PhilJ W

Goodnight all.

Thats about the normal ratio.

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Bin day tomorrow so I have to get the bin bags ready. The food waste bin isn't even half full so that can wait until next week. The thingy giving the weather at the bottom of the page earlier said it was snowing, I looked out to check but it was bone dry. Thats it for now, be back later.

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Just the odd twinge from Arthur Itis today but although they don't hurt the joints stiffen up if I remain in the same position for too long. The book model (castle) arrived but they sent the wrong one. The accompanying three others that I have are early editions and what I ordered was also the early edition but instead they sent me the later revised edition. I have contacted them and awaiting their reply.

The problem with RM is that they are still obliged to cover the whole of the country and at the same price whether you are posting a parcel to the next town or the Outer Hebrides. Their competitors have no such obligation so can pick and choose where they operate (see NHN's comments above). An interesting parallel with the 'Common carrier' obligation that British Railways were saddled with.

List of Royal Mail strike days in December. Friday 9 December Sunday 11 December Wednesday 14 December Thursday 15 December Friday 23 December Saturday 24 December

List of Royal Mail strike days in December. Friday 9 December Sunday 11 December Wednesday 14 December Thursday 15 December Friday 23 December Saturday 24 December

Morning all from Estuary-Land. And a cold Estuary=Land it is and whats more its going to be even colder over the next few days and even snow predicted for Friday. I'm with @iL Dottore with regard to turkey, even 'fresh free range turkey' is like eating greasy cardboard. I can remember when even chicken was a luxury meat (60+ years ago) and we only had it for Christmas. Then turkey became (and still is) the usual Christmas fare but that degenerated after they started breeding the unnatural monstrosities we have today. I went on to salmon for Christmas dinner but now even that is factory farmed. So this years Christmas dinner will be venison steak, culled from wild herds.

Goodnight all.

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Arthur Itis has been quiet today but started doing his clog dance this evening so I bought out the heavy artillery, the co-codamol and that is working.

Longmans, at the Timberlog Lane end of Long Riding, Basildon.

I've just ordered one from Rails, the LNER black one. I understand that originally they had a bow collector mounted on one of the bonnets. For what years did they have the bow collector?