Today I shall be Mainly...

[Stanley]

Glad to hear you are avoiding the Premier Inn where you had the problem..... We have the start of a nice day but cooler. T the moment in Barlick we have full sun and a clear sky....



A good hour and a quarter. Not perfect, my eyes are the problem, but I have the crosshead and con-rod ready for accepting the crosshead pin which I shall make tomorrow.

[Stanley]

I've been for my walk and a half hour sit on traffic duty at the end of Albert Road. Very pleasant in the sun but still spoiled by that sneaky NW wind.

[Stanley]

I shall be making the crosshead pin, a tiny 4BA nut and bolt basically but with a larger shank for a bearing surface. The forecast says dry at midday so out for a walk. Anything else depends on what I fancy.....

[Sue]

Morning

Despite the torrential rain that was the start of our day in St Malo, it turned out to be a very pleasant sunny crossing. There was still a wind so we stayed in the cabin. We have started booking an upgrade cabin which gives us comfy chairs, a TV ( though we didn’t use it this time ) complimentary toiletries for the shower ( again we didn’t use it but kept the toiletries, great for travelling in the our toilet bag) , complimentary drinks in the fridge and fruit plus a complimentary breakfast in a private comfy lounge though we had to walk up to the 9 th deck to use it. I did my crocheting but later read finishing my book about the grand daughter of Henry 2 and Eleanor of Aquitaine. I am now reading a non fiction book about the same people. I do love history.

Anyway we arrived early and were at the hotel at Fareham by 7.00. We had a cuppa in our room before we ate later across the car park at TGI Fridays ( spicy American style food) . It was still an automatic check in but it all went smoothly this time, though it is all so impersonal. We shall breakfast and be on the road about 9.00. We are not stopping at Coventry as all are at work/ school and we have nothing to drop off. We should be home early afternoon but will stop for lunch and to buy something for tea. It should be a pleasant drive, the forecast is good.

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Good to hear you had a trouble free crossing and yes, you're right, it should be a pleasant day for travelling. Safe journey.....



The job today was to make and fit the tiny pin that is the pivot in the crosshead. Lots of measuring and checking to make sure I didn't scrap anything that I have invested time and effort in and then fitting and preparing for installing in the engine. A quiet hour and a quarter and good progress. A nice start to the day.

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed with my engine and then later a short walk and some traffic duty I think.

[Sue]

We had a pleasant sunny drive home with more sun today. As you say there is a cold wind but its nice to see blue skies. We were home just after three, we unpacked, there wasn’t much and I put the washer on to wash the clothes we had been travelling in. I even managed to go to yoga, an opportunity for a good stretch after sitting in the car all day. Today i am at the hairdressers at 10 for a badly needed cut, this afternoon I shall sort my clothes , putting away my thick winter jumpers and replacing them with T shirts and lightweight jumpers .

The garden here is looking rather untidy so a bit of cutting back is required, but I am pleased to say my geraniums survived in the greenhouse unattended. My sweet peas are looking established and my broad beans are all in flower and the flowers are setting. There is no sign of any beetroot plants. I think I am going to have a busy couple of days.

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

"I think I am going to have a busy couple of days."
Now why did that make me smile..... I think you are always busy Sue.



This morning has been fitting the con rod and in effect building the power train from Crank Pin to cylinder. I have spent an hour and a quarter on that and have not got there yet. These things can't be rushed!

[Sue]

Thats me Stanley

[Stanley]

I have had my walk and half an hour on parking supervision. Very pleasant in the sunshine, a better day than was forecast.

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed as usual with my engine. It struck me yesterday after I had made a small mistake that age is beginning to tell in the shed. I have to be much more careful than I used to be. That's why I spend so much time measuring and marking!
No rain forecast so a midday walk and traffic duty is on the cards.

[Sue]

Morning

It was a lovely day yesterday, and looks like similar today. I did a, not very thorough, garden tidy at the back. It looks better. I also planted my veggie seeds putting them in an incubator to speed them up. It was pilates with Paula in the evening, my body knows it hasn’t done much in the last 4 weeks.

Today is art this morning, this afternoon Kath is coming round for a chat and to cut Bobs hair. Afterwards Bob and I are going up to the plant nursery of the garden man off Bacup market. He no longer sells on the market but works from home and local charity events. He is having an open day on Saturday but Bob and I are out so he invited us up this evening. I need some compost and a few bits and pieces.

So have a good day all

[Stanley]

Sounds like as nice quiet day Sue, I hope it works out that way.



More of the same this morning, fitting is lots of little jobs and adjustments. I started by refining the fit of the piston and rod in the crosshead. Then I installed the dealing packing in the groove in the piston. Then I set to to adjust all the studs that hold the back lid, rethreading them and some of the threads in the cylinder. Then I fitted it, tightened the nuts down and turned the engine over. The piston fouled on the locating profile on the inside of the lid. I shall have to take the lid off and reduce the depth of the locator. Then there will be something else!

[Stanley]

I've had my walk, bought veggies and abused myself by eating a pork pie while I sat at the end of Albert Road on traffic duty. A single bloke can spend £22 on veggies without buying apples.

[Stanley]

I shall spend my usual hour in the shed refining my engine and then do the Early Doors weekly shop at the Cathedral of Choice. No reason in the forecast why I should miss my midday walk..... Than after that it's a matter of what takes my fancy! There are advantages to being old and retired.
(Later.... Just remembered it's Friday and so I shall be cooking veggies later this morning so perhaps no walk.)

[Sue]

Morning

Well its raining this morning, the garden and pots need it, especially the few plants I bought and planted yesterday evening. The rain will stop shortly with a little more this afternoon.

This morning we are off to Bacup market after breakfast. I know its not Saturday , but we are out from 6.30 till about 11 at night tomorrow on a steam train trip to Carlisle. On the way back from Bacup we are calling at Whitworth Dental practice to try and register. Our BUPA run NHS dentist is closing on June 30 th, needless to say there are no NHS dentists in the area that have vacancies so we are having to go private. After enquiries I find a lot of friends go to the Whitworth practice, and like many others, run an insurance scheme that works out not much more than NHS, unless you need a lot of work done. Whitworth is easier to get to than the alternative near our present practice.

After that we are calling at Kath’s to take her plants back that have spent the winter in our conservatory and greenhouse.Being Friday it is towel washing day and lunch out with Wendy, Keith, Barbara and Bill.

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Is that the Fellsman Sue? If so and you're diner class it's expensive but a wonderful experience and good value I reckon. Susan and I never did Carlisle we did the bus ride and boat trip every time.




I started today by reducing the locating section of the Back lid and trying it with the lid fastened down. Job done the engine turns over and the piston clears the lid on the back stroke. Then switch to making the eccentric. I measured up and started on the job but have had to stop to go for my shopping..... The shopping is done now and put away.

[Sue]

No, its the Lakelander, Stanley. We are not in the dining car which is Pullman class. However being in first class we get light refreshments and cake( not that I normally eat cake). We will lunch in Carlisle but are taking sandwiches and snacks for tea and throughout the day. We leave rochdale station at 6.40 am and arrive back at 10.20 pm I think. Will take a taxi there and back rather than leave the car in the station carpark so long . We had forgotten when it was and looked it up when we got home. We were surprised to see it was this weekend. Something to look forward to after a busy tidying up week

[Tripps]

I thought that food looked so good that I kept the picture. Beats chicken and veggies I'd say.

SG troughing.jpg

[Stanley]

And that was only the breakfast David, full roast dinner on the way back over Ais Gill! Susan caught me in mid scoff.....
I am just about finished cooking veggies, the last two pans, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower are just starting to cook.

[Stanley]

I shall put my chicken in for the four hour roast and then go in the shed for an hour spent mainly on my eccentric. Then second sleep and up to brown the chicken and cook the two leeks that I note made the escape bid yesterday by standing in a dark corner! The forecast says it is going to be summer so I shall be having a walk and a sit.

[Sue]

Up at 5.20. Breakfast and off

[Stanley]

The early bird catches the worm.....
I have made a good start also, I have cooked the leeks that escaped yesterday and prepared my chicken and put it in the oven for its four hour roast.

[Stanley]

This morning I finished making the eccentric apart from one final job, installing a set screw in the body to lock it on to the shaft when the timing has been established. Lots of measuring and checking. I think I have got it right!

[Sue]

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