Things you never see anymore

[Flamey]

On 01/06/2026 at 09:52, Trav Le Bleu said:

Thrushes occasionally (redwings in winter) but the only birds of prey I see here are red kites and sparrowhawks. Never even heard an owl round here, are urban owls common?

Probably not common ..but I was surprised by one landing on my fence a few nights before posting so they were on my mind!  I hear them often round here (nr Ashby) but I don't actually see them very often. Amazing creatures. 🙌🏼

[DJW1]

15 hours ago, The Bear said:

Have you ever been around Heather (just outside Ibstock) when they do those stuffed guys that they all put out on their fronts? And people walk round the estate looking at them. No idea what it's about but I used to drive home from work that way and they had it every year. 

Is that for Bonfire Night? Perhaps I´ll drive over for a look. 

I see Sence Valley Forest Park and Kelham Bridge Nature Reserve are near Heather and Ibstock. Anyone ever been?

[Trav Le Bleu]

1 hour ago, Flamey said:

Probably not common ..but I was surprised by one landing on my fence a few nights before posting so they were on my mind!  I hear them often round here (nr Ashby) but I don't actually see them very often. Amazing creatures. 🙌🏼

Did a bit of research and owls are moving into cities, usually in parks and churches. Like the peregrines nesting on the cathedral.

[The Bear]

3 hours ago, DJW1 said:

Is that for Bonfire Night? Perhaps I´ll drive over for a look. 

I see Sence Valley Forest Park and Kelham Bridge Nature Reserve are near Heather and Ibstock. Anyone ever been?

I've just googled as I couldn't remember, and it's called the Heather Scarecrow Festival which runs 2nd - 9th August. 

 

Write up and pictures here:

 

https://www.heatherscarecrowfestival.com/

Edited 4 June by The Bear

[Stuntman_Mike]

[filbertway]

44 minutes ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

Nothing like wiping your hands, feeling the damp and realising it's at the end and you're wiping your hands in the same place 20 other people have

 

[DJW1]

1 hour ago, The Bear said:

I've just googled as I couldn't remember, and it's called the Heather Scarecrow Festival which runs 2nd - 9th August. 

 

Write up and pictures here:

 

https://www.heatherscarecrowfestival.com/

Thanks for the info. If I´m in the area, I´ll look out for it

[Trav Le Bleu]

10 hours ago, The Bear said:

I've just googled as I couldn't remember, and it's called the Heather Scarecrow Festival which runs 2nd - 9th August. 

 

Write up and pictures here:

 

https://www.heatherscarecrowfestival.com/

Lubenham also has one. There's many more across the country, not just Leicester.

[ajthefox]

On 04/06/2026 at 16:52, filbertway said:

Nothing like wiping your hands, feeling the damp and realising it's at the end and you're wiping your hands in the same place 20 other people have

 

Why was this rancid thing ever considered a good idea 

[FoyleFox]

On 04/06/2026 at 12:45, DJW1 said:

Is that for Bonfire Night? Perhaps I´ll drive over for a look. 

I see Sence Valley Forest Park and Kelham Bridge Nature Reserve are near Heather and Ibstock. Anyone ever been?

I used to go to Scence Valley reasonably often, they've done a good job creating a pretty nature area. I've not been for a couple of years but assume it's still nice. 

[DJW1]

1 hour ago, FoyleFox said:

I used to go to Scence Valley reasonably often, they've done a good job creating a pretty nature area. I've not been for a couple of years but assume it's still nice. 

Thanks 

I'll go over there some time, with my binoculars

 

[davieG]

Heavy leather, muddy boots and ball, long socks, short trousers (not sports shorts), smoking chimneys,  playing safely outside within view of the houses

[davieG]

2 hours ago, davieG said:

Heavy leather, muddy boots and ball, long socks, short trousers (not sports shorts), smoking chimneys,  playing safely outside within view of the houses

...and a right rollicking and clip around the ear for being muddy and messing the house up when you got home.

[davieG]

 

Remember do this, but being picked to play the hooker in rugby game and avoiding coming last in the run around Viccy Park so I didn't get the rubber sole of a plimsol across my arse was worse.

[worthosoriginals]

On 09/06/2026 at 17:17, davieG said:

 

Remember do this, but being picked to play the hooker in rugby game and avoiding coming last in the run around Viccy Park so I didn't get the rubber sole of a plimsol across my arse was worse.

You were lucky to live int shoe box, we used to dream of that 

[DJW1]

Telephone numbers to ring and hear the latest cricket scores

[davieG]

44 minutes ago, DJW1 said:

Telephone numbers to ring and hear the latest cricket scores

Do you remember Dial-A-Disc?
Holly Conquer | September 28, 2022

Dial-a-Disc was a telephone service provided by the Post Office for 25 years, from 1966 until 1991. 

It enabled callers to hear the latest hit records - it could be seen as the first iteration of on-demand music streaming.

How did it work?

After dialling either 16 or 160, you would be connected to the audio coming from an 'EA9' (Equipment Announcer) tape machine. They were capable of playing 4 minutes worth of tape and played on an endless loop.

This meant that you were likely to start the call mid song!

It was possible to stay on the line for a number of loops, which could rack up a hefty phone bill.

At the service's peak in the early 80s, it was bringing in over 200 million calls per year!

Here is a video where you can experience (or re-experience!) what would happen when you dialled 160...

Dial-a-Disc played one song a day - the top 7 records in the charts that week.

This was soon increased to the top 8 by playing two records on a Sunday.

 

 

https://atlasrecords.co.uk/blogs/all-about-vinyl/do-you-remember-dial-a-disc?srsltid=AfmBOorNkVk4-e5TRs7ZeGi41jyMKepCWpfe3XYE9FCfZBRQ-3JQiTd7

[Trav Le Bleu]

Russell Martin Curling Tongs.

 

 

 

 

Or do I mean Hobbs

[MPH]

On 04/06/2026 at 11:52, filbertway said:

Nothing like wiping your hands, feeling the damp and realising it's at the end and you're wiping your hands in the same place 20 other people have

 

 

leaving the toilets HOPING it was water on the towel…

[MPH]

1 hour ago, DJW1 said:

Telephone numbers to ring and hear the latest cricket scores

 

0898 12 11 85.  Should have been the only number you were calling..

[DJW1]

8 hours ago, davieG said:

Do you remember Dial-A-Disc?
Holly Conquer | September 28, 2022

Dial-a-Disc was a telephone service provided by the Post Office for 25 years, from 1966 until 1991. 

It enabled callers to hear the latest hit records - it could be seen as the first iteration of on-demand music streaming.

How did it work?

After dialling either 16 or 160, you would be connected to the audio coming from an 'EA9' (Equipment Announcer) tape machine. They were capable of playing 4 minutes worth of tape and played on an endless loop.

This meant that you were likely to start the call mid song!

It was possible to stay on the line for a number of loops, which could rack up a hefty phone bill.

At the service's peak in the early 80s, it was bringing in over 200 million calls per year!

Here is a video where you can experience (or re-experience!) what would happen when you dialled 160...

Dial-a-Disc played one song a day - the top 7 records in the charts that week.

This was soon increased to the top 8 by playing two records on a Sunday.

 

 

https://atlasrecords.co.uk/blogs/all-about-vinyl/do-you-remember-dial-a-disc?srsltid=AfmBOorNkVk4-e5TRs7ZeGi41jyMKepCWpfe3XYE9FCfZBRQ-3JQiTd7

I used it occasionally, to hear the hits of Mud, The Rubettes and, er, Gary Glitter

[davieG]

1 hour ago, DJW1 said:

I used it occasionally, to hear the hits of Mud, The Rubettes and, er, Gary Glitter

My use was out of curiosity it was such unique option when you've more less been used to Radio Luxembourg or a booth in a record shop and Juke Box Jury if you were rich enough to afford a TV to hear stuff.

[DJW1]

11 hours ago, MPH said:

 

0898 12 11 85.  Should have been the only number you were calling..

To check whether Marc North and Tony Spearing were in the team 😃

[filthyfox]

On 25/05/2026 at 21:25, Sly said:

You can get the battery screwdrivers on Amazon. They just come with a really long slong to get into tight places. 

I've got one of those!

[Likely Fox]

Cheap beer 🍻