oneshot

Did you watch the series about Hornby? They own Scalextric - it showed how the designers make the models and the lengths they go to to get the accuracy right. Indeed they made a model of a Formula E car and used the actual design drawings of the real car to make the model.

I live in a little village just outside Lichfield in Staffordshire. We have 2 main claims to fame: 1. Something you have all probably used - Armitage Shanks bathroom furniture 2. The birthplace of Westfield Sports cars. The first Westfield was a replica of the 1956 Lotus XI Le Mans car. The founder, Chris Smith, built it in his garage at Westfield House in the village.

Just watched the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures - this year given by Professor Jonathan Van Tam. He had a host of other top scientists on and explained about viruses, the mathematical modelling and vaccinations. It was very interesting. The demonstration by the maths professor from Cambridge about the modelling and human behaviour was very interesting.

<pedant mode on> Actually they occur at the same time it's just that sound travels slower than light in air <pedant mode off>

They were at one time suggesting vets could do COVID vaccinations. I was talking to our cattery vet and he said they had been warned they may have to but it never materialised.

I believe the scooters in Brum are blue.

Watching one of those medical programmes (24hrs in A&E etc) and the nurses had a problem with the computer. So they called IT and lo and behold - 3 people turned up. Two stood around watching while 1 tried to sort the problem. No wonder the IT budget is high if they send 3 people to do 1 person's job!

No the IAM one.

This is why I did the advanced driving test - it tests to see if you have progressed and mine involved an hour long driving test on all types of road with an ex police driving instructor. When I took it they had just made the accompanying commentary an option.

Not sure whether you are saying there should be a Brit as FIA race director or that he is a Brit but Michael Masi is Australian.

Just got my COVID pass from the NHS app no problem. I am off to see Rick Wakeman this evening and require a pass to get in.

Watched an episode of Trucking Hell (yes I know!!) last night. They went to recover a car transporter that was carrying electric vehicles which had caught fire. They had to get one car off the transporter, turn it upside down so that the fire service could keep a hose on the batteries as they were reaching thermal runaway. They had to do this for ages. In the end the car was loaded (upside down) on a flat bed and taken to the recovery company's depot and placed in a skip full of water. For the journey they were accompanied by the fire service in case the car re-ignited. This was all down to the lithium batteries. So one car tied up a massive amount of resources.

Ditto - our house was built in 1844 - still going strong.

We are not on mains gas either but we have a 2000 litre tank that gets filled up by tanker 😎

We employ someone to run the cattery during the week.

We decided to buy a cattery! You have to have something to occupy your time otherwise it gets boring. I was fortunate that I worked for a University and they offered a package for people to go - so I took the money and ran!

I retired at 55 (6 years ago). I had a private pension (which the employer paid into as well as me). I took my 25% but haven't touched the rest since. I have recently had a statement and it is increasing at around 10% per annum. I will eventually start taking a pension but there is no need at the moment.

We have a heat pump tumble drier and it is great.

Now the aircon/heating is working in the cattery. The air source heat pumps being touted are to replace a boiler i.e. they heat water which passes around and radiates heat. The system we now have in the cattery is air to air - it is a ducted system that produces cooled air or warmed air both produced from a single air source heat pump. While commissioning it they measure the temperature of the air coming out of the vents. When heating it was 62 degrees centigrade. The guy who fitted it has a similar system in his house - no radiators just ducted air vents. They are inverter types which means they ramp up and down on demand. When up to temperature they simply tick over. The cattery is currently consuming around 500watts of electricity and the temperature is being kept at 20 degrees.

Just having aircon/heating installed in the cattery. Uses an air source heat pump. Also have an air source heat pump to heat the water in the swimming pool. Any type of heat pump won't be free as they use electricity to operate - if you have solar panels then that can offset but you are unlikely to generate the power needed all the time. Anyone thought of the electricity load? If you have a car charger and a heat pump you are going to take a fair load. Car charger (around 7kW) heat pump (around 13kW) So 21kW if both operate together (in an evening??) Working on 4amps per kW (I know that is overly simplistic and that the UK is now 230V although in our house it is normally at 250V) then you would be at 84amps. Most domestic installations are 100amps max - ours is only a 60amp main fuse. Me thinks that the costs are going to mount up with all the necessary alterations required apart from the radiators/pipes etc.

Local school to us - anti-vax protest outside the school. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-58847505

The electricity supply problem is nothing to do with Brexit - there was a fire in the termination building of one of the France-UK undersea cables which knocked it out of action. Currently still not fully functional and hence there is reduced power coming in from France. https://www.nationalgrid.com/incidents

Nope - another met police officer in court for rape. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58784201

We went to see Genesis at the AO arena in Manchester - capacity 21,000. No social distancing and very little face mask wearing.

When I bought a Range Rover brand new I got a bottle of champagne and the wife got a bunch of flowers - Admittedly this was from the dealer not Land Rover but never the less was a nice touch.