Today I shall be Mainly...

[PanBiker]

Did they do the whole lot Kev? My annual brain scan is 30 minutes total with contrast. Good luck with the results, any indication as to how long they will take?

[Big Kev]

They put a cannula in and sat me in a 'cupboard' for a bit,
I was in the 'tube' for about 40 minutes, they did a 20 minute run then another 20 with the contrast dye. Got an appointment at Blackburn in 2 weeks, hopefully they will have sent the data to the consultant.

[PanBiker]

20 minutes for me then another 10 with the contrast. You normaly have to wait a bit after contrast to see if you have any allergic reaction which normaly manifests quite quickly. Never bothered me.

[Big Kev]

I"ve had a couple of scans with the dye, been OK so far.

[Stanley]

Good luck with it all Kev......
Today is early doors shopping after an hour in the shed with my valve. It looks cloudy again but I might be veggie cooking at midday anyway....

[Sue]

Morning

Not much to report, a good journey down to Newion Abbot. 13 degrees at home when we left 24 degrees and clear blue sky here when we arrived. This morning we will see Aunty Margaret at Broadsands near Brixham and will probably have a nostalgic walk along the beach. We spent many holidays there when the girls were young as Bobs parents also lived at Broadsands. They moved there in 1974 and their various brothers and sisters joined them over the next 10 years. Aunty Margaret is the only one left.

We are due at Helston at 5.00 pm.

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Enjoy the warmth Sue, my CH kicked in this morning, it's chilly out there!



This morning was working on the valve itself. I started by taking the scabby edges off on the grindstone and then marked up with the dimensions and cut in the vertical Mill. I finished up; ready to cut the recess in the bottom of the valve but by that time it was time to go shopping. All the shopping is done and put away.

[Sue]

It's chilly heretoo. 9 degrees when I woke 16 max forecast in Helston

[Stanley]

We have sun Sue and it's warming up. I'm well into veggie cooking. On the last leg now. Then I shall go for a walk in the sunshine!
Later at 14:30. All cooking finished and pans put away. Hob is nice and clean. Now for a cup of tea I think.....

[Stanley]

I never did get my walk yesterday..... Today I shall be working on my valve for an hour after putting my chicken in the oven for its four hour roast..... The weather forecast looks good so I promise I will try harder for a walk today!

[Sue]

Morning

By 11 .00 it was sunny but much cooler down here in Helston than up in Paignton. We found Bobs aunty very well indeed. The drive from there was not too bad. We stopped a couple of times and still arrived here well before our expected 5.00 pm key collection time. We went down to Helston and headed for the museum. It was just closing but they gave us the Heritage trail leaflet, which we then followed. The walk was a couple of miles and the leaflet gave us some detailed social and interesting facts. We then progressed to our cottage for the week. No description on here could do it justice. It is in the middle of a private garden, exactly the sort I like with plants tucked away in every corner, hidden seating areas, rambling roses, rose arches, climbing plants. I LOVE it. We are also situated in an area of gardens created by the owners. These are open to the public a couple of days a week but we have total use all the time.

Today we have some food shopping to do but fancy a long walk after two days in the car. Wall to wall sun forecast.

Have a good day all.

On this map we are in the private land area, but have immediate access to the rest.

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[Stanley]

Sounds good Sue.
I had a funny turn this morning and so declined shed duties. I am back up after a good sleep and feel a lot better. I have no idea what was wrong..... Just one of those things.....

[plaques]

I never did get my walk yesterday.....

Yes I know. I had an emergency appointment at the Barlick dentists and found I'd 10 minutes to kill. Looked on the traffic control bench, no Stanley, then into the square and watched the world go by. Very civilised atmosphere almost Mediterranean, everybody seemed to be eating or drinking and having a good chat. Could have easily nodded off.

[PanBiker]

Busy day for me, already picked our Jack up from Perry's on Lomeshay, he has dropped his car off for service. Back home and Sally takes the car today as she is off up to Grimworth Reservoir for a cousins meet up and stay over, Her cousin Anne has rented a property at the side of the lake.

ILP Land Society meeting this afternoon to discuss amongst other house matters our children's play equipment which needs replacing and the eye watering prices we have been quoted for the work! H&S strikes again!

I will be getting the bus to Nelson and then a lift up to Clarion House from a comrade who lives in Barrowford, we are picking Carol our secretary up who also lives in Nelson. Its also a Friends of Clarion working day so there will be stuff to do before the meeting. Bob and Ruth who are Land Society members and also movers and shakers in the Friends will give me a lift home on their way back home to Menston.

I will have an early lunch and am hoping there will be cake for the volunteers at the Clarion today.

[Stanley]

BP was high this morning but this afternoon is back at 118/75, whatever it was is over..... I shall keep an eye on it.
Not having a walk seems to have been OK.... Sorry I missed you Ken.

[Stanley]

I shall hope to do better today re. the shed! I shall try anyway. I shall also have a walk, it looks like Barlick summer from the forecast!

[Sue]

Morning

Well it was a belting day yesterday after a cool cloudy start, which according to the locals is the norm. We walked from Helston to Port Leven, through the Penrose Valley, round the lake and up past Looe Bar. It was a good 5 + miles to Port Leven by that route, the last bit being along the coast path. We arrived at Portleven in time for lunch and a much needed drink and sit down. What a pretty place it is. We set off walking back about 1.30 pm using the direct route by road 2 miles. After a mile the road descended with many bends, and became very busy indeed. A passing motorcyclist advised us to cut through the Penrose estate as the road was far too dangerous. We had considered it but it cut back to the lake and was a good 1.5 miles further . We did take his advice however. It was easy walking and a pleasant path which finished up just by where we had parked the car. A considerable amount of water was consumed en route. After a trip to Tesco we had a pleasant sit in the garden at the cottage supping local cider, and then a longer sit in one of the other gardens admiring the wonderful features before concluding the evening with a stroll through the woods.

Today I think we are going to Mullion Cove for a nostalgic re visit. We stayed there some 40 years ago when the girls were about 6 and 8.and plan a much sorter coastal stroll to the next cove. We have less energetic touristy trips planned for next week to visit different places, reckoning it will be much quieter once half term is over this weekend.

Have a good day all.

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[Stanley]

Looks as though you have found yourself the ideal corner Sue..... Our weather is good here as well.



More work on the valve. The recess cut in the bottom for the exhaust steam, the slot cut in the top for the driver, the driver fitted, the valve squared up and the body drilled for the valve rod. I have marked the driver and am ready now to drill that and tap it 4BA for the valve rod. A good hour and a quarter....

[Tizer]

Sue, we've spent many happy holidays in and around Helston and the Lizard peninsula. If you're at Mullion today take note that the little island beyond the harbour is composed of volcanic pillow lava. The wall you pass when walking down to the harbour has lots of serpentine rock. (Once when we walked on the small beach at the harbour we found someone's wallet at the edge of the water. We left it at the shop in the hope that the owner would retrieve it!). South of Mullion Kynance Cove is beautiful. If you want to see native lizards go to the little cove at Poltesco on the east coast. It's a protected place with the remains of the old serpentine factory of the 1800s. We've watched lizards basking in the sun - I think they're used to the tourists! A couple of our photos...

[Stanley]

That's high class advice Sue!
I shall be in the shed chasing my valve train. Making my weekly batch of sweet potato chips after I have had second sleep and wrapping up warm to go for a walk later......

[Sue]

Morning

That sounds really interesting Tiz. We may pop back. We had a great day. The morning at Mullion, with a short walk along the coastal path to the next bay then back for crab sandwiches at the small café. In the afternoon we drove the three extra miles to the Lizard and walked down to the most Southerly point. I am not much of an ice cream person but we sat and had a double cornet of cornish ice cream( I mean when in Cornwall you have to ) and admired the view before walking up to the lighthouse and back round. It was busy being a beautiful sunny afternoon. I wish I could remember which beach we used to take the girls too. I think it was Church bay.

We drove back to the cottage, had a beer and sat in our lovely garden here. Bob read ( and dozed) I did some crochet, then an evening stroll through the wood and to the wild life pond for another tranquil sit before we cooked. We clocked up another 5+ miles in our short walking stints but I feel we consumed more calories than we used

Today I think we are visiting gardens near Truro. Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Had a busy morning and reached the end without making any mistakes!



I started by drilling and tapping the 4BA hole in the valve driver for the valve rod. Than I refined the fit, it's important that the valve should float as it travels to allow the steam pressure to force it on to its seat. That included taking a bit more out of the housing under the mill. Next I made the first moves on the grinding wheel to take the worst of the scabs off the valve rod support. Then I started putting some tackle away and started with the 1/4" slot drill. I touched the big cutter up before I put it back on the mill, then I did a chip chase with the vacuum and put tackle away so as to be ready to start tomorrow. Not quite finished with the valve yet, I will be happier if there is a shave taken off one side.....
Just seen your post. It sounds like a particularly successful holiday|!

[Tizer]

I'm glad you walked to Lizard Point, Sue. Most of the Lizard peninsula is composed of rocks about 400 million years old, derived from a tectonic collision when part of the ocean floor was pushed up and onto the opposing rocks. That was then metamorphosed to serpentine and other rock types. But at the very tip of the Lizard the cliffs, and the rocks you see just offshore (The Man o' War Rocks), are even older formed about 500 million years ago in a period of mountain building! Serpentine rock gives a soil of poor nutrient quality which is why the vegetation there is different from the rest Cornwall's lush plant life; but that lack of competition results in some very rare plants growing on the peninsula.

[Sue]

The flora on the cliffs is beautiful but spoilt be seas of self seeded rape plants....Well I think they are rape plants

[PanBiker]

Sally's weekend at Grimworth Reservoir finds the car returned ten shades lighter than it native dark grey! The perimeter road for access to the properties around the lake is white chippings. Apparently the residents have approached Yorkshire Water and offered to have the road "made up" at their expense but they have refused? Anyway I digress but it makes the point that the car needs a wash. I looked in the bread bin and also found that we have just about consumed the second of the two four seed loaves I made last week.

First job, mix up some dough and give it a good 10 minutes kneading, back into the bowl to prove. Got the jet wash out to take the bulk of the mess off the car, compounded somewhat with the bird droppings from the multitude of Swifts who have nested in the corners of every window in the property they were staying in! Bucket and sponge next and a going over with wash and wax courtesy of Aldi. All foamed up and a wash of with the jet wash in mist mode. Job done and my dough has risen enough for knocking back.

A bit of dinner first followed by a brew and one of the rich scones I made yesterday. Time to set the dough in it's tin.

Sally has gone to Skipton on the bus for her eye test at Specsavers. She will get lunch out and she says she will probably have a walk up through Skipton Woods. She is doing a bit of shopping on the way back while she is there, as you do before getting the bus back.