Today I shall be Mainly...

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed for an hour as usual at 06:00 and then the only social engagement I have is Ian bringing a small problem round for a consultation later this morning. We are promised rain so there will be no walking for pleasure or exercise!

[Sue]

Morning

Not a nice day yesterday, glad we went out in the afternoon. It drizzled or rained all day. This morning is due to be much the same. I shall be preparing a meal this afternoon as Joanne and Paul are joining us this evening. Otherwise we have made no pla s yes as we were waiting for the forecast. Jane still has some work today, I have a plant to plznt and the soil is now wet so should be easy.

My insect bites are itching badly a d sadly I have scratched them overnight. I have just swabbed with surgical spirit to keep away infection and re applied antihistamine cream..

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Surgical spirit is probably the best you can do Sue, my mother swore by it and so do I! I hope it does the trick.



I finished the first rough turning of the flywheel and fitted it to the shaft. No dramas and this morning I was a sensible lad and wore a mask. The CI dust yesterday was particularly noticeable. No problems this morning..... Now for breakfast!

[Gloria]

I get bitten terribly Sue, especially horse flies. As soon as I’m bitten or when I feel the itch I apply vinegar, I know it sounds daft but it stops the itching in its tracks. I’ve been told they are attracted to me because of my blood group…O rhesus negative.

[Stanley]

If they are the same as wasps their venom is alkaline and that's why vinegar stops the irritation, it neutralises the venom. Stinging nettles and bees are acidic and that's why an alkali works for them.

[Gloria]

Interesting Stanley.

[Stanley]

Just had my dinner after rescuing Ian's electric motor by making and fitting a new bearing. Should last him for a while. He's going to return the favour by using the revived strimmer to cut my grass back where it is growing in places it shouldn't be!

[Stanley]

I shall do my hour in the shed working on my engine and after that may brave a windy but dry walk. We shall see.

[Stanley]

I went in the shed with no clear idea of what I was doing this morning but then realised that it was time for a tidy up, put stuff away and have a deep clean and lubricate of Mrs Harrison so that's what I did and it took me 45 minutes to do it properly so that's how I got to knocking off time. Now I am ready for breakfast and a second sleep.

[Sue]

I get bitten terribly Sue, especially horse flies. As soon as I’m bitten or when I feel the itch I apply vinegar, I know it sounds daft but it stops the itching in its tracks. I’ve been told they are attracted to me because of my blood group…O rhesus negative.

Morning

The vinegar is acidic and neutralises the toxin. Its a similar idea with these first bite applications, which are ammonia based. Sadly I did not know of these midge bites till the middle of the night when they started to itch. My left leg is covered particularly bad behind the knee. The internet advised taking paracetomol would help. It did and I shall continue today. We did bring extra antihistamine with hydrocortisone cream with us and I have been applying that. This morning it still itches like mad but today I should be over the worse.

The rain stopped about lunchtime yesterday and by the time Paul and Joanne came at 6.30 it was warm enough and dry enough to have a predinner drink sat on the lawn. Today promises a better day. We are out for lunch and then going to another local Breton festival, hopefully with dancers this time. Laetitia and family are coming round for a drink and a chat about 6

Have a good day all

[Sue]

Just seen Stanley mentioned the neutralisation too. Note to me, read all posts before replying to one when I did a first aid course years ago I was taught V W vinegar wasp, AB alkali bees and bugs

[Stanley]

Morning Sue! I hope you do see an improvement today in the bites. That itching is maddening!
We have some early low sun here when the forecast predicted rain. I will settle for that.
Have a nice day.

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed at 06:00 and do more than potter and clean up like yesterday!
(Although cleaning up and oiling the tackle is an essential part of the job.)
Nothing on my social calender forces me out into the gloom today so I shall look after myself.
(Roughly translates into have a dad nap at dinnertime!)

[Sue]

Morning

My bites are improving but still itch during the night when I get warm. I am sure today they will be much better and some seem to be disappearing.

We did not make the festival yesterday as the restaurant was so busy following the public holiday on Thursday that it was nearly 3 when we left. Instead we went to the little village near ours called Le Temple which was an ancient siting of a Templar brigade (probably not the right word) we had a guided tour of the tiny church there, once a church of the Knights Templar. The tour was a one to one by a lovely lady who tried hard to use English. Between us we all understood. Apparently in the 8 th century this region was very rich indeed. I think if I can find a google link it will be easier than me trying to explain.

Today it is a classic August morning of thick mist with a forecast of a sunny pleasant 22 degrees this morning and a cloudy 24 degrees this afternoon. We are going to Redon to the market but mainly to take Jane round the town. It is the town we do most of our shopping in so whilst there we will go to the DIY to buy some more white gloss paint as its back to the decorating next week. This afternoon we will all be packing. We are going down to Amboise in the Loire tomorrow to visit the Chateau and Leonardo de Vincis home. We will stay till Wednesday evening then drive to a hotel in Nantes just outside the airport as Jane has an early flight back to Manchester on Thursday morning. We will then drive back here restore the house back to a home for two ie wash and tidy before returning to garden and house maintenance for two weeks

Have a good day all

[Sue]

Here it is
https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Command ... _Carentoir



https://www.sauvegardeartfrancais.fr/pr ... du-temple/

You will need to click on ENGLISH. At the top because it is a french article

[Stanley]

Morning Sue, I shall look at those articles later. The Templars fascinate me.....
That's a busy day and rest of the week! I hope it all goes well and you enjoy yourselves. The weather here has taken a definite turn towards coolish.....



The first thing I did was something I have intended to do for a while but kept forgetting. A long time ago I made a tidy little handle for the top of the tool holder and it has served me well but of late I have been noting that I am not getting it as tight as I used to and on heavy cuts it was slipping. So I have replaced the original nut and the spanner I cut down to fit it as it has more leverage. That will have cured that. Then I addressed the matter of cutting the steam chest square and to size including the internal space. That got me to knocking off time and now I am ready for my breakfast!

[Mags]

We also use vinegar for jelly fish stings.

[Stanley]

They must be alkaline venom as well Margaret.....
We don't have jelly fish in Barlick.......

[Sue]

We have jelly
Joking apart that is interesting. Some beaches have jelly fish . Its cold 12 degrees this morning, mist not lifting yet

[Stanley]

I've read the web sites Sue.
We have the heavy overcast they promised us. Should I go for a walk?

[Stanley]

In the end I went for a dad nap instead...... I'm getting old!
I shall be in the shed doing useful things to my castings which could include making Mrs Harrison dirty again!
The weather forecast is for rain so there is a good chance I shall repeat yesterday's exercise. I see no pressing reason to go out and get wet!

[Sue]

Morning

Its a prompt breakfast today as it is a 3 hour plus drive to Amboise. We are forecast shoers this morning here but not sure about Amboise. Thats it. Have a good day

[Stanley]

I hope you get lucky with the weather Sue. We are resigned to a wet windy day here....



Only one image needed this morning. I have spent the whole hour on the lid of the steam chest. It had to be milled all over and on the edges to Match the steam chest and be square and the correct dimensions. Then I put witness marks on both the chest and the lid to ensure their correct orientation when fitting. Finally I marked the clearance holes for the 4BA studs that will used to fasten the steam chest assembly. The lid will be used as a template for drilling the clearance holes in the chest walls and the tapping size holes in the valve face. A good morning and now I am going to have breakfast.

[Stanley]

I have just got back from a walk and half an hour on traffic duty. It was dull while I was out there but is bright and sunny now but not warm. You have to be dressed for it.....

[Stanley]

As usual I shall be in the shed at 06:00 doing useful things.....
After that I'm not sure, depends on the weather. There is nothing crying out for my attention..... one of the advantages of being old!