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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 24, 2021 16:13:50 GMT
I hate it when cats or dogs get run over. But dogs are known to get distracted and do stupid things (sort of like human children). Cats are reputedly clever and cautious, so it shouldn't even happen.
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Post by whatagain on Apr 24, 2021 18:51:03 GMT
Problem is that we have acroad that has heavy traffic and at night some assholes drive well above 100 kmh. A
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Apr 25, 2021 15:16:39 GMT
Oh Whatagain...I'm really sorry about your cat dear boy. Very distressing.
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Post by lugg on Apr 25, 2021 19:31:03 GMT
Hope you are ok Htmb ?
So sorry to read about your cat Whatagain.
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Post by questa on Apr 27, 2021 1:11:44 GMT
This is a very, very trivial trauma that unfolded last night. I had been working all day sorting stuff in a haphazard way, A friend visited me, had coffee, chat and cigarette then left...taking my cigarette lighter with her.
No problems...I'll have a proper look for it later. Had dinner, but no post-prandial smoke...getting tetchy now. What can I use? All electric house, no naked flames. Considered walking to the carpark and lighting cig on the plug-in lighter on the console. Blast! raining again!
By now even my cat was keeping out of my way...she knows when I am low on nicotine.
AHA The toaster. Inserted the cig tip into the slot and waited...and waited. Nup, won't ignite on just one filament, pushed it in further...OWW...burnt fingertips and a sizzle of hair.
Then remembered some fine incense sticks hidden in a drawer. Found one and rested it on the filaments which soon produced a good wisp of smoke. As I waited the toaster reached its timer and sprang up with a clatter, startling the daylights out of me.
I used the glowing tip to light up the cigarette then the cat went into a fit of sneezing and coughing and I remembered she is allergic to Sandalwood. Put her outside (in the rain) and finally sat down with an incense and menthol flavoured cigarette.
One day I really must quit smoking.
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 27, 2021 2:24:43 GMT
If you have the kind of electric stove with the open spiral burners, they're great for lighting cigarettes.
And yes ~ quit smoking, never mind that it is the most consistently satisfying thing in your life and you will miss it every day for the rest of your enhanced health lifespan.
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 27, 2021 7:02:05 GMT
What? Our medical advisor still smokes?
Oh dear...
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Post by questa on Apr 27, 2021 7:54:35 GMT
My body needs all the endorphins it can get! Apparently one cigarette equals 2 doses of my levadopa pills and as long as my lungs are OK my doctor says after 57 years of smoking why go through the misery to myself and those around me.
This village has a no-smoking rule...no smoking outside but you may smoke in your own rooms. keep your stink to yourself.
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Post by bjd on Apr 27, 2021 8:57:56 GMT
I think your doctor is right. The mental health loss of a long habit is probably worse than the occasional cigarette. You are obviously not a two-pack a day smoker if your lungs are okay.
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Post by Kimby on Apr 27, 2021 11:08:37 GMT
This reminds me of a family ski trip during which we stayed in a rented house in Northern Wisconsin. The house had a fireplace and a woodpile but no matches. As a family of non-smokers, there were no affirmative answers when Dad asked if anyone had matches.
He scratched his head a minute, then rolled a paper napkin and pushed down the toaster lever, inserting the napkin when it had heated up. Seconds later he pulled it out flaming, lit the fire and we had a toasty aprés ski evening in front of the fire.
Later my youngest sister confessed that she DID have matches (and pot) in her purse, but couldn’t offer them up without bringing suspicion down on herself.
The incident came to be known in family lore as the “One Toaster Fire” after our Girl Scout training to light one-match fires.
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Post by questa on Apr 27, 2021 12:35:48 GMT
If you have the kind of electric stove with the open spiral burners, they're great for lighting cigarettes. No mine is a glass top but agree with you ...those spiral ones cranked out a lot of heat. Ah well, pobody's nerfect...
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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 27, 2021 14:56:09 GMT
In any case, gas is on its way out in France (in spite of its popularity) due to the quest for carbon neutrality and the end of fossil fuels.
As of this year, gas heating is forbidden in all new housing. Since we are never lacking for paradoxes here, the government continues to subsidise the installation of "efficient" gas water heaters in old residences (800 euros for middle incomes and 1200 for low incomes). More than 50% of the homes in France still use gas heating. My own place is all electric even though it is more than 200 years old. My downstairs neighbour is the only person in the building who still uses gas. In any case, gas in all large collective buildings will be forbidden in 2024. It has been forbidden in high rises for a long time (probably since the movie The Towering Inferno was released). Strangely enough, fancy rooftop restaurants can still use gas as long as all of the pipes are on the outside walls of the building (and extremely insulated). I guess the haute cuisine lobby is very powerful here, but I would love to see how they proved that gas cooking is superior to electric cooking.
I would say that every year we still have at least one or two major gas catastrophes where entire buildings are destroyed by an explosion.
I will not regret the disappearance of gas even though it is pretty when used decoratively.
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Post by lagatta on Apr 27, 2021 17:18:07 GMT
Whatagain, I'm very sad to hear about your cat. Guess there was no way to catch the culprit, eh?
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Post by Kimby on Apr 28, 2021 12:15:47 GMT
Got up and plugged in the drip coffeemaker this morning and was looking forward to a cuppa Joe when I started hearing hissing and spitting of coffee hitting the warming plate.
Finding nothing wrong with the filter basket, I reseated the pot, but still leaking. A little bit at first, then a gusher. I was mystified in a frantic way as coffee spilled across the countertop and onto the floor.
Mr. Kimby shouted “It’s got a hole in it!” What? No visible hole in the plastic coffee maker (but that would produce a plain water leak, not a coffee spill, wouldn’t it?).
I finally saw that he was pointing at a tiny hole in the glass carafe at the 8 cup mark. The last four cups went out the hole till we whisked the pot to the sink.
A hole in a glass carafe? How does that even happen? I’ve had carafes shatter before, but a leak? Now we have to hit the thrift store for a replacement carafe so we don’t have to toss the whole coffeemaker.
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Post by htmb on Apr 28, 2021 15:16:02 GMT
I’m still waiting to get my biopsy results. It’s been a week, so I called the doctor’s office and was told “a couple more days.” Meanwhile, the area where she cut is healing nicely, instead of starting to grow something new. Makes me a bit hopeful.
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 28, 2021 15:24:06 GMT
That's frustrating, Htmb -- the part about waiting I mean. Stay hopeful!
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Post by lugg on Apr 28, 2021 18:55:24 GMT
That's frustrating, Htmb -- the part about waiting I mean. Stay hopeful! Absolutely Htmb x
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Post by lugg on Apr 28, 2021 18:57:11 GMT
I am slightly frustrated as despite using various search words I cannot find the thread that I know is here .
Plant ID - help welcomed although my ? is more of a tree ID.
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Post by htmb on Apr 28, 2021 19:11:25 GMT
I am slightly frustrated as despite using various search words I cannot find the thread that I know is here . Plant ID - help welcomed although my ? is more of a tree ID. I know this isn’t what you meant, Lugg, but I just heard about this website: identify.plantnet.org/I put in a photo of a tree I was trying to identify and it worked.
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 28, 2021 19:38:08 GMT
Wow -- can't wait to try that. Thanks, Htmb. Here is the thread you were looking for, Lugg. I hate the proboards Search feature. I found the thread by going to Putting Down Roots then clicking Cntrl+F and writing "needed", because I remembered that was part of the thread title. It worked, but it shouldn't be that complicated. anyportinastorm.proboards.com/thread/1617/plant-help-needed?page=1
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Post by lugg on Apr 28, 2021 19:43:16 GMT
Thank you both
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Post by mich64 on Apr 28, 2021 21:39:56 GMT
I’m still waiting to get my biopsy results. It’s been a week, so I called the doctor’s office and was told “a couple more days.” Meanwhile, the area where she cut is healing nicely, instead of starting to grow something new. Makes me a bit hopeful. With 2 days left in the week, hopefully you will hear before the weekend. Positive thoughts and good to read it is healing nicely.
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Post by htmb on Apr 29, 2021 20:42:41 GMT
Thanks for all the good wishes. I finally received results today from the dermatologist and the spot on my jaw was benign. A big relief!
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Post by Kimby on Apr 29, 2021 21:10:28 GMT
AND it’s healing nicely! Win win!
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 29, 2021 21:23:33 GMT
Oh, Htmb ~ SO happy to hear that! Congratulations on the great outcome.
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Post by questa on Apr 29, 2021 23:36:00 GMT
I hope you have a celebration for this happy news. Go on...you know you want to...!
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Post by htmb on Apr 30, 2021 0:48:52 GMT
Well, yeah, I wanted some ice cream, something I rarely eat. Went out and got some exercise instead, but will maybe get a treat tomorrow.
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 30, 2021 6:36:33 GMT
Good news htmb!
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Post by lugg on Apr 30, 2021 9:08:06 GMT
That's such fab news Htmb so pleased for you - what a relief I am sure.
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Post by onlyMark on May 5, 2021 8:14:23 GMT
A little trauma story.
Yesterday I needed to go from one place in Germany to another place to get my covid jab. Then return the same day. Not too far but about 180km door to door. Normally I’d rent a car for a few days to do something like this and use it for errands or seeing a few things. But I was persuaded to rely on public transport, like many locals do. I booked a train ticket to allow me about an hour and a half at my destination to get the jab and get back to the first return journey station. Booked early for cheap price. It was to be four trains of differing sorts there and three trains and a bus back.
First was a regional train, then a long distance train, then two "Stadtschnellbahn" (city rapid railway, (‘S-Bahn’) and not to be confused with the Straßenbahn (tram) or ‘U-Bahn’ trains). Train 1 was late. I had eight minutes at the first change to get the long distance train, but I didn’t end up with that. I arrived at the same minute the 2nd train was to leave. If I’d not caught it the whole set of dominos would have fallen. Me sprinting down a set of steps, through a tunnel and up another set of steps to change platforms is not recommended at my age, though to be fair, I’m quite happy I can still sprint, though not too far nowadays. I’d not moved that fast since I’d left my day pack with all my important paperwork in it when moving countries at the airport security desk and was drifting through the duty free area when I remembered.
Got the train, just, and it moved off as I closed the door. Get to next station on time apart from a minute or two and an easy walk to catch the first S-Bahn train to connect with the second S-Bahn. Until, that is, I saw on the notice boards that my train was cancelled. Went to the information desk and was given an alternative route to catch – now though and extra change as I had to catch a bus, then a different S-Bahn but miss the last S-Bahn. I’d factored in some wiggle room anyway but if there were any more problems, I’d miss my appointment. Took the bus, which seemed to be driven by the nicest driver ever who stopped for all the pedestrians, even if they didn’t seem to want to cross the road, stopped at every traffic light well before they changed to red and made sure he never exceeded half the speed limit.
Had a quick run through the station from the bus station, clattered down the escalator (nice people standing to the right always so I could drop past them on the left) and jumped on the train as the doors closed. Got to the last station and my final S-Bahn was delayed at least ten minutes – but it did eventually come and I arrived at my destination station, faced by a 800m walk in the rain and ten minutes left of the wiggle room until the appointed time. Got to the medical centre spot on to walk in, announce myself – and then sit and wait for the half a dozen others who were still waiting from earlier appointments to be seen and jabbed. Plus paperwork completed. Forget the complicated, complex and comprehensive paperwork at your peril. It is Germany and there is an (inflexible) process like a couple of the forms needed to be filled out and signed in the presence of the medical staff. No idea why, but that what was said in the pages of instructions I had previously received.
Before the jab the doctor had to go over the paperwork and ask me questions I’d already answered and left time for me to ask any – nope, no questions I said when asked and he looked a little surprised, with a pregnant pause just in case I’d suddenly thought of one. So he decided to then go over the three sheets of A4 I’d already been supplied with and read weeks ago that contained details of the type of vaccine, it’s side effects and who was or was not recommended to have it, and did I understand and if so, sign the bottom to say you do so etc. After the jab I had to wait for at least fifteen minutes to see if I felt ok still.
I’d given up by that time trying to get my return connections so decided I’d get the S-Bahn back to the main city railway station and see what was available to get between the cities. Then I did my good deed for the day. Arrived at the main station and had to walk in the big front entrance from outside – there was a solo woman walking a few metres in front of me, maybe late twenties. I saw a man, early thirties jog up to her from the left and touch her arm to get her attention. She stopped, he said something I didn’t hear and as I passed them she said she had a train to catch and couldn’t stop – so she walked ahead.
I saw the man jog back under a portico where there was another man waiting (lurking?), they conversed as I passed near them, couldn’t hear what was said but the first man was shaking his head negatively. I passed them and carried on walking and stopped to look at the main departures board. Another solo woman walked past me, again late twenties, and I saw from the side of me the second man jog up to her and touch her arm to get her attention. They were about two metres ahead and to the right of me. He said something, she replied, in English but not with a British accent, that she didn’t understand, he started to say something else but his back was to me and I didn’t hear it.
I walked up to the side of them both and addressed the woman (in English), “Do you know him?” No, she replied. “Ignore him,” I said. “Walk away.” I turned to him whilst speaking to the woman, “I don’t who and his friend outside are but they are stopping single women.” He looked at me and I looked at him, “I don’t know what they want or why but you can be certain it is to their advantage and not yours. Just walk away.” The man jogged off back towards the outside, she then clicked on to the whole exchange as of course, it was quite quick and surprising, and thanked me. We parted ways but walked both in the same general direction, as she was about to descend an escalator, she shouted her thanks over to me again.
I looked at the timetables and on my train app (free internet on most trains and main stations). Caught a reasonably slow train to the next city en route, caught another regional train in plenty of time that’d drop me off at my home station. It was going well. Until – there was an announcement that due to works they wouldn’t stop at my station, or the next one, but stop at the one after that. Bugger. So I got off past where I wanted to be but where I knew there would be train back every fifteen minutes – apart from yesterday were they would be every half an hour due to the track works. I’d just missed one but was only three or four km from my destination (but would then need to walk about 700m in the rain that was now coming down again) – so slipped outside and got a taxi for ten Euros to my door.
That was my day.
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