Ops-Normal.org

Morning all, looks like a pleasant sunny day coming up. Currently 10c, Forecast max 20c. Workshop day, fixing what I upstuffed yesterday.

Today's min. was 8.3°C, has been up to 17°C today. High overcast, north-westerly.

Had two ladies ring the doorbell this morning, introducing themselves brightly as Angela and Trish, or it may have been Kimberley and Janice, I wasn't listening, just mentioned I was not receiving visitors today.
I think they thought I was a Brand to be Saved from the Burning.

Have been out, masked, to pay the power bill, replenish some supplies at the supermarket, top up the car with petrol and, in the absence of staff with soft-boiled eggs etc, picked up a piece of fish and two mussels at the fish shop on the way home.

I notice as usual after a visit to Auckland my driving is more assertive and less of the country-town amble:

"...Sit still, and you shall know what driving really is, for you are in the hands of the famous, the skilful, the entirely fearless Toad!"

Fun at Carmel at the weekend with Cassini. I weighed him this morning, he's 82lbs and a week shy of 7 months old.

Wodrick wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 17, 2023 11:10 am

Just given the pot plants in the shade a water ration.

Clearly does not translate well to California.....

25° here this morning. Fan blowing outdoor air into living room. 40° forecast.

Reached the mid 20`s earlier here in Takikawa. Did four launches this morning towing one of the ASK 21`s doing some passenger flying.

Now 15.35hrs and it`s raining again.

Off to my favourite Restaurant this evening, where a good meal along with a 500ml bottle of Beer will cost no more than Y1500.

Admin 2; Am I permitted to refer to the Restaurant by name in these pages?[

Cannot see a reason - do they have a delivery service to the UK?

Only if you invite us over for a meal!

Pinky the pilot wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 18, 2023 6:42 am

Reached the mid 20`s earlier here in Takikawa. Did four launches this morning towing one of the ASK 21`s doing some passenger flying.

Now 15.35hrs and it`s raining again.

Off to my favourite Restaurant this evening, where a good meal along with a 500ml bottle of Beer will cost no more than Y1500.

Admin 2; Am I permitted to refer to the Restaurant by name in these pages?[

Cannot see a reason - do they have a delivery service to the UK?

Deliveroo or Just Eat would no doubt do it for a price. £8 for a meal and a beer is not bad at all, PtP. I have never understood why the Japanese haven't realigned their currency though. 180 yen to the £ makes it seem like some banana republic.

36°c here at 2pm and heading up. a/c on, fans on. Stepping out of front door is like visiting a foundry on pouring day.

Went to my first gravity orientated bike park yesterday. Bike Park Wales. A bit of a drive but it was amazing. Kept it simple and played on the greens and blue runs.
A lot of fun and very well organised.

I saw this pop up on a feed. It is to good not to share!
One of my friends asked "Why do you pay so much money for your kids to do all their sports?"
Well, I have a confession to make; I don't pay for my kids to to do sports. Personally, I couldn't care less about what sport they do.
So, if I am not paying for sports what am I paying for?
- I pay for those moments when my kids become so tired they want to quit but don't.
- I pay for those days when my kids come home from school and are "too tired" to go to their training but they go anyway.
- I pay for my kids to learn to be disciplined, focused and dedicated.
- I pay for my kids to learn to take care of their body and equipment.
- I pay for my kids to learn to work with others and to be good team mates, gracious in defeat and humble in success.
- I pay for my kids to learn to deal with disappointment, when they don't make the squad or title they'd hoped for, but still they go back week after week giving it their best shot.
- I pay for my kids to learn to make and accomplish goals.
- I pay for my kids to respect, not only themselves, but other players, officials and coaches.
- I pay for my kids to learn that it takes hours and hours, years and years of hard work and practice to create a champion and that success does not happen overnight.
- I pay for my kids to be proud of small achievements, and to work towards long term goals.
- I pay for the opportunity my kids have and will have to make life-long friendships, create lifelong memories, to be as proud of their achievements as I am.
- I pay so that my kids can be out on the field instead of in front of a screen...
...I could go on but, to be short, I don't pay for sports; I pay for the opportunities that sports provides my kids with to develop attributes that will serve them well throughout their lives and give them the opportunity to bless the lives of others. From what I have seen so far I think it is a great investment!"
~Unknown

Road cleaning vehicle just went past. Only happens every five years just before a municipal election. And that was a couple of months ago. So why? General Election next weekend!

Only because I'm curious - what is a "gravity orientated bike park"? Is it a downhill run all the way? Countered by having to pedal all the back to the top?

The Ancient Mariner

I think my posts yesterday were becoming a bit scatty.

Crept off to bed at 8:30pm.

Have developed a nasty cold, coff, fever; I am feeling, in the words of the colloquialism, quite crook.

Get well soon! Just climbed the hill back to our house. 28°c at 23:00 and very humid. Still, I got my 5000 steps in.... dripping with perspiration.

Karearea wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 18, 2023 8:22 pm

I think my posts yesterday were becoming a bit scatty.

Crept off to bed at 8:30pm.

Have developed a nasty cold, coff, fever; I am feeling, in the words of the colloquialism, quite crook.

A hot toddy, and blues mood music for you ma'am... Get better soon!

Thank you, OFSO and OHL, she said, coughing feebly...

Morning all. Clear blue sky, currently 8c, forecast max 16c. Workshop day again.

^Ricardian, I payed to keep my kids too tired to get into trouble.

Looking forward to a bit of a road trip over the next 3 weeks. Off to Switzerland and then from there onwards, to France and the Dordogne to stay at my folks' old place, now owned by my brother in law and old school mate. I am going to be joined by another two old friends, one who has flown in from Moscow (ex-SADF lunatic) and the other a bon viveur now based in Switzerland. If ever there was an adventure that had more chance of coming a cropper this is one. Normally I would have propelled myself eastwards in a spam can, but this company is antithetic to the pilot's code that keeps us all alive! All difficult prickly, volatile, and ultimately likeable characters, and me, the mildest of the lot.. we shall see how it pans out.

My, sorry, our target...

^ Happy trails