Today I shall be Mainly...

[Stanley]

Another small but important step forwards. Nice morning, I am a happy bunny!

[Sue]

Regulators... Tell Bob the best and simplest are straight slide valves but some locos used a circular flat valve hinged on a pivot. All the traction engines I have dealt with were straight line valves.
Nice post again, what a good mix of activities!
I have been boring and done 90 minutes in the shed, all went well. I will post later. At the moment I'm having a sit and a drink of tea before taking Jack onto the Green. Nothing better than having a fitness trainer!

Thanks, Bob says and yes and you agree

[Marilyn]

Cleaning the castle and getting the guest bedroom ready for the first guest since early March.
Just one guest - son and his dog. ( yes the dear old dog is still going. Through a process of her choosing, she has switched to a Vegetarian diet and won’t eat anything but, not even dog biscuits. Somehow she is thriving on the regime and even wants to go for a short walk (more a slow toddle and a sniff about) in her local park. I can’t believe I shall get to see her again. She was at death’s door last time I saw her).
I can’t wait to see my son’s face either. It has been too long. Damn this virus.
He has ordered a roast meal with all the trimmings tomorrow night, and I shall have a Vegetarian Banquet ready for Abbey.

[Stanley]

Sue and Bob...
Maz, you sound like a happy bunny!

[Sue]

Morning, all, hope you are all well .

I remember the saga with the dog Maz, you were worried he was going to expire on you. I hope the visit goes well, I can understand your excitement. We haven’t seen Julia and family in Coventry since Bobs birthday on February 7th. It seems for ever and too far to just pop over for a look through a car window like we did with Claire and family after we got back.

I hope my brother managed to get outside in the garden this weekend now the shielding rules have changed. Its typical the weather should change too, having looked at todays weather report, I thought typical for June . We always had wet weather when we went to our Timeshare in the Lakes, which we sold last year because of it, if you remember. My art workshop week was always wet too so no change this year it seems. Its not even as if the rain actually wet much !

What did yesterday bring. Not much, I was rather lethargic all day. I planted some summer squash and butternut seeds that arrived in the post as my others did not germinate and thats about it. I did have my history in the morning which is 2 hours, otherwise I just pottered. Today I am determined to be more productive.

The history was interesting as it was about the impact of WW1 on women and the eventual changes that took place. I do wish I had discussed this with my great aunt and grandmother, although I do know a large amount of what happened. My grandma was married with two small boys so that kept her occupied. My great aunt was a trained primary school teacher and was widowed so continued to work in schools, until retirement in 1948. One sister was a teaching assistant, (a spinster her fiance having been killed too ) the oldest sister also had a family but helped in the running of her husbands business. I think his was a protected occupation or whatever they called it because he had his own wood yard and I don’t think he fought. Unless of course he had a health issue that I am not aware of. I do not know any descendants from that line of the family so cannot be sure.

Claire and Erin have opted for a visit today being the driest and warmest forecast till Sunday. I suggested she could water plants from the water butt, all the kids seem to like doing that. Claire will bring her a picnic. Its definitely thick coats in the garden, not the best for our first socially distanced visit. I shall put garden chairs out spaced around.

Bob had his socially distanced meeting at the track in the park with one of the model engineers who is trying to get his steam boiler on his model engine up to standard and there are a number of problems with it. Bob and another chap do the inspections and they have been trying to sort it out via their whats app group but getting no where. The advice meeting was well planned and went well, hopefully problem solved.

There is no sign of sign of school yet For Eve, it looks like it isn’t going to happen this week

Take care stay safe

[Marilyn]

I had several “ great Uncles anxious to join the war effort. I have seen a pic of my great grandfather with milk bottle lenses...the curse of the family being poor eyesight. I often read “of good character” but “will never make a suitable soldier” on records ( it seems poor eyesight and recurrent otitis media, and one case of good old “flat feet” beat them)
I do smile at their body measurements...all just over 5 feet tall...with a chest measurement ( fully expanded) of less than 32 inches. Bless them. Little “giants”!

[Stanley]

Morning Sue! w cool days won't harm us.
I've been in the shed for two hours and this is the result.



Tell Bob it's a tight fit but I can turn it with my fingers. It'll soon bed in to a good fit.

[Marilyn]

Gremlins on the site...posts disappearing.
On my son’s ( father’s side of the family) I find a lot of “home guards” and “drivers”. No shame, I expect they were needed.
But I do find they made large of any minor injuries. One was “shot through the foot” ( a classic self injury)....yet he made a lifetime effort of drawing attention and financial comfort from it. Never saw battle, but became a full on invalid.
One does look at him sideways. ( once you see the family “trend”) ( wink)
I’m just saying...a straight through injury to the foot may be sensitive for 3 weeks. After that...get walking...get swimming...get moving. MOVE ON. You are healed. Don’t make a 50+ year dedication to avoid work and sit in a wheelchair!

[Sue]

Morning Sue! w cool days won't harm us.

Cool days won’t harm but it will be winter coat, socks and trainers sat in the back garden with Claire and Erin today. Outside visits only allowed. I am not sure how long each of us will last. Its not a garden for football kicking even if I had one.

[Sue]

Just thought we can all have a walk across the fields at the back and go and see if we can see anything in the pond

[Stanley]

I've put my shirt back on and had two winter skins on this morning for our walk.

[Sue]

Excellent afternoon, turned out sunny. What inspiration going over to the pond. We spent over an hour with Erin running around the field and doing a short walk. Her imagination coming to the fore again as she was a tour guide with a flag ( large blade of grass) that we all had to follow whilst she taught us the country code...which included not picking the plants, which we explained she had just done. Anyway said grass was left in the field so its seeds could grow. Such refreshing fun and a break for Claire I think. Adam and Claire both work for the Environment Agency so they take it in turns looking after Erin. When she ran in the back garden Erin muttered something about it being a change to get away from home. I do believe she gets taken for a walk somewhere nearly every day.

[Stanley]

We had sun as well Sue, quite a surprise after the cloud and the forecast.
Shed and veggie shopping today I think.

[Sue]

Morning, more sun at the moment. Of course we need the rain but the sun is more motivating

Yesterday apart from seeing Erin and Claire i cut out Bobs new shirt, and started preparing the pieces for sewing. The contrast fabric has not yet arrived but there is a lot to do before that. There is quite a wait for sewing bits and pieces, as the shops and warehouses are doing a roaring trade. I think the hobby has taken off for many who just did a little before, now they have the time.

After Claire and Erin left I Whats Apped ( is that a word) Eve and Briony. They were busy crafting too. They ‘took’ me out into the garden so they could both show me their new gymnastics skills of one handed cartwheels etc. I love the way Eve says to come into the garden with her, or come into the bedroom and off she goes phone in hand. Still no sign of school even though she was supposed to start this week. What was really nice to see was Briony smiling and laughing. It was obviously a good day for her.

Today I have a new exercise class. Taira is always asking for ideas so this morning she is trying out a Zumba class. I haven’t done dance exercise for years so should be fun. I had planned on changing bedding and cleaning. I will do the former but Bob says we will do the cleaning together tomorrow. We have a system, I wet clean and dust whilst he hoovers. Works well. Its the hoovering that gets my back so I am happy for the division of labour.

This afternoon we may walk if the rain holds off. Apart from my walking the streets on Tuesday, as Bob put it we haven’t walked this week, otherwise it will be ‘ Sue sews shirts’ Isn’t there a tongue twister something like that.

Take care, stay safe.

[Stanley]

I get my hour of walking in every day Sue, too important to miss! Yet again this morning I thought about you as I passed the Hospice Shop. They still have their Easter display in place and the predominant colour is yellow. Many yellow tops...
I'm having a sit down after a useful hour in the shed. I shall post later.... Then veggie shopping and walk Jack on the Green. Occasional light spatters of rain.

[Sue]

I agree about the walking being important Stanley but of course I do at least 1 hour of pilates or yoga 6 days a week these days. I do like my walk in the hills though. Should be quieter with the weather being a little cooler and damper. I have decided I will not be returning to working in the hospice shop in the foreseeable future, its far too cramped in there, especially where I work and to be honest handling all that stuff that came from who knows where, worries me. I believe the charity shops in general think they will be short of volunteers so are having a campaign to enlist the help of teenagers.

[Stanley]

Nice hour in the shed perfecting the eccentric. It's perfectly free now and a good fit, ready to be installed on the engine.

[plaques]

Spooky, just returned from our friday morning fridge filling expedition at Sainsburys and commented that I've only a weeks reading on Bleak House then my book list is used up. I don't know if the Samaritans charity shop is open in the Colne market hall but social distancing and compulsory glove wearing could just about work but then the book would have to be put into quarantine for another week or more. I wouldn't blame them if they kept closed its probably the safest option.

[Stanley]

THIS Would be cheap and easy P.
ordered a new BP monitor. Cleared up deceased Sow Thistle. Now for shed when morning tasks are accomplished!

[Sue]

Morning all
Proper rain today, heavy, it should do the garden good, but not my poor little peony that has flowered at last. Although the sun has just come out

Yesterday was a day of washing, and bed changing and I had to use the drier, which is the first time since March. It was a dreadful day of sun rain and hail showers. I spent the rest of the day doing Bobs new shirt. This will come to a standstill soon as the contrast fabric has not arrived yet.

I think it will be more of the same today plus cleaning , ironing and a visit to Bacup market very early

There will be no walking for a few days, rain forecast here until next weekend, but getting warmer again. It could keep people inside, hopefully without guests!

Hope all is good with you
Stay safe, stay well

[plaques]

We both love the peony flowers. There's about 16 scattered round the garden most of them with buds about an inch in diameter but on rather tall 3ft 6" stems. I tried staking some last week but the ground was like concrete and I only managed to do four of them. The rain may have made life a bit easier. The plant repositioning goes on a pace. Yesterday is was some ornamental bamboo grass, dug up, split, and spread out to fill in odd spots here and there. The wholesale drive clearance next door, trees, shrubs, rhododendrons have opened up a better view. Mrs P has now got her eye on converting two small conifers to fire wood to help with the view. Keeps my busy.

[Stanley]

Lovely out there at the moment Sue.
I have had over two hours in the shed, part of that very stressful but you'll have to read shed matters for that!

[Stanley]

Today's shed pic illustrates the watchmaker's tools that have to be used at times! Read shed matters for the full SP.

[Sue]

I put a message on here about Bob testing his boiler and a few other bits. Submitted, checked it went, then went to clean my teeth. The message isn’t here. Gremlins again.

[Sue]

Here we go
Engine, boiler , and man operating system,

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And Oh dear it leaks

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