The Not-So-Quick Brown Fox
I went to Sainsbury’s in the Essex Road this morning and on the zebra crossing, close to where my mate, Sid, used to live was a dead fox. He was rather a small and mangy individual and had probably been hit by a vehicle.
I’ve seen a couple in my road, but at least they keep quiet at night and I haven’t smelled one yet. Once smelled, you never forget the pungent odour.
Made 1960, Still Going Strong
My everyday cutlery is Sheba by Butler of Sheffield. It was time for a changeround of the pieces, so I took the chance of photographing most of it.
My Sheba Cutlery
There are a dozen or so other pieces, but they were in the dishwasher. For probably the several hundredth time for some of the knives.
This cutlery is really a good example of what design can do for something quite humble, like cutlery. This cutlery wasn’t designed to be thrown away, but to last a lifetime or perhaps as in my case outlast a marriage.
Engineering Pornography
I needed a 17 mm. ratchet spanner to try to fix the stairs. They may be more expensive, but they are so easy to use if you have gammy hands. Or just one good one like me!
So I bought this double-ended one made by TengTools from Franchi in the Holloway Road.
A TengTools 17/19 mm. Ratchet Spanner
It looks, feels and works so good it’s almost pornographic.
Twenty years ago, this sort of hand-tool, might well have been made in the United States, but TengTools are a Swedish company. So perhaps the United States isn’t building on its traditional strengths to get itself sorted out.
Spanish Practices
I don’t think queuing in your underwear to get free clothes will catch on in the UK.
But who knows!
The Joy of Engineering
In many ways I am an engineer first, second and all the way to last.
In my troubles over the last couple of years, my reasoning and problem solving abilities have got me through it to a certain extent. I even cook like an engineer. And these skills I learned in my long training and experience as an engineer, from helping my father in his print works, through the vacation jobs at Enfield Rolling Mills, my degree at Liverpool University, the experience at ICI and then my years of programming, where I wrote planning and data management systems for a variety of industries.
So why are engineers different?
Many people like doctors have a theory and try to prove it, whereas engineers have a problem and try to solve it, whilst sticking to the best scientific and management principles. One of my principles is that you can’t ignore scientific correctness at any time. This is probably, why if you want to louse up a project, you just let politicians get their sticky fingers on it. Everywhere around you, you see good engineering ideas, that work, that probably had to overcome difficult obstacles from ignorant politicians to come to fruition.
There is a simple idea from close to me. Imagine the outcry if today, an electricity company said that they were going to lay 400 thousand volt cables underneath the towpaths of the Regent’s Canal and then cool them with water from the canal. After all water and electricity don’t mix! Do they? But that is what was done in the 1960s and as far as I can tell, there have been no problems. It would appear too, that the cooling system is being upgraded judging by signs beside the canal. So engineers are making a good idea even better.
Yesterday, the Head of the Electrical Engineering Department at Liverpool University invited me for a coffee and I spent an enjoyable hour with him discussing the problems of the world, that engineers could solve.
Few were controversial, but time and again engineering ignorance of the great and good came up as the reason a proven idea wasn’t implimented.
We must give everybody at least a basis of a scientific or engineering education, so that when someone says he’s going to do something, the idea can be properly discussed and the correct decisions taken. As an example, the public in this country is very much against waste incinerators, whereas in some countries like Austria, they have had serious discussions and use the best engineering designs to get rid of the waste that can’t be easily recycled, often by incineration in plants designed to advertise what they do.
So it is to be welcomed in the news today, that JCB have got involved in an academy to give young people a proper science, engineering and business education.
Let’s hope it’s not the only one.
I’ve enjoyed my time as an engineer so far and I’m not going to give up on it yet.
The Power of Research
I’ve always been a great believer in research. This came home to me in spades, when as an engineer at ICI, I was investigating the dynamics of a particular chemical reaction. In the end, I found a lot of the information I required by going back to the 1900s, where a Chinese researcher working in Canada had obtained the rate constants I needed. So when you have a problem, there’s probably someone out there who has the information you need. But it may be extremely difficult to find, like my rate constants.
When C died, I needed help and as I was in touch with Liverpool University at the time, I asked if they had an expert on bereavement. They do in Kate Bennett and several times, I’ve talked things through with her and her research has shown me the way forward. So yesterday, as I had time to spare, I popped in on Kate for a coffee and a chat. All her publications are on her web site. There is a link there so that you can participate in her research as I have done, and that to me is better than any therapy, as by doing so, you’re not just helping yourself, but others too.
If you think about it, perhaps a million people lose their spouse or partner to death every year in the UK and how much does all this cost the taxpayer through the NHS and in ruined lives? But little research is done into the subject in reputable instutions to find ways to overcome problems in a constructive way.
I’ve asked Kate simple questions and got simple answers, which have been invaluable.
So thank you Kate for your help and support, these last three years.
Beckham Makes It to North Korea
Pehaps the most surprising news over Christmas, was the news that Bend It Like Beckham was shown, albeit heavily edited, on North Korean television.
What odds would you get on David himself going to North Korea this year?
Not very good, I suspect!
Now to Sort the Fridge
The fridge is a nuisance in that it seems most of the shelves and the door fitments are missing or broken. But the mechanical bits that do all the work, seem to be working well.
Luckily it’s a Siemens and I’ve been able to find the replacement parts section on their web site with a little bit of help from Dino at Concept Kitchens.
So on Monday, I’ll dismantle everything and see what is needed.
Life Starts to Get Back to Normal After Christmas
I always think that Christmas is back in its box for another year, when BBC Breakfast television gets back to the normal studios and presenters.
It’s also nice to see Sian Williams back on the box, as she is very much C’s type in looks, body and dress sense, except that she is sixteen years younger than C would be. C would never have worn the heels Sian does either!
So in a way, Sian reminds me in a very nice way of all the good times we had before C’s untimely death!
And long may I see her brightening up my mornings!
Eclipse of the Sun
Tomorrow’s partial eclipse of the sun could be one of the most spectacular seen from the UK for some time, as the sun will rise partially obscured by the moon at around 8:00 in London.
You will need to be able to have good view to the south east, so I’ll be going to either Primrose Hill or Hampstead Heath depending on the weather.
