Tim Hale(EMail: ) from UK on Apr 25 2003, 19:51 GMT
asked: Cats
Please go to: http://home.freeuk.net/nmrabr/p87/disaster.htm
My chum, John Wright, has suffered more than most men deserve.
Tim
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on Apr 25 2003, 20:43 GMT
responded: Horrific ! I trust the offender has now been served sweet and sour.
Alan
Roger Marsh(EMail:) from Kingaroy, Australia on Apr 25 2003, 23:55 GMT
responded: Time to tie the moggie to the tracks methinks.
Lutz Mueller(EMail:[email protected]) from LaCaUsa on Apr 26 2003, 2:15 GMT
responded: Holy Moly!
I thought the movie "Alien" was Sci-Fi!
I better double check wether my cat is really neutered...and should have
a look at all my train stuff in boxes...
Lutz
John Oxlade(EMail:[email protected]) from Salfords, Surrey, UK on Apr 26 2003, 7:22 GMT
responded: Cats don't have to be neutered to spray. When I was still living at home I had a big, dpoey black tom-cat which had had the snip and he still kept peeing. The "best" one (if that is the right term) being when he turned round, wiggled his bum and pee'd up the wall all over the electrical outlet for the microwave oven - which was on at the time. Phizz, crackle, pop, etc.
Roger Marsh(EMail:) from Kingaroy, Australia on Apr 26 2003, 8:10 GMT
responded: One fried Moggie? Or was it just Pop, fizzzzzzz, Reoeeeeeooooooooooowwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrreeeeeooooow?
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Miaaaaaaaaaaaaaawlling on Apr 26 2003, 10:26 GMT
responded: ....."Note the different reactions to the NWSL wheels ( left) and the AG set.".......
Presumably the cat was involved in some sort of after sales "testing" service for the manufacturers?
Must go now, two partly abandoned cats,(refugees from Switzerland I think), are waiting outside for their breakfast. I'll certainly keep them away from my H�bner models.
Bryan B
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeooooooooowlling on Apr 26 2003, 10:29 GMT
responded: One has to ask the question, doesn't one, as to how one stumbles across a web page like that in the first place!!!!!!!!!!!
Bryan B
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on Apr 26 2003, 16:57 GMT
responded: Definitely a case of frying pan into the fire for those refugees. Over here they have only one to fear. In the UK there is organised opposition. (I didn't stumble on this site by accident.)
Alan
Tim Hale(EMail:) from UK on Apr 26 2003, 17:18 GMT
responded: Just for the record, I don't own a cat, I happen to think that pets should stay on the floor and away from model railways.
Instead I own a pet slug called Brian.
Tim
George(EMail:) from Alabama on Apr 26 2003, 21:12 GMT
responded: On this 50th anniversary of the discovery of the Double Helix (DNA, not layout plan), John Wright's cat seems to have discovered what military researchers call a "non-lethal weapon." Patent the formula. Imagine the result if a crop-duster UAV sprayed this stuff over an enemy airfield or aircraft carrier. This could be as revolutionary as Alfred Nobel's discovery of dynamite. Then, instead of the Nobel Prize, John could award the famous CBA prize.
Roger Marsh(EMail:) from Kingaroy, Australia on Apr 26 2003, 22:07 GMT
responded: Most of the farmers and wildlife officers around here shoot cats on sight, the damage they do to native wildlife and small domestic animals can be great. Mind you, wild dogs are worse because they take down cattle if they are in packs.
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Maiiiiiooooooooolling on Apr 26 2003, 22:10 GMT
responded: Goerge,
From the pictures I saw on that web site of what the cat had done to those railway models I think this was most certainly a very "lethal weapon".
Spray that on anything and may the Lord have mercy etc................
Bryan B
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on Apr 26 2003, 22:15 GMT
responded: What ! It's legal to shoot them ? I'm emigrating to Oz. Sounds like paradise !!
Alan
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Malling on Apr 26 2003, 22:27 GMT
responded: Alan,
Calm down.
The Swiss don't shoot anything. Not even pretty little, harmless,(ish), cats.
Bryan B
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Malling on Apr 26 2003, 22:29 GMT
responded: PS
Does Clinton have a cat?
Bryan B
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on Apr 26 2003, 22:53 GMT
responded: Bryan,
Its obligatory to shoot things in Switzerland. Every Swiss male must do military service (or civil defense), so shooting practice is the law ! I, being in Nato, am exempt from this.
In Z�rich they have the Knabenschiessen holiday. You can figure out what that means.
Alan
Tim Hale(EMail:) from UK on Apr 26 2003, 23:23 GMT
responded: Bryan,
The Swiss shoot evrything, they even put holes in my cheese.
Tim
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Malling on Apr 27 2003, 0:02 GMT
responded: I can understand holes in cheese.
Less cheese to eat.
A bad thing. So stop shooting it please.
But "Knabenschiessen": Well I just don't know!
Alan, when did you join NATO? I thought the Swiss didn't belong to anything. Except banks that took everyone's money! (Have they got Hussains money...that means either the English cricket captain,(yes Roger, we do have one, rather inefective, but we still have one) or someone else who I cannot mention because of a parrot that has swallowed a clock!
Now Tim, this slug called Brian. Was he once on a magic roundabout?
Bryan...sluggish....Benn
Roger Marsh(EMail:) from Kingaroy, Australia on Apr 27 2003, 4:41 GMT
responded: Alan, any feral pest (i.e. introduced species, running amok) is fair game, so long as the execution is humane. Domestic pets are not at risk unless they wander onto farm land, and then it depends on how the farmer feels. It might seem harsh, but a lot of native wildlife and commercial livestock has suffered because of the influence of feral dogs and cats respectively. I personally don't get much of a thrill out of shooting them (I like dogs and cats a lot, and it ticks me off no end to realise the neglect that has led to these animals going feral), but I am a reasonable marksman and it is a good way for me in my job to serve others in a practical way. Native wildlife is a different matter, though by no means all are protected, obviously depending on their relative abudance. If any of you come over I will take you out with me, and take a camera, because some great close up pictures of various species of wallaby are possible. As these animals are not competing for pasture they are left alone, so they will allow you to come quite close. By stalking them you can get even closer. If any of you want to know more about this kind of thing in Oz, I can give you quite a detailed explanation ..... but for now I had better return to trains .... ummmm .... have you ever heard of a cat called 'Thunderpaws' who caused immense damage to English exhibition layout?
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on Apr 27 2003, 6:45 GMT
responded: Bryan,
You have been reading too much tourist propaganda about the Swiss. They are capable of almost anything, like winning the America's cup in sailing.
Tomorrow is another strange holiday in Z�rich. This celebration involves filling a large snowman with lots of explosives, placing it on top of a huge bonfire and setting all this on fire. The loudest explosion, which is placed in the snowman's head can be heard throughout the city. Do they do anything like this in any other place on earth ?
Alan
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Malling, UK on Apr 27 2003, 9:12 GMT
responded: Alan,
...."Do they do anything like this in any other place on earth ?"....
Errr, No. Well not around here they don't!
Presumably you all retire a long way before the bonfire is lit? Like to Austria...Italy....Germany.....!
Now Roger, is there a website where we can read about "Thunderpaws"?
Bryan B
Tim Hale(EMail:) from UK on Apr 27 2003, 10:20 GMT
responded: I have the onerous duty to report the passing of Brian, my slug, eaten by Spiny Norman our pet hedgehog.
On the other hand, he died the way he wanted to go.
Tim
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Malling on Apr 27 2003, 14:17 GMT
responded: Tim,
These two pets of yours. Were they close friends before Spiny Norman decided to add Brian to his diet?
Bryan B
Tim Hale(EMail:) from UK on Apr 27 2003, 16:22 GMT
responded: Slug and hedgehog best mates, get real!
They were no more than passing acquaintances, in fact, Norman will be passing Brian about now.
Tim (wierd)
Rupert Langham(EMail:[email protected]) from Devizes UK on Apr 27 2003, 17:04 GMT
responded: Things to shoot in Australia because they don't belong there and have gone wild (feral):
Also shoot kangaroos. Worked the dog fence on a sheep station called Rawlinna (10,000 sq km) on the Nullabor plain - they had a licence to shoot 1000's of roos.
Rupert
(Wouldn't hurt a fly)
PS Always wondered to the Swiss Army get a gun as well as the multi purpose knife?
Doug Howard(EMail:[email protected]) from Brookings, Oregon, USA on Apr 27 2003, 18:55 GMT
responded: Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the Lone Ranger, not knowing that Tonto had disguised himself as a pool table...
Doug :-)
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on Apr 27 2003, 19:22 GMT
responded: ........Before writing this, I observed a solemn minute of silence for the passing of Brian.
As you pay for cheese by weight (advanced nations by the Kg), the holes are included for free. But make sure they have removed all the lead shot before weighing the cheese.
I am enjoying this thread. Cheers to all the contributors. Tomorrow we can get back on those railway tracks.
Alan
Roger Marsh(EMail:) from Kingaroy, Australia on Apr 27 2003, 22:20 GMT
responded: Rupert, also add Buffalo to your list for up North. We tend to leave the roos alone here, the bottom line is they are not competing for pasture.
Roger Marsh(EMail:) from Kingaroy, Australia on Apr 27 2003, 22:38 GMT
responded: Alan, the Swiss festivities remind me of something that used to happen at my residential college at University during the the study week prior to exams. Explosions did feature, and lots of madness, flames, yelling, letting off of steam, and pranks against other colleges. Long live Peter Doobes!
Rupert Langham(EMail:[email protected]) from Devizes UK on Apr 27 2003, 22:41 GMT
responded: Forgot about buffalo - should of remembered Crocodile Dundee.
Roos broke the dog fence - they could jump over it, just didn't.
Bill Devins(EMail:[email protected]) from PA USA on Apr 27 2003, 23:11 GMT
responded:
Holy cow, er, cat! I've had my neutered males spray and pee on stuff, but never with that reaction! The nearest I came was when a female cat (long since gone) got into a packed box of plastic model airplanes and gnawed off a number of propeller blades...I think she must have thought they were grass...after that, every once in a while she'd nip a blade when I wasn't looking!
Did you ever see the chemical reaction between polystyrene (and some other plastics) and that slimy stuff which some cheap worm fishing lures are made of? Some old tank kits came with tracks made of this flexible plastic. I had old stored armor models wind up with melted roadwheels from contact with their tracks. If they were left in the box they'd react with any styrene parts which with they came in contact.
Bob Nelson(EMail:lionelsoni at aol.com) from Austin, TX, USA on Apr 27 2003, 23:29 GMT
responded: Rupert, I notice that you spelled it "Nullabor", which is of course how it must be pronounced in Strine. (Railroad comment to legitimize the discussion: The world's longest tangent is located there.) A colleague here, from Oz, was recently skeptical of my assertion that "Nullarbor" means "no trees" in Latin. He was sure it was an aboriginal word. (cf. "nulla-nulla") Any comments from the antipodeans?
Rupert Langham(EMail:[email protected]) from Devizes UK on Apr 27 2003, 23:47 GMT
responded: First off, I spelt it wrong, should be Nullarbor - I always understood that it came from the Latin.
Rupert
Tim Hale(EMail:) from UK on Apr 28 2003, 0:22 GMT
responded: Eerr, getting back to cats. Has anyone else seen/got a copy of 101 uses for a dead cat?
Is there any model/prototypical railway use for a deceased feline? Just before you think I have flipped, Roye England used his cat's whiskers for plant stems when building for Pendon, he also incorporated a small length of chain necklace owned by his mother on the layout. Sounds ghoulish but it was his was of remembering them.
Me? I would have used Tiddle's tail to remove the dust from tunnels.
Tim
Roger Marsh(EMail:) from Kingaroy, Australia on Apr 28 2003, 1:10 GMT
responded: Nullarbor is definitely Latin (well it is what I have read anyway, and I have never heard a purported aboriginal meaning, and the Latin is definitely correct), though very aboriginal in sound I have to say.
That dog fence must be a maintenance nightmare, with the various tunneling, jumping, charging, stumbling animals that give it grief.
Steve Magee(EMail:[email protected]) from Newcastle Oz on Apr 28 2003, 5:36 GMT
responded: I've heard that the "Nullabor" story is not from the Latin, but just a coincidence. However, don't ask me for any details - the story may have been told to me during a "How I'd Save The World" session following many fine ports at 2.00 am.
Cats - to stay on topic - don't exist in our house. How can I put this? Mathematically, 1 Whippet = 0 cats. Unless said cat is a battle-scarred veteran, like one in the neighbourhood our whippet avoids, which we have named "The Big Bopper". Any antagonism on the dogs part at first meeting was cancelled by one severe "bop" on the dog's nose by a paw with claws extended.
But what has all this to do with trains? Oh, dang, off topic again... :)
Steve
Greg Mashiah(EMail:) from Maclean, NSW, Australia on Apr 28 2003, 12:09 GMT
responded:
Off topic again, although I didn't study Latin (except for 1 term at school, which doesn't really count!:
null adjective
[ETYMOLOGY: 16th Century: from Latin nullus none, from ne not + ullus any]
arborealadjective
1 of, relating to, or resembling a tree
2 living in or among trees
So Nullarbor = no trees
Greg
Tony Pemberton(EMail:[email protected]) from Berkhamsted, UK on Apr 28 2003, 12:52 GMT
responded: I hate to think what Tim's friend uses to represent ash ballast!
When I got back from Dortmund, I found that items of rolling stock and some of the yet unglued down track looked like the Red Air Force had had a bombing run. I suspect that was a fit of pique by Angelo, my over-possesive Burmese for leaving him for a few days. He normally never bothers, possibly because the DCC track tickles the paws. Fortunately, only minor damage was done, and after a trip to the local Bw shops, all stock is again serviceable.
BTW, I love cats (and almost any other creatures) and would have another anyday. I just need to set up an access protocol (i.e. none) when the permanent layout is sited. I do not have a problem with spraying (he is neutered - made me wince thinking about it) and he does this outside. The only whoopsies he leaves are the results of eating too much and then regurgitating it, or bringing in his prey and using the bath as a killing ground. I do not have mice damage nowadays!
I wonder how long the pictured corrosion took to fester? Looks like the pee would be strong enough to power (rather smelly) batteries!
Tony
Dave Howell(EMail:[email protected]) from Isle of Dogs on Apr 28 2003, 13:45 GMT
responded: Whilst Clinton may not be necessary to achieve this level of insanity, I do miss that guy. I am beginning to worry that he may have travelled to Zurich and was kidnapped. He must have thought up the idea in the first place.
I have to confess to being one of a group of humans owned by a cat. Aforesaid Moggy supposedly lives next door but spends almost every day asleep in our house. Yesterday morning I was sprawled out on the sofa reading and he laid on top of me with his head about eight inches from my face. It's not until a cat owns you that you can really appreciate the Garfield cartoons.
He tolerates locos on a layout but slot cars on a track are too fast for him and he gets frightened.
Gene(EMail:[email protected]) from Montreal ....no SARS here! :o) on Apr 28 2003, 18:44 GMT
responded: CATS RULE!!!!! (except in OZ,which is a special case...hehehe!)
and dogs drool!!
Steve P.(EMail:) from Sydney, NSW on Apr 28 2003, 22:50 GMT
responded: Dave, bear in mind that "dogs have owners, cats have servants".
The book "The Silent Miaow" should be mandatory reading for all who have contributed to this thread. Cats are masters of body language!
Cheers,
Steve P.
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on Apr 28 2003, 22:51 GMT
responded: And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam. And Cat would not obey Adam. And when Adam gazed into Cat's eyes, he was reminded that he was not the supreme being. And Adam learned humility. And God was pleased.
Tim Hale(EMail:) from UK on Apr 29 2003, 7:05 GMT
responded: There seems to be a strong cat appreciation movement within this website (same goes for IT and sci-fi) whilst I seem to be completely at a loss. Whilst I don't mind starting and contributing to the thread, I will be damned if I have to read about (thank you Steve P) or stroke one of these pets that destroys layouts.
Maybe a cro-magnon statement but pets should stay where they were intended, on the floor or preferably outside the railway room.
Slugs, on the other hand cause no problems. Gosh, how I miss Brian, Norman is definitely in my bad books.
Tim
Tony Pemberton(EMail:[email protected]) from Berkhamsted, UK on Apr 29 2003, 8:11 GMT
responded: 'Slugs, on the other hand cause no problems.'
Can our gartenbahn chums agree?
T.
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Malling, UK on Apr 29 2003, 9:25 GMT
Sorry, couldn't find an "I love slugs" site for Tim.
Bryan B
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Malling, UK on Apr 29 2003, 9:32 GMT
responded: Tim,
Grest News. To help with your sad loss there is a sort of I; love slugs site.
Although I think you have to take it's contents with a pinch of salt!
Bryan B
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Malling, UK on Apr 29 2003, 13:01 GMT
responded: The cat lovers site posted for Alan had now been "put down".
So, again just for Alan a lovely cat site that hopefully will outlive both the first site and poor Tim's Brian.
Bryan B
Bob Nelson(EMail:lionelsoni at aol.com) from Austin, TX, USA on Apr 29 2003, 14:06 GMT
responded: Brine (Did I spell that right?) seems like an unfortunate name for a slug.
Gene(EMail:[email protected]) from Montreal on Apr 29 2003, 15:12 GMT
responded: As much as I love cats I agree with Tim, they don't belong in the same room as the trains.....if my cats got onto my layout or storage boxes I'd only have myself to blame....so what would happen to a slug if it crossed both rails at the same time as the DCC was powered up.....discerning gardeners want to know!
Gene
Bob Pulluard(EMail:) from Bleiswijk (Holland) on Apr 29 2003, 16:12 GMT
responded:
I must confess to being a cat lover although I haven't got one at the moment (or should I rather say that one doesn't have me... ?)
I had one for eight years, until he died stung in the throat by a wasp he tried to swallow. All that time he had access to my layout, frequently jumped on it and wandered about and never ever did any damage. The worst were the hair tufts sometimes clinging to the overhead (to be expected from a long-hair cat). The fact is I could hardly prevent him from assisting me when I worked on my layout, he participated in everything my wife or I did, very closely ! Got his whiskers cut off accidentaly a few times by my wife's scissors when she was sewing, or his hair burned by the gas stove when she was cooking. And I regularly saw strange characters appear on my computer screen when entering some text, only to discover he had one of his paws on the keyboard while sleeping right beside it. Not to forget the showers he frequently shared with me : he loved water, contrary to most cats. I'd have dozens of story to tell about my cat and water but then this would be even more off topic...
You never own a cat and a cat never owns you. I think it is more a matter of sharing and of mutual respect. And even of true reciprocal love. But then my cat was quite an amazing chap in several ways. I have known quite a few other cats but never one quite like him. That's also the main reason why my wife didn't want us to take another cat in after his death : the new one couldn't possible live up to our expectations after that eight year long special relationship.
To get back to the topic, I still miss him when working or playing on my layout today, after many years, and I almost see him keeping a watchful eye on those moving trains, always knowing, when one entered a tunnel, exactly where it would reappear and cautiously getting out of its way (and when, one day, I jokingly stopped the train in the tunnel, he looked at me, wondering what was going on or maybe telling me to get on with it !) Cats and trains can mix ! I can testify to that.
Bob P.
Lolke Bijlsma(EMail:[email protected]) from Lisle, IL USA on Apr 29 2003, 16:25 GMT
responded: Cats on layouts? I agree cats don't belong in the train room but if they are there and no trains are running they can sit there and look at me while I'm working on the layout. See http://www.speakeasy.org/~lbijlsma/dombas_cats.html for pictures.
Lolke
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Malling, UK on Apr 29 2003, 16:56 GMT
responded: Lolke,
Wonderful pictures for us cat lovers.
But Alan and Tim, please don't click on the above link, you will both have apoplexy!
Reminds me of our late departed cat,(the above link does, not Alan and Tim), who rarely came into my study/model room. But he did once and investigated the tunnel by which the standard gauge line leaves the study and passes through the downstairs cloakroom, (the railway all enclosed) before re-emerging into the study. That part being gauge 1 he was able to get part way into the tunnel: until I sent a train the other way. That was the last time he ever came into my study, so I was never able to study the effect he could have on loco running gear, to go back to the start of this thread.
Bryan B
Gene(EMail:[email protected]) from Montreal on Apr 29 2003, 17:38 GMT
responded: Lolke....great pics! I especially like the one of the black-leopard 'guarding the mainline! :o))
Gene
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on Apr 29 2003, 19:46 GMT
responded: I prefer real cats.
Tigerli
Luc Janssens(EMail:) from LIER, Belgium on Apr 29 2003, 20:05 GMT
responded: Beware of the Swiss, they even shoot apples!!!
By the way, I like cats, especially in sweet and sour sauce!
Ciao
Luc
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Malling, UK on Apr 29 2003, 20:29 GMT
responded: QUESTION
Where does Alan's cat sleep?
ANSWER
Wherever it wants to.
Bryan B
Alan Rees(EMail:) from Tell's Country on Apr 29 2003, 20:50 GMT
responded: Swiss shoot slugs at apples.
Slugs eat apples.
Tigerli
Tim Hale(EMail:) from UK on Apr 29 2003, 21:51 GMT
responded: Talking of slugs (which we were not) reminds me of the day that I first met Brian. He was a mere sluglet but he had a jaunty air, not afraid to take on my ex-wife's early primulas and chomp massive holes in their leaves.
How I loved him.
On a diet of Tanglefoot Bitter (4.57%) and dandelion leaves, he used to get quite frisky and attempt to take on the local blackbird. That bird never got the better of him but it was bravado and bluster from Brian, old Norman saw through that and he was just another gastropodic (there is such a word) feast to our Spiny friend.
Remember, a slug isn't just for Christmas.
Tim
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Malling, UK on Apr 29 2003, 22:03 GMT
responded: Tim,
This may hurt you to do what I ask, but it would help a large number of us who are also mourning the loss of your gastropdic friend.
Could you please post a photo of Brian on this thread?
Maybe of him in his favourite part of the garden, sipping his Tanglefoot bitter on a warm late Spring evening after a heavy shower had wakened him to an evening of anticipation over your ex-wife's early primulas.
Alan can help post this I am sure, after all we all now know that he really does love CATS, even if they have to be quite large to get his affection.....
Bryan Benn
Alan Rees(EMail:) from Tell's Country on Apr 29 2003, 22:21 GMT
responded: Maybe I can help Tim load his movie "The life of Brian" onto this page.
Tigerli
Tim Hale(EMail:) from Uk on Apr 30 2003, 0:21 GMT
responded: OK, get real, no one takes photos of their pet slug, that would be really wierd.
However I do have a couple of snaps of my pet nail, Nerg.
Tim
Roger Marsh(EMail:) from Kingaroy, Australia on Apr 30 2003, 8:23 GMT
responded: Back sooner than I though.
Greg M, sorry, I should have detailed the Latin derivation of Nullarbor above, having so vociferously asserted its classical roots.
Alan R, is the kitty above meant to be a lap-cat? I daresay when moggy wants in then there is no delay in opening the door.
Quia ursus pusilli ingenii sum, verba difficilia fastidio.
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Malling, UK on Apr 30 2003, 9:14 GMT
responded: Good to see Roger back from his walkabout.
Just off myself for a few days. Hopefully to catch 01 1100 from D�sseldorf to Emden and back tomorrow. I do hope it won't be a sluggish performance from the three cylinder 01.10......
Bryan B
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on May 1 2003, 11:49 GMT
It doesn't contaminate my lawn (which I am attending to while Bryan is off having fun).
It doesn't kill for pleasure.
It doesn't pretend to love, let alone own, anyone.
It's so cool they made great films and a cartoon series based on this character.
Alan
Roger Marsh(EMail:) from Kingaroy, Australia on May 2 2003, 0:51 GMT
responded: You ordered a 'berm'?
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Malling, UK on May 2 2003, 18:28 GMT
responded: The only really good thing about the run with 01 1100 to Emden and back yesterday was the amount of funerial respect being shown for the passing of Tim's "Brian". But I would have thought just a few miles at slow speed would have done, not the whole 380 of the return trip!
Bryan B
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on May 3 2003, 17:51 GMT
responded: More good looking cats... what are these called ?
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Malling, UK on May 3 2003, 18:48 GMT
responded: Alan, These are called "BOXES"
Bryan...(steam loving)....Benn
PS how was the 241?
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on May 3 2003, 20:02 GMT
responded: Bryan,
Keeping cats in boxes is highly recommended but that's not the connection I was looking for. Anyone else know ?
You'll find some piccies of 241 A 65 in the same named thread. This area is mainly reserved for cats (unfortunately).
Alan
Roger Marsh(EMail:) from Kingaroy, Australia on May 4 2003, 13:07 GMT
responded: Having just seen the layout John Wright has produced in the May Model Railroader, I am filled with yet more agony at the thought of what that moggie did. That layout is superb. Maybe just a bit more junk laying around.
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on May 5 2003, 21:41 GMT
responded: The answer to the above question - those red suburban coaches push/pulled by the 111 are known as PUMA.
Another puzzle for your sluggish brains - Which is the oldest steam engine named after a cat ?
Alan
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]>org) from West Malling, UK on May 5 2003, 22:00 GMT
responded: Alan,
How could you introduce us cat lovers to "tiger eating men".
It should always be the other way round: unless of course I am close by!
Now for the puzzle named after Tim's much loved and greatly missed Brian....I don't know!!!!
Bryan B
Rogier Donker(EMail:[email protected]) from USA on May 6 2003, 2:14 GMT
responded: "Train thread " web site page you say? :-)
S&HRR;!
Rogier
Georg Feddern(EMail:[email protected]) from Kiel, Germany on May 6 2003, 7:08 GMT
responded: Sure, Roger! :-)
When I walk through the house it is often like a train set:
A full powered steaming and stomping locomotive followed by two 4-paws trailers ;-)))
Alan, I suppose "Tigerli" would be too easy ;-)
Georg
At home secured by two "security guards" against slugs (sorry Tim!) a.o. invaders - Meooh
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on May 6 2003, 7:46 GMT
responded: Rogier,
It is impossible to 'train' a cat to do anything useful. Will that do as an excuse ? :-)
Georg, sorry , but the loco is much older than a 'Tigerli'.
Alan
Andy Hayter(EMail:) from MZ on May 6 2003, 12:24 GMT
responded: Alan,
A thought just stuck me like a bolt from the blue.
would I be right in thinking that this loco is still steamable or at least was just a few years ago? Has appeared in films?
Andy
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on May 6 2003, 22:32 GMT
responded: Andy,
Bravo, you've obviously sussed it.
Alan
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on Jul 6 2003, 9:32 GMT
responded: The Schinznacher Baumschul Bahn is one of the largest garden railways I know and is about 30 mins drive away. It is a narrow gauge line with a variety of steam engines including an imported South African Garratt ! It is set in a tree and schrub nursery. Due to our regular visits there, my better half has purchased enough bushes to fill kew gardens. The latest acquisition is a Buddleia which attracts all the butterflies within 10km radius. This is wonderful for butterfly fans. Unfortunately the species most attracted to butterflies is that murderous feline community. So now I have to watch our Buddleia being slowly destroyed branch by branch by these leaping devils.
Alan :-(
John Oxlade(EMail:[email protected]) from Salfords, Surrey, UK on Jul 6 2003, 9:57 GMT
responded: Ah, but Buddleia makes superb miniature trees. A friend at the model club uses it as giant log loads on his On30 log-buggies.!!
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Malling, UK on Jul 6 2003, 10:11 GMT
responded: I must tell Alan that the two sweet little cats that we recently inherited from someone in our road who moved somewhere not suitable or safe for cats, (it had a Swiss address I think), pay no attention at all to our Buddleia and it's residents.
Instead the cute little white one has turned our garden in Jurassic Park. 04.00 hrs this morning saw the little love chasing a small animal around our bedroom, before "crunching noises" indicated she was enjoying her starter. Then she was back out of the bedroom window, onto the shed roof and by the sounds that followed straight onto a very large bird that became her main course for the night. All the time in sight of the Buddleia which, although attracting butterflies, is way down on the list of things in the garden to destroy, kill or eat.
Bryan B
PS Alan do you have any CDs or tapes of bird noise you could spare? It would be nice to play them here around dawn to remind Bobbie and me what a dawn chorus sounded like once!
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West, (cat haven), Malling, UK on Jul 6 2003, 11:54 GMT
responded: Alan,
To try and win you and others round why not visit Alans's Friends web site.
Bryan B
Tim Hale(EMail:) from Dorset, UK on Jul 6 2003, 11:59 GMT
responded: Does the world really have to fall into non-cat and cat people?
My partner has just bought the book 'A 1001 uses for a dead cat' I laughed so much that I almost bought a Skoda. The pencil sharpener seems a particulary apt utilisation of a dead mog.
responded: Tim...I have only one thing tosay about this subject
CATS RULE and DOGS DROOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HEHEHE!!!
Gene
Pierre B(EMail:) from France on Jul 6 2003, 15:26 GMT
responded: John, I don't know how miniature you mean buddleia, we have one in the garden, it's quite a bit taller than I am. My wife has now declared it has to come out. This is why I'm now sitting at the computer on Sunday afternoon instead of working in the garden... I don't think this excuse is going to last very long however, must leave you now.
Pierre B(EMail:) from France on Jul 6 2003, 15:28 GMT
responded: Forgot a couple of words (must be the stress), I meant "I don't know how miniature you mean buddleia to be", etc.
John Oxlade(EMail:[email protected]) from Salfords, Surrey, UK on Jul 6 2003, 17:33 GMT
responded: Let's just say the length the guy was carrying round the club would be classed as an offensive weapon if he took it to a footbal match! It was the better part of 40mm diameter.
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on Jul 6 2003, 18:22 GMT
responded: John, did you mean the buddleia 'flowers' could be used as miniature trees ? Ours are purple, but maybe there other more suitable colours.
Bryan, ROTFL! If you make a film out of that that horror story, I'll show it to the local 4 legged thugs and see if they mend their ways.
Tim, is that book currently available on Amazon ?
Anyone interested in buying our house ? You get to enjoy all the local cats without having to foot the Kit e Kat bills.
Instead of watching the carnage, I was able to get away to the Schinznacher Bahn this afternoon while most of Switzerland was watching Wimbledon. I also crossed the path of 241 A 65, who was paying a visit to 141 R 1244 (currently in pieces), in Brugg. I didn't know steam engines visited their friends in hospital.
I returned to find a scene for a model railroad - miniature purple trees apparently hit by a tornado. Coincidentally, something innocent and furry was occupying my garden chair. Because shooting things is not permitted on Sunday, I retired here to the computer.
Alan
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Malling, UK on Jul 6 2003, 19:35 GMT
responded: Alan,
I thought you were not permitted to do anything at all in Switzerland on a Sunday, let alone shoot cats.
What does ROTFL stand for. If it is really rude please E mail the answer!
Bryan B
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on Jul 6 2003, 19:46 GMT
responded: Bryan, Rolling On The Floor Laughing will easily pass through John's censorship program.
Alan :-)
Tim Hale(EMail:) from UK on Jul 6 2003, 20:50 GMT
responded: Alan,
I use (or don't) the RTFM technique when installing DCC, it never fails. Is it a similar process? I think not but it does prevent TOTP.
Tim (Crude and uncalled for)
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on Jul 6 2003, 21:58 GMT
responded:
Some of our ozzie friends may like to comment on this while we are asleep tonight (and hopefully uninterrupted)......
Doug Howard(EMail:) from Brookings, Oreon, USA on Jul 6 2003, 22:23 GMT
responded: You can always tell cat-lovers: as they approach one another, they/we all make that famous gesture: "The Sign of the Paw".
Doug ;-)
From an e-mail address that, I hope, will soon be DSL..!
Boyce Burdick(EMail:[email protected]) from Richland WA USA on Jul 6 2003, 23:17 GMT
responded: Doug-I've had DSL from GTE (Verizon now) for the last few years and have been quite pleased with it. The only problem I've experienced is that occasionally I have to shut off the DSL router for a few seconds to reset it. I'm also glad that I have a separate local ISP.
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on Jul 7 2003, 8:58 GMT
responded: Doug,
Perhaps you can explain why these apparently intelligent creatures that have coexisted with us for thousands of years, still don't understand some simple gestures (e.g. "sign of the finger") and carry one behaving like welcome guests.
Alan :-)
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Malling, UK on Jul 7 2003, 12:37 GMT
responded: Alan,
A cat and it's intelligence level.
They can sleep as long as they want, where they want. Usually the warmest part of the house in winter. They can demand and get a fire left on for them to lie in front of on a cold day.
They get up at their leisure, rub themselves against their "owner" and then get fed food of their choice. If the cat dosn't like the food, a short hunger strike usually gets the right food in their bowl. By looking up pitifully at "owner", dinner guests etc they usually get the best bits from the dinner table.
If they want to vary their diet and feel up to a bit of exercise they wander outside and catch some fresh poultry or meat themselves.
Mention the word VET and they instantly vanish, returning five minutes after the closing time of the surgery.
Nothing apparent about their intelligence there then!-
Bryan B
Gene(EMail:[email protected]) from Montreal on Jul 7 2003, 13:47 GMT
responded: Like I said earlier in this thread Bryan....cats rule! Alan..don't make the mistake of thinking cats don't understand simple hand gestures (sign of the finger)..they do understand them...they just won't dignify such gestures by lowering themselves to reacting to them.
Gene
arthur norris(EMail:) from london, canada on Jul 7 2003, 15:10 GMT
responded:
I like cats fine---- but I couldn't eat a whole one!!
Art
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on Jul 7 2003, 16:02 GMT
responded: Art,
Put the rest in a doggy bag.
Alan
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on Jul 7 2003, 22:22 GMT
responded: This fine warm evening I was even allowed to sit in my own garden chair and enjoy a beer until sunset. Does this mean they are offering a ceasefire ?
Alan
Bob Nelson(EMail:lionelsoni at aol.com) from Austin, TX, USA on Jul 7 2003, 23:34 GMT
responded: I'm sure all the Americans have figured out "moggie" by now; but here's an explanation anyway: www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-mog1.htm
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Malling, UK on Jul 9 2003, 8:14 GMT
responded: Further observation of our youngest cat, Jay, has seen me use my stopwatches to time her in action.
Without any attempt to sex up the results I can say for certain that this little white Weapon of Mass Destruction can be deployed comfortably within 4.5 minutes, and could, I think get down to 0.45 minutes if she really wanted to.
Just one late, ex bird to remove from the bedroom floor this morning!
Bryan B
Pierre B(EMail:) from France on Jul 9 2003, 21:18 GMT
responded: Is Jay fitted with a GPS thing too?
Bryan Benn(EMail:[email protected]) from West Cattamalling, UK on Jul 9 2003, 22:15 GMT
responded: Pierre,
Yes, I think our WMD, (White Moggie of Destruction), must be fitted with some sort of GPS. She homes in on anything small and alive, (but not for long), with remarkable accuracy. I may even take her on some of my German steam loco timing trips to see if she is more accurate than my GPS/stopwatching! Have just got to convince her that kilometre posts are edible first!
Bryan B
Alan Rees(EMail:[email protected]) from Switzerland on Jul 12 2003, 22:27 GMT
