Settle Station Water Tower
A record of the restoration and conversion of the railway water tower at Settle Station on the World famous Settle-Carlisle Line.
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Monday 15 April 2024
Aircraft Fuel on the S&C
Thursday 11 April 2024
Now on Prime
My last post mentioned the staggering number of recent views of this Blog. A comment on the posting may have the answer - the show is now on Amazon Prime, possibly accessible worldwide. Let's give it a try:
Monday 25 March 2024
Staggering Number of Recent Views
From time to time I have a look at the statistics for this Blog, which I started in 2011 when our water tower work really began.
Today was one of those times and I found to my amazement that on 1st February 2024 no fewer than 36,935 people viewed it. That contrasts with the previous record daily viewership of 11,004 on 1st December 2016.
This sort of thing usually coincides with a reshowing of one of the TV programmes somewhere or other in the world. Viewing the programme does not link to the Blog however. I wonder if the Blog was mentioned as worth a look somewhere.
Anybody got any ideas on that? (The picture of our water level gauge is just for fun)
Saturday 23 March 2024
Fancy a Baby Octopus?
Had the pleasure of a hefty and delicious seafood Italian meal 'somewhere In England, south of Potters Bar' during the week It included calamari - battered and fried octopus rings. I'm fine with those; delicious in fact. But when I explored toward the mountain in the middle of the plate I found this:
Perhaps it's just me but there was a distinct psychological barrier to consumption here.
Maybe Brexit was right after all?
Sunday 10 March 2024
Peppercorns
Ready-meals have come on a great deal in quality and presentation of recent years. The other day I had a memorable ready meal from our local excellent supermarket, Booths. Here's the package image. The real thing looked just as good but for one (or 60+) thing/s - peppercorns!
I could, perhaps would, have died if I had eaten all these. I all conscience and concern for other victims I have written to Booths thus:Watch this space.
11 April 2024 Good as their word Booths have investigated this case. The specification of the meal called for 8 grammes of peppers per portion. This particular meal had more than 8 grammes of peppers as did other samples tested. Adjustments made. I defy you to eat 8 grammes of peppercorns but some people must be able to do it and enjoy it. Not I.
Sunday 3 March 2024
Camera Doorbell
Just installed a new front doorbell, its predecessor having failed. This time its one of those fancy jobs with camera and two-way sound via the house wi-fi and VHF. Annke brand, like our other security cameras
The low sun is spoiling things a bit but that's a pretty useful picture. From my i-phone I can view and listen live anytime - and have a conversation with the caller. £29.99 direct from Annke. That's about the price of an ordinary ding-dong doorbell. I might get one apiece for our four other outside doors.
Update: The doorbell showed its real use yesterday while I was sitting in the sun in the roof room. My iPhone sounded and it was my very first call from the front door bell. I pressed one of the several icons on the iPhone screen, more in hope than expectation. Bingo. There was a clear-as-you-like picture of a man and a woman at our front door. "Hello" I said - and the lady replied, loud and clear. The system was working fine! "We've come to give you a leaflet" said the lady. A distant bell rang. I told her I was at the top of the tower but our letter box was in the gate so they could deliver the leaflet. I told her that their visit was the camera doorbell's first test for real, we all agreed how good they were and they left. On emptying our letter box later I found the leaflet, inviting us to attend a meeting at Settle's Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. A close call.
Lift Shaft Clock Modified
Back in 2017 in an effort to somehow disguise the lift shaft we mounted a very large clock face onto it. It worked and looked fine BUT twice a year somebody had to climb a ladder and change the time. Similarly if the battery needed to be changed. Now that climbing ladders incurs severe local disapproval something needed to change. I wondered how it might be if I mounted the clock mechanism inside the thickness of the lift shaft wall and created access from inside with the lift platform halted at just the right level.
The job is now done and the clock can be serviced from within. Here is all you can see from inside - a steel cover, held in place with magnets: