iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Those service vans are interesting! I thought I remember reading somewhere that Dealer Team Vauxhall had a Bedford CF service van with a V8 in it back in the Chevette HS rallying days - but can't find any reference to it online.

010

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

FORTH is absolutely amazing. The fact that the whole of FORTH can be written in FORTH amazes me. What were you programming when you used it commercially?

111

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Interessant, Danke! Das muss ich mir merken 😀

000

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I think it has to do with online purchases being able to be returned with no questions asked. It must be prohibitively expensive for them to test components which may, or may not be damaged. I used to buy from RS, but after several years I placed an order and they closed the account.

010

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Indeed! It seems they were defunct for many years, but according to Wikipedia, the current owners have revived the brand. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pifco

en.wikipedia.org

Pifco - Wikipedia

110

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Sadly, Farnell in Germany only sell B2B. You cannot buy from them unless you have a business (or are a student).

200

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Pifco stuff was everywhere in the 70s and early 80s! As for repairing stuff, I remember Dad changing the element in our Russell Hobbs electric kettle a few times before it eventually rusted through!

110

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

It has become nigh on impossible to get leaded solder here, so I did try some of the lead free stuff. Multicore is tolerable, but I have a reasonable stock of leaded solder, which is far preferable for hand soldering. The lead free stuff melts more slowly, needs more heat and doesn't flow as well.

110

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Georestricted unfortunately, but I have seen similar in the past.

110

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Difficult (impossible) to read the number, maybe D9000 (Royal Scots Grey)? Before it was named though!

120

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Cleaned it with Acetone by the look of it!

120

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Thought it might be! Many moons ago, before I moved to DL, I went to a German evening class in Basildon. We were sometimes late starting if the flight from Köln was late, as otherwise a significant number of people were missing!

110

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Anything I guess would be wildly inaccurate I'm sure! I'd have gone for about 4.99 - which I see is (as predicted) wildly innaccurate!

000

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

A cursory search has found nothing unfortunately - I fear that maybe it was just a studio prop?

110

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I wondered if it might have been one of her records - but according to a quick online search her recording career didn't begin until 1928 - so I guess we will never know!

110

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Danger, Will Robinson - DANGER! Naturally accompanied by manic arm waving and flashing lights. We got re-runs on Sunday afternoons in the 80s!

010

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I'd second Pritt Stick (or UHU Stic if that's easier to get) - I have used them in the past.

120

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Maybe I didn't have it so bad...

210

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Or when the Pitch flooded, and "British Bulldog" was the only game that sort of worked 🥶

110

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I absolutely hated having to play skins!

100

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Oh yes - Frisbees. JIMMYYYYYY! That and the screaming in "Apaches" when the girl drinks the poison. It's a wonder we weren't traumatised!

010

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Absolutely - Tantalisingly warm outside, with insides hot as lava!

110

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Ooooh! I loved these as a child. I expect they would be monumentally disappointing today. (Assuming they are even still available?)

110

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

For goodness sake! An IP54 surface mounted junction box literally costs less than a Euro.

110

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

I'm very sorry to hear that Guy.

030

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Undoubtedly! It's still shocking though. (Pun partially intended).

000

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Actually, that's horrific and I am certain that doesn't meet the wiring standards anywhere in Western Europe. Aside from the IEC or DIN norms, even Wago's own website says their connectors need to be mounted inside a suitable enclosure.

110

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

I've only scanned the manual, but it looks like quite a reasonable Forth implementation.

110

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

There were several sequels. "Everyone's a Wally" being the best IMHO. There was also "Herbert's Dummy Run" and "Three Weeks in Paradise". However, I think Pyjamarama was the best overall. Challenging, but doable.

010

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

FWIW, it's an excellent game. You have to wake the main character up from his dream, so he isn't late for work. It includes snapping plants, flying axes, a balloon ride, rocket to the moon and a lift. What's not to like?!?

110

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

If memory serves me correctly, there was quite a noticable slowdown on the Speccy version too. It was only this room, that had so many sprites. (The moon came close, but I don't think it had the falling items).

150

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Fascinating article - At least as much of it as I could read!

120

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

The very first Wally Week game. I knew it as "Automania" though.

111

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Looks like Rock-a-Nore, Hastings. Those old Fordsons are pretty much indestructable. Pretty much everything can be rebuilt and parts are still available. It looks like that one has had a new injection pump in the relatively recent past. Having said that, changing a clutch on one is a fun job!

010

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Absolutely - I don't think they were on the market for that long if memory serves me correctly. The next washing machine we had, came with the traditional mechanical knob. I seem to remember, it lasted longer too.

020

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

My Mum had a Keymatic too - Speaking to a Hoover service guy years later, he reckoned they were very complicated which made servicing them very difficult. It was basically an analogue computer - Depending upon which programme was selected, the plastic cards would make or break contacts.

120

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

30°C is still pretty horrendous. Currently, it's 39°C here 🥵

100

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

I was tempted to do that with my Spectrum Emulator, but haven't got around to it. The Jupiter Ace was another machine I contemplated emulating.

110

Robert - DL3RR @robertdl3rr.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

This is one of his relatively early songs - "Rain on the Scarecrow". It's from 1985 and obviously American, but the subject matter is just as relevant today as it was then: www.youtube.com/watch?v=joNz...

youtube.com

John Mellencamp - Rain On The Scarecrow

YouTube video by JohnMellencampVEVO

100