The really boring and totally pointless snippets thread IV

[jimtherev]

Planted an Apple tree today. Two days to dig the hole. Needed a spade to remove the turf then a trowel, hammer and chisel, and removed a little bit of soil and a lot of limestone. Yesterday got the hole down about 12 inches. The problem with living on limestone?

Today continued just like archaeologists, scrape, remove, chisel, remove stone etc and really getting down to a bloody cement bag left by the builder about 18 inches down. Then I was able to get a spade in and turn over soil.

Every time we dig a hole it is a journey into the unknown.

Mate of mine once had a chapel somewhere in the Welsh Valleys. Graveyard solid granite. Had to get quarrymen in everytime they had a burial.
The trick was (a) to do the blasting before the mourners turned up (except once when they specifically asked if they could watch!) and (b) to limit the size of the blast(s), as he didn't want the chapel to fall down.

Said he preferred it on the whole to Tenby when he was there. At that time the only minister in town who didn't get seasick, so got landed with all the burials at sea, no matter the denomination...

[Capetonian]

You should be eligible under the ESTA visa waiver programme if you have a biometric passport. If not then you may need a visa. When you complete the ESTA application will validate each component including your passport issue and expiry date. I think your passport only has to be valid for the duration of the trip and the extra does not apply, the application will check that for you.

Watch out for 'fake' sites which will charge you more than the correct fee. Below is the real one.

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

[reddo]

IDC my condolences to you. May your sis RIP.
Magnus According to the Costa Rica site, your passport needs to be valid for 1 day longer than your journey.

[Capetonian]

OOPS
Ignore my comments above. I read it as a Puerto Rico!
Sorry.
Just as well I no longer work!

[Pontius Navigator]

I remember one pax being given a hard time at Gatwick. His passport had expired. How had he boarded a flight home?

Just another money grabbing scheme insisting on a 10 year life.

[llondel]

Some years ago we flew on a trip to the US. My wife showed her US passport on the way out, and when leaving the US. On arrival in the UK she used her UK passport, as she is supposed to do. Except it has expired. The chap on the desk just pointed this out as he processed us through. They cannot deny a British citizen entry into the UK, although there's probably a get-out here that you have to prove you are a citizen. A recently-expired passport with no attached record to say citizenship has been withdrawn is probably good-enough proof.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

It annoys UK passport control intensely that I use my Canadian passport when entering the UK. They have to run off and fetch forms, which is not fun in the driving rain at a port at one in the morning. I point out they stopped UK passport holders renewing in their country of residence, and mine has thus expired. Their annoyance switches off me, but remains. That's Displaced Aggression for you.

[ExSp33db1rd]

I point out they stopped UK passport holders renewing in their country of residence, and mine has thus expired.

When ? I last renewed mine leaving out of the UK, as now, in 2014 for 10 years, are you saying that I won't be able to renew it when next expiring ?

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

You will not enjoy discovering what the new process is.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... _10.16.pdf
I'm not trusting original documents to the post these days.
Renewing whilst visiting the UK seems to be the least painful/risky option.

[ExSp33db1rd]

I last renewed mine leaving out of the UK,

I last renewed mine LIVING out of the UK, sorry, secret spellcheck error !

[TheGreenGoblin]

Said he preferred it on the whole to Tenby when he was there. At that time the only minister in town who didn't get seasick, so got landed with all the burials at sea, no matter the denomination...

The only Reverend I have encountered in Tenby was the Reverend James. A fine pint to be savoured at the Plantaganet over some seafood, sea burials ignored in the eating thereof.

[Ex-Ascot]

Morning folks, it is very windy apart from that standard weather.

BTW, Mrs PN wondered with your connection whether the Sussexes will be popping in.

No, she is staying in S.A. and his official engagements in Bots are right up north in Chobe. Our area is his playground and they are very much insisting that this is a working tour. When playing he usually stays just down river from us.

Leaking cold water pipe to the house. Those familiar with this neck of the woods will know the African solution. Our chap has just wrapped a bit of old inner tube around it.

[Slasher]

I go home tomorrow!

Long 12h duty tonight, back to the pub then straight to CLK for flight to BKK. I Daffy it to N Thailand from DMK two hours later.

Any local bloody rabble getting in my way to HKG airport will be shot with the contempt they deserve.

Head back on the 1st.

[Ibbie]

Morning folks.
Mix of cloud and blue today. Tad cooler though.
Have full team available for tonight’s pub quiz.

The reporting by all forms of media on the Thomas Cook Affair is stoking the headless chickens into blind panic. It will only get worse.

[Undried Plum]

For us in the upright hemisphere, we've passed the transition from summer to autumn astronomically.

The Sun's declination went South at 07:50z this morning. Tonight the night will be longer than the daytime either side of it.

Bummer.

[ExSp33db1rd]

Bummer

Not.

( finally getting that yellow ball back downunda)

[Ex-Ascot]

Bummer

Not.

( finally getting that yellow ball back downunda)

To be accurate Speedy you do not actually get it. It stops well short of you. We get it twice a year.

Just done our passport applications on line. Now then, then now, what about all this gender thing. Only options were Male or Female. Excuse me I want to be a morph.

For anyone who doesn't know it is not all on line you still have to send them documents. In our case all stolen. Going to have to go into town tomorrow to try to get copies. This is going to be a complete pain. Mrs Ex-Ascot had her UK and Bots driving licence stolen.

[OFSO]

Dry and sunny this morning after a rainy Sunday - and needless to say, Sunday was the one day we'd planned lunch out of doors at Wigglemama by the river. Lots of Spicey food to keep warm !

[Undried Plum]

On the day of the Vernal Equinox this year I planted a dozen stems of these saplings.



Though not a great fan of the Germans, while planting them I loyally sang that song which says something like: "Send us Victorias, happy and glorious".

They are ripening nicely and should be ready next week.

[OFSO]

Cheering photo !