When Flying Saucers Attack!

[Celesta]

Hi Jeff,

It's been awhile since I've seen any of Van's movies. You've tugged a vague memory out of my brain, but just a vague one, about that movie.

I'm sorry to hear about your mom. From experience, I know back pain just wipes a person out. I hope she can get past this soon.

Is this the same Eduardo, who wrote about Jack el Destripador?

Cel

[Mayerling]

Hi all,

Yes, I think Eduardo did that piece of writing Celeste.

Funny thing about windmills - Last November a friend and I went off to Sagamore Hill (the Teddy Roosevelt home) and there is a windmill there too.
I once read that when repairing it in the 1890s the wind suddenly turned the blade and cut Teddy on the forehead. It was a close thing there.

But that made me think of one of the lesser Ripper suspects, James Kenneth Stephen. I believe he too had a similar windmill accident, which many of his friends later dated as the start of his more violent character swings.

Mom seems a little better today. But she still is in pain in her back.

We got some snow this afternoon. Supposedly we should get some more this weekend.

Best wishes to all,

Jeff

[Mike Covell]

All my pipes froze this morning so no water for ages! Even the poor rabbit had ice cubes in his water bottle!

There is a large wind farm erected in Hull and the turbine is so big you can see it from my street. It is quite lovely and the kids love it! Just waiting for something to hit it!

The Stephenson family had an oil mill but it was presses that extracted the oil, not the old fashion stones, although we still have a windmill in Hull. It was the former home of one Arthur Rank. He owned a large milling company and later the film studios!

[sdreid]

How cold was it there Mike? I always leave a small stream of water running all night when it's going to be much below 0 degrees F and that works. Your pipes probably aren't buried as deep as ours are here. They tell us to use something like a hair dryer to thaw them so you don't catch your house on fire but I've never had to do that.

[Celesta]

Glad to hear she's better, Jeff.

[Mike Covell]

It was minus 3 degrees which is cold for Hull. Most of the pipes are in the wall but the main stop valve for the house is outside! It was this that froze, thus stopping any water coming into the house.

The mother-in-law said to put boiling hot water on, but having worked in a trade store selling plumbing gear I know that this would have cracked the pipes.

Instead I put warm water on, and after a few minutes the water started up again. I also had to defrost the poor rabbits water bottle!

So lets recap, in two years we have had, flooding, earthquakes and all the pipes frozen, and thats before we get to the health issues!

On a positive note, I made contact with another member of the Dawber family yesterday. They contacted me from New Zealand and have links to the Hull Dawbers so that was nice to hear from them.

As always, I never ask for anything, but inform them I am willing to swap information, which works a treat.

[Celesta]

Mike,

Minus three is cold for anywhere, as far as I'm concerned!

We wrap exposed pipes, etc. with cloth, like an old flannel shirt, or something. Stan or Jeff would know more about it, of course, since they are from the colder climes.

Congrats on the new contacts.

[Mayerling]

Sorry Celeste, I can't address that question about keeping pipes from freezing. I live in an apartment house - and it is the superintendents job to do that. On the other hand I've been doing the laundry today, and there are signs all over my building's lobby about a broken steam pipe. Although we will have hot water tomorrow morning, there won't be any heat. Then I can fully appreciate what Mike is going through at Hull.

Best of luck to us both Mike!

Jeff

[Mike Covell]

Good Luck/Bad Luck

Despite the messages of good luck and new contacts, today I was diagnosed with a virus!! Worse was to come, when I was hit by a motorist as I was crossing the road!

The young driver wasn't looking where he was going, and accelerated towards me, hitting my right leg and running over my right foot!

Apart from the shock of it all, I was unhurt, and went to buy a scarf!!

[Celesta]

Sorry, Jeff, I was only teasing when I made that remark!

This is no time to be without heat, so I hope they can get it fixed soon, esp with your mother's back acting up. The cold will do it no good.

Speaking of cold we back down in the 20's after highs of over 60 last week. Nuts.

Mike, Are you sure you weren't hurt. You're likely to be really sore from this.

[BLUE WIZZARD]

Mike,

A hair dryer is good to thaw pipes with.

BW

[Mayerling]

Hi Celeste,

It isn't too bad - they must be trying to keep up the heat.

My sister came for a few days, so Mom will not be alone for this week.

Mike - I would still have that foot and leg checked. You may have some damage that has not become quite visible yet.

Stan - I just heard they are seating the new Illinois Senator. A really weird political decision, but it seems oddly fair to the man (unless something subsequently turns up). He appears to be liked as an honest public servant.

Jeff

[Mike Covell]

Morning all, I have very little hair so don't own a hair dryer, but the wife has one somewhere, so if it happens again, I will try it out.

My leg is a little sore this morning but I made the walk to school and back so all seem's well.

Yesterday, before I was hit!, I picked up a book from Paragon Publishing called "The Unexplained".
It was only £2.99 and is really big, has hundreds of case studies, loads of lovely glossy colour photo's and presents both sides of the arguments for each case.

Sadly, although the book was released in 2007, it contains a photoshop mock up of the twin towers, with a UFO over the top of them! I thought this was quite bad taste, but other than that a great book!

[sdreid]

Yes Jeff, I guess we have two senators now. Since I live outside of Chicago though, I was already used to taxation without representation.

[Celesta]

Hi Gang,

BW, are you all snowed in up there?

Mike, I agree with Jeff on the leg. So what is this bit about UFOs over the twin towers? Surely nobody would be saying it was UFOs that knocked the bldgs down.

Stan, all that hoopla over the governor's selection for the Senate then boom! he's in. I know what you mean about taxation without representation. I haven't had representation in years, except for the House.

Jeff, That will be good for your mom then, and a help to you.