So as 2008 staggers into history, the year the wheels fell off the banking system and may yet take lots of other people with it.
The temperature here has been right down there amongst the coldest we have seen.
So naturally we went off this morning to get a load of bits for the yellow goddess.
Then spent a pleasantly cool time this afternoon fitting some of them.
So now we are all set to go into town and see in the new year.
Management has volunteered to drive, and the IVECO too, some people say management drives so I can have beer, others know that I need beer if management is driving....
R
Wednesday, 31 December 2008
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
We're on the road again.....
An away day today.
A drive across the ice and frost to the mainroad then a blast up the motorway.
One child dropped with his nan then another picked up with a visit to managements mum in between. 98 years young the old lady, has a mind as sharp as a knife but the rest of her is starting to slow down a bit.
Back home and no repeat of last night. Last night she was letting her soft side show, poor little Sid the kitten, it was too cold for the poor little mite to be outside.
So out I was sent with a torch to find him.
About 4 AM and we have the katolympics, rumble, thunder, thunder, Da Man and him, up the stairs round the room, under our bed then downstairs again, with the odd bit of growl, snarl, growl, play fighting thrown in for good measure.
Management is a lot less keen and he is outside tonight.
Shame. Sid had found a seat under the log fire, I was trying to get a photo to put on here.
R
A drive across the ice and frost to the mainroad then a blast up the motorway.
One child dropped with his nan then another picked up with a visit to managements mum in between. 98 years young the old lady, has a mind as sharp as a knife but the rest of her is starting to slow down a bit.
Back home and no repeat of last night. Last night she was letting her soft side show, poor little Sid the kitten, it was too cold for the poor little mite to be outside.
So out I was sent with a torch to find him.
About 4 AM and we have the katolympics, rumble, thunder, thunder, Da Man and him, up the stairs round the room, under our bed then downstairs again, with the odd bit of growl, snarl, growl, play fighting thrown in for good measure.
Management is a lot less keen and he is outside tonight.
Shame. Sid had found a seat under the log fire, I was trying to get a photo to put on here.
R
Monday, 29 December 2008
Cold snap - holy rolly...
Last few days have been a trifle inclement in the cold sort of a way...
We have given in, the log stove our main heat this winter so far has had to be helped by the central heating.
But we have still saved a fortune and the planet by vast consumption of wood over oil.
Some of the wood though is not quite as dry as it might be, soaking might be another way of describing it.
Management being nothing if not resourceful put a load of it in the aga main stove last night so that it was properly dry.
I will draw a veil of mercy and spare her embarrassment. But I can confirm that the fire might have been out this morning but that was no problem, all it took was to take a shovel and transfer the blazing inferno from the aga oven to the firebox of the log stove...
Still is is going well now and with the temperature barely above freezing all day the central heating has been off.
R
We have given in, the log stove our main heat this winter so far has had to be helped by the central heating.
But we have still saved a fortune and the planet by vast consumption of wood over oil.
Some of the wood though is not quite as dry as it might be, soaking might be another way of describing it.
Management being nothing if not resourceful put a load of it in the aga main stove last night so that it was properly dry.
I will draw a veil of mercy and spare her embarrassment. But I can confirm that the fire might have been out this morning but that was no problem, all it took was to take a shovel and transfer the blazing inferno from the aga oven to the firebox of the log stove...
Still is is going well now and with the temperature barely above freezing all day the central heating has been off.
R
Sunday, 28 December 2008
We wiiii you a merry Xmas
One of the things we bought this Xmas was a Wiiii
Not for any particular child but for all of them.
It has been an unmitigated and total success.
Very unusual bt there is something different about the wii.
Previous computer games have been good but divisive. Kids always end up arguing and fighting.
The wee though is not like that.
It seems to be based on cooperation and fun. Even management for whom anything electronic is a no no has been doing various strange wii activities with something called a wiii fit.
Means I have to try and get the fire running.
R
Not for any particular child but for all of them.
It has been an unmitigated and total success.
Very unusual bt there is something different about the wii.
Previous computer games have been good but divisive. Kids always end up arguing and fighting.
The wee though is not like that.
It seems to be based on cooperation and fun. Even management for whom anything electronic is a no no has been doing various strange wii activities with something called a wiii fit.
Means I have to try and get the fire running.
R
Saturday, 27 December 2008
The green goddess vaccum.
In 2005 the Uk decided it could finally kiss goodbye to the cold war.
The very last relics of that "war" the green goddess pumps were to be stood down. Replaced by so called "new dimension" equipment. ND itself being a response to the new war or 9/11 and 7/7 anti terror initiative.
But it never quite made sense, The thousand emergency pumps were to be directly replaced by just 40 high volume pumps. It was clear capacity was something they did not have in a big flood situation.
The big pumping capacity for drought and flood was simply not replaced it was abandoned.
The greater mobility capability of the 4x4 GG was not replaced it was abandoned.
The ability to mobilise a whole fleet of simple to operate vehicles in support of the fire service was not replaced it was abandoned.
It could be argued that this was all too much to pay.
But the government had recognised that all it's little jaunts abroad were leaving the military overstretched and overworked. So they asked their good friends at group 4 to provide a fire service reserve.
Now the GG were costing about 1 million a year for which you got about 1000 fire engines 40 of which could be driven away immediately and every one of them could be working in 21 days. 500 miles of big bore water pipe, 1000 smaller portable pumps. Lots and lots of kit.
Group 4 were offering you, none of the above, a troop of people who might be there if needed but you would not know till the day if you had saved money by paying 10 mil a year for not a lot. Or blown it on smoke and mirrors
But of course now the government have decided they will not. They changed their minds. they don't have 10 mil a year to blow and now you get exactly nothing..
If the local managers of your fire brigade annoy the people at the coal face enough and they walk out: your house will burn down though you kids will probably be OK because our fire fighters will save life even if you don't pay them.
If the FBU decide that things are bad and their people deserve 50% this year, you better pray that Gordon has the money to pay out because that will be the sum of his options.
Oh and the final twist, the New Dimension deal was a private finance initiative. So, if your community suffers a major flood today there is no number to call to access 40 Green Goddesses and miles of pipe, the government would not pay for a 24/7 service. Catastrophe is only allowed in normal office hours.
R
The very last relics of that "war" the green goddess pumps were to be stood down. Replaced by so called "new dimension" equipment. ND itself being a response to the new war or 9/11 and 7/7 anti terror initiative.
But it never quite made sense, The thousand emergency pumps were to be directly replaced by just 40 high volume pumps. It was clear capacity was something they did not have in a big flood situation.
The big pumping capacity for drought and flood was simply not replaced it was abandoned.
The greater mobility capability of the 4x4 GG was not replaced it was abandoned.
The ability to mobilise a whole fleet of simple to operate vehicles in support of the fire service was not replaced it was abandoned.
It could be argued that this was all too much to pay.
But the government had recognised that all it's little jaunts abroad were leaving the military overstretched and overworked. So they asked their good friends at group 4 to provide a fire service reserve.
Now the GG were costing about 1 million a year for which you got about 1000 fire engines 40 of which could be driven away immediately and every one of them could be working in 21 days. 500 miles of big bore water pipe, 1000 smaller portable pumps. Lots and lots of kit.
Group 4 were offering you, none of the above, a troop of people who might be there if needed but you would not know till the day if you had saved money by paying 10 mil a year for not a lot. Or blown it on smoke and mirrors
But of course now the government have decided they will not. They changed their minds. they don't have 10 mil a year to blow and now you get exactly nothing..
If the local managers of your fire brigade annoy the people at the coal face enough and they walk out: your house will burn down though you kids will probably be OK because our fire fighters will save life even if you don't pay them.
If the FBU decide that things are bad and their people deserve 50% this year, you better pray that Gordon has the money to pay out because that will be the sum of his options.
Oh and the final twist, the New Dimension deal was a private finance initiative. So, if your community suffers a major flood today there is no number to call to access 40 Green Goddesses and miles of pipe, the government would not pay for a 24/7 service. Catastrophe is only allowed in normal office hours.
R
Friday, 26 December 2008
"I wish it could be Xmas every day......"
One is often moved to wonder what exactly Roy Wood had been drinking or smoking when his twisted little mind came up with that line in his song.
I mean can you imagine, what if it was Xmas every day, what would we see?
Well thinking about it it might not all be entirely bad.
There would be no kids whining and whinging about what they wanted as the shops would all be closed so you could not buy anything.
No point looking to eBay and Amazon either, the post office vans would be parked up and nothing would be moving.
Just as well as of course everyone on the planet would be wasted.
Reality would be the little islands of hang over pain between a permanent alcohol filtered haze.
Obviously there would be a smattering of 24 hour garages and off licences open. So we would not starve or run out of things, though how in hell we would drive anywhere I cannot work out.
Neither would anyone live in fear of a plop on the mat, Visa bill would not be the nailbiting moment of January terror. Because of course in the run of things January would be like tomorrow and never come.
I wonder though, how long would it be before everyone got fed up with it all and demanded an unXmas day when everyone went to work, met people who were not their family, earned money and paid for the other 364 days spent drinking to much.
Of course by then with all that partying no one could get into work, they would need to be able to walk and with that never ending wine filtered, turkey, duck and goose dinner inside them that just would not be happening.
Perhaps Mr Wood was wrong, it is best that it is not Xmas every day.
Life here is ongoing, with Wii fit telling management she is underheight for her weight. Still it is keeping her quiet...
Which is more than can be said for.....
Serenity has displayed animal cunning by turning up with her four children and delayed opening grandads present till grandad could see them do it
Sooo I was seranaded with a mouth organ, recorder, tambourine and castanets.
Sir Bruce joining in with her new flute was the final touch.
When still recovering from an evening which featured the pop of the corkscrew rather more often than my GP might approve of that was just as unpleasant as you might think it would be....
Sings:
I'm glad it isn't Xmas every day
And to be serious for once.
There has been a huge row about the UK channel 4 deciding to let the president of Iran send a Xmas message to everyone in the UK. Now the Iranians are a bunch of gay hanging misogenistic muslims who want to have the bomb so they can do for us all, or so we are told on every corner. Where they differ from some Americans is not very clear, but they are Arab and de facto the bad guys. The Sun says so so it must be right....
Reading the full text of what he said on the Guardians website really gives you food for thought. Makes you wonder if there is not a wisdom in the message, strangely absent from the queens homily, or the utterance of former members of the Hitler youth either.
R
I mean can you imagine, what if it was Xmas every day, what would we see?
Well thinking about it it might not all be entirely bad.
There would be no kids whining and whinging about what they wanted as the shops would all be closed so you could not buy anything.
No point looking to eBay and Amazon either, the post office vans would be parked up and nothing would be moving.
Just as well as of course everyone on the planet would be wasted.
Reality would be the little islands of hang over pain between a permanent alcohol filtered haze.
Obviously there would be a smattering of 24 hour garages and off licences open. So we would not starve or run out of things, though how in hell we would drive anywhere I cannot work out.
Neither would anyone live in fear of a plop on the mat, Visa bill would not be the nailbiting moment of January terror. Because of course in the run of things January would be like tomorrow and never come.
I wonder though, how long would it be before everyone got fed up with it all and demanded an unXmas day when everyone went to work, met people who were not their family, earned money and paid for the other 364 days spent drinking to much.
Of course by then with all that partying no one could get into work, they would need to be able to walk and with that never ending wine filtered, turkey, duck and goose dinner inside them that just would not be happening.
Perhaps Mr Wood was wrong, it is best that it is not Xmas every day.
Life here is ongoing, with Wii fit telling management she is underheight for her weight. Still it is keeping her quiet...
Which is more than can be said for.....
Serenity has displayed animal cunning by turning up with her four children and delayed opening grandads present till grandad could see them do it
Sooo I was seranaded with a mouth organ, recorder, tambourine and castanets.
Sir Bruce joining in with her new flute was the final touch.
When still recovering from an evening which featured the pop of the corkscrew rather more often than my GP might approve of that was just as unpleasant as you might think it would be....
Sings:
I'm glad it isn't Xmas every day
And to be serious for once.
There has been a huge row about the UK channel 4 deciding to let the president of Iran send a Xmas message to everyone in the UK. Now the Iranians are a bunch of gay hanging misogenistic muslims who want to have the bomb so they can do for us all, or so we are told on every corner. Where they differ from some Americans is not very clear, but they are Arab and de facto the bad guys. The Sun says so so it must be right....
Reading the full text of what he said on the Guardians website really gives you food for thought. Makes you wonder if there is not a wisdom in the message, strangely absent from the queens homily, or the utterance of former members of the Hitler youth either.
R
Thursday, 25 December 2008
On Xmas day in the morning....
Ho Ho Ho merry wotsitmas.
The day is upon us, I had a celebratory morning splitting wood with an axe. Actually I quite love splitting wood.
I had a lovely Xmas morning, how excited and lucky, was I to get a cardigan?
Still the Wii has bought us a certain amount of peace.
Tallie has been quite amusing, announcing all the good things on the tellie that might tempt people off the wii so he can have a go. Not a man with a plan at all...
Dinner is in progress.
This year is slightly diferent though we have no P. He is not here, four years of work and he is back with his mum for Xmas.
Soon he is going back forever, foster care can be good, social work can be effective.
We should perhaps pay more heed to the times the service gets things right.
15 years I have woken here for Xmas, this should be the last one, if all goes to plan.
Who mentioned mice and men.....
Merry Xmas.
R
The day is upon us, I had a celebratory morning splitting wood with an axe. Actually I quite love splitting wood.
I had a lovely Xmas morning, how excited and lucky, was I to get a cardigan?
Still the Wii has bought us a certain amount of peace.
Tallie has been quite amusing, announcing all the good things on the tellie that might tempt people off the wii so he can have a go. Not a man with a plan at all...
Dinner is in progress.
This year is slightly diferent though we have no P. He is not here, four years of work and he is back with his mum for Xmas.
Soon he is going back forever, foster care can be good, social work can be effective.
We should perhaps pay more heed to the times the service gets things right.
15 years I have woken here for Xmas, this should be the last one, if all goes to plan.
Who mentioned mice and men.....
Merry Xmas.
R
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