The All New Megathread

[Luckypants]

It does seem a lot chillier today. forecast not so great for the weekend. I'd like to get some real weather after the dull mirk and stillness of the past couple of weeks.

[garynortheast]

Well, that's been something of a week! Interesting conference in Llandrindod, followed by some potentially rather less then good news regarding health for Jan. Just waiting for some test and x-ray results atm.

Doesn't feel like I've stopped for the last few days!

[Craig380]

Fingers crossed it isn't bad news, Gary.

[garynortheast]

Thanks Craig.

[garynortheast]

Morning all. Looks like winter is headed our way this week with a fair bit of colder weather and sleet. I'm supposed to be going to Llandrindod again for a meeting on Wednesday, but given the weather I think I shall stay put and go for the MS Teams option!

I think those of you further north than me are about to get some proper snow.

[Craig380]

To think that last Thursday it was comfortably in double-figures celsius ...

Watched a lovely documentary on Disney+ yesterday, 'Billy & Molly, an otter love story.' About a man on Shetland who finds a young, half-starved otter. Beautifully shot and I'm not afraid to admit I bawled like a babe-in-arms at parts of it. I hadn't realised that Shetland is as close to Bergen in Norway as it is to Aberdeen.

[garynortheast]

To think that last Thursday it was comfortably in double-figures celsius ...

Yep. Last Wednesday afternoon's ride back from Llandrindod was beautifully warm. Each time I had to stop for any more than a minute or two I felt I had too many layers on!

Watched a lovely documentary on Disney+ yesterday, 'Billy & Molly, an otter love story.' About a man on Shetland who finds a young, half-starved otter.

Never seen that before, may have to look it up (but on something other than Disney!)

Beautifully shot and I'm not afraid to admit I bawled like a babe-in-arms at parts of it.

I have definitely noticed that as I get older, emotions run much closer to the surface. Whether it's a function of age, or an accumulation of sometimes overwhelming worldly experiences I'm not sure.

I hadn't realised that Shetland is as close to Bergen in Norway as it is to Aberdeen.

I think I'd read this somewhere before. The indigenous accent up there has definite Scandinavian hints to it.

[Craig380]

I have definitely noticed that as I get older, emotions run much closer to the surface. Whether it's a function of age, or an accumulation of sometimes overwhelming worldly experiences I'm not sure.



We're getting soft in our dotage :D

[garynortheast]

We're getting soft in our dotage :D

Maybe it would be a good thing if men generally were more like it. Perhaps there would be less conflict in the world. :(

It is now cold and wet here, with the prospect of about 11 hours of rain and sleet from 8pm onwards. I've put the electric blanket on as I've decided it's cheaper and more efficient to retire to a warm bed with a book than to sit up with the central heating on!

Let's hope we're not too badly snowed in tomorrow morning.

[Luckypants]

I think those of you further north than me are about to get some proper snow.

Yep, we've had a load. About 3 inches laying. Road to the village has been ploughed and gritted so not too bad.

[garynortheast]

Here too Mike, and still snowing!

https://i.imgur.com/8udWmoK.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/gQ4eNnA.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/e4G7CwN.jpg

[Seeker]

Looks pretty but always does till it gets slushy. We had light, wet snow last night but rain this morning (now stopped).

[Luckypants]

I had a load of snow slide off the solar panels earlier, didn't half make me jump! The little avalanche didn't look as impressive as it sounded when I looked outside. :p

[garynortheast]

Brrr, it's very cold out there and there's more snow forecast for tonight. Stay safe everyone!

[redtrummy]

Brr and I didn't quite finish the hedge cutting nor set garlic and shallots. May be a plant pot job in the greenhouse now

[garynortheast]

Morning all. Cold here again, and we had a bit more snow overnight. In fact we've just had another 30 minutes of it, but the sun is now out so I shall get out with Mabel shortly.

Brr and I didn't quite finish the hedge cutting nor set garlic and shallots. May be a plant pot job in the greenhouse now

I've got one lot of garlic in, but I have another 4 bulbs to split up and plant. I think they will be waiting till the snow has gone. It's forecast to be a bit milder this weekend coming so maybe I can get them in then.

I was supposed to be attending a TSP meeting this morning. It had already been changed from a face to face in Llandrindod to a Teams meeting because of the weather. Now it's had to be postponed till Friday as our chair has lost his internet connection. And I'd just got settled with a large cafetière of coffee in readiness. Ah well....

[garynortheast]

Aaaand...it's snowing hard again. Going to get wrapped up and get out in it with Mabel I think. :D

[Sir Trev]

Had the day off yesterday and had half a mind to traipse up to the NEC and the Bike Show, but opening the curtains at 7:30 to find big fat snow flakes falling persuaded me to go back to bed instead.

[Luckypants]

Our estate road had turned icey yesterday, so I spent some time after work gritting it from the council grit bin. Its made a difference as despite more snow overnight there are clear tracks for cars to get out. No bugger else thought to do it nor did they come out to help when I was at it.

[garynortheast]

Had the same here last winter Mike. Although there was very little snow it was enough to make the 1 in 5 approach to this end of Bron y Gaer pretty much impassable. Despite the fact that quite a few cars and pedestrians have to use it to get out, I was the only one out there with a shovel, clearing and gritting.

[Luckypants]

Yes, our road slopes gently upwards so once a few cars polish to snow / ice its hard to get moving. I just think no one thinks to help themselves and others so much these days. The roads magically clear themselves :smt076

[garynortheast]

Yup, folks seem to have the idea that there will always be someone else to do this stuff for them. Translate that to a global scale and it's not hard to see why we are so deeply in the crap.

I like the expression, "If not me, then who? If not now, then when?"

[garynortheast]

A very happy 11th birthday to this girlie for yesterday!

https://i.imgur.com/HCchv2P.jpg

[Luckypants]

Happy birthday Mabel! Our Jack was also eleven last week.

[garynortheast]

Happy birthday Mabel! Our Jack was also eleven last week.

Yay! A belated happy birthday to Jack as well then. :-)

[Sir Trev]

Our estate road had turned icey yesterday, so I spent some time after work gritting it from the council grit bin. Its made a difference as despite more snow overnight there are clear tracks for cars to get out. No bugger else thought to do it nor did they come out to help when I was at it.

The council grit bins are a cause for argument round here. People take buckets full for their own driveways of course (gits) but the over-keen morons from a close just off my road come out in force at the first sight of snow and spread barrow loads of the grit on their road, even saying how wonderful their spirit is in the local paper once. Trouble is their road is level and does not need it but my road resembles a ski slope, and there's never any grit left for the 1:5 bit of the road that needs it 'cos the dipsticks from the close have used it all...

[Sir Trev]

Happy birthday to both Mabel and Jack.

[garynortheast]

Afternoon all.

It's seriously wet here, been raining most of last night and all day today, so it's a day of indoor jobs.

Jan has encouraged me to deal with some curtains I have in the bedroom. They're both much too long so we've taken them down and she's cut and turned them up ready for sewing. I'm just about to run them through my lovely old treadle Singer 66, but as I've done next to no sewing on a treadle machine I thought I'd try a good length of it on the curtain offcut. I astonished myself by getting the line of stitching straight and keeping the machine moving in the right direction. There's a definite knack to using a foot treadle, and, happily I seem to have got it.

These beautiful old machines are a real delight to use and I suspect I shall be making good use of this one from now on. Hugely satisfying thing to do.

[Sir Trev]

Curtains By Gary - good rates for Org members.

Nice one Gary. We had some curtains altered when we moved in here over 22 years ago and it was stupidly expensive even then. If you can successfully do it yourself then go for it.

Pouring rain here all day too, so I installed a mini burglar alarm in the shed. Effing loud, but then it's meant to be...

[garynortheast]

Morning all. We appear to have some fairly serious areas of flooding around here now with more rain forecast for this morning. Hope everyone is dry and safe!

Curtains By Gary - good rates for Org members.

Nice one Gary. We had some curtains altered when we moved in here over 22 years ago and it was stupidly expensive even then. If you can successfully do it yourself then go for it.

Pouring rain here all day too, so I installed a mini burglar alarm in the shed. Effing loud, but then it's meant to be...

Lol, I think I'd have a considerable distance to go before I was that good Trevor. While using these machines is a rewarding thing to be doing, it's all done on a basis of need rather than any desire to carve out a new career! :smt046

[Sir Trev]

Hosing it down again here today and blowing up fierce too. I've just noticed the greenhouse door has blown open overnight so I do hope it's not popped one of the glass pains out again. As it's toughened glass I was OK last time and added more glazing clips, so fingers crossed.

On the bright side, despite the rain, Lady Poppy and I have just had a lovely peaceful two mile walk through the local woods. Only met one other person.

[garynortheast]

Had a very nice walk here this morning too, once the rain had stopped. But crikey, the trickling streams around here are all currently raging torrents. I think Shrewsbury is going to be copping a huge amount of water in about 24 hours. :smt119

[garynortheast]

Morning all. Cold and frosty start to the day here, clear skies and a gorgeous sunrise.

some potentially rather less then good news regarding health for Jan. Just waiting for some test and x-ray results atm.

Blood test and x-ray results for Jan have come back showing nothing sinister thankfully. MRI scan booked for a couple of weeks time. I'm hoping this will be an equally benign result.

Had a busy few days lately so a slightly lazier day in store today I think.

How's the week been so far for everyone else?

[Craig380]

Fingers crossed for Jan, Gary. The clear blood & x-ray results are a positive start.

Very deep frost here, going to give it an hour then heading out for a walk to Pott Shrigley in search of deer (we're just going to look at them, we don't have any plans involving venison. Although now I think about it ....).

[admin]

Good news on Jan. Dragged into town yesterday for some Xmas shopping, I managed to be pleasant about it, but not happy.

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[Sir Trev]

Lady Poppy will be is Shrewsbury tomorrow, Christmas shopping with her sister, so I do hope the flooding is not too bad.

It was 'effing cold when she set off this morning and most of the frost is still on the lawn as i type this, so I'm glad I was just working from home today. I had the fun of travelling up to Nuneaton yesterday for our annual finance conference and had rain with the chaotic rush hour traffic instead instead of ice. Glad it's only once a year as its a horrible journey past Warwick and Coventry.

[Ruffy]

I had the fun of travelling up to Nuneaton yesterday for our annual finance conference and had rain with the chaotic rush hour traffic instead instead of ice. Glad it's only once a year as its a horrible journey past Warwick and Coventry.
I feel almost duty bound to ask have you considered taking the train?

(Runs for cover)

[Sir Trev]

I feel almost duty bound to ask have you considered taking the train?

(Runs for cover)

Oddly, yes. Bermuda Park station is probably a 20 minute walk from our Nuneaton depot and there was an option to get there in time with just one change at Leamington Spa. Door to door though would have been nearly an hour longer than driving, cost three times as much, and I avoid rush hour trains like thd plague!

[admin]

Lady Poppy will be is Shrewsbury tomorrow, Christmas shopping with her sister, so I do hope the flooding is not too bad.

It was 'effing cold when she set off this morning and most of the frost is still on the lawn as i type this, so I'm glad I was just working from home today. I had the fun of travelling up to Nuneaton yesterday for our annual finance conference and had rain with the chaotic rush hour traffic instead instead of ice. Glad it's only once a year as its a horrible journey past Warwick and Coventry.We were in Shrewsbury on Wednesday and there were no flooding issues but the river was very high. The Frankwell car park is open again.

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[admin]

I finally deleted my twitter account. Such a shame that it turned into a cesspit.

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[garynortheast]

Afternoon all. Mad warm here for end of November, 15°C early this afternoon when Sioned and boyfriend Jacob and I were driving back home from Kerry Vale Vineyard after a pleasant lunch with my (ex)in-laws. We walked in the hills when we got back, and even on the tops it wasn't particularly cold.

I finally deleted my twitter account. Such a shame that it turned into a cesspit.

It's never been the nicest of places, generally too many trolls and hate-mongers. I've been on BlueSky for a little while now, and it's a far more pleasant experience. Most of the accounts I followed on the rancid bird site have now moved to BlueSky, with more following on a daily basis.

[Ruffy]

Oddly, yes. Bermuda Park station is probably a 20 minute walk from our Nuneaton depot and there was an option to get there in time with just one change at Leamington Spa. Door to door though would have been nearly an hour longer than driving, cost three times as much, and I avoid rush hour trains like thd plague!
I appreciate the feedback. Sadly your observations are not unexpected - especially the cost and crowding concerns, that I can relate to very easily!

[admin]

Afternoon all. Mad warm here for end of November, 15°C early this afternoon when Sioned and boyfriend Jacob and I were driving back home from Kerry Vale Vineyard after a pleasant lunch with my (ex)in-laws. We walked in the hills when we got back, and even on the tops it wasn't particularly cold.







It's never been the nicest of places, generally too many trolls and hate-mongers. I've been on BlueSky for a little while now, and it's a far more pleasant experience. Most of the accounts I followed on the rancid bird site have now moved to BlueSky, with more following on a daily basis.I've looked at Bluesky and I agree a much better experience.

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[Sir Trev]

Make do and mend day at Trev Towers. Finally took down the wall light in the sitting room that has not worked for years to see if it was fixable. It has an odd fluorescent lamp with a square fitting so of course the unit has been discontinued. I didn't want to be forced to buy four new lights hence the disassembly today. Turns out to be the microswitch according to my multimeter as there is no continuity across the terminals in either position. Thankfully it's a standard component as there were loads of them listed on EBay, so fingers crossed it does the trick when it arrives in a few days. Can you tell it's raining here so I can't get out and carry on with the winter pruning?

[garynortheast]

Not so much make do and mend here over the last week, more like pulling down the bits that were hurriedly put up when I first moved in and replacing them with nicer stuff.
Paper globe lampshades gone from the hall, replaced with these black metal, slightly steampunk affairs. Much nicer to look at and a warmer light than the previous white LED bulbs.

https://i.imgur.com/Ou9oC8e.jpg

Quite pleased with the effect.

[garynortheast]

Morning all. A wet day in store for us here, so I'll not be doing much outside today. Off to put some bulbs in pots for the spring for an elderly friend this morning but we can do that under cover thankfully.

What's everyone else got in store for the week?

[Craig380]

It's that time again for me, visits to The Christie tomorrow and Wednesday, then taking it easy after that. At least it isn't biking weather, as previous hospital weeks have usually coincided with sunny days!

[Seeker]

It's that time again for me, visits to The Christie tomorrow and Wednesday, then taking it easy after that. days!


Good luck, Craig, hope it all goes smoothly.

[garynortheast]

Best of luck Craig, a few days of rest and recuperation to follow sounds like a wise move.

[Craig380]

Thanks both :)

[admin]

Good luck, Craig, hope it all goes smoothly.And best wishes from me too.

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[Ruffy]

Good luck, Craig, hope it all goes smoothly.

Best of luck Craig, a few days of rest and recuperation to follow sounds like a wise move.

And best wishes from me too.
Likewise - Whilst you don't know me from Adam, I also hope things go OK for you, Craig.


Christie's were very good with my Mum many years ago now, and have done an amazing job treating a friend of mine's son quite recently.

[Craig380]

Thanks everyone!

@Ruffy: yes, The Christie has been fantastic all through my treatment, I realise I'm very lucky indeed having a global centre of cutting-edge oncology treatment just 15 miles from my house. Although it's a sobering experience every time I go there, as there are SO many people being treated. It rams home just what a treasure we have with the NHS, and why it needs protecting.

[garynortheast]

Morning all. We have another wet day forecast here so I don't think I'll be doing too much outside. I shall probably go and clear the last of the dead plants from the greenhouse and perhaps mulch the beds in there. The main indoor job will be making a cloth case for my daughter Eleri's low D whistle as a Christmas present.

What has the day in store for everyone else?

[redtrummy]

just cut off a Stop Lock on the DIL car. I had lost the keys. Next jobrefit a rooflight in the m/h (leaking) need a ay first. On top of that I promised the wife I would redecorate the kitchen before Christmas and also make a new compost heap for the hedge cuttings. I think I have cracked what was the main concern (Stop lock)

[garynortheast]

Morning all. Blue sky and winter sun! I shall make the most of it while it lasts as the rain is set to return later this morning.

Anyone planning anything for the weekend?

[Luckypants]

We're hoping the rain holds off long enough for ou trip to the Christmas Wonderland at a small person play park this afternoon. Taking the granddaughter to see Santa :D:D:D

[garynortheast]

Hope it holds off for you Mike, afraid the forecast isn't looking too good for later. :(

[Sir Trev]

Looks like I'll be hibernating again this weekend. The forecast is terrible for us. May pop round to Majestic though and make sure the wine rack is ready for the family coming over for Chrimbo. Give my Daytona boots a coating or two of Grangers G-Wax possibly. Oh, the bicycle chains could do with a clean and lube too... Perhaps there won't be that much hibernating after all :D

[redtrummy]

Anyone planning anything for the weekend? Yes hopefully staying dry! Been and fabricated a semi permanent replacement roof light today version2 for the m/h until the weather improves, and I can reseal it properly. I was outside last night at midnight supplementing the weights I had already put in place on temporary version 1, the wind was gusting over 45mph on a very stormy night.

[Luckypants]

Hope it holds off for you Mike, afraid the forecast isn't looking too good for later. :(
It worked out really well thanks Gary. The wind was just starting to get up when we left and no rain until we were safely home. the little one had a wonderful time, although rather shy of Santa, but she is only two :D

[Luckypants]

Anyone planning anything for the weekend?

Staying alive? :D Red weather warning here and the wind is gusting up to 80. Roads are flooding due to blocked drains. The power is off in the village and not due on again until 21:30 estimate. Its wild out there.

[Sir Trev]

I've now done my run out to Majestic and though we're not getting the worst of storm Whatever here in South Bucks it's horrible outside. My route there was partly beside the river Wye as it follows the A40 for a bit. It's a piddling little river these days but it had flooded over the road in places, so not a pleasant journey. Will hopefully stay indoors for the rest of the weekend now.

[admin]

I've kept mainly indoors over the weekend to avoid the storm, not that I had much planned. Some fencing is damaged but that was already wobbly. The wheelie bins have been wandering around the drive like a demented R2D2.

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[garynortheast]

Morning all. Still fairly breezy here, and cold with it. Thankfully most of the floodwaters have cleared, although I should think Shrewsbury must be getting it now as all that water moves downstream.

Hope nobody has had too much damage from the storm!

[Craig380]

It looks like we only caught the edge of the storm here, had some strong winds and bursts of rain but not as bad as expected.

I think it was earlier this year after a couple of days of heavy rain, I was on the A41 down to Whitchurch and it was like a road over paddy fields, flooded pastures as far as you could see on both sides of the road.

[Luckypants]

Hope nobody has had too much damage from the storm!

We were without power from 6:30am to 11:40pm on Saturday. Others just outside the village were off until 9:30pm last night. Lots of trees brought down around here, roads blocked all over the county. My neighbour over the back fence was trapped in his grounds / house for 24 hours as a veteran Yew in the churchyard came down and blocked his gates and the lane. Sadly a notable old oak in Ruthin's Cae Ddol park also came down, estimates of age range from 250-500 years. Parts of the village were flooded caused by the drains being blocked by debris, although most houses escaped anything coming in.

[garynortheast]

Morning all. Cold and grey here today, bah! Up early and bustling about getting ready to head to the doctor for a blood test. What an exciting life I lead. :roll:

What's everyone else up to today?

[Craig380]

Morning Gary. Dry and overcast here so intending to get an hour out on the bike, just to keep everything moving.

This afternoon there's a festive market in Macc town centre. I'd normally avoid that sort of thing like the plague but this time our favourite street food stall, Las Paelleras (you'll never guess what they do) is there, so we're going in to have some of their legendary paella and some brave potatoes :D

[garynortheast]

Sounds good Craig. Dry here too so I might also snatch an hour out on the bike at some point today. Sounds like you're back up and on top again after your last round of treatment.

[Craig380]

Thanks Gary - yes, I'm definitely back to something approaching normal again :)

[garynortheast]

Morning all. Grey and damp here again but not actually raining. A walk with Mabel then walk around the 18 month old mixed hedge in the front garden with a pair of secateurs to nip the tops off.

What's the day got in store for everyone else?

[admin]

Xmas lunch today with my ex work colleagues.

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[Sir Trev]

I'm still recovering from last night's post-team meeting drinking session in Bury St Edmunds. None of us went mad, but the very nice hotel we were saying at was not very restful. So many people clumping down the corridor to their room at 2am, and a heater fan that went bananas at random. Took me ages to work out how to turn it off... At least it was a short run out to my parent's from there but I did not get much work done. So tired.

[garynortheast]

Morning all. Another grey morning here and rain forecast for this afternoon, so the bike may well stay put today.

What are you all up to today?

[Craig380]

Just pottering today for us. Got out on the bike yesterday, as the roads were bone-dry and the ambient temps in double figures.

Had one of my favourite sections of road (the A5012 'Via Gellia' to Cromford) all to myself; it usually has quarry lorries and tractors grinding up and down but yesterday, it was clear of all traffic. I got into that rareified zone where you no longer feel like you're riding the bike, it feels like a part of you as you bank into a curve and accelerate out, with the roadside trees and walls just a fractal blur at the edge of vision. Lovely.

[garynortheast]

Just pottering today for us. Got out on the bike yesterday, as the roads were bone-dry and the ambient temps in double figures.

Had one of my favourite sections of road (the A5012 'Via Gellia' to Cromford) all to myself; it usually has quarry lorries and tractors grinding up and down but yesterday, it was clear of all traffic. I got into that rareified zone where you no longer feel like you're riding the bike, it feels like a part of you as you bank into a curve and accelerate out, with the roadside trees and walls just a fractal blur at the edge of vision. Lovely.

I love it when that happens. It has a distinctly meditative quality about it. My ride back from Oswestry yesterday was like that, comfortable temps, dry roads, and almost no traffic. Joy!

[Luckypants]

What are you all up to today?
I'm sitting in the VW dealership waiting for some warranty work on the suspension of my car. A bit of a boring morning :(

[Craig380]

I love it when that happens. It has a distinctly meditative quality about it.

Exactly that, you're completely in the moment.

[Sir Trev]

Personnel changes at my customer's office means several "new brooms" asking lots of questions trying to make a name for themselves, convinced they can catch us out. F off morons, we know what we're doing and you should know it by now! Was hoping for a quiet run down to Christmas but no such luck.

[garynortheast]

Morning all. Grim weather here; blowing hard and raining. I have to go to Llandrindod this morning for a meeting. I was going to ride the bike there but in the light of the weather I've decided to be sensible and go in the car. Boo....

How's the day looking for all you other .Org folk?

[Seeker]

How's the day looking for all you other .Org folk?

Just waiting for my frozen blackcurrants to arrive, currently delivering to#22 and I'm #36. I like APC's tracking.

Made up a new extension lead and repaired a very old lead - the problem with living in a 60's house is so few sockets.

Made up a lead to run my air fryer's heating element on its own as a test but still need parts.

Windy here but dry, occasional glimpses of the sun.

[garynortheast]

Morning all. Mixture of brighter spells and heavy showers here today. Not the nicest of drives to Llandrindod and back yesterday, idiot drivers and lorries!

Currently stuck indoors waiting for someone from British Gas to come and fit a smart meter. "Between 8am and 12.00" apparently. It's now 10.15 and still no sign. Jan's just taken the dogs out for a walk as I have to be here when the gasman arrives. I'd rather be out walking!

How is everyone else's day looking?

[garynortheast]

Morning folks. Wet and breezy here. It'll be on with the waterproofs later as a few of us here are getting together to move some piles of grass cuttings off a couple of banks and verges locally which we maintain for wildflowers. We'd been hoping for some drier weather but we're not going to get any for a while by the look of it so we're just going to have to get on with it.

What's everyone else up to this weekend?

[Craig380]

Quiet one this weekend, as the weather isn't looking too promising. Just pottering about, watching the football and catching up on the various TV series we're following.

[Ruffy]

Dare I say it: Last bits of Christmas prep for me this weekend. (A couple of gifts to sort out)

If the weather's not too foul, I might change the oil/filter on one of the cars that's due imminently.

[redtrummy]

Finished fitting a Hive thermostat to the boiler today in the hope it will save a bit of money and make us more comfortable - time will tell. (did get the son to do the configuration and pairing. It is what he ls happy doing and his mind is much younger than mine. ) we will see how it goes

[Sir Trev]

Poor weather here today so popped out to one of the local breweries that has a selection of certified gluten free beers (potential son-in-law is unfortunately intolerant) and then spent two hours wrapping Lady Poppy's Christmas and birthday presents. Had some thumping tunes cranked up to keep me going. It's nearly beer o'clock now and as I planned ahead I got some extra beer in this morning for just such an occasion :) :smt030

Better forecast for tomorrow so can hopefully finish the end of season pruning.

[redtrummy]

It may be better there Trev, here its awful! Heading to meet sis and families for a meal and a drink up in the Peak district today. We go North they come South.

[garynortheast]

Morning all (just!). Busy day here and no chance to get out on the bike despite the decent weather. :-( I have a list of tasks and chores to get through over the next couple of days to prepare for having seven people here on Christmas day.
Probably not going to get them done sitting here at the computer!

How's everyone else doing?

[Craig380]

Our morning plans were derailed by a call from my mum: she'd tripped and fallen in Macclesfield town centre, so we went to get her, make sure she was OK and brought her back to her house.

Thankfully she's OK and hasn't broken anything. Being the stubborn old lady that she is, she'd tried to avoid calling us (because she knew we'd give her a talking-to about carrying heavy shopping at her age, etc) but a police officer had been nearby when she fell, and insisted she called a relative or he was going to call an ambulance to get her checked over.

[admin]

The plan this morning was to nip into the local Sainsbury's to stock up on veg. Unfortunately it's sited in a retail park which is notorious for traffic. I didn't get very far as the traffic was backed up in all directions at 9.30. I went to Lidl instead which was much calmer. Probably cheaper too.

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[Sir Trev]

My already failed attempt at a quiet week winding down to Chrimbo shows no sign of improvement. I will be shutting down at lunchtime tomorrow, along with most of the rest of the company, and I got three unexpected "can you just..." requests this morning alone. So many people failing to plan ahead. Half a day to go! Just keep thinking half a day to go!!

[garynortheast]

My already failed attempt at a quiet week winding down to Chrimbo shows no sign of improvement. I will be shutting down at lunchtime tomorrow, along with most of the rest of the company, and I got three unexpected "can you just..." requests this morning alone. So many people failing to plan ahead. Half a day to go! Just keep thinking half a day to go!!

Gritted teeth Trevor, just half a day to go!

[Craig380]

'Can you just ...' jobs are the worst!

[Sir Trev]

Had some banging tunes on very loud in the study this morning to help keep me going. Much to the amusement of The Monkey who arrived at 1 o'clock to find me singing along to Smashmouth so much that I didn't hear her arrive.

OOO went on, phone and laptop shut down, wine was opened. Christmas has finally arrived at Trev Towers!

[Ruffy]

... unexpected "can you just..." requests this morning alone. ...
I'm guessing "of course I can ... in the New Year" would have been an unacceptable response?:rolleyes:
OOO went on, phone and laptop shut down, wine was opened. Christmas has finally arrived at Trev Towers!
You made it - yay!:D

For giggles I chose to go into the office this morning - I'd been expecting very small numbers but it turned out I was the only one on my floor (capacity c.70)!:smt119
As a result I had a quite productive day without too much disturbance for a change. I got to a suitable break point about 1500 and left - I figure the shift-based control staff can cope fine.;)

[garynortheast]

Morning all. Quick check to make sure we have survivors!

[Craig380]

I had a bit too much extremely ripe Stilton, but still here to tell the tale ...

[Seeker]

As a (mostly) vegetarian I am questioning my decision to buy a turkey joint at all, let alone one that feeds 8 since I live by myself. Now on my 3rd Xmas dinner (I started on Xnas eve).
On the plus side I still have 4 Xmas puddings left (I eat them throughout the year).