Today I shall be Mainly...

[Stanley]

I'm still pondering on carrots from China. I keep telling you about shortages and this is one more example.
I am on time today, early in fact so I shall be in the shed at 06:00 doing useful things. Later this morning I shall be ordering meat and cooking veggies. Beyond that no social engagements. Susan is in Chepstow stewarding at a horse show and Margaret and Mick are doing useful things for Mick's mother who is 90. These old folk are such a burden!

[Sue]

Morning

Lovely day yesterday meeting Catherine and James though they had to leave at 3.30pm to drive back to where they are staying as they were having visitors themselves last night. Sadly the weather did not improve till 4.30 pm when we had a pleasant sunny evening. Today is more of the same though the maximum temperature expected is just a comfortable 20 degrees.

This morning we are off to Vannes to visit a super large DIY store ( Bricomarchè) . The intention are to buy a kit for a loft ladder and if we can find some, a light grey floor paint for the floor of the old grain store that we have just finished renovating. It’s a good hour drive to Vannes so it will be a full mornings trip.

I have nothing planned for the afternoon though I am sure Bob will commence work on the loft ladder. Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Sounds good Sue. I hope you have a good trip to Vannes and find the correct ladder.



This morning I had to decide on an ethical matter before I did anything. The question was whether to correct a fault I had identified in the parallelism of the bore or ignore it and carry on as though nothing was wrong. I could have easily got away with it by making the piston undersize and abandoning the idea it could ever be a runner. I decided it had to be right and so I set the cylinder up in the VM and adjusted the boring head. I took particular care over making sure I had the cylinder mounted correctly and then bored it again to correct the fault. This means that the piston will be oversize at 1.6" and the engine more powerful! It all turned out well and so it was the correct decision. Now for breakfast with a clear conscience.

[Stanley]

Cooking is under way, 4 pans bubbling on the hob.

[Wendyf]

I'm still pondering on carrots from China. I keep telling you about shortages and this is one more example.

We got uk grown carrots in Aldi at the weekend.

[Stanley]

None at all in the Co-op.

[Stanley]

All cooking finished and the hob is cleaned. Always a nice feeling. I can now face the coming week!

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed working on my engine at 06:00. Nothing needs attention at the moment so the rest of the day looks very quiet.

[Sue]

Morning

We had a successful trip to Bricocash and found the required loft ladder and a few bits and pieces. On the way back we spontaneously stopped for a MENU DE JOUR making it nearly 2.00 pm when we got home. After a cuppa I washed and painted a couple of window recesses, which dried as fast as I was painting them as the sun was so intense. Laëtitia and family came round for a drink at 6.00 leaving at 7.30 pm. We then had a tea of poached eggs on toast. Busy day.

Laetitia ´s two eldest are just finishing their GCSE and A level equivalent exams so their intended futures were discussed. The youngest of the two, Evan, is not academic so is going to do a car mechanics apprenticeship. Being rural France finding a place is difficult so he will do a certain amount of time doing online studies then he goes away and stays with an employer for a few weeks do the practical side. This cycle goes on for two years. However his practical is based in St Malo about 1.5 hours away by car. Leanna is going to do some sort of academic apprenticeship rather than university as again that would be a long way away and rather expensive. She is academic and is online for top grades and a possible bursary. Her intended career I gather is akin to Social work specialising in the elderly. She will live away from home during the week at Malestroit, in some sort of student accommodation , about 30 minutes away . So its going to be very different from September for the Poulain family.

Today some food shopping as Joanne and Paul are coming for a meal this evening . Forecast good. Have a good day all.

[Stanley]

Being responsible for young people's education in this day and age must be a nightmare. I'm glad it's all behind me!
Glad you have found your loft ladder. That will keep Bob busy for a day or two!



This morning the target was to make the packing gland for the piston rod. Slow and careful turning and I am ready to mark the cylinder cover and drill and tap for the 5BA studs that will attach it to the cover. The sharp eyed amongst you will have noted that I have marked for the two countersunk screws that holds the front cover on the cylinder. Now for breakfast.

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed at 06:00 doing useful things. Later this morning I have two tasks, roast some pork belly and get milk from the Co-op. Apart from that, Susan is busy stewarding at a horse show in Chepstow and Margaret and Mick are doing stressful and important things connected with his 90 year old mum. I shall not be distracted by them so a very quiet day.

[Sue]

Morning

We had a pleasant day yesterday though Friday morning shopping in a french supermarket is not a good experience. In the afternoon I oiled the wood of two opening window lights and painted the third one in the bathroom, that will need to be finished today when the sun is not as strong. We had a lovely evening with Joanne and Paul and it was quite late by the time we had cleared up after they left. However the night was not lovely as our roof space guest was quite active. We do wonder if its mice as the footsteps sounded quieter than on previous occasions.

Today is market day but I don’t think we need anything. I think we may go out somewhere, its another lovely day. Have a good one at your end

[Stanley]

Morning Sue, we;ll try but at the moment it's cold and it's raining. The CH is on..... Deep Joy!



Just one image needed. An hour of careful work. I have marked and drilled the front cylinder lid for the studs and the two countersunk screws that are in the bottom. Then I marked, drilled and tapped for the 5BA studs that hold the piston rod gland in place. I marked the gland to show the correct orientation. That'll do nicely for this morning. I put the belly pork in before I went into the shed so it can have a slow roast while I have second sleep. Now for breakfast!

[Big Kev]

Had a small visitor today, great granddaughter Matilda.

IMG_20240608_123720~3.jpg

Paulette doing the great nanna thing

[Stanley]

Lovely. Tell P to be careful, she might go broody!

I am on schedule and will be in the shed from 06:00 doing useful things to castings. Later I might well pop to the Co-op for milk, I decided I didn't need to do it yesterday. I also have some sweet potato chips to fry.....
Apart from that I shall be keeping warm and watching the showers if the forecast is right!

[Sue]

Morning

Another good day in store, although at the moment it is definitely chilly. I see Rochdale is forecast 11 degrees and rain and we are forecast 22 and sun.Bob is doing the loft ladder
( the first of two, one at each end of the house). When he went up in the roof space yesterday there was no poo sign of our visitor but he/she was there again last night. When we have a ladder we may have to resort to a humain trap.

I shall be out in the orchard/ field pruning back trees that are overlapping. We are supposed to keep trees apart. Its not an issue normally but if there was a fire that caused damage to our property the insurance could decline to pay if they could prove negligence of care on our part and if the fire damaged other peoples property we could be required to pay towards repairs. All hypothetical but a good excuse to stroll and prune and enjoy the sun, the fresh air and the exercise. We have planted over 50 tress over the years plus hedges

Being Sunday we usually go out to lunch here but we have been out twice this week and had a big meal with visitors so we are sticking to cooking. I have a chicken to roast which we bought from the bargain Cooperative shop that Laetitia recommended last visit.

Have a good day all

[Sue]

Had a small visitor today, great granddaughter Matilda.
IMG_20240608_123720~3.jpg
Paulette doing the great nanna thing

Lovely, a good cuddle with a little one is nice. Our friends Barbara and Bill who come to stay with us in France, usually in August are coming in July this year due to the anticipated arrival of their first great grandchild. I think it will be a few years before we will have any.

[Stanley]

Morning Sue.... You never know, these young people surprise you. In my case I was resigned to waiting but then suddenly they came thick and fast, the score is four at the moment.



Another gland this morning, this time the one for the valve rod on the steam chest. The gland has been refined from the rough casting, fitted and drilled for the 5BA studs that will hold it. I shall mark, drill and tap the steam chest for those tomorrow. The job now is breakfast!

[Sue]

Morning Sue.... You never know, these young people surprise you. In my case I was resigned to waiting but then suddenly they came thick and fast, the score is four at the moment.



Another gland this morning, this time the one for the valve rod on the steam chest. The gland has been refined from the rough casting, fitted and drilled for the 5BA studs that will hold it. I shall mark, drill and tap the steam chest for those tomorrow. The job now is breakfast!

But my grandchildren range from 10 to just 15

[Big Kev]

But my grandchildren range from 10 to just 15

A while to wait then, Sue. My grandchildren range from 9 to 22
21 year old granddaughter produced Matilda.

[Stanley]

I knew I was in trouble when my grand children started to buy houses! (And then they started having children of their own.)
Today I shall be in the shed for an hour and then doing very little I think.

[Sue]

Morning

It was a lovely day yesterday. I kept myself busy gardening while Bob was fitting the loft ladder, which is now nearly fitted. I dead headed and then did my tree pruning. It was lovely walking amongst the oxeye daisies with butterflies around. But not so lovely with biting insects as my arms are covered, even bits of me that were covered in clothing now have insect bites. I have been scratching all night.

Today is much cooler and even a little rain forecast this afternoon, if it happens. No plans for the day yet. Have a good one

[Stanley]

Sorry to hear you paid the penalty of insect bites for your pleasant gardening spell Sue! I hope they leave you alone today. Too cold for biting insects here! (The heating came on again this morning.....)



Just one task this morning. Finish fitting the valve rod gland to the steam chest, The gland marked and drilled clearance for the studs and then given a witness mark to endure correct orientation. Then the positions of the stud holes transferred to the steam chest, drilled and tapped and the gland test fitted. All is well so instead of starting on another task I have been kind to myself and stopped for breakfast. There are no prizes for speed!

[Stanley]

I have been to the Co-op for 3 litres of rape seed oil (£6.90),cleaned out my deep fat fryer, recharged it with clean oil and fried my sweet potato chips. That's enough honest endeavour for a while....

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed at 06:00 doing useful things to my castings slowly and hopefully accurately! Nothing on the agenda after that as Margaret has a cold and is avoiding me so as not to pass it on. They are having such a cold miserable visit when you think of the weather they are used to.....