The Beach
What is the Beach?
It’s a place to go when the stresses of your real life need relieving. Sometimes it is fairly quiet and you might feel like you’re the only one around, but you can leave your ‘footprints’ for others to find later on. Othertimes it is the home for a real party, with constant gossip, leg-pulling, rumour, innuendo, chit-chat and weirdness.
If this were a forum (and it sort of is because we post responses to each other, not just to Eddie, hence our term for ourselves 'Froggers', a combination of forum and blogger) then the beach would be the off-topic area.
It's a tropical location, no matter the time of year it's always warm and pleasant there.
Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, the evenings balmy. It has a number of different locations; the Nick Clarke waterfront bar; the smokers corner; Fido's Run for the dog-walkers; the Naughty Step and many others.
How do you find your way around? There is no direct answer to the question.
The beach is a moveable feast, literally. It will be renewed by our Lord and master Mr. Edward de Mair each Friday morning. This is because we have found in the past that when the number of posts exceeds about 600 the entire thing becomes unwieldy and unstable. A case of the beach turning to quicksand.
Froggers often leave bottles / glasses / trays of their favourite tipple on the bar for others to sample, not to mention big / small eats.
There is a herd of camels who frequent the sands, which froggers are very fond of. There are sun-loungers, so you can take it easy and catch some rays. Quite often the late-night attendees will have a barbie.
It's a fun place, with only one real rule; Be nice to each other; we are ALL chums here. New Froggers are ALWAYS welcome.
The real debate happens on the other threads. The beach is a place for banter, whimsy, relaxation and friendship, where jarring comments are not particularly welcome. There are certain very mild protocols, which you tend to pick up as you go along. So slip your shoes off, feel the sand between your toes, relax and enjoy yourself.
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Morning Froggers, Blog Princes, Editors & Timelords! Anyone for Tennis?
Wow! Crikey! How did that happen? Aperitif! Aperitif! Come and look at this new island!
LOWER THE ANCHORS!
Morning all, lovely clean new beach and a welcome refuge from horrible wet June. So good to see old friends back again - MadMary, Mr Snow (takes a bit of getting used to, Mrs Trellis) and has anyone seen Helen Sparkles, Rosalind or Sara lately? Often wonder how many still lurk behind the sand dunes without posting. Helloooo there....
A quick paddle in this lovely clear blue water and then back to the muddy puddles. Might have some news about a froggers mini-meet later.
**disappears mysteriously behind the nearest large rock**
Hi GM, good morning to you!
I'm paying a very quick visit to the Beach to applaud our local posties. To my amazement, I witnessed the familiar red van draw up at 8.20 a.m. and the current cheerful bearer of envelopes come to our door armed with mail. On opening the door to express my surprise - and pleasure - at seeing him today of all days, he told me that all postmen have the choice to strike or not today, and that he and all his colleagues in Pulborough are in at work as normal.
Naturally, I passed on my thanks to him and his colleagues and confirmed my observation that we are, around here, extremely fortunate with our local postal workers.
I raise a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice in their honour!
Morning all.
Thank you all for all the welcome messages on the old beach. Deeply appreciated believe me.
Jason, I am sorry about your predicament, I too went through this a while ago (Three days before Christmas!) and I know exactly how powerless it can make one feel.
Happily, as one door closes, another opens and what I eventually ended up doing is infinitely better.
Right, off for a stroll along the sand. Ahhhhh. Lovely.
Good morning! Not sure about the tennis GM but perhaps a lounge on in the hammock; friday fatigue has set in v early (after being about for 2 and a bit hours thats slightly depressing).
Bacon, sausage, eggs all set to go (plus vege alternatives) though Jason may have to have first dibs - how are things today?
Goooood Mooorning!
xx
ed
No thanks GM(1), but if its ok I'll just sit over here and watch on our version of Henman Hill- Mair Mount
GM(1) - Are you having a larf?
Am I banned from the Beach? I posted earlier about our lovely posties who have ignored the call to strike and provided 'service as usual', but it's not made it through.
So, again, I propose a toast to
The Postmen of Pulborough!
Big Sis - I wish I could share your happy experiences with Royal Mail. We get out office post anytime between 9.30 and lunchtime. A few months ago it was not uncommon to get it mid-afternoon. It is a rare week when we don't have to re-deliver post to surrounding businesses that has been misdelivered to our address. It makes me wonder how much post intended for us goes astray and is never seen.
8......... now C'mon Tim!!!
Moning all...
I'd join you in a game of tennis, GM, if I had the time, but I'm still playing "catch-up" after being out of the office yesterday (I even missed Eddie, as my boss was driving and he wanted to listen to the cricket). Add on that I'm over in Russia 3 days next week, then away on holiday the week after, I may not get much of a chance to Frog :( Still, I promise photos in the flickering place when I have 'em...
Thanks for the comments on the old beach. Sadly, in my usual way, I have managed to confuse.
I haven't managed to lose job (the chance would be a fine thing...) but am rather after someone else's. I'm not fussy. Anyone's will do.
Sod the Scabs of Pulborough. ( no, we wont see this)
(_I_)
Later on the Beach, we will be looking at the camel-bit reshuffle, and the surprise that Jacky the Camel has now moved from the background right up to the waterline...
OK,
And the Scabs of Gillingham (Dorset).
And...no.... I wont push my luck
hi, all!
did I miss anything?!
n-n
xx
Trip-trap old chap;
This isn't the place for that kind of language. Note the last paragraph of the introduction to the Beach; Jarring comments are not welcome.
As to the accuracy of your comments, according to BigSis the Pulborough posties were offered the choice to work or not. If they exercise that choice and decide to work that hardly constitutes being a scab, does it? Scabs only cross picket lines when there is a clear instruction from the local union convenor to withhold their labour.
Now pull up a hammock, relax and have this excellent cup of freshly roasted Blue Mountain coffee and this plate of hand-made shortbread.
You should really see someone about that anger of yours. EdI, our local herbologist and certified Frog single malt assessor, may be able to help you with something to help you get more laid back and mellow. Ed, do you have something from your cellar or allotment for our esteemed fellow Frogger?
Can I take it from your handle that you're an old goat, expert at dealing with Trolls?
Si.
SSC (16) - Is it true that Cammelia, Lady Dromedary is being considered as Lord Speaker in the Hice?
Trip-Trap:
Sorry this seems to have upset you so. It is, however, their choice to carry on. This isn't a cheap part of the world in which to live, so their rate of pay (which I know isn't great) has to stretch a long way.
I'm not antiworker's rights, or anything like, but experience has taught that industrial action which affect primarily the enduser only tend to work against the workers because it alienates the enduser.
It is a sad fact that, since postal services were opened to other companies, Royal Mail has found it's back up against the wall. The problem is that we (the enduser) don't want to pay more for mail deliveries and that they (the service supplier) have now not only to try to compete with other providers, but also have a remit to provide a mail service to the whole of the UK, i.e. it cannot be selective. It is hugely difficult to square this circle.
I think it is shameful to describe as scabs those who have exercised their personal conscience to continue to provide a service locally. Their action, in a rural area, is greatly appreciated, and is hardly likely to diminish the overall effect of the union's action. It will be places like London and the other great cities where the impact of the strike will be felt.
But, as I've said earlier, it won't improve the outlook for Royal Mail. And I say that with heavy heart.
Hi peeps...bit wet in June so have come to warm up!
There is coffee and doughnuts on the bar (my comfort food!)..
I have been on hols this week, so a bit out of touch with the world. Did anyone tell TB some dodgy geezer haz moved into No 10?
Do the camels know wots going on?
SSC please keep us posted, I do so lurve that nice Mr Straw Dogs......!!
My Postman Pat has been this morning as well...nice chap, came out of retirement 'cos he was bored and missed peeps!
Oh well back to June and gardening....
Good Morning! [Checks watch, yes it is still morning, just. I've been a bit busy lately!]
No sign of any post this morning back in June for me, though that is not in itself unusual.
Ah, lovely fresh beach I see. Even the bowl of petunias has a fresh look to it, how lovely.
Some fresh home baked bread, olive oil and balsamic vinegar is now on the bar at Nick's in preparation for lunch. See you later.
;o) []
RJD (20):
I did try to badger her for an answer to that question, but the badger thought I was a farmer and ran away...
About mid-morning, you may have seen two camels get into a boat and sail away for foreign climes. I'm reliably informed that they were being ridden by two members of the Steve Miller Band, one of whom apparently answers to the names "David" or "Maurice"...
There is an ongoing police investigation into the injured camel up the top end of the beach. Early reports that its back was broken have thankfully proved to be false; it has in fact just got a U-shaped dent in it's back which is slowly springing back into shape. Chief Inspector Copper would still like to interview the grey-haired man with glasses who was spotted jumping up and down on the poor animal...
Jack (2), I'm coming!
This truly is my favourite beach in the world!
Selection of sandwiches and salads on the bar for everyone. I'll be back after Mr Sparrow and I have investigated the other side of the island... ;-)
S*D them is the opposite and equal of toast them. I suspect this is why it passed. This is the usual standard of my English command and has nothing to do with my blood-pressure.
As for trolling, success comes with the amount and length and strength of responses. Big Sis, I take on board, but the other blows like a pompous wind-bag, old chap.
(_I_)
SSC (24) - Hmmm.
"Some people call me Maurice
'Cause I speak of the pompitous of love"
As to the rest - eh?
T-T;
Your response does not do you credit. BigSis and I seem broadly to agree that these workers are not scabs. If they choose, freely and for whatever motivations, to work what business is it of yours? And in what way does the use of a highly charged and pejorative word solve the problem? She described it as "shameful" that you describe them this way. You accept her criticism and reject mine, which simply points out that you were wrong in fact to use the word at all.
Hypocrite. Now there IS a word for you to conjure with.
Back under your bridge and take your hairy and unattractive (_I_) with you. If you want to be contentious take it to another thread.
Si.
(Sorry Moderator)
This is for the brow later, Si. I don't sit on my (_I_) in front of a computer all day.
Si - I think he's had enough to eat now.
RJD;
Noted.
Si.
Burp!
Back for an evening meal in a different place.
Si,
"You should really see someone about that anger of yours. EdI"
Thank heavens for punctuation! I almost responded angrily that all I had said was good morning!
xx
ed
And now I'm malicious! GRRRRR! GRRRRR!
RJD (27):
As to the rest - eh?
Not heard of the Straw that broke the camel's back?
;o)
SSC (34) - Hahahaha - with you now!
Is all calm now?? Have brought some chai tea just in case! And perhaps a nice massage to mellow everyone out?
P
U
S
H
or is everybody having a really good time in June?
Not a good time, ww, just a busy time...
Appy (25): I wondered what the howling was. You'd best have a cigarette and fast. The ban is nigh.
well seeing as I'm the only one around I may just chance a quick skinny dip...just hope teh camels don't eat my clothes
Well, Witchi, I was (not) looking forward to a long, gruelling day of unpleasant meetings in Corby.
Thanks to unforeseeable circs I can't go into, it proved to be a relatively short and life-affirming day and over by 2pm!
Sometimes being a volunteer is the bestest thing in the world.
... by the way, if anyone is over at the Cransleycam this evening, please avoid feeding the gentleman calling himself Jonathan.
Not nice.
Fifi xx
Oops....spoke too soon!
What's this? A pile of clothes folded neatly on the beach, flip-flops, and two bottles of massage oil. Strange. And Quiet. Hmmm.
Well, well, well (three holes in the ground)! See what happens if you turn your back for a moment?
Witchi? Is that you bobbing up and down... oh [blushes and turns around]... I'm so sorry... didn't mean to interupt. Ahem, yes. I'm just going to Nick's where it is definately
PIMMS O'CLOCK!
;o) []
Malicious? I haven't posted since this morning!
FFred - send a serve over when you get to Vladivostock and I'll try a blinder down the sideline.....
Jason Good (39) You naughty, naughty boy!!!! I would send you to the Naughty Corner but Jack and I are making use of it ;-)
Right, time for PM!
Now, has anyone heard when Tim's playing? I can't find him on any channel...praps they;re saving his match for the higher audience on Sat/Sun...
Which reminds me, I've been looking for my tickets for Glastonbury, (to no avail, ta for asking), and wonder when it is? I;ve heard virtually *nothing* on dear old auntie Beeb about this fesival of music on my radio - you would have thought that they would at least send a token single reporter down to interview some of the punters...
and i spose there's no change in Westminster, boring boring boring, blair just goes on and on, nothing ever changes...
tuning in now, Eddie, so here goes:
n-n
xx
I stuck this on Thursdays Gloassbox for Si - but in case he missed it I'll leave it here :-
Bona sea-dogs, first broadcast on the 26th February 1967
Allow it time to load (4MB) and enjoy some classic comedy.
Now I've only just ventured on to the new beach.
So much has been going on already - scabs - massage oil, folded clothes, and a strange comment from Fifi about feeding me?
I'll check in - is there something I should know about Fifi ??
On reading Appy's comment on the old beach about being wet and happy, my wireless suddenly failed!
I went to see what the problem might be, only to find a squirrel running back and forth in the high window where the unit sits. She must have been listening in and got all hot and bothered...
Sign on naughty corner "Do Not Disturb", so I'll have to go on standby.
xx
ed
One story heard in yesterday's PM which somehow didn't make it onto the frog...
A collaboration of five female er, "singers", have decided to reunite for a greatest hits tour this winter.
Which begs the questions:
Is the world ready for another dose of "Girl Power"?
Can "Auto-tune" make Mel C blend in with the rest of the girls? (IIRC in many of the songs her role was largely shouting/screaming at intervals)
Whilst "researching" their songs on YouTube (funny, I hated them at the time, I'm warming to them now - help! Am I going mad?!), I noticed that in the slow, ballad-type numbers, each girl could hold the tune when solo - so how come some members let their tuning go to pot in the higher-tempo numbers?
Are they bored, down to their last £2m, or just getting nostalgic?
And finally, who was your favourite? :)
oooer...
would you believe it?! it's all changed!
Crikey!
Dipping a toe into the water, i find it to be most pleasant. Thusly am I off for a lazy swim around to the point and back...
...what a lovely day!!
n-n
xx
Anything interesting been giong on ? Naughty step seem busy - Mmmm- by those who should know better.....
Did anyone hear the item about the oldest tree in Europe this morning? If you did, where was it please?
Witchi-how did your interview go?
Buns anyone?
Mollyxx
Witchi (36) should you drink chai tea whilst doing tai chi??
A lovely day indeed, n-n (50) Where have you been?
Mr and Mrs Anne P came to visit me this afternoon, and brought this lovely Sloe Gin, which I'll galdly share with you all this evening. Anne P and I will just take up from where we left off......sharing lots of lovely stories!
well i posted...and posted...and posted..and posted but nuffin.....'kin boggage?..
oh well back to June...and rain..and wellies...and Gordon B........oh my God...!!
Well, Gillian has beaten me to it. We had a lovely time with tea and cake and chat. It's the first Sloe Gin I've made but it seems to hit the spot. So do join us.
Welcome back Mr Noodle, and Ed (49) the naughty corner is now free and you and Jason should make your way there at once! :-)
POOSH!
mmm!
A lovely Sloe Gin would suit this evening...
thanks, (54) Gillian, (57) sherry, feels like ages, been laying low!!
It occured to one, whilst one was lilo-ing, (low-lying?)(lowly laying?) that this beach is remarkably *difficult* to get to without an internet connection... and now saying that in plain words, it looks just dumb ... or maybe I am in need of another Gin...
oh go on then, pour out another couple...
[gosh, it is good to be back! ]
Tell us another, Anne P, Gillian,
mmmm!
n-n
xx
To the Moll-ster (52),
Congrats on another Friday Strap Line!
I got another ton of them to send off now, bin doodling away, and there's loads here!! Well, got to do somethin!
n-n
xx
Fifi, did I hear right that there is now a Minister of Volunteering? Baroness Neuberger? Is someone winding me up, because surely if anyone it ought to've been you?
I rather like a spot of chai tea, although whether you should drink it whilst 'doing' tai chi (54) Gossipmistress Witchi (36) is a good point.
"she tied three ties
whilst doing tai chi,
and three times she tried
to sip her chai tea;
the tea she sees
and the ties she tried,
meant that she dyed
three chai tea tai chi tied ties"
hmm.
I think that's what i meant?!?!?
Pour me another! I'm getting the hang of this keyboard now...
n-n
xx
Chris,
and Lembik Opik has been appointed the Minister of Scrabble, on a triple letter!!
Reminds me of Spiro T Agnew, the US Vice President, and Secretary of State for anagrams!
I'm sorry, clearly I havent a clue.
Nikki Noodle
xx
No, there definitely is a Minister of Volunteering:
Strangely, neither C4 nor Sky mention the junior ministers...
Mittfh, I'm coming out of the closet......We, as a family, used to LOVE the Spice Girls. One of our favourite collective memories is all five of us going to see them in Glasgow. Our children were about 11,8 and 7, and we all sang and danced along with all the other families who were there. My younger daughter and I are still word-perfect and know all the dance routines 9 years later. That concert is in the same league as performances by the Singing Kettle and Mr Boom. Happy Days!
Now if I let you have you some more of this delicious Sloe Gin, there may be others willing to admit that they too have sung along with Mr Boom
Altogether now......
My name is Mr Boom, and I come from the moon
I came here in a spaceship, and it went zoom, zoom.........
mittfh @ 64, then it definitely had oughta bin Our Fifi 'cos at least fifi knows about it.
Morning all,
Had the most marvelous evening last night. I took my son to see Chitty chitty bang bang at Southampton mayflower theater and it was wonderful.
A grown up pantomime. My son and I were laughing and clapping and singing along the whole way through.
A shameless plug but I cannot stop raving about it.
n-n-thanks for alerting me to that- would've missed the 'cosy glow'-know wwhat I mean?
Anyway, loved the po'm- you are a breath of fresh air- not that we need it on this lovely beach.
My 'real' beach is shrouded in mist this morning with millpond-calm water.Very beautiful but rather unsettling. I don't know why- must be me.....
Now- anyone for croissants and coffee? Some gorgeous apricots too....
Mollyxx
n-n Love the tongue twister!
Fresh beverages on the bar, just give me a shout if you'd like the full Scottish breakfast including sliced Scottish sausage and black pudding, bacon tomatoes, fried eggs, fried bread - you get the idea. It's the real artery clogging thing.
Meanwhile I'm off back to June to keep an eye on the level in the well.
A.
xx
Anne,
It's a bit late, but never too late for a full Scottish breakfast with lorne sausage and black puddin'!
And I've made some 'cowboy coffee', strong enough to corrode the spoon, and don't swirl the last bit unless you want some 'dietary fibre'
xx
ed
Is that your Ayreshire bacon Anne? Oh sorry - I see you're just warming your hands...
Gosh it's wet down here today. I'd offer to do a BBQ but alas, impossible.
That William Carmichael on Thursdays glassbox is getting on my nerves now. He's like a dog with a bone.
/blogs/pm/2007/06/the_glass_box_for_thursday_7.shtml
As Sequin said she did her best - but he won't let it drop.
I'm going to get in trouble again if Geri Halliwell goes on stage wearing anything approaching THAT dress.
After the recent moans about work, some of you might remember that an eon ago I applied for a job in Youth Offending. So much time had passed that I assumed I hadn't made the interview shortlist.
Guess what my "just back from striking, Guv" postman brought in his rather larger than usual for a saturday sack? An interview in a couple of weeks. Big pay cut but escape from schools IT....
Oh, and am I allowed out of the corner yet?
Oh and why are we called pirates? Because we aaaaaarrrrrrrr!
Jason - Are you not a bit overage to be considered as an offending youth?
And yes, you can come out of the naughty corner. Weekend time counts double - believe me, I know!
RJD (74): I had to lie about my age on the form. I am confident that, with the help of Grecian 2000 and a shool tie, I can pass for a fat 14 year old. It is, after all, just a very simple transposition of digits.
The role is to stop young people getting in trouble with the police. My better half asked if that was just teaching them how not to get caught...
Jason,
did you catch this afternoons any answers? as well as all the usual codswallop, there were a couple of pertinent points, on of which was that the law only is relevent to those of us who want to stick within the law.
So good luck with the interview, it'll be full of questions like "whats in it for me? if i want to take something i will".
which, in many many ways, sadly describes much of the human psycye, hmm, pshche, no, third time lucky: psyche?!
And as for me, its time for a stroll along the beach...
n-n
Jason - I know a little about youth courts and youth conferencing as an alternative to the normal court procedures - but I guess your involvement, if successful, will hopefully to prevent them getting into trouble in the first place. Best of luck.
Congratulations Jason (73) and good luck at the interview. Would it be the Union Flag dress made from two tea-towels to which you refer? What kind of trouble? Would it mean you would have to counsel yourself?
Btw, I heartily recommend Geri Halliwell's first autobiography ("If Only") as a hilarious read.
Why has the email box turned mustard-coloured?
Appy (78): Yes that was the dress and, as a true patriot, I always stand and salute the flag.
As for trouble, let's just say that the present Mrs Good wasn't keen on my suggestion that I asked for first dibbs on the cardboard cutout when the SpiceWorld movie was in Blockbuster Movies. (Other entertainment rental companies and modes are available.) I hadn't been in so much bother since commenting to the first Mrs Good that I liked the songs of Transvision Vamp.
Unfortunately my step-kids were MAD about the Spice Girls at the time so I just HAD to take them to the cinema to see the film. More than once.
Jason - you'll walk it!
Gillian - we are a Mr Boom family here! We have videos, cassettes and concert tickets to prove it.
Ah no, more rain in June up here, please let the weather improve as from July - although I'll be away from the 8th for a week, so I don't mind about that week too much :o)
Can I bring some work down to the beach, otherwise I don't think I'll get through it all before I head off.....
Good luck Jason!
Jason (79), I laughed at your patriotism. A lot. So it would be hypocrisy in the extreme if I were to even mention the Naughty Corner... :-)
Various (various): thanks for the good wishes. What I have excess of in silliness I make up for with a rather huge dollop of lacking confidence.
Appy (82): I have no idea what you mean. And I only know the first verse.
n-n, thanks for the twin-tusker.
Happy July everyone!
Does anyone know why the email box has turned mustard-coloured? Or is it just mine?
Appy (85), in Firefox both the email and the name box have always been mustard coloured indicating that you can use an 'autofill' function to fill them in. I see that with IE only the email one is coloured thus, making it easier to avoid putting in your real name.
If you have a giggle toolbar (others are available) you can set up personal details so that any suitably crafted on-line form can be filled automatically without having to type it all in, for example when shopping on-line. I find it very useful but do not keep credit card details saved, just in case the laptop was ever stolen.
Hope that helps. Do have some of this fresh Blue Mountain coffee, or there is English Breakfast if you prefer.
Raining again in June though not as badly as forecast, but now popping out to check the level in the well just in case - mildly nerve wracking when the level is higher than the depth of the cellar.
I'm on IE but mine isn't mustard-coloured!
Jason, congratulations! You have a wealth of life experience to draw on, and such a gentle manner.......how can they possibly turn you down?!
Val P.....another Mr Boom fan!!!! Get your colander out girl - we'll teach these froggers a song or two!
Anne P, the code words are ''Rising Damp!'' As soon as I hear you shout them, I'll be there with my bucket.
RJD, I'm IE too, and my e-mail box has always been mustard-coloured. I still haven't solved the mysyery of why some of the pics on the blog have been blocked on my computer, though ;o(
Is it too early for elevenses? I've got some lovely florentines here that go very well with Builders Tea. I'll leave them on the bar.
Appy,
"I laughed at your patriotism."
How cruel can you get?
xx
ed
Curried vegetable soup for those that like that sort of thing. Just needs wamed up. Very good it is too, though I say so myself!
Apologies for not being beachward lately. Too much June (and now July) stuff. I left a pile of assorted eats, drinks, and beach-game equipment behind the bar for those who want it. I'll just curl up on this hammock, if no-one minds...
Ed (89): A curse that has followed me throughout life. I blame my Dad...
What ho everyone! In the words of the song:
"Lazy Sunday afternoon,
Got no mind to worry,
Close my eyes and drift away..."
Mrs Wonko is having to work, so I can have a quick paddle on the Beach for a change. Knotted handkerchief on - check. Trousers rolled up to knees - check. Shoes and socks removed - check. Pipe adjusted to a jaunty angle - check. Paddling, by the right foot, commence!
And for the record, I hated Spice Girls records when they were first released, time passing has not endeared them to me... sorry.
;o) []
re the spice girl union flag dress. not sure if ginger will get away with it now. But happy to see if she can! any space in the corner. Very hot korma on the bar. Made it last night. Tried differnt korma paste to usuall. bah heck, it got the endorphins flowing!
Helloooooo! Back from soggy Oakham and a very pleasant musical 'lunch' party that lasted all day and overnight. I see I have a little explaining to do to some of you:
1. The 'Jonathan' whom I suggested not feeding at Cransleycam was a troll. Not Jonnie's SO getting at him via Fifi about his eating propensities.
2. Chris Ghoti's idea of Fifi as Minister for Volunteering is a lovely one. (I'm flattered!) Were there a salary for this post and I'd actually been asked, I'd certainly have thought about it. (Except of course for the fact that Gaudy is evil incarnate and the ten-foot pole would have to be provided along with the shackles and sheckles.)
3. Jason, clever boy re. that interview! Not having confidence by the bucketful, whilst feeling horrible on the inside, is a boon when you're trying to communicate with others. Because nothing will put off your new clients more rapidly than someone who looks as if he thinks he knows it all! Bet you get the job. Bet I'm right!
4. Froggers song contributors: Jonnie reckons he can get the thing lashed together this week sometime. Once that's in place I will see if I can make any progress with my Big Idea.
This evening, once it gets too cold to sit out here in my scarily-flapping gazebo, I will be among other things watching last night's final episode of Doctor Who. Was it any good? (Don't tell me the plot please, just advise how many cushions I need to take with me behind the sofa....)
Fifi xxx
Brrrrrr! Too cold in July now. Will continue to frog indoors in a short while.
At least it's nice and warm on the Beach!
Fifi
fifi, re Dr Who. kids were enthralled. Not very scary, though the bird cage was not to their liking. Interesting comment re captain jack. Enjoy! great ending, Wonder if kate winslett will be in christmas special.
Indoors and now the rain's stopped. Is it too early for a little of what I fancy?
Fifi
fifi, its never too early! what do you fancy?
Stewart M: Well, how about a wee glass of Anne's sloe gin for starters? I haven't had any since we finally polished off the last of my 2003 vintage.
And perhaps a lovely fruity Merlot opened on the bar to breathe for later??
Fifi
(humming)
"....walking on the beaches,
looking at the peaches....."
No fun in the real world, is it?
Certainly isn't, Ernest (101).
I have just taken a pasting on another thread, and am seriously contemplating planning permission for permanent accommodation on the Beach -- rather than risk being horribly misunderstood again on more serious threads.
Sorry to put a damper on things folks.
I think I'll leave this glass unfinished and mosey back to July for now.
Fifi
.......
....I'll get my coat....
Fifi, Its a cabernet, Shiraz, Merlot blend I've got open. And other threads are a bit serious at the mo. Some trappist beers there also and I;ve some bitters so Pink Gins for all.
Addressing Climate Crisis, Bush Calls For Development Of .
So that's allright, then!
xx
ed
Hello, er, goodbye, Ernest O!
Good to meet another O on the Beach.
Ernest O - don't go,
we've only just met
stay here and get wet
paddling,
or come for a swim
and then try my sloe gin
home made you know.
Better than July anytime (the beach that is, not my verse).
Friend of mine sings a song called The Big O, Frances and Ernest.
I don't know why, but people snigger quite a lot whenever she sings it.
If anyone wants the words, I'm sure Curly would supply them for your enjoyment.
Fifi
PS I see someone has finished my unfinished glass while I was away licking my wounds. That's good: I'd hate to see it wasted, it was a nice Merlot that one. We're now onto a cab sav. Want some?
There's a Beach in *The Wonderful O*, and we have a wonderful O, and all is well with the world.
(Black squcked his thrug until all the parrot could whupple was geep)
(emerges abruptly from the water, removes fish-skin coat and folds it neatly before hiding it under a boulder, and heads for the bar)
Don't go telling anyone I'm the fishy equivalent of a selkie, will you, folks?
Si, Ed, I have with me a bottle of the Trouser Stiffener (Polish cherry vodka: it's a longish story), and another of the Bear Restorer (obvious from the label) and an urge to get gently slarmy in good company, also possibly to sit in a corner and sing. If you've finished pouring drink over Ed, Si, let me pour some of these into glasses for us and propose a toast:
"World domination! When we can be bothered, that is."
Fifi, would you like to join us? You could help us try to identify Ali Baba's Camel in a bit, when none of us are feeling any pain any more.
Chris, you are selkius piscinus and I claim my five pounds!
As your reward, I bring the guitar, and the newly-borrowed accordion which I can deploy provided someone provides a full-length mirror so I can see where my fingers are going.
Here are song sheets for The Froggers Song (of course) and The Hedgehog Song ... and Leo MacGuire's song (a very rude thing by Billy Connolly, which went down well at Friday's folk night).
One ... two ... three ...?
Fifi
Glug, glug, glug. Another round?
Slainte
ed
Hello, thanks for all the comments re the mustard box. It's occurred to me since I asked this morning that I recently downloaded something to do with Java, so it could have changed when the Google toolbar which came with it arrived. Just seems odd, as it doesn't seem to do anything different.
Anne (86), I've always been able to autofill and that hasn't changed -- the mustard hasn't altered anything other than the colour!
Ed (89), Much more than that :-)
Jason (92), Sorry. Please be patriotic again at once, and I shall be full of suitable admiration. I'll just fetch Geri for you...
Ed Definately another round. :-)
Sunset on the beach is lovely at this time of year. Pity about July.
Fifi, it's a fair cop guv, I'm rumbled! But I'll keep it as a secret from the other threads, eh, because there are times out there when I feel like sticking to an alias.
Naturally, The Hedgehog Song!
Do you happen to know The Teddy-Bears' Rave-Up, by any chance?
(Ed, if that was the Trouser Stiffener you just glugged, you're liable fall over even if we don't fall out: that stuff is about 70 proof. I know it tastes like slightly alcoholic fruit-juice, but it isn't as innocent as it tries to make out. Here, try some Bear Restorer at a mere 38 or so.)
Hello there, just popping my head up between the dunes to bid you all a quick hello. Have been lurking but not really posting this last couple of weeks. Am still waiting for broadband and my home dial up is unbearably slow - that coupled with the fact that my days are now taken up with looking after a wee one and not dawdling idly in the office pretending to work I don't get much time to visit these days.
Anyhoo hope you are all well? Have brought a couple of bottles of red and white, some bottles of ice cold beer, liffey water for Ed and nachos, salsa and some olives to nibble on.
Cheers to y'all and see you again when I can x x
Hi y'all - our encouragingly sunny first day of July ended in rain.....so here I am calling in to the beach for a natter and a nightcap. If there's any of that sloe gin left, I'd love a sip. Kippenbod has access to a secret sloe bush and makes a delicious brew but we've finished this year's already.
I'll take it over to the comfy hammock and watch the general jollity, cheers!
Fiona - you just popped up between my posting and leaving. Hi to you, good to see you. We also serve, who only lurk due to pressure of distractions!
Leo McGuire's Song
to the tune of The Road To The Isles, as sung by Billy Connolly.
Ah wis headin' wi ma cromack up frae Gretna Green tae Skye
But ma journey has an element of farce.
'Cos the calendar has stated - it's the middle o' July,
Yet here ah am wi' snaw up tae ma a___, Oh - yo!
(chorus) Wi' ma pipes below ma oxter an' ma sporran neatly pressed
Ma pockets full o' porridge for the road.
Wi' some Crawford's Tartan Shortbread an' some tattie scones as weel
An' ah'm jist aboot tae paint masel' wi' woad. Oh - yo!
I am headin' for sweet Afton, that's the place that ah am daft on,
Where the smell o' tattie bogle fills the air.
If ye poke amang the heather wi' a feather ye will see
Where the untamed hornie-golluck has his lair. Oh - yo!
(note: Fifi can't pronounce last line of this verse...)
Ah remember Annie Laurie, sure, ah had her in a quarry
On the road frae Tobermory tae the sea.
Ah remember Mountain Daisy, an' that lassie wisnae lazy,
'Cos ah remember Daisy mountin' me. Oh - Yo!
Ah remember gettin' pally wi' a peely-wally 'tally,
In a chalet doon at Butlin's camp at Ayr.
An' ah gied her a bambino as she lay an' read "The Beano"
Then she said, well how did she know ah wis there? Oh - yo!
Ah wis jist a wee bit randy as she lay an' read "The Dandy"
Then she went an' put a pot upon the hob.
An' she made me tagliatelli, which she balanced on her belly
So's ah could eat while ah wis on the job. Oh - yo!
By the time the job wis over, she wis halfway through "The Rover"
An' had started on that week's "People's Friend"
An' she made me veal escalope an' we had another wallop
Before ma strong desire came to an end.
Oh the Scottish summers have a certain lack of charm,
Due mainly to the sudden rainy squalls.
But the Scottish lassies can aye keep her laddie warm
By their tender ministration to his knees. Oh - yo!
Published in the interest of public participation in music... aherm!
Fifi
Did someone say Sloe Gin? My word I haven't drunk any of that in years, at least not to my recollection... There was this time at a "Father Jack's Cleaning Fluids Drinks Reception"... [shakes head] No it can't have been, must have been the floor polish instead...
Mind if I snuffle a glass or two? In payment I offer a rather over priced but none-the-less delicious 1982 Port Ellen.
It's been a funny old day back in July, most of it seemed to be spent preparing for the shower, having the shower or drying off after the shower. Except for a random woman who called at the door and asked if "Jeff/Geoff" was available? I had to break the news to her that there was no-one of that name at this address.
;o) []
Chris, Ed;
My God! That trouser stiffener was good stuff. I've just had to hit my trousers with a rock to make the stiffness go way.
Er, I mean, er, um....
Oh, bother.
Right. Moving swiftly along, selection of South-Western Franch reds on the bar-top tonight. A Corbieres, a Fitou and a Madiran. Take your pick.
Si.
Hello All!
Anyone still awake? Just to let you know that I may well drink the whole of the NCM Bar dry over the next few hours, having had an extremely pants day. If anyone ever sees me going near technology again, please handcuff me to the nearest camel. Now please pass me a very large bottle of.......
I am now off to a carefully-typed place of repose where Billy Connolly can't reach me.. night!
Fifi
Phew!
Nearly got lost yesterday- m'own fault.....
Think I'll stay here today if that's o.k.?
Si (120)- do be careful......!!!
Mollyxx
Morning all! Ugh, mondays....
Before I go and hide behind the dunes Molly (52), it went really well! Have had the copy through and, whilst no exactly 'my voice' (its in a 'as told to' style) it does capture the esseence of what I said. Which is fairly impressive seeing as I was quite rambly! Its published September - will let you know when it hits the stands!
Who's for tea?
Morning, seemed to have dozed off in a hammock. Where did this traffic cone come from? And why am I hugging it? By golly that Sloe Gin's good stuff.
Well, back in July it's the same old same old... Think I'll hang around here for a while, now who fancies a bacon sarnie - with a choice of sauces and relishes.
;o) []
Wonko - The best thing to do when preparing bacon sarnies on the beach is to grill the bacon and then stand well back and let everybody make their own.
Nobody here agrees about the "proper" way to make a bacon sarnie. White/brown bread - butter/no butter - salt/pepper - red/brown sauce - mustard even! Aperitif proclaimed that Fearless Fred's method of making a sandwich was "sick". No, much better to leave all the ingredients on the table and leave them to it.
White bread, butter, bacon, freshly ground pepper - perfect! Right, I've got mine - thanks!
Good news: Whisht and I have made up and are pals again. All a misunderstanding, nuff sed.
Good news: I have decided to set up shop in the gazebo today, to complete this book I'm working on and do an estimate for another.
Bad news: There have so far been TWO (count them) heavy showers, and gazebos ain't heavy showerproof!
Good news: finally got Radio 4 to play on the computer though. Apparently wifi isn't entirely showerproof either...
(Did I really post Leo MacGuire last night? I do apologise!)
Fifi xx
Morning all,
it's very wet in July!
Careful Si! Hope you're not too bruised!
GossipM, hope today goes better -- what was so awful? Or would you rather not think about it?
Witchi, well done -- looking foward to seeing the article.
Wonko, why would a shower take so long? Were you very dirty indeed? If so, perhaps you should've said so to the random woman -- she may have given up on her futile search for Geoff/Jeff... ;-)
First of the day and malicious!
Appy (112): There's a fine line between admiration and being patronising, you know. But I won't make a big fuss over such a little thing.
I hear Ms Halliwell is annoyed as she is getting less money on the reunion because she left the band early. Perhaps she should do a solo reunion instead? I'd go. (Flashback to a Monty Python sketch staring "Evening, Squire...")
I know the beach isn't the place for it, but isn't July in a mess already? Poor, poor Gordon. I would have got a poison taster if I were taking a chalice off that Tony geezer.
Wide doesn't do it justice (unless on the advice of the Attorney General). (Other methods for getting your own way are available).
MMMMMFFFFHHHH....
(struggles to his feet from underneath a hammock and shuffles stiff-legged to the bar to concoct an bacon sarnie. Any sausages to go in there with it? Och well, that coffee smells guid. Now has anyone got a paracetamol or aspirin?
Afternoon, all
may be able to speak sensibly after awhile....
Well as RJD suggested I left everyone to their own devices regarding the bacon sarnie making. I went for white bread, no butter, double layer of bacon (very crispy) and red sauce. Delicious!
Aperitif: I have to confess that I take a very long time in the shower. Forty-five minutes is not unusual - not very eco-friendly I know.
As for the random woman, well I did answer the door in my bath robe - don't worry modesty was preserved at all times. Once I'd confirmed that said person did not live, and to the best of my knowledge had never lived at my address she departed. There was a cursory " 'E's not ya bruvva, no?" - to which again the reply was negative. Didn't have time to ask why she was asking or who had given her my address!
;o) []
wonko "well I did answer the door in my bath robe" - Funny place to have a door - no?
Fifi/whisht - glad you made up...I think I missed the falling out! Glad all is ok tho xx
Just a ps on bacon sarnies. When I worked in the caff one of regulars loved to have Marie Rose sauce on his, sometimes witha fried egg too.
Afternoon/Evening all! Well, I've arrived in St Petersburg (first few photos are flickering...). Just a note of caution to anyone flying in the near future; Allow a good hour extra for getting to and through the airport. I flew out of Heathrow this morning. I got to the M4 spur road about 5:25am, for a 6:50am flight. Given all the delays and extra queues inside the terminal, I walked straight onto the plane after getting through security. No time even to grab a bottle of water or a newspaper on the way. So, anyone flying in the near future should factor this into their plans....
Good news: Whisht and I have made up and are pals again. All a misunderstanding, nuff sed.
Good news: I have decided to set up shop in the gazebo today, to complete this book I'm working on and do an estimate for another.
Bad news: There have so far been TWO (count them) heavy showers, and gazebos ain't heavy showerproof!
Good news: finally got Radio 4 to play on the computer though. Apparently wifi isn't entirely showerproof either...
(Did I really post Leo MacGuire last night? I do apologise!)
Fifi xx
Malicious? I'll give you malicious!!!
TWICE????
RJD - That's my personal private door that I reserve for only the best visitors to Wonko Villas! ;o) It's beautifully embroidered...
I'm feeling the need for coffee, so I'm making a pot of Kenya AA. Who wants some?
;o) []
Bad news: gazebo dry enough but too darn cold to work in now.
Have abandoned July and found a quiet corner of the Furrowed Brow within reach of the shelf of reference books I put there when we founded the place.
Apologies to those inconvenienced by the new regs, but I must say it's even nicer in there since the smoking ban. I do enjoy popping out to the beer garden for a whiff of pipe smoke too.
Mmmmmm!
GM : sorry your weekend was such a washout. I trust your feet have dried out now, and the insurance claim's nearly complete?
xxx
Fifi
RJD (132): Is that somewhat akin to having a floor in your plans?
At least, I think that is what the architect said...
Wonko - any of that coffee still going? July has sapped my will to live and it ahd started so well!
Jason (129) Just a serving hatch in your dressing gown then? ;-)
Wonko (131), Your vistors may be odd but your bacon sarnie sounds perfect!
anyonewant to try this Chicken dish?
Get a Breast fillet and bash with meat tenderisor (handle of knife works as well)
Place 2 x sage leafs and season. Roll and wrap in a slice of thin italian bacon, (parma ham sort of stuff, though I'm sure streaky would work especially if the bath robe comes undone wonko!)
Hold together with a cocktail stick/skewer. (chicken not bath robe)
Brown all over in oil (olive)
Add a little water and cook for 20 minutes.
eat with salad.
I had the leftovers thinly sliced in my sandwiches today. mmmmmm
Tee shirt weather here, folks, and no sign of terrorists or security queues. I'll have a bit of that Kenyan coffee, please. And here's a supply of luscious local mpork sausages to wrap the bacon around for a real fatfest!
A squirrel is nibbling on a Vietnamese dried banana. Seems to like it. They're getting quite familiar and hardly bothered by me or others moving around or chatting.
xx
ed
Stewart (140), Add a little water and cook for 20 minutes. I'm needing more than "cook" here -- in the oven? In a pan?...
Aperatif, In a pan on the stove top. I should have also added cook covered once you have browned. Over a low heat. (i.e simmer sort of thing)
SO informs me it is now 'lovely and warm' outside again.
July is a nightmare!
Fifi :o(
Witchi - help yourself (if you haven't already), I left the pot at Nick's. Plenty for everyone. Sorry to here your July is not progressing as you would wish it to, at least we have the Beach to retreat to!
Stewart - how did you know my bathrobe is held together with a cocktail stick/skewer? Have you been opening the door I keep in it while I'm not watching? I think we should be told. Out with it man (RJD stoppit!)
;o) []
Appy (143): I think it means put some water and a vertically challenged chef into the pot for 20 minutes. I imagine that the chef would get cross so it's called "stewing". AWT isn't very tall.
Hello everyone
We're back, damp and steaming, well bitten and soooo relieved to be home. Saw red squirrel near Haugh of Urr (I kid you not), think that was the highlight for me, his was stopping at RAF Museum at Cosford on the way up. we had to work hard to enjoy this particular holiday - can you tell. I'm taking off my shoes, uncorking a bottle of Bordeaux I hid from Si's last delivery and sitting here just breathing warmth and sociability for then next couple of hours.xxx
Appy and Stewart M. Cook it in a deep frying pan, the one you use to brown the chicken in. Instead of water, use white wine, or stock, or a mixture of both. It's a lovely recipe.
While you're browning the chicken you could also add some mushrooms to the pan.
Mmmmmmmmm ;o)
Auntie,
You were that close and didn't come to see my squirrels less than ten miles downriver!
(sulks)
ed
Gillian; To paraprhase Punt & Dennis a few years ago:
"You poured wine on a chicken?!?!? CHICKEN?!?!?"
How can my 1st post be m*l*c**s?!!!
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!!!!
Honestly.
n-n
Feefs (108), that would be Roy Orbison, then? Anyway, I'm a fairly middle-sized O, myself.
Wonderful, though, Great Selkie, I would accept.
Thank you both for your posts; I loved the Billy Connolly song, which is now going to get stuck in ma heid; and I love the story of the selkies. Been anywhere near Sule Skerry, Chris?
Simon, hope your trousers are recovered. Have you by any chance been to the Himalayas recently?
Witchi, and belatedly Jason, well done!
What a talented box of froggers we are.
The Beach is particularly delightful today, given :
a) the weather
b) the news
in July.
The rainclouds are over the yardarm, so here's a bottle of red, one of white, and some organic apple and ginger
Oooh, malicious? There's a particularly prudish moderator at work these days.
Sorry EdI, it was Saturday, on our way home, a detour. If you remember Saturday in D&G it was raining so hard it met itself coming back. we were all damp and miserable and still had 4 hours to face on motorway. turned out to be even longer - had we known we may have well come and rented the tree house overnight. Next time, and there will be a next time for I love Kircudbright.
Finished!
55-and-a-bit thousand words of useful tips and strategies for avoiding 'Death by Powerpoint' when giving presentations.
(Other presentation packages are available.)
Not THAT particular big O, Frances. I would say more but I'd be sent straight to the Naughty Step -- and have you seen the state of that place since Appy and Jack were in there?
Tsk!
I'll just have a slurp or three out of this rather yummy looking bottle of red, before hunting out something to sizzle on the barbie.
Fifi
I need the solicit of the beach tonight as I have to go to Swindon in the morning on business and I am not looking forward to it. I am sorry to any froggers who live there but it is not one of my favorite places in the world. The magic roundabout fills me with horror every time I try to negotiate my way around it.
I have brought a rather nice cab sav with me and all are welcome to share...
don't all rush at once there is plenty to go around.
Stampede!
squeek sqwelch,
squeek sqwelch !
squeek sqwelch...
squeek sqwelch!!!
squeek sqwelch!?!!
hi to all! what a lovely day!!
nikki
Feefs, I know exactly what you mean, but you're safe from the Naughty Step, since it sounds as if nikki is trying to get sent there.
Mr Snow:
The fust time he kissed me, the whiff from his clo'es
Knocked me flat on the floor of the room
But now that I love him, my heart's in my nose
And fish is my fav'rite perfume
Ring any bells?
Evening all!
Well, I've opened a lovely Merlot on the NCMB for any who care to join me:-)
So far St P is good. I've had a chance to wander around a bit to take photos (see flickering place), and I'm now listening to ISIHAC, having had a couple of beers, so life is good:D
Catch you all when I get back in a couple of day's time...
Ffred, thanks for the beautiful photos. Good to know your trip's off to a great start.
Big Sis (159)
Carousel! Wonderful. Of course it rings some bells.
I should have known that you would have picked up on that.
Actually, the reason I chose Mr Snow as my name this time is that:
1. Mrs Trellis had moved on from the blog (deep and complicated reasons all of my own. Fifi knows)
2. I am a male and the word snow directly relates to my surname.
You knowing that lyric has melted me - come sit on the sand and we can sing together
cheers, Fearless, (or should we now call you Vlearless? as in Flad the impala?)!
[they never caught him, you know...]
[he got away in leaps and bounds!!]
Anyway, I've poured out half a pint or so, and that's just from my socks...
..mmmh the melot, must have a glass of that, too!
[What this about comparing O's? Frances, i havent got 'that' sort of key board, you can only come in two sizes: O or o]!
Hang on a mo, as for medium-sized O, what about all those fiddly bits, you know, the ones that you get when you hold down contaltdel
b*ll*cks. Not doing that again!! obviously not contaltdel, what was it where all them doobries and twiddles popped up all over the place??!!
[hmm, another glass while i ruminate. Ahhh! thats better!]!
Now: º o 0
is that three differently sized ohs? Actually this IS more difficult than it looks.
Particularly when one is damp and sqwidgy.
n~n
In July the sun is hot. Is it shining? No it's not.
Aperitif, back @ 143, you just be grateful for small mercies, I have a recipe which includes the instruction "Turn into a shallow dish and simmer". I ask you what a thing to require of the cook eh? transmogrification is *not* a cordon bleu skill.
(nobody noticed as I quietly went and made a bacon buttie with buttered white sliced bread, and bacon, and none of yer soft Southron garnishes)
Wonko, Just a good guess I suppose, but you can get dressed now :-). Gillian I was doing a gordon and keeping it simple (Ramsey not brown). I'd rather drink the wine. Its a recipe from SIlver SPoon which is allegedly the cook book in every italians kitchen. So I did as it said on the print but will try your alcoholic version at a later date.
Just had a photo oppertunity with a local Ophthalmology colleague this evening. Beer aftewards in a smoke free pub, what bliss.
Okay, Mr. Snow, here we go:
....................
"Then I'll kiss him so he'll know
That evry'thin'll be as right as right ken be
A-livin' in a cottage by the sea with me
For I love that Mister Snow"
Kind of appropriate for the Beach, isn't it? Just as well I like the smell of fish.
Okay, now, this for the poor folk struggling with the floods:
"When you walk through a storm,
Hold your head up high,
And don't be afraid of the dark.
At the end of a storm,
There's a golden sky,
And the sweet silver song of a lark.
Walk on through the wind, Walk on through the rain,
Though your dreams be tossed and blown..
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart,
And you'll never walk alone.......
You'll never walk alone."
Shall we move on to Oklahoma?
nn (163), "What this about comparing O's?...You can only come in two sizes: O or o"
You really ARE keen on the Naughty Step, aren't you?
and careful with that ctrlaltdel.
Mr Snow, I find the best way to navigate the old magic roundabout by just pointing the car in the direction I want to go, then just closing my eyes and hoping!
The ctrlaltdel combo shouldn't do too much damage nowadays (asuming W2k or higher...) but I think it was ctrlalt + numbers was want you were looking for, n-n...
As for calling me Vlearless, I guess I'm in the wrong country for that. Wasn't he from Romania?
Anyway, my lift to the meeting will arrive shortly. Have fun today, folk, and I'll catch you all later...
Appy (128):
Wet? Not wet enough for me. Round here it's mostly overcast which is a nightmare for those with bad hayfever like me. I'm thinking of asking Estates to fit a shower in my office so that I can sit in it all day. It'd be a bit difficult to use the computer mind...
Headline seen this morning: "Third Doctor arrested".
My reaction as a life-long Doctor Who fan: "That's OK, he'll use the sonic screwdriver to reverse the polarity of the neutron flow and escape with Sarah Jane in Bessie.
Fearless: I wouldn't worry about Mr Snow and the magic roundabout - he seems to love carousels so will probably find it an enjoyable experience once he's there.
Particularly if he hums a tune.
Morning all.
Good luck with the magic roundabout, Mr Snow.
Don't know Swindon, but there is (or used to be) one in Hemel Hempstead that scared the living daylights out of me even when I got to know it. Main roundabout with two-way traffic on it and a series of little ones at each entrance to the main one giving the impression that traffic is coming at you from every possible direction.
Selection of China, dark roast Ethiopian and Danish on the bar - never say our tastes aren't polyglot.
Hello! Sorry I've not been around much, having to post from work as major computer porblems at home
Don't spose any of you clever computer people out there can give me some advice?
Think it has Spyware on (despite Norton 360 - other programs are available etc etc)
Have downloaded a Spyware Dr thing from Google which found some and deleted but it's still playing up and now startup seems affected/slow.
Any ideas? Is it doomed? Should I euthanase it painlessly or might it be ressurectable?
Any advise very gratefully received!!!xx
GossippM. Have you unplugged everthing and plugged it all back in? I know it should make no difference but every so often I switch my router off and on and it seems to help.
Get rid of Norton cos that does tend to make it go slow and try Zone Alarm instead. (Others are available but you can get a free download of this). Cant remember though if the spyware killer is on the free version or not.
You don;t have VISTA do you. Cos that, I believe, has issues with Virus, spy ware thingys. i.e. they say you won't need them.
GM,
Much as it hurts me to recommend a windoze product, they do have a available from the update site.
I don't know if it'll help, but it probably won't do any further damage.
Good luck.
xx
ed
SSCat (170) : During last summer's interminable heatwave I conceived an idea for a waterproof laptop computer.
My plan was to sit in a cold bath working on it. However if I make it showerproof as well, and I ask my architect SO to design a functioning wet-room-office ... we could be ahead of the game here!
Fifi
Tee hee, Mr Fish and Jason. You are both very silly and I love it :-)
I had a horrible day yesterday -- although quite a nice evening -- but am having a much better one today, so champers all round.
Now then, Mr Noodle you can only come in two sizes: O or o I guess that must be a bloke thing -- how sad for you: us women are much more varied in our outlook! Talking of which, anyone seen Captain Jack today? ;-)
Big Sister, n-n, Frances O, Mr Snow.....
Ready....takes a deep breath
O0oôöòÖغÓoOklahoma! Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain.......
Quote of the day, from the ´óÏó´«Ã½ news webpage on the new EU version of YouTube using a risque montage of filmclips to promote European cinema:
'Labour MEP Gary Titley said: "European films are about more than a quick slap and a tickle. It is bonkers that this clip gets so much attention."'
Not terribly good grammar Mr Titley (puerile snigger) but yes, it's the bonkers that are getting the attention...
Dahlia Darling (154),
Of course, you're forgiven.
For information, the local vernacular for our wee once-a-county-before-reorganisation-but-still-what-locals-call-it is "The Stewartry". It has many similarities to Tolkien's Shire, being well out of the way of the Wider World and thus of little interest, strategically or economically to said Wider World. A bit like the Gnarled Oak which is worthless and unthreatening and thus enjoys a long life.
In the entire Stewartry, there is but one proper set of traffic lights - at a one-way bridge over the Urr Water. By the way, just where did you spot your squirrel? I can feed it into the project database.
See y'all next time, and I hope it'll be drier.
xx
ed
Just after we'd seen the muntjack and between the throat clearing operations of trying to pronounce Haugh of Urr and trying the many, many ways to say Ae.
S/he was gambolling on the verge of a wood on the A75, I think, just before said traffic lights on the stretch between Springholm and Castle Douglas.
Urrr... I'm NOT being malicious. I may wish I was on what Appy is on, but that's envy, not malice
FFred-
Lovely photos of St.P. I went there a couple of years ago and I can't wait to go back. The only things I didn't like were the poor 'dancing bears' on chains and the ornatelydressed corpse laid out in the cathedral- came upon him suddenly- frightened me to death.Gorgeous place though.
Thanks for showing them.
Mollyxx
Phew! What a busy day back in July. In fact this will probably be my one and only visit to the Beach today.
So, I'm going to make the most of by taking my bathrobe off - yes there's a swimsuit underneath it! - going for a paddle, having a quick snifter at Nick's, soaking up some rays on a lounger and departing once again. And all in the space of ten minutes!
Follow the Wonko shaped blur...
;o) []
Aperitif
My tremendous intuitive sense of the female creature informs me that you are troubled. Through an unfortunate and entirely unforeseeable series of circumstances that had nothing whatsoever to do with me, the Rum supplies were diminished and I had to journey to the nearby island for replenishment. Remiss of me not to let you know but I had to sail with the tide. I am now returned and at your command. How will we disport ourselves?
I should be so lucky!
plus Lib dems are shuffling today. Get sir menzies down here with his socks off to shuffle the warm sand.
SSCat (179), Tee hee.
Here Aunt D (181) -- have some on me!
Dear Jack, you're back! How about you show me your tattoos?...
See you all later!
If you have to ASK ,Jack, I suggest you'd be best playing whist
WHIST - not whisht.... although that might be more fun, where is my womble costume?
Aunt Dahlia
Now you will agree that although a gentleman may know he always asks.
I survived the magic roundabout! FF I took your advice and simply aimed for the exit I wanted and drove straight across. It was quite liberating really. All those lines and arrows carefully painted on the road and I ignored them all. Charge!!!!!!!!
Back home now and settling down with a bottle of red. Bliss.
Budge up n-n ... Appy's heading for the naughty step again. And she means business!
Fifi
Oh, enough with the malicious schmaliciousnessness!!! Any more of this rubbish and I'll be inviting the New Blog Prince to rattle the cages of the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s internerds.
feefs (190) - aye aye skipper!
Gillian "O0oôöòÖغÓ"!! what an assortment! Licorish (sp) all sorts!!
Appy, I'm sorry you had a tough day in July, and hope the beach is a small virtual consolation, or at least, a change of outlook!! and re (177), it may be true that women do have a more varigated outlook (and greener fingers?); however, you have the most UNvaried outlook of the lot of us!!! I shall take for example the choice of options for my tea:
It's amazing what fun you can have with a fish finger.
hmmm. see??!!!
I'm rooting around for some rioja, back in half a mo.....
n-n
xx
Well, 'tis now almost 11:15pm here in St Ps, and it's still light outside! This is just too confusing to someone with a couple of beers inside him. I think I'll have to re-listen to ISIHAC just to get my head straight1 Anyone want to help me tune the coconut & string wireless?
aaaaah!
right, um.
now.
I defy the entire frog-collective to come up with a better tea than fish fingers, red sauce, and a bottle of vino...which is in the process of following our wee piscene friends to the land of sumptious satisfaction.
nikki
Thank you Stewart & Ed for the advice - it's windows XP Stewart - have only just paid for Norton upgrade so don't really want to change it if poss.
I have tried turning off and on again - and off, and on again, and shutdown and restart, after which I closely considered battering it to death with a conveniently-to-hand walking pole. However, it survives to fight another day so I'm just off home to try out that link Ed. Thanks to both of you!xx
Anne P - are there any more Scottish breakfasts left from June 30th? I don't have anything for dinner!
N-N 62 haha excellent twister!
Appy & Fifi thanks - having broken a mobile phone, a computer and a washing machine in space of 3 days I'm contemplating going to live in a cave. Or possibly a tree house!
If the computer works, see you all later for a large one! xxx
NN
Posh it up a bit and called Fish Goujons avec Sauce Rouge :-)
NN, SM,
waaaaaaaah
Pore little fings f'rev'r'n'ever!
Yours suffering from intimations of mortality.
Continuing on from the Bishop of Carlise. and th enew smoking ban.
And it gets worse. Should we stock this on the bar?
GM - I hate to break it to you, but it may be the Norton upgrade wot dun it. I abandoned it after it caused my laptop endless problems and slowed it to a crawl.
Oooooooohhhhhh, Gillian!
And klahoma to you, too.
btw, have Appy and Jack finished with the naughty step yet?
Cos I think several more of us need to go there for five minutes' purification before it's beddy-byes time.
Gossipmistress (194), In that case I hope you're superstitious! Your three things are done and all is fine now.
Gosh I'm tired -- Horlicks anyone?
Why not have a ?
xx
ed
Champagne on the bar to celebrate liberty, objectivity and humanity. Welcome back Alan!
Gossipmistress-sounds to me like a 'power surge.'
Always causes malfunctions in my house and nothing you can do, I tell them.
p.s.What is a power surge?
(No,,don't tell me...)
Party tonight for Alan?
Mollyxx
right, I'm signing off now, as I've got to check out and make my way to the airport. Unfortunately, give the connections, I'll miss the programme tonight, so I hope Eddie's on top form, given the good news, and I'll join you all here for a celbrtory tipple when I get back....
ttfn!
FF
Rachel G - wonderful idea! Strange how the well being of a stranger (albeit a familiar one) can have such an effect; it really does make me feel quit positive about the human species!
GM - how are thing in technology land?
Well, I spent most of yesterday feeling v mis and curled up on the sofa. One of the redeeming points was I managed to catch an episode of In the Night Garden; I finally understand what the fuss was about. What a magical programme!
3rd time lucky - I keep getting malicioused....anyone else? Maybe Mr Sparky Marcy needs to be told...
Aperitif
"Horlicks anyone?"
What is this Horlicks of which you speak? Is it a recreation, a divertissement, an amusement? Will I need my compass?
gossip m, next steps, 1) Defrag/check your hard disk. 2) Do a system restore, 3) Reinstall XP choosing keep my data option, 4) Back up all data and do a reinstall XP with a hard disc format.
4) usually works. Sorry its brutal.
I have learned that whilst 4 takes the longest once you have exhausted 1-3 it may be the quickest.
5) Linux? (I keep playing with it but at work as I use a database that has the foxpro engine and sage as accounts, I am stuck with windoze)
6) New PC
Just popping in for a celebratory glass at the bar at the Alan Johnston news - quick - pass your glasses before I spill any more!!
FFred - have a good flight! Lovely photos!
Anne P - it was bad even before Norton, so I can't entirely blame Norton!
Appy - I usually walk under ladders on purpose (being a belligerant sort-of person!) but I may have to reconsider!
Stewart - many thanks! I have just backed everything up, deleted all sorts of junk, scanned everything with my existing software (this already seems to have helped - hence I'm online now) and am just off to the Windoze link to scan again. Hold my ankles!x
Gossip m, Ankles held, careful where you are putting that keyboard! Glad to be of some help.
There's this strange fiery, bright orb in the sky back in July. It hurts to look at it. Anyone know what it is?
Gossipmistress/ Stewart - I recently switched to Linux at home and it suits me fine. It's got networking, office style applications, Internet and e-mail, image software, you name it. I'd definately give it a try. You can get CDs from the cover of various Linux magazine, which you can then run from your CD/DVD drive, i.e. it doesn't install on the PC (until you want it to).
My doesn't the Beach look good today? I especially approve of the "Welcome Home Alan" banner above the bar at Nick's. But let's not forget the many other people around the World also being held, who aren't fortunate enough to work for a major news and media organisation.
Sorry to get all serious for a minute there. I'll just put on my comedy false nose, glasses and moustache combo and do a silly walk up and down the Beach in a pair of outsized comedy trousers saying "Wibble!"
There, that's much better.
;o) []
Wonko
I like your livery Wonko! Come to join my crew? Welcome aboard!
Cap'n Jack - Do you like the look of my other internal organs? Have you been using the secret door in my bath robe without my knowledge? Are the rumours about you and Miss Swann true? And where's the rum?
;o) []
Which part of the sky, Wonko? The only bright orb that I have seen in the sky for days is a thing called a street-lamp. However, I would not call it "strange" or "fiery" and the only thing that hurts to look at it is the back of my neck if I am standing too close. I think that we may be talking about two different things :-(
H.
Wonko
No! Ol' what's-her-face has perceptions of rum that render us incompatible. I currently dally with a lady with a more liberal attitude to grog - why, even her name is an intoxicant!
I have cached a few flagons behind the hostelry on the shoreline.
GM,
Have you found your way up out of the nether regions? Back in the mortal sphere?
Hoping for a recovery of speed,
ed
It's alright Humph, it's gone away. Normal July service has been resumed.
Cap'n - remember the Pirates' code! I've no idea what it is, but I shall remember it none-the-less! Aaaaahhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr... m'laddy!
Pimms O'Clock everyone, where's the mint?
;o) []
Can't believe I have just spent a large part of today on Faceb**k (other social networking sites are available and are almost as addictive).
Every time I think of doing something else I look at the sky in July and decide it's about to rain, and in fact it hasn't yet. Why is it so easy to fritter time away?
My excuse was I was doing it as research - d'you think anyone will believe me?
Wonko, I saw one of those back in July, too. It might have been a comet or a spaceship, I suppose. Anyway, another sharp shower seems to have frightened it away.
Perhaps I should write to Patrick Moore.
Welcome back, Gossipmrs.
Jeroboam of fizz on the bar to toast Alan's release.
n-n 193
I love fish fingers but my favorite way to eat them is in a sandwich. 4 fish fingers, thick white bread and a mixture of ketchup, salad creme and a dash of vinegar topped off with cracked black pepper. WOW my mouth is watering just typing that out.
No, it's no good, I shall have to make some now.
Bye for now
Oh, and before I forget, welcome back Alan.
Ooh, Mr Snow, that sounds wubberly! Make one for me too, will you?
I've just noticed something strange out of my office window in July.
No, not the peculiar bright orb mentioned by others. I swear I can see, in a gap in the trees fringing a certain airbase ... a wind farm!
That wasn't there before!
It's a bit like spotting triffids at the bottom of one's garden.
Fifi
Whey hey! I appear to be back form the dark side!! Thank you Ed for the link (it found 2 things to exterminate) and for your interest in my nether regions, and to Stewart for valiantly holding my ankles!! I hope I'm not speaking too soon, but fingers crossed it seems back to normal and faster than it's been for about 2 years (which is more than can be said for its' owner...)
Wonko - Linux? I'm sure I have some of that on the kitchen floor. I tend to get Age-defying- Polyfilla-moisturiser samples in my magazines! How do you change over onto it? Do you have to get rid of Windoze completely?
Haha Stewart let's get some of those Ashtrays for the NCM Bar!!
Yes please to Pimms! And is that the distinctive smell of someone barbecueing fish fingers?
Please note the irony that it is I, the childfree one, passing this on...
Fifi
JOB DESCRIPTION OF A MUM:
POSITION:
Mother, Mum, Mumma, Mummy, Ma
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs £5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.
POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:
Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.
WAGES AND COMPENSATION:
Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and only wish you could do more.
BENEFITS:
While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life.
Forward this on to all the Mums you know, in appreciation for everything they do on a daily basis, and let them know they are appreciated.
Never mind, Fifi,
I think the '' being advertised in the E.ON TV adverts is the one to be built just downriver from where I sit. I won't see it, but my neighbours will, and ALL the investors are foreign and ALL the electricity is going to England. The only thing British about it is the £10,000,000 grant from public funds.
Grrrr!
xx
ed
Gossipmistress - The Linux operating system for Personal Computers comes in a variety of flavours, called "distributions" or "distros" if you're really hip and with it. For the record, I don't know what 'it' is. I can only speak with any authority about Ubuntu (other Linux distributions and operating systems are available) as that is the distribution I use. All remarks that follow relate to that distribution.
Linux is 'Open Source' software, meaning that the computer code for it is freely available for anyone to look at, fiddle with and create their own versions and make them available to the wider 'community'. Linux software - operating system and programmes that run on it - is almost always free.
You can download it from various websites - stick the name into your favoured search engine - or the makers will send you free CDs for free, i.e. at no cost to you, not even post and packing.
You can run the operating system from your CD/DVD drive to try it out - just stick it in the drawer and restart your computer, it should boot from the CD. If you like it you can then install it. You should be offered a number of options including running it side by side with your existing operating system. If you choose this option every time you start your PC you will be asked which one you want to use. Alternatively, you can choose to wipe your hard drive and install it as a totally clean installation. If you do this I would certainly recommend backing up any precious files to CD, USB pen drive or an external, removeable hard drive first.
A few words of warning. It will look and feel rather different to what you are used to (obviously), this may take some getting used to. One of the advantages of all the different flavours of Linux is that you can keep trying them until you find one you like. Help is usually based on a 'community support' basis - though there are also books and magazines - this means looking at and asking questions in forums. Don't worry, they don't bite! Finally, the Linux guarantee: if it breaks you get to keep all the pieces at no extra cost. ;o)
The good news: it's free! It's much smaller than certain other popular operating systems, and less system resource hungry. It's virtually virus/trojan/malware free and has it's own security built in. There are a shed load of additional free programmes available to do all kinds of stuff you didn't know you needed. Ubuntu includes something called "Wine" which allows you to run Windows programmes on Ubuntu.
As I said, I changed over a while ago and haven't regretted it. It picked up my Internet connection straight away - no drivers to install - Firefox (other web browsers are available, but Firefox comes with it) just worked. It also comes with a couple of e-mail programmes, OpenOffice - giving you word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation software packages, which can read and save as formats certain other 'Office' software packages create and read. The unfortunately named "The Gimp" also gives you photo and image editing software. Lastly there are enough games to shake a slightly larger than medium sized shaking stick at.
RE wind farms/renewable energy.
The thing that I find most confusing is that everybody (except GWB) wants us to move from carbon based fuels to renewable energy and yet those living near wind farms complain about the view and that wild life will be either disturbed or in the case of birds killed. Wave power is complained about by those who make their living at sea (esp fishermen). Nuclear power, in some eyes, is second only to Satan as an evil and town planners will not allow people to put up their own wind turbines without jumping through regulatory hoops. Solar energy is good and efficient however, unfortunately, large scale solar farms (if that is what they are called) cannot provide enough energy in our cloudy little island year round.
What are we supposed to do? Magic?
I am lucky, I do not have any of the above in or near my village and, being only human, I expect that if they were here I would have the same arguments and grievances as everybody who does have to live near them but what else is the answer? We cannot go on burning fossil fuels indefinitely.
Sorry, just realised that this is probably not the place for such a serious topic but, there, I've said it now.
Do you know - I just had to go and look out of my window to make sure there wasn't a wind farm visible through *my* gap in the trees (221)...
...and there wasn't. Phew!!
Hip Hip for Alan!
n-n
xx
Mr Snow (226),
"what else is the answer?"
Using less, but like peace, there is little profit in that.
xx
ed
My point about the windfarms is that I would prefer every home to be its own power station, every village have its own community-owned generation system and grid, all connected to the national grid to smooth demand and reduce transmission losses.
Also with smaller, more local systems, combined heat and power becomes much more practical.
I am particularly opposed to becoming a bribing foreign investors to harvest our resources and sell them back to us for profit to export to their foreign shareholders.
And I'M FOREIGN myself! But at least I live here.
It's also widely noted that when a household (or a community) begins to produce even some of its power, its overall consumption level falls. We become aware of costs and limits - the most important learning we have to do if we're to survive the coming century.
[/rant]
xx
ed
Ed
I agree and it would work wonderfully in small town and villages (provided you could make people actually live together with respect and not have some selfishly expect more than others simply because they had a bigger telly, better job etc) however, I do not believe that it is in any way practical for those in cities. The villages and towns would have to produce more than they need simply to subsidise the cities therefore they would need to produce more energy therefore they would need larger generators/turbines etc. This would lead to resentment. People would ask themselves why they had to produce energy for those in the cities who only consumed resources.
PS you are not "foreign" you are a citizen of where you live. All this "land of my fathers" is nonsense. Find a place in the world you are comfortable with and are happy and that is what you are.
What's all this about alternative energy sources?!
This is The Beach......
where wind power is measured by how gently the leaves on the palm-trees sway................
where solar power is measured by how quickly the ice in the ice-bucket melts.....
where wave power is measured by how many times the li-lo gently bobs up and down in one minute.....
where nuclear power is only read about in our science-fiction beach novels.....
and where ''computing'' refers to working out how many bottles of fizz we need to go with our barbie this evening.
Really.....any more of this nonsense, guys, and I'm off to Vanuatu ;o)
Gillian
Sorry.
You, of course, are right.
however, I have made fish finger sandwiches and am willing so share with all.
feefs - irony duly noted!
O Gillian O, hit the nail right on the nose, again as usual!!!
GM: bbqed?! What a brilliant idea - never tried that before... and this is definitely the place to do it....
...*whistles* zippedy doo dah, zippedy day...!
n-n
xx
I rather hope "Jack Sparrow" isn't around to read this...
This week I'm rehearsing for an opera at Buxton. Small group of musicians,solo singers, & "community chorus" including a children's chorus. Rather dificult music. As we were working our way through it on Tuesday (without the singers, thus no idea of the story) the conductor said:
"Now this part is probably the highlight of the show. The sparrows (that's the children's chorus) blind Tobit by defecating in his eyes. The kids love that bit"
I just felt I had to share that bit of high art with you all. Sorry. Must say I'm looking forward to seeing it now!
Dos Vydanya! Yes, I have finally managed to crawl back to the beach, after an 11 hour journey where it looked for a moment that I would miss my connection in Vienna, leading to an extra night away. Thankfully the connecting flight was also delayed. All I want to do is lie back on one of the loungers with a glass of tipple, listening to the waves lapping on the shore. Are any of the loungers free at the mo?
Mr Snow.....white bread, lots of butter and a sprinkling of vinegar on my fish fingers please.
Hope the smell isn't putting you off your tipple, Ffred. Welcome home!
I am sorry to tell you, Fearless, that the only lounger potentially free is this one I'm on.
There are camels on every other lounger. What a nuisance eh?
I could shuffle off ... or just shuffle over ...?
Fifi
Welcome back Fearless!
Annasee (233) Eeewww! Must say I'm looking forward to seeing it now! Hope they don't get too close to you then!
Gillian (230) Ah what a lovely posting... I shall just lie here in this hammock by the camp fire and drift into sleep.
G'nite all. Wake me if Jack swings by?
My apologies for descending to rant mode in this sacred space. It wuz partly becuz there wasn't a direct link to the 'brow, and partly Fifi's fault for mentioning triffidz, but I just have to say to my other co-offender that I wouldn't expect local power to be free nor for the rural areas to supply overproduction to urban for nowt neither! And as a final word, combined heat & power systems are perfect for neighbourhoods of all sizes, even in urban areas.....
Yours in a green apologetic mode,
;-(
ed
Now where are those ff sarnies and a drop of the black stuff?
nighty night.
and THAT'S deemed malicious after four hours or more between posts!
Bloggered again!
* mmmnnngleeeearrrrrrrgh! *
(wakes and stretches)
Oh! Did I nod off here last night? How embarrassing!
And whose is this warm spot next to me in the hammock?
Oh well. Perhaps another five minutes then....
(flops down again gratefully)
Fifi
FF - welcome home!
EdI - well, a small rant everynow again does you good and surely the Beach is as therapeutic as it is relaxing and fun?!
Frugs to all, I think we need some!
Grrrrrr! Public Transport! Grrrrrr!
Sorry guys, just a little July stress coming out there. Thank Goodness for the Beach.
A little late breakers anyone? I've brought pancakes, maple syrup and bacon. I need cheering up. You can tell, can't you?
;o) []
Ed (224);
The electricity from your local windfarm may 'come ashore' in England, but the electricity Grid is fully British in scope. It may make you "Grrr" that it lands in England, but it has no practical effect at all. Power flows from the cheapest generators, determined by competitive bidding, to wherever it is demanded. It matters not one jot where it is delivered onto the grid.
The National Grid operates the bid and order process on behalf of all U.K. electricity consumers equally. Generators in England and Wales may 'sell' electricity to Scotland, should Scottish generators be asking too much for their home-generated Watts. (And I believe that Watt was Scottish generated?) And vice versa.
We can also import and export to France, as required. In broad terms it was always the case that French state-owned nuclear generated power was cheaper to purchase than power from British generators.
As I type this there is a net flow from Scotland south of 1.3 GigaWatts, no net flow across the channel, a net flow from Norn Iron to Great Britain of nearly 300MW and a flow from northern England to the South of 6.5GW.
Check out
for realtime details.
Oh, and we were using nearly 43GW across the entire U.K. as a whole. The overnight base load is about 23GW and the daytime maximum double that figure. That's 23GW across the country being used whilst we all sleep and use next to nothing! Who the hell is using all that electricity?
And around 7 - 8% of generated power is lost in transmission. Right now that's about 3GW !! Or 1 million 3kW immersion heaters simply heating the skies of Britain. There's a thought to conjure with.
So the Beaches own environmental correspondent, our own EdI, is perfectly justified in complaining about our excessive use of power. And he is equally correct in pointing out that local answers to heat and power are partly the answer, because reducing transmission distance reduces that percentage loss in the overhead lines. Naturally answers which don't involve burning fossil fuels are also part of the answer, since power stations give off waste heat and greenhouse gasses.
A holistic approach would see a combination of all the above. Wind, wave and solar power all generating locally to where the power is being used. Reducing waste heat from generation and transmission losses.
Then you have to tackle usage to complete the virtuous circle. Using power in the home or the workplace converts electrical and chemically-stored energy (from Gas) substantially to heat energy, whether used for heating, lighting, white-goods usage, air-con, audio-visual enjoyment, etc. Doing that requires educating the population to watch less, heat less, wash with less hot water and so on. We've all heard the anecdote that; removing the 'Standy' function from every television and requiring people to turn the idiot box off every time would allow two power stations to be shut down permanently. In other words you're on a hiding to nothing.
I propose no answers. I merely observe the nature and causes of the problem.
But to get back to the original point; No need to bitch about where electricity is brought ashore Ed. It is bought, transmitted, distributed and delivered without fear or favour.
I know, I used to work at National Grid (6 years).
I'll get my anorak. And remove my whiteboard, flipchart and marker pens from the Beach.
Si.
By-the-by....has anyone been to see the stage version of Dirty Dancing? Am going this weekend (not my choice - friends 30th!) so do I need to have a few drinks first to weather it or can I enjoy stone cold sober? Have a 4 1/2 train journey to ply myself if needs be!
Wonko (242) : There, there.
* strokes head soothingly *
All over now.
* passes another pancake *
Beach is goooooooood.
Fifi
Thanks for the welcome back, folks! Btw that was my "warm spot" (RJDStopit!) beside you in the hammock, Feefs. I hope you didn't mind the company :-) Still it seems to have done me a power of good, as I'm upbeat, and looking forward to next week's hols. (yep, more photos to come!). Unfortunately, I probably won't be able to frog while I'm away (no lapdog). Still, I'll try and send a postcard for Eddie to put up on the blog :)
Feefs - thank you for your kind ministrations, feeling better now...
Beach is goooooood...
;o) []
Si (243),
Thanks for that. My objection to the power going ashore in England was that the only positive benefit for our region might have been maintenance jobs, etc., but even those will go to the English side, and the ground rental (the site is carefully placed on the Scottish side - just) will go to Crown Estates (Scottish Executive) with nothing ringfenced for local benefit. A truly colonial economy.
At the risk of joining you in anorak land, I'll reiterate the phenomenon of reduced consumption as a result of self-generation. The most important things we have to learn are limits and costs, or to put it simply, the first law of thermodynamics.
"Anyone who thinks continuous growth is possible in a finite system must either be a madman or an economist" Kenneth Boulding
xx
ed
Hi peeps..
...beach looks fantastic today.....not a camel in sight...
..i am back in circulation after being sent to Bishops Castle!
Nice place, nearly as nice as Clun!
Will catch up on all the gossip later, I have left some wonderful Faggotts in gravy from Ludlow on the bar.......they are very moreish!
ttfn.....init....
DI Wyman...thanks for the faggots. I've brought some home-made mushy peas to go with them, and some sliced white bread to mop up the gravy!! Mmmmmm.....lovely.
Hi froggers! A quick visit (no time to read all the postings) after a lovely overnight in London.
It was weird being up there at the moment. On arrival at the London terminus by train, I saw a sea of yellow coated policemen, overheard an announcement that there was now no smoking allowed anywhere on the station, spotted a bomb disposal bod running his detector over a suspect package on the forecourt ... all rather alien, in fact.
But, last night a friend and I took our seats to watch the wonderful Mark Morris Dance Group performing at the Barbican, accompanied by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. Marvellous stuff!
I love London - well, I'm from a London family, so know it well - and enjoyed my overnight visit so much, walking back today past St. Pauls and along the Queens Walk, past places historical and avant garde. Yet I could feel my heart catch at the thought that, at any time, any of these landmarks could be obliterated by a terrorist, and that some of the wonderful, cosmopolitan residents of the city could become casualties. Not that we ar unique in this possibility, of course.
Sorry to hear about dear George - such a lovely man! I remember getting him to sign a CD for my father in law, who is also ex-naval, and he was so funny and unpretentious. And a great performer to boot!
OOh, can I have a pancake too please?
Appy, of course you can. Savoury or sweet?
DIY: Hope you had a couple of pints in the Three Tuns! But you're missing out on the Real Ale festival this weekend .....
Due to exceptional demand extra supplies of pancakes are being brought over to the Beach as I speak...
I too was very sorry to hear of George Melley's passing, the World is a slightly colder place without him.
G&Ts all round then!
;o) []
PS Won't be Frogging tomorrow, Mrs Wonko and I are going to Hampton Court Flower Show. We really enjoyed it last year. I'll leave a bottle of single malt on the bar at Nick's.
Pancake with maple syrup please - yummy, thanks.
Wonko - thanks for all the info on floor coverings! I may give it a try:-) Hope you enjoy & Mrs Wonko have a great time at Hampton Court. Don't get lost in the maze!
Can I have one too, just to dunk in the single malt.
O never mind the pancake, just pass the malt...
please
Can I sit down and rest my weary bones? Don't come anywhere near me, I have got a rotten cold and to rub salt in the wound I'm stuck in a hotel in the exotic environs of Heathrow, so no family to minister to me either, sniff sniff. I have a strong suspicion that afore long I will be instructing the rather nice Turkish lady behind the bar in the subtle arts of hot whiskey making.
peej - Two questions.
1. How do you know that she is Turkish?
2. Is there Bushmills behind the bar?
Also nice to see someone here who knows how to spell whiskey properly!
Big Sis @ 253
just a couple...and some at The Sun in Corfton and a fair few in The Swan in Diddlebury......and wot festival will I be a missin' ??
Gillian @ 250
oohh you are such a temptress wid yer home made mushy peas.........can i come to tea.....promise to be on best behaviour.!!
Gossipmistress - you're very welcome! As I said, I can't claim to be any great expert, but if I can help I will.
You want to take a look at: all the doubleyous dot psychocats dot net forward slash ubuntu forward slash
Looking forward to tomorrow, we went last year and enjoyed it.
BTW I don't care how you spell whisky, as long as I can drink it! I've found a bottle of Macallan 30 - mmmm... liquid christmas cake.....
;o) []
DI Wyman (260) Of course you can come to tea ;o)
Best behaviour, eh? I'd better get my best bibs out then, if you promise to bring your tucker!
Wonko.....I'll be watching out for you and Mrs Wonko on the telly. How will we know it's you?Give us a wave, any way, and have a lovely time.
Gillian: I'll be the one in the hat... ;o) []
Gillian (262)
sorry don't know any truckers....
Gillian (262)
whoops miss read it...tucker.....
get them mushy peas on gal...
I'm puttin' on my top hat,
Tieing up my white tie,
Brushin' off my tails.
I'm dudin' up my shirt front,
Puttin' in the shirt studs,
Polishin' my nails ....
.....shall I bring drinkies?
Hi All - back from hols but not much time for frogging. Hope all's been well since I've been away.
Some not so good news and some good news for me:-
1. Didn't get the paid placement - their loss, I reckon! It's not the end of the world, I have got an unpaid one, I just would have been £15k better off for a year - ho hum :-(
2.The support of froggers and the calming environs of the revision dune worked their wonders - I got a first!!! Thanks for all your support chaps - (((((frugs))))) all round.
So, impoverished Cava (rather than champagne) on the NC bar for everyone.
Will catch up and frog again over the weekend.
Cheers - hic!
P.S. Absolutely fab about Alan J - I know there's another thread but haven't got time to post twice.
DIWyman(265) You wont be let in if you don't bring drinkies!
Izzy(266) Way to go, Girl! Many congratulations! Cava???? Knock it back, quick. Here's a Magnum of the real thing!!
Izzy! You brilliant woman! Welcome back and well done!
Izzy - fan-absolutely-tastic! Congratulations.
Sorry about the unpaid placement, but lots of people do get permanent work out of their placements whether paid or not. My daughters had one of each and each ended up with permanent work after graduation as a direct result of the placements.
Champagne on ice for you at the bar.
Gosh, there have been some lengthy posts in this beach. Must be the weather.
Well done, Izzy. No doubt very well deserved.
On call for another 90 minutes. Tired and could murder a beer. Not the best choice of words if I have to spend the rest of the night at the local custody suite...
Here's the leftovers of the bread and butter pudding I made before with the leftovers of the loaf bought with the leftovers of my shopping budget. Don't say I don't spoil you.
Izzy, wow! A first, well done ye! Magnificent!
Cava is all very well, but I happen to have a bottle of the Widow concealed in the fridge behind the bar ready for Those Who Deserve, and I reckon this is a good time to open it.
SFX: *BANG*
oops, sorry -- that cork wasn't meant to go *quite* that hard....
Quick, glasses!
(Oh all *right*, maybe aiming the cork was malicious, but I hadn't posted anything for ages...)
I, too, was sad to hear of George Melly's death.
He once lived round the corner from me and we shared a garden wall.
A lovely man and a fantastic ranconteur and musician.
Congratulations Izzy! Here are some strawberries to dip into the champers :-)
Izzy- Brilliant- you must be soooooo pleased with yourself!
Youngest sprog got a 2.1 so 'best bib and tuckers 'on - Bristol Uni next week for 'grad'- ''only set up for the parents'' apparently! Cool or what....
Loved fifi's job description, by the way!
Mollyxx
Hi all,
just thought I would pop by the beach before I have to go to my company summer BBQ. Ha! should be an absolute joy in this weather!
Still, I always have the beach to come back to.
Izzy - Congratulations.
Oh Izzy! That is wonderful news about your results! Forget about the other news - because it is your First that will take you on into the future, and it is yours, yours alone.
Cava isn't sufficient for this wonderful news, so I've pushed out the boat and have left a bottle of chilled Mumms in ice bucket on Nick Clarke's, which you can drink alone or share as you wish.
A First is a very special result. You're a very special person.
Oh Izzy! That is wonderful news about your results! Forget about the other news - because it is your First that will take you on into the future, and it is yours, yours alone.
Cava isn't sufficient for this wonderful news, so I've pushed out the boat and have left a bottle of chilled Mumms in ice bucket on Nick Clarke's, which you can drink alone or share as you wish.
A First is a very special result. You're a very special person.
I did not post that twice.
I did not post that twice.