Great Western Coffee Shop

;D

He should get out more ...oh no of course.

I stay at home and talk to my wife, catching up on things I've missed. Apparently, she's been made redundant from Woolworths.

If you have, or think that you might have any children, it would be well to ascertain how many, what their names are, how old they are, and related facts. Wives consider this sort of thing to be important.

I wonder how many of us have a model railway.  Here is mine, set on the GWR in 1947. Note the GWR stone crusher, Swindon made a few of these you know…

I hope S&TE is impressed that I designed and built in full route-setting and interlocking, using over 100 diodes and 24 relays.

(https://i.ibb.co/jGkPtTq/P1010196-A.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HYTfZVR)

Can we see a photo of the diode route seting please, I have a 7 way route indicator to drive, to decode 7 inputs to 35 leds.

Here it is.  I didn’t want to use any decoders etc, just rotary switches, diodes, relays and veroboard.  Not very tidy I’m afraid!  It’s all 12 volt from a lead acid battery.

Designing the circuits was the straightforward bit.  Building it, and soldering 100 diodes to verobard, wasn’t!  The bought-in PCB's are for traction control.  On the main running lines I tend to leave the traction power constant, and control the whole lot from the control panel.  As trains approach a junction they stop and wait for for me to set a route and then I push a button to start the train off.   It's an analogue system: some routes reverse the power supply on some sections of track.  No signals yet, they're expensive!  If I concentrate I can run 4 trains at the same time.

(https://i.ibb.co/t8hRGF9/P1010198-A.jpg) (https://ibb.co/9svPDS7)

Burnt the contents of the shed as I can’t go to the dump.cut grass, painted all the worn wood work around the garden

The push buttons A – E are entry buttons, 1-5 are exits.  The LED’s light up selected routes, so you see I’ve set up 2 parallel routes B3 and D5.

(https://i.ibb.co/c3qTKCr/P1010199-A.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kBZcV9S)

Very good stuff.  I'll pass you out.  Personally, I model in 0 Gauge and have my layout under construction.  Pleanty of spare time for that at the moment, so it will progress reasonably quickly.

Go to your local brewery for a takeaway:

From https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close-guidance

Off-licences and licenced shops selling alcohol, including those within breweries :)

I wasn't sure whether to post this here or in grahame's Garden thread, both equally relevant.

Apologies for the very poor quality pictures, but these were taken in the late 1960's with a Box Brownie using 620 film. At that time, I was a young teenager and a member of Exeter Crusaders. We were taken on an outing to the vicarage at Nymet Rowland, near Crediton where the vicar had built his own O'gauge garden railway. If I recall correctly, his layout snaked around the large garden and was several hundred yards long. His pride and joy were his pair of Hymeks. I can't think of a better way to while away the hours - particularly now the sun is out! Such a shame that this layout disappeared some years ago.

(https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1H2Bw3VcLxi7qhgvkYbDjfHWxd2-lpH94)

(https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Z_3RVnEKf4RCMxpcqBNy5oBDZ574Z0Sb)

(https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1hJdaFadOatQQVTXl9mcWQmgAf4WjF6_X)

(https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1yq0dK-Fuxd6mz4b01WJdA-a6VjLtdL0B)

(https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1BEktqBv4F5fu2kW12lSbTnRRABvknE8O)

This cropped up on another forum I belong to......  ;D

(https://www.turners-retreat.co.uk/images/products/standard/316.jpg)

I have created a Virtual Pub...

(https://zemblanity.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/sb.jpg)

When not in my beer garden I do have some N guage modelling on the go. I'm mainly repairing, cleaning and fettling rolling stock at the moment. I've found that OHP acetate sheets are ideal to cut to size to refresh carriage windows. I've also converted a couple of Cromptons to DCC and failed to convert a GWR Castle. Toothbrushes are a necessity. Just don't put them back in the bathroom mug after they've been dipped in meths!

I've done some rough plans for my table top layout too. I'm Probably only at GRIP stage 2 (https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Governance_for_Railway_Investment_Projects_(GRIP)), so expect project close out sometime in the 2030s.

What's the history of your pub's name?

Well now... my children are constantly telling me that I'm not funny and that I should stop trying. But I can't help it.

I'm trying to work out what's in the bottle on the shelf to your right (or is it left, as the image is reversed?) Teaninich single malt?

Do tell  :)

My dozen or more office colleagues and I are all sharing in a six o'clock Skype video pub meet up where we shall imbibe a convivial pint or two and shoot the breeze about the current state of the world and ourselves. No problem with the journey back and guaranteed to be home by dinner - - sorted! Cheers ...

It's rather a cheeky 14-year-old Talisker, double-matured in Amoroso cask wood... d'ye want tae know how it tastes?

I am currently under medical house arrest, and have even had to relocate my home office to my bedroom temporarily. We all have our cross to bear.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49701023423_f015d3b632_c.jpg)


I'm useless at reading writing in a mirror too. I got a shock when checking my temperature - I caught sight of the display in the mirror, and thought it said 39.9°. Luckily for me, and I must say a relief too, when I took it out and looked at it properly, it was only 36.6°

The nice lady at Boots helped me put my trousers back on, and said I could keep the thermometer.

Sláinte  ;D

Nice view.

Between 1848 and 1967, it would have seen trains running where the closest trees are. That woud have relieved the monotony that I am sure will be coming fairly soon.

What is the crop in the field? you can watch that grow!

Grass a the moment, maize from about the end of next month until end September, for fodder for moo-cows with the inedible bits going into the anaerobic digester not far away. Intersting, although it blocks the view from downstairs slightly for the last few weeks. I usually have some drying paint should times get bad.

Well, that was a good event and much breeze was shot. On a serious note, it brought to light that one of our team needed a lot more support than we thought they did. That is now being address by the team. Keep safe out there, and don't be afraid to reach out if you need your friends' support.

Resurrecting an old forum in joke...

Did you have it with ice and ginger ale?

I prefer a smoother tasting single malt and my favourite is Cragganmore of which I have 2 in stock of which 1 has been in stock for at least 8 years besides the 12 years ageing of this classic malt before purchasing.

A propos of nothing at all. When we were kids going up in Somerset, we decided to build a cider press in a disused wooden shed. A few sheets of corrugated iron with plenty of nails hammered through. A tractor jack on the ground, a sheet of corrugated iron. A copious amount of apples, another sheet of CI, and wooden blocks to the roof rafters. Wind the tractor jack, and juice started to flow into the buckets. Then  stopped. We kept winding. Then, on looking up at the roof all we could see were stars. Fortunately, when we wound the other way, the roof fell back squarely in position ready to be hammered down.

I'm at the more aggressive end of the scale and tucking into a very pleasant Port Charlotte 10, with emergency reserves of Laphroaig, Lagavulin etc. If things get too serious, I'll consider opening the Octomore  :o

I'm sure I once read tasting notes for Ardbeg that went something like this:


Who could resist? Not I!

Reminds me of Spike Milligan's saga of a day spent trying to get a serving of a shark someone had obtained somehow, in "Adolf Hitler - My Part in his Downfall". Something along the lines of:

Me? One glass of wine so far this month, and it's the 27^th already. Those numbers have on occasion been reversed.

A 20L bag-in-a-box of Cotswold Cider No-Brainer is currently helping me through self-isolation (I appear to have coronavirus, but very mild symptoms so far at least). When I say "currently", I don't mean right now at 12.30pm. That would be decadent.

Look after yourself, Richard ... forum very much open to posts, p.m.s, reading.  Get well soon.

I have to confess I've been naughty and with a Tinny or 6 watched my first Blue Movie.
 :o :o :o :o


Have to admit I'd forgotten how young I was when we filmed it.  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Surely the symptoms of coronavirus and the after-effects of 20l of Cotswold Cider are pretty much identical?  ;D

Get well soon - I hope it stays mild (you're in good company now Boris has it too...)

And if you want to know 'how it's made': https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000qsf3/inside-the-factory-series-6-1-cider

I keep a supply of "winters gold" malt whiskey for visitors, but seldom drink whiskey myself.
I prefer beer with a meal, and port or brandy afterwards.

Friends had a borderline "bedroom farce"
Husband invited relatives to stay for Christmas, without enquiry as to numbers in the invited family.
Wife invited other relatives to stay, again without enquiry as to numbers.
It was then realised that numbers were excessive.

Father to child "please go into the loft and bring down the box of air beds"
Child "the ones we threw out because they were no good"
Father "Ahem, I think that there are three camp beds up there, bring them then"
Child "Only one, uncle broke one last year when pished, and you broke another trying to put it up"

Father, oh dear, I shall telephone broadgage and ask if he knows where to to buy those flat packed government surplus beds.
These were duly ordered, at a cost of ?200, but delivered to ME and not the address where they were needed.
Four heavy duty steel flat packed beds are surprisingly heavy to transport by horse drawn cart, but we managed.

Mother to other child "please bring all the spare duvets from the cupboard"
"Oh no, they have been nibbled by mice, have holes in them, and smell of mouse" Feathers everwhere.
"one is intact, but smells of mouse, I will wash it" Came apart in washing machine, which is now broken and full of dirty water and feathers.
Washing machine found to be BER, new one ordered at a cost of ?350.

Mother "well we have one new duvet, still in the box in your room"
Child "No we do not. I put it on my bed because my old duvet was no more good. I put the old one in the dog basket"
Mother "then what is in the duvet box ?"
Child "three torn sheets, I think that they are 100 years old, a blanket with a hole in it, surplus from the Boer war, and some old school uniform"

Mother "broadgage will know where to buy decent bedding cheap"
Ordered as needed, despite competitive prices, still came to about ?250.

Learning points.
Before inviting people to stay, double check numbers, what you thought was one guest may now have a partner and some children.
Count number of beds, and ensure folding or blow up beds are servicable.
Ensure that you have enough bedding, this needs counting and inspecting for cleanliness and condition.
DONT WASH a feather duvet at home.

Follow up re above.

If you have mice, and your pet cat dies, it is well to promptly adopt another cat, preferably before the mice realise.
Folding camp beds are OK for children, but not entirely suitable for large adults esp if "pished"
Camp beds provide no insulation under the occupant. A thick blanket or two is required under the user as well as blankets or a duvet on top.
Children may object to being housed in a shed, but if you can brand this a "camping adventure"  or perhaps "your own little house" then it can become most attractive. Fast internet, and a gas heater are essential. Place a guard around the heater.

The cheap (but 100% cotton) sheets and cheap but all wool blankets that I ordered on line were much liked. "better than we have at home" according to  several of the kids. Parents looked a bit disgusted that such cheap bedding was actualy better liked than the perhaps more costly items used at home.

Food was considered a great succes and consisted largely of Canada geese and home produced vegetables. Goose suasages for breakfast.

Lessons have been learnt and improved plans made for the approaching Christmas.
Ample "proper" beds for adults and sufficient military surplus folding beds for children. Large stocks of all cotton sheets and all wool blankets. Much of the extra bedding purchased for visitors last year has been requisitioned by the resident children as being better than that previously used. ONLY  new and unissued government surplus blankets from  Poland will do, on the grounds that it is "very cold in Poland and that blankets from Poland will therefore be warm" The bright blue/orange checked  ones are best.
THREE new cats against mice. The cat adopted at the beginning of this year died suddenly, perhaps from over excitement and/or over eating. She allegedly ate a dozen mice in an hour. 

Assorted children are looking forward to another "camping adventure" in the large shed which has been furnished with every luxury. Two gas heaters, with suitable fire guards, fast internet, and a gas light to avoid a total blackout  when excessive use of electricity trips something.

Home made wine is stocked, beer brewing is underway, freezer well stocked with goose dishes. Canada geese are large, stupid, and good to eat.

You do make much more sense at gone 3am.  ;)