You're all waiting for someone to start
So I'll do it.

Evening thread.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:23, 114 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

One hour to go
and already we've had to try to stop the boss peeing in the bin. Kill me now.
( GeordieJay Bummers are deaf, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:26, Reply)

Let him
But take pictures.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:34, Reply)

yay
now, where the hell are my car keys? I left something in the boot I REALLY need
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:30, Reply)

Dead body?

( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:32, Reply)

Axe
To bring about dead body?
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:33, Reply)

Keith Jarrett on radio 2.
right now.
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:42, Reply)

Thought you were dead...

( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:45, Reply)

nah, takes more than that* to kill me.
you've just been hangin' with the cool kids is all.

edit: insert joke about wishful thinking.

*whatever "that" is.
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:47, Reply)

Oh them cool kids eh?
That's the end of any b3ta credibility I've ever had - I'm pleased to see the pariah back!
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:53, Reply)

If you leave a live body in there with an axe long enough
they are bound to become a dead body eventually
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:44, Reply)

you don't need the axe if you are just leaving them

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:01, Reply)

no
i just reckon they'd eventually use it on themselves as they slowly go mad
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:03, Reply)

almost completed girlfriend christmas shopping
just got a final decision to make

and got to pick up some chocolate money from somewhere
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:38, Reply)

You got a Wilkinson's near you?
Chocolate money a-go-go.

I pissed my Sister off on Friday by walking into her Estate Agent's with three bags of Wilkinson's gold coins and asking to buy a nice house.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:42, Reply)

Haha!

( girlinthehole, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:43, Reply)

we don't actually
not sure if there is one in Devon even
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:43, Reply)

May be a Northern thing
Wilko's - best value for everything.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:45, Reply)

we have similar things
I just haven't had a chance to get any.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:46, Reply)

you can buy girlfriends?
do they sell boyfriends too?
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:56, Reply)

if you shop in the right places

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:00, Reply)

*gets yellow pages*

( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:04, Reply)

White chocolate coins from Tesco
*channels swipe*
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:08, Reply)

I'm afraid I have to say that white chocolate sucks

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:09, Reply)

WTF!
Sometimes I wonder what I see in you.
( girlinthehole, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:12, Reply)

He's quite right
White Chocolate is shite.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:18, Reply)

you see something in me?

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:27, Reply)

You're on my list of handsome and lovely male B3tans with Labs, Al, Monty and I think there's another one but I can't remember who.

( girlinthehole, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:34, Reply)

Noel perhaps?

( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:35, Reply)

Yup! Noel.
How could I forget Noel ffs.
( girlinthehole, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:35, Reply)

And now your list is complete

( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:41, Reply)

I might have missed some others but they're the main ones.
I like being old because I can have lists like this : )
( girlinthehole, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:43, Reply)

Whereas mine has to stay in my head
and what do you mean old? You have a distinct lack of greybeard
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:45, Reply)

I pluck the grey ones : )

( girlinthehole, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:47, Reply)

I'm offended by your list.
*sulks*
( Peej, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:25, Reply)

lots of people aren't included :)

( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:26, Reply)

Yes but I should get extra points for sending BGB a free copy of office 2007

( Peej, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:32, Reply)

I'm with you PJ.
:(
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:35, Reply)

You're on a special secret list : )

( girlinthehole, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:37, Reply)

That worries me.

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:37, Reply)

well if it's a hitlist
you should be worried
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:38, Reply)

aww fanks
shame I couldn't stay longer and that you were poisoned!
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:48, Reply)

Hehe!
No doubt I'll be poisoned again at some point.
( girlinthehole, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:52, Reply)

you were there, too?
I think I must have missed you
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:56, Reply)

He left a lot earlier.

( girlinthehole, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:57, Reply)

I left at half 5ish I think
had to be a flying visit unfortunately
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:03, Reply)

Just missed
I was there about 6ish
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:05, Reply)

I'll hopefully get down your end of the country at some point.
Be nice to meet up again. Maybe your gf won't mind meeting one of us at a time : )
( girlinthehole, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:07, Reply)

I think she felt a bit daunted by the numbers
she was fine meeting Amberl :-)
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:10, Reply)

Well that's OK then : )
I've never been Devon and Cornwall way.
( girlinthehole, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:12, Reply)

I'm not very scary looking
usually.
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:17, Reply)

I didn't think you were particularly scary looking

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:29, Reply)

Which is why she wasn't scared :)

( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:30, Reply)

we had you outnumbered as well

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:33, Reply)

that is true
I could have never been heard of again
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:35, Reply)

it's bloody lovely

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:17, Reply)

Actually I've been to Exeter years ago, briefly.
I think I was about sixteen or thereabouts. My paternal uncle lives around that area and I haven't seem him for years.
( girlinthehole, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:19, Reply)

it's probably changed a bit
but then again, probably not all that much
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:27, Reply)

Haha!
I can't remember much so it won't be a problem.
( girlinthehole, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:29, Reply)

splendid

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:32, Reply)

I'm quite tired
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LanCLS_hIo4&feature=related
( Lisette von Falcon, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:39, Reply)

I'm ace.
I'm full of pasta, I've had baps, I've arranged stuff, and pub quiz in a bit. Oh and Beekers is lovely too.
(Poppet some assembly required., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:42, Reply)

Where am this pub quiz?
Dozer and I need to know.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:43, Reply)

in a pub in leeds. why?

(Poppet some assembly required., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:45, Reply)

Which pub?
Dozer and myself are trying to find a pub quiz in Leeds.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:46, Reply)

the West End.

(Poppet some assembly required., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:47, Reply)

Kirkstall?
We were after something more central but West End is a fine boozer.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:50, Reply)

yup. it's only about 5-10 mins walk apparently. I don't remember - we passed it today.
the pub quiz is on tonight. you should come to it.
(Poppet some assembly required., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:53, Reply)

Start at 06.00 tomorrow
So I'm going to bed soon, I'm afraid.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:57, Reply)

I don't think there is anywhere that isn't a 5-10 min walk from somewhere.
At least, not on shore.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:00, Reply)

Have you had a walk around the Abbey?
It's stunning - do so, if you've not done already.

I drive past the West End four times a day.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:00, Reply)

been there, done the photos and all. really enjoyed it.

(Poppet some assembly required., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:02, Reply)

Pleased for you
It's the third best in the UK - Fountains and Furness Abbeys are slightly more complete but they're quite remote.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:06, Reply)

I dunno, I really really enjoyed Whitby Abbey.

(Poppet some assembly required., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:23, Reply)

you know that white chocolate isn't actually chocolate.
dig it?
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:34, Reply)

Chief.
Get in touch with me yes?

Whatever channel. I'm here.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:40, Reply)

how's this?
touchy enough?
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:55, Reply)

Been trying to text you.
Gaz me.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:58, Reply)

berk is heading back home
and I have just had pizza
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:43, Reply)

The power's blown on the ground floor.
Had a look in the fuse box but it's too dark to see.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 19:55, Reply)

take a torch?

(Poppet some assembly required., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:03, Reply)

It's sorted
Annoyingly the upstairs and downstairs hall lights are blown out. It's dark in the hall and it's too dark to change the lightbulbs NOW. Niiiightmare. How's Leeds?
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:06, Reply)

torch in mouth
and stand on chair
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:28, Reply)

I don't have a torch.
I'm so so so bored. And trying to work out what I want to get my dad for Christmas. Thinking of getting my mum a scarf and some cute Russian doll notepapers, for her students. Last year I got him some lovely shaving cream. WHAT TO GET THIS YEAR?!
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:36, Reply)

I buy my dad a joke present
and generally a really decent bottle of wine. Luckily his Tokay is already bought, and I've got a small joke gift as well.

Still so pissed off about my mum's present though
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:40, Reply)

I know, it's such a shame :(
It was a lovely hat. I can't get my dad booze, he's tee-total.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:48, Reply)

got dad a subscription to Private Eye
a couple of years back. Does he like that?
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:50, Reply)

Hmm, that could be an idea
He likes jazz and good coffee. Might be able to do something with the latter.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:55, Reply)

Blue Mountain?

( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 20:57, Reply)

Not heard of that before, I'm just having a look at the website.
I've just ended up spending 44£ more than I needed to on the Urban Outfitters website for the purpose of free delivery. Well, I wanted that bag. I need a new large one. I'm dreadful.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:03, Reply)

It's quite expensive though
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaican_Blue_Mountain_Coffee.

I do like Urban Outfitters :) is it a nice bag?
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:05, Reply)

It's really big
Canvas, with chain handles, and lots of zips. I've had my eyes on it for a while and it was half price.

I love my dad, though. And I've spent £30 on both my mum and sister, so feel I need a nice present for him.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:10, Reply)

How have you been?
Feeling ok?
( girlinthehole, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:13, Reply)

I'm feeling a little delicate
and a bit subdued, but I'm not bad. Are you recovered?
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:22, Reply)

Yeah! just got a cold.
I'll be ok.

Looking forward to Christmas?
( girlinthehole, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:26, Reply)

Not really.
Not really looking to much to be perfectly honest. I can literally feel myself getting iller by the minute. I'm meant to be out tomorrow and I'm not sure if I can muster the enthusiasm.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:28, Reply)

Sounds good :)
coffee and Private Eye perhaps?
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:18, Reply)

If only I had a few thousand pounds
then I'd get him a signed Ronald Searle lithograph.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:23, Reply)

that would be lovely

( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:24, Reply)

Yeah
either that or Tomi Ungerer. No Kiss For Mother is one of his favourite books- he already has a copy so I can't get him that.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:26, Reply)

I bought some new toys!
On Craigslist I found a guy advertising a used glass grinder for sale for $50, including some spare parts. I contacted the guy and set up a meeting and gladly paid, and in exchange got:

-said glass grinder
-three grinding heads, each of which would be about $50 new
-a roll of copper foil tape, probably at least worth $10
-a rig for holding the roll of tape so it doesn't fall all over the floor like usually happens to me
-a roll of solder
-a bottle of patina solution
-about ten pounds of stained glass in various colors.

The grinder is a different sort than the one I already own, and came with a guide for grinding glass into rectangular strips. I've already tried it and it's ace.

I also finished the next table and need to take photos of it this evening, if I can clear a corner well enough to set up a backdrop for it.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:03, Reply)

sounds like a great deal!
is the copper foil the matrix/substrate for the glass?
i did some similar glasswork a few years ago but used a tin alloy strip.
similar technique?
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 22:35, Reply)

Yes, the Tiffany method.
I use it myself, as I'm not fond of toxic lead fumes. It works well, though you can't put it outdoors.

I've been cleaning up the dining room for use, but still don't have an appropriate space cleared for shooting pics of the new table project. That's next on the agenda after I eat dinner.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 22:41, Reply)

right, so a lead/tin alloy, but you can't use it externally?
i do a fair bit of actual lead-work, y'know oxy-acetylene stuff. lead is good for external use so what gives? is it the weathering details?
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 22:46, Reply)

The lead vapor I was referring to
is the really old-school method, where you actually melt lead and pour it to hold the glass together as Tiffany did for his massive pieces. It's fine if you work outdoors, I've just never tried.

I do own an oxy-acetylene torch. How do you use it for this? You have me very interested!
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 22:54, Reply)

i do old-school lead-burning for pipework etc and oxy-acetylene welding of sheet lead, but not as often as i would like.
water mains repairs for old women (sweating a pair of copper tails into lead so you can stick in a half inch compression coupler), some (almost none anymore :-( sadly) acid plant stuff (sweating brass into lead, repairing seams etc. the usual valley-gutter repairs and bay-window roofs damaged by window cleaners.
i also fabricate hopper-heads and suchlike to order, bespoke castings and suchlike too.
i heart plumbum and all it's 82 weightliness.
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 23:15, Reply)

Ah!
See, if I tried using a torch to melt lead for stained glass I'd have a lot of shattered glass. The closest I come is to use a tiny butane torch to supplement the soldering iron now and then, and even so I sometimes crack a piece of glass in the process. (Generally I just use the torch on the iron itself, but sometimes I forget and hit the bead I'm working on with bad results.)

Interestingly, I've found that if I use the torch to heat up the glass from green traffic lenses that the glass permanently discolors into yellow and brown. No idea what they use to make the color, but it oxidizes in interesting ways.

Mostly what I use the torch for, though, is to use silver solder to join pieces of brass and bronze together to make frameworks for the stained glass. I use plain brazing rod or brass bar stock that I've bent and cut. Fun stuff...
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 23:31, Reply)

Counting down the hours to my birthday...
is it bad to dread turning 21?
(brightspark, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:30, Reply)

Yes it is.

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Tue 14 Dec 2010, 21:38, Reply)

Hmmph.
I turn 40 on Friday. Bloody youngsters.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 23:33, Reply)

Shaddap, kid. I turn 48 soon.

( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 23:40, Reply)

48 is the new 40, I heard.

( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 23:49, Reply)

Funny things happen to a man's mind on birthdays ending in either a 0 or a 5.
Actually, I was perfectly fine with turning 40, it was 30 that was a real mindfuck to me. I had moved out of being a kid, no longer a twentysomething just starting to find his way into adulthood, but at that point felt like a complete sham- a supposed adult who still had no idea what he was doing, but was supposed to act like it. That bothered me a lot.

As I approach 50 I feel a fair bit of trepidation, as I don't have a career to speak of or any savings. By now I should be in the prime of my money making years, creating a real niche for myself. Instead I'm trying to figure out how to reinvent myself as there's no call for engineers at this time. Not a good place to be.

I'll trade ya. At least you got to marry Tourettes.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 14 Dec 2010, 23:59, Reply)

The only thing that bothered me about my early thirties
was the collapse of my first marriage. I ended up thinking that perhaps the previous 13 years had been a total waste of energy and was left feeling a bit displaced.

Turning 40 doesn't bother me much, apart from the odd reflection on how I'm now only four years younger than my mum was when she died. It's quite sobering at times.

But, yeah, on reflection things ain't so bad :)
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 15 Dec 2010, 0:16, Reply)

It is a sobering fact that when Mozart was my age, he'd already been dead for 13 years.
At the same time... yeah, life goes on and can be pretty sweet at times.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Wed 15 Dec 2010, 1:15, Reply)