S....Slurry Saturday

Angie out again for a ride while Flash and I took a trailer of garden refuse to the recycling dump. As one might expect it was bursting to the point of overflowing. As we left there was a traffic jam caused by the cars waiting to get in.

Took a walk along the river and as we returned to the car, the light mist got heavier and was trying hard to drizzle. The Bliped slurry tank was on the other side of the road and close to the river. I don't really know enough but it seems to me to be a sensible EU requirement that slurry spreading as we knew it with plumes of muck being thrown, spurted, waddled out the back, some spots seeming to be flooded, others untouched. I think the requirements which are partly already in force will require the slurry to be "laid" on the grass through nozzles literally trailing on the ground as in the Bliped model. thus hopefully less washing out in to the waterways. Guess the UK will be able to "free" it's farmers from these "restrictive" measures and bring back the days of streams overflowing with carpets of white/brown foam.

In the afternoon ex colleague Tom stopped by on a flying visit, sadly alone - his wife and daughter were left at home in Munich while he visited a fair/exhibition in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance. Tom is one of those guys I would love to have as a brother, son, father, neighbour. A qualified engineer who understands everything to do with metal, electrics, electronics, computers, optics ...... and a really practical guy who will always find a workable solution to a problem, he can fix everything. He's intelligent, enjoys a bit of relaxed sport, is very fair and balanced and a good person to have around when it comes to eating and drinking. I miss our daily contact at the office. Flash was delighted to see him again too. About 10 years ago Angie had to be away for about 6 weeks and my boss allowed Flash to come to work - Tom and I shared an office and Flash enjoyed lots of pleasurable stroking but most importantly, Tom introduced him to the illuminated desktop, basketball sized world globe. For Flash this was a thing of great wonder - no football, tennis ball or Frisbee was as fascinating as that globe.

Some may remember Tom coming to pick up his Unimog pedal car last year. Well the project is advancing slowly. It is now 4WD, servo assisted. He has posted some YouTube videos but the project is ongoing - First gear is what it should be but second is about Formula 1 top speed. His daughter is not overly enthusiastic with her toy but all her male friends are delighted.

Visit was much too short as always. time for him to come out again soon with all the family.