Gosh, no, never saw that. Unfortunately, there is absolutely nothing there that I want/can use... Sigh.

Cheers,

Chris

Very happy at the moment, DPD delivered a parcel from Rails of Sheffield this morning with my latest purchase.

Along with my recent arrival of mark 1 blue and grey carriages from Rainbow Railways (thanks guys) and a birthday present to myself (n-guage related - of course), I'm in a very good mood.

Photos in the relevant section in due course

At last, after two lean years, there has been a good crop of sloes. We have picked about 8kg, which should make 10-11 bottles of sloe gin. Fortunately, 2020 was a huge crop and we made 32 bottles of which we have about 10 left, surprisingly, but 2021 and 2022 were very poor.

Happy days,

Cheers,

Chris

Quote from: Papyrus on September 01, 2023, 12:16:30 PMAt last, after two lean years, there has been a good crop of sloes. We have picked about 8kg, which should make 10-11 bottles of sloe gin. Fortunately, 2020 was a huge crop and we made 32 bottles of which we have about 10 left, surprisingly, but 2021 and 2022 were very poor.

Happy days,

Cheers,

Chris

My better half is not fond of gin, but we were gifted a carrier bag of damsons a couple of years ago and made a gallon of damson vodka.

I'm not keen on gin either, but Chateau Papyrus sloe gin is altogether a different beast. No.1 stepson has a damson tree in his garden and made damson vodka last year but even he reckons it is inferior to sloe gin. Unfortunately, he and his missus have cottoned on to the fact that we have a glass before Sunday dinner so they have come to expect it if they visit us on a Sunday. Hence we have to keep making the stuff in industrial quantities...

Cheers,

Chris

I know water companies get (deservedly) bad press for pollution of waterways and wastage through leaks, but I've just had cause to use United Utilities to clear a blockage in a drain beneath a downpipe on my property and the service has been excellent. A prompt visit with a call prior to arrival as promised and ½ hour sorted the problem out.

You do know that they then took the waste to the nearest beach and pumped it into the sea don't you?

From what I gather the seas around here wouldn't notice any difference

I had surgery on my fractured knee nine days ago. Today I could bend it enough to work on my layout and, better still, managed a few steps without crutches. Who knew walking a bit would be such a great feeling!

not really sure if this should be in the 'happy' or ' amazed' thread.

added to my stash the new tool Vickers Valiant' kit, purchased from E-bay on the 12th, shipped 13th by Royal Mail 2nd class.
sitting having a wee dram after by evening meal at about 6.30 last night and ring on the doorbell.

opened it, and postie with my kit   

arrived faster than some first class / tracked 48 parcels.

really impressed and  for a change for RM.

and the kit  ?
IT IS A BEAUTY, two options - maybe should be called four

bomb doors closed
bomb doors open with nuclear bomb
bomb doors open with full load of 21 x 1,000lb bombs
PR version with bomb doors with camera ports.

all can be wheels up or wheels down

decisions, decisions

should keep me busy for ages.

Welcome to the Happy Thread. Newbies like you are always welcome  

thank you Mick, I did feel I was in uncharted waters 

for anyone interested, it looks as though Airfix may be looking at also releasing the Valiant in the refuelling 'K' version, as there are parts in this kit for hose reel unit, and other parts which could be tanks etc together with another bomb bay roof to take them.

my only 'moan' so far is that while they supply the full bomb load and carriers, it would be nice to have one or two bomb trolleys to be able to model the aircraft being bombed up.
I seem to remember the Stirling bomber had these, and a tractor, in the kit.

on completion of my root through the stash, I was shocked by how much was there, and calculated that I would be over 100 at my work rate before I built them all.
so, what to do 
1 list on fleabay, faff about with posting etc, and the 'it was broken when I got it' brigade 
2. get in touch with a dealer and get pence in the pound of value 

then a brain wave ... contact my local ATC sdn, 'would you be interested in some a/c kits ?'

the answer was, basically, do bears sh live in the woods 

so, thursday evening, I went up and delivered a box, ok maybe two boxes alright more than three boxes an some spare kits to the sdn for their use 
they were chuffed, so to speak.

ok, I didn't recoup the cost of the kits, but did get a warm fuzzy feeling from my good deed 
note, need to check the heater on the car.

NEWSFLASH! @Browning 9mm is giving stuff away rather than arranging dodgy meets in the services on the A23 with money (usually lots of) being exchanged for goods 

but none of it was N gauge