Today I shall be Mainly...

[Marilyn]

It's good for your brain, apparently.
I enjoyed my dabble...

[Sue]

Drawing was one of my targets when I retired, not painting. I could do biological drawings but there is a lot of difference between biological and artistic drawing. I bought a book with a workbook with it which built me up from scratch. I didn't finish it because, by half way through , I felt I was becoming competent. At the same time I joined the U3A art group where the teacher puts a lot of emphasis on drawing. I have a long way to go but am quite a competent sketches now.

[Marilyn]

I can draw well enough to do very well at Pictionary. ( the kids hate playing against me!)
And I love a big canvas I can slap paint on with gusto.
Not terribly good at delicate stuff requiring shading... rather pathetic at it actually...

[Sue]

That is what I love Marilyn. I love drawing in charcoal or conte crayons or a really soft pencil and shading, and blending.

[Stanley]

I sorted out the connection for putting 'steam' on the engines. Getting very close to exciting part! There's something magic about life coming into something you have made out of your head..... I shall be moving quietly forward this morning. Sarah and Mick are going to visit next week to deliver the bases and other goodies. Sarah will be able to see her engine running..... (If I have it right......)

[PanBiker]

Up at Clarion House for a working party meet up. We will take some butties and put in a few hours of maintenance. Not sure if we are doing internal or ground works stuff.

[Marilyn]

Raining stair rods for the third day in a row. Our local river (about 5 mins walk away) burst its banks and flooded parkland and walkways yesterday. Strange to see a footbridge under water and only tops of hand rails showing.
Weather being so lousy, I have sat dabbling with my watercolour pencils again ( which beats housework)...and I must say I am getting much better using them. We had the age old "you didn't do that?" argument when Febby came downstairs for lunch. " Yes I did!" ( think he was impressed by what I had done).
I enjoyed being in my own little bubble for a while...

[Stanley]

Is it safe to go for the camper van?
I hit a problem yesterday with one of my flywheels and will be putting it right this morning. Not happy but these things happen...

[Marilyn]

Following Febby in the camper tomorrow, Stanley. The weather is much improved, so I am not so worried I will be blown off the road.
Actually got to hang the washing on the line today. It didn't quite dry, so had to give it 10 mins in the dryer when the sky clouded over again this afternoon. We managed a nice walk without getting wet too.
Still dabbling with my pencils...
Glad things are coming together for you in the shed, Stanley, and hope yesterday's set back is easily fixed.

[Stanley]

Not easy Maz but I shall conquer all difficulties! Onward and Upward, Excelsior!!!

[Sue]

Going to my friendWendy's for lunch and then giving her a sewing lesson on my old sewing machine that she bought from me. Wendy us an excellent artist but the finer And even less fine details of sewing machining seem to evade her

[Stanley]

At the moment I'm not sure. I may upset some of my shed friends by repairing the dripping tap in the kitchen instead of doing exciting things like running the engines.....

[David Whipp]

Go for the tap, Stanley!

Have realised that I'm engaged in displacement activity mesen, rather than getting on with a chore...

[Stanley]

I did David! Amazing how my quality of life has been lifted now that it shuts perfectly with the lightest touch.....
But today is definitely going to be engine testing!

[Christian]

Well I'm now on "Garden Leave" till 31st of July. Whilst this is nice and I'm getting plenty done, I cant help but feel a little stir crazy after less than a week! The young dog has now decided that I must be followed everywhere and he must be included in absolutely everything going on.. I can see me going mad.

[Big Kev]

...on call until 6am Tuesday morning

[Sue]

Today we went to Coventry for the grandchildrens annual school fete. The school PTA organised an attempt at a Guiness world record for the most'scientists' in one place. We had to wear lab coats safety glasses and carry an instrument, in this case a plastic test tube containing jelly. It was all done officially. The previous record was 250, today's total was 540. We think we got it. It was great fun and the kids threw themselves into it.

[Stanley]

See Shed Matters.... Engines ran well yesterday, I got the valves just right! Some quiet finishing touches today.....
Kev, good call out rate?

[Big Kev]

Kev, good call out rate?

Just TOIL, it's been a quiet weekend so far (I've probably jinxed it now).

[Christian]

Kev, good call out rate?

Just TOIL, it's been a quiet weekend so far (I've probably jinxed it now).

I've just come off 12 years of being on call 24/7, It feels strange waking up in a morning with no worries.

[Stanley]

What's TOIL? I assume that's an acronym.
Taking it easy, a week from today I am off to Keele, the engines are finished as far as my part of the contract and are sat there on the sideboard looking nice.... I shall take the day as it comes..... Bit of tidying up in the shed?
David was right, a bit of post natal depression but nothing serious. I am looking forward to what I do next...... I am leaning towards actually buying a set of castings and making a top of the range engine to someone else's design.... A big launch engine?

[Sue]

Time off in lieu... TOIL Stanley

[Sue]

Today I shall finish drafting a new pattern block for my dressmaking . The old one no longer fits properly due to my weight loss and inches lost in the last 18 months. This caused numerous problems when making the wedding outfit. We are also busy packing for our own version of Brexit, ie exiting Britain for an extended summer break in France.

The weather there has been as poor as here but a little warmer. So much for the nest summer in 100 years!

[Big Kev]

Kev, good call out rate?

Just TOIL, it's been a quiet weekend so far (I've probably jinxed it now).

I've just come off 12 years of being on call 24/7, It feels strange waking up in a morning with no worries.

Just a long weekend every 3 weeks for me, got a double 'hit' this time though as I'm covering someone's holiday next weekend.

[Stanley]

Doing very little other than read and think...... (Dangerous stuff thinking.....)