BlackRat

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.

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.

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. 

2 hours ago, polybear said:

 

Not sure that eighty quid a month will enable you to live like a King though - hopefully you missed a "0" out?

 

 

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!

Morning one and all, slowly getting back into the swing of things here tho I must report all is well and on the mend..... I think!

Bit disappointed that the local plod gym is closed, provided at great expense for me and the two coppers who use it. In the two years it's been open, I've only had to share the facilities three times.

Its been an important part of my recovery but hey ho.

Im also glad to say that my mojo with regards to cutting, sticking and filing bits of plastic and metal has returned, to such an extent I managed to remove the top of my left index finger!

Thanks to the NHS it's all sewn back and like me recovering.

Im back in work, but to be fair not sure how much longer I can go on working for the old bill, even as a civvy I get very frustrated at the total incompetence and breath taking arrogance of some of the senior bosses, 59 in June and a possible pension of £80 a month is veryyyyyyyy tempting.

Stay safe and thanks to everyone for being on ER, been reading it daily and it's  been a bit of a comfort blanket.

Cheers.

Greetings one and all and my best wishes to you and yours for a better 2021, and a healthy and happy new year.

Funny, prosperity doesn't really seem to matter now does it?

All very subdued here, tho we had son and his family over, and managed a takeaway and a lively 8 year old kept us all going.

Predictions now seem pointless, but at least if you're reading this....... you're still alive!

Stay safe, normal service will be resumed as soon as possible!

Christmas Greetings and best wishes to you all.

I've not posted for quite some time, but have followed Early Rises as and when I could.

I think in many ways this Christmas is a little special, and I thank you all for being there, even though you didn't realise you were.

Have a very merry Christmas and my thoughts and best wishes are with you all.

Take care, enjoy the day whatever it holds and here's to a hopefully better new year.