Today I shall be Mainly...

[Wendyf]

I have become addicted to using the bird call app Sue!
Disappointing news for me this morning, I was looking forward to a trip down to Devon on Saturday to visit my brother and family but my sister in law has just tested positive for covid so all is cancelled.

[Stanley]

I am back up after second sleep. I hope you have a good trip Sue. Sorry yours was cancelled Wendy!
I am having a pot of tea while I work out what mischief i can get up to.

[Sue]

I have become addicted to using the bird call app Sue!

Me too Wendy . Its really interesting what is in the trees around our house. We have seen them all sometime but its nice to know they are not casual visitors

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed for an hour as usual doing interesting things to my crankshafts..... It's supposed to be a dry day but has blotted its copybook already by starting to rain! I'm hoping to have my usual midday walk, no cooking or other jobs pressing in on me.

[Stanley]

This morning I finished the now cool leg of the crankshaft exactly to size and polished it. Then I had another clean up and took all the chips out. Next I made sure the HSS cutter was sharp, burnishing it with a fine diamond lap. Then I put the crankshaft back in the chuck and set it up ready for tomorrow when I repeat the exercise and finish the other leg.
I know I am slow but I have been careful, avoided errors and ended up with a shaft that has a 1/2" journal and a 3/8" shaft, exactly.... I need to repeat that three more times.... Very enjoyable!

[Sue]

Morning

Busy day yesterday, good trip down to Coventry arriving here just after 7.00 pm. Today is not planned so i shall just take it as it comes. The forecast is good but cold.

Have a good day all.

[Stanley]

The weather looks good for you Sue, I hope it all falls into place! We had a wet start up here which wasn't on the hymn sheet but it's cleared up now.... Looks like bright but cold.

[Stanley]

I am back in the world after two hours second sleep. We have bright sunshine so I am going to get wrapped up and go for a walk.

[Stanley]

I've had my walk and got a salad butty from Mandy's at Barlic Bite. As I was having that on the bench at the end of Albert Road who should turn up but Mick. He had been to the Veteran's Breakfast at Victoria's tea room. Back home now and sat down. Nice!

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed for an hour working on my crankshafts.....
The weather forecast tells me it will be cold and sunny so a walk and a sit is on the cards at midday. After that, who knows?

[Stanley]

I left everything ready for more muck-shifting and so went straight into 50thou side producing blue chips. I finished up with a very hot workpiece ready for final finishing to it can sit and wait until tomorrow. I improved the shining hour by cleaning up the chips off the Lathe and the floor. I have a nice clean shop tomorrow to concentrate on the finish of the other leg of this shaft. A good morning!

[Sue]

Morning

It was a stunning day yesterday even if it only reached 10 degrees. I walked the mile up to Julias, before 9.00 , she and Eve being at swimming training. Later Briony and I walked into Coventry, about 3 miles where we had coffee , did the rounds of shops looking for jumpers to replace the ones I sent to the charity shop and had lunch. We walked part way back before catching the bus. In total that was about 18000 steps. It finished both of us so we had a very chill afternoon, generally chatting. In the evening Eve was out at a swimming gala in Worcester, the rest of us went out for an Indian meal, getting a take away for Eve to have another night so she didn’t miss out. By the time we were back at the hotel I hit 22000 steps

Today is another gala. The girls will already be there. I shall watch Eves 1500 event and Bs backstroke then Ed and I will come back to the house for a few hours before we go back to watch their last races , the 100 freestyle races. I will probably do the ironing then whilst back at the house. Bob should finish at the exhibition about 4.00, so we shall all have a meal together before we drive home. No time for cooking so it will be a take away pizza which always goes down well.

Its very cold this morning, there was a frost last night, but another nice day is forecast. Have a good day all

[Stanley]

We've got a white frost this morning Sue and the promise of a sunny day but it's not going to get warm.....
Rather than counting steps, I am going back to bed! See you all later!

[Sue]

I am now counting lengths Stanley , 60 of them. Nearly missed Eves heat, sat nav took us in the wrong direction but Ed saw us when he was out for a run. and redirected us

[Stanley]

Had my walk and half an hour on traffic duty at the end of Albert Road. The sun was warm and it was quite pleasant. Now I shall sit and do nothing for a while.....

[Stanley]

I shall enjoy this morning in the shed because the job is putting the finishing touches to the first of the two crankshafts. I shall finish up with what Susan calls a piece of jewellery! It looks as though it's going to be a dry bright day but cold so a walk and a sit are on the cards again. No such thing as cold if you're wrapped up well! (Even if you are old and feeling the cold more..... )

[Stanley]

Only one image needed today. Remember where we finished yesterday with a clean lathe and a workpiece that just needed some final touches to finish it. These 'final touches' are the ones where a mistake is made and many hours of work lost so the pressure mounts as we near completion. I started by honing the cutter with a very fine diamond hone, then carefully turning the journal to 1/2" and the shaft to 3/8" exactly. Then cleaning up the outside face of the web of the shaft. Finally polishing both sides and knocking out the spacer that has been protecting the integrity of the shaft under the pressure from the live centre. My picture is of the finished shaft and the piece of stock for the next one. That's right, I am a glutton for punishment (and an optimist!) as I am going to chop out a second shaft for the engine after the current one. That's what you call a vote of confidence!

[Sue]

Morning

It was lovely watching the girls swim yesterday, both successful in their races. Bob was back about 5.30, we had a bite to eat before leaving and were home for 9.30 pm.

Today I have my voice therapy session this morning, then a session with Maxine this afternoon to sort out some queries about my jacket. Its then zoom yoga at 5.15. i believe its another nice day but I won’t see much of it.

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Morning Sue. Glad you got to see the girls and getting back at 21:30 sounds civilised....
It looks as though we are in for a lightly warmer day but not a bright one. Still at this time of the year we have to be grateful for whatever we are given.

[Stanley]

I have been for my walk and had half an hour on traffic duty at the end of Albert Road. There was some watery sun but no wind so, as I was well wrapped up, it was quite pleasant sitting there and watching life unfold....
There was one disturbing incident, I have seen my first Xmas advertising in the Co-op!

[Wendyf]

I've had a trip out to Gordon Rigg's garden centre near Todmorden. Met up with a friend, bought a couple of plants and a big terracotta pot and then had lunch together.
Stanley, if you think one Christmas advertisement in the Co op is a bit much, try visiting a garden centre!!

[Sue]

I've had a trip out to Gordon Rigg's garden centre near Todmorden. Met up with a friend, bought a couple of plants and a big terracotta pot and then had lunch together.
Stanley, if you think one Christmas advertisement in the Co op is a bit much, try visiting a garden centre!!

Gordon Riggs is terrible for it. I have complained before now as I could not find any spring bulbs

[Wendyf]

I've had a trip out to Gordon Rigg's garden centre near Todmorden. Met up with a friend, bought a couple of plants and a big terracotta pot and then had lunch together.
Stanley, if you think one Christmas advertisement in the Co op is a bit much, try visiting a garden centre!!

Gordon Riggs is terrible for it. I have complained before now as I could not find any spring bulbs

Loads of spring bulbs there today Sue, your complaint must have had an effect!

[Stanley]

Today will be slightly different as I shall be putting my chicken in the oven to roast just before 06:00. It falls earlier because of my different veggie cooking times. This week I shall shop for veggies on Thursday and try to manage things so that I can do veggie shopping again next Thursday.
After that I shall do an hour in the shed on the next crankshaft. After second sleep I shall deal with the chicken and then have a walk if the weather is OK.
06:00. The chicken is prepped and in the oven. I shall have a sup of tea and then go in the shed......

[Sue]

Morning

It was a very hectic day yesterday as several things happened that were unexpected. On the plus side my visit to the voice therapist was at last successful. My voice was particularly croaky when I arrived so she gave me a different exercise involving singing whilst blowing through a straw into a cup of water. Its difficult to explain but the improvement in my voice was immediate. The technique creates pressure changes in the voice box, forcing the vocal cords to move in a more defined way. I am advised tondo it at least once a day

This morning I have to take one of my new M&S jumpers back as it is clearly not the size it says it is. In Coventry I bought two jumpers the same in different colours , one is a perfect fit, the other I think is the next size up. At lunch time the u3a Wine group are meeting for lunch at a local pub restaurant, and sampling their wines with our meal and as it does not start till 1.30 pm I may not make the pilates studio session tonight, though I will try to make yoga.

Have a good day all