitude to leaving your 'phone switched off until you want to use it and respectfully suggest that you yourself are able to filter the incoming calls and accept or ignore as necessary.

Good Evening Awl, for it marks the start of 16 work-free days! I note: To heck with opposable thumbs! Flies have compound vision. Chimps and otters, to name but two, regularly use tools to assist feeding (and I don't mean knives and forks!). Nature itself is the best controller of fire with natural forest fires not only clearing unwanted growth but also stimulating some species of flora, fauna and 'livestock' into regeneration. Mankind has not created anything in this sense, mere abused and disrespected it. As an Engineer, I have oft observed that we are on a technologically decreasing spiral. IMHO, I am glad that I have not introduced offspring into this mess for I would fear for their future. Technology and other developments are already leaving us in danger of "I ordered this tomorrow, why hasn't arrived yet?" Has anyone seen the Great Oozlum Bird recently?

Description should include the fact that it's home made, non-proprietry. I'd offer £1.00 just to get it OUT of general circulation! I can see no evidence that it would achieve PAT Certification.

Evening Awl, for I anticipate it might become a tad frustrating. Only one more POeTS day until 9 days leave and a Bank Holiday so hopefully won't be too bad! Met with a couple of colleagues at the walk-through C19 PCR test centre this morning; hopefully will compare notes (either face2face or by text) tomorrow. Results expected early morning. (Lateral Flow tests have shewn negative thusfar!) Elsewhere: Aaah, sounds like a gravy boat holiday! Hope you get to use as much track as possible and have a relaxed 4 days!

Good Evening (again?) Awl, for this evening has been interesting with much telephoning and texting. Elsewhere, child-hood memories have been stirred: A quick google suggests: https://www.google.com/search?channel=fs&client=ubuntu&q=robertson+jam+golliwog

Good Evening Awl, for, even after the day it has been, still has potential. PCR test taken at 17:30 last evening; result at 18:20 (after a day of angst!) unreadable! In process of rearranging a re-test!. Elsewhere: The galling fact is that I started at the same time as someone much younger than I at the same time and the same salary. When I was researching for my tribunal, I learned that said whipper-snapper was on in excess of £40,000! A colleague delights in wearing a leather jacket with full arm tassels. One of his female acquaintances (now, I understand, no longer with us) was a practising vegan. He happily accompanied her on her stand at a (IIRC) Green Party conference and, when asked about his jacket, simply replied that it was re-cycled grass! "Every dog has its day!"

Morning Awl, for I have not yet established whether or not it is / will be good and have not (yet) received my PCR test result. Elsewhere: I am minded of the sitcom "Love Thy Neighbour", brilliantly written and reflecting the humour of the time! The UK has a history of 'doing things on the cheap'! Channel Tunnel was a case in point! IIRC, British banks wanted their money back tomorrow whilst foreign banks offered 30+ year investments. The philosophy of patching roads is a false economy; spend several £x,000K on patches to the same site whereas 1 of £x,000K-1,000K for a full repair would last much longer! ISTR I have never, in 43 years of employment, never having broken the £30,000 salary barrier!

Good evening Awl, although with the news about Charlie, maybe more inevitable than good! A reasonable day had; sanity retained (such as it is!) Finally, thanks to a colleague, managed to crack the code for a C19 test which has now been undertaken; just awaiting the results. It seems at least 3 of us were tested at the same centre! Elsewhere: The Awlgle has landed?

Noticed the change from E5 to E10 on 95 Octane last time I filled up. Normally, I'd get just shy of 300 miles from a full tank; this time I only achieved 251 for the same daily journeys. 35 mile warning came on and soon dropped to 20 miles in less than 4 miles travel! Just filled up and am trying 98 octane E5 to see if that counters the effect. Car's computer suggests 350 mile range!

OK, let's get this over and done with: You know it's just a sham, and it stinks!

Good Afternoon Awl, for shopping is shopped and I am now back home to repose and wind down before the whole tread-wheel kicks off again tomorrow! Two interesting observations (for which I thank the observers): It was in recovery from a gastroenterology procedure that cardiac got involved! Recovery room on the ground floor; blood pressure on the first floor and pulse in orbit somewhere! It is ensuring that I am unaware of what is going on in my surroundings that is my main concern. I still remember the root canal treatment I had in the late 90s; two phials of the usual anaesthetic (novocaine?) followed by a total of three individually applied clicks on the ratchet of a more powerful potion and the dentist gave up!

Good morning Awl, and welcome back Flavio! Battle to be done shortly with the local trains in order to obtain some provisions for today and tomorrow. Thank you, Flavio, for your comments My 'consideration' of local anaesthetic is what the dentist uses - like paracetamol it does nothing for me! As the operation is to my eyelid, I want to be out for the count to ensure I see nothing either! A pre-op appointment is already in place when I will raise these concerns and try to ascertain the post op 'repair' time before normal activities can be resumed. I am also mindful that the Eye department seems to be in a world of its own; I have already postponed one appointment having told them that I was due with ENT for a possibly related issue and an ocular review might be better with the results from ENT in hand; what did they do? Booked the eye appointment for the day before the ENT! They are also aware that I am under cardiac investigation and suggested that the op be carried out after that; I still await the cardiac assessments!

And an illustrative piece of paper!

Good Afternoon Awl, although only if the mizzle turns into something definitive and decisive; sunshine, torrential rain, anything but mizzle! On retirement: It's not flat-packed!

Wonder if @newbryford's looking in?

Is there nothing in the decoder's instructions? It is not relevant that you are using an ECoS controller!

Good Evening Awl, for it is unlikely to be any worse than the day just completed. Perhaps a shot (or two) of something around 40% proof might help it pale into insignificance, but that's only a temporary fix and the round will start again all too soon on Moanday. (Cue The Boomtown Rats?) In other news, I note that driving standards are again in topic: Given my experience in France, Germany and Switzerland, it seems that pedestrians have a higher 'priority' than cars. Even in the UK, you can often spot a foreign-taught driver by their courtesy to pedestrians and cyclists! I have learned a lot from watching others drive but still (albeit rarely) revert to the bullish British 'Car is Supreme' mentality when I my mind is not fully on what I am doing.