Thread 9 - TalkLair: “Russell's teapot goes on being round”

[Kucinghitam]

Continuation of previous threads (thread 8).

The new lair of JTT escapees is all cosy and homey; we have truly settled here. Outside, the garden is blooming with summer flowers - should bloody well be, what with all that rain. Inside, the hearth is glowing, pictures are up on the walls, rugs are down on the floors (and assorted pets curled up on them).

We just won’t mention the gnawed bones of our prey over there in the corner of the cave…

Here's a remarkable thing www.atlasobscura.com/places/nashtifan-windmills

I really want to see the adventures of Badger!

The downpour was short lived (and came with lots of thunder) but I think it’ll do for the plants that missed the earlier watering.

Poor Badger - such an invasion of privacy! He probably just settles down for a long nap the moment he's out out of sight.

Goodness, I've never have realised they were windmills

I love that link about the ancient windmills - thanks @BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn . I've kept the link in my QI folder to throw into the research when we start researching the W series this time next year (currently researching the V series if anybody has some fascinating V stuff).

@Britinme - my immediate thought about the "V" question was The Venereal Game ... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Exaltation-larks-Venereal-Game/dp/B0006BW8G2

I used to have a paperback copy of that, but can't find it. It's dark, though, and I may have more luck in daylight. Or it may be one of those books that a guest started reading and I foolishly said "Oh, take it with you, but please return it".

@Gonners - thanks. I did put in a bit of research that said originally venison was the name for the meat of any animal that had been hunted, so it might include things like rabbit as well as deer. The venery link makes that even clearer.

Blueberry tart with home grown blueberries. And some home grown potatoes.

The colour matching was unintentional.

Those windmills are incredible!

That windmill is amazing. 1000 years and still going, incredible. The other day I read about water shortages in Limoges and it's been suggested that they put the Roman aqueducts back into use, which would be so interesting to find out more about.

Those windmills are amazing, yes!

On Roman aqueducts, such are still in use in Libya. There was an article on them in National Geographic, erm, a number of years ago.

Someone's getting seriously ratioed here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4881543-aibu-elderly-parents-do-not-care-about-their-impact-on-the-environment?page=1

I missed the windmill link earlier but they’re amazing!

When I was looking at cars, I made the point to my mum that an EV was better for the planet and she said that wasn’t something she needed to worry about really (in fairness, she is worried really). I suggested it might be nice for her new baby great grandson to have a world to grow up into. She gave that some thought and said “well, we haven’t met him yet, have we? He might turn out to not be a nice person!”

Shockingly, the now 20 year old petrol car I was replacing which had started to burn oil and pump out black smoke is actually ULEZ compliant. Those rules really need strengthening.

All very well @artant if you can afford to replace it. My autistic son depends on his 19 year old car to get to his low paid job because he is a gardener who needs it to get from one place to another, sometimes in the ULEZ zone, and it isn't practical to use public transport. Luckily this recently acquired vehicle is ULEZ compliant. It just cost me £600 to have the gearbox fixed last week, and I know damn well who'd have to come up with the money for another vehicle if this one failed because he lives hand to mouth.

I just saw an obituary for Nick Hitchon, who has just died of cancer aged 65.Who he? He was one of the people in the (very!) long-running TV series "7 Up", by Michael Apted, which followed a group of children from age 7. I remember watching the first one when I was in my teens and it was in black and white. Nick was this lovely cheerful but serious Yorkshire kid, the son of a farmer, who grew up to be a scientist. I never knew him personally of course, but I still feel a bit sad to hear of his death.

Point taken @Britinme but air pollution is killing many, many people every year and we urgently need to get ancient cars that are pumping out fumes and particulates off the road. I’m all for scrappage schemes to make it affordable for those who need it though.

I replaced my old car because after many years spending more time and money than I needed to commuting in public transport I started driving to work (new boss insisted we were in by 9am rather than just being in in time to teach which meant leaving home at 6.30am to get the train which meant getting my 90-something mum up and dressed at about 6am) and I couldn’t justify the fumes it was pumping out. I only went electric because I couldn’t afford another car so I needed to buy it on finance and the deals for new cars made more sense.

And given that roughly 90% of cars in London are ULEZ compliant I think strengthening the regulations so cars that are two decades old and pumping out black smoke get charged (or, better still, taken off the road) makes sense given the cost of thousands of lives a year.

I can tell you, @artant , that my son would not be able to get financing of any kind except the bank of mum, so scrappage schemes would be of no help to him. I acknowledge your ideals - just want to point out that your solution is distinctly unavailable to many people who still depend on the availability of private transport.

It was the tone of the OP that touched nerves, I think. Him and his children being 'disgusted' at the old folk for having their heating on and going on holiday. However right he may be feel, he came across as incredibly sanctimonious.

@Britinme I just saw an obituary for Nick Hitchon ...

That's sad news, though I remember from the last episode that he was ill. He was a delightful little boy with real ambition, even at 7. I also fondly remember poor little Bruce, abandoned at that ghastly military-style boarding school, saying that his "heart's desire" was to see his father again.

Agree, Brit, some of us do need private transport. Public transport where I am is pitiful, there's no way I could get to most of my jobs without a car and anyway, I carry a lot of heavy tools so need a vehicle.

@Gonners - oh yes I remember that, and feeling so sorry for him.

@Tricyrtis2022 - yes, my son is in the same boat regarding tools needing to be transported.

@Britinme they weigh a bloody ton, don't they.

I’d love an EV but can’t afford one. I can’t afford anything much full stop. My currently car is an eco model, for whatever that’s worth, so I pay no road tax. I’ve hardly taken any flights in my life though, again because I can’t afford to. I also have no children. My carbon footprint is pretty small.