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All Quiet .. on the Western Front
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Hi Anth.
Thanks for the sentiments, but in view of the circumstances with
the job (Dates back and forth more times than a hacksaw) the likelyhood
of me being at Kemble is at present, zero. Worry not though, as the rest
of the family will still be there and 'er indoors is looking forward to
seeing you both again and I know that Martyn will look after you. Don't
overwork and leave plenty of time to enjoy the show, there will be so
much there to see and do.
Stu has already suggested the possibility of a bit of a social get
together later in the year so I'm hoping we shall all meet then.
Incidentally, couldn't agree more regarding your experiences of
Tesco etc. Asda at Gloucester is an absolute nightmare, she
knows that if she choses to go there she is on her own. To hell
with the cost!!!
Have fun.
Sticky.
July 30, 2010
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Hello guys, To those retired .. I hope you have had a
busy day, to those working .. give it up .. you`re a long time dead and
money really is the root of all evil. Live on less, it works for me. My
income has fallen to 30% of what it was when both the wife and I were
working full-time, but we seem to not want for anything .. we lead a
simple life now and enjoy it more. (It`s a bit like when we first got
married (without the sex)).
I semi-retired when I was 40, worked 4
hours a day, spent the rest of my time in a V.W. campervan on endless
trips, (Carole .. the wife .. only worked part-time as well). Some fool
suggested buying a bungalow, and converting our old house .. that was
seventeen years ago. It meant that both of us had to go back to
full-time work to fund the process. No one was happier than me when I
fully retired, now the other half has done the same and the days just
whizz by.
John, Sorry to hear you won`t be at Kemble, I have some
more Railway books for you, and a book (you`ll love this Steve ..)
about hydraulic presses by a certain Mr. Moore that you might like. I`ll
leave those with the other half for you. We will raise a glass to you
and recite all the main-line station names in 1948 !!.
Stu, don`t
know if you and Shirl are going to the Rally or not, look forward to
seeing you both there again if you are. Good to se you back on the site
again Mike, congratulations on your well deserved retirement. Ken, I`m
also glad to see you use the same painter as me, she`s worth every penny
!!! Regards to all .. Bill
July 30, 2010
(Edited July 30, 2010)
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Hi all.
Thanks for your kind comments, Bill, also in anticipation for the books, let me know what I owe you.
I like the idea of you and Ken using the same painter,she must get
about a bit. Don't know about being woth every penny, I thought I could
see a ha'penny though!!!!!!
I've mentioned this before but still not done anything positive about it, I really must invest in a new laptop soon.
Perhaps with better performance I would be able to keep in touch
with everyone whilst I an in Ireland. The plan has changed slightly
though, now intend to get shot of my desktop altogether, keep this
machine exclusively for club and show work and use the new one for all
other IT stuff. Anyone using Windows seven yet? If so any comments would
be greatly appreciated. I'm running XP on this machine.
Have fun.
Sticky.
July 30, 2010
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Hello John, et al. The books come free, just glad to
be able to assist in obtaining these on your behalf, good job I have as
the "Book Barn" is now under new management since the death of the
old owner. They have only one barn open to the public, all the rest are
simply storage for books, only available online and via the PCs in the
remaining barn. Apparently, this is a measure to minimise staff wages
overheads.
The desktop I`m still using is quite a beast (even by
todays standards), but when it dies I will buy another laptop and hook
it up to my illuminated keyboard and large screen monitor (macular
degeneration problems). The laptop will of course use less power, but
the workroom won`t keep quite so warm in the winter ! .. that will be
the only downside.
The lady that Ken so kindly shared with me
with my decorating requirements is well worth more than a ha`penny John,
I`d say at least that her tuppence (2p) worth of entertainment value is
well appreciated.
Got to go and get some wood for a project now, have a good one ... Bill
July 31, 2010
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Hi All, With all the tasks Mike has don't know how
he found time to go to work, bit like all us retirees. Must
admit Bill that painter you recommended does an excellent job only
worry is the dandruff when looking up. Ken
Aug. 1, 2010
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Hi all.
Cracking photos Ken, bet grand daughter keeps you on your toes.
No fear of an inactive retirement with kids like her around. Eh?
A news update for the chaps here in Blighty, as you all have gathered by now I'm still here!
The bad news is that the lifting gear that should have arrived on site in Ireland last Friday did not turn up.
They learned early this morning that it will not now arrive until
Wednesday earliest. My start date has now been postponed until Monday
next. Tough luck guys have to put up with my ramblings a bit longer.
The good news is that I shall now be at the show for the duratiuon as from tomorrow lunch time!!!!!
Look forward to seeing you guys.
Getting late again so have to go.
Have fun
Sticky.
Aug. 2, 2010
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Thanks Sticky, The grand daughter lives in Melbourne
almost 700km away so we only see her every now and again. Although I
am retired, the wife still coaches young ones to swim in the school
terms. So if we get a long weekend or a school holiday we normally drive
to Melbourne and back, it is about 7-8 hours each way and quite good
roads. I can put the car in cruise control and leave it there
sometimes for two or three hours at a time without adjustment.
Although the road is quite busy by our standards, it is nothing like
your motorways. When I get near to Melbourne the road is a Toll
Road, it is not too busy into the city so I get a good run
in and I can leave after the morning rush to get home. I
live 25k from the Airport here and Melbourne Airport is about
50K from the city, so the cheap airfares are good but lost in
parking fees or taxi fares. Plus I do like driving and whilst I am fit
enough to do it, I will continue to do so. Do take the
odd flight here and there, but like to drive, if I have the time to
do so. Hope you guys all have a great together weekend at
the Kembla Show. Ken
Aug. 3, 2010
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Back from grandson duty in Cambridge. Boy the 140 mile
drive is enough for me! Anyone got a spare Tardis? It is great to wind
the lad up and then return home when knackered! Looks as if the old
Tech fosters a desire to retire? I finished at 51 and the missus a year
later. Those ambles around USA, Canada, Oz (Sydney to Melbourne) &
NZ before the baby boomers caught up made the reduction in income worth
it. Kids are green with envy as they will slave for the government until
they drop. Still they have all three seen as much of the world as us
already. No 1 Son has got to Japan, China, South America & Kenya
too. Now his dosh goes on nappies, baby food 4x4 pushchairs and a people
carrier! They were just pleased to have a night-out in Cambridge when
we took over baby watch! Have yet to dodge the supermarket trips. If I
miss out the booze supply drops and 'healthy eating' (what is that?)
starts to arrive in the larder! Perhaps the visits will be more frequent
for a while as the damned freezer died in our absence! Good job it was
only 50% full! I rushed to check the fridge in the summerhouse. The
white wine & beer is okay!! Phew! Graham
Aug. 4, 2010
(Edited Aug. 4, 2010)
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Oooerrr !! Glad the important things were OK Graham.
Rich
Aug. 4, 2010
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Bill, I owe you an apology, sorry for not having
replied before but we won't be making it to Kemble this weekend, far too
busy I'm afraid, Regatta time, I'm going to be tied up for most of the
weekend, reserving spaces and fixing notices tomorrow as well as finding
time to drop into the North Devon Coast and Countryside offices for a
meeting to discuss ongoing slipway use. Saturday it's likely to be from
07.00 to 20.00 with controlling the car park and slipway useage as well
as trying to preserve a space for a gymnastics display. Sundat the
regatta is ongoing. I'll be glad to go back to work on Monday, at least
then all I've got to do is finalise the arrangements for the three
roadshows we're doing next week. Having said all that I hope all you
guys who are going to Kemble have a good weekend, we would have like to
come, but there ya go, another time, Shirl sends her regards.
Stu
Aug. 5, 2010
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With wife and friends, cycled a return between Dundas Warf and Caen
Locks yesterday. Lovely day, smashing views, amazing technology on top of
some narrow boats (wind turbines/ very large solar panel arrays etc. and the
occasional comatosed cat).
Spoke to a lady near Semington who chatted on about the Wilts and Berks canal
that branched off (or joined, depending on the politics and sensitivities of
the conservation group) the K&A. I tried to trace the course of the
W&B canal using Google Earth, easy in places but almost impossible in
others. Is any one associated with the W&B and can give us any up to date
info about progress in its restoration? There certainly seemed many years of
work to be done at the K&A end (if my navvying experience on the Ffestiniog
Rlwy in anything to go by).
Mike
Aug. 6, 2010
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Mike, check out this site www.coobeastie.co.uk/gecm/wilts-and-berks-canal/
uses Google Earth but will give you a reference line for the canals
route, either as a map, satallite image or terrain outline, the best
section at the moment seems to be in the region of Dauntsey Lock between
Chippenham and Wootton Bassett.
Aug. 6, 2010
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I hope you are not on the K & A between Sydney Wharf
and Avoncliffe on Sunday. Yours truly will be steering (ha! ha!) a
narrowboat in the afternoon. I hope the kids keep me off the juice.
'Left hand down a bit!' Graham
Aug. 6, 2010
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Not sure why the above appeared twice! Shaky hand on the mouse? Deleted second copy. Graham
Aug. 6, 2010
(Edited Aug. 7, 2010)
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The family & I survived the K & A adventure.
Steering aided by a bottle of Cava. What are the rules about drinking
& boating? Took a while to get the hang of it, but son-in-law soon
took over so the rest of us could watch the world go by. Excellent
'Great British Cod & Chips' at The George in Bathampton sealed the
event. Picture added. Graham
Aug. 11, 2010
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