What I Did This Weekend - In Pictures!

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
Some may recall that I mounted @Carole's butt a couple of years ago. This is located on a north-facing wall and might get a little early-morning |Sun at this time of the year, then the last few hours in the evening, otherwise it is shaded..

Out of interest, I measured the temperature just now and the water in there is at 24℃.

There has been a high haze for most of today and, although it is just approaching 30℃ here now, it seems a bit less aggressive than yesterday was, but the haze does clear now and then, forcing a retreat into proper shade.

The very exposed ex-wheelie bin water butt is currently holding water at 34℃. This gets pretty much constant exposure to whatever sunlight is available. I had planned to get some ivy going there, mostly to hide the rather vibrant blue colour, but it would also reduce the absorption a good bit - however, the ivy is struggling to cope at the moment.
I took a small grabbable plastic bottle of water down the motorway with me on monday, as well as bigger ones in the boot incase I got stuck for hours. (Plus the emergency plastic icecream carton' loo ' slung in the car incase of repeats of being stuck for 4+ hours :lol: )
Left the small bottle in the cup holder all day while I was there, then driving back and sitting roasting in traffic decided to have a swig...... it was so hot it was like it'd come out of a recently boiled kettle. Note to self....put the water in a thermos cup next time , and stick it in his fridge while I'm there!
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I took a small grabbable plastic bottle of water down the motorway with me on monday, as well as bigger ones in the boot incase I got stuck for hours. (Plus the emergency plastic icecream carton' loo ' slung in the car incase of repeats of being stuck for 4+ hours :lol: )
Left the small bottle in the cup holder all day while I was there, then driving back and sitting roasting in traffic decided to have a swig...... it was so hot it was like it'd come out of a recently boiled kettle. Note to self....put the water in a thermos cup next time , and stick it in his fridge while I'm there!
You've just reminded me the my bottle was still in the car from last night's Lidl run - it was only 29℃ and still usable, but the car does have a silvered frost-shield on the (south-facing) windscreen.

It does have some insulation from its knitted jacket and, if I remember, I do stick it (nude) in the freezer for half an hour before I set off.

Bottle 1.JPG
 

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
About 8 years ago when I was pine panelling what was to become a computer/radio room I decided to embed a patch panel for the ethernet network throughout the building. I'd decided against a rack (and I've put quite a few of them in during my working time) as there wasn't really room, and the panels are far enough off the wall (there's all kinds of reflective/conductive insulation behind them) for a 12 port patch panel to fit easily, and the cables hidden away behind the wood.
For years this was OK with a 10 port switch as I only had 10 network points in use at any given time. But recently, with getting networked SDR radios I find I need all 12 ports of the patch panel, and the only way to feed them from a 10 port switch is to have a 'sub' switch as shown in the first pix. This is not that desirable for reasons I wont go into, what I wanted was a 12 port switch (with POE* as some of the points feed WAP's*.)

To my surprise when I browsed around on Ebay I found a lot of second hand 24 port switches, (believe me I've put a few of them in when working at the college) all stacked on pallets and being sold off cheaply. I guess networks are being upgraded mightily all over. So for £25 quid I got a branded 24 port POE* Gigabyte smart switch which is more than I need, but at that price ?? :hmm:

I removed the rack brackets and put in a shelf extension for it to sit on and away it went. As you can see the job isn't quite finished as I need to get or make some kind of cable tidy, and some more suitable length patch leads. It's a little bit noisy having three fans, but in a small room running two computers and several fan cooled power supplies, quite acceptable.

* POE Power over ethernet.
* Wireless access point.

PS the 'High Voltage' sign is to cover a slight mishap I had pushing a hole through the wall into the conservatory for an ethernet cable. There are no high voltages on Ethernet networks. I'll find a sign more suitable in time. :roll:

Original setup
Patchpanel1.jpg


New setup
Patchpanel2.jpg
 

The Notorious A.N.T.

Well-Known Forumite
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Took last week off work so we headed down to Kent for a few days. Main reason for going was the Big Cat Sanctuary near Ashford having an open day. Being an environmentalist by trade I have mixed feelings on zoos etc. however, it was great to see how well looked after the cats are (none had so much of a whisker out of place!).
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BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
This was my present from family on our belated Christmas dinner yesterday after 18 months due to effing lockdown. (The glass, not the beer, although there was plenty of beer poured into me reluctantly ... (cough.)) If yer not a Game of Thrones fan you might not get my joy at a present that's going to be used, over and over again. :heyhey:
When I explained my 5 hours trip up the M5 it became a sort of standing joke of exaggeration. In the British Legion on Friday night it crept up to 10 hours, then 24 hours. By yesterday it had reach several geological eras to get from Junction 27 to Junction 4. :eek:

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BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
On Sunday I was taken to Himley Park near Stourbridge. There was a Mini Car show going on but we didn't go in there, it looked a bit crowded. Through the fence you could see just about every model of Mini that was ever made. You could hear old timers standing by their original Minis, (sliding windows, string pull door openers, starter button on the deck) looking at the modern Mini's and muttering ... 'Phoney as a three bob note.' :heyhey:

What caught my eye was this old timer marking out the bowling green. He looked totally knackered bent over the machine, and moved really slowly, but was very meticulous at his work. I guess that's the bowling mentality. ;)

HimleyPark.jpg
 
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Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Having realised that I've hardly been out of the gate for a week, and today being reasonably rain- and lightning-free, I decided to make a foray to a place I've never been before. A tower on the top of a wooded hill. It is doable on the bike, but it would be an all-day job, so the car had a spin.

It is located in an area of the country that is little-frequented and it was necessary to prepare and remember the route carefully.

As I neared the destination, as was relieved to see the tower itself confirm my route. It is possible to park behind where the top of the telephone pole is, then ascend the hill through the woods.

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There are a great many ruined tower-houses around, but this one gives the impression of being in very good condition as you finally approach. This is an illusion.

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It was built 'as a ruin', to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo.

However, due to a legacy from a local chap, this impressive access arrangement has been added.

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