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Here Comes Summer
Picture of Stuart Stickler
Stuart Stickler
For want of a better title, thought it was about time to kick off a new subject for collective ramblings.
Firstly to answer Tony a couple of days ago, yep! the weather's lovely but I don't skulk in the shadows, definately a sunny side of the street guy me Tone.
From last weekend I've returned to the slipway for the summer, unfortunately the caravan has gone and it's replacement is a small hut, kiosk size, just about right for burgers etc., which judging by the number of comments could be a good idea. No bikinis or wet suits yet guys, still a bit chilly, but I've got a new camera with a zoom lens, ha ha.
Sent Sticky a few pics of a steam launch that launched from the slipway a couple of days ago, if anyone's interested I'll post them here, I can hear Steve groan from here!
Other than that it's pretty quite down here on the Western Front, couple of gigs to go to in the next month, but really just hoping for some good summer weather.
 
Stu
Apr. 11, 2010  (Edited Apr. 19, 2010)
 
Picture of Anthony Eccles
Anthony Eccles
Stick them on Stu, and don,t forget we want some from the slipway as well once the weather warms up.
Apr. 11, 2010 
 
Hello Stu & Anth,
Yes, Summer is certainly here today at least .. have just christened the new summer house with a bite of early dinner (or late lunch). The sun was full on into the side of it at 5.30, and even though the windows are not in yet ..it was pleasently very warm ..all things considered. I really do hope that this is summer .. I have waited so long for this awful weather to break (permanently, I hope!).
 
I guess you guys had a good weekend as well, I was supposed to take a break today from the garden D.I.Y. but couldn`t resist finishing off another garden path & transferring a red-currant bush to the top of the garden. "She who is without work" has now got into full swing on the garden, and I am trying desperatly to keep up with the new pace !
 
As for the new "shack" Stu, as long as you have tea making facilities and a few buscuits, you may well get visitors at some stage. Oh, and my "bits and pieces" at B & Q ... the department was the "Ga-hardening" section of course. 
Apr. 11, 2010 
 
Picture of John Stickland
John Stickland
Hi Guys.
Like you, glad to see some sunshine of late, Saturday was by far the best day this year, the old solar cells working overtime! Warm too. Been sunny today but there has been a cool NE breeze that still gave quite a chilly feel. Like Bill just been trying to tidy up a bit over the week end, but could do with another week at it to make any real impression. Have not been out again since our forray to Clevedon on Friday. Ah well, back to work tomorrow!
Cracking photos Stu sent, I hope he pastes them on here for the benefit of all. Shame he could not have taken more. I think that perhaps we should all visit him in his new 'Accommodation' to see for ourselves if he has tea making and biscuit storing facilities.
I don't know though, Appledore seems a long way to go for a cup of tea!
Gotta go now.
Regards to all.
Sticky.
 
Apr. 11, 2010  (Edited Apr. 11, 2010)
 
Picture of Rich Lanham
Rich Lanham
Hi all, Just a quickie (story of my life) to add my little bit to the topic. The weather is really good isn't it? Makes you feel so much better. Love the piccies of the steam launch Stu, You really are in a nice part of the world aren't you. Is that flat under you still for sale ? I would think all our thoughts are now of a much improved weather situation and our other halves are sorting out all the jobs "we" need doing. The only job I need doing is getting out the garden chair and opening a suitable libation but that is wishful thinking.
 
Hope you're all well and that I can add a bit moore next time.
 
Rich
Apr. 13, 2010 
 
Picture of John Stickland
John Stickland
Hi Rich and all.
Couldn't agree more about the weather. Been working at Hereford today and it was so nice I even enjoyed the journey home!
For the benefit of anyone that have not travelled the route from Hereford to Gloucester Via Ross on Wye, Lea and Huntley, just let me say that the road is not the best but the countryside in the sunshine made up for it.
Got a bit of a hectic day coming up next Saturday, trip to the scrap yard with about a ton of old iron, then on to Huntley to pick up an old Winget 1 ton dumper (Don't ask) then down to our neighbour's farm to collect an old Lister J type engine (Payment for services rendered) and then across to the other side of Stroud to collect a Witte drag saw that I've fancied for some time and the owner now wants to sell quick at a reasonable price. Apparently the management wants it out of the way so that the gazebo that it lives in can be demolished to make way for a summer house! More strength to her arm, I says! Hopefully the scrap mentioned earlier will go a long way towards paying for the saw.
Looks like being a fun day on Saturday.
Regards to all.
Sticky
Apr. 13, 2010 
 
Picture of Anthony Eccles
Anthony Eccles
Hi guys, if you enjoy Top Gear this has got to be a classic http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00gfhsn/Top_Gear_Series_12_Episode_8/?from=r
its the one where they attempt to travel the length of Vietnam on motorbikes and a scooter!!
Apr. 13, 2010  (Edited Apr. 13, 2010)
 
Hello guys,  (& and any gals `alookin` in),
I`ve just noticed that Anth (Tony) has had a new hair cut, I reckon it suits him very well. Makes him look so much younger ...don`t you think?
 
John ... you`re supposed to be working less as you get older, you make me dizzy all the galavanting you do ..and, I reckon you`re using up my annual diesel allowance with all that mileage!. Only joking of course ..Ha Ha. like the sound of the Lister J, a possible  candidate for taking on holiday as a backup source of power generation !.
 
The weather in Timsbury has turned yet again due to cloud blowing in over the Mendip hills, but I have still managed to do more to the new summer house. Ordered the acrylic window panels for it today .. you don`t want to know how much a 8` x 3` piece costs! .. still, think of all that evening sun coming in while I`m enjoying my dinner.
 
Back soon, regards to all.
Apr. 14, 2010  (Edited Apr. 15, 2010)
 
Picture of Anthony Eccles
Anthony Eccles
Hi Bill, yes thats me at about 12 years, I found an old negative of myself with Robert Dowling ,aka Humphry, got no idea who took it and didn,t know of its existance untill the other day when I was scanning a load of old negatives and found it, I have placed it on my skydrive if anyone wants a look.
Apr. 15, 2010 
 
Picture of John Stickland
John Stickland
Hi all.
Yep, Bill the haircuit definitely makes Anth look younger!
About the J type, good idea Bill, but feel I should point out that it is H E A V Y!!!!
I have got an old three phase alternator that we could marry it up to, trouble is this would increase the weight  further
I guess that the complete outfit would weigh in at between half and three quarters of a ton, only a guess mind you!
Oh then there's the quarter of a ton of water in the cooling tank, nearly forgot that! 
Like the idea of the summer house, but acrylic?
Working as I have within the plastics industry I already know the cost of the stuff.
Frightenin' aint it? But then most quality materials are it's only the more common materials, polyprop, polyethylene, PVC, ABS and the such that are relatively cheap, I emphasise relatively. None are cheap really, I know a bloke that was getting £200 per tonne for reclaimed polyprop twenty years ago!
Hey ho.
Have fun.
Sticky.  
Apr. 16, 2010 
 
Picture of John Stickland
John Stickland
This post deleted by Francis Williams  Apr. 17, 2010
 
Picture of Anthony Eccles
Anthony Eccles
Ahh-  the haircut, short back and sides and nothing off the top.
Apr. 17, 2010 
 
Picture of Stuart Stickler
Stuart Stickler
Better than a pudding basin Tony. And definitely better than what I evetually ended up with i.e. the "St. Francis", of Assisi that is not Timsbury.
Apr. 17, 2010 
 
Picture of Mike Hallett
Mike Hallett
Stu,

Reading your reports (mine, thank God, have long disappeared) are an object lesson in brevity.  The whole business of report writing these days is a minefield - everything has got to be evidenced based (stats, paperwork, reviews and tutor moderation) and no comment and target statement can be less than 300 characters long (per subject).  I wonder whether all the effort of writing sets of reports these days say anything more than one I clearly remember - "this boy wastes his time and mine" - says it all really.

BTW has any one got a relative abroad at the moment?  My wife and thirteen of her family went on a trip to commemorate the anniversary her Grandmother's marriage to a Methodist minister in Sri Lanka.  They are stuck in Colombo - most of them should be back at work on Monday. They're not too distressed (they've been put up in one of the capital's swankier joints) but one gets the impression that things will move very slowly - thank goodness for ATOL/ABTA/IATA bonds or yours truly would be disturbing the moth in his already threadbare wallet.
Cheers,
Mike
Apr. 17, 2010 
 
Mike,
The reporting procedures are always fraught with resentment from the parents that "little johnny" has not achieved what he said he was doing at school, when asked by his parents and family. .. that fact that "Mr Johnny" was an excellent scholar can only prove what "Mrs Johnny" said about your assessment of her sons performance in class was (a) misinformed, (b) incorrectly attributed to some other person that resembled "little Johnny". Of course it could be said by any independant party that the assessment was "biased" unfairly toward the teaching staffs inability to understand "little Johhnys" requirements for "special" training. The opportunity of couse will present itself next year to amend the report with more "factually biased" information.
 
Oh ... did I mention that "little Johnny" was thick .. just like his Mother ! ... bah .. humbug.! 
Apr. 18, 2010 
 
Picture of Mike Hallett
Mike Hallett

You have summed it up to a tee as usual!!! Best wishes, Mike
Apr. 18, 2010 
 
Picture of John Stickland
John Stickland
Hi All
Yes, Bill, I agree, I think your little parable about 'Little Johnny' says it all.
I don't envy anyone involved in front line education these days, especially those that have direct dealings with the little snotlings.
Oops, have I been politically incorrect?
It strikes me that anyone in that unfortunate position is between rocks and a hard place, trying to satisfy all the people all the time!
The government via the education auithority are dictating actions via edicts that have to be followed to the letter, whilst Mr and Mrs 'Johnny' are probably expecting the exact opposite, they are expecting education to mean 'correct our shortcomings'. Meanwhile the little snotling takes full advantage of the conflict by actively 'buggering up' any possible attempt to educate.
Then it's reports they expect, already.
Bring back Bevvers and his metre rule I say!
As you say Bill,  ...... Bah.......Humbug.
Regards to all.
Have fun.
Sticky.    
Apr. 19, 2010  (Edited Apr. 19, 2010)
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