Author Topic: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.  (Read 1576156 times)

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9825 on: 17 March, 2018, 09:46:20 pm »
No electricity between 17.32 & 19.48 here today.
No internets. Dongles now obsolete with progressive software updates.
No heating
No lights
No hot water cos our cylinder went when the combi boiler was installed
Still have emergency landline phone. Dialled 105 in rapidly failing residual daylight. Automated system informed me fault had already been reported.
We have candles and a gas hob that will work without electicity.
I was not safe to try these.
David was out.

Kim

  • Timelord
    • Fediverse
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9826 on: 17 March, 2018, 09:53:06 pm »
Sounds like you could do with a handy backup light source based on somewhat less flammable LED/battery technology.  Not much you can do about heating if you're not safe with a hob, thobut.  :-\

That's quite a long outage for a non-provincial area, given that the snowpocalypse reprise has barely got going.

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9827 on: 17 March, 2018, 10:03:49 pm »
I had a torch within reach but couldn't be bothered to use it. There was sufficient sky glow for me to be able to manage and I can do toilet in total darkness.

The last thing I read on Twitter before the lights went out was from a chap in Wembley whose power was out.

I knew our outage affected only a limited area as David had gone to Pets At Home and The Gym around a kilometre hence, neither of which would have functioned without power. He would have returned sooner if they had been out of action.

T42

  • Apprentice geezer
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9828 on: 19 March, 2018, 01:31:53 pm »
Bicycle bells.  They either rattle or are too feeble to hear at the statutory 50 metres. Or else they stop working, as mine just did because the plastic striker spring stiffened. I must have a dozen of the bloody things and none of them are any use. Bah.
I've dusted off all those old bottles and set them up straight

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9829 on: 19 March, 2018, 01:39:34 pm »
I had a torch within reach but couldn't be bothered to use it. There was sufficient sky glow for me to be able to manage and I can do toilet in total darkness.

The last thing I read on Twitter before the lights went out was from a chap in Wembley whose power was out.

I knew our outage affected only a limited area as David had gone to Pets At Home and The Gym around a kilometre hence, neither of which would have functioned without power. He would have returned sooner if they had been out of action.

I see from BookFace that TimO was without electricity today.

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9830 on: 19 March, 2018, 01:39:43 pm »
Bicycle bells.  They either rattle or are too feeble to hear at the statutory 50 metres. Or else they stop working, as mine just did because the plastic striker spring stiffened. I must have a dozen of the bloody things and none of them are any use. Bah.
http://www.lionbellworks.co.uk
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9831 on: 19 March, 2018, 01:43:11 pm »
Another vote for Lion Bells. Lovely tone and LOUD
Haggerty F, Haggerty R, Tomkins, Noble, Carrick, Robson, Crapper, Dewhurst, Macintyre, Treadmore, Davitt.

ElyDave

  • Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society member 263583
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9832 on: 19 March, 2018, 01:51:46 pm »
do they last 8 times as long as an el-cheapo thobut?
“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” –Charles Dickens

LittleWheelsandBig

  • Whimsy Rider
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9833 on: 19 March, 2018, 02:21:18 pm »
HK hasn't managed to kill her Lion bell after several years commuting.
Wheel meet again, don't know where, don't know when...

Kim

  • Timelord
    • Fediverse
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9834 on: 19 March, 2018, 02:31:46 pm »
I've got a Widek bell, like this one: https://www.dutchbikebits.com/bells/widek-chromed-brass-bell as I wanted a bring-bring bell with a left-handed action (this one is reversible), and not completely made of cheese.  The central shaft got bent when I unceremoniously dropped the bike on it[1] while attending to the scene of a collision, but it later bent back without trouble.  It sounds much nicer than the usual steel.

IMHO even really well-made ping bells still sound like tinnitus.   :hand:


[1] Regular readers will know that the bell is a sacrificial component to protect the bar-end shifter from damage in this eventuality.

Kim

  • Timelord
    • Fediverse
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9835 on: 19 March, 2018, 02:34:03 pm »
I had a torch within reach but couldn't be bothered to use it. There was sufficient sky glow for me to be able to manage and I can do toilet in total darkness.

The last thing I read on Twitter before the lights went out was from a chap in Wembley whose power was out.

I knew our outage affected only a limited area as David had gone to Pets At Home and The Gym around a kilometre hence, neither of which would have functioned without power. He would have returned sooner if they had been out of action.

I see from BookFace that TimO was without electricity today.

Suspiciously high-speed car vs substation, by the look of it.

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9836 on: 19 March, 2018, 02:44:40 pm »
I think you mean gas flow unit...

Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9837 on: 19 March, 2018, 02:50:37 pm »
MllePB has had a Lion bell for a couple of years or so now and it has thus far defied her usual ability to literally test to destruction. 

I'll be in the dog house when she reads this ...

Kim

  • Timelord
    • Fediverse
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9838 on: 19 March, 2018, 02:52:07 pm »
I think you mean gas flow unit...

Quite possibly.  All I saw was a photo of car vs snow-covered generic-poo-coloured utility structure next to some railway lines.

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9839 on: 19 March, 2018, 03:07:43 pm »
It sounds much nicer than the usual steel.
And one of the good things about the Lion bell is that it's brass too. I wouldn't like to use one as a sacrificial compo though.
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9840 on: 19 March, 2018, 03:19:00 pm »
I think you mean gas flow unit...

Quite possibly.  All I saw was a photo of car vs snow-covered generic-poo-coloured utility structure next to some railway lines.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-43455780

T42

  • Apprentice geezer
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9841 on: 19 March, 2018, 03:34:56 pm »
Bicycle bells.  They either rattle or are too feeble to hear at the statutory 50 metres. Or else they stop working, as mine just did because the plastic striker spring stiffened. I must have a dozen of the bloody things and none of them are any use. Bah.
http://www.lionbellworks.co.uk

Looks good.  Ta.
I've dusted off all those old bottles and set them up straight

Tim Hall

  • Victoria is my queen
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9842 on: 19 March, 2018, 03:39:12 pm »
I think you mean gas flow unit...

Quite possibly.  All I saw was a photo of car vs snow-covered generic-poo-coloured utility structure next to some railway lines.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-43455780

From that link:
Quote
A police cordon of 250 meters remains in place.
250 gas meters presumably
There are two ways you can get exercise out of a bicycle: you can
"overhaul" it, or you can ride it.  (Jerome K Jerome)

T42

  • Apprentice geezer
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9843 on: 19 March, 2018, 03:39:36 pm »
I've got a Widek bell, like this one: https://www.dutchbikebits.com/bells/widek-chromed-brass-bell as I wanted a bring-bring bell with a left-handed action (this one is reversible), and not completely made of cheese.  The central shaft got bent when I unceremoniously dropped the bike on it[1] while attending to the scene of a collision, but it later bent back without trouble.  It sounds much nicer than the usual steel.

IMHO even really well-made ping bells still sound like tinnitus.   :hand:


[1] Regular readers will know that the bell is a sacrificial component to protect the bar-end shifter from damage in this eventuality.

Think I'll order one of those as well, to try. Ta.
I've dusted off all those old bottles and set them up straight

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9844 on: 19 March, 2018, 05:32:13 pm »
I think you mean gas flow unit...

Quite possibly.  All I saw was a photo of car vs snow-covered generic-poo-coloured utility structure next to some railway lines.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-43455780
Not sure why a crash into a gas flow unit means no electricity in Hellyland?
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

ElyDave

  • Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society member 263583
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9845 on: 19 March, 2018, 07:28:43 pm »
drifting gas cloud + electrickery = kaboom

may have switched it off until the gas escape was under control.
“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” –Charles Dickens

Kim

  • Timelord
    • Fediverse
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9846 on: 19 March, 2018, 08:37:40 pm »
drifting gas cloud + electrickery = kaboom

may have switched it off until the gas escape was under control.

That's what I assumed.  Presumably they had to do it from somewhere upstream to avoid sparks in the vicinity of the leak.

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9847 on: 19 March, 2018, 11:12:13 pm »

Not sure why a crash into a gas flow unit means no electricity in Hellyland?

This was not Hellyland, it was Croydon.

My power failed on Saturday.

David Martin

  • Thats Dr Oi You thankyouverymuch
Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9848 on: 19 March, 2018, 11:56:07 pm »
I've got a Widek bell, like this one: https://www.dutchbikebits.com/bells/widek-chromed-brass-bell as I wanted a bring-bring bell with a left-handed action (this one is reversible), and not completely made of cheese.  The central shaft got bent when I unceremoniously dropped the bike on it[1] while attending to the scene of a collision, but it later bent back without trouble.  It sounds much nicer than the usual steel.

IMHO even really well-made ping bells still sound like tinnitus.   :hand:


[1] Regular readers will know that the bell is a sacrificial component to protect the bar-end shifter from damage in this eventuality.

Think I'll order one of those as well, to try. Ta.

I was thinking more like this. https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/181989421899?chn=ps&dispItem=1&adgroupid=43920634520&rlsatarget=pla-359427365517&abcId=1063846&adtype=pla&merchantid=110693443&poi=&googleloc=1007321&device=c&campaignid=797602469&crdt=0

That would certainly be interesting.
"By creating we think. By living we learn" - Patrick Geddes

Re: The Grumble Thread - No energy for a full on rant.
« Reply #9849 on: 20 March, 2018, 06:30:04 am »
I've got a Widek bell, like this one: https://www.dutchbikebits.com/bells/widek-chromed-brass-bell as I wanted a bring-bring bell with a left-handed action (this one is reversible), and not completely made of cheese.  The central shaft got bent when I unceremoniously dropped the bike on it[1] while attending to the scene of a collision, but it later bent back without trouble.  It sounds much nicer than the usual steel.

IMHO even really well-made ping bells still sound like tinnitus.   :hand:


[1] Regular readers will know that the bell is a sacrificial component to protect the bar-end shifter from damage in this eventuality.

Think I'll order one of those as well, to try. Ta.

I was thinking more like this. https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/181989421899?chn=ps&dispItem=1&adgroupid=43920634520&rlsatarget=pla-359427365517&abcId=1063846&adtype=pla&merchantid=110693443&poi=&googleloc=1007321&device=c&campaignid=797602469&crdt=0

That would certainly be interesting.

Quote
7" or 4" Brass Ships Wall Bell - Pub / Ship / Door / Dinner / School Hanging

When I was at school the threat of the cane was quite sufficient.