sitting in a field addendum

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Date: 01 Aug 2006 06:40:13
From: Danny
Subject: sitting in a field addendum

Some stuff I forgot.... Best day so far. Don't understand it - not
really busy, rained a little, but best day. Some real customers
(machiato etc)...

Nice chap (Paul) and his wife (Lorraine) have been coming along for
two teas (one normal, one milky) with their two sons (absolutely
identical twins), now about 4, but were in a pram when we first got
acquainted.... They have their own language. I really can't
understand it. It used to be weird noises, that they used to converse
with me in, until the day I accidently replied (as I always did), with
what was by all accounts, a very bad word (oooyahhli or somesuch).
They both burst into tears, and I vowed never to mimic their language
again). They now speak what seems like English, but is still
uncomprehensible to other people, even though they fully understand
each other. Bit of a problem as they start school soon. They spent
some time in France, and can speak to each other in what appears to be
another language, with a french tint, but is still unique to them...

Paul started to make cakes for us. His wife works, and he is a house
husband. Used to run a cafe. Started to make rather nice flapjacks,
bread puddings, shortcake etc. Quality varied badly. Some weeks were
excellent, others, I really couldn't understand what went wrong. I
guess it's having a couple of kids running around. Since my whole
ethos is quality and consistency, I have a problem with this. I've
thought up a load of Health & safety issues as to why I can't have the
cakes any more, without offending him - kitchen not inspected by
environmental health, insufficient information on product labelling
etc etc., so we should remain friends.

Monica and Rose still don't understand that tea went up a year ago,
smiling as they hand over 50p for an 80p drink.

This rewarding customers with the occasional "drink on the house" can
backfire. I have a regular customer, elderly, who I gave a free
coffee too. He didn't like it at all. Man of principle, said he
would pay double the next day, and that I would run my business into
the ground if I continued with these silly ideas, even after I
reminded him that pubs used to do the same thing with regulars. Never
mind...

The last two Saturdays it has really thrown weather at us. After a
heatwave we've had some torrential rain, and the atmosphere under the
canopy is great during such events! Everyone pulls their tables in
under cover, we turn the music up and everyone gets on with each
other. We take more, too! Last saturday we were almost in the middle
of a flash flood.

I'm pleased to report that accidents are now an occasional event.
Towing the trailer is now a safe and enjoyable experience. I remember
to shut everything down first. The fridge has a habit of opening it's
door and depositing a mix of 60 litres of milk cartons and 280 cans of
drink on the floor, along with assorted pies, lemons and other
foodstuff....Great cleaning that lot up before I can even set the
trailer up. And that's with a sort of door lock and a bungee strap
round the whole fridge....That fridge was many years old when I bought
it, has suffered 5 years in trailers since, works great even though
it's had shelves welded, door seals replaced with seals that don't
quite fit, and a hinge and handle glued back on. Coca-Cola will not
give me a new fridge, since I'm mobile, even though I spend Ł100 week
on their products....

A new coffee stand opened in the indoor shopping centre/mall (where
the food court used to be, now boarded up due to some redevelopment of
the centre). Has a round green logo. One of my customers said it was
*$, but it isn't. Just a round green logo with coffee-something in
it, but looks sufficiently similar. I went by once to scout, but
didn't buy anything, since the signs were there - Fracino manual HX
machine and no customers = over hot hx. Went back there mystery
shopping a few days later (busy saturday on the trailer), and didn't
see anyone with their cups, and nobody being served. I ordered a
small cappa. I was right about the HX. The server (who has the air
of actually running the place himself) loaded the pf from the silent
grinder, cursory tamp, lock and press the button. Overheated pale
froth for 6 seconds or so. He stopped the machine and looked in the
cup before pressing the shot button again for a few more seconds of
more pale froth. Went to the encrusted steam wand and reheated the
milk in the jug without purging the wand, and didn't purge or clean it
afterwards either. I paid and walked away. I was so happy! I looked
at the drink after a few steps, and it had shrunk to half it's size.
I even tried a sip, before taking it back to show Charlotte what a
crap coffee looks like.

--
Regards, Danny

http://www.gaggia-espresso.com (a purely hobby site)
http://www.malabargold.co.uk (UK/EU ordering for Malabar Gold blend)

Date: 01 Aug 2006 08:49:03
From: Shadd
Subject: Re: sitting in a field addendum

Hey Danny, you might be well-served by a toddler lock (or two) on the
fridge. It has adhesive tabs with a strap and buckle in the middle. I
would think that would keep it shut while driving the trailer around.
They're common around here, hopefully around there too.

Shadd
Laconia, New Hampshire

Date: 01 Aug 2006 15:19:40
From: Jack Denver
Subject: Re: sitting in a field addendum

I'm not sure the glue on a child lock would be up to the force of getting
tossed around a moving trailer. I'd suggest a padlock hasp installed with
screws instead.

"Shadd" <sealag@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1154447343.744782.18180@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> Hey Danny, you might be well-served by a toddler lock (or two) on the
> fridge. It has adhesive tabs with a strap and buckle in the middle. I
> would think that would keep it shut while driving the trailer around.
> They're common around here, hopefully around there too.
>
> Shadd
> Laconia, New Hampshire
>

Date: 02 Aug 2006 11:19:29
From: Brent
Subject: Re: sitting in a field addendum

It's an old fridge...

Rivet in a latch that you can padlock or d-shackle closed

Brent

> I'm not sure the glue on a child lock would be up to the force of getting
> tossed around a moving trailer. I'd suggest a padlock hasp installed with
> screws instead.
>
>
>
>> Hey Danny, you might be well-served by a toddler lock (or two) on the
>> fridge. It has adhesive tabs with a strap and buckle in the middle. I
>> would think that would keep it shut while driving the trailer around.
>> They're common around here, hopefully around there too.
>>
>> Shadd
>> Laconia, New Hampshire
>>
>
>

Date: 02 Aug 2006 06:47:44
From: Danny
Subject: Re: sitting in a field addendum

Brent wrote:
> It's an old fridge...
>
> Rivet in a latch that you can padlock or d-shackle closed
>
> Brent
>

It also has a glass door with not much plastic framing round it. Soft
plastic that won't hold screws or rivets for long. I'm basically
lazy, since I find a sort of solution that works fine until the day it
doesn't, probably because on that particular day the fridge has 200
cans and 60 litres of milk in it, lunging against the door on each
corner :)

The usual solution in these parts is two rivet a webbing strap on each
side of the fridge with a ratchet or push connector to join them in
front of the door when required.

New fridges have door locks fitted...

--
Regards, Danny

http://www.gaggia-espresso.com (a purely hobby site)
http://www.malabargold.co.uk (UK/EU ordering for Malabar Gold blend)

Date: 01 Aug 2006 19:39:27
From: Danny
Subject: Re: sitting in a field addendum

Shadd wrote:
> Hey Danny, you might be well-served by a toddler lock (or two) on the
> fridge. It has adhesive tabs with a strap and buckle in the middle. I
> would think that would keep it shut while driving the trailer around.
> They're common around here, hopefully around there too.
>
> Shadd
> Laconia, New Hampshire
>

GREAT IDEA!!!!
(Why didn't I think of that?)

--
Regards, Danny

http://www.gaggia-espresso.com (a purely hobby site)
http://www.malabargold.co.uk (UK/EU ordering for Malabar Gold blend)

Date: 01 Aug 2006 09:40:08
From: bernie
Subject: Re: sitting in a field addendum

Danny wrote:

> They have their own language. I really can't understand it. It used to
> be weird noises, that they used to converse with me in, until the day I
> accidently replied (as I always did), with what was by all accounts, a
> very bad word (oooyahhli or somesuch). They both burst into tears, and I
> vowed never to mimic their language again). They now speak what seems
> like English, but is still uncomprehensible to other people, even though
> they fully understand each other. Bit of a problem as they start school
> soon. They spent some time in France, and can speak to each other in
> what appears to be another language, with a french tint, but is still
> unique to them...
>
>

Thanks for the update, Danny. Always good to hear the progress and
positive. As for the twins...I have an identical twin myself. I don't
think it is ever a problem for them to have a special language only they
understand when they go to school. That is usually when they begin to
lose it and seldom does it hinder their getting socialized fully. My
twin's name is (no kidding) Barry.
Bernie (or am I...) D.

Date: 01 Aug 2006 06:41:05
From: Danny
Subject: Re: sitting in a field addendum

Danny wrote:

Damn - did it again - pressed send before I finished. There might be
more....

--
Regards, Danny

http://www.gaggia-espresso.com (a purely hobby site)
http://www.malabargold.co.uk (UK/EU ordering for Malabar Gold blend)

Date: 01 Aug 2006 08:18:44
From: GeeDubb
Subject: Re: sitting in a field addendum

"Danny" <danny@nospam.gaggia-espresso.com > wrote in message
news:4j87rfF6p1m2U2@individual.net...
> Danny wrote:
>
> Damn - did it again - pressed send before I finished. There might be
> more....
>

waiting for more.......

Gary

Date: 31 Jul 2006 23:16:51
From: Johnny
Subject: Re: sitting in a field addendum

Date: 01 Aug 2006 08:45:48
From: Ken Fox
Subject: Re: sitting in a field addendum

"Johnny" <removethis.huuanito@hotmail.com > wrote in message
news:RlCzg.5654$Mz3.2568@fed1read07...
>
> "Danny" <danny@nospam.gaggia-espresso.com> wrote in message
> news:4j87rfF6p1m2U2@individual.net...
>> Danny wrote:
>>
>> Damn - did it again - pressed send before I finished. There might be
>> more....
>>
> So far so good :-)
>
>

I'll second that--

ken

Date: 02 Aug 2006 07:53:59
From: Randy R
Subject: Re: sitting in a field addendum

Danny wrote:
> Brent wrote:
> > It's an old fridge...
> >
> > Rivet in a latch that you can padlock or d-shackle closed
> >
> > Brent
> >
>
> It also has a glass door with not much plastic framing round it. Soft
> plastic that won't hold screws or rivets for long. I'm basically
> lazy, since I find a sort of solution that works fine until the day it
> doesn't, probably because on that particular day the fridge has 200
> cans and 60 litres of milk in it, lunging against the door on each
> corner :)
>
> The usual solution in these parts is two rivet a webbing strap on each
> side of the fridge with a ratchet or push connector to join them in
> front of the door when required.
>

I would make a wide strap to go all the way around it that would be
held together with that industrial strength velcro (sewed onto the
strap.)

Randy R

Date: 03 Aug 2006 20:08:49
From: Brent
Subject: Re: sitting in a field addendum

Or just get a load strap with a ratchet and treat it like freight...

(it's old after all)

Brent

>
> Danny wrote:
>> Brent wrote:
>> > It's an old fridge...
>> >
>> > Rivet in a latch that you can padlock or d-shackle closed
>> >
>> > Brent
>> >
>>
>> It also has a glass door with not much plastic framing round it. Soft
>> plastic that won't hold screws or rivets for long. I'm basically
>> lazy, since I find a sort of solution that works fine until the day it
>> doesn't, probably because on that particular day the fridge has 200
>> cans and 60 litres of milk in it, lunging against the door on each
>> corner :)
>>
>> The usual solution in these parts is two rivet a webbing strap on each
>> side of the fridge with a ratchet or push connector to join them in
>> front of the door when required.
>>
>
> I would make a wide strap to go all the way around it that would be
> held together with that industrial strength velcro (sewed onto the
> strap.)
>
> Randy R
>

Date: 03 Aug 2006 12:44:11
From: Ian Smith
Subject: Re: sitting in a field addendum

On Thu, 3 Aug 2006 20:08:49 +1200, Brent <me@privacy.net > wrote:

> Or just get a load strap with a ratchet and treat it like freight...
> (it's old after all)

Something like www.screwfix.com item 18177. Ratchet, no hooks
(despite the description) so you slip it round, pull it tightish, and
ratchet a couple of times. Six quid, inc VAT (though you'll pay for
postage if you actually buy just one from Screwfix).

As brent says, if you ratchet too much you'll risk caving in teh
sides, but with a bit of delicacy....

regards, Ian SMith
--

Date: 04 Aug 2006 15:59:33
From: Brent
Subject: Re: sitting in a field addendum

Thats what I was thinking of when I type the suggestion.

It was late, I have averaged 3 -4 hours sleep a day, I knew what I meant :)

Brent

>> Or just get a load strap with a ratchet and treat it like freight...
>> (it's old after all)
>
> Something like www.screwfix.com item 18177. Ratchet, no hooks
> (despite the description) so you slip it round, pull it tightish, and
> ratchet a couple of times. Six quid, inc VAT (though you'll pay for
> postage if you actually buy just one from Screwfix).
>
> As brent says, if you ratchet too much you'll risk caving in teh
> sides, but with a bit of delicacy....
>
> regards, Ian SMith
> --
>

Date: 04 Aug 2006 22:49:29
From: Rob van Loenhout
Subject: Re: sitting in a field addendum

"Brent" <me@privacy.net > wrote in message
news:4jfuhgF7lga4U1@individual.net...
> Thats what I was thinking of when I type the suggestion.
>
> It was late, I have averaged 3 -4 hours sleep a day, I knew what I meant
:)
>

as much as that! what are you complaining about. Least you're not getting
up 3 hours before you went to bed the nite before. ;-)

Rob

> Brent
>
>
> >> Or just get a load strap with a ratchet and treat it like freight...
> >> (it's old after all)
> >
> > Something like www.screwfix.com item 18177. Ratchet, no hooks
> > (despite the description) so you slip it round, pull it tightish, and
> > ratchet a couple of times. Six quid, inc VAT (though you'll pay for
> > postage if you actually buy just one from Screwfix).
> >
> > As brent says, if you ratchet too much you'll risk caving in teh
> > sides, but with a bit of delicacy....
> >
> > regards, Ian SMith
> > --
> >

Date: 06 Aug 2006 11:35:01
From: Brent
Subject: Re: sitting in a field addendum

Yeah but mine wasn't for a lack of trying...

Sitting at work slooowly reaching for the phone lest my head hurt to much :)

luckily I was working alone (or unluckily depending on your viewpoint)

Brent

>> Thats what I was thinking of when I type the suggestion.
>>
>> It was late, I have averaged 3 -4 hours sleep a day, I knew what I meant
> :)
>>
>
> as much as that! what are you complaining about. Least you're not getting
> up 3 hours before you went to bed the nite before. ;-)
>
> Rob
>
>
>> Brent
>>
>>
>> >> Or just get a load strap with a ratchet and treat it like freight...
>> >> (it's old after all)
>> >
>> > Something like www.screwfix.com item 18177. Ratchet, no hooks
>> > (despite the description) so you slip it round, pull it tightish, and
>> > ratchet a couple of times. Six quid, inc VAT (though you'll pay for
>> > postage if you actually buy just one from Screwfix).
>> >
>> > As brent says, if you ratchet too much you'll risk caving in teh
>> > sides, but with a bit of delicacy....
>> >
>> > regards, Ian SMith
>> > --
>> >

Date: 02 Aug 2006 06:09:15
From: Marshall
Subject: Re: sitting in a field addendum

On Tue, 01 Aug 2006 06:40:13 +0100, Danny
<danny@nospam.gaggia-espresso.com > wrote:

>Some stuff I forgot.... Best day so far. Don't understand it - not
>really busy, rained a little, but best day. Some real customers
>(machiato etc)...

Thanks, for that, Danny.

Marshall