Today I shall be Mainly...

[Stanley]

Today I get back into making the next Stuart Number 9 engine. A welcome change as it is relatively enormous! My first job was to tidy all the remaining evidence I had been working on wobblers and then get out the castings and parts for the No. 9. I suppose a good Puritan would have started back in by doing hand work on the bed casting but instead I decided to treat myself and do the rough turning on the flywheel. As you can see I have done one side and bored for the crankshaft it will eventually fit on. Now I need breakfast!

[Sue]

Morning

Not as sunny today but still dry. I actually had to water my pots of plants yesterday as they have dried out. I had a busy day, finishing the toile for Janes dress, washed, ironed and spent a few hours in the garden. I now have only a few plants left in the greenhouse and hopefully they will be ready for planting in the garden before we go to France in 10 days

This morning I have pilates and this evening yoga. If Jane doesn’t come over to try on her toile we will probably walk down to the bank to pay in yesterdays mammoth takings from the park. We have a busy week ahead of us with dental and Christies appointments as well as all the usual stuff so today may be the only chance we have.

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Morning Sue, I'm glad Bob had a good day at the park! Have a good day today. I shall be hoping to get vaccinated and get my meds. The way things are nowadays you can't be sure.

[Stanley]

It took a shade over 2 hours to walk a mile and get my meds, a vaccination and a salad butty. The vaccination bus was late and ran out of jabs, it took Well almost half an hour to find my meds and eventually a van turned up from Nelson with 50 more vials of vaccine.The bottom line is that I have my meds and vaccination, but it wasn't easy!

[PanBiker]

It was worse than you think Stanley your journey was only a half mile as long as you went the direct route, your distance perception must be a bit off. At least it was fine for you and I hope you don't get any after effects from the jab.

[Stanley]

I didn't know I was being checked..... It's your perception of distance that's off if you think it was only half a mile but who's counting?

[PanBiker]

Nowt wrong with my distance perception Stanley I can assure you.

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed as usual enjoying straight turning of my flywheel after the purgatory of the wobblers!
Then my main task for the rest of the day is to look after myself. That Covid jab yesterday was a savage little beggar!

[Stanley]

Only one image needed. I finished the initial turning of the flywheel and finished up with it being a perfect match to the crankshaft. Then I had a good clean up of the lathe and the bench and I am ready to do the hand fettling of the spokes tomorrow. Right now I want breakfast.

[Sue]

Morning

We didn’t get to the bank yesterday as we were not sure if Jane was calling round. Instead I sewed and Bob was in his workshop. This morning is a dental checkup for both of us and then we may walk into town. It will be a late lunch if we do. I have pilates and yoga in the studio at 5.15.

Thats it for the day, have a good one.

[Stanley]

I hope the dental check-up doesn't require any action or uncomfortable treatment. I have never lost my fear of dentists and am so glad I have managed to get this far without needing them!
I hope you have a good day....

[Big Kev]

Having a wander around Kiel, Germany after two days at sea. The day started overcast but it's warm (20 degrees) and the sun is breaking through

[Gloria]

Having a wander around Kiel, Germany after two days at sea. The day started overcast but it's warm (20 degrees) and the sun is breaking through

Are you on Caribbean Princess?

[Stanley]

Do you go through the Kiel Canal Kev?

[Big Kev]

Do you go through the Kiel Canal Kev?

Nay Gloria, the ship is too big. We've been for a wander around and went to the Zoological Museum. Got to be back on for 4pm then we're off to Helsinki

[Gloria]

Do you go through the Kiel Canal Kev?

Nay Gloria, the ship is too big. We've been for a wander around and went to the Zoological Museum. Got to be back on for 4pm then we're off to Helsinki

No Kev, I asked if you were on Caribbean Princess.

[Stanley]

He's been bar crawling in Kiel Gloria.....
I shall be in the shed at 06:00 and will be hand filing my flywheel to get it ready for painting. Than I can move on to the bed.
That's going to be it for the day as we are promised wall to wall rain.

[Sue]

Morning

Up and out early, we have to be at Christies for 9.00 for a CT scan. We must leave by 7.15 am or get stuck on the M60.

Dental appointment OK, just a clean and no treatment needed….at last.

Rain today, have a good day all

[Stanley]

So pleased to hear that you had a clear run at the dentists. Best of luck to Bob for his scan and I hope you managed to dodge the traffic.



Rough dirty work this morning fettling castings using files and the grinding wheel. I spent 45 minutes on the flywheel, the bed and the base and effected an improvement but still lots to do. Nasty but essential.

[Tripps]

Simply too much going on today.

I've an auction to attend of the first property we ever owned. That will be a bit emotional. I'd love to buy it - it would be almost poetic in a circular sort of way - but the lease is now too short, and the "Modern method of auction" has no appeal.

I've got the Oldham Council Annual meeting to supervise at noon. That should be good - the backroom manoueverings make Machiavelli look like a beginner. Labour have lost overall control, but seem anxious to cling on to the leadership.

I've got to supervise the Post Office enquiry too. Ms Vennels has been in tears already. Quite touching.

My new book Caliban Shrieks by the man who might have been Oldham's answer to George Orwell has arrived.

All done without moving from this chair.

PS there is an audience of just one for the mayor making ceremony. That would be me then.

[Stanley]

"Ms Vennels has been in tears already. Quite touching. "
Do I detect a hint of irony here David? I watched a bit of it and soon gave up, disgusted by the crocodile tears and the fact that she has obviously been schooled by someone who specialises in advising on how to give evidence without incriminating yourself. (That must be a growth industry these days!)
Like a good peasant I shall be in the shed using files and hand work to clean up my castings. After second sleep I shall be cowering indoors to avoid getting wet. Gone are the days when I put on full wet weather gear and sallied forth with the dog to get our miles in!
I shall think of you safeguarding Oldham's democracy by witnessing the council meetings, I don't know how you have the patience but it's a good job someone does. I remember Ken's assiduous reading of the Council reports and us learning fascinating things about the planning process from his reports....

[Stanley]

More work on the bed casting. Today, mainly on the milling machine. I touched up the everyday cutter but also used a much longer cutter for the face of the target end. I am ready now to mill out the beds for the crankshaft bearings.... But the immediate focus is breakfast!

[Sue]

Morning

It was a horrendous drive to Christies, driving rain and mist, and rush hour traffic creating a huge splash zone. It took us one hour 40 minutes but we arrived early enough to have a coffee before the appointment. We were home by 12.30, a much faster return journey having called for my prescription on the way. . I made a summer top in the afternoon, and Jane arrived just after 3 to try on her dress toile. The dress pattern needs tweaking a bit which I will do today after art.

It’s art this morning then a quick trip to the dentist to get a detailed receipt for my visit the other day so we can claim some of it back through a health insurance cover.

It promises to be wet but not as bad as yesterday. Hace a good day

[Stanley]

Well done for getting to Christies on time despite the weather and the traffic. Pity you weren't driving the vaccination bus on Monday./...
Not sure if we are having a better day or an amber warning spell of weather like you. I shall go to bed and see what it's like after I have had a sleep.
I hope you have a good day..... see you later.

[Big Kev]

Do you go through the Kiel Canal Kev?

Nay Gloria, the ship is too big. We've been for a wander around and went to the Zoological Museum. Got to be back on for 4pm then we're off to Helsinki

No Kev, I asked if you were on Caribbean Princess.

So you did, sorry

We're on the P&O Aurora.