WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[PanBiker]

Ian, Sod's Law states that the fault will only kick in during the night when you are asleep. Marvellous isn't it! Glad you sported it, 25 years doesn't sound bad.....

Aye, but bad management. On inspection of the detector units once down, they have a replacement date of 2005! oops. Still fully functional though and I don't remember seeing the date when I installed them during the loft conversion. So they wont be going back up. I'll get three new ones, on a quick search I see you can get mains linked battery backed ones now with self charging Lithium batteries that don't need replacing over the life of the detector, might go for those.

[Tizer]

New ones have built-in batteries and specify that the unit must be replaced after X years, I think it might be 7 years.

[PanBiker]

Not all Tiz, many still use alkaline backup btteries, the normal unit replacement rate is 10 years. There are RF linked types as well and multiple detector types.

Its along while ago and I will have to check on the cable installation I did. The mains linked ones need a single link wire in addition to the mains feed, usually done on three core lighting cable but I can't remember. I will take the mounting bases off and check.

[Tizer]

This happened in Beverley...
`Coronavirus: Fake checkpoint pair try to fine woman £60' LINK

[Stanley]

There's always some smart Alec ready to try to get an advantage isn't there Tiz. The people who were stopped did the right thing though, well done them. Funny isn't it, we are all quite sure we wouldn't fall for the scam but it's a different kettle of fish when it happens.

[Tizer]

Here's a funny story...
`Coronavirus: Driver stopped on M6 lockdown trip with wife in boot' LINK

[Wendyf]

A bit close to home for me that story. I have never been put in the boot but have been squeezed into corners and shoved in the back unable to move because of some large and dangerous item filling most of the car.
Me: "Do we need to take the roof rack oh husband dear?"
Husband dear: "Don't be a silly little wifey, it will fit in the car easily....."

[Stanley]

Tiz, she should have told him she was driving and he could go in the boot. Never underestimate the capacity of human beings to be stupid!
Wendy, I'm shocked! I promise I never did that to Vera!
How well Susan looked when we had a video call. She's still got all the symptoms but they are all in retreat and she can see an end to the experience. She says she will be fit in time to nurse me at home if and when I get it.
How quiet it is even in the middle of the day. People are certainly observing the lock down.

[Cathy]

Good news about Susan

Saw a very sad sign today ‘Playground Closed’.
This includes a skateboard area, bbq area, kids playground, amphitheatre, and sports field.

Very well used tennis courts very close-by, I guess they are closed too. What are the kids going to do?

[Marilyn]

As Susan wasn’t tested, you will never know if she had it!
( was she given anti-malaria medication and HIV medication as is part of our plan here? We give it for positive tests)
And you are taking good care of yourself so you aren’t likely to get it Stanley.
Rest assured. You are doing all the right things and are unlikely to need home nursing.
Keep buggaring on!

[Tizer]

Scientists are by definition always curious and explorative but sometimes get themselves into trouble...
`'Virus-fighting' scientist gets magnets stuck in nose' LINK

[Marilyn]

Given that half the population get “man flu” three times a year ( yeah...we have them here too)...how can you provide accurate figures about Coronavirus if you don’t test until people present at hospital? Doctors are not all knowing Gods. They need to back figures/diagnosis up with testing.
You cannot be “a little bit pregnant”. You are either pregnant or you are not pregnant!

[Stanley]

I only met one person this morning, a friend of mine who works at the Co-op. We had a short conversation (at a safe distance!) and she told me that the latest problem that has arisen as a result of the virus is that most National Lottery winnings will not be paid out immediately. They can be claimed in six months so look after your winning ticket!
(Some specialised tickets in smaller side lotteries pay out as normal but not the big prizes.)

[Marilyn]

I don’t know if your lottery works the same as ours, but for those who are registered, winnings can be paid electronically straight into your bank account. Is it the handling of cash that is the problem? ( you can pay for your lottery straight out of your bank account too...so no need for face to face contact or handling of cash).
I know my son does his all electronically because he is a shift worker and generally works six days a week...
( we rarely dabble. Only at birthdays and Christmas really. We aren’t lucky people!)

[Stanley]

I couldn't say. I know nothing about it. I have never and will never buy a ticket on principle. It's a tax on stupidity and gambling causes so much misery.
Later.... the site is staggering and dropping out occasionally.

[Tizer]

Mrs Tiz has made a trip to the big Tesco supermarket today. My cousin can get some things for us but she really needs to be able to select stuff herself. It's only a 10 minute drive but she phoned and warned me that she's standing in a queue outside and it could be an hour before she gets in, they're letting so few into the store at a time. She's been gone 2 hours already!

[PanBiker]

Our local Aldi is operating a queueing system. Usually the full length of the side of the building, but this is only about 10 or 15 people suitably spaced. Last time I went last week it only took about 10 mins max to get in the store.

[Tizer]

We didn't know in advance but it turns out that she'd gone at the allotted time for oldies (even though she isn't one!), hence the longer queue. She asked a Tesco person when was best to come and he said after 6.00pm. It's a shame there were all those old folk having to stand for so long in a queue outside when it was so cold. They'll avoid covid but might get pneumonia!

[Stanley]

I haven't been to the Co-op for almost a week, I shall make an assessment this morning.

[Cathy]

Our PM has today announced Free Child Care for working parents during Coronavirus.
It’s unbelievable , some of the things that are happening.

[Tizer]

I chanced on this wild flower web site today. It's massive and has oodles of good images of plants of all kinds plus a lot of background information. It's a bit quirky and you have to play about with it to find your way around but its worth it. It's all by one man and the site delves into a lot of other areas. There's so much information that I can't vouch for the validity of the non-plant stuff but it's great just for the images alone. Wild Flower Finder

I've found that the basic search function on the home page of that flower site doesn't work for me. If I click at top right where labelled Search it brings up a page with a Search box to input my words but when I click Find nothing happens. However when I click Advanced, just under the box, this brings up the Advanced search page and that works OK for me. If you need a direct link to that Advanced page it's here: Advanced Search of Wild Flower site

[Whyperion]

I haven't been to the Co-op for almost a week, I shall make an assessment this morning.

I am finding the absence (on line) of the cheaper mid-range items happening. Let us know if you find handwash, according to BBC the alcohol based ones are in short supply because , (a) lack of capacity (and raw materials) to produce ethanol and/or IPA as the 60%+ base for it. (b) Demand for it is about 10000% higher world wide compared to normal (I assume ordinary soap is still ok for washing if I am not going out).

You will probably find tons of easter eggs, and enough fresh meat,

[PanBiker]

Regular correct washing with soap and water is just as effective but you don't need water with hand sanitiser as long as it of the right composition, (80%) alcohol. Lots of Gin distillers are turning production to sanitisers for the healthcare sector as they have a ready supply of industrial grade ethanol.

[Marilyn]

Supermarket was depressing today...
I need a good lie down with my nose in a book!

[Stanley]

I got mail from the editor of the BET this morning. Next week's edition of the BET will be the last one, from then on they are going to publish one paper for the whole of the series.
"the decision has been taken that we won't be carrying nostalgia pages in any of our titles"
I'm not quite sure what their definition of nostalgia is but I think what that means is that they are going to leave out all the stuff that people buy a local paper for. I suspect this means the end of the whole Leader Times Series.
They say that the BET will return after the the present nastiness has gone away. Forget it, it will never be published again as a local title, we are looking at yet another casualty of the crisis. This means I don't have to screw myself to the desk every six weeks and churn out articles. That'll be good!
No butcher's this morning, Kathy will be delivering my order. Things are changing all round!