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All Quiet .. on the Western Front
Picture of John Stickland
John Stickland
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 
 
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)
 
Picture of John Stickland
John Stickland
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 
 
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 
 
Picture of Ken Eynon
Ken Eynon
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 
 
Picture of John Stickland
John Stickland
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 
 
Picture of Ken Eynon
Ken Eynon

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 
 
Picture of Graham
Graham
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)
 
Picture of Rich Lanham
Rich Lanham
Oooerrr !! Glad the important things were OK Graham.
 
Rich
Aug. 4, 2010 
 
Picture of Stuart Stickler
Stuart Stickler
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 
 
Picture of Mike Hallett
Mike Hallett

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 
 
Picture of Stuart Stickler
Stuart Stickler
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 
 
Picture of Graham
Graham
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 
 
Picture of Graham
Graham
Not sure why the above appeared twice! Shaky hand on the mouse? Deleted second copy. Graham
Aug. 6, 2010  (Edited Aug. 7, 2010)
 
Picture of Graham
Graham
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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