OneGuyFromBarlick

Morning

We had a lovely trip down yesterday and came by the scenic rural route, just enjoying the drive, which was not particularly busy. We had a picnic lunch, admittedly in the car in a lay-by but on a nice rural road. We stopped in Leominster for a couple of hours and had a walk round as we had never been before. We wore our masks as did a few shoppers but it wasn ‘t busy. It had been market day which was closing, as was the whole town. It looked like everything would be shut by 4.00pm. It had two fabric shops so I was able to buy the two sewing items I had been unable to buy at Dunelm this week. There was a good selection and conveniently the shops were either empty or nearly so. We arrived here by 4.30 pm. The apartment is large, with lovely views and we are only 10 minutes walk from an RSPB site that has a 4.5 mile walking trail through it. That is this mornings outing. Then we shall return for lunch here. This afternoon we shall probably potter over to look at the Dean Forest Railway that has a station near here. We could go on it but do not wish to, save that for another safer year. The other option is to visit the forest Sculpture trail but that is another long walk best kept till tomorroe

So we have decent quiet , but energetic day planned. Hope you have a good one too

Sounds very relaxing and enjoyable Sue. I hope the rest of your stay goes as well. Could be another acceptable day tomorrow but after that, changeable weather.



Bob will like this. I have got to the stage where I can put the lid on the steam chest and check my valve settings. So I have finished early and left that for tomorrow!

Lovely place, so calm and tranquil

Looks idyllic Sue and a nice clean engine as well! Looks like another good day for you today.
I shall be doing a bit of quiet careful valve setting, taking my time!

Morning

We had a couple of beautiful walk yesterday. In the morning we walked through the RSPB reserve barely half a mile from where we are staying. We hardly saw another person and those we did were in the distance or kept their distance. Unfortunately so did most of the wild life apart from several squirrels and a few friendly robins. At one point we saw a large group of boar and have learned a new word that a large group is either a herd or more anciently a singular. If there are more than12 it is a sound. The English language is so colourful. There was evidence of boar everywhere as the land was well churned over particularly along the sides of the paths. It must be a very interesting place at dusk I think!
We had taken a flask off coffee with us and spent some time just sitting looking at the beautiful autumn colours developing, whilst we waited for the wild life to give us an appearance.

After lunch at the apartment we walked through the woods at the back of the site we are staying on, and arrived at Parkend Station just as the steam train did, so we spent an interesting half hour watching the engine top up with water and shunt from one end of the carriages to the other. It was a pretty well kept little station . We then walked back to the site, got in the car and drove three miles up the road to our second walk of the day, a lakeside walk then back through the forest. Just a short walk but making our total for the day at about 6 miles. We were ready for our steak and chips which we cooked in the evening supping our Portuguese red wine, which we then discussed on our zoom wine appreciation meeting later on

Today it is a 4.5 mile walk through a sculpture park, again only a couple of miles from here, then after lunch we are going to a little village two mikes away called Pillowell. It was here that my great great grandfather Thomas Maylard was born in 1845 . His father, the Rev Maylard preached in the then new Primitive Methodist church. This was replaced in 1885, so our challenge today is to find the old one which in the 1880s was sold to the co-op and in the 1990s became a private house. I thought it may have a stone name plaque on its wall. The village only has 250 people in it now and must have been tiny in 1845 . The Rev went on to preach in Burnley and Colne. Thomas was killed in a nasty accident at Bank Street Station, Burnley in 1877. It is his grave Mum and Dad are buried in, in Burnley cemetery.

Have a good day everyone, we will

That sounds like a good day Sue. I like the collective names fr Wild Boar, I didn't know any of them.



This pic says it all about this morning! After a bit of fiddling putting one small fault right I put 20psi on Susan's engine and it's a runner. Tackle put away and I shall ask Susan to pick it up. So a nice morning, once again have put life into inanimate metal, always a nice feeling. Now I have to decide what next....

One thing is certain, I shan't be engine building. Now is the time for some light cleaning and maintenance!
Enjoying the quiet settled weather and not doing any shopping.

Morning

Another good day yesterday. The walk round the sculpture park in the morning was long and interesting. There were some very strange sculptures hidden in the forest. We didn’t manage to find them all, or indeed understand them all, but some were very good indeed. The walk took nearly two and a half hours and we are sure it was longer than 4.5 miles. After lunch we went to Pillowell and searched for the old chapel. There were a few contenders but no plaques. Back at the apartment I later found a facebook page for Pillowell and explained my dilemma. Within an hour I had a reply so shall go back today to take a photo. After Pillowell we pottered in the car to Lyndley and had a stroll around the old docks on the Severn. The tide was out, what a strange site. We could see over to Berkley power Station where Bob used to work for a few years after he was moved from Wythenshaw. We could probably see the caravan park where he lived!

This morning we have to be out by 10, so there is a bit of packing to be done, then its over to Pillowel for a photo, and home. Its been a short break but a good one. Now back to the turmoil of Tier 2 or 3. We shall live our lives like the latter and hope they sort it soon

Have a good day all, we shall be in the car.

Sensible decision about Tier 3 I think Sue. Regardless of what they agree the virus is active and in the end our personal defences will be the ones that matter. I think your timing is impeccable, you have managed to snatch what could be the last three 'good' days of the year, the weather is changing and getting more unsettled, expect rain this afternoon I think.
As usual I have had a couple of hours in the shed cleaning, maintenance and then making a little bit of muck. That's what a clean shed is for!

I might even order a new set of castings today. I have made a unilateral decision to make another beam engine. Compared to the more expensive Stuart No. 9 you get a lot more engine for your money! In the meanwhile I can go ahead with my cylinder......
I can't afford £500 but there are no pockets in a shroud and if I don't have a project I will get bored and die. No contest!

Morning

Very late today, a combination of reading till well after midnight and getting a good nights sleep in my own bed. I always sleep better in my own bed. We had a good journey back home , a rural route slightly different from the one going down. We decided not to stop anywhere and were home before three. We unpacked and I had the washer on by 4.00 pm. It was a very good break indeed but there will be no more now till the situation improves. Before we left I managed to get my photo of the old chapel in Pillowell, now a small block of apartments Today I shall finish my washing and do the ironing. I also want to make and send a card and some euros to our neighbour in France . They cannot afford to keep buying petrol to mow our orchard and lawns . Plus we have a letter to post to France to cancel our phone and internet. We shall use our mobiles and ipad over there in future and a wifi gizmo Bob has bought. So at some time we shall take a long walk down to the larger , less crowded post office on Spotland road and do a circuit through Turner Brothers old factory grounds . I have the double pilates and yoga at tea time, and thats my day

Have a good day all

Don't breathe too heavily at Turner's Sue!
I am, as usual, having a sit down after 2 hours in the shed. More later, very fiddly and frustrating but I think I have got where I wanted to be! Now for a walk and breakfast. I fancy a blood pudding!
One good thing, it's stopped raining.

Later...



The cylinder is set up for boring, perhaps the most difficult part of making the engine. (If you don't believe that, try it!) I can get straight into it tomorrow.

Stanley wrote: ↑20 Oct 2020, 07:13 Don't breathe too heavily at Turner's Sue!
I am, as usual, having a sit down after 2 hours in the shed. More later, very fiddly and frustrating but I think I have got where I wanted to be! Now for a walk and breakfast. I fancy a blood pudding!
One good thing, it's stopped raining.

We only walk on the public right of way, the rest is fenced off. We walked this morning, good job it is sporadic rain this afternoon, just got my washing dried before the first shower

Very sensible Sue and I'm glad to hear it. That site is heavy on my mind. If you have never read it, Get hold of a book called 'Magic Mineral or Killer Dust' by Geoffrey Tweedale. (LINK)
I shall be avoiding the rain, cooking sausage without burning them and boring my cylinder.

Stanley wrote: ↑21 Oct 2020, 03:22 Very sensible Sue and I'm glad to hear it. That site is heavy on my mind. If you have never read it, Get hold of a book called 'Magic Mineral or Killer Dust' by Geoffrey Tweedale. (LINK)
I shall be avoiding the rain, cooking sausage without burning them and boring my cylinder.

Morning

Its a big issue and a big eyesore round here. The factory has been vandalised and set on fire till there is not much left. There is a huge metal fence around it and a caretaker watchman on the grounds. The outer grounds leading into Healey Dell have a map showing a public right of way across from our side of Rochdale to the next main road over, the rest is fenced off with warnings. The public right of way cuts a good mile off our walk to the Doctors and also makes a nice walking circuit up on to Rooley Moor and back into the Dell itself. Or back from our walk from the town centre Its a good tarmac l path and well used but never busy. There is no vehicle access.

Its a dark morning this morning. Its due to be fairly warm and dry today until mid afternoon. I have a hair appointment at 10.30pm but shall try to make it earlier as we are out for lunch in Todmorden. If we chose our day well the pub is nearly empty. They serve SUBSTANTIAL meals, to quote! My own hairdresser , Steve, is still ill after his covid infection. He collapsed yesterday because of his heart problem so is confined to bed at the moment . Its a bit worrying. He is 65, overweight, and has a heart problem. I hope he recovers quickly it must be nearly 3 weeks now. Emma, who colours my hair will also cut it today. I am sure it will be fine. I must get used to it. I think Steve may retire soon after all of this.

I have no other plans except may be a bit of sewing later. I am still experimenting with mask designs, to get a good fit and one I can breathe through easily. Mind you we hardly wear them as we so rarely go in to buildings or are in places with other people around. Yesterday I did a bit of gardening planting some English bluebell bulbs and a couple of winter flowering rockery plants, which I bought at an empty garden centre where we did a toilet stop on the way home on Monday

Have a good day all

I only wear mine twice a week Sue, Once in Town Square and once in the Co-op. Those are the only times I am anywhere near anyone else, on my walks I keep as far awy from others as possible.

I've had a good morning. I have bored the cylinder and it is only 3 thou out of truth which is accurate enough.



I think Bob will agree, it's a thing of beauty!

Sue wrote: ↑21 Oct 2020, 06:35 Steve, is still ill after his covid infection. He collapsed yesterday

If that was the case with my hairdresser - you would not find me within 100 yds of that shop for a long time. I've shown you my hair. Not pretty, but I'm at peace with it, and can live with it for a while.

Too true. its sounds like he has 'long covid'. I don't know if this condition can transfer infection but I wouldn't take the risk.
Fortunately I had my economy hair cut, down to the wood, three weeks ago. Should last until a covid vaccine is available or until we move the clocks forward again.

Tripps wrote: ↑21 Oct 2020, 07:55

Sue wrote: ↑21 Oct 2020, 06:35 Steve, is still ill after his covid infection. He collapsed yesterday

If that was the case with my hairdresser - you would not find me within 100 yds of that shop for a long time. I've shown you my hair. Not pretty, but I'm at peace with it, and can live with it for a while.

Its been shut for two and a half weeks.Emma has had covid and recovered over 10 days ago , but the shop remained shut till yesterday. I refuse to put my life completely on hold. I shall be careful as always. They each have their own booths which are cleaned after each client. I think the people most at risk are the hairdressers themselves.

Sally will be doing mine sometime today before my visit to the MRI scanner tomorrow. No chance of what hair I have got getting in the way of course. You want to try it Tripps, very liberating having instant dry with a wipe style. and you don't need a comb which is a bonus. 3mm all over, suits you sir.

plaques wrote: ↑21 Oct 2020, 08:04 Too true. its sounds like he has 'long covid'. I don't know if this condition can transfer infection but I wouldn't take the risk.
Fortunately I had my economy hair cut, down to the wood, three weeks ago. Should last until a covid vaccine is available or until we move the clocks forward again.

He does not have long covid, yet! He has a major heart problem identified about two months ago where his heart races to over 200 bpm. Apparently the collapse yesterday was his heart problem possibly made worse by the recent infection. He went to hospital but was back home later. He is awaiting surgery. This has not helped his recovery. He also has a disabled daughter which he and his wife have to lift into and out of bed etc. All compiles against a speedy recovery. His bedrest is mainly for his heart problem . He put a message on facebook last night explaining what was going on. Most of his clients including me have been going to him for about 45 years, we are very protective of him as well as being concerned. I was actually relieved it was his heart issue, I was concerned when I was told he had gone into hospital.

As far as i know long covid is like post viral fatigue, which is something I know a lot about having suffered for two years. Anyway Steve is ill in bed, Emma is doing my hair

Sue I sympathize with him. Atrial fibrillation sends the heart into overdrive. I've had a couple of episodes of this and its not nice. The standard pace makers aren't much use since they only add extra beats but cannot take them away. The normal approach is to remove the hearts natural pace maker and replace it with an artificial one. The patient is now totally dependent on battery power.

plaques wrote: ↑21 Oct 2020, 11:48 Sue I sympathize with him. Atrial fibrillation sends the heart into overdrive. I've had a couple of episodes of this and its not nice. The standard pace makers aren't much use since they only add extra beats but cannot take them away. The normal approach is to remove the hearts natural pace maker and replace it with an artificial one. The patient is now totally dependent on battery power.

I thought it was pacemaker but apparently its not. Its quite rare, something to do with nerve endings. Emma told me what it was but even as a biologist who taught about medical issues mainly I didn’t recognise the word, mind you it might not have been the right word.

Apparently the salon has had a deep clean as they call it whilst it was closed.