Today I shall be Mainly...

[Sue]

Morning

It rained half way to Amboise then cleared up, it was 24 degrees and dry when we arrived. We booked into our hotel , left the car and walked into the town, about 25 minutes. We had a beer in a cafe then headed for the chateau. Just as we came out at 5.45 we had torrential rain which lasted 90 minutes. We had no coats with us so bought umbrellas in the chateau shop and made a dash for yet another bar where we spent a pleasant hour or so until it was time for our restaurant booking. By then the rain had stopped. We had a lovely meal and got back to the hotel about 10.00 pm.

In the bar whilst it was raining we chatted to a local frenchman and his family. They too had sought cover from the rain. He was a retired business man who spoke reasonable English though we tried to chat in French. He was well travelled including the UK. When the rain stopped they left and another group took the table, they were English from Manchester, Blackburn and Preston. Another long chat ensued. They were camping at the site just outside the city. All in it was a very pleasant hour or so

Today after breakfast we will walk down to Leonardo de Vinci’s house where we will spend most of today. We shall then drive to Nantes and stay overnight at a restaurant near the airport so we can get Jane there for her early flight on Thursday morning.

The rain has now gone and a nice day is forecast. Have a good day all

[Sue]

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At the chateau

[Stanley]

Morning Sue! You'll have to remember to take the brollies with you in future.... What's that in the picture?



I was focussed for an hour on refining the cylinder casting and the steam chest. I have bored and tapped the steam port in the chest and drilled the passage for the valve rod with the countersink for the valve rod gland and the exhaust port in the cylinder casting. I also marked and drilled the clearance holes for the studs that hold the steam chest and lid on the cylinder. Half way through I realised that the gearbox on my Progress pillar drill was a bit noisy and so I topped it up with oil. I think that's only the second time in over 40 years!
Now for breakfast....

[Sue]

It is Leonardo de Vincis tomb in the chateau. Not the original as that became a ruin. He was moved in the 1860 s

[Stanley]

Thanks Sue, I was wondering.
I shall be in the shed at 06:00 enjoying doing useful things. After second sleep I have nothing in my calendar that requires me to go out in what we are promised will be heavy rain. I am expecting delivery of a treat. A 6" Sabatier cook's knife. I have been promising myself one for yonks and there are no pockets in a shroud....

[Sue]

Morning
We Stayed in a hotel just outside Nantes overnight , and we are up early so we can get Jane to the airport before 8. Her flight to Manchester is 8.50 and she should arrive there in time to catch a direct train to Liverpool. We shall probably go straight back to the house via the shop to buy fresh fruit and veg. Its been a good 10 days for all of us.

Today is due to be. Sun and cloud and 23 degrees. By the end of the week we are back to 32. I see the GCSE results are out today, that was always my return to work day after the summer. Here Laëtitia's two start their apprenticeships over the next couple of weeks. Leanna is doing one that will give her equivalent to a degree, she has already moved into her student accommodation and is already working but the college course starts on the 26 th. Evan will start his motor mechanics course in St Malo over the next couple of weeks. Valentin , the youngest is going to feel very lonely.

Not sure what we will be doing today, I have Janes room to clean and bed to strip as I told her to leave it when we left early on Tuesday morning. I think Bob will be cutting the lawn. Before it rains again on Saturday. Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Morning Sue! You caught me before the shed this morning. Glad the ten days was good and I hope the next week will be good as well.
We are having a rough spell here, very windy and wet and unseasonably low temperatures. I shall be back later to report progress in the shed.

[Stanley]

Only one image this morning. I have made the steam and exhaust pipes and fitted them to the steam chest and the cylinder. Then I spent the rest of my time refining the finish on the valve face and the steam chest and lid by lots of rubbing down on 120grit emery paper. Lastly I re-stamped the witness marks on the steam chest and lid.
Now the task is breakfast!

[Stanley]

Back up and facing the day with a hot pot of tea. It's wet and windy out there, I am glad I don't have to be out in it. High summer weather!

[Big Kev]

A yellow warning for wind is in place for tomorrow.

[Wendyf]

Thanks Sue, I was wondering.
I shall be in the shed at 06:00 enjoying doing useful things. After second sleep I have nothing in my calendar that requires me to go out in what we are promised will be heavy rain. I am expecting delivery of a treat. A 6" Sabatier cook's knife. I have been promising myself one for yonks and there are no pockets in a shroud....

We got a 6" Sabatier a few years ago when the handle on our old 6 inch knife broke. It's a pleasure to use.

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[Stanley]

Almost the twin to mine Wendy which arrived by post yesterday afternoon. The postie said he didn't need proof I was over 18 years old, he had certified that I looked to be over 21.... I put in an automatic complaint about ageism....
I shall be in the shed at 06:00 and after second sleep Susan will be calling in to see me bringing me a salad butty from Barlic Bites for lunch. She is en route to Newcastle on Tyne to spend a few days with a friend, knitting.
Some time today DHL will be delivering my new Tricker Brogues that I bought.... A steal at £345, the normal price is £550. I can remember the days when they cost £14 a pair. It struck me yesterday that in those days £14 would be a good week's wage.... Today I suppose it's quite possible that £550 is also a week's wage.

[Sue]

Morning

We had Jane at the airport for 7.45 , and due to good train connections and a taxi she was back home before 1.00 English time. We were back here for 9.30 having shopped on the way and a sunny blowy day meant all the bedding and towels were soon washed and dried.

I did a quick ( very quick ) clean in the morning and in the afternoon started to dig up and transplant perennials into my new little garden made in the the pile of stones near my veggie plot. I hope that when established it will encourage pollinating insects to the plot. Should a new owner want to change that it will be an ideal separate bed for strawberries or growing melons.

The digging up of plants was postponed as the soil is like concrete. I watered a few patches to try and loosen the roots up. Today is a dry morning and a damp afternoon with rain tomorrow so that should help too so I may be able to continue with the task on Sunday.

Today, being dull and damp I will start the painting of my last three doors and doorways. It will probable take a week, on and off as Bob takes the doors off for me. I paint one side, wait a day, flip it over and paint the other side. Slow but it is easier to paint a horizontal door than a vertical one .

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

I agree with you about painting doors Sue, it applies to garden gates as well! Glad all went well for Jane. She'll be glad she isn't doing that trip this morning, the wind is quite exceptional and I am expecting a power line down any minute.



Just one job this morning, mark drill and tap the holes in the valve face of the cylinder, fit the studs and then check the fit of the steam chest and the lid. As you can see it's quite satisfactory! That'll do me, I want my breakfast.

[Stanley]

Nice visit with Susan. We caught up on all the gossip, she changed my duvet covers for me (I hate that job!) and now I have the old ones in a full hot wash. I am sat here expecting my new shoes any time now.

[Big Kev]

Some time today DHL will be delivering my new Tricker Brogues that I bought.... A steal at £345, the normal price is £550. I can remember the days when they cost £14 a pair. It struck me yesterday that in those days £14 would be a good week's wage.... Today I suppose it's quite possible that £550 is also a week's wage.

£689 is the average weekly wage, according to https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlab ... ong%20term.
I had a look at the Trickers website, some nice looking shoes and boots but not big enough for me.

[Stanley]

Thanks for that confirmation Kev.... I can confirm that Trickers are good, I have boots that are over 50 years old and still look like new almost.....
I shall be in the shed as usual at 06:00 working on my lids I think..... Later this morning I shall be veggie shopping in Town Square, I am getting last week's cooking into a corner!

[Stanley]

I worked on the lids. First I did all the necessary work on the back lid and then started on the front one. I have done most of the work on that one and will finish it tomorrow morning. Now for breakfast!

[Sue]

Morning

It was a constant drizzle all day yesterday, but just about Ok to garden in the morning and late afternoon. I managed to plant my flower bed and Bob got our side of the hedge cut that he cut on the other side a couple of weeks ago. Otherwise I painted one side of a door and a door frame. The other side will be painted today and another door frame. Bob has been putting an edging strip round the floor of the new room, to be continued today.

Today is due to be very wet and stormy. Its warm out there but the wind is already strong. Have a good day all

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[Stanley]

Morning Sue. We got our rain and wind out of the way yesterday I think. Much more reasonable this morning. I'm back up and gearing up to go to Town Square for veggies. I have put my new Trickers on with a thicker pair of socks and they are going to be fine. I thought I might need a shoe horn but I can manage without.

[Stanley]

Back from shopping with my next week's veggies, ox blood shoe polish and a shoe horn. I also swung by the Co-op for a quart each of semi skimmed and whole milk so I can forget shopping now until late next week. I had a sit on traffic duty for half an hour and it was quite pleasant, there was a light shower while I was in the Co-op but I dodged that and got home dry. Glad that's done and I can sit down!

[Stanley]

The last time I cooked it was one of the hottest days of the year, I shall be cooking today and the heating is on low again this morning. You can never say our weather is boring!
I shall put my chicken in to roast before I go in the shed for an hour with my castings. I shall deal with it when I get up after second sleep before cooking my veggies for the week. So it is going to be a full day.
Later.... at 05:50. I have just sat down after a busy morning..... I had a shave before my face got any possible contamination from Cast Iron dust. Gave my new shoes a dose of Ox Blood polish, important to make sure new leather shoes and boots have plenty of wax in the leather and it goes in best while they are new and clean. Then I prepared my chicken and its accompaniments at put it in the oven to roast. Lastly I emptied the trash washed my hands and cleaned up before sitting down. I am feeling like declaring a holiday in the shed this morning.
Oh and by the way, the heating is still on.....

[Sue]

Morning

Not nice day yesterday, howling wind alternate heavy and light rain. The sun came out for a couple of hours about 3 then it rained again. We kept ourselves busy with indoor jobs and we can now declare the new room finished. I completed painting another doorway and the second side of one door. We went to the shops around 4 as I decided to cook a pork in cider casserole, Normandy style, but lacked a couple of ingredients and as we had a growing list of bits it made a pleasant outing whilst the sun was out.

This morning is thick mist but should clear to a sunny day. I shall paint the first side of the second door and then I need to cut the ever growing wisteria back from a couple of windows and our seating area. As I have said before this weather is very conducive to continuous luscious growth. I shall also be sorting out some herb cuttings for our new neighbour following a short conversation yesterday when I gave him the mint he asked for. Before all of that I shall change our bedding and do some washing. This evening we are at Joanne and Pauls for a meal.

Have a good day all

[Sue]

And yes Stanley cooler now, though due to be warmer later this week. We put our top cover on our bed last night as the summer quilt was not warm enough by itself . I had a cardigan on all day yesterday

[Stanley]

Morning Sue, Just off to bed now after declining the shed. I don't feel at all guilty, I have been busy this morning and will be back into the collar when I get up!
I hope your day goes well and the washing dries Aussie style!