Today I shall be Mainly...

[Tripps]

"So how many phones have you got now, Tripps, and when does your museum open? "

Was a recent comment.

Well the answer is 'one less than I had yesterday, since my main phone sadly died last night - the power socket has gone on strike. Probably just wear and tear, but uneconomical to repair, and I've had it for a good few years - it owes me nowt - so -

Quickly transferred the Sim and memory card to the first reserve MOTO E7 and we're back in the race.

Its's a bit of a faff to tame it though, and get it to do what I want, rather than what it wants, but the screen's bigger, and I'm winning.

[Big Kev]

A sealant wouldn't have soled our tyre

I've been to ATS in Colne and booked in for four new tyres, two were advisory on the MOT and the other two are getting near to being worn out. They're big tyres (225/60/17) but was surprised by the price, there's a discount for buying multiple

[Tripps]

but was surprised by the price

Would that be a good surprise or a bad surprise ?

I just got my hot water fault invoice.

The part cost £19 but the total with min call out ( £90 ) and VAT was over £130. I can cope with it, but I can imagine many would have no option but to have cold water for a long time.

[Stanley]

Right, Well, that's it! Veggie cooking finished and everything tidied up and put away. I shall roast the chicken tomorrow....

[Big Kev]

but was surprised by the price

Would that be a good surprise or a bad surprise ?

It was good

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[Stanley]

I shall be putting my chicken in the oven before going in the shed for an hour and then will go for the weekly early doors shop at 07:00. I hardly need anything but need to get milk and I am sure something else will attract me.....

[Sue]

Morning

Bob collected his new tyre yesterday but not sure what it cost as at the time we were up to our eyes in workmen. The gas has now been reinstated, having taken the men two solid days. They had to dig two holes in the end in 28 degrees heat. The one in the pavement did not work. They still could not thread the special ultra flexible pipe through the old pipe round the double bend to the metre, so eventually they had to dig up the drive anyway and move the metre nearer to the garage door. They did a very neat job indeed and we were very impressed. Today the hole in the pavement will be filled and the traffic lights removed, and within the next couple of weeks ( we hope) someone will come and do a matching patch on the drive. They took a photo of the drive so the pattern and colour can be matched. I am looking forward to my hot shower this morning and hope it will ease the ache in my back which is still lingering on. Its more under my right shoulder and side than my back and is very uncomfortable indeed as it does not respond to pain killers, that and a nauseous hot weather headache does not lead to a happy Sue.

Today being Friday we are meeting Wendy and Keith for lunch at the Italian at the lake, Barbara and Bill are on holiday near Robin Hoods Bay. I shall also continue with a bit of light garden tidying as best as I can. It is looking better and the flowers we have are now looking good. Lunch will be earlier than usual as Wendy and Keith have to go to Todmorden at 4.00 for the delivery of the tables and chairs for their joint 80th birthday party tomorrow. It will be a big do, and we are looking forward to it we shall be meeting up with many friends we have not see for a long time.

Another warm humid day is forecast. Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Sounds like a busy weekend Sue! I shall be doing the opposite, having a very quiet weekend.



This morning I got a piece of scrap out of the treasure chest and started to make the valve eccentric. I have marked the eccentric circle on the end for boring to go on the crankshaft and cut the groove for the eccentric strap. As usual I am ignoring the Stuart design and going for the Stanley version which is much easier and has never let me down.
I have been for the shopping and put it away. (There wasn't much!)
Oh, and my chicken is roasting in the oven.

[Sue]

The hole in the pavement was filled by 8.00 am, they are now doing the road. Impressive. We can’t fault the way they have worked

[Big Kev]

Had a call from ATS, my new tyres are in and the car is currently up on the ramp with fitting underway. I had nothing else to do today, other than a bit of shopping, so it's freed up my Saturday morning

[Stanley]

All cooking done, I shall be in the shed with my engine and having a walk later..... I want some apples from Gulam on Town Square.....
The Co-op are so worried about shelf life they only sell under-ripe apples.

[Stanley]

Only one job this morning, part the eccentric off and bore it 3/8" to fit on the shaft. It needed to be a shade over 3/8" so I bored it with a 'V' letter drill and then massaged the bore with a file until it fit the shaft exactly. That's what took the time! Tomorrow it needs an Unbrako grub screw fitting for locking it on the shaft.

[Sue]

Morning

We woke a little later today, slowly getting back to English time. My back seems easier but yesterday afternoon in despair I went to the local chemist. I had tried everything they suggested. Eventually, having ruled out going to the GP as impossible especially at 4 on a Friday afternoon the pharmacist came up with solpadeine and a voltorol rub. It seems to have had an effect, if marginal.

This morning is Bacup market, this afternoon and early evening Wendy and Keiths party. It will be a buffet with a band for entertainment and a few fun games, plus sadly a quiz which we hate. Keith apparently has worked hard at putting in some science questions as so often quizzes exclude them being mainly based on arts, literature and theatre none of which we either know about or have much interest in . It should be a good event however with about 75 people of which we will probably know 70 of them. Its 40 weeks this week since I started work at Bury College and found myself sitting next to Wendy in the staffroom . We lived near each other, had children of similar ages( 2 girls) and soon hit it off as good friends. Our circles of friends soon became one.

Its due to be warm dry and humid again, I hate the humidity. I would rather have the 33 degrees back at the house in France. Have a good day all

[Stanley]

I hope the party was enjoyable Sue despite the quiz!
I shall be in the shed finishing the eccentric and starting on the eccentric strap.
A walk doesn't look likely, rain is forecast. I might have a Dad Nap instead......

[Stanley]

First I drilled and tapped the eccentric for the 3/16" Whitworth grub screw that will lock it on the shaft. Then I milled the eccentric strap down to fit the groove in the eccentric. Then I drilled it for the oil hole and put some finish on it. Tomorrow I shall refine it further for fitting on to the valve rod.

[Sue]

Morning

The party was very enjoyable, Stanley. It was so nice to see so many of our friends and ex colleagues. The quiz was bearable all of our table of 8 struggling with most of the questions….it was extremely warm however with so many people in one room, and it was nice to drive back at 8.00 pm with the soft top of the car down.

This morning I shall do a little more gardening, again lightly as my back is still hurting although it is a lot better. Also the brown bin is full again so I can’t do much cutting back with nowhere to put it till Thursday bin collection. Bob is off to the park but I doubt he will be late back as rain is forecast from 1.00 pm.

We are looking forward to roast chicken for tea, we could nott afford to buy a whole decent sized chicken for roasting when in France, indeed any decent sized piece of meat for roasting. We have lots of runner beans in the garden, also a nice treat after so much lettuce and frozen veg.

Thats about it, no more plans so shall take it as it comes. Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Enjoy the chicken Sue!

[Stanley]

I've had my walk and a sit at the end of Albert Road. Now for a light lunch of Stilton on oatcakes.

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed as usual working on my valve train..... the forecast gives rain around midday so I'm not sure about any walking. I can always have a Dad Nap instead. I have more of them these days!

[Stanley]

This morning I worked on the flat link that connects the eccentric strap to the valve rod. First job was to reduce the thickness of the stock from 1/8" to 3/32", which needed some careful milling. Once that was done I drilled the holes at each end and countersunk the one at the eccentric strap end. That was done very carefully with no errors and took an hour.....

[Sue]

Morning

We were up and out by 7.15 am. I have an appointment at the voice therapy at North Manchester Hospital at 9 and we wanted to miss the rush hour. Of course we're here for 8. Bob gas gone to have a coffee at Tesco rather than park here and I am in the cafe at the hospital having a latte. I should be home by 11.

Not sure what else I am doing today, I may cut out a shirt for myself from the material I bought in France. I have zoom yoga at 5.15.

Hope this appointment is better than the last one. Have a good day all.

[Stanley]

I hope you had a better day Sue......
I shall be in the shed with my valve train. I doubt if a walk is on the cards, we are forecast to have wall to wall rain. We shall see.....
(There's always a dad nap!)

[Stanley]

A morning of small steps. First sharpen a 5/16" slot drill and then cut a slot 3/32" deep in the frame of the eccentric strap to accept the valve strap. Then reduce the strap and shape it to fit the eccentric strap. I touched up the everyday cutter while I was in cutter sharpening mode. Tomorrow I can fit the strap and reduce the rest of it to fit the clevis on the valve rod..... Dead easy to cock up, so slow and careful. It worked, it was error free!

[Sue]

Morning

The appointment went well, although I did complain about what happened last time. I now have voice exercises which I need to do two to three times a day and we were back home by 10.30. In the afternoon Bob took his car in to the garage to have it checked after our tyre incident. They found all the old tyres had worn the same way, and told Bob the car was not safe to drive. He therefore walked home whilst new tyre are ordered and fitted. The consensus is that the damage has been caused by the car sitting in one position on display in a garage for 6 months. The car was unsold demo stock when we bought it. That will be a hefty bill, but at lease we are safe. It could have been nasty.

I am having a sewing day today with pilates and yoga in the studio this evening. I am also trying to get a GP appointment for a medication review. I don’t hold out much hope. I was up at 6.30 looking for an online appointment but my doctor wasn’t on todays list.

Have a good day all, its raing and much cooler as forecast

[Stanley]

Never heard of that before Sue.... The tyres must be made very close to a minimum standard.....
As you say, better got rid of....