Author Topic: what I have learned today. (Read 858909 times)

ian · « **Reply #1025 on:** 12 May, 2016, 07:21:57 pm »

Quote from: Bledlow on 11 May, 2016, 10:56:03 pm

I have a 5000 lev note from the 1990s, before the 1000:1 upgrade which put the lev on par with the deutschmark - not long before it was abolished. None of this stotinki nonsense then!

Unfortunately that note wasn't worth 5000 new lev when I went there at the beginning of this millennium. But it was possible to use stotinki.

I stayed at the Hotel Balkan in the Largo. Splendidly overwrought edifice of socialist classicism. They don't make them like that any more.

Stotinki. Saying it still makes me happy.

Ham · « **Reply #1026 on:** 12 May, 2016, 08:13:57 pm »

Taking advantage of my present work lull (which has already stopped) I did a virtual commute this morning; I learnt lots.

First, there was a good reason I normally avoid the Chigwell area around school run time. at least 16 reasons ackcherly (do the math)

Next, I find that Epping is actually higher than Toot Hill, who knew? (courtesy of putting it on the GPS rather than just riding)

I also discovered that it was more pleasant attending a business conference call looking at this

rather than a computer monitor

On top of that I learned that it would be a good move to go with the suggestion that you just suspend your lost credit card rather than cancel it straight off, because after doing the cancelling thing, the caff who you had already phoned to ask if they had it may call you back to say that they have.....

I must be very clever now.

Si S · « **Reply #1027 on:** 13 May, 2016, 07:45:19 am »

I've learnt that contaminating the seat clamp bolt with carbon assembly paste and taking the FIBR approach is going to lead to a problem when you want to undo it.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #1028 on:** 13 May, 2016, 10:05:29 am »

That the band Storyville, as recommended by Large Scotsman, guitar-slinger and all round Top Chap Stevie Nimmo, is what Stevie Ray Vaughan's rhythm section did after someone put SRV on the wrong helichopter.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #1029 on:** 17 May, 2016, 02:19:31 pm »

That the Brandenburg concertos were written as an audition piece. He didn't get the job. I don't know who did.

(Further to stotinki: it's hundredths. Sto = hundred. Presumably lev has some other origin than lion, cos hundredths of a lion would take us back to Cecil and the dentist.)

Kim · « **Reply #1030 on:** 17 May, 2016, 02:41:51 pm »

That PC Hipsta is now Gas Safe registered and has just serviced our boiler.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #1031 on:** 17 May, 2016, 04:15:00 pm »

Quote from: Kim on 17 May, 2016, 02:41:51 pm

That PC Hipsta is now Gas Safe registered and has just serviced our boiler.

I want to say "we need photos" but that's rather rude towards Gas Man Hipsta so we'll just take the info instead.

pcolbeck · « **Reply #1032 on:** 17 May, 2016, 05:13:19 pm »

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 17 May, 2016, 02:19:31 pm

That the Brandenburg concertos were written as an audition piece. He didn't get the job. I don't know who did.

Imagine that. "Hmm that Bach chap was pretty good but I'm seeing a couple of other composers next week and I think one of those will be better". Major recruitment fail !

Bledlow · « **Reply #1033 on:** 18 May, 2016, 12:22:49 am »

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 17 May, 2016, 02:19:31 pm

(Further to stotinki: it's hundredths. Sto = hundred.

Da, stotinki is just cents in Slav.

pcolbeck · « **Reply #1034 on:** 19 May, 2016, 11:48:14 am »

Planting potatoes is very labour and machine intensive.

The two fields opposite my house (about 25 acres in total) have been wheat or rape for years but this year its potatoes.
A couple of weeks ago they were ploughed then this week two tractors turned up and harrowed them then ridged them.
Today eleven tractors and a front loader arrived !
The fields have been de-stoned and potatoes planted its a major operation. I counted five de-stoners working at once !

Thing2 · « **Reply #1035 on:** 19 May, 2016, 09:19:30 pm »

The washing machine at the house we rent is old enough to drink alcohol, here in California. No wonder it's getting a little temperamental!

David Martin · « **Reply #1036 on:** 19 May, 2016, 10:27:12 pm »

Potatoes are interesting. Organic potatoes can have more pesticides and fungicides added than many other crops.

T42 · « **Reply #1037 on:** 20 May, 2016, 07:52:05 am »

The ones in our cupboard look like baby triffids just now. Maybe they're a bit too organic.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #1038 on:** 20 May, 2016, 12:48:05 pm »

Is there a measurable difference between the natural curiosity of organic spuds and the regular sort?

Kim · « **Reply #1039 on:** 20 May, 2016, 12:52:39 pm »

Quote from: Mr Larrington on 20 May, 2016, 12:48:05 pm

Is there a measurable difference between the natural curiosity of organic spuds and the regular sort?

I hope so; the whole plan hinges on it.

Polar Bear · « **Reply #1040 on:** 20 May, 2016, 01:06:26 pm »

Why sometimes there are bins overturned in the street and the refuse appears to have been rummaged through.

It's what identity thieves do apparently.

Advice is to put bins out on the morning of collection.

I found this out whilst attending an interview under caution with a client this morning.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #1041 on:** 20 May, 2016, 01:29:35 pm »

Quote from: Polar Bear on 20 May, 2016, 01:06:26 pm

Why sometimes there are bins overturned in the street and the refuse appears to have been rummaged through.

It's what identity thieves do apparently.

Are you sure there isn't a nest of journalists in the area? Advanced bin-rummaging is one of the requirements for promotion¹ from Dirty Lying Journalist Scum to Filthy Lying Journalist Scum.

1: According to my chum Samfast, last heard of reducing the already ankle-high standards of journalism in Captain Cook's Mistake.

Ruthie · « **Reply #1042 on:** 20 May, 2016, 07:44:20 pm »

Steve Mason's playing at the Bluedot festival.

Excellent.

Kim · « **Reply #1043 on:** 20 May, 2016, 08:54:00 pm »

IRTA "Baudot festival", which was an interesting mental image.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #1044 on:** 20 May, 2016, 09:10:10 pm »

Railway semaphore signals have a "U" section for rigidity and are absolutely huge close-up.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #1045 on:** 20 May, 2016, 09:27:48 pm »

That having telescopic forks doesn't necessarily mean you can ride up a kerb. Ouch.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #1046 on:** 20 May, 2016, 09:29:55 pm »

Must have been a big kerb; quite coincidentally, I was doing that on Miss Z the younger's new bike this evening to show what the forks could do!

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #1047 on:** 20 May, 2016, 09:34:20 pm »

No, more a stupidly shallow angle of approach.

Bledlow · « **Reply #1048 on:** 20 May, 2016, 10:31:58 pm »

Quote from: Polar Bear on 20 May, 2016, 01:06:26 pm

Why sometimes there are bins overturned in the street and the refuse appears to have been rummaged through.

It's what identity thieves do apparently.

Mrs B rips names & addresses off anything that goes into the bins. They go in the fireplace.

David Martin · « **Reply #1049 on:** 21 May, 2016, 11:57:03 pm »

But a spoonful of nesquik does.

Author Topic: what I have learned today. (Read 858909 times)

ian