oneshot

I've just taken our Hive system out (don't like cloud based systems) and replaced it with a z-wave controller that I can set from my computer. Allows me to set a different temperature for every minute of the day if I so choose (which I don't!)

Well it got worse than that and flooded the garage (the white building on the right) - fortunately only a little bit and we had moved all the impartant stuff onto tables and shelves.

Anybody got a boat???

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0xy9g1j1vvo 96 points on his licence - how come he isn't in jail?

Of course if you have a mortgage you will probably find that it is a condition of the mortgage that the house is insured. Obviously this excludes contenst which is up to the owner.

My accountant does our tax returns along with the partnership accounts and return. I just give him the necessary information and he does the rest.

Once had a talk at University (when I was a lecturer) from a guy who worked for Lucas Aerospace. They made the engine management systems for the engines of planes. He said that the first people to fly with a new version of the system were the peope who designed it. Whether it was true I am not sure but it would certainly focus the mind of the developers.

I was watching an episode of Tony Robinson's marvellous machines and he was in Wales driving a hydrogen fuel cell car. They have been around for a few years apparently. There are currently 15 hydrogen filling points in the UK. https://www.riversimple.com/

And me!!!!!

I did a degree in Computer Science over 40 years ago. I started work on bespoke assembler - we developed our own CPUs. 7Mbytes of memory and battery backed RAM (that was subject to a patent) for backing store as disks weren't quick enough. The problem with the IT industry is that there are not enough properly qualified people for the jobs so the companies take on the self taught. I wrote a blog many years ago after one of the many public IT failures that it was time the industry was regulated and anyone working in it should be properly qualified and chartered. I am a chartered engineer (CEng) and a Chartered IT Pofessional (CITP) - it should be mandatory that to work in the IT industry (especially on critical systems) that you have one of these qualifications. Then we wouldn't have as many cock ups.

What do you want to know??

My brother and his wife always used to dive in Bonaire. They were friends with the owner (German) of a dive school out there. The man was tragically killed in an accident with a gas boiler in a property they owned.

Had an ash tree in the garden chopped down (it had become dangerous when a branch fell off it). This is the result.

I was with Land Rover insurance for my Evoque - last year was around £500 the renewal this year was £1500. Needless to say I went elsewhere - Saga for around £600. The joys of being over 50! I was in the Land River dealer last week (theft mitigation recall) and the guy told me that Land Rover were going to bring out their own insurance due to the problems of people insuring their cars particularly the large Range Rovers.

Private buyers of EVs down. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67017972

If it really is car number 11 (which it appears it is as there is a photo of the plaque) then this was Renu's old 350 which I believe then went to Mike Ring. Few errors in the listing: Front engined???? Previous owners - 1. I know it has at least 2 previous owners.

Interesting article here. Car wouldn't stop https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-67005620

They have just unveiled a blue plaque for Tommy Flowers. Tommy worked for the Post Office and during the war was responsible for building Colossus - the world's first computer, that was used to crack the German codes. He built it mainly out of old telephone exchange parts. Due to the secrecy around Bletchley Park and what went on there, he was never formally acknowledged for his contribution. When eventually the information was declassified in 1977 he started to get the recognition he deserved. He died in 1998 but not before he was able to see a rebuilt Colossus switched on and running at Bletchley Park. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/tommy-flowers/

We have just changed from a gas (LPG) range cooker to an all electric. 5 Induction areas, grill 2 ovens and a slow cooker oven. 32A supply needed which my sparky put in for me. It's great and far better than the gas one (made by the same company incidently).

We have had 5Kg of damsons from our damson tree. Also have a vine in the conservatory.

Have a tracker in the Esprit - fitted by Tracker themselves (well an authorised fitter) at home. Doesn't cost me anything annually as I took out the lifetime subscription which is a one off payment with no yearly charges. Will activate if the car is moved - detects if the car is lifted to be put on a trailer. Once went off when it was in for service - the mechanic pushed the car from one side of the garage to the other - I got a call from tracker to check if everything was OK.

So we live down a single track road. Currently they are working on the road to repair the potholes so access is restricted. Both ends of the road have signs up. One end says that access to the cattery is maintained. The other end has a sign saying that to access the cattery to follow the diversion which takes you to the other end. Two customers yesterday got lost. Both young. One was in tears. They were saying they followed the diversion and it took them back to where they started. What they were actually doing was initially following the diversion and then following their satnav. We came to the conclusion that the yound people of today simply follow the technology in the car and don't read road signs or in fact the road ahead.

Why is there a child crouching on the table??

Apparently it wasn't actually listed but there were ongoing discussions about getting it listed. The suspicion is that this happened before it got listed.

Don't know if anyone has seen this https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-66459842 I have been there many times - it was a truly unique pub. It is all very suspicious and there is currently a police investigation as to what has gone on.