Today I shall be Mainly...

[Sue]

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I quite like the fuel economy of the 1.6 diesel
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Mine is the hybrid and we have only put petrol in about 4 times in the last 13 months, however the electric needs topping up every 30+ miles but we use it for all our short distance driving. Bobs is diesel but not a mini but an audi A5 convertible, and we use that for coming here and long distance, it has a huge range, certainly very economical.

[Stanley]

Back from shopping and ready for breakfast. It doesn't take long to spend £25!

[Stanley]

Right all veggies cooked, pans put away and hob cleaned. That's enough honest endeavour for the day. I shall go and do nothing in the front room!

[Stanley]

I shall put my chicken in for its four hour roast at about 05:30 and be in the shed by 06:00 working on my piston and rod. No holidays today! Later in the morning I shall deal with the chicken and then I may as well go back to bed. We are promised rain all day.

[Sue]

Morning

The weather seems to have settled into a pleasant pattern here, sun with cloud and 22 degrees. It suits me well. Warm enough to enjoy, but not too hot to stop us doing anything.

Yesterday we had our oil delivered at 10.00 am, which meant we weren’t restricted to staying in all morning. However we were both busy so actually didn't go out till after lunch. I gave the house a good surface clean, ie got rid of the spiders webs on all surfaces, swept floors and a quick dust. Its amazing what settles in a few weeks. Bob was busy changing some of the wall electric sockets and doing a few minor repairs. In the afternoon we did a round of various shops, mainly shopping for hardware and gardening bits and pieces. We bought netting and later covered the cabbages and the grapes. Today will be a similar bits and bobs day. All should be more or less straight by the time we go to Bergerac for a few days next week, where it is much hotter, about 29 degrees.

Have a good day .

[Stanley]

Today we'll be lucky if it's 15C here in Barlick Sue. I'm glad the oven is on to cook my chicken which means the kitchen is toasty.



This morning was a quiet and productive hour finishing the piston, making the piston rod (Stainless steel so a bit tough!) and making sure it was a fit.

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed for an hour with my castings and then not going for a walk because we have heavy rain forecast all day. No cooking to do but I shall have no difficulty keeping occupied indoors and watching the weather through the window. I suspect Sue will have better weather, they left just at the right time!

[Sue]

Morning

Yesterday we went for a short walk. We drove to the park in the next village and tried to find a walk we did many years ago that took us through the woods past a ruined windmill. We searched a couple of routes and eventually after no success we gave up , came back and had a beer in the garden. In the morning we went to the local agricultural merchant and bought some plants for a rockery. That seems to have next to nothing growing on it this summer. We bought two established thyme plants and were told it was 3 for 2, an unusual bargain for plants which I planted on our return. We had BBQ tea but it was a little chilly to eat outside as quite breeze started as a weather system arrived

My insect bites continue to itch and this morning I have more round my neck following the line of my t shirt, and one under my wedding ring, which I may have to remove before my finger swells. On the family front, Claire and family are off on holiday to the Lincolnshire Wolds, I hope the rain abates for them. Up in Coventry Julia and Eve are getting ready for the National open water age group competitions next weekend, and Briony finished junior school, as she starts at the local High school in September. Time flies !. Julia put a first day and last day photo on facebook, her lovely blond curls have gone but the smile is as big as ever. There was a final assembly and award ceremony that parents were invited to. What a huge surprise , Briony won the schools friendship award for being a good friend and role model. Her name is on a school plaque and she has a certificate and trophy to keep. What a wonderful honour. Neither she nor Julia and Ed knew anything about it and we have a lovely photo of the shocked surprise on Bs face.

We are forecast light rain and strong wind most of the day though the temperatures are still reasonable. I think it will be a day of indoor activities, including a bit of packing for our 4 days away to Bergerac. I think I may get the sewing machine out to alter some new curtains we have bought for the new room. I also have some ironing to do.

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Morning Sue. The Forecast is for the rain to move very slowly SE and weaken as it goes so Claire and family might have showers. We are resigned to significant rain all day, the forecast is that there could be as much as three inches on the hills. That's serious rain.....



This was a morning of refinement of small things. I adjusted the size of the piston making sure it was a good sliding fit in the gland and the cylinder. Then I polished the valve face and the steam chest and lid to get a good seal. Finally I harvested the non-ferocious metal and put it in the dedicated bin and oiled the lathe. It's so easy to keep putting running maintenance off but if you do you always pay for it in the end. Another good morning.....

[Stanley]

I shall do my usual hour in the shed with my castings and then look forward to a visit from Susan. After that anything is possible.

[Sue]

Morning

We had very heavy rain all day yesterday, particularly bad during the evening. The paths and drive were flooded in places, even underneath the wisteria. There is more rain forecast most days during the week. I think those weeds will be back, but at least I won’t need to water. We kept busy during the morning, Bob did some decorating around the doorway into the new room, I altered curtains for the window. I washed and ironed, successfully drying the majority of it in my Lakeland Drying ‘tent’ the thicker things that did n’t need ironing I have dried on the ceiling mounted airer in the laundry room. In the afternoon we went to see Joanne and Paul and it was 5.30pm, when we got back. Time to cook and watch the end of the Tour de France.

So we are off to Bergerac today, back Thursday evening. Have a good day all.

[Stanley]

I hope you have a good stay in Bergerac Sue. I hope you'll be having a rest because you will certainly be fighting the garden again when you come back!
We have sunshine at the moment and the rain has moved on to the SE, heading for Claire and family I fear but they did say it would moderate as it moved east.



Straightforward job this morning, mark the lid of the steam chest and drill it for 4BA clearance, then use it to drill the steam chest 4BA clear and finally transfer the drillings to the valve face and then drill that No 32, the tapping size for 4BA. Tomorrow I shall tap the holes in the valve face and fit the studs, steam chest and lid. A nice quiet hour and good progress.

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed for an hour, then breakfast and a sleep and after that a meeting with my plumber Jonathan to arrange fitting a new gas boiler. Nothing at all wrong with my old one but as a good maintenance man I know when to stop riding my luck. What happened was my CO meter packed up and when I took it down to replace it I found the date 2008 on the back of it. (Yes, I always write the date on when I fit new or replace the battery.) I knew the boiler was earlier so I had a look and yes, it was August 2005. It has given 18 years good service.
I am not greedy, hence Jonathan's visit. I shall have another boiler in before the heating season starts.
(Always a wry comment but I suspect that'll see me out......)

[Sue]

Morning

The rain seemed pretty wide spread in northern and central France yesterday. We were nearly at Poitier before it stopped and even then the clouds were grey and heavy, at one point the temperatures dropped down to 16 degrees before it started going up slowly to 27 degrees. It was nearly 6 pm when we arrived but we had taken the scenic route. Today 24 is forecast and as yet we have not made plans except to browse the historic town.

Havz good day all

[Stanley]

Sounds like a good plan Sue. Remember you are on holiday and resting!



I started this morning under the pillar drill using it to tap the holes in the valve face to make sure they were perpendicular to the face. When I had done that I invested in a new sheet of 120grit emery, taped it to the surface plate and rubbed all the faces down. Then a blow out with compressed air to get rid of all the grit and I built the cylinder up with all the nuts just finger tight. All the holes lined up and faces seated. I finished with the cylinder ready to mount on the target face for a trial fit up. There shouldn't be any surprises but that can wait until tomorrow. A nice trouble-free hour!

[Sue]

REST!. Not in my vocabulary Stanley. we shall browse, soak up the culture and enjoy a region we have never been to

[Stanley]

I might have known Sue.....
Jonathan has been and comes next Tuesday morning to fit a new boiler with modern controls and a ten year extended warranty, cap off the waste pipe in the bathroom and cut off the cold water tap that used to supply the sinks in the dark room. He is also going to fit a new Mixer tap on the kitchen sink. I am pleased as Punch!

[Stanley]

This morning I shall have a short spell in the shed and then, after breakfast, a meeting with David Whipp. Later I shall go for lunch in the Square with M&S and will do some shopping at the same time.

[Stanley]

Change of plan. I value my second sleep more than the shed so I shall have an early breakfast and take care of my sleeping time!

[Sue]

Morning

It was a good day yesterday, well mainly. See later. We went to the tourist information and bought a leaflet with a map of the old town, but first we did a boat trip on the Dordogne, which lasted about an hour. Not spectacular but very pleasant. The boat captain was keen to let us see the wide variety of birds and periodically stopped whilst they appeared . Its the fist time I have seen a kingfisher even though they are supposed to inhabit our local lodge.

The walk took us through streets of medieval houses and quaint squares. We sat and had lunch in one of these, just a salad but it was huge. On leaving a wind had got up and it blew one of the menu boards down….on to my ankle. Initially it was ok and one of the waitresses brought me some ice to apply. However as the afternoon wore on it got stiffer such that by the evening I could hardly walk on it, worse after I had sat for a while as I then could not put any weight on it. It seems a little better this morning.

There won’t be a lot of walking today. I think we are going to visit a chateau. 26 degrees with rain forecast this afternoon. Have a good day all

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[Stanley]

Just what you need when you're on holiday Sue! Hard luck. I hope it mends quickly with no complications.

[Stanley]

Later..... Been busy. I did my veggie shopping had lunch with the kids and got a new pedal bin to replace the one that broke on me the day before yesterday. All sorted now. Kids off to Settle for a few days in the MH......

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed this morning as there is nothing to stop me having a good second sleep. No social engagements today and the veggie shopping is done a day early. Good job as we are promised a wet day.
I have only one job in the offing. I have promised myself I will clean out the cupboard under the sink before Jonathan fits a new mixer tap in the kitchen. I don't know whether it is a common syndrome but mine has been neglected, out of sight, out of mind. I shall bottom it before Tuesday!

[Sue]

Morning

Yes Stanley, the cupboard under the sink gets quite untidy, as things in there get used on a regular basis. When we cleared out my brothers flat we actually forgot his cupboard under the sink until we we were leaving. It was full to overflowing as he obviously kept a good stock of cleaning materials some of which had leaked or spilt . It was a bit of a mess. I am still using some of the things he had in there.

Yesterday was a pleasant temperature but cloudy with occasional light showers. We went to a chateau about an hours drive away and spent all day there. It was a fascinating place owned by Josephine Baker, an American black lady who was a cabaret singer, and a lady who fought racism. She took french citizenship and helped in the resistance during the war. The chateau had been restored by the present owners back to how it was when Josephine owned it.

It was built in the 1500 s and the present owners have recently had a chapel restored that was built at the same time but was derelict when Josephine owned the chateau. It has been restored completely , and when examined by archaeologists it was found to be the chapel and mausoleum of the original owners and many of their descendants, though the underground burial chamber and coffins had been looted. It really was a fascinating place. My foot held out well. It was very swollen and still is but not painful.

Our short break is over and its back to La Vallee today. It may have been a short break but it felt quite long having seen and learnt so much about the area. Its due to be hot 30 degrees and sunny here but cooler in Brittany . Have a good day all.

[Stanley]

Glad your foot didn't spoil the day Sue. We're looking at rain all day today and after yesterdays comings and goings I am going to have an easy day. The cupboard under the sink can wait until I am ready!



Slow going this morning, partly down to me, I wasn't seeing properly but also because there are so many little matters to get right. The cylinder fits and the piston is in line, there are a couple of small refinements that need doing but I left them because to do them the cylinder has to be stripped down again. I went on to doing the measurements and doing the fag packet drawing necessary for making the cross head guide bars and fitting them. I finished up ready to proceed......