teaky

I agree. I almost didn't put the statement in my post but felt it added some context. Opinions appear to be far more polarised in the US over this and have divided along political and religious fault lines, so it is unsurprising that articles worded this way are published. To me, the important part is the CDC data.

Not UK but some figures from the US illustrating the startling difference in cases between vaccinated and non-vaccinated. "Vaccine Refusal Keeps the Pandemic Alive in the United States. There is no question now. After months of real-world tracking, the data is unequivocal. COVID-19 vaccines are undeniably safe and remarkably effective. Those who are eligible yet choose not to receive one are choosing to keep the threat of COVID alive in the U.S. They are choosing to allow hospitals to be stretched to the brink. They are choosing to endanger themselves and others. They are choosing to permit the coronavirus to continue to rack up an alarming death count – over 200,000 Americans since June 1st, more than 9 in 10 of them unvaccinated! The latest data finds that unvaccinated people are 5.8 times more likely to test positive for COVID-19 and 14 times more likely to die from it compared to fully vaccinated persons. Still, only 64.3% of eligible Americans are fully vaccinated as of December 10th. The novel coronavirus is not going away, but we have the incredible means to almost entirely defang it. Let's overcome the division, the fear, and the rampant misinformation and choose to end COVID's suffocating grasp by getting collectively vaccinated. Together." Source of the above quotation: https://www.realclearscience.com/blog/2021/12/11/the_biggest_junk_science_of_2021_covid-19_edition_806977.html Data behind it: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#rates-by-vaccine-status

Well spotted Peter. A quick look through Yeadon volume 4 suggests 4771 is the only one without front steps. Even the other four of the first batch of five V2s have steps.

Hattons are expecting these in January.

No he isn't, Mick. That's over on the other side. He's gr.king here on RMweb.

I can't decide which is more amusing: the antics of the driver or the strange emphasis the reporter puts on words, seemingly at random.

Weathering perhaps? The top of the boiler would be a good location for soot for example. If you want to keep the pristine finish then for such a small area, you might be better custom mixing your own paint and just experimenting to find a mix that looks right to your eye.

Well I appear to be one of the lucky ones. No damage apparent thus far. It has now been squirrelled away by my wife and I have a few weeks to work on my surprised face for Christmas day. Great service and communication as ever from Derails. Well protected in multiple layers of packaging - Hornby box, Hornby-labelled cardboard box, bubble wrap, outer cardboard box. Rather than just hopping across the county border Royal Mail took it for a sightseeing tour of Milton Keynes and Birmingham before knocking at the door this morning. I do feel sorry for the many people who have received damaged models. Unproven so far, but it does seem like the models were broken at source, judging by the comments and photos. Hornby's response to this matter should be a good guide to their current attitude to customer service.

Ah yes. Happened to a previous employer of mine too. Workmen digging a trench near to the data centre, spade through power cable, workman thrown onto his back but OK. No problem, the emergency generator will kick in as soon as it starts using the battery always kept charged using a trickle charger. If only someone had checked the 13A fuse!

Surely, it will be his fault regardless of who read the instructions?

As far as I know, aside from the world cup final, rugby union has never been in Category A which is what led to the England home matches being lost to Sky a while ago when the RFU got greedy. Fortunately the BBC and ITV have recently been successful in working together to keep the Six Nations on terrestrial TV. Even in the professional era, I just feel that if the national team is playing then the nation should be able to watch them. It seems crackers that there have just been a series of matches involving the home nations and only one part of the UK (Northern Ireland) has been able to watch its own team. As it happens, I am fortunate to have a subscription to Prime so I have watched all the matches and there has been some great rugby played. France beating New Zealand sets up a particularly juicy opening match for the next world cup and I believe ITV have the broadcast rights. Anyway, I'll put my soapbox away now.

But the Irish team has the distinction of being drawn from both inside the EU and outside it now. I wonder if that increases paperwork and customs checks?

All three of Ireland's autumn internationals (Japan, New Zealand and Argentina) are listed on the Channel 4 website. Off on a slight tangent, it's about time England rugby matches were classified in the same way as football so that the English can watch the national team on a terrestrial channel. (Though we can probably do without the same match being on BBC and ITV simultaneously.)

Announcement on global trial of new laws: https://www.world.rugby/the-game/laws/global-law-trials Overall, they appear positive. It remains to be seen how the 50:22 law will affect the game. It strikes me that it will have a positive effect in drawing away from a rugby league style defensive line but will inevitably lead to more kicking. Will it reduce the amount of flowing, passing rugby? Will there be more lineouts and fewer scrums? Will prop forwards in the old-fashioned mode be replaced even more rapidly by taller players able to jump in the lineout? Will we see two fullbacks and three centres (or one centre and two wingers)?

Rugby player Quade Cooper, born in New Zealand, has been denied Australian citizenship. He only has 70 caps for Australia! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-57804651 It's a mad world.

Well, I found it became more pleasing as our host gradually added more buildings to block it from view.

No, that bits fine, it's the locomotive that needs changing.

Such sad news. I really hoped Gordon was on the mend. My thoughts are with his family.

They'd only turn up at night when the merchant had gone home.

I was thinking: like that but turn the hut 180°. The front is visible and is approachable for customers. The back would give an opportunity to add a little junk and weeds between the hut and the coal bins.

This has never seemed to me to be a good way to recruit staff.

I gambled on any significant issues being sorted or being fixable without too much effort and pre-ordered one from Derails. They requested payment of the balance a few hours ago so a J27 in LNER livery should be with me soon. BTW They're cheaper than Hattons: https://www.derails.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&filter_name=j27&product_id=2219

Ah, so I'm surplus to requirements then?

You can't eat 'em when they break down either.

I'm still on 20H2. I have just checked and KB4023057 is pending. Looking at the history KB4023057 has been installed several times over the last few months.