Today I shall be Mainly...

[Big Kev]

... getting up at unearthly hour to be picked up to go to Prague airport. Back in Manchester just after midday, should be home in time for lunch

[Stanley]

My belly pork, looks good enough to eat!

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed as usual at 06:00 this morning. I was expecting to be cooking veggies today but the belly pork has extended last weeks cooked veggie resource for at least one more day so I can forget cooking today and as it would appear the day is to be dry, I shall aim for a midday walk.....

[Stanley]

Today the focus was on making the piston, mounting it on its rod and ensuring it was a fit in the cylinder. It took me an hour because I had difficulty seeing this morning for some reason. However, I finished up with a job successfully done.

[Sue]

Morning

It was a busy morning yesterday, mainly shopping but also Bob had to go to the tyre place to pick up the wheel to my car. I forgot to mention that when I went to pilates on Tuesday a warning message displayed on my car that my tyre pressures needed attention. We had a look but all seemed Ok so we thought it was because the temperature was falling. Bob said he would check the pressures in the morning but we completely forgot as it was a day with an early departure. We were just about to leave on Wednesday morning when we discovered one tyre was flat, indeed it had a puncture. Its a good job we have two cars and we were able to change to the other. We did not want to drive down the motorway in pouring rain on a space saver spare wheel. Anyway all is now repaired. There were two nails embedded in the tyre. Afterwards we went out for a 4 mile walk on a very soggy route in the hills locally, that we have not done for ages.

Later I spent some time clearing out old toiletries. I have a bag full of travel freebies which I sorted. I was really looking for one particular item I bought from Avon some months ago but could not find it. Anyway I used the freebies to top up shower gel and shampoo bottles in the bathroom and in my toilet bag, making my cupboard look a lot emptier. What I did find was my bus pass which I have not seen since the summer. I had to get a new one. I must have popped it in the bag of freebies, for safe keeping , that I collected in France in July which was then put away till we came home.

No plans for today, apart from a cornish afternoon tea. Julia in Coventry had sent it as a special delivery yesterday as a ´first week over ´ gift. Such a lovely thought.

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

I didn't know you could send a Cornish Tea by post Sue.... I live and learn every day! Two nails in a tyre sounds excessive. I remember that when I drove for Harrisons on milk pick up Billy swore blind that all farmers repaired their clogs on the milk stand. I think he was exaggerating a bit.....

[Sue]

I didn't know you could send a Cornish Tea by post Sue.... I live and learn every day!

Neither did I

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[Sue]

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[Stanley]

Looks good enough to eat as long as you aren't diabetic......
It's going to be a busy day. It's a cooking day so I shall have the chicken in to roast before I go in the shed at 06:00. After I have had my second sleep I shall deal with the browning of the chicken and then cook the next week's veggies. That will be the limit of my honest endeavours......
Later at 06:00. My chicken is roasting in the oven, all my tasks are done and I can go in the shed now.

[Stanley]

This morning I shifted my attention to the crosshead and its guides. The material supplied by Stuarts is oversized and I suspect it is key steel. I say this because I had to do a very careful and thorough re-sharpen of my milling cutter before I could get a clean cut. I finished up after an hour of careful cutting half way towards guides ready for installation. That comes tomorrow. Now it's breakfast time.

[Sue]

Morning

Its a cloudy start to the day though not sure of the forecast. We managed another good walk yesterday doing a route we haven’t done for many a long day. A route that used to be completely rural now has a housing estate growing towards the path, an old packhorse trail that leads up on to Rooley Moor. At the moment the path is churned up and the stones underfoot broken, I believe it will be reinstated as a good path but its authenticity is lost. This bit is in Rossendale, at the junction with Rochdale there is now a gate and bollard beyond which, up on to the moor the original path is still there. Its such a shame to see these paths destroyed even if the routes are maintained. The rest of the day was an ironing and sewing day, where I was practising a particular technique.

This morning I have pilates, then we are out for our daily trip about 2.00 pm.

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

I agree with you Sue about the importance of the original paving on routes as old as packhorse routes.
And yes, the day is a bit uncertain. All we are sure about in Barlick is that the wind chill will be savage and take us close to freezing all day. It won't affect me because I shall be indoors cooking!
Whatever, I hope you get to do what takes your fancy Sue....

[Gloria]

Stanley your belly pork looks lovely.

[Stanley]

It was superb Gloria, melted in the mouth and so filling! I have a feeling it won't be long before I am repeating the order!
All cooking done so the only fixed point today is in the shed by 06:00 and an hours work on my engine.
I was seriously considering a walk at Midday until I saw the weather forecast, that's when the rain that is a feature of the next three days hits us. I shall watch it through the window!

[Stanley]

Only one task today, to cut out the rebate in the crosshead guides that eventually forms the bed for the crosshead to run in. Very careful milling and I got away with it. Then square the ends and mill back to the correct length. I am ready now to drill the holes for the holding down bolts. But today it's time for breakfast!

[Sue]

Morning

It was another super quick round trip to Christies yesterday, but we think today will be slower as it includes the weekly Drs clinic too. We shall have an early lunch before we go, if we are back in time it will be pilates and yoga or just yoga in the studio this evening.

The morning will be short , not much time to do anything so I will cut out some pilates leggings using the material I bought in Liverpool the other weekend. I cannot start sewing the toile for my new shirt as the special twin needle for the pintuck design has not arrived yet.

Thats it, it seems a calm day out there and noticeably lighter this morning. Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Your reports are very encouraging Sue. I'm glad things are going so well for Bob.
Yes, I think it is getting lighter all round. Very encouraging at this time of the year. I'm off to bed now while you are starting the day..... I shall check in later.....

[Gloria]

Stanley, your belly pork looks as though it has a glaze on it, how did you do it?

[Sue]

Your reports are very encouraging Sue. I'm glad things are going so well for Bob.
Yes, I think it is getting lighter all round. Very encouraging at this time of the year. I'm off to bed now while you are starting the day..... I shall check in later.....

We really seem to have backed a winner with the route we have chosen, it taking 50-55 minutes regularly when not rush hour and about 15 minutes longer when it is. Apart from the first two days Bob was seen on his appointment time. But oh my goodness there are some very poorly people there. So sad, but so wonderful knowing they can get treatment. So many places in the world it is not possible.

[Gloria]

Sue, it certainly opens your eyes when you go in these places.

[Stanley]

Gloria, I can't say, it just happened. My marinade included dark molasses sugar and most of the cooking was done wrapped in foil, only opened up for the final blast to finish it off. I shall be cooking it again this week, it was superb.
This morning once I have become accustomed to the fact it's my birthday and I have to accept the fact I am 88 years old, I shall be in the shed as usual for an hour with my engine. The only activities I can see beyond that are frying my sweet Potato chips and having a walk later if the rain holds off.
Whatever I do I shall be looking after myself!

[Stanley]

Today is fixing the crosshead slides to the bed. First I marked the hole positions for 5BA clearance on the slides and drilled them. Then I marked the bed with witness marks on either side and did the same for the slides so that they are always mounted in the correct position. Next I marked the position of one hole in each of the slides. Tomorrow I shall drill and tap those, fit the slides and mark for the other holes. I didn't want to start that today so spent the rest of my hour in the shed cleaning Mrs Harrison, harvesting the non-ferocious swarf and leaving everything ready for tomorrow. Now for breakfast and second sleep.....

[Sue]

Gloria, I can't say, it just happened. My marinade included dark molasses sugar and most of the cooking was done wrapped in foil, only opened up for the final blast to finish it off. I shall be cooking it again this week, it was superb.
This morning once I have become accustomed to the fact it's my birthday and I have to accept the fact I am 88 years old, I shall be in the shed as usual for an hour with my engine. The only activities I can see beyond that are frying my sweet Potato chips and having a walk later if the rain holds off.
Whatever I do I shall be looking after myself!

Morning
Bob cools roast ham like that and it is delicious, which reminds me that must be low fibre and on the ´can eat ´ list

Happy birthday Stanley, hope yo have a good day. My Dad would have been 107 today and it is 12 years since he died. The annual trip to the cemetery will have to wait till the weekend, at least the flowers will be cheaper

What a day yesterday, we left home at 11.30 arrived at 12.20 and ate are sandwiches in the car. We were at the clinic ten minutes early but Bob was seen half an hour late. Not a problem it was still only 1.45. We then sat and waited for the weekly clinic. It was aboiut an hour and a half, I think there were people waiting from the morning treatment sessions too so about what we expected. i am pleased to say all is good so far. Then we had a coffee and let at 3.45.

However the journey was slow and the motorway snarled up 2 junctions before ours due to a broken down lorry. We got off at Oldham and crawled for nearly 90 minutes through Oldham and Rochdale as people like us were finding other routes. I missed pilates and yoga. I sent Taira a message to say I would do the yoga online but she didn’t get it. We were home just before 6. This morning after six and a half hours of sitting down i feel really stiff. I could really have done with that yoga session.I made spaghetti Bolognese, it was nice to stand to cook , and Bob made pancakes. There was also a lot of tea drunk through the evening as we were deficient in fluid after all that time.

Today is another early afternoon appointment, but first we have a trip to the dentist to fit in as tge filling on my tooth fell out yes again, leaving a large sensitive cavity. Our new dentists managed to fit me in within a day, my old dentist I would have waited weeks. The timing works out OK , and Bob will pop to the postoffice to post an 18 th birthday card to Laëtitia's daughter in France. I can’t believe she is 18 next week, it seems no time since she was 10.

So thats today, hopefully a quick round trip. Have a good day.

[Stanley]

Thanks for the birthday wishes Sue. Sorry to hear you are needing a filling again.... I shall refrain from clever remarks about dentures.....
Off to bed now that's something we old people do really well!

[Stanley]

I hope your appointment for a filling worked out yesterday Sue.
Today I have no social engagements or shopping and all that can happen is that after my hour in the shed and second sleep I could improve the shining hour by frying my sweet potato chips.
Must remember to ring Kathy and order meat! (I am going to treat myself to some belly pork and a leg of lamb as a birthday treat!)