WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[plaques]

a report that UK export growth is at its lowest for six years.

Contrast this with a previous study that shows -: Link." British manufacturers enjoyed a recovery in output and new orders last month, according to a survey that will raise hopes the sector is finally shrugging off its recession."
Unfortunately, in spite of the upbeat introductory headline, manufacturing is still in recession. I'm always sceptical about studies that ask people how well they are doing. My jaundice view is that many firms report that they are doing 'just great' right up to the point of bankruptcy.

[Stanley]

I saw the previous assessment and noted the difference as well P. Could some people be trying to boost confidence?



I forgot to post this this morning. I noticed last night that this enterprising spider had not only made a web but strung multiple strands along the knobs on top of the railings.... The spots are the mist droplets being caught by the flash.

[Cathy]

Gosh, look-out Stanley - he means business!! Haha

[Stanley]

That's what I thought Cathy, I've never seen a spider do that before. Not many insects about at this time of year, it makes you wonder how they survive.
See THIS BBC report on more damaging admissions on emissions from VW. The strange thing is that sales in the US are going up. Could it be that drivers actually don't care what comes out of the tail pipe?
See THIS BBC report of the arrest of a 16 year old youth in Norwich on suspicion of being involved in the Talktalk cyber attack.

[Tizer]

Last week we still had plenty of insects - honey bees, bumble bees, flies, dragonflies, even butterflies. The last few days we've been in fog or drizzle a lot of the time and that's put them off.

VW is in a mess. Yesterday I took the Golf to the VW dealer to be serviced and, while there, had a discussion with one of the salesmen about trading in my diesel for a petrol model which isn't affected by the NOx emissions cheating (my diesel Golf will eventually be called in for work to rectify the software issue and some reports say it will affect mpg and performance). The VW dealers are being told to offer the original trade in values, otherwise customers will either go elsewhere or start suing them for loss of value. Then I get up this morning to the news that VW is the centre of another crisis, this time to do with CO2 emissions and which is expected to included petrol models as well as diesel! Also, they're now being pursued by the American regulator for cheating on even more of the models sold in the US (those with larger engines). All this has increased the belief that the senior management are lying when they say they knew nothing about it. I know that my Golf genuinely gives very good mpg figures - I can tell buy the amount of fuel I use without relying on the dashboard read out of consumption. But I've no way of telling how accurate their emissions figures are when the car is on the road and I'm inclined not to believe them after all this trouble.

[Big Kev]

My 13 year old Golf probably spits out all sorts of pollution, still gives 50+ to the gallon even with 225000 miles on the clock. I'm loathe to change it though, if it ain't broke don't fix it

[Stanley]

I think I am in Kev's camp Tiz. Besides, the way things are going VW could be forced into mandatory pay outs to affected owners.... If you did decide to change how much confidence do you have in the quoted emission and consumption figures for the new model? Then there is what is in my mind the elephant in the room... Were VW the only car manufacturer guilty of trying to manipulate the emissions testing of their vehicles? On consumption, we all know that the quoted figures are always stated to be 'average'. In other words depending on the manufacturer's definition of what average is. I am fairly certain that they will always err on the optimistic side.
Then of course there is the parallel question of the carbon footprint of a new vehicle. An older vehicle like Kev's, properly maintained, is actually the most carbon efficient way of running personal transport, a good case can be made in this respect even for classic cars.
The whole thing is a minefield and raises complicated questions about the structure and administration of the tests themselves.
On a different matter. The efficiency of the way some systems work. I ordered my new office chair from Amazon and it will be here tomorrow. I filled in a form on the Pendle Borough site for a free bulky waste collection to dispose of my old chair and in 24 hours got a reply and an appointment for next Tuesday when it will be picked up out of the back yard.
Another matter. See THIS Guardian report on the fall out from two recent books criticising the internal workings of the Vatican. Some of it is old news, some of it is already being addressed but it paints a worrying picture about the internal workings of a largely secretive organisation. And all in the name of religion.....

[plaques]

Britain and America postponing flights from Sharm el-Sheikh. This follows reports that a 'flash' was seen from the plane from one of their satellites. The suspicion is that someone planted a bomb on board the plane. This terrible event raises a number questions.
1 How detailed is the American surveillance system that they can record this level of detail on a domestic flight between two foreign countries.
2 What else did they know about the flight to come to this (a bomb) conclusion so quickly.
3 Would it have happened if this flight had been destined for the UK and not Russia.
4 Funny how the whole event just coincided with the proposed changes to the 'snoopers charter'.

I know its easy to invent conspiracy theories but this one is not going to go away so easily.

[Pluggy]

I'm glad I didn't buy another diesel Skoda with the tainting of diesel Volkswagons (which is basically what a Skoda is these days) , I always said I would, because the old Fabia was a good car, but a combination of of talking to my mate and Stanley's belief that a man who never changes his mind is like stagnant water (That and the extra 8 grand the diesel Skoda would have cost). I bought a petrol Dacia Sandero instead. Basically an old Renault Cleo. 2 months on I have no regrets, its a fabulous car. If I was young again, the sharper handling, better fuel economy and the better performance of the Skoda would sway me, but as it is the extra room, the comfier seats, the greater ease of getting in and out, the softer suspension, greater ground clearance, much easier to wash and vacuum out and the entirely unfussy experience of driving it holds sway.

I get the mid 40's to the gallon from the Dacia, I got the high 50's (60 on a good day) from the Skoda, with my mix of journeys, but the £300 I'd save a year on fuel wouldn't make much impact on the 8 grand saving on the car any time soon. If the prices second hand Sanderos fetch is an indicator, it will also cost me a hell of a lot less in depreciation than a Skoda. I reckon I could change it every 3 years for about the same cost per year as the Skoda cost me over nearly 11. And without the hefty repair bills the Skoda was attracting in its latter years.

This delightful website : https://www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/ tells me that 2 months on, the Skoda isn't on the road, so maybe the 200 quid I got for it was fair......

Regarding the Russian plane, I've got it down as a bomb planted on the ground by Islamic state with Sinai's lax security at airports in retaliation for them getting involved in Syria.

[Tizer]

I have to say that (ignoring the emissions issue) the Golf is an excellent car and VW have had a policy of keeping the body design similar to previous models which suits us. We'd had a Focus and switched to the Golf when we wanted to change car but found the new Focus model was aimed at youngsters who want Dan Dare spaceships instead of a comfy car.

Here's a report on the VW emissions scandal, written on 21st October, from the Bloomsberg News Agency. It's very long but very detailed and you'll find much more in here than you've heard in the general new media reports. For example, the engineers at VW in Germany knew trouble was on its way several months before it blew up in late September. Also that events leading to the cheat problem began in 2005 to 2007. A new CEO in 2005 planned to use Daimler's BlueTech engine techology to reduce emissions but he was ousted by Winterkorn (the CEO who has just had to reign) and BlueTech was abandoned by VW. That's when the engineers went into a panic to find some other way to get their diesels to pass emissions tests. And now VW are going back cap in hand to Daimler and using BlueTech. LINK

[Pluggy]

Can't argue against Golfs, before the Skoda I had an old Mk3 Diesel L, old school Bosch injection pump, no Turbo. It was an excellent plodding car, low performance, but was unfussy to drive, much like my Dacia. Running along a country lane at 30MPH with the windows wound down it sounded like an old, fat cat purring. It was probably horrendous on emissions, it smelt really bad when it was first started. I used to change the oil every 3000 miles, I called it soot soup when I drained it out.....

[Stanley]

My new office chair will be delivered today.... The old one is definitely at its limit. The welding between the head of the ram (already defective) and the seat is broken off and while it is safe, it's very unstable, more like a rocking chair! Doc gave it to me many years ago when he got a new one and it has served me well, I don't feel at all guilty about binning it.
Later after my Friday read of the paper. Our mate John Clayton is the Page Three Boy this morning with a good pic and a report of a major find he has made at Watermeetings. Nice to see some genuine archaeology instead of the interminable pics of weirdos pushing spurious history about the Pendle Witches!

[Stanley]

John got back to me with some interesting observations. I have asked him to post them on the site....

[Wendyf]

I hope he does Stanley.
Have a look at his website for all his latest FINDS

[Bodger]

Our local stone age
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loughcrew

[Tizer]

John Clayton's finds look very interesting. I like the way he identifies the type of rock from which the artefacts are made. Too often archaeologists give historical detail and original source but fail to name the rock.

[Big Kev]

The 'interesting' email from Barclays<james.bamboi@server_barclays1991.co.uk>

We detected irregular activity on your account.

For your protection using PINsentry and verify this
activity before you can continue using your account.

Please download the document attached to this
email to review your account activity.

We will review the activity on your account with
you and upon verification and we will remove any
restrictions placed on your account.

If you choose to ignore our request, you leave us
no choise but to temporaly suspend your account.

We ask that you allow at least 24 hours for the
case to be investigated and we strongly recommend
to verify (sic) your account in that time.

Why using PINsentry?

PINsentry gives you added protection for your
accounts as well as access to the full range of
Online Banking services for Barclays.

Best Regards,

Barclays - Internet Banking

[chinatyke]

If you choose to ignore our request, you leave us
no choisebut to temporaly suspend your account.

Not very literate are they?

[Stanley]

I'll nag him Wendy.....
Kev, after my narrow escape with the Talktalk scam I hate spammers even more..... I was a hard case before but am even more wary now.... There was a report yesterday about a woman who has lost £5000 to them....
Overslept this morning because I stayed up with Jack until he had settled down after the fireworks. I made sure he was sleeping peacefully.

[Tizer]

Something I haven't seen before...I was looking at the web site of the Cheltenham Model Centre and saw this bit in their news section: "Back in August we had Google wondering around the shop taking pictures. The pictures have been stuck together and you can now take a walk around. A chance if you have never managed to visit us in person to see the vast array of bits and pieces we have in stock." Google Streetview in a shop? And here's the page - you cdo the usual Streetview things like dragging to rotate through 360 degrees and you can click on the corridor areas to move through the shop. Fascinating! LINK

NB. I'm not promoting this shop, simply showing you a good use of Streetview. As they say, other model shops are available!

[Stanley]

Nice to see that there are enough people doing things other than screen culture to support a shop that big.
The change in the weather.
The fact that Aung san Suu Ky's opposition party seems to be heading for a significant victory in the Burmese elections. She deserves this. See THIS

[Tizer]

Nice to see that there are enough people doing things other than screen culture to support a shop that big.

I'm pleased to report that railway modelling and other craft modelling is alive and thriving...and it's not only retirees, there are lots of younger folk too and children are seeing the fun of using their hands to make things. Model railway exhibitions are now going out of their way to provide interest for young kids and to get them involved, letting them run trains and try out modelling. It helps that new ways of controlling model trains offer the option of doing it in the old traditional method or using digital control which can be as techie as you like. It can be from a box with a knob on it or from a PC or a smartphone. As well as controlling the speed of a loco the `digital command control' (DCC) system can control lights and sound on locos and coaches, and operate signals, points etc. With DCC you can give locos individual identities and run several on the same track at the same time. The electrical connections from the controller through the track carries not only power but digital signals for all these operations. Locos can be fitted with tiny speakers and given the correct sound recording for that type of engine. LINK

[Pluggy]

An internal streetview in Barlick - Val Kenyon's flower shop.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.91910 ... 312!8i6656

Decisions in the old railway.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.91643 ... 312!8i6656

Its something of a timewarp with the views outside. The main street view still shows the Railway hotel and Lloyds TSB whereas the later views for the Internal has it as Decisions and Lloyds Bank.

[PanBiker]

Environment Agency emergency flood warning for 187 properties in Earby. Major flooding on the A56 from Kelbrook to Colne. Top road to Barrowford from Barlick also deep flooding. Lots of dash camera footage over on the local Facebook sites.

On a domestic note, I have water ingress into my kitchen. Due to the wind direction it looks like it is blowing up under the flashing on the short pitched kitchen roof. It is running down through the wall cupboards.We have had torrential rain before without a problem, it's the combination factors. Not a lot can be done until it abates.

[Stanley]

Still funny weather this morning, gusty strong wind which is carrying rain and incredibly warm.
Wendy I nagged John and he says he has lost his details for the site and asked me to post his mail to me....
Hello Stanley,

Thanks for your feedback - pleased with the piece as Peter printed it in full. I know what you mean about wierdos dominating the news, especially at this time of year.

"I've been busy concentrating on the landscape around Gisburn all summer - an area that turns out to have an amazing concentration of archaeology. There is an important Irion Age hillfort complex, Bronze Age settlements and Roman (or Romano-British) settlement in abundance.
There is an emerging pattern of kingdom boundaries suggesting that Gisburn/Newsholme/Nappa was the centre of a British kingdom - probably Craven. This was invaded by East Angles and then the periphery settled by Scandinavians (this is probably why we have a line of 'by' settlementsstretching from Earby through Westby and Newby to the Ribble). Westby/ Arnoldsbiggin (Gisburn) was the site of a fairly large Medieval village. One family of landowners around there used the name 'Barn' as a middle name for successive male offspring eg.Gamel Barn was a Domesday landowner from Gisburn. So... the word 'old' was used to describe offspring and was applied as 'son of' where Barn Old was Barn son of Barn. Thus we have Barn Old's Wick describing the settlement belonging to Barn of Gisburn's offspring.
Barnoldswick (and Bracewell) appear to have been boundary estates within the Craven authority foci - this makes a lot of sense as the area is located on the east-west 'by' line and was also an important site on the ancient primary route system. We have, then, an Anglian sub-kingdom with defined estate centres at Rimington/Downham/Newby - Westby - Gisburn - Painley - Newsholme - Long Preston - Barnoldswick - Martons - Thornton - Earby - Gargrave etc. All of these are shrunken settlements (or lost settlements such as Painley and Westby) with the exception of Barnoldswick. Anglian place-names (such as Hoober) and landscape evidence (a series of defensive features) back this up. If funds were available I'm sure that field archaeology would uncover the importance of this district.

Sorry for rambling. Best, John"

Yet another theory for the name! That'll get them going.