Quick daily posts

[Serinde]

Christmas tree went up yesterday afternoon.

[rcperryls]

Carole

[Serinde]

I know! We usually wait for a bit, since we cut our own tree from a local place that raises trees for Christmas. They've already sent out 40,000 commercially! But this year, heck, why wait? Everyone needs a bit more light in their lives, I think. Only drawback is that we never light a log fire when the tree is up -- room gets too hot -- so we are reduced to tea lights in lovely little containers. Oh, dear, such sacrifices.

[fccs]

I’m not doing a tree this year...or any decorations. And it has nothing to do with the pandemic. I’m spending half the month up in Cheyenne taking care of the grand-dogs, so I’ll enjoy the decorations there (or here, as I am in Cheyenne as I type this).

[Sojourner]

The shape of things to come??
Just had an email from Maison Sajou,(Paris),from whom I've had Bayeux embroidery patterns and evenweave linen.
Apparently, in the event of a "No Deal" Brexit, parcels from France to UK will attract a £12 - £25 customs charge, plus a 5-90euro Brexit surcharge....
from Jan 1st. So, I just put in a quick order to hopefully beat the deadline, and it will likely be the last one, unfortunately, as they do stock some good stuff.

[Serinde]

I received an order recently for some specific linen from Germany for much the same reason. There will eventually be a trade treaty... if not now, then not too long in the future, so don't give up hope of shopping with Maison Sajou (which is a totally lovely place).

[Podolyanka]

For Mabel:

For some reason I cant send you a PM, so here is a link to a world known carol by Leontovych sung by American military specially for Ukrainians. I thought you would like to hear it.
https://patrioty.org.ua/society/taku-ve ... 56868.html

[Mabel Figworthy]

Thank you - they are very talented! I think I know part of the melody, I have it on a CD of Ukrainian male voice ensemble Orpheus.

[Podolyanka]

I knew you would like it.

[richardandtracy]

With regards to the 'surcharge' I am confused.
There are a heap of countries with no trade deals with the EU that don't lead to a surcharge. So, my confusion kicks in as to why there would be one between the UK and the EU when the same situation applies. Seems to me a 'How DARE you' penalty is being applied for no reason other than politics. I seriously loathe politicians.

Regards

Richard

[Sojourner]

All I know is the message from Sajou - I guess they send stuff all over Europe and beyond, so are presumably au fait, as you might say.....
They have dispatched my small packet, so I hope it arrives here before Dec 31st, as these customs and punitive charges will add up to more than the value of the goods.(incidentally, Richard, I see you've just broken the 4000 post barrier!!!)

[Serinde]

Richard, if there's no deal, then it's WTO rules and that means tariffs, is my understanding. We will eventually have a trade deal with the EU -- obviously, it's our largest trading partner -- but all this pratting about is dicing with people's livelihoods, so I'm with you in your opinion of most politicians.

But 4,000 posts! Whatever you like is behind the bar at the S&G!

[Sojourner]

Any chance of a nice 11.5% Trappist beer for noticing it??
Well, only another 3,699 posts to catch you up

[Serinde]

What kind of an outfit do you think we run around here?? Ordered in the Trappist 11.5% ages ago for just this eventuality. Enjoy!

[wendywombat]

Just catching up!
So if I missed any birthdays, anniversaries or significant events.
HAPPY EVERYTHINGS TO ALL!

[rcperryls]

Glad to hear from you Wendy! I know, at least I think I knew, you have been back from France, but when I heard the new restrictions and the countries not allowing UK residents in (probably not as long a list as won't allow US folk in but still hard to take even when you understand it) I thought right away about you and your having to go back and forth to finish up the house sale etc. Thank goodness we all can get to the S&G no matter where we live !!!

Carole


PS: Posted before I read the other posts. I guess I should look at all of the subjects before I start typing.

[richardandtracy]

We are no longer in the worst part of the country for Covid. That's the good news. The bad news is that the infection rate has climbed further and we're over 900 per 100,000 for the second day in a row. Parts of Essex are now worse than here having had much steeper rate increases.

The roads are clear, though the lay-by's on the side of the road are all stuffed with trucks waiting for a chance to get to France. The channel crossing is now open, but nobody can go without a recent test. Yesterday evening when I went to bed, France had given no indication as to whether the quick & cheap 'Lateral Flow' test would be acceptable. Honestly getting the feeling that the ambiguity is deliberate. It must be said that disruption to the Dover-Calais crossing at holiday time is normal, and this is the first serious occasion this year. It seems there is always a reason: French fishermen blockading the port having a dispute about fish quota, or French customs going on strike because they are not paid enough, or French farmers blockading the port wanting more subsidy. In the 33 years I've lived in Kent, the crossing has been closed at least once a year, always close or at a peak holiday time, but never been closed due to action/inaction on this side that I can remember (I admit my memory may be faulty).

I suspect the increase in the infection rate will now reverse. Schools are on holiday and universities are having a break. Having walked past a couple of school playgrounds during their lunch break close to the end of term, I felt that if one person had Covid at the start of the break, then at least half would at the end - the bio-security measures at the two schools I saw were most noticeable by their total absence. Not one kid was masked, not one was keeping any distance from their group and dozens of kids drifting between groups. One would never have guessed there is an invisible killer in the community from their behaviour.

I have, over the last couple of days, been trying an experiment. Our old cat Fluffy (who died April 2019) had a nasty habit. If he ever felt bothered, he tended to scent mark our Victorian style cast fireplaces. We tried to wash it off, but there were times he did it when we didn't notice or for whatever reason I think things built up on the surface and normal grate black couldn't deal with the problem of accelerated rusting provoked by his marking, and the fireplaces looked a bit neglected. I was pointed in the direction of something called 'pH Down' used for hydroponics by a vehicle restorer. It's a solution made up of 81% phosphoric acid. I painted this on the fireplace very carefully as phosphoric acid is the stuff in red ant stings and it's probably likely to cause severe acid burns. Phosphoric acid reacts with rust to form adhering and corrosion resistant black Iron Phosphate and water, furthermore it reacts with any residual urea to form very soluble and uncorrosive ammonium phosphate which can be wiped off with a cloth. I neutralised the acid after 90 mins with sodium bicarbonate (raising agent) and then carefully washed the fireplaces and re-blacked them with graphite paste. They now look hugely better and worth the 2 days work to do. I do hope I've ended Fluffy's longest running legacy... Oh the joys of being on leave when not allowed to go anywhere!

Ah well, stay safe.

Regards

Richard

[Serinde]

I would have been less cross if a test had been demanded when the French closed the border, with two days to implement. I must admit I had visions of the Cabinet meeting where each department was trying not to have the costs taken out of their budgets... but I'm a noted cynic. As it is, £millions of excellent Scottish seafood is rotting on those lorries, and the French and Spanish are going to miss their treats, which isn't in anyone's interests. *sigh*

Good news about the grate! It must look so much better.

Still some stuff to do here, and then this afternoon we venture into a bit of Glasgow where the virus is officially "suppressed" (meaning that over the last two weeks there have been fewer than 2 cases/week) to scoop up Elder Son, who has been on his own since March. A legal exemption. We'll return him on Boxing Day. Can't wait.

[Mabel Figworthy]

which isn't in anyone's interests. *sigh*

That seems to apply to a lot of what's happening (or not happening) at the moment. Our main business send a lot abroad. We've been getting ever more frantic letters from the Government to tell us to Get Ready, without ever telling us what exactly we are to Get Ready for, as they studiously avoid mentioning No Deal. Oh well. We've worked out that it's more paperwork for us and probably fairly eye-watering import duties for our customers, which may lead to international orders drying up, but who knows? We'll wait and see.

Good news about the grate! It must look so much better.

Indeed - what an undertaking, and in a sense a shame that Fluffy's legacy has been removed, but of course it makes sense.

Serinde, good news about Elder Son - enjoy his company! Younger Son originally was going to be here for Christmas (with his new puppy - awwww) but even before he went into Tier 4 (he's in London) we had mutually decided it was probably not a sensible thing. And it looks now like our area may well join him in Tier 4 when we all get reassigned. Good thing both I and Mr Mabel have plenty to keep us occupied....

Yesterday was my aunt's funeral (they legally have to happen fairly quickly in Holland) and fortunately we did manage to arrange a live stream, albeit rather last minute, so we could "be there" in a way. It felt very odd to have a service without anyone singing the hymns, only recorded music. And sad to see my other aunt following the coffin all alone - I mean others were there, obviously, but as she is not in a household with anyone they couldn't comfort her Lots of long phone calls this week, I think.

[Serinde]

Mabel, my heart goes out to your aunt. And to you, too. It's an awful situation.