Self-isolation Activities

[John Richmond 1,124]

I may be spending too much time on non productive activities during the lockdown.  Counting out the cucumber slices for our lunchtime ham salad sandwiches I found myself going 8, 9, 10 Jack, Queen, King.....

 

....Spider solitaire I curse you.

[Bryan 14,264]

On 15/04/2020 at 13:40, aphperspective said:

She may be related to my partner, she has the same effect on plants as Roundup 🙂 Let her loose with a weeding trowel and nothing is safe. Once decimated a whole bed of  mixed herbs i had just planted convinced they were weeds.

 

My Mrs loves to prune the plants, you can see them cowering as she enters the garden. In fairness things have improved over the years and, if left to me, it probably wouldn't get done as rigourously. However there was the occasion where a fellow gardener heeled in a couple of gooseberry plants, on our allotment, which mysteriously disappeared - only to be found later on the compost heap. They survived that ordeal, and have borne fruit ever since, no doubt in fear of the consequences should they lapse.

 

 

Then there was the episode relating to our lovely Egremont Russet apple tree. For a couple of years it produced a mediocre crop, so she decided that it should be purged from the garden. Fortunately I was able restrain her hand, and it was given a stay of execution. I sprayed the tree with Jeyes Fluid (illegal now) to kill the bugs and gave it a good meal of blood fish and bone, and, low and behold, a completely revived specimen. 

 

 

 

Edited April 17, 2020 by Bryan

[Ed Rooney 3,598]

Earlier today on BBC4, I heard a long segment with two women discussing allotments. I feel so out of it. 🙁

[losdemas 2,815]

4 hours ago, Ed Rooney said:

Earlier today on BBC4, I heard a long segment with two women discussing allotments. I feel so out of it. 🙁

 

I'm with you, Ed. Fancy a pint?

[John Mitchell 4,642]

7 hours ago, Ed Rooney said:

Earlier today on BBC4, I heard a long segment with two women discussing allotments. I feel so out of it. 🙁

 

I wasn't familiar with the term "allotments" either. I guess they are similar to what are usually called "community gardens" in these parts.

[Thyrsis 448]

10 hours ago, Ed Rooney said:

Earlier today on BBC4, I heard a long segment with two women discussing allotments. I feel so out of it. 🙁

 

You could get one Ed!! 😀

 

http://www.liverpoolallotments.com

[Ed Rooney 3,598]

Oh, I know what an allotment is. I also think there might be a sign posted on some of them that warn "if Ed Rooney should attempt to enter this allotment area, alert the authorities."  

 

That's very informative, Ian. Thanks

 

Edited April 18, 2020 by Ed Rooney

[Bryan 14,264]

Went for a walk a couple of days ago (and, as a byproduct, secured a single possible stock photo). All was well for most of the way, sensible folk keeping beyond the 2 m limit, but then we had to cross a narrow footbridge. When halfway over a young woman and child entered the bridge in the opposite direction, making social distancing impossible. With the benefit of hindsight we should perhaps have asked her to stay back until we had crossed, or turned and walked back until she was gone, but, trapped,  we just plodded on.

 

Sadly some folk just don't get it!

[Ed Rooney 3,598]

Young people have little sense of their own mortality, Bryan. 

[Thyrsis 448]

46 minutes ago, Ed Rooney said:

Young people have little sense of their own mortality, Bryan. 

 

Especially young joggers who have no sense of my mortality either!  

[Allan Bell 2,402]

9 minutes ago, Thyrsis said:

 

Especially young joggers who have no sense of my mortality either!  

 

And cyclists.

 

Allan

 

[R De Marigny 26]

Some joggers are worse than the cyclists infringing 2m space.. belonging to that class of dedicated heavy 'mouth breathers' on their fly pasts.

 

I might pop online and order one of those replica medieval knights visors  🤣

 

 

[Ed Rooney 3,598]

Cyclists in Amsterdam own the city and feel they own the world. They move like bats out of hell and it's so easy to accidentally step into a bike path. I had a bike in NYC for a while but fumes from cars were hard to deal with. 

 

Is this Amsterdam couple following safety rules? Are there any safety rules?

 

[R De Marigny 26]

24 minutes ago, Ed Rooney said:

Cyclists in Amsterdam own the city and feel they own the world. They move like bats out of hell and it's so easy to accidentally step into a bike path. I had a bike in NYC for a while but fumes from cars were hard to deal with. 

 

Is this Amsterdam couple following safety rules? Are there any safety rules?

 

Here the proviso appears to be if from same household you can exercise together. If out cycling if they act reasonably people can avoid getting too near, its the hell bent on fast speedo lot I d be more inclined to worry about. 

 

Having said that while out walking last week, one almost ran into me narrowly avoiding collision by coming at speed from behind. He did not even have the good sense to warn he was oncoming. That could have ended badly, I'm sure glad it didnt. 

 

 

 

 

[sb photos 303]

33 minutes ago, Ed Rooney said:

Cyclists in Amsterdam own the city and feel they own the world. They move like bats out of hell and it's so easy to accidentally step into a bike path. I had a bike in NYC for a while but fumes from cars were hard to deal with. 

 

Is this Amsterdam couple following safety rules? Are there any safety rules?

 

 

Law enforcement in all countries don't have the resources to challenge cyclists these days. On my last trip to Amsterdam I was run down on a pavement, ended up tangled up with the cyclist and her bike. Locally more cyclists of all ages are riding on the pavements and are a hazard, older ones would be quite safe on the roads as there is so little traffic during lock down. I haven't been on my bike for years, an old Holdsworthy DB 531 frame and forks touring bike. It needs a quick service and new tyres and inner tubes, it's on the list of things to get around to. I used to cycle a lot, did the London to Brighton ride and back quite a few times, I miss that. Too old for that now. I remember the CTC membership gave you insurance, can't remember how much it was for though.

[Mr Standfast 560]

She's peddling and he's riding. Legend!

[spacecadet 3,781]

1 hour ago, R De Marigny said:

I might pop online and order one of those replica medieval knights visors  🤣

Maybe one of those big swords Charlton Heston's using in "El Cid" when he says "To whom does Calahorra belong?"

Or a lance.

[R De Marigny 26]

3 minutes ago, spacecadet said:

Maybe one of those big swords Charlton Heston's using in "El Cid" when he says "To whom does Calahorra belong?"

Or a lance.

The lance might come in handy if a breakage to my camera occurred yes. 

 

Broken bones I could deal with but damage to camera equipment..thats one from the scene in Stepbrothers and don't mess with the drums

🤣🤣

[Bryan 14,264]

I've already commented about the situation on the coast to coast path that passes nearby. As a Sustrans Ranger I help maintain this route.

 

Social media is full of angry folk denouncing others and their temerity to exist. It requires consideration by all users, and they all have a right to be there - except perhaps those who chose to allow their dogs to freely roam, it's a path intended to get people from A to B not a dog exercise field.  Dogs are welcome, but only on a short lead!   I'm a keen cyclist and have been for years, but it dismays me seeing people on bikes riding far too fast when passing pedestrians and not giving any warning of their approach. Some people appear to feel that a bike bell is uncool, but that is just stupidity.  In normal times this route is used by cycle commuters as a safe alternative to the road while getting to and fro to work, and I can understand their frustration at having to slow down in order to weave past hordes of walkers and joggers etc, but we all need to use a bit of common sense and share the facility at this time. So keep left, let people past, cyclists slow down and use a bell, dogs on short leads and please, NO headphones.

[Allan Bell 2,402]

55 minutes ago, Bryan said:

I've already commented about the situation on the coast to coast path that passes nearby. As a Sustrans Ranger I help maintain this route.

 

Social media is full of angry folk denouncing others and their temerity to exist. It requires consideration by all users, and they all have a right to be there - except perhaps those who chose to allow their dogs to freely roam, it's a path intended to get people from A to B not a dog exercise field.  Dogs are welcome, but only on a short lead!   I'm a keen cyclist and have been for years, but it dismays me seeing people on bikes riding far too fast when passing pedestrians and not giving any warning of their approach. Some people appear to feel that a bike bell is uncool, but that is just stupidity.  In normal times this route is used by cycle commuters as a safe alternative to the road while getting to and fro to work, and I can understand their frustration at having to slow down in order to weave past hordes of walkers and joggers etc, but we all need to use a bit of common sense and share the facility at this time. So keep left, let people past, cyclists slow down and use a bell, dogs on short leads and please, NO headphones.

 

I've never heard a cyclist use a bell when out cycling in Cambridge. I don't mean I am cycling in Cambridge. I am walking. They just flash past you by a few thousandths of an inch. If I decide to turn left or right, remembering that I am on the pavement, it's Good night Vienna.

 

I am going to fit a rear view mirror to my spectacles. Give me something to do.

 

Allan

 

 

 

 

[NYCat 2,446]

1 hour ago, Bryan said:

Social media is full of angry folk denouncing others and their temerity to exist. 

 

Our mayor is now encouraging people to take pictures of people not obeying the "rules". Ouch. I was out this morning and a lot of people are not wearing masks even though it is supposed to be the "law." Good luck with that. New Yorkers are about as good at following rules as cowboys are. Have I ventured into politics? Oh oh. Please don't reply to this. I love New Yorkers and cowboys and I love people who hate New Yorkers and disapprove of cowboys. Am I OK now???

 

Paulette

[Allan Bell 2,402]

No grief from me.🙂

 

Allan

 

[aphperspective 382]

Speaking of cyclists lack of manners my brother was parked beside a fairly narrow footpath and saw this particular pond life belting towards him on the pavement shouting at folk as he  went by. Brother let said cretin get level with his car then opened the door. Effect on Cyclists bike was devastating and effect on pond life was very painfull!!. 

[spacecadet 3,781]

17 hours ago, aphperspective said:

Speaking of cyclists lack of manners my brother was parked beside a fairly narrow footpath and saw this particular pond life belting towards him on the pavement shouting at folk as he  went by. Brother let said cretin get level with his car then opened the door. Effect on Cyclists bike was devastating and effect on pond life was very painfull!!. 

Well, the penalty for cycling on a footpath assuming that it wasn't shared use, might be a fine, rather than criminal assault.

I'm quite pleased your brother and I are in different countries. He sounds like a nasty piece of work..

Edited April 20, 2020 by spacecadet

[Ed Rooney 3,598]

I guess I should have said I took the pic of the two bike riders in Amsterdam in 2006.