Nick's Notes

[NARSES2]

Haven't been to Portugal/Lisbon for a long time, but I did enjoy it, and don't forget the Anglo/Portugese Alliance is the worlds oldest - 1294 with the Treaty of Windsor in 1386 confirming it - so we are old friends 

Hope the Tram is up and running again after the tragic accident, because it's a good ride.

[kitbasher]

Haven't been to Portugal/Lisbon for a long time, but I did enjoy it, and don't forget the Anglo/Portugese Alliance is the worlds oldest - 1294 with the Treaty of Windsor in 1386 confirming it - so we are old friends 

Hope the Tram is up and running again after the tragic accident, because it's a good ride.

I think the tram's OK, Chris - it was one of the furniculars that was involved in the awful accident.

[zenrat]

Don't forget to kick back and relax as well as sightseeing.

[Nick]

Haven't been to Portugal/Lisbon for a long time, but I did enjoy it, and don't forget the Anglo/Portugese Alliance is the worlds oldest - 1294 with the Treaty of Windsor in 1386 confirming it - so we are old friends 

Hope the Tram is up and running again after the tragic accident, because it's a good ride.

I think the tram's OK, Chris - it was one of the furniculars that was involved in the awful accident.

The trams are running OK. It's the uphill funiculars that are out of action after a cable snapped.
The elevator is still running.

Don't forget to kick back and relax as well as sightseeing.

This is something I need to consider. Very tempting to run around and try to do everything.

[NARSES2]

Don't forget to kick back and relax as well as sightseeing.

This is something I need to consider. Very tempting to run around and try to do everything.

You'll need to relax after the couple of days you've got prior 

[Nick]

And I'm back!
Lisbon was a great little adventure. Took hundreds of photos. Sintra Air Museum was incredible. The pastries in Belem are delicious - but it is best to visit early morning or late evening to avoid the tourist hordes. I was there at 8pm and there was a coach load of Chinese ladies all pushing and shoving.

Christmas was a busy one what with driving Mum up to my big sister in Middlesbrough for 3 days of dining, drinking and not driving. It was different from our norm and we all had a wonderful time.
We popped into Salt's Mills in Bradford on the way back to look at the Hockney exhibition. Had to do something cultural and Mum wanted to go there 

Mum is getting into Lego now. She got the Lego Orchid

Today, in Hobbycraft, I bought my Mum a Rose. A little lego brick one to go with her new Lego flower collection.    https://www.yorkshiretrading.com/products/building-brick-flower-florist-kit-assorted

Mum got a Rolife card kit for Christmas. It is tiny and fiddly. https://rolife.robotime.com/product/childhood-toyhouse-diy-miniaturehouse-ds027/
I bought a pair of scissors for her and lent her my spare cutting pad and knife.
I suspect that mid sister didn't really listen to Mum when she said her arthritis makes little things tricky. Even my 20yo niece says these things are difficult. In due course it will either go in the bin or I'll have to finish it for her.

[Captain Canada]

Excellent ! Sounds like a whirlwind holiday ! Glad you all had fun. Lego defo has some cool stuff these days. I bought my son and his gf a lego cat. They have bought a house together, and she doesn't want him brining his cat with hi, so a lego one will have to suffice. They have a greed on a dog tho....

[Rick Lowe]

Glad you're back safely, and with a great trip also, Nick.

Cap, it sounds like it's a bit rough on him and the cat, though... 

[Weaver]

I suspect that mid sister didn't really listen to Mum when she said her arthritis makes little things tricky. Even my 20yo niece says these things are difficult. In due course it will either go in the bin or I'll have to finish it for her.

When my mum was getting old and slowly losing various capabilities, I tried my damnedest to listen to her and understand what she could and couldn't do and what she needed. During that time, I gained an acute and infuriating sense for just how many people don't listen to old folks, including people who's entire profession is supposed to be caring for them. Then there are those who go too far the other way of course, and use their limitations as a justification for treating them like children.

Keep looking out for your Mum, Nick and keep being the patient translator between "young world" and "old world", not only for her, but also for them. It can be a thankless task, but it's one of the most valuable services you can render. 

[Rick Lowe]

Sage advice. 

[Nick]

Went back into Hobbycraft last night and looked at their Papercraft section. They do a scalpel with a thick handle which is useful for those with limited grip.
So I bought it for Mum.
That and another brick flower 
https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/xcut-no-1-craft-knife/5847431000.html

[kerick]

I suspect that mid sister didn't really listen to Mum when she said her arthritis makes little things tricky. Even my 20yo niece says these things are difficult. In due course it will either go in the bin or I'll have to finish it for her.

When my mum was getting old and slowly losing various capabilities, I tried my damnedest to listen to her and understand what she could and couldn't do and what she needed. During that time, I gained an acute and infuriating sense for just how many people don't listen to old folks, including people who's entire profession is supposed to be caring for them. Then there are those who go too far the other way of course, and use their limitations as a justification for treating them like children.

Keep looking out for your Mum, Nick and keep being the patient translator between "young world" and "old world", not only for her, but also for them. It can be a thankless task, but it's one of the most valuable services you can render. 

This is so true.

[Nick]

Sat down at the model club last week and made a good start on the Sopwith Pup. It's 1/72 and it is small - about the size of the palm of my hand.
It resembles an early monoplane now. I couldn't put the struts or upper wing on because it wouldn't have fitted back in the box to go home

What I really like is that way back in 1973 Airfix  decided to include a pair of jigs for the wings. You clip these on at the trailing edges when putting the upper and lower wings together and the jigs hold them at the correct distance and angle while the struts and glue set.
I haven't got quite that far yet but this should make it easier.

***

My Skoda had a flat tyre. I left work last night, drove half a mile down the road and the warning light flashed. So I carried on to Tesco as planned where I filled the fuel tank and reinflated the flat tyre.
That got me home but it was flat this morning so I pumped it again and went to a local tyre place.
Friendly chap took the wheel off and waved me over to show the large screw (Philips no.2  ) that was embedded within.
Thankfully he was able to plug it for just £17.50 and not the dreaded £150+ for a whole new piece of round rubber. 

***

In other news I am having difficulty with my internet. Last month the landline phone stopped working so I called up EE and they got Openreach to go out and fix whatever was wrong.
At the same time EE offered me an upgrade to my mobile phone and basic broadband package which I haven't changed in 5 years.
Full fibre with better speeds offered at a slightly lower price. So I said yes.

Yesterday the Openreach guy turned up hours late, poked about for 10 minutes and declared he couldn't fit the full fibre as there was no way to drill through the walls or door frame. He thought there were wires in there according to his special scanner. Which he then admitted might be damaged from where he dropped it in a puddle on Friday. 

The current phone wire runs between the UPVC door frame and the wall - it was glued in with all the filler when they put the new door in 15 years ago.
It seems my options are either drill a hole through the UPVC which will look odd or to go through the brick wall at the side of the house.
And I need to sort out an extra power socket.

[NARSES2]

All the fun of modern technology mate.    Hope you get it sorted out soon

[Rick Lowe]

All the fun of modern technology mate.    Hope you get it sorted out soon

Yeah...   

and yeah.

Thankfully they were able to plug the tyre... over here they make you replace it anyway... gone are the days when they could sling in an inner tube to sort it.