The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 04: Come On In

[oggbashan]

Never went to FlatHolm. Gloucester folk never venture into Wales if they can help it!

You're right about the foghorn; I reckon it could be heard in both Somerset and South Wales on a still night.

An added point HP. How many people on Lit do you reckon would know about FlatHolm's part in Radio History?

Or St Margaret's Bay in Kent and Wimereux , north of Boulogne in France. They are linked by radio experiments and by a memorial to the First World War Dover Patrol (as is Battery Park, New York). The Dover Patrol Memorials are unusual because they give the dates of the war as 1914-1919. Several members of the Dover Patrol died minesweeping in 1919.

St Margaret's Bay is also famous in telecommunications. The first cross-channel cable ran from there. There used to be a BT hut by the cable termination. I often stopped there for a decent cup of coffee.

 

[ElectricBlue]

St Margaret's Bay is also famous in telecommunications. The first cross-channel cable ran from there. There used to be a BT hut by the cable termination. I often stopped there for a decent cup of coffee.

Coffee by cable from France? How did they pour it down the wire?

 

[oggbashan]

Coffee by cable from France? How did they pour it down the wire?

The BT engineers and the Dutch engineers used to visit each other frequently. The hut was well equipped with imported coffee and alcohol. The Dutch end had barrels of English beer and Darjeeling tea.

 

[Handley_Page]

Coffee by cable from France? How did they pour it down the wire?

You'll be aware of Star Trek's 'teleportation' device ?
Well, back in the day, experiments of all kinds were conducted in all manner of obscure locations, usually on the coast. Rumour has it that these experiments included a means of getting a cup of drinkable hot coffee from point A to point B.
Records of the experiments are still classified for the most part but it was recorded that one cup of drinkable coffee was successfully transmitted across the Menai straight.

Would that the technology still existed. I could use a decent coffee right now. . . . .

 

[Voboy]

My coffee this morning sucked. I can't figure out why; I made it the same way I always do. Today, it just didn't come out right.

Blehh. I should have asked a Dutch wireman, apparently.

 

[Handley_Page]

My coffee this morning sucked. I can't figure out why; I made it the same way I always do. Today, it just didn't come out right.

Blehh. I should have asked a Dutch wireman, apparently.

You mean - as opposed to ' blowed '

 

[NotWise]

With a big enough steak . . . yeah.

But there's a steak place we like (fortunately for my waistline, four hours away) that does amazing BBQ mushrooms and grilled artichokes.

I had to look up grilled artichokes. They sound good.

At home, we'll occasionally do the grilled artichoke thing, or corn in the husk on the same grill. Or if we're feeling totally old school, creamed spinach.

Corn in the husk is good, but I wouldn't touch creamed spinach with a ten-foot fork.

If I want to be totally decadent, I'll add a glass or two of a good wine. But beer, or good coffee works, too.

Wine is decadent? Oh No!

 

[Javahead]

I had to look up grilled artichokes. They sound good.

...

Wine is decadent? Oh No!

They are.

I have low standards of decadence, I guess. Why, my harem has only a single member!

 

[Handley_Page]

They are.

I have low standards of decadence, I guess. Why, my harem has only a single member!

It's a Good Thing to have only one.
I couldn't handle more. . . .

 

[Javahead]

It's a Good Thing to have only one.
I couldn't handle more. . . .

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

 

[TxRad]

I have low standards of decadence, I guess. Why, my harem has only a single member!

It's a Good Thing to have only one.
I couldn't handle more. . . .

Uh... Don't mind me, I'm just making fresh coffee.

 

[_Lynn_]

Drove into town for an appointment only to get there and discover they cancelled it. Apparently their automated system called me in June but didn't leave a message or call back. June?? Really? It's August.

 

[TxRad]

Drove into town for an appointment only to get there and discover they cancelled it. Apparently their automated system called me in June but didn't leave a message or call back. June?? Really? It's August.

Yet, one of the local hospitals got over 66,000 robocalls in three months.

Look at all that fresh air and fresh sights you got to see on the round trip.

 

[_Lynn_]

Yet, one of the local hospitals got over 66,000 robocalls in three months.

Look at all that fresh air and fresh sights you got to see on the round trip.

I stopped to get groceries. The store has a Buy 2 Get 3 Free sale. Always a good time to stock up on things like bacon, sausage, detergent, and even Dr Pepper.

 

[Javahead]

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

It's a Good Thing to have only one.
I couldn't handle more. . . .

They are.

I have low standards of decadence, I guess. Why, my harem has only a single member!

Uh... Don't mind me, I'm just making fresh coffee.

Foghorn Leghorn voice: Ah say! Ah say there! T-t-t-that's a joke son!

I've called M'lady my one-woman harem for years. I don't try to expand, and she keeps me. I'm good with that.

 

[Handley_Page]

Foghorn Leghorn voice: Ah say! Ah say there! T-t-t-that's a joke son!

I've called M'lady my one-woman harem for years. I don't try to expand, and she keeps me. I'm good with that.

I found it the best policy, myself.

I had my jab against Shingles the other day (we get it fee if you are over 50).
The jab still hurts !

But now - Coffee

 

[oggbashan]

Drove into town for an appointment only to get there and discover they cancelled it. Apparently their automated system called me in June but didn't leave a message or call back. June?? Really? It's August.

I have automated calls reminding me of appointments. They can never pronounce my real name correctly. If I want to change or query an appointment I have to work through a voice-operated telephone selection service and usually fail.

Why? My appointment is with a speech therapist to try to improve the intelligibility of my speech. Even before my voice deteriorated automated telephone voice-operated systems didn't like a basso profundo. They work best with contralto voices.

 

[TxRad]

Coffee is now available. There might even be a few sweet rolls on the counter is you get there before HP.

Busy day today and I will be away over the weekend.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I thought I might have a brain tumor, but I was just drinking my Dunkies frozen coffee too fast.

 

[Handley_Page]

Drove into town for an appointment only to get there and discover they cancelled it. Apparently their automated system called me in June but didn't leave a message or call back. June?? Really? It's August.

I have automated calls reminding me of appointments. They can never pronounce my real name correctly. If I want to change or query an appointment I have to work through a voice-operated telephone selection service and usually fail.
me

I hate this concept of an "automated system", because the vendors (??) seem to assume that EVERYBODY has a modern mobile phone (a similar problem exists with them sending me a Post Code rather than a complete address, because "everyone has GPS on their 'phone, don't they"), and they cannot be bothered to post a confirmation letter to me.

I got a letter this morning telling me I had an appointment at the local dermatological clinic. Then I realised that it wasn't for me and some buffoon (or magic computer) had put my address on the letter.
Strangely enough, they want me to return the letter by post; apparently, a telephone call is insufficient.

 

[NightSailor]

It's Friday US EST. Job interview in 2 hours. Screw coffee. I'm going for a Balvenie 12 Year Old DoubleWood when this is over....

 

[Javahead]

I had my jab against Shingles the other day (we get it fee if you are over 50).
The jab still hurts !

But now - Coffee

Did that last week myself. A man seldom has a chance for that much fun, does he? It was five or six days before the ache was totally gone.

But coffee - or Coffee - is always good.

 

[Javahead]

I hate this concept of an "automated system", because the vendors (??) seem to assume that EVERYBODY has a modern mobile phone (a similar problem exists with them sending me a Post Code rather than a complete address, because "everyone has GPS on their 'phone, don't they"), and they cannot be bothered to post a confirmation letter to me.

Just try to use an automated phone over an office IP phone setup like my employer has. Messes up the voice recognition and the keypad recognition - and this was a government required task I had to complete for work. After the fourth dropout, I used my personal phone instead. I’d have preferred a website - but they don’t allow that. You must traverse a dozen levels of voice menus, THEN speak with the drone they route you to. Pfui.

 

[Javahead]

It's Friday US EST. Job interview in 2 hours. Screw coffee. I'm going for a Balvenie 12 Year Old DoubleWood when this is over....

Good luck. Hopefully you’ll be celebrating rather than drowning your sorrows.

 

[Jackba57]

I can’t get my story approved for the life of me. The grammar and English comp police won’t approve it. Can I post it here?