Today I shall be Mainly...

[Stanley]

Sorry to hear you have a new pain Sue, I hope it clears up quickly. These things can make things so complicated.... (Gardening has a lot to answer for!)
I an going to bed, that might be the best thing for your leg, try a second sleep!

[Sue]

I don’t think its the gardening, no hard digging here, its all small beds and pots. I think it was Mondays yoga. It was a different teacher as the mother of my normal teacher is ill. Rose did exercises i don’t normally do so different joints were used. Never a good thing. My body is very used to what I do regularly but new things always cause a problem initially

[Stanley]

Ah..... Well, whatever caused it I hope it clears up. I said I was knackered after the decorating, I went back to bed and slept like a log for two hours. That can't do any harm at all....

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed early doors doing my occupational therapy.... I'm still recovering from the strain of decorations..... So I am looking forward to second sleep. S&M will be here today washing bedding.... I might retreat to bed again. It's nice having them around but I find having others in the house with me very taxing. I've been living as a singleton for far too long.

[Stanley]

A fiddly little job this morning making the glands for the piston and valve rods. The only way to hold them to turn the spigots and the face on that side is by pressure and friction. But they are done now after an hour of honest endeavour. Now for breakfast.

[Big Kev]

Watching my 11 month old great granddaughter eat a chocolate mousse

IMG-20250408-WA0004~2.jpg

[Gloria]

Love it Kev.

[Wendyf]

That's a bit scary Kev!
What a beautiful day it has been. This morning I enjoyed a long chat with my hairdresser and this afternoon a glorious walk around Kelbrook Moor with Sally. Curlews, lapwings and skylarks..... memories to store away.

[Big Kev]

She just makes me laugh, she's very independent for one so young.

[Cathy]

Oh that’s a great pic Kev. I remember taking a pic when my daughter devoured her first chocolate biscuit, that was messy too.

[Stanley]

A great pic to send her on her 21st birthday!
That sounds nice Wendy...
I shall be in the shed early doors doing useful things and will be having a walk later enjoying the early burst of sub-tropical weather....

[Stanley]

Just one job completed this morning. The adjustment and fitting of the piston rod gland to the front lid. This included putting a witness mark on the gland to ensure it's always fitted the correct way up. I was held up for a peculiar reason, all my own fault. I selected 4BA studs from my collection rather than the correct 5BA ones. Totally my fault and I can't explain it beyond saying it's a consequence of old age! Whatever the reason it's all sorted now and tomorrow I can move on to the valve rod gland.... Now I want my breakfast.

[Sue]

Morning

It appears I forgot to post yesterday, well there wasn’t much to report. I have been taking it easy and slowly pottering around. My leg is much improved, only occasionally giving way now. Yesterday was art at Haslingden and luckily we seem yo have gained a new member. She seems keen so hopefully will stay. In the afternoon I watered the garden with the hose pipe and using the new powerful nozzle I washed down rockery stones and paving stones.

Yesterday evening we had a stroll up to our local pub to deliver two easter eggs. They are collecting eggs to donate to local children in need, working in conjunction with social services. It was a lovely evening so we had a drink in the gardens and then decided spontaneously to stay for fish and chips for our tea. Very pleasant indeed

The sad news is that my pilates teachers Mum died so classes may not be returning to normal for a bit. There is only her and her daughter and two other part time teachers running the business and the two part time teachers have full time jobs so will not be able to cover all classes. Our thoughts are with her, its a very sad day when your Mum dies.

Today is art at Todmorden followed by lunch at the lake. Bob and I are then off to Liverpool for one of my sisters wine tasting evenings . We shall be staying locally at a Premier Inn.

Todays forecast is warm and cloudy so have a good day all.

[Stanley]

Morning Sue.... It sounds as though you and Bob had a good day. I hope you do as well today. We are expecting a day of full sun here in Barlik.
I have just heard the reports of police raids in Rochdale,Turkish barbers and mini malls.
I am going to improve the shining hour by going back to bed! See you later....

[Sue]

Morning Sue.... It sounds as though you and Bob had a good day. I hope you do as well today. We are expecting a day of full sun here in Barlik.
I have just heard the reports of police raids in Rochdale,Turkish barbers and mini malls.
I am going to improve the shining hour by going back to bed! See you later....

Yes that report covered lots of other towns too such as Shrewsbury and I think it was Leigh. It’s funny I commented to Bob. A few weeks ago that there have been about 4 or 5 Turkish barbers appeared all decked out in the same expensive black and gold fittings, quite out of keeping for the areas they are in. It makes you wonder…….

[Stanley]

Do you remember the conspiracy theories about the rash of Chinese Restaurants with red flock wallpaper that sprang up all over the country in the 1960s?
Just back up after two hours of good second sleep...

[Tripps]

have just heard the reports of police raids in Rochdale,Turkish barbers and mini malls.

Are they included in the 'gangs' that Sir Keir has promised to 'smash'? I looked up the price of cigarettes - and find they are about £16 for twenty. I doubt many pay that much in Rochdale.

Just heard it instinctively described as "the black economy" by Sheila Fogarty on LBC She instantly realised the racism in what she had said, and corrected it to "the illegal economy". Don't worry Sheila - I was the only only to notice.

Got me thinking - how long can White retain the inbuilt advantage of the first move in Chess?

[Stanley]

But 'black economy ' is no more racist than black market, black Friday, black clouds or Blackpool.
I shall be in the shed early doors as usual and taking a walk later because we are promised another sub-tropical day.

[Stanley]

This morning I drilled the steam chest to accept the gland and then drilled the gland clearance size for the 5BA studs. Then I drilled and tapped the chest and fitted the studs. Last job was to mark the gland with a witness mark to make sure it is always oriented and fit it to the chest. Another small step forwards. Now for breakfast.

[Sue]

Morning

It was a good evening at the wine tasting yesterday. This morning has got off to a good start but the weather forecast for Derby shows warm and cloudy today. Why Derby. Bob has an engineers meeting in Derby starting at 1 so we are going straight there from here in Liverpool . I shall spend the afternoon doing the sites of Derby. Claire went to university there but its 30 years ago and I can hardly remember the place. We should be home about 6.30 this evening.

As for the money laundering etc in Rochdale it has been reported locally for some weeks that Greater Manchester police are having a crackdown in all their areas on nail bars, car washes, barbers and many other small businesses that are suspected of using illegal labour, modern slavery and drug dealing . It apparently is having some success.

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Thanks for the insight into the police raids Sue. It's only just been reported in national news.... Have a nice visit to Derby and I hope Bob's talk goes well.
I'm going for a walk and a spell on traffic duty in the sun!

[Sue]

Probably made national news as Rochdale was mentioned. The article I read mainly referred to Shrewsbury. No news is good news when it is national news about Rochdale. The media is doing a lot of damage to a demoralised and disadvantaged town

[Stanley]

Yes Sue, I agree. I am getting that impression as well....
I shall be in the shed first thing for an hour of Occupational Therapy and then the rest of the day will be taking it easy. No sign of nything tempting me to go for a walk....

[Stanley]

This morning I partially rebuilt the cylinder so I could check that the bore of the gland and the steam chest were in line. There was a slight discrepancy but that was solved by passing a No. 22 drill through, the next size above the 5/32" drill used to make the gland. Then I started on the steam valve casting and by knocking off time I had most of the major cuts done. I shall finish this tomorrow and make the valve rod. Now I am ready for, and deserve, breakfast.

[Sue]

Morning

I had a lovely afternoon in Derby yesterday, did a bit of shopping, visited the cathedral, and the Museum of Making. The latter was fascinating and I spent more than 1.5 hours of my 4 hours in there. I was back at the place to meet Bob just 10 minutes before he messaged me to say he was on the way. We arrived home just after 7 and quickly put a meal together out of the contents of the fridge, mainly the one that was destined for Thursday before we had our spontaneous fish and chips at the pub.

Today is cool and cloudy with a small chance of rain . I have a bit of cleaning, washing and ironing to do and also the last of my seed planting. Sadly my fuchsias seem to have suffered in the heat of the greenhouse yesterday and I hope the cool of today will help them pick up. Have a good day all