Today I shall be Mainly...

[Stanley]

Morning Sue, looks like a better day so far!
I have had a spell in the shed .



I have made the piston, fitted it on the rod and fitted it in the piston. At the same time I adjusted the back lid to make it a better fit on the cylinder. No gaskets fitted yet. The next move is the steam chest, lid and valve but that's for tomorrow.
One other matter... It's a good idea to read the instructions... I don't often use the main oven and set it on the wrong setting, I had told it to defrost the chicken. I have read the instructions and it's now cooking! It will be cooked by noon which is plenty soon enough.

[Stanley]

Heading for the shed and an oasis of sanity in a troubled world. It's a good forecast so It looks as though my sit on the bench is tied on later....

[Sue]

Morning

Yesterday, in general, went well, lots of small jobs done and the afternoon was spent in Clitheroe. I did not go to Bacup market as I had an attack of gut problems and need to be near the loo until my medication kicked in but by lunchtime I was fine.

I have a few plans for today. I have zoom art with Briony after breakfast, and a bit of washing to do. I like to clear the wash basket at the weekend! I did the ironing yesterday whilst I was ironing my freshly washed linen fabric ready to cut out my jacket. So cutting out is on the cards, but I also have some summer bulbs that need planting ( plant January to May) As I bought them on the market at Bacup about three weeks ago. They will start sprouting in the packet soon. The front garden still has a layer of mushy leaves on it that needs removing and I think it is time I started digging in the thick layer of manure we had delivered last October, which was spread on the surface of the soil. The mental pull is to cut out the jacket but the bulbs really need planting. We won’t go walking as the dell will be busy and the moorland paths still very soggy in deed

Enjoy your day

[Stanley]

You'll feel very virtuous Sue if you have a day out in the garden in the sun. You'll also get the benefit of knowing that you have had at least as much exercise as you would have got walking.



Closing time. Tidy cylinder lids, steam chest lid drilled and that pattern transferred to the cylinder. Tomorrow I shall tap those holes, transfer the pattern to the steam chest casting and modify the steam entry to the same pattern as the exhaust. I think we've done good work. Quiet progress. (Note the staggered drilling of the lid and cylinder. This means the stud next to the exhaust has a full hold in the casting.)

[Big Kev]

I may do some more shopping today, I bought two cotton jumpers, from C&A in Fuerteventura, yesterday. The transaction on my card showed £8.36, what a bargain!
Can't buy too much though or I'll need to get more baggage

[Sue]

I may do some more shopping today, I bought two cotton jumpers, from C&A in Fuerteventura, yesterday. The transaction on my card showed £8.36, what a bargain!
Can't buy too much though or I'll need to get more baggage

I mis C&A. There is one in St Malo that we often go to when we ate killing time before an evening ferry home. Are you on your cruise now Kev

[Big Kev]

I may do some more shopping today, I bought two cotton jumpers, from C&A in Fuerteventura, yesterday. The transaction on my card showed £8.36, what a bargain!
Can't buy too much though or I'll need to get more baggage

I mis C&A. There is one in St Malo that we often go to when we ate killing time before an evening ferry home. Are you on your cruise now Kev

I am, day 8 today. It's been relaxing.

[Sue]

Two months to ours...
Hope nothing stops it happening

[Stanley]

My mother always called C&A 'Coats and 'Ats'.
I shall spend two hours in the shed drilling and tapping and fitting my steam pipe and chest.
I see no prospect of a walk as we are promised wall to wall rain all day. We shall see later.

[Sue]

Morning

Busy day and lovely yesterday. It really felt like Spring. Today, as forecast is damp and chilly. I did washing which dried outside, planted my summer bulbs and some potatoes. I cleared the leaves from the front garden and picked up some storm debris, twigs etc and did an initial dig in of the manure. It all looks so much better. Bob put the pond filter on but there was no sign of fish. I think the two visits we saw of the heron cleared them off. We shall restock when the weather is better and possibly cover the surface of the pond with a net.

Later I cut out my jacket and started assembly, but soon reached a hiccup. So this afternoon I will pop up to Maxine's to try and resolve the dilemmas . I have pilates and yoga this morning and am expecting the phone call from my GP. This evening is art. No doubt I will keep apace with the news which I find very depressing and frightening

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

"the news which I find very depressing and frightening"
As do I and anyone with any sense. I'm not saying I am more sensitive than others but I remember what WW2 was like and this could end up being as bad as that if the escalation continues. You are right to see it as serious Sue.



This was knocking off time, the steam chest is nearer to fitting, there are fitting witness marks on the chest and the lid. I shall have a think and decide where to go now. I think it will be to drill and tap for the studs that fit the steam chest and lid to the cylinder. Quiet careful work and no mistakes..... I deserve my breakfast and second sleep.

[Stanley]

This morning a short spell in the shed, followed by an early sleep and then get scrubbed up for an appointment with the doctor at 11:00. I could combine that with bookie watch as the forecast is good.

[Sue]

Morning

I waited all day for my phone call from the GP, in fact I phoned at 1.30 pm to ask where it was as I was told before 1.00pm. After some discussion I was told she would phone in the afternoon. I said I had to go out so it was agreed after 4.00 pm. At 6.15 pm I received a phone call from an entirely different GP, who apologised for having missed me in the morning. Anyway the outcome is an appointment this morning at 11.00a.m. My own long standing GP I find has retired, which was a shock.

This morning then I have a GP appointment followed by lunch with my sewing friends. We meet at the garden centre so I shall probably browse the veggie seeds and stock up. Its nearly seed planting season . Following my discussion with Maxine yesterday afternoon I can now tackle some of the dilemmas I had with my jacket so may do a bit of that later. Its pilates and yoga this evening

It promises to be a dry, sunny, but cool day. Have a good one

[Stanley]

Snap Sue.... I see my doc at 11AM and that's why I am out of the shed early, I have to have time to scrub up as I am expecting some fairly fundamental examinations......



Knocking off time. The studs match the steam chest drillings and the lid has been drilled to clearance size. The steam chest is ready for fitting when I get to that stage. Next job is to make and fit the valve rod gland.

[Big Kev]

Two months to ours...
Hope nothing stops it happening

Where you going?

[Sue]

Two months to ours...
Hope nothing stops it happening

Where you going?

On the Douro river in Portugal

[Big Kev]

Two months to ours...
Hope nothing stops it happening

Where you going?

On the Douro river in Portugal

Ooh! Lovely. A river cruise is on our bucket list.

[Big Kev]

Dolphin spotting, they put in an appearance this time. Back in 2014 they didn't.

20220301_165739.jpg

Gibraltar.

[Stanley]

No dolphins for me Kev. I shall be in the shed doing useful things to my cylinder to finish it so I can move on to other matters. Not sure about bookie watch later as the forecast is for light rain. We shall see.

[Sue]

Morning

I think a damp day is forecast . I have an appointment seeing a friend this morning but shall probably spend most of the rest of the day trying to be creative with pattern drafting. My pilates teacher has some baggy pilates pants and she asked if I could make some like them. I have found a pattern on you tube so will give it a go. Unfortunately it will use so much material that I can’t find cheap enough to be viable commercially. She suggested I could make and sell them at the studio. I am not sure about that because of the time commitment but am happy to see if I feasibly can. In the words of our little Erin...its an experiment. I am always up for a creative challenge

I have no other plans, its pilates this evening and thats it, so have a good day

[Stanley]

I think your description of the Rochdale day matches ours Sue, it's gloomy and wet at the moment.



This morning I've fitted the lid and steam chest on the cylinder. Made and fitted the valve rod gland and reached the point where I can move forward to making the valve and fitting it. Nice quiet and mistake-free morning!

[Stanley]

I'm looking forward to a couple of hours in the shed. I shall be looking at valve fitting this morning! Walk and bookie watch later are in the balance, we are promised rain. Never mind, we are looking forward through March now into April and it fells as though we have wintered yet again. Add my recent good news to this and all seems to be moving on nicely.

[Sue]

Morning

My experimental creativity paid off, eventually. It took several hours to make a workable pattern and during the night I came up with a couple of minor modifications which I shall address this afternoon. I have art at Haslingden this morning and thats about it. Another dampish day forecast , I think, but warmer than yesterday.

Havea good day

[Stanley]

Today I started on the steam valve. After two hours careful milling we are getting there but there is still a lot to do. I have been slow and careful, sharpening my mill cutter and doing a lot of measuring, marking and checking. All is well so far so it's a nice morning.
So, does that mean that you are going to be making Pilates pants Sue? Added to sewing machine refurbishment.....You are going to be busy!
It looks as though it's going to be another gloomy day here Sue.

[Stanley]

I shall have an hour with my steam valve and then do early doors weekly shop at the Co-op.
It might stop raining early enough to let me have my midday walk. We shall see......