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Scale Model Shop

Lockdown blues?

I suppose someone's got to say that this lockdown has been a blessing. Apart from Cosford which was a bitter blow, I've thoroughly enjoyed the last few weeks. No commitments, no timetables, just do what I want, when I want. It does of course help that I'm retired so there's been no difference to my income - and that I'm pretty much a loner anyway so haven't missed the warmth of human contact. I've had all the warmth I need from you guys.

I do feel sorry for you guys with financial and other commitments you may have been unable to meet. All I can say is that this will pass - although I don't think anyone has a clear idea of the changes this will make to our lives in the long term. Lets hope the Gods allow us all through to see them.
 
HI Dave

sorry to read that you are so down, these are difficult times and they will pass. Perhaps getting into some good books might help, or perhaps researching a project?

we have been pretty lucky in Guernsey, all is heading in the right direction and having my son home from Uni for all of this term is a real bonus. Being semi-retired my workload has stayed pretty much as normal, some time saving in not having to travel to meetings, so I think that as a family we have got off pretty lightly. On the plus side - one tank of petrol has lasted 10 weeks!

Although things are getting back to normal we still have a legal requirement for anybody coming into the Island to self-isolate for 14 days. This is enforced and monitored by the police and Immigration. The fine is a maximum of £10,000 if anybody is caught not self-isolating and a chap was fined £6,000 last week. At some point during the summer my son and I have to go to his uni to collect his belongings so we will have to self-isolate for the 14 day period - not looking forward to that.

Peter
 
i forgot to add - I've worked through all of the series of Our Girl on iplayer as well as 7 series of the10 series of Spooks. Modelling while watching the Iplayer.

Peter
 
Thread owner
Reading is my main escape at the moment - I have 2 Kindles - one in the living room & one by the side of my bed. A friend of mine has just given me the entire Ed McBain 87th Precinct series for my Kindle. Not the most intellectually challenging books, but something to look forward to - I've already revisited favourites from the past - The Hornblower novels, and most of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey series. Non fiction has also taken a battering with Alistair Hornes Trilogy, Robert Massie, not to forget Max Hastings. I always was a big reader, but the past few months have really seen a reading boom! Those Kindles ( one bought new when they first came out & one second hand ) have been indispensable - one of the few things that I would immediately replace if broken!
Dave
 
I am going nuts on Furlough. Though it has restarted my modelling after a 30 year hiatus.
It is helping me while away several hours each week. If the sun comes out I can go to the beach or a cycle ride but otherwise all I can do is models and tidying.
T
 
colin m said:
Am I jealous, probably.
Click to expand...

I admit i am. Massively. Seeing people having all the time in the world to get stuff done around the place, has admittedly, miffed me.

Jim R said:
You and all the farmers have my thanks Alan. I just hope that when all this is over people will continue to support you and not just revert to the cheap, high carbon footprint imported stuff in our supermarkets.
Click to expand...

Not going to happen. People think with their wallet far more than their concience. But thanks for the thought and kind words
 
Dave

If you enjoyed o'brien and Hornblower look out for Julian Stockwyn he has a series in the same genre.

John
 
Dave Ward said:
Reading is my main escape at the moment - I have 2 Kindles - one in the living room & one by the side of my bed. A friend of mine has just given me the entire Ed McBain 87th Precinct series for my Kindle. Not the most intellectually challenging books, but something to look forward to - I've already revisited favourites from the past - The Hornblower novels, and most of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey series. Non fiction has also taken a battering with Alistair Hornes Trilogy, Robert Massie, not to forget Max Hastings. I always was a big reader, but the past few months have really seen a reading boom! Those Kindles ( one bought new when they first came out & one second hand ) have been indispensable - one of the few things that I would immediately replace if broken!
Dave
Click to expand...

I use kindle paperwhite, but for anything other than short stories etc i have moved to audiobooks from audible ( other services are available )
I cant read anything for very long due to my eyesight, a reason i do about 20 minutes max working on a model at a time.
 
Like Gary I make use of Audible books, great for listen in to while modelling or out gardening.

Two books i do recommend are:

The Dutch Girl - the wartime biography of Audrey Hepburn
Blowing the bloody doors off, by Michael Cain. Not so much a biography more lessons he learnt in the form of many really good anecdotes.

i really enjoyed both and intend to revisit them some time.

AC43A3EC-69ED-4245-A1F3-70077B35F62E.jpegDC4CD688-C881-4204-A3CA-108AE0700225.jpeg

Peter
 
I have been quite lucky, as apart from the queuing and the other social distancing rules there has been little change for me. As an engineer in a food factory I have been working as mormal. But for those stuck at home I can imagine it being a mixed blessing.
 
Audible is the best. I think my library is about 200 books now. They had a big sale on after Christmas and I got about a dozen so had plenty of listening to get through. I really like it when cycling trails and cycle routes as it is a distraction when fatigue sets in. Helping me stay reasonably fit.
T
 
Dave Ward said:
Reading is my main escape at the moment - I have 2 Kindles - one in the living room & one by the side of my bed. A friend of mine has just given me the entire Ed McBain 87th Precinct series for my Kindle. Not the most intellectually challenging books, but something to look forward to - I've already revisited favourites from the past - The Hornblower novels, and most of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey series. Non fiction has also taken a battering with Alistair Hornes Trilogy, Robert Massie, not to forget Max Hastings. I always was a big reader, but the past few months have really seen a reading boom! Those Kindles ( one bought new when they first came out & one second hand ) have been indispensable - one of the few things that I would immediately replace if broken!
Dave
Click to expand...
Have you read the Alexander Kent Bolitho series? To me these are the best of the late 18c early 19c Navy novels.

I have been running my business from home supported only by my pa working from her home with one member of staff on furlough. It has kept me busy early on a month and the early part of the week leaving me with plenty of time to read, currently switching between four book series, re-reading the Bolitho stories, a science fiction series, an archeological thriller series and a ‘lone wanderer’ series similar to Reecher. I have also, of course, been able to double my time at the bench....

All in all I have rather enjoyed lockdown but I really would love a pint in my local.
 
Thread owner
I've never been able to get on with audible books - I've tried them, but nope. I have background music on for a lot of the day, courtesy of Spotify, or my own mix selection - I've discovered all sorts of new music, some good, some appalling! New Age takes my fancy at the moment.............................
Dave
 
I’ve also been re-reading a load of books some of which are better second time around... I strongly recommend the Bernie Gunther series by Phillip Kerr...a cop / private investigator in Germany in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s!
Hope your feeling better Dave!
Jason
 
I LOVE the Patrick O'Brian books and have read them all at least 3 times! I'm reading The Far Side of the World right now.
If you like these and Sharpe I can thoroughly recommend a series by Allan Mallinson about Matthew Hervey, a cavalry officer in the 6th Light Dragoons. The first book is called A Close Run Thing and is about Waterloo.
I have been furloughed from the start and on 50% salary for all but the first 3 weeks. We have managed financially so far and I've got lots done around the house - and of course lots of bench time, but as lockdown progresses I am bracing myself for the possibility of redundancy or 'early retirement'- if that happens it will get tough.
I love the way the members of this forum are supporting each other :thumb2: :cool:
 
I can add another vote for Allan Mallinson's books. He has also written some non fiction particularly I liked "Too important for the Generals" about the handling of WW I.

John
 
Oddly enough the wife and I have just treated ourselves to a Kindle each. She reads a lot and knows what she likes. Me, I'm a bit of a Philistine and don't read as much as I should/would like to. This thread has given me a lot of ideas - authors/books to try :thumb2:
Thanks. Grateful for all the suggestions.
Jim

Dave - the direction of the thread has changed a bit but still very valid :smiling: Glad to see you're back at the bench.
 
Thread owner
Along with myself, I wondered if anyone else had had a delayed or not recognised reaction to the lockdown.................
The Kindle has been so much in my hand, that it seems really odd when you pick up a real book!
DSCF0670.JPG
This has been my constant companion ( needs a good clean! ) since November 2010, when I paid £117 for it. The sleeve is tatty, but the Kindle works as always, keeps it's charge ( recharge every two weeks, whether it needs it or not ) - I never did really work out what the keyboard was intended for, not surprising, it's been missing from all newer editions.
Update: - first time wearing a mask in public! Had to go for blood tests - the bizarre doctors' waiting room, with all the chairs widely spaced. Can't say I enjoyed the mask thing - sweaty & a bit claustrophobic.................
Dave
 
The keyboard was for web-browsing / annotating , when touchscreens were very expensive.
Some versions also had audio output connectors for headphones, allowing audio books to play from them too.
 
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