Delayed Variety 2

The Case of the Confusing Carrots

The fbbs have enjoyed three traditional Christmas dinners this year, all victualled by Mrs fbb and all main courses prepared and curated by the old fat bloke. Mrs fbb does the puds! Matchstick cut carrots were essential and well as being a traditional veg.

The second of three feasts was on Sunday 21st December with Mr and Mrs fbb junior plus 50% of the two grandsons. So it was that the victualling department provided a bag of carrots ...

... to be matchstickificated half for 21st and half for 25th. Thus it was that fbb prepared to put the orange delights under the knife on the afternoon of 24th inst!

But the remaining half bag was gorn - dematerialised at Seaton and atomically re-assembled somewhere in the outer reaches of the galaxy.

Fortunately the fbb's corner shop (Tesco) was still open and the crisis was averted. The errant carrots have never appeared!

Although Mr Tubbles is a good colour match for matchstick carrots ...

... he is a passionate carnivore and proud of it!

Grid Grumbles!

We (those who watch the news feeds closely with a air dose of cynicism about "net zero") were not surprised to read the above. Most of the article was forbidden to fbb unless he paid the source a fat fee - which he didn't and doesn't as a matter of principle and financial prudence.

But on the same day this appeared!

Told you so, quoth the old man, as he danced in glee round the living room, dining room, office and craft benches at fbb mansions. 

The he read the rest of the news item!

Nigeria?

We all know that what happens in Lagos will soon follow the trend in London; but fbb will have to be patent until the crash comes.

Dubious Directions

Do the good folk (good?) who organise pedestrian flow at busy railway stations ever try out their directions. An interested party posted this daftness on-line.

Note the "Way Out" arrow guiding passengers to the "No Exit" stairs.

Steve Is Ready And Willing

Like Charles Dickens' Barkis, Steve Rotheraam is ready - poised to take over Merseyrail ...

... and increase frequencies, apparently. Currently the northern lines work on a 15 minute headway as shown in the part timetable.

Ditto on the Wirral with a full cycle illustrated.

If moving to every 10 is a serious policy, Steve will probably need extra trains. Has he got some more?

Or is it just journalistic speculation?

After all, Steve hasn't got any bus routes yet!

A Big Bulky Bridge

In a bit of a recap on the Great Central line through Nottingham, readers will remember that trains had to cross a cavernous gulf over the top of Nottingham Midland station. The viaduct was huge ...

... long and very noisy!

The trams are a lot quieter on their sleek construct!

Cutting The Cost Of Signalling?

The idea is to save money by employing the under sevens to work the signals. Smaller people need a smaller signal box and smaller levers; so its a bonus all round. A least fbb thinks so. The article did not specify the purpose of the new-build!

Does it really take ten men and or women to build and install the "quirky" buildings?

O.K. It is a "bug house" - maybe where the under sevens can sort out Notwork Rails's computer systems?

Noah Vale - No Avail

This National Bus Company lookalike is owned by Weavaway of Newbury. But Weavaway is a much respected coach operator with no public stage carriage routes for it to operated.

Their normal livery is a very smart dark blue as on this Tesco contract.

Buses magazine speculates that the red one is for schools and or rail replacement.

Does anyone know the funny side of the Noah Vale/No Avail jocularity?

Tomorrow we go to Hertefordshire

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 Mr  X  e X cels

A biblical clue : what does a male tea leaf do in the pot?

Answer - He brews!

Chortle, chortle? Groan?

Quirky Answer : All these Biblical "heroes" are examples of Men of Faith as listed in Hebrews Chapter 11

Abel 

Enoch 

Noah

Abraham 

Isaac

Jacob

Joseph

Moses

Joshua

Rahab 

Gideon

Barak

Samson

Jephthah

David

Samuel

A group of Christians converted from Judaism found themselves isolated from Christian influence and teaching. As time progressed they began to seek solace in the old-style ritualistic religious practices of the Jerusalem Temple, sacrifices and loads of rules and regulations. They were straying from the "rule" of Faith, Repentance and Forgiveness.

We have no idea who wrote the Book of Hebrews or even who the "Hebrews" were.

But the writer seeks to emphasise and reinforce the absolute supremacy of Jesus the Messiah as not just the best route to God but the only route to God. Ultimately that route will not lead you correctly unless it is supported, not by intellect, not by doing good things, but by a deep Faith in God.

Or, as Hebrews Chapter 11 puts it ...

We will never learn to swim until we take our feel off the bottom!

Hebrews is not an easy read - it does hurt the brain and most of us need a bit of help from those who have more experience. But the effort is rewarding now and on into eternity.

Which brings us to the Letter Y.

And you are right, these last letters involve a good dose of contrivance!

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  Next Hereford blog : Thurs 1st Jan