The really boring and totally pointless snippets thread V

[OFSO]

Cold and grey and windy in Teddington and back in Roses. Off to London this morning for zapping session 18 out of 20. Like most things in life (and perhaps life itself) it's gone quickly.

[Hydromet]

Steady rain started again this evening, looks like it will last all night. Won't affect us, but hope Bob's area is OK.

[Wodrick]

Gooday,

18°c, 19°c predicted by the soothsayer. I think that guess is rubbish.
Calima, Gone it’s pretty clear and Blue

All those lucky people with their total event. I wonder how many looked with no protection, this includes the BBC reporter in Dallas I think.

Might get shoes later, I only have one pair useable. Paying the fine and back income tax, now finished, has meant lack of funds for a year.

[G-CPTN]

Persistent precipitation - can't venture out to top up the bird feeders.

I guess they will survive.

Not seen the pheasant for a week - he used to be a daily visitor.

[OFSO]

7° out and vicious wind. So much for spring coming.

[Hydromet]

Persistent precipitation - can't venture out to top up the bird feeders.

I guess they will survive.

Not seen the pheasant for a week - he used to be a daily visitor.

Our magpies rarely turn up for a handout when it's raining. They seem to prefer the proliferation of earthworms and other natural food that's available.

[k3k3]

In 1999 we drove down to Luxemburg to see the total eclipse. We were on a hill overlooking a valley, saw the shadow coming towards us at speed below, and then dark! It got cold and the birds all fell silent. A four hour drive for a four minute experience of a lifetime. I would definately do it again.

Our Iberian correspondents will have the chance to see the next one in August 2026.

[Malvernian]

I was at a site meeting on Guernsey in the Channel Islands on 11th August 1999, when the last eclipse was. We ajourned the meeting just before the eclipse and I borrowed one of the fitters welding masks to watch it. Most of the meeting when we reconvened was spent discussing it. Don't think I'll be around for the next one.

[Ex-Ascot]

Afternoon folks. Town day. Not too bad a success. Bought a new short sleeved shirt. This took about 90 secs. Went into the store grabbed one. Collar too big but I don't usually wear a tie with short sleeves so it doesn't matter. Probably get it our of the packet in about a year and buy the next one in about 5.

Very heavy rain on the way home. Flooding on the road. Settled down to about 80 kph with traffic tearing past at 120. Could hardly see. This is a two lane road with potential closing speeds of over 240, feet apart. Idiots. No rain at home.

Some thieving black bastards have stolen fuel from our generator again. Will try to get a locking cover built for it.

[PHXPhlyer]

Only ~60-65% coverage here.
Went out a few times to see the bight taken out of the sun using welder's mask.
In 1979, a six hour drive to Grangeville, Idaho for an eclipse only to encounter thick cloud cover at the time of the event.
Very unimpressive

PP

[Rossian]

...and this Q is. On an invitation card what do the initials RPC stand for? I seem to remember it was "....pour congee" or such like and it was usually for a "leaving do" but what was the "R"? Repondez??
Google did not help.

The Ancient Mariner

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

RPC
"Requests the Pleasure of the Company of"
aka "invites"

Not to be confused with the RSVP that is usually at the end, which you correctly remembered is in French.

IIRC, it's normally (ex-)Army bods who shorten RPC.

[Rossian]

Ah yes! Of course. I associate mainly (from my experience) with the RN. And the "....pour congee" is for taking leave. It usually meant a "cockkers P" before the ship left. I have hazy memories of most of them, most memorably on HMS Rothesay in Sembawang dockyard in Singapore, shortly after Sub Lieutenant Bingham had been arrested and shipped back to UK. Interesting times they were.

The Ancient Mariner

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

My only onboard cockkers P was on the Ark at Gib. I don't remember a d@mn thing, except my first drink being served.
I enquired into its provenance, to be told it was "CPO's Special, Sir.", 4 different gins and no mixer. After that, it's a complete blank.

[Karearea]

P.p.c. cards, pour prendre congé

What Readers Ask— “Recently some neighbors of ours left to live in another state and they have now sent around cards marked P. P. C. with their, new address written at the lower part of the card. What is the significance of this?”

The letters which should have been written “P.p.c.” stand for the French words “Pour prendre congé” —that is “to take leave.” These cards should have been sent around before your neighbors left.

It is customary to send them when about to leave for a long journey or when changing one’s residence. For a new place, one should simply give the new address, engraved or written at the lower right hand corner. — By Mary Marshall Duffee, 1917

Etiquette and “Pour Prendre Congé”

[Rossian]

.....in my aging grey cells anyway. I did get it ALMOST right,come on, be fair. Just a bit of cross-over.
Thank you Madame K.
The Ancient Mariner

[1DC]

Been some considerable time since we had an eclipse on the Humber although we have had total eclipses before, I will be dead by the time the next one comes along! The thing that sticks in my memory about total eclipses is the silence rather than the darkness!
Interesting,last nights spring tide was one of the highest of the year and was coupled with a tidal surge meaning the flood defences had to be put into action and tested. Some roads were shut two hours either side of HW and flood gates closed. As usual the people hoped they held and the media hoped they failed!
Clearly all was well because this morning local tv and newspapers were silent on tides and flood defences and this evening all the TV could find was a picture of a couple of fairground rides on the beach being lapped by a couple of feet of water and film of the seawalls holding back the sea.We did have another gale today but the wind had gone around to the West so that would help to push the tide back.
Big squall this afternoon together with the usual rain and then the sun came out.

[bob2s]

Morning, the Bottle Brush tree outside the bedroom window has burst back into flower much to the delight of the local Lorikeets, the chirping and
carry on as they enjoy the nectar making for a pleasant awakening.

[Karearea]

Morning, the Bottle Brush tree outside the bedroom window has burst back into flower much to the delight of the local Lorikeets, the chirping and
carry on as they enjoy the nectar making for a pleasant awakening.

Thank you, bob2s: I just googled images of "lorikeet on bottle brush" - what pretty pictures!

[PHXPhlyer]

I have a Bottle Brush tree in my side yard. Quite large and messy.
I didn't know that they were native to OZ.
Seems like they are a popular tree from the nursery listings.
Unfortunately, mine does not seem to attract any of the feral lovebirds that inhabit this area.
I do love to hear them chittering away as they pass through.
They do seem to like hanging out in Canary Island date palms though.

PP