BlackRat

Morning one and all...... Shorts are now the dress of the day, have been since the traditional start of the shorts season which begins on the 1st March and ends sometime in December. Hardly surprising one, has a large collection of shorts to rival an equally large collection of shirts. One becomes accustomed to the wind, which down ere finds places that other winds do not.

Greetings one and all. Suns out and a blue sky (in between clouds) but tiz a bit blowy! Lets hope it blows all the tourists who sneaked down (under cover of darkness....gen!) back home till things ease off a bit. Talking of promotions........ One of my very senior bosses once asked why I hadn't gone for promotion ( I had sorted my exams years ago, shortly after joining the plod). I replied saying that he paid me quite well to ride fast bikes and to shoot stuff. My career being one long adventure.......... happy days!

training for when Siegfrid and Roy retire???

Greetings one and all. Talking of languages,.......... various governments thought it would be a good idea for me (at various times in my life) to have the ability to speak Welsh, and later in life Norwegian. The first, taught at school once or twice a week was a complete waste of time. I remember 1t 15 revising hard for the upcoming exam and was dismayed to find you had to write an essay about life on a Welsh hill farm. I had revised the sea side so my exam, entitled Ar Lan Yr Mor didnt go down well. I got 15% for effort. Norwegian was far better as following an intense course in Plymouth, I spent nearly 4 months 'embedded' with the Norwegian Lensmen (local police) in Lillehammer and I could actually get by. Alas it has been over 33 years since my last visit and now I can just about manage hello and how are you. Franglais is good tho, and I can order cold beers by the score in Spain, as well as my fav octopus dish or prawns. Oleeeeeeeeeeee.....who needs more? Stay safe.

HEY! I rather like those shorts........ You should see the ones I DO have. NB! During incarceration I have been in contact with my Great Aunt, Moaning Loa, the arch princess of How wye eee. She has had hand maid, by the virgins of the island (they couldn't find any round ere) an out fit of such dazzling brilliance for me to wear at the next Tauntaun bash. Apparently a similar said out fit was last worn by one emperor to the amusement of his people till one lad pointed out twas not all it seemed. Stand by to be enthralled.......... NHY.....to CK...... 'How long has it been like that.......?' Me in reply....'.Why that's as long as its always been!'

Greetings One and All.........Jab went well, no ill affects from what I can tell. Perhaps in a year we will all turn into zombies....who knows? Delighted to get home tho to find a basket of fruit from a Mr Bill Gates followed up with a text asking me why I was where I was....... on the school run so apparently Bill was happy. Garage clear out has been (almost) finished with Mrs BR taking everything to the recycle centre as I have a habit of bringing stuff back, and for even blagging something out of a skip which 'may prove to be useful'. Its heartbraking what gets ditched....in the name of what. About 100 plastic takeaway containers went Thursday......and Friday I realised how useful they would be for the stack of assorted nuts, bolts, washers and screws which I have accumulated. It would put that 'must have' labeller to good use.......... so its back on a takeaway diet for a few months till my stocks are replenished. Suns out......bikes out later (to buy a pint of milk.....best milk is Bude way). Stay safe one and all.

Great news Al, I loved seeing Paynestown, you really captured the atmosphere.

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off for the jab I go, Its one little prick, I hope I don't get sick , Hi ho hi ho hi hooooo Jab day folks. Not much news, apart from making the decision to take early retirement some between now and next June. Told my boss as I was asking for leave for July and August to go to America, which if we are allowed to go was booked 22 months previous. He went on a bit about how I needed permission etc then was a bit startled as I stopped him and told him not to worry as if it was an issue I would save him any trouble and resign. Luverly jubbly. Happy daze!

Morning one and all, from a sunny (!) Kernow. Il D...... yes indeed they are......"A Constable, is a citizen, locally appointed who's authority is derived from the Crown." I also took the Queens shilling ( not that I got one mind you). If you want to know about the 'real' royal family....... ask one of the protection officers. Lots could be told, if only they were allowed to but the threat of the Officl Secrets act hangs over like the sword of Damocles. I joined up a sworn and avid Royalist. My own experiences now lead me to republicanism, but then I'm a Celt ( correct spelling) and we are known to be rebellious

Jabs booked.......apparently now they are jabbing anyone over the age of 56......... who knew? Not us apparently, and many others as well I suspect. Luckily a mate messaged us about it so we went on line and tried and.......success! Got in before the deluge of over 56ers so next Thursday it is. Good day all round, lovely walk along the estuary, 2 toots from two different choo choos and a wave from a nice lady driver into the bargain. Even managed a blast on the bike, ahem purely to go and buy a pint of milk of course! Stay safe one and all.

Good morning One and All on a brightish St Pirans Day. Not toooo much to report, still awaiting our jabs of freedom, hopefully not tooooo much longer and we can start to get ready for the influx of staycationers who have booked early holidays here. Plod are still very busy visiting countless second home owners who bravely fled to the sticks, one wonders what ever happened to the good old Blighty spirit of the blitz? Work calls today, but yet another new boss (5th in 3 years) with no background in my field ( nor does his boss) meant I was calling pensions yesterday to see if I can go........ Yes as I am over 55 that's not a problem. I've only worked ( never really had a proper job before) for 6 years, but there's enough a month combined with the Old Bill pension to be ok, depending what Dishi Rishi has up his sleeve of course. Stay safe and enjoy St Pirans Day!

I can vouch for these, outstanding value and great fun to make/knock about.

I often come home to find 'something' on the workbench to repair....... from Raybans to Rolex's (fake!!). I've gotten quite good at sorting 'stuff' now (Bodging really) but it does come in useful. Yesterday I had an intermittent fault on a controller that I use on the work bench for running in and testing etc....... Drilled out the rivets, found the fault (lose earth (!!!!!) tightened up the nut holding the earth lead to the case and replace the rivets with self tappers. There's a draw full of 'might be handy for repair' stuff! I used to get asked (usually on the approach to Chrimbo or juniors birthday could I fix some such loco or other and get it running as he was getting a train set etc grandads old stuff etc. I had to stop in the end as people were surprised to find that things like carbon brushes etc didn't grow on trees and had to be paid for!

Morning all from a grey and overcast Kernow. Generic birthday bet wishes etc and sorry for not responding but its been a hectic few days. MiL's funeral yesterday which went as well as these things can, particularly under the (ridiculous) covid regulations for such things. Still someone thought they were a good idea to keep us safe so these things we must endure, for now. Just the lightest hint of drizzle as the 16 of us awaited her arrival, all dressed in masks etc and a simple but lovely ceremony. A defibrillator on the wall raised a giggle.....as I pointed out it was too late for some of the visitors and a belly laugh in our car on the way home.....as a large owl was spotted beside the A38 in the Glyn Valley near Trago (her favourite bird). As in the Peter Kay funeral sketch son said.....Its a sign, thats her that is......and we roared, as indeed MiL would have. Personally I think it was a large plastic bird scarer, but who cares, it lightened an unpleasant moment. Today sees a garage clear out, as apparently I DONT need all that clutter do I......? And I need room for that second bike.....you can NEVER have enough motorcycles. Stay safe one and all.

All depended if it was a warm or hot day.......... a quick dip in burrator was certainly a welcome break in the summer. Another we did ( fortunately very rarely) was to the top of the Dewerstone. oh to be young and super fit!

If I starved on the streets of Bristol, then I starved worse on a British ship. RIP.

Afternoon one and all........ Who remembers the BR advert that used to finish..... 'Intercity far away, over the hills then home to stay' or some such wording? When I was based at Royal Marines Barracks Stonehouse, we had a band attached (the Band of HM Commando Forces) alas now gone with the cuts. Used to watch them practising in the drill shed, practice makes perfect, and that they indeed are. As I was a bit of a drummer...... I sometimes used to practice my meagre skills with the Corps of Drums .......and still have the white embossed sticks that one of the Buglers (NEVER drummers) presented me with. Happy days.

Greetings one and all from a fresh and blowy Kernow. Strange times we live in, trying to arrange a funeral isn't good at the best of times, throw in Covid restrictions and it's a bit of a nitemare. Still we seem to be getting sorted, and now it's all the rigmarole of going thru and sorting MiLs possessions etc. Normally charity shops are welcome recipients of new and good clothes etc but as they are all shut..............I think we will store them till things ease up. Talking of 'hard little coppers' ..... I worked with one who was ex SBS, silent but ohhh so violent when required. I can recall one incident.......when I pretended he was on his way to subdue one idiot, his previous dealings were enough for him to ' come quietly'! Happy days!

Study is almost finished, how come those final tweaks sometimes take weeks to do, or even get overlooked with the passing of time. Ive a list 'to do' so a few more will be ticked off today. A colleagues funeral today, we aren't allowed to go due to the restrictions but some of us will be lining the street as he goes on his final journey, a lovely man in all respects. We also lost my Mother in Law yesterday ( non Covid), which wasn't entirely unexpected but it's al ways a shock when it happens. Often the butt of my recycled MiL jokes, she put up with me for over 35 years with good humour. We had a laugh yesterday talking about when I first met her and what she must of thought (she had heard so much about 'Marines' ) and after 2 weeks I was asking for her daughters hand in marriage. That she didn't bat an eyelid, and threw herself into arranging our marriage 6 months later speaks volumes. She was a good woman, and I for one will miss her. Stay safe one and all.

Lovely. Those Chivers wagons really are the biz.......... and a pleasure to build.

I can't see what all the fuss is about regarding the vaccine....... About an hour after my mother in law had hers she had a nice bunch of flowers sent to her home address AND a follow up call from someone called Bill Gates.......

Morning all, generic best wishes, commiserations and congratulations. Busy few days ( over a week so far) as someone ( me) decided it would be a great idea to sort the study out....... I carefully measured ........several times.... and found that 3 x Ikea bookcases would fit across the back wall of the room......very snugly as it turned out, and a large rubber mallet was called upon to 'ease them in'. I decided to fit another next to my work desk, and a sneaky trip was organised to Exeter to collect it. Well done Ikea for an excellent example of click and collect, Just me and one other car in the vast car park and no close contact at all. Back in Cornwall by just after 0900 and the unit was up and installed by 11. Good opportunity for a clear out as well, so various mags we redistributed to my oppo, more went to the recycling and a few well earned beers resulted. I suppose we all hoard 'useful' things but over 100 plastic takeaway containers full of useful stuff is surely is a bit much? Odd bootlaces, milk bottle tops ( handy for mixing weathering colours) drink stirrers, and a myriad of other bits have been sorted and ditched. MRJ's, RM's, BRM's suitably sorted and ditched along with a number of books that no one now seems to want, shame really. RSPB BIrdwatch today, so feeders are topped up and binos ready, will make a nice break from sorting thru my junk! Stay safe one and all.

Morning one and all....not much to report, still not much feeling in index finger but at least the surgeon did a great job of sewing it back on, you can hardly see any scar at all. Vaccines slowly getting rolled out down ere, MiL sorted yesterday, tho luckily we have no snow because the village ( yes village) chosen for South East Cornwall is high up on the fringes of the moor. More centres allegedly opening soon........and apparently it's alphabetical order etc........ so the decision is now, do I chose a symbol like the artiste formally known as Princess......or change my name by deed poll. I'll let you know laters. Stay safe one and all. yours affectionately........ Mr A1 Aaron Aardvark.

I'd quite like to see articles on 'problem solving' as opposed to bit by bit articles. I recently had an issue with a GWR Monster which wobbled, everything seemed ok, bogies ran fine by themselves etc. I ended up cutting down a very small spring, and placing it on top of the bogies between the top and the Monster floor. All very low tech I admit, but it worked rather well and the wobble has gone. Now I know how to build one, having built several hundred wagon, van, coach kits over the years from plastic, brass, resin etc but it was a problem to get this one to not wobble. No idea where the springs came from, I've a habit of stripping and dismantling anything before its thrown out or recycled and have an alarmingly large collection of 'useful' bits.

No tiz right, Id like another zero on there but........ I only work 2 days (16 hours a week) as I job share, but to get a 'full' pension of (currently) about £214 I have to stay till I am 67 when the ststae pension kicks in.....if I make it!! So I reckon £80 will cover things like mags, modelling bits and bobs and the odd takeaway so £80 now is better than maybe nothing in 9 years. Ill end up decking someone soon so it might all be pie in the sky anyhow!