Today I shall be Mainly...

[chinatyke]

Fixing the washing machine that I've just broken. Tried to wash a duvet in it and the drive belt broke/ burnt out by skidding on the motor pulley. Unfortunately my wife is visiting her mum in Liuzhou, about 250 miles away and won't be back until early next week, so calling out the service engineer isn't an option. That saves me 30 rmb (£3.50) but the difficulty is knowing where to obtain a 3 grooved drive belt.

The question is, how do you wash these "eiderdowns" filled with synthetic fibre? It's currently lying on the shower room floor and I'm attacking it with a hose and plenty of suds. It's 30C/86f and sunny and drying it won't be a problem.

[Marilyn]

Well aren't you a naughty boy?
Roll it and walk on it until you get enough moisture out to take it outside in the sun ( it will be heavy).
As it dries shake it like mad every hour or so, from each corner, as if your life depends on it ( because it probably does!)
it may shrink. Perhaps she won't notice...be prepared to buy a new one as well as fixing the machine.
( my husband often has bright ideas too...it's not the end of the world China)

[Moh]

Take it to the Dry cleaners in future.

[chinatyke]

Thanks, ladies. It's a super king size and it was a struggle to get it outside and onto the drying rail. Got soaked in the process but that was a welcome cooling down. Looks a lot better except for where the dye from the red piping is running. The filling is stitched in so I'm hoping it won't distort too much but I'll try shaking it when I can. We usually put it inside a duvet cover and use it for guests so maybe it will be dry and inside the cover and I won't need to own up when my wife returns, I've 3 days clear. The only thing is it probably won't be needed until next winter.
We don't have a bath, only shower rooms, or else I would have done it in the bath and walked on it. Last one I attempt, I'll buy new in future.

[Sue]

Fixing the washing machine that I've just broken. Tried to wash a duvet in it and the drive belt broke/ burnt out by skidding on the motor pulley. Unfortunately my wife is visiting her mum in Liuzhou, about 250 miles away and won't be back until early next week, so calling out the service engineer isn't an option. That saves me 30 rmb (£3.50) but the difficulty is knowing where to obtain a 3 grooved drive belt.

The question is, how do you wash these "eiderdowns" filled with synthetic fibre? It's currently lying on the shower room floor and I'm attacking it with a hose and plenty of suds. It's 30C/86f and sunny and drying it won't be a problem.

Take it to the dry cleaners or a laundrette with large industrial washing machines and driers, that's what I do.

[Stanley]

Morning Maz, that's a household tip! Last one I took to the dry cleaners cost more than the duvet was worth.



I'll be making this pretty and fitting it, then dinner and F1 quali......

[Sue]

Off to Malham for the day

[PanBiker]

Building kitchen units.

[Stanley]

Taking advantage of my new leccy tariff under which I have free power today from 9-5. I have a programme of washing and cooking worked out which will be a significant saving.
Oh, and some time in the shed as well rectifying my mistake. That involves lathe work which will also be nice as it will be free!

[Stanley]

In the shed chasing a fit on the link while the Gas Man services the CH boiler.....

[Stanley]

Apart from Normal Jack and Stanley maintenance I shall be chasing the final solution to the small problems with the winder. I have succeeded so far, what we have to do this morning is find out if this is also correct now after a re-design!

[Sue]

Sewing lesson this morning, then I shall continue with my third'princess' dress of the year. Claire bought material and pattern to make one for Erin but thought it a little difficult for her first clothes sewing venture and asked me to make it.SHE WAS RIGHT , it isn't easy!
Later I will do a little writing for Creative writing

[Stanley]

So right Sue! Bit like my present engine, it ain't easy! But like you, I shall be patient, do my best and in the end achieve a result. What a good job our kids have us for a backstop......
If you are like me, writing is good for you. It helps you to get a focus on other matters.

[Sue]

Boy was that dress difficult. The material frayed and got caught in the machine whilst sewing. It also had a mind of its own slipping sliding in every direction. However it just needs hemming and a bit of bling tape on the overskirt and it's finished.

The forecast for the morning is poor so we are undecided about going walking with the group. I never mind walking in the rain but prefer not to start when it is already raining.

The writing topic of the month was Celebration ...Claire's wedding came to mind. However I have not been inspired recently. I am not a natural story teller and prefer to write facts. Recently the group have been getting their topics from a writing internet site. The titles are obviously aimed at budding fiction novelists. That is just not me!

[chinatyke]

I'm celebrating the repairs to my washing machine. New drive belt fixed and working normally again. Cost was £8.14 for a new belt and £3.50 for the engineer's charges (2 visits). I built a small wall whilst my wife was away so I told her the washer broke when I tried to mix the mortar in it. So far she hasn't said anything but I saw her looking up 'mortar' on the on-line translator...

[Marilyn]

You must have a death wish, China.
She will chop you off at the knees when she finds you have mangled the quilt!

[chinatyke]

You must have a death wish, China.
She will chop you off at the knees when she finds you have mangled the quilt!

The quilt survived and dried perfectly with the good shakings it got, thanks for the advice ladies. She's been giving me puzzled glances but won't say anything in case it makes her look silly, you know the Chinese and this fear of 'losing face.'

[Marilyn]

you are so cruel, China.
I hope she gets you back, "good and proper".

[Stanley]

Cruel? All he did was wash the quilt and repair the washing machine. Give him a break!
Sue, that wouldn't do for me either, I have to be a self-starter .......

[Marilyn]

No Stanley, he is teasing his wife by saying he was mixing mortar in the washing machine to build a wall. ( she had to look up mortar on her translator. ).
I don't think he has even owned up about the quilt yet...but she WILL know something has happened to it next time she changes the cover.
Husbands are such sneaky people!

[Sue]

The walk was cancelled due to rain which started heavily in Rossendale, our destination, before we started.

The dress is finished. I spent the afternoon reorganising my sewing room having bought two stacking plastic drawer sets from Dunelm. No everything has a place and I no longer have boxes reaching for the ceiling.

In anticipation of a summer to come today I will cut out a summer dress, having made my toile and done the fitting at my sewing lesson the other day. I bought the material at the fabric shop in the Weavers triangle in Burnley and can't wait to get it started.
This afternoon is writing and this evening yoga. My Tuesday lesson has been cancelled as the class was too small so it's back to Thursday at 8.00. I much preferred the earlier class on Tuesday but apparently it is too early for most people as they work and have young families. I am the only old doddery pensioner!

[Stanley]

"old doddery pensioner!"? I don't think so Sue, That's more likely to apply to the younger ones! I agree about efficient storage space. Amazing how much room you can make for even more clutter.....
It's shopping day today and I shall also be picking up my new 10kg bag of dried peas. That could last me out! Then there is watchmaking in the shed of course.

[Sue]

We may have a trip to Manchester on the tram today. This afternoon we are having our usual Friday ,meal with friends followed by the U3A wine appreciation meeting which is being held at their house this time


As for old doddery pensioner I may feel like it tomorrow when the stretching and bending muscles start aching. Luckily it's not much now as the old body is getting accustomed to it now.

[Big Kev]

Taking photographs from Ben Nevis, visibility permitting. Went up to Steall Falls yesterday.

[Wendyf]

No visibility here this morning Kev, hope it's better for you!
History society stuff this morning, preparing a display of railway photos for the Community Centre Spring Fair at the end of the month. Pendle Forest Model Railway Society will have their model of Earby Station on display there.
http://www.pfmrs.org.uk/?page_id=58