Today I shall be Mainly...

[Sue]

Morning

I spent the morning yesterday and some of the early afternoon catching up on washing and ironing. The rest of my day was not productive. I did spend some time on the new jigsaw, actually rather a lot as it is considerably easier than the last one. I pottered on my sewing machine and made a roast chicken dinner. That was it.

Today I have relaxation yoga this morning and nothing planned. If the rain holds off we may walk but it will have to be chosen carefully because after nearly a week of rain everywhere will be very wet indeed.

I am expecting a phone call as I emailed Keith Lord , where I got my sewing machine, to say the automatic needle threader had stopped threading, was there anything I could tweak. He sent me a link to a video but neither Bob nor I were successful . I let Keith know and he said he would come over and fit a new one. He lives in Rochdale so will probably call on his way home one night I should think. As he is coming inside to work there is no problem with him visiting. I think that is efficient service. There is a small wire that often bends out of place if you are using a needle with a small eye, and I think that is what has happened. I can’t see the wire. Bob managed with an eye glass but even after a tweak it still didn’t work. Its not a great issue I can and have managed without it as I have no oroblems threading needles being short sighted. I only sent the email to register the problem whilst the machine is under warranty .

I have no plans for the day and how the day does depends on the weather.

Have a good day everyone

[Stanley]

I thought you might be posting..... Have a good day whatever the weather brings and I hope Keith solves your threader problem.
I've had an hour and a half in the shed finishing Susan's carronade and having a good clean up.





Now I have to worry about what the next project is!

[chinatyke]

They look good. I didn't realise that Carron was the name of the original manufacturer of this weapon, I just assumed it was a word-play on cannon. Isn't it good what you learn on here? Maybe it will come up in a game of trivia.

[Stanley]

Glad you liked it and yes it was the Carron foundry. See this THIS link to a Wiki Article on the foundry. Note the connection with Watt as well.....
I have just taken the cooking out of the oven. Hot and spicy chicken wings cooked with fresh tomatoes and onions, slow baked in a casserole. Smells and tastes wonderful!

[Stanley]

Wandering lonely as a cloud through the shed wondering what the hell to do next..... What's the odds it's an engine!

[Sue]

Morning

I know that feeling, Stanley, wandering through my sewing room wondering what to do next. The fabric for my top arrived yesterday and the fabric and pattern for Briony should arrive later in the week so that will set me up for a couple of weeks. Keith didn’t phone yesterday but he will, he is totally reliable. I did say we we would be out walking if it was fine and we were.

It was nice to get out after a week of rain. We did just over 4 miles but slipped and slithered on lots of mud, especially on sloping ground which of course we specialise in round here. At one point we looked at the ground, there was no way round the boggy mess we just had to go through it very quickly. Bob was more successful than me. I sank nicely right over my boots. After that every deep puddle I came to I tentatively walked through it to wash my boots. I had a solid 8 hours sleep last night, I think the fresh air did me good.

This morning rain is forecast , but we may get a walk in this afternoon . No real plans otherwise. I would like to cut out my top but I would normally use the dining room table and there I have a dilemma as it has a half finished jigsaw of Rome on it. I may have to move it, which shouldn’t be too difficult as it is on a folding jigsaw board.

We did our census return last night.

Have a good day everyone.

[Stanley]

I think you might have to explain 'a folding jigsaw board' to me Sue.
I've been playing in the shed and done useful things, more later...
It said dry in the forecast but it's been raining steadily all morning, it's very light but quite enough to wet you.

Later....



I spent a happy hour and a half making pieces of scrap into viable material. Always a satisfying use of time.

[Sue]

It is a year today that the reality hit us that we could not get back home from France in the foreseeable future. It was in fact the first week in May, when we decided to make a dash for the tunnel

[Stanley]

And with hindsight, didn't you do well....

[chinatyke]

It is a year today that the reality hit us that we could not get back home from France in the foreseeable future. It was in fact the first week in May, when we decided to make a dash for the tunnel

As Stanley said:

And with hindsight, didn't you do well....

I have a US friend who went to Hong Kong this time last year and is still there, with indications that the Chinese won't open their border until the middle of 2022.

[Marilyn]

Yes Sue...and how you hated my comments that pre-dated your travel.
No.one was listening at that time. ( I think Australia and New Zealand were the only continents that truly got it )
I regret your death rate....but the British will be British!

[Marilyn]

The travel industry within Australia wants everyone to think it is “up and go”.
Book a flight! travel!
( not yet... to early) give it more time, I say.

[Sue]

Yes Sue...and how you hated my comments that pre-dated your travel.
No.one was listening at that time. ( I think Australia and New Zealand were the only continents that truly got it )
I regret your death rate....but the British will be British!

You do like to get a dig in Maz. We were not stupid, are not stupid. We got daily updates from the ferry and both governments and still do. We followed the advice from the French government to the letter.

I do not regret our stay. The house looked like we always wanted it to be, our relationship with our neighbours grew to where it is today. We were just lonely and could not get the dental care I needed. We had a fabulous hardworking Spring. Our girls were happy we were safe. We have re established relations with relatives through my daily blog. I grew as a more positive person, now having targets and prepared to try new things. I started my daily pilates and yoga there and until two weeks ago kept that up 8 times a week. We are healthier than we have been in years, and still follow all guidelines to the letter. We are allowed to get low sometime, and initially I was depressed because we did not comprehend the french way of doing things, which as it happens was the same as the English, and I so desperately needed my medication.

Its easy to look back. I look back now and think of all the good things we achieved in those 8 weeks and if we had got home immediately we would have missed a glorious Spring in France. Our personal situation would have been no different in either country except I have more indoor hobbies here and i am allowed out to walk further

[Sue]

And with hindsight, didn't you do well....

Thank you Stanley we did and i am a healthier more dynamic person for it...plus better at french

[Marilyn]

[Sue]

Just looking back on the conversations of last year, as I have done a lot this week. Maz your concern was me getting a ferry back after we were there, rather than telling me not to go.

Anyway, it all makes interesting reading my daily blogs. I had intended writing them up as a diary of events but actually I have been so busy I have never got round to it. My writing actually has waned. The pandemic killed my urge to write and I have not written another word on my Widdup book since this time last year. I need to get motivated before all that extra research goes to waste.

[Marilyn]

[Tripps]

Thirty - love.

[chinatyke]

Isn't it daft that my friend is in Hong Kong which is part of China and isn't allowed to come into mainland China? We can still enter Hong Kong without a visa but not China.

[Sue]

So many travel rules to remember. We just don’t travel any where except by foot then we know we aren’t breaking the rules

The sun has come out, I feel another muddy walk coming on

[PanBiker]

I have started my latest batch of Chia and Sunflower seed bread. Dough is mixed and on a slow rise. Will knock it back when we come home. Taking Sally to Airedale for X-Rays for her hips and knee. Calling at Wendy's on the way back for some magic manure.

[Stanley]

"No.one was listening at that time. ( I think Australia and New Zealand were the only continents that truly got it )
I regret your death rate....but the British will be British"
Why this antagonism? I for one am getting a bit fed up with these attacks on Sue. Can we please have an end of them?

[Sue]

I have started my latest batch of Chia and Sunflower seed bread. Dough is mixed and on a slow rise. Will knock it back when we come home. Taking Sally to Airedale for X-Rays for her hips and knee. Calling at Wendy's on the way back for some magic manure.

Could do with some of that manure, our little Irish chap never came in the autumn. I hope he didn’t succumb to something nasty

[Wendyf]

I'll pop a few bags in the post Sue!

[Sue]

I'll pop a few bags in the post Sue!

Ha ha, its easier by Hermes. I wonder what our little delivery man would think