Today I shall be Mainly...

[Big Kev]

Getting ready for Liam, from Newtown Carpets. The old stairs and landing carpet is out and in the boot of the car ready for the tip tomorrow morning. I've also cut new oak laminate for the stair risers, the treads are quite shallow so my big feet wear the carpet (on the risers).

[Stanley]

He's a good man, tell him I said so! I always come down the stairs sideways so that my feet are fully engage with the treads. I am acutely aware that the stairs are the most dangerous thing |I do these days!

[Sue]

[attachment=0]20250716_215935.jpg[/attachmen

Morning

Cases packed and ready for collection. We have had breakfast and soon off to catch the train to Linz. Fabulous day in Budapest with evening cruise to look at the lights. We now have 3 days of travel and 3 days of rain but we will be in the train. Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Nice report Sue. Glad all went well and I wish you a better experience on your return trip than you had going out.



Another small step. I measured and marked the cut out in the base of the steam valve which is the passage for the exhaust steam. Then I cut it, high risk because I don't see straight as you know. Then I set the valve up in the valve chest and drilled the clearance hole right through for the valve rod. Next I gave the driver bar a witness mark to ensure correct orientation. Then marked it and drilled and tapped it 4BA for the valve rod. I am now ready to make the valve rod but that's for tomorrow. There is no rush! I want my breakfast.

[Sue]

Well that's a good start ICE. Our seats are double booked and an irate German or Hungarian showed us her ticket and chucked us of ours

[Stanley]

Oh dear! Another blow to our relationship with Europe!
I hope you got sorted Sue......

[Big Kev]

He's a good man, tell him I said so! I always come down the stairs sideways so that my feet are fully engage with the treads. I am acutely aware that the stairs are the most dangerous thing |I do these days!

I will indeed.

I've been to the tip and got rid of the old carpet, picked up some milk in Aldi and put a drop of diesel in the Yeti. I was shocked to see the price of diesel at Total Energies, Kelbrook. £1.46 a litre is a considerable difference to what I paid in Barlick (£1.38), I wonder if it's to do with their new supplier...

[Sue]

Oh dear! Another blow to our relationship with Europe!
I hope you got sorted Sue......

Well I think it was Hungarian railways but their booking system was obviously rubbish as they managed to double book several seats . The Hungarian lady made such a fuss she got moved to first class. There was no one who spoke English that our guide could sort things out with so we all moved two carriages down and took unreserved seats which was fine till the next station where people got on with tickets for our seats. It then took us nearly 20 minutes to fight back to our original seats, ( which were now vacant again) less my case which Bob had to go back and fetch later. Anyway we arrived at Linz on time and are now at the Park Inn in the centre. We have four hours to do as we wish. We are having a cuppa . that our journey to Frankfurt is better tomorrow. On the positive its 20 degrees, sunny and none of the forecast rain

[Stanley]

That sounds like an obstacle course Sue! I'm glad you can keep positive. I'm not sure I could be as sanguine about the matter!
I shall be in the shed early doors working on my valve train. I am acutely aware that I should be thinking about a coat of black paint for the castings. I think I subconsciously avoid thinking about it because I dislike painting so much! We are promised a dry day so I can't see any reason why I shouldn't have a walk and a sit on my bench later....

[Sue]

Morning

Its raining, real rain which despite the forecast it is the first time we have had it. This morning we have a coach and walking trip round Linz followed by a 5 hour train trip to Frankfurt, which I hope goes better than any of the others.

Yesterday in all the moving around on the train somehow I managed to have my purse lifted which I still cannot understand as It was in a well zipped bag attached to me at all times apart from when the lady challenged us over our seats. I had just sat down and made myself comfortable and taken out my Kindle ready to read. I think the purse must have fallen out as we tried to retrieve our various bags. Sometime later someone asked if anyone had lost a purse and held it up, it was mine. I checked that my cards were there in tact which they were but It was sometime later when I found that 70 euros in notes had gone. This was my ‘french’ purse with french euros which is why there was so much as we tend to draw money out in bulk over there and use it for ordinary shopping on the markets. The consolation is it was probably withdrawn from the bank some months ago rather than very recently, but the whole event sickened me as I am so careful.

Yesterday afternoon we walked round Linz ourselves and came across a parade. It was made up of a wide variety of musicians and street performers and we discovered that it was the start of the annual three day festival of street performers so after our evening meal we had a walk back into town to soak up the atmosphere. The acts were various, fun but not particularly striking.

Todays forecast is light rain for an hour or so then 24 degrees but much warmer in Frankfurt. Have a good day all.

[Stanley]

Oh Sue! I am so sorry to hear about the theft. It's no wonder your usual vigilance was lessened, all that kerfuffle about the seats. I hope things go better today!



Another small step forwards. I have made the valve rod, threaded it at each end and started on making the clevis which will join the rod to the eccentric rod. I shall finish it tomorrow. Right now I want my breakfast.

[Sue]

All good Stanley. These things happen

20250718_094039(0).jpg

[Stanley]

[PanBiker]

Finished our first week in the gym. Exercises ramping up somewhat but all good stuff. Tried some new bits of kit. Back in on Monday.

[Stanley]

This morning I fried sweet potato chips using some reduced price veggies I got at the Co-op yesterday.

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed for an hour working on my valve train. Later I know I have a latter to post and I am perilously close to running out of bleach! This is unthinkable and something must be done.....

[Stanley]

Another small step. Measure and mark the clevis for the small bolt that will attach it to the eccentric rod and then mark the clevis for cutting the slot in it for the rod. I set it up in the VM and cut the slot. If you look carefully you will see the result of my defective vision, the slot is not quite in the centre of the clevis but that will not mean it can't work. I have to accept these things! Now for breakfast.

[Sue]

Morning

What a day yesterday. Well ICE trains have excelled this time.

First they combined the carriages of two trains. We expected carriage 22 at the back according to the platform diagram and got on, but it was in the middle and we had to walk through 6 carriages to get to ours, walking against the others walking to their carriages at the back. Once more people and cases filled every ounce of floor space blocking all gangways and manoeverable space

Then we were double booked again as someone got on claiming our seats after 3 hours. We all said NO.

Then we were running 85 minutes late and our courier had to contact the hotel to say we would be late for our evening meal. We ate at 8 after a sandwich at 12

We kept stopping for a few minutes as we were not in the right place at the right time so had no permission to move

At least we were all given a free bottle of water. I will never complain about UK trains again

So today was supposed to be a guided tour of Frankfurt but our train to Brussells has been cancelled. Great Train Journeys have organised a coach which should actually arrive earlier. I for one was worried a train from Frankfurt would be late

So we hopefully will be in London by 6 and homeward tomorrow. Today here is 31 degrees and sunny but we will be in air conditioned coach . Have a good day all

[Wendyf]

I hope the last stage of your journey is without problems Sue. At least your experience on the river cruise was good. I heard about a friend of a friend who was booked on a Danube cruise shortly before you were due to go, they found themselves stuck on the boat with river levels not allowing it to move. Some people stayed on board and took coach trips each day but they demanded to be flown home!

[Sue]

The coach is now 40 minutes late. I think I will walk it will be quicker

[Sue]

20250719_092503.jpg

It's arrived. It's rather smart .

[Stanley]

Unbelievable! I thought you had already had your share of late or missing transport but no, it seems the system hasn't finished with you.
I am so sorry to BR and Rochdale is going to look so attractive Sue! Here's hoping you have better luck today.....