barbult's Discursion Thread

Ron Knights · January 28

Richard, thanks for your imput.

That's a beautiful cat. I find the name "Maine Coon" to be intriguing. I lived in Maine from 1999 to 2014.

I've decided my first cat will be a Rescue Senior Citizen. That makes it all the more special. A senior cat probably will be less energetic than a young one, less likely to scratch the furniture etc.

Besides, I'm a Senior, and feel a kinship to Senior Animals. My dog Bandit was 17 years old. In his case, we had shared a relationship beginning in his puppyhood, and my early 20s into my 40s.

In the next case, I might not have as many years to share with a younger cat. Besides, I'm also aware that senior animals are often passed over.

Some of my friends come over every week to bring their dog Tango for a visit. They had a mother who lived in our building.

Tango is a retired service dog. He absolutely loves to come visit us. We are absolutely happy to see Tango and his family. Again, I feel a kinship due to our "retired and senior" status.

richardandtracy · January 29

Ron Knights said:

Richard, thanks for your imput.

That's a beautiful cat. I find the name "Maine Coon" to be intriguing. I lived in Maine from 1999 to 2014.

I've decided my first cat will be a Rescue Senior Citizen. That makes it all the more special. A senior cat probably will be less energetic than a young one, less likely to scratch the furniture etc.

Besides, I'm a Senior, and feel a kinship to Senior Animals. My dog Bandit was 17 years old. In his case, we had shared a relationship beginning in his puppyhood, and my early 20s into my 40s.

In the next case, I might not have as many years to share with a younger cat. Besides, I'm also aware that senior animals are often passed over.

Some of my friends come over every week to bring their dog Tango for a visit. They had a mother who lived in our building.

Tango is a retired service dog. He absolutely loves to come visit us. We are absolutely happy to see Tango and his family. Again, I feel a kinship due to our "retired and senior" status.

Ron,

I can't disagree with your idea of a rescue cat as we've have done the same ourselves. Over the years we've had 8 rescue cats and loved them all. The oldest we had was Heather, a lovely brindle. We got her at 14 and unfortunately she passed away a bit before her 16th birthday. Most of our cats have got to 16-19 years old, but not all - a car claimed one and a tiny cat (called 'Little One') was an incredibly expensive feral cat who came with a complimentary 3 bedroom house. 'Little One' lived to the age of 21. (OK, truth be told, 'Little One' was too feral for the previous owners to catch when they moved, and we took him over when we bought the house.)

As for Maine Coon's. Hmm. Their origin is obscured by myth, mystery and a certain number of people stringing a yarn, however there is a really informative article on Wikipedia here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine_Coon

Regards,

Richard

Ron Knights · January 29

Richard, thanks for sharing more of your "cat history!" I was going to say more, but my head is still quite fuzzy.

What a wonderful way to start my day! Tom is such a handsome cat!

I'm getting ready for an eventful day.

I get a haircut at 9:30 AM. I usually get a haircut once a year... perhaps. I lose track.

I get the hair cut very short. They use a "number 4" guide on the shears. I find the process to be much simpler than "a little of the sides," etc.

Everyone loves my hair after a haircut.

I have lunch from 11:30-Noon. Then at 2 PM, we have a big "Winter Carnival" Social party. We expect a packed room of about 100 people.

Last January I had lost hearing in my right ear. I had not yet received my hearing aids. I felt quite isolated.

I'll be able to hear better today. However all that noise overwhelms me and my hearing aids.

I'll likely have one or two alcoholic drinks. It will be fun sitting with all my friends.

barbult · January 29

Ron, I would be pleased if you showed the stories and renders to your friends. The more people who can laugh and have a good time, the better.

Ron Knights · January 29

Thanks, Barbult.

I'll likely talk to someone in the office next week. We've had a very frantic time this week.

We had an emergency with our heating system, and a Winter Carnival celebration just now.

I had a little bit of whisky in my hot chocolate. I sat with some of my lady friends, and had a nice chat.

Now it's 3:30 PM, and I'm ready for a nap. (Senior Citizen!)

Richard Haseltine · February 2

I am confusing myself - why wouldn't Thomas need the lift [elevator] on the first floor, I asked myself. UK the first storey is the ground floor, the first floor is the second story (the first wth a floor as such, presumably)

Ron Knights · February 2

Now I'm confused. Here in the Frozen North of Minnesota, it works this way (I think!).

First floor is "1." Then we have an elevator button marked "G." We call it the Garden Level, but I think that's the Ground Level.

There's a bit of a hill or rise in the back or side yard. There is also a courtyard out there.

I live on the 5th floor. That's likely known a Level 5. But we don't usually use the word "Level."

acb · February 2

.

richardandtracy · February 2

Richard Heseltine: Absolutely. Buildings go (listing upwards down the list)

Ground,
First,
Second etc

It appears that in most countries where drivers drive on the wrong side of the road, the building floors go (in reverse order of altitude, starting at negative local relative altitude)

Sub basement (optional)
Basement (less optional)
First (at ground level, probably not optional at all)
Second
Third etc

Seems strange that you don't come into the lowest floor at ground level.

Having said that, my aunt had a bungalow on a slope that had a single story on one side and three floors on the other side. The ground floor at the front of the bungalow was the first floor on the other side above the ground floor. So she really had a ground floor and a lower ground floor, with the first floor at the top of the Bungalow. And bungalows only have a single story. No, I didn't understand it either. She was odd. Very, very, very clever, but odd. I think the bungalow reflected her in many ways.

Regards,

Richard.

barbult · February 2

Where I live, in Florida, the 1 (first floor) is at street level. My doctor's office elevator has two buttons, 1 and 2. Button 2 takes me up one floor to her office. 1 takes me back down to the street level (ground). YMMV. In my story, Richard clearly understands this. In my story world, location seems quite fluid to Richard. He has tea with King Charles and goes punting on the river. But he also doesn't have to go far to walk to Dodge City in Kansas, Daz in Utah, or the Mustang Ranch in Nevada. The location of Ron and Angela's building is ambiguous, as is where Richard and Lola live. Characters live or travel to locations I want to render. You may have noticed that my stories are not constrained by facts!

Ron Knights · February 2

barbult, I lived in Florida for a few years. I was in Largo, which is near Clearwater & Tarpon Springs. Tampa was a bit further down the road.

Richard Haseltine · February 2

barbult said:

Where I live, in Florida, the 1 (first floor) is at street level. My doctor's office elevator has two buttons, 1 and 2. Button 2 takes me up one floor to her office. 1 takes me back down to the street level (ground). YMMV. In my story, Richard clearly understands this. In my story world, location seems quite fluid to Richard. He has tea with King Charles and goes punting on the river. But he also doesn't have to go far to walk to Dodge City in Kansas, Daz in Utah, or the Mustang Ranch in Nevada. The location of Ron and Angela's building is ambiguous, as is where Richard and Lola live. Characters live or travel to locations I want to render. You may have noticed that my stories are not constrained by facts!

The map would be like the Hundred Acre Wood, or soemthing from Calvin and Hobbes (hmm, another gingerish cat).

barbult · February 2

acb said:

I like Richard's version of Schrödinger's cat much better than the original: confused and not confused at the same time.

I'm sometimes confused about whether I am confused. My husband and I often "remember" things completely differently.

barbult · February 2

Richard Haseltine said:

barbult said:

Where I live, in Florida, the 1 (first floor) is at street level. My doctor's office elevator has two buttons, 1 and 2. Button 2 takes me up one floor to her office. 1 takes me back down to the street level (ground). YMMV. In my story, Richard clearly understands this. In my story world, location seems quite fluid to Richard. He has tea with King Charles and goes punting on the river. But he also doesn't have to go far to walk to Dodge City in Kansas, Daz in Utah, or the Mustang Ranch in Nevada. The location of Ron and Angela's building is ambiguous, as is where Richard and Lola live. Characters live or travel to locations I want to render. You may have noticed that my stories are not constrained by facts!

The map would be like the Hundred Acre Wood, or soemthing from Calvin and Hobbes (hmm, another gingerish cat).

I imagine you are correct about that. Perhaps in the future, you will attempt to draw a map of your world.

background · February 3

I'm not set on adopting an animal, if i did it might go weeks without food, since I easily get distracted by, well anything really. Cats have a long association with railways here, most railway stations had a 'station cat' whose duties included keeping down the vermin population which tended to nibble on edible goods, straw, and small children ( well maybe not so much on the children ).

( a google search for 'station cat' gives a lot of info, including some famous ones)

barbult · February 3

background said:

I'm not set on adopting an animal, if i did it might go weeks without food, since I easily get distracted by, well anything really. Cats have a long association with railways here, most railway stations had a 'station cat' whose duties included keeping down the vermin population which tended to nibble on edible goods, straw, and small children ( well maybe not so much on the children ).

( a google search for 'station cat' gives a lot of info, including some famous ones)

Thank you for your honesty. We wouldn't want any starving cats. They will continue looking for the right human.

Richard Haseltine · February 3

What does not being allowed to buy a ticket have to do with anything?

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce85xjnn7nko

background · February 3

We had a cat ( yes it was fed regularly ) which liked to explore inside any vans which had doors left open unattended (Post Office vans, Delivery vans etc ) probably looking for boxes. Luckily the drivers always spotted him before an unexpected journey.

barbult · February 3

Richard Haseltine said:

What does not being allowed to buy a ticket have to do with anything?

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce85xjnn7nko

Hmm, nothing at all, it seems. I stand corrected.

background · February 6

Mill owner were quite put out when I said I wasn't having a kitten, since he was hoping for some assistance cleaning flues on't boilers, and something fluffy would've done the job a treat. Also lads down't pit were putting in extra showers to get coal dust out of fur, so they did the work for nowt! ( There's nothing a Yorkshireman hates more than doing something for nowt ).

Brass band says they will be short of a Euphonium player, but I don't think a kitten would've have the wind for it really.

Also I hadn't worked out what rent I should charge. Probably would have been extra for dealing with cat hairs.

Richard could have had a cup of tea if he'd visited, it's only sixpence.

Richard Haseltine · February 6

Sadly I don't have any sixpenny bits, nor any half new pence to do it converted. Though depending on the cup size, that might be reasonable value

background · February 6

I know what your're thinking. How can he possibly charge visitors sixpence for a cup of tea? But with careful management a teabag can last over a week. Don't tell my family though, or they'll be asking for a discount.

Richard Haseltine · February 6

background said:

I know what your're thinking. How can he possibly charge visitors sixpence for a cup of tea? But with careful management a teabag can last over a week. Don't tell my family though, or they'll be asking for a discount.

The apple does not fall far from the branch, eh?

background · February 6

Ah indeed. I remember at Christmas we were all sitting round the television (It's one of those old valve sets, so it gets quite warm ).

Ron Knights · February 6

I don't know what a sixpence is. Wikipedia was no help.

Oh, wait, I never carry cash anyway.

I buy most everything on Amazon. That's why I have so many boxes for Richard and family.

Richard Haseltine · February 6

Sixpence was a silver coin worth six (old) pence, half a shilling, equivalent to two-and-a-half new pence (though unlke the old shilling pieces, which were valid as 5p coins, the sixpence did not remain valid following decimlaisation in 1970).

background · February 6

A sixpence was a small silver coloured coin, worth six old pennies, or two threepenny bits or twelve halfpennies Or twentyfour farthings if you were really frugal. That's how we learned to count so well, because our currency was complicated, especially if you were rich enough to own guinneas .

Sorry Richard we seem to have cross-posted.

background · February 6

If you were looking for boxes it was best to avoid ones that were used to ship bananas, since they sometimes had stowaways of the eight legged variety.

felis · February 6

An alternativ sixpence

background · February 6

felis said:

An alternativ sixpence

Now that's a proper flat cap.

Oh bye the way, if you fancy a biscuit with your tea they are tuppence each, or thruppence if you want 'Custard Creams'. There's Eccles cakes for a shilling each, and there's a Bakewell Tart round here somewhere ( but don't tell her indoors I said that. ) oh and we've got some Parkin left over from bonfire night..

Notifications

barbult's Discursion Thread

Comments

Adding to Cart…