Today I shall be Mainly...

[Stanley]

We shall see David.... I have a funny idea it might be cheese......

[Stanley]

Shed and then second sleep. After that I shall go to Well for my meds and into Town Square to finish my veggie shopping. That will complete my honest endeavours for the day.

[Stanley]

This morning I spent almost an hour on refining the governor stand, mostly with a file and by hand. Then drilling it for the valve rod and after that attending to the fit of the steam chest and the fit of the valve. Then I fitted the rod and the valve and checked that the governor stand was correctly bored. All is well and the next job is to definitively fit the rod and valve to the cylinder. That's where I will start tomorrow. Right now the task is post on the site and have breakfast!

[Sue]

Morning

It was a sad funeral. There were few there and only one family member. Margaret, his wife and my work colleague had ended up in hospital with a severe infection the day after he died. She is still there , now two weeks later. The step daughter who had arranged everything was rushed to hospital the night before the funeral, and no one really knew why. The step grandson was the only family member there. He knew nobody including us and nobody really knew him. The wake was back at the house but Wendy, Keith, Bob and I decided to leave. We went to Owd Betts for lunch on the way home.

Today is u3a art, followed by a u3a wine group social meeting, and then yet another meal out, being Friday. Its a heavy eating week with more to come at the weekend. Food choices are being made carefully. Have a good day all

[Wendyf]

That's very sad Sue. I attended a very different funeral service at Carleton Crematorium yesterday for one of our History Society members, Trevor Tattersall. The weather was glorious and the service a pleasant celebration of a good life.

[Stanley]

That sounds like a miserable funeral Sue. sorry it happened. I have decided not to have a funeral.... It will be a direct cremation with no ceremony and then a memorial steaming at Bancroft on a date when everyone who wants to attend can be there.... (Apart from me of course, Ideally I'd lie to have it before I die..... )

[Stanley]

Just back from a successful morning having a walk, getting my meds, doing the final veggie shopping at Chaudrey's, having a short sit on traffic duty and finishing off by getting some frozen fish from the C0-op. Nice to sit down....

[Stanley]

I got my pork belly cut up and in the slow cooker with chopped tomatoes and spices. First job this morning was to harvest the gravy and put it in the freezer to separate the fat. I shall be in the shed as usual at 06:00 but will put my chicken in to roast first as otherwise it will be a big cooking day tomorrow. When I get up I shall deal with the chicken and then have a walk and a sit. I don't need to cook veggies until tomorrow.....
It's 05:15 and I have been busy! I have prepared the chicken and its accompanying veggies and spices and it's in the oven started on its 4 hour roast. I have taken the fat off the pork gravy and returned the gravy to the slow cooker. All this in addition to setting out the next four meals and washing the pans, I am ready now for veg cooking tomorrow. So now a bit of a relax before going in the shed for occupational therapy!

[Stanley]

This morning I have spent an hour on a very fiddly job.... Marking and drilling the governor stand and bolting it to the bed of the engine. All this effort for two 5BA fasteners! Never mind, it's done and tomorrow I can go forward refining the fit. Right now I deserve breakfast!

[Sue]

Morning

Tiring day yesterday as one activity ran into the next. There wasn’t much moving done in the evening.

This morning is Bacup market, and a few domestic chores. Wendy and Keith are picking us up about 1.00 to go and meet another old work colleague for yet another lunch. This lunch has been ´happening’ since last Christmas but unfortunately has fallen in a week of meals out for one reason or another. They were at the funeral too but instead of eating together then we thought meeting today would generate more cheerful conversation. Nothing else planned. Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Morning Sue! Should be good weather for the market..... I am back up and dealing with my chicken. I shan't be doing a lot today Tomorrow will be busy so I might as well gather my strength today....
At least you don't have to deal with a funeral today!

[Sue]

There we were all ready to go out but when we looked in the fridge and freezer to see what we needed the answer was nothing as we have eaten out so much this week, so coats off we are now in the conservatory having a coffee. The fan heater is on, there won’t be many more mornings out here this year

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed at 06:00 as usual but might miss second sleep because of gaining an hour this morning with the clocks changing. We shall see. Perhaps a quiet read before I plunge into cooking.....

[Sue]

Morning

We had a nice meal yesterday but our other other friends failed to turn up as they got the date wrong. It all got very confusing which was a shame. Anyway Wendy Keith Bob and I ate and we have made another date for the end of November with our friends.

Today Bob will be at the park late as they are doing a Halloween special which will not start till it goes dark, so its Sunday lunch out at the local pub before he goes. I shall spend the afternoon and early evening either gardening or sewing. Have a good day all

[Stanley]

I hope it all goes well Sue.
Here's today's report from the shed.




This morning I took a very critical re-edited view of yesterday's work and decided it wasn't good, so it I undid what I had done and did it all again but better. (I'm my own worse critic critic). It was the right thing to do and this time I got it right. Re-fitted the eccentric strap and the eccentric arm and then set the valve so it will be correct. Tomorrow I shall go through all the final touches and get ready for a running trial. I'm glad I went through it again, it's right now! I have earned my breakfast.

[Stanley]

I changed my mind and went back to bed for an hour's second sleep and now I am up and getting ready to cook veggies.
I shall report progress later on.

[Stanley]

Veggies are cooked and pans put away. As soon as the hob cools I shall clean it. Nice to have that job finished!

[Wendyf]

I tested positive for Covid this morning. I started feeling rough on Friday evening with a slightly sore throat, aching and shivery. After feeling the same all day Saturday I thought I ought to dig out the pack of test kits and have a go. They are beyond their use by date but the covid line established itself quickly! I'm starting to feel more human now but fingers crossed that Col gets to his appointment at St Luke's tomorrow morning before he comes down with it too.
5 miles left to walk on my challenge, hopefully I'll be well enough to complete it later this week!

[Big Kev]

I tested positive for Covid this morning.

That's pants, I had a horrible cold that started last week (with a sore throat), I started feeling better after a couple of days. There's a chance it was covid but I didn't have any tests available, to be honest both previous bouts of Covid I've had weren't as impactful as some colds I've had.
Hopefully it'll clear up quickly for you.

[Wendyf]

I haven't really had a cold, just a bit of a cough. Main symptoms have been aching all over, headache and shivering, more like flu. Strong urge to crawl back into bed!
.

[Stanley]

"Strong urge to crawl back into bed! "
Don't resist it Wendy! There's no shame in being sensible!
I shall be in the shed at 06:00 putting finishing touches on yet another engine. We are promised rain all day so I think I'll have an inside, look after Stanley day. Cooking done and no shopping needed.

[Stanley]

Only one pic this morning. The finished engine after a check over, all nuts checked for tightness and studs that were over long shortened. I didn't check it for being a runner though there is no reason why it shouldn't, the valve is set correctly. It's on the kitchen table now. I put tools away and oiled my surface plates before putting a clean tablecloth on. Later this morning I'll order a set of castings for the next engine. I want my breakfast now.....

[Sue]

Morning

Sorry to hear that Wendy, hopefully you will be over it quickly . My last bout of covid lasted 4 days with no after effects, unlike this last cold which last 10 days and 6 weeks of side effects( which hopefully are now clearing) .

Bob got back at 8.45 yesterday evening and the rain held off most of the time, though it was pouring when they were packing up. It was a very successful evening with over £700 taken on donations. They don’t charge per ride on the Halloween special .

This morning is french conversation at Haslingden and this evening, zoom yoga. This afternoon I shall do the buttons and buttonholes on my shirt, its taken over a year to design, make the toile, do the fitting and make the actual garment.

Rain today, have a good day all

[Stanley]

As you say Sue, even more rain today! I never ordered my castings and must make myself do it today! I hate spending money but it's a matter of survival, I must have my morning hour in the shed!
I need to get milk this morning in the dry spell we are promised and then I have Robin my chiropodist coming to my feet late this morning.
Notice I never said anything about the shed.
Later at 05:00. I cancelled the shed because my engine is finished and I would only have been looking for work. I shall have a holiday and concentrate on getting my milk and getting my feet done. Nowt wrong with being lazy at times, it's a skill to be able to do nothing.....

[Sue]

Morning

It was a miserable day here yesterday. The drive over to Haslingden was in thick fog with very poor visibility over Owd Betts. Amazingly it was clear and sunny in Haslingden when I left but was just as bad as ever over Owd Betts and Rochdale. I spent the afternoon finishing my sewing and doing a bit of french. Today will be a walk to the bank, plus collecting my boots from the cobblers , and buying some birthday cards and a condolences card ( more of that in a moment) . Bob will be collecting his new glasses too. I have pilates and yoga in the studio this evening

The condolences card is for Nicole. Laetitia messaged me yesterday to say Nicole had been in touch and that sadly Roland died on Sunday afternoon. His funeral will be on Wednesday but we will be unable to attend as we still have no days left of our permitted 90 days in 6 months . We would be unable to organise flights etc at such short notice. I wonder if any of his family will turn up? We will miss our chats, although more difficult of late. He was a good friend who made us very welcome when we bought our house in France, tolerating our very poor french and helping us enormously with french life. Tomorrow we will have a glass of rosé in his honour, his favourite apéritive and one which we have chatted over for many hours. RIP Roland

It’s due to be dry today and not too cold . Have a good day all