Today I shall be Mainly...

[Sue]

Morning

Cooler and damp this morning, but should start drying up by 9. I have art at Haslingden this morning, then its a quick turn around at noon as we are taking our widowed friend Wendy out for lunch for her ( belated) birthday. She has opted for a local fish and chip restaurant at Hollingworth Lake where she used to go with Barry. I am not a fish and chip fan but I know it is a good place and we gave Wendy free choice. It will be mid afternoon when we get back. No other plans for the day.

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Lots to be said about fish and chips Sue but chacun a son gout..... We have showers forecast and they have started already. Welcome actually, it was 85F in the shed this morning....
I hope Wendy has a good time with you and the weather doesn't spoil your day. Have a nice day........

[Big Kev]

Off to Kent for a few days. Taking my mother out for tea this evening, a visit to friends in Birchington (seaside) on Friday, a 60th birthday party on Saturday. On to Thoresby Hall Hotel on Sunday to break up the journey home, a relatively busy weekend ahead.

[Stanley]

I hope you enjoy it Kev. Could be slightly cooler even that far south.

[Tripps]

a visit to friends in Birchington (seaside)

Went there a long time ago to see Powell - Cotton Museum at Quex House.

I see they don't mention the taxidermy displays which were memorable. The guy seems to have shot and killed everything that moved when he was in Africa. Doesn't fit in with the times now though.

[Big Kev]

I hope you enjoy it Kev. Could be slightly cooler even that far south.

I'm hoping it is, there's no aircon in the hotel. Currently in the OK Diner, on the A1 at Stamford, for a spot of lunch. It's 24C according to the car.

[Stanley]

Cooler than that here Kev....
I've just finished veggie cooking, put the pans away and cleaned the hob. Always a nice feeling when a week's cooking has been sorted.

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed working on my crosshead and later I am expecting a visit from Margaret and Mick who flew back from Poland yesterday.

[Stanley]

I started by milling out the pocket in the crosshead where the end of the connecting rod sits and measured and marked for the pin it pivots on, then I drilled the crosshead and fitted the pin. Next I got the stock and castings for the crankshaft bearings sorted. next job was to take the 5/16" cutter out of the mill and get ready for installing the 9/16" cutter which of course I will sharpen before installing it. I am ready to move forwards, that was a productive hour and now I shall have my breakfast.

[Sue]

Just realised I never wrote today. I was up and out to Maxines early and home at 12. We went straight out to Friday lunch calling at various shops on the way..it was 3 when we left lunch and we still had a Lidl call and M&S to do .so then it was nearly5.00. Cuppa and sit down and it was 7. Where did the day go

[Big Kev]

Breakfast at Morrisons in North fleet, Kent (no restaurant at the hotel). Had poached eggs on wholemeal toast and a coffee and was quietly impressed with the eggs. Well cooked with runny yolks
Flying visit to one of Paulette's sisters in Gravesend then on to Herne Bay for a catch-up with old friends, good afternoon 'chewing the cud' then out for a curry at teatime.
It's breakfast at Sainsbury's tomorrow then off somewhere deep into the bowels of Kent to visit Paulette's old school friend. A 60th birthday party tomorrow evening will round the day off. These relaxing weekends away are hard work

[Stanley]

Sue..... Where did the day go I often have days like that, and they said that when you retire you have plenty of time.......

Today I shall be in the shed at 06:00 working on my engine. I don't see anything urgent on my social calendar and so it could be a relaxing day. No great incentive to go walking we are promised overcast, gloom and rain.... Deep Joy!

[Stanley]

I started the morning by sharpening the 9/16" cutter but then reverted to my general purpose cutter and cut the stock for the crankshaft bearings down to size and perfectly square. I have them to the point where I only have one more dimension to cut before I start with the 9/16" cutter. I have fettled the top brasses on the grindstone, they have to go in the mill tomorrow for further refinement. A good hour with accurate progress. Now for breakfast!

[Sue]

Morning

Bacup market early this morning then we are off to Southport for the day. Bob wants to go to an engineering fair then after that anything else we fancy. Back in time for a Tesco delivery.

Showers forecast and 16 degrees. Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Morning Sue! I hope the tide is in at Southport then you can have a paddle. I think I've only seen the sea once at Southport in all my life! We're looking at a boring day here with heavy overcast and light rain, I hope you find something better.
Give Bob my regards please. He can really enjoy things now.....

[Stanley]

In the shed at 06:00 as usual to work on my crankshaft bearings. The engine slowly grows and is a good standard so far..... I don't need anything from the shops so once again it looks like a quiet day. Quiet here on the site as well, so many people away and busy outside in the better weather..... Even the weather is quiet, nothing of any note..... Certainly not Flaming June!

[Stanley]

Just one pic. After re-sharpening the cutter I spent the morning measuring and marking and finishing getting the bottom brass stock to size. Rather than changing cutters and going on with finishing these brasses I started on the top brasses which need the bigger cutter that is already installed and cutting well. Steady progress and now for breakfast!

[Sue]

Morning Sue! I hope the tide is in at Southport then you can have a paddle. I think I've only seen the sea once at Southport in all my life! We're looking at a boring day here with heavy overcast and light rain, I hope you find something better.
Give Bob my regards please. He can really enjoy things now.....

Morning

The tide was out.

It was actually an open day at the Southport Model Railway club. They have a beautiful landscaped site with purpose built lovely club hut. I had a couple of rides round and Bob chatted to many of his engineer friends. We had taken sandwiches so after a long social morning we walked down through the adjacent campsite to the coastal path and walked in to Southport. We ate our sandwiches on a bench and enjoyed the view. The sea was a very long way out but you could see where high tide had been a few hours earlier. It was warm and dry but not sunny ( we had no rain after about 10.45 pm) we continued our walk into Southport and did a slow 4 mile circuit back to the car . I was shocked at the state of Southport and don’t think I will bother going there again. It was very run down indeed and according to an article I read on google last night, its been like this for well over 12 years.

Today is due to be an OK day so whilst Bob is at the park I shall continue my tidy of the front garden. Once done it should be ok for the rest of the summer when we are in France. Later I hope to get a bit of sewing done on my Maxine project . So I can leave that at a reasonable stage too when we depart in 2.5 weeks.

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

That's sad to hear Sue (about the poor state of Southport). The town, with St Annes, used to be one of the favoured retiring places for wealthy manufacturers, indeed many lived there and commuted to work every day. Lord Street in Southport was ranked with the Rows at Chester and Oxford Street as one of the best shopping centres in England.
Anyway it sounds as though you had a good day. I'm glad.
Off to bed now....

[Stanley]

Back up and I remembered who my source was for information about manufacturers and Southport. It's George Forrester Singleton in the Lancashire Textile Project.....

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed at 06:00 doing useful things for my engine.... There are no calls on my time in my social calendar and the forecast doesn't look too promising later so a walk is in doubt. The world and the weather holds its breath until Thursday.....

[Stanley]

I have spent an hour bringing the top brasses down to a condition where they are the correct size and shape to fit on the bed. It's amazing how many set-ups and cuts this needed. But I have them ready for further refinement now. I have earned my breakfast.

[Sue]

Morning

A good mornings gardening yesterday and a good afternoons sewing.

Today I have french conversation in Haslingden from 9.30 till 11.30. I shall be meeting for the first time the online friend who recommended it to me. This evening I have pilates on zoom. The rest of the day I will take as it happens. Have a good day all

[PanBiker]

Banking for Bosom Friends then with my other hat on telephoning the electorate in Pendle & Clitheroe. If they want change they have to vote for it!

[Stanley]

I shall be voting Ian, no need to call me! I like the look of Mr Hinder.
I shall be in the shed as usual at 06:00 doing useful things to small pieces of bronze. I find it very comforting that when so much of my physical and mental functioning is showing signs of age I can still work to less than a thousandth of an inch in the shed. It does me good....
A|s for the rest of the day. Nothing pressing on the cards but it looks as though I shall be able to get a walk and a spell on traffic duty in this morning before it starts raining.