Today I shall be Mainly...

[Stanley]

Jonathan has been. £60 has changed hands and I can go for my shopping now.

Later at 12:00. Back home after shopping and a sit on traffic duty.... That's all my jobs finished for today, a dad nap is indicated!

[Sue]

We were 24 last night Stanley. It was a warm night. We have air coolers and fans and slept ok .

[Sue]

Pizza oven fired up, it takes 3 to 4 hours to reach temperature

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[Big Kev]

Very nice

Alfresco beer here at Chez Kev

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[Stanley]

I shall be putting my chicken in to roast before going in the shed at 06:00. When I get up after second sleep I shall be cooking veggies. It's going to be a busy day.

[Stanley]

The best laid schemes of mice and men...... I have just been waylaid with a video call with Kahara and Lily in Perth. I still can't get over the fact I can speak to them even though they are 10,000 miles away....
I am going to declare a holiday in the shed, I don't see any point in rushing.....

[Sue]

Morning

After a morning shopping we spent the afternoon reading in the garden. We had our BBQ tea at about 8.00 pm when we thought it would be cooler but it was still 30 + degrees . We went inside at 9.00 as the flies were around us and very annoying.

Barbara and Bill leave after breakfast but there is no rush as the ferry is not till 4.30 pm. So here it will be tidy up, wash and possibly cut the lawn. 32 degrees and full sun is forecast. The weather is due to continue with just a slight dip in temperatures over the next 10 days.

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Morning Sue. You sound very relaxed and that's good. I have not been in the shed this morning, I was waylaid by the kids in Australia face-timing me this morning. It's a miracle but gets in the way of serious work in the shed! I am off to bed. The chicken is in the oven and I am ready to cook veggies later this morning.....

[Sue]

Morning Sue. You sound very relaxed and that's good.

Stanley we had a lovely week, one of the best we have had with visitors. The washing is nearly all on the line and we are slowly tackling the garden which has grown furiously this week . No rush, working as the shade comes round and drinking lots. It will be zero activity this afternoon I think when we hit 33 degrees. At the moment there is a pleasant breeze across the garden .

[Stanley]

Bit too warm for me Sue but I think you might survive. We have more temperate weather at the moment, even some rain at the moment.
However it is still hot in the shed and I shall take a view later as to whether to go in there or not. I need nourishment not punishment! The only thing on my agenda after yesterdays cooking marathon is to order my meat for delivery tomorrow. Apart from that |I shall be doing very little, quite slowly!

[Stanley]

Just one job. Mill out the socket for the eccentric rod into the strap, drill and tap the necessary hole and fit the rod using the countersunk screw. Then replace the normal cutter on the VM. That's quite enough for a warm morning in the shed.

[Sue]

Afternoon

I forgot this morning.

Its 30 degrees at 1.30 pm and feels cool. We were gardening this morning but have stopped now. Bob cut the lawn which really needed it after only a week, I have been removing the turf round the Mimosa stump to create a small rockery or garden. Remember the Mimosa tree fell down last autumn and the stump has started to shoot but we will never see a new tree. Where the tree roots were is quite a hump and difficult to mow, hence the small rockery over the worst of the hump. Its taken me two half days to dig out but now it is ready to be filled with some soil, stones a d a few rockery plants. We may have a look in Lidl when we go shopping this afternoon for a few cupboard essentials.

Have a good day all

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[Stanley]

It's no wonder you keep slim Sue!
I shall be in the shed at 06:00 putting the final touches to my engine. It's no use, I shall have to order another set of castings!
I shame to say I went to bed for a sleep yesterday instead of going for a walk. I shall try to do better today......

[Sue]

Morning

Ha ha, Stanley, my Dad taught me to dig and I love it but sometimes it is just very hard work like yesterday. The grass had become matted in the old tree roots so I could not get the fork or the spade in, so I had to keep wetting the grass and ground underneath and chip at it with the trowel. It was very hot tiring work. After shopping in the afternoon I read for a couple of hours in the shade. I have nearly finished my second book now and I like a 600 + page book so contrary to popular belief I do stop sometimes

Last night was a lot cooler and we both had a good nights sleep without switching the air cooler on. This morning is misty but promises to be a very sunny day at a much cooler 29 degrees. We are going to visit a garden centre to try and get some more small perennials for this little patch of garden, I doubt I will plant them today but hope to add the compost and dried horse manure we bought from the supermarket yesterday and then give it a really good water in preparation. I still have the main rockery to weed and tidy up. I gave up last week when Barbara and Bill were with us.

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

You put me to shame Sue..... I think you deserve a medal! I'm gl;ad you have a more temperate day and I hope you enjoy it.



Only one pic this morning. I have spent an hour installing the eccentric strap on the eccentric and Setting the valve to somewhere near running position. I say somewhere near because that's all I am going to do. Truth to tell the engine is too closely fitted and really needs a lot of easing before it's ready to run. It can be turned over by hand and is accurately made but the valve train is very tight. I shall finish rebuilding it tomorrow and then it can go on the kitchen table. I have ordered another set of castings this morning. From experience they will be with me Sunday or Monday so I shall have plenty to do! Now I want my breakfast....

[Stanley]

My first job this morning was to attend to the pork belly I put in the slow cooker on LOW last night. The gravy has been lifted off and is in the freezer to separate the fat. I dealt with the garlic as well. I had put a full root in cut in two and floated on top of the meat last night and this morning I had to fish it out and separate the cloves from the root. All you have to do is squeeze and they pop out. Definitely the easiest way of dealing with Garlick!
I shall be in the shed at 06:00 putting the final touches to my engine. The rest of the day is wide open. I shall have a walk and there may be some odds and sods needed from the Co-op!

[Stanley]

Only one image, an addition to the engine family on the kitchen table..... This morning I finished lacing the engine up, lubricated it and cut the excess off the studs at each end of the cylinder. Notice I have two crankshafts waiting for an engine and there is a set of castings on order for the next one.
Is it a good engine? Yes, OK for a bloke my age. I haven't tried to run it because I think it's too closely fitted. If at some time in the future someone wants to rework it they'll find everything is there and in the proper place!
Now for breakfast....

[Sue]

Morning

24 and cloudy today, rain was forecast but is no longer. We are due for another dry week in the high 20s. This morning we are taking some stuff to the charity warehouse, then going to book somewhere for lunch tomorrow. Not sure what we are doing this afternoon but Laeticia and Yves are coming round for a beer about 6 and we have a u3a wine tasting meeting on zoom at 8.00.

Yesterday was not a happy day for my sister. Her trip here next Friday was on hold as her little dog, Millie, has been poorly for a couple of weeks and she did not want to leave her. Sadly it was found that Millie had cancer in two places and Jane had to make the sad decision to say goodbye to her. After chatting during the day she has decided she will come but a couple of days later.

Here I got my little garden finished . I still need a few more rockery plants but should be able to take some from my other two rockeries , which reminds me I have still not tidied the one by the gate! Bob pruned and shaped 4 shrubs with the electric hedge trimmer so all is looking neat and tidy.

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We have a lot of activity next door. The garden is being redesigned. Its nice to see as we have had a long run of tenants who did not care over the years and have even removed our boundary hedges and old traditional Breton walling. The present occupiers are the new owners as the house was recently sold. We understand it is to be a weekend and holiday home so think they must work in one of the cities, Rennes or Nantes during the week. I am sure Laeticia will tell us this evening

Have a nice day.

[Stanley]

Jane did the only thing she could. Far better to avoid suffering as much as possible.... I hope she has a nice stay with you.... I know you'll be doing your best for her.
You have been redesigning gardens yourself! I'll bet yours is a cheaper service.
Off to bed now..... Much to recommend it....

[Sue]

You have been redesigning gardens yourself! I'll bet yours is a cheaper service.
Off to bed now..... Much to recommend it....

Possibly but Yves and the local farmer are doing the work next door……

[Sue]

Happy birthday Wendy, you have caught me up now

[Wendyf]

Thank you Sue, it doesn't take me long to catch up with you!

[Gloria]

Happy Birthday Wendy

[Wendyf]

Thank you Gloria.

[Stanley]

Today will be an easy day, I shall spend some time in the shed pottering this morning and after that second sleep. The rest of the day is free from any demands on my time. no shopping or cooking to be done and it will be raining until this afternoon according to the forecast so no walk or traffic duty either. Nice, a day of rest!