"Carl's Lounge" (Off-Topic Discussion, Traditional Knife "Tales & Vignettes")

[leghog]

The grand kid

 

[5K Qs]

Better than sunrise first thing in the morning, leghog! :thumbup::thumbup:
Nice photo!

- GT

 

[Markesharp]

GT - I just looked on this thread to catch up. I am glad to hear that your dad is doing well after his stroke. My dad had a stroke in 1998 and came out good considering the severity and he walked fine and drove his car until prostate cancer took his life 3 years ago. I will keep your dad in my prayers.

Kris - Glad there was no major tendon or nerve damage done and best to you on a full recovery. Your daughter is beautiful.

Leghog - Beautiful granddaughter you have sir.

So hold on a second, i been gone awhile, and i have been just starting to poke my head back in around here and i notice i am a gold member?!
when did that happen??

i can only presume someone "gifted me" a membership, the problem is, i have no idea who, so i cannot thank that person..wow
oh and hi guys! long time no see

Do you remember "The Golden Giveaway" that Charlie and I held back in February? I bought 4 Gold Memberships and you were one of them. Everyone else knew because I said in the GAW "Some of you will be turning Gold in the next couple days".
You look good in Gold Ryan.

 

[Half/Stop]

leghog - Congrats Sir, she is beautiful

 

[meako]

I had a really bad day yesterday.My ability to be an operational firefighter was called into question last year in a most underhanded manner by a doctor employed by my organisation (the worlds largest fire brigade). Due to having type 1 diabetes. Despite having functioned without problems for the past 13 years.Long story short they lose the faxes ,they can not open pdf files sent to them with critical information that they request etc etc -a carefully drawn strategy of obfuscation? or complete ineptitude? conversations on the phone with other company doctors and box tickers who would have been right at home in Ceaucescus' Romania with their soulless adherence to regulations(of which none of them seem to have the same interpretation) and complete lack of sincerity ,sympathy and most pertinently , support over the last 13 years. Non medical staff now privy to my medical condition and freely offering me advice on the phone but when asked direct questions unwilling to provide answers because they are not the "treating practitioner".
Almost a year of this I have done as asked ,provided the documents etc they request with due speed. Been insulted by a doctor on the phone who I have never clapped eyes on.
"it was more good luck than good management " is what she said to me after I asked if got any browny points for my deployment to the Christchurch earthquake in 2011 for which I was recently awarded the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal ( ironic because my paymasters were fully aware of my condition when they sent me).
I very recently passed the 30 years as a fireman post as well.
Anyway yesterday I was filling out the written diary of blood glucose levels at the end of the 60 day extension as requested because the printed from the glucometer version wasn't good enough.
So there I was sitting there doing this onerous task feeling a bit lost and P***ed off- somewhere between being back in high school doing boring homework -the kind where you just sit looking at the paper and waiting for an odd shaped mass of air to float past because it holds more entertainment value, a total drudge- and like a sharp edged firefighting weapon who had the batteries taken out by a spoilt child and now keeps switching it on and off.
After a while the whole lot came roaring out similar to a B.L.E.V.E . (boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion).
Heres a link for the uninitiated [video]https://youtu.be/aKN-C9HTPgY[/video].
As you can see -not nice.But it's the only way I describe how I felt and the resulting outcome-now I think I might have broken my hand from punching it into the table out of sheer frustration.I don't even know what became of the diary I was filling out because it looked like a Tasmanian Devil ate it for lunch.
Jon you impatient,short tempered,hot head I hear you say.
My response to that would be who do want when your house is on fire? an impatient, short tempered, hothead with 30 years firefighting experience who kicks down the door and hoses it out. OR a box ticking drone with a risk assessment pad who tells everyone to be careful of the heat and places barrier tape around before anyone does anything?
And so it goes .
Thanks for listening and thanks for being my BFBFFs (bladeforum best friends forever)

leghog -that beautiful little golden nugget has cheered me right up-gorgeous.

 

[Rsmith_77]

Do you remember "The Golden Giveaway" that Charlie and I held back in February? I bought 4 Gold Memberships and you were one of them. Everyone else knew because I said in the GAW "Some of you will be turning Gold in the next couple days".
You look good in Gold Ryan.

uhhh i must admit i do not, i must be getting old
but at least i know who to thank



Thank You
Ryan

 

[Catherine_Montana]

The grand kid

Beautiful baby!

Cate

 

[Catherine_Montana]

I had a really bad day yesterday.My ability to be an operational firefighter was called into question last year in a most underhanded manner by a doctor employed by my organisation (the worlds largest fire brigade). Due to having type 1 diabetes. Despite having functioned without problems for the past 13 years.Long story short they lose the faxes ,they can not open pdf files sent to them with critical information that they request etc etc -a carefully drawn strategy of obfuscation? or complete ineptitude? conversations on the phone with other company doctors and box tickers who would have been right at home in Ceaucescus' Romania with their soulless adherence to regulations(of which none of them seem to have the same interpretation) and complete lack of sincerity ,sympathy and most pertinently , support over the last 13 years. Non medical staff now privy to my medical condition and freely offering me advice on the phone but when asked direct questions unwilling to provide answers because they are not the "treating practitioner".
Almost a year of this I have done as asked ,provided the documents etc they request with due speed. Been insulted by a doctor on the phone who I have never clapped eyes on.
"it was more good luck than good management " is what she said to me after I asked if got any browny points for my deployment to the Christchurch earthquake in 2011 for which I was recently awarded the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal ( ironic because my paymasters were fully aware of my condition when they sent me).
I very recently passed the 30 years as a fireman post as well.
Anyway yesterday I was filling out the written diary of blood glucose levels at the end of the 60 day extension as requested because the printed from the glucometer version wasn't good enough.
So there I was sitting there doing this onerous task feeling a bit lost and P***ed off- somewhere between being back in high school doing boring homework -the kind where you just sit looking at the paper and waiting for an odd shaped mass of air to float past because it holds more entertainment value, a total drudge- and like a sharp edged firefighting weapon who had the batteries taken out by a spoilt child and now keeps switching it on and off.
After a while the whole lot came roaring out similar to a B.L.E.V.E . (boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion).
Heres a link for the uninitiated [video]https://youtu.be/aKN-C9HTPgY[/video].
As you can see -not nice.But it's the only way I describe how I felt and the resulting outcome-now I think I might have broken my hand from punching it into the table out of sheer frustration.I don't even know what became of the diary I was filling out because it looked like a Tasmanian Devil ate it for lunch.
Jon you impatient,short tempered,hot head I hear you say.
My response to that would be who do want when your house is on fire? an impatient, short tempered, hothead with 30 years firefighting experience who kicks down the door and hoses it out. OR a box ticking drone with a risk assessment pad who tells everyone to be careful of the heat and places barrier tape around before anyone does anything?
And so it goes .
Thanks for listening and thanks for being my BFBFFs (bladeforum best friends forever)

leghog -that beautiful little golden nugget has cheered me right up-gorgeous.

I will say a prayer for you.

Cate

 

[knarfeng]

I had a really bad day yesterday.
And so it goes .

illegitimi non carborundum!

Hang in there, Meako.

 

[meako]

Thank you Catherine and Frank.aaahh school holidays start today.now the real work begins.

 

[pmew]

Flip Meako old chum, sounds like you're getting a raw deal alright!

I had a career first this week. Was involved in a case of an alien abduction survivor. Interesting. *ahem*

 

[5K Qs]

GT - I just looked on this thread to catch up. I am glad to hear that your dad is doing well after his stroke. My dad had a stroke in 1998 and came out good considering the severity and he walked fine and drove his car until prostate cancer took his life 3 years ago. I will keep your dad in my prayers.
...

Much appreciated, Mark; thanks for your support.

I had a really bad day yesterday….

I'm sorry you've had to deal with all that foolishness and frustration, meako; no surprise that occasionally it gets to be too much and you erupt like Vesuvius! I hope the hand injury isn't too serious/complicated.

illegitimi non carborundum!

Hang in there, Meako.

Good advice, Frank, and expressed in a way that taught me a lot. I don't recall ever hearing that "Latin" phrase before, but after looking it up on Wikipedia, I'm surprised that I have no recollection of it. Interesting history to the phrase and lots of references in popular culture (including the science fiction classic Lucifer's Hammer, which I enjoyed several decades ago), plus its obvious relevance in a knife forum!

Flip Meako old chum, sounds like you're getting a raw deal alright!

I had a career first this week. Was involved in a case of an alien abduction survivor. Interesting. *ahem*

Life IS interesting, and often absurd!

- GT

 

[MT Damascus]

We are headed out to Glacier National Park today, I will leave this teaser pic that Paul just sent me. I will be starting a thread next week about a special fixed blade from the late John White M.S., Paul finished this beautiful sheath the same day he received it. Paul and John were good friends, which makes it even more special. I am looking forward to the mail on Monday.

John White M.S. - Gentlemens bowie, hand forged 1084, frame handle construction, pre ban bark elepahnt ivory, one of two Paul Long sheaths

Cape Buffalo insert and bow tie, Sam Browne stud file worked by John

Have a great weekend everyone.

 

[black mamba]

Kris, that one will be an instant heirloom, for sure. John was one of a kind and is greatly missed.
The Paul Long sheaths are a perfect match, knowing of their relationship. Can't wait for some more pics. Congrats.

 

[Peregrin]

Can't wait for more, Kris. I've always admired John's work and Paul Long's sheath is the icing on the cake.

 

[Catherine_Montana]

Flip Meako old chum, sounds like you're getting a raw deal alright!

I had a career first this week. Was involved in a case of an alien abduction survivor. Interesting. *ahem*

Did the the 'survivor' bring a dual like Thing for lack of a better word (Human/reptile thing.) with strange eyes into the discussion too? Grin.

Take care.

Cate

 

[Catherine_Montana]

We are headed out to Glacier National Park today, I will leave this teaser pic that Paul just sent me. I will be starting a thread next week about a special fixed blade from the late John White M.S., Paul finished this beautiful sheath the same day he received it. Paul and John were good friends, which makes it even more special. I am looking forward to the mail on Monday.

John White M.S. - Gentlemens bowie, hand forged 1084, frame handle construction, pre ban bark elepahnt ivory, one of two Paul Long sheaths

Cape Buffalo insert and bow tie, Sam Browne stud file worked by John

Have a great weekend everyone.

Beautiful knife and sheath.

Have fun at Glacier and take care!

Cate

 

[knarfeng]

Good advice, Frank, and expressed in a way that taught me a lot. I don't recall ever hearing that "Latin" phrase before, but after looking it up on Wikipedia, I'm surprised that I have no recollection of it. Interesting history to the phrase and lots of references in popular culture (including the science fiction classic Lucifer's Hammer, which I enjoyed several decades ago), plus its obvious relevance in a knife forum!

- GT

Hmmm... yes, that particular phrase was not taught in high school Latin. I picked it up later.

 

[Jack Black]

illegitimi non carborundum!

Hang in there, Meako.

+1 :thumbup: Keep your chin up mate :thumbup:

An appropriate phrase in Meako's case Frank, while it goes back at least to WW2, and is possibly much older, the non-cod Latin version was the motto of the original angry young man Arthur Seaton in Alan Sillitoe's 1958 novel Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, as played by Albert Finney in the 1960 film. Seaton worked in the Raleigh bicycle factory of Meako's native Nottingham, as seen here in the film's opening scene :thumbup:

[video=youtube;zJAeb0wiQjA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJAeb0wiQjA[/video]

I had a career first this week. Was involved in a case of an alien abduction survivor. Interesting. *ahem*

You hang in there too Paul! :thumbup:

 

[screened porch]

Thanks for the indirect translation there, Jack. I thought it was "b*st*rds don't burn"!

Sorry about your moronic administrators, Meako.