Today I shall be Mainly...

[Stanley]

The flywheel was dry this morning so I spent half an hour refining the finish and then mounted it on the crankshaft using Loctite 638. I put tackle away and reinstated the chuck to normal outside jaws. That was a productive 45 minutes. Now for breakfast!

[Sue]

Morning

The fog has gone at last we have a clear but cloudy sky. Stanley we are at 615 feet , it was thick fog up or down apart from very odd patches. We went to Bacup market yesterday only because it was the last day before closure. It was thick there too. I think we had 5 days in total.

Bob is making a cuppa and Julia has surfaced. B is still asleep. Have a good day all

[Sue]

Well so much for clear sky its now thick grey clouds but st least still no fog, we can see the distant hills

[Big Kev]

Having a walk along the canal, it's a bit damp and misty but not bad walking weather.

Gosh that looks clear. The fog here has been thick for days

We have had quite a bit of fog here, fortunately it cleared yesterday. It still felt very damp though.

[Stanley]

I've cooked onion and cabbage to extend my veggies..... Now for dinner and a dadnap!

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed for an hour as usual and after second sleep may fry my sweet Potato chips..... The forecast says it will be dry but overcast and breezy, I shall take a view on having a walk later...

[Stanley]

This morning has been made up of small things.... I want to start the final build and first I cleaned up the lathe and the vertical mill. Then I cut the slot in the back side of the piston so I can screw the piston rod into the crosshead. I put the everyday cutter back in the mill and turned my attention to fitting the Cylinder to the target end. The flywheel is running dead true and is as smooth as silk, very pleased with it. I fitted the cylinder together with its gasket and made sure the valve face is perpendicular to the bed. Then I fitted the piston and rod and the back lid on the cylinder. That brought me to 45 minutes in the shed and rather than start on the steam chest and valve I knocked off and went looking for a shave and a breakfast!

[Sue]

Morning

Just woken up and its nearly 8.30 am, thats nearly 9 hours sleep!

This afternoon we are at Wendy and Keiths for a get together with friends. This morning I shall do some ironing and thats my day. Have a good one

[Stanley]

Sleep is the best medicine Sue...... I hope you have a good day.

[Stanley]

I have fried my sweet potato chips. Time for dinner now.....

[Stanley]

I shall go in the shed for an hour with my engine round about 06:00. Not much chance of a walk later because we have heavy rain forecast.....
At some point I shall read the meters at the request of British Gas because the cap alters again tonight and they acknowledge that my 'Smart Meters' aren't!
What an exciting New Year's Eve....

[Stanley]

This morning I finished building the engine up so far by installing the steam chest and valve. I am ready now to start on making and installing the crosshead, the connecting rod and bearing and the valve train. I didn't feel like starting on that this morning and so came out of the shed after half an hour of honest endeavour. Now for breakfast!

[Sue]

Morning

It was a pleasant afternoon at Wendys, a much smaller gathering of friends than in recent years and an indication of sad times this year with a number of our group of friends having died or are seriously ill. Thats part of the problem of the age of our social circle, many being long standing elderly members of the u3 a.

This morning I need some fresh veg shopping from the greengrocers in town and a few other bits and pieces as Wendy and Keith are for a New Years Eve meal . I shall prepare most of it this afternoon to remove some of the pressure this evening. I have also st last managed to persuade Bob to phone the GP about his dreadful cough .

It was a beautiful day yesterday and clear this morning , have a good day all

[Stanley]

Morning Sue..... I've noticed that syndrome as well, if you live long enough all of your friends die and unfortunately sometimes the children. I hope the doctor can sort Bob's cold out..... It must be worrying for you. I've been out for a short walk and some bits from the Co-op to make sure that if there is bad weather later this week I shan't be caught short of anything......

[Sue]

Morning Sue..... I've noticed that syndrome as well, if you live long enough all of your friends die and unfortunately sometimes the children. I hope the doctor can sort Bob's cold out..... It must be worrying for you. I've been out for a short walk and some bits from the Co-op to make sure that if there is bad weather later this week I shan't be caught short of anything......

Afternoon. I hesitate to call this a cold as full blown cold symptoms never developed. Anyway he has just got back from the Drs clutching antibiotics.He saw the nurse practitioner who is very good . Lets hope it responds to the treatment quickly

[Stanley]

Best wishes to you both Sue....
I shall be in the shed for a touch of occupational therapy and after that I can't really see any incentive to go out even if it stops raining. I shall take a view later this morning. I think it may be too cold to tempt me out!

[Stanley]

This morning I started by measuring and drawing the bearing for my crank pin and then started milling the casting to make it. Very careful cutting and frequent check measuring. After 45 minutes I have one half of the casting exactly the right dimensions.... Tomorrow I shall make the other half. Slow work but no mistakes! Now for breakfast....

[Sue]

Morning and a

Happy New Year to everyone

Wendy and Keith left about 1.00 a.m, so of course we slept late this morning. We have no plans for the day apart from taking the decorations down. Its been a tradition since Julia was born on the 4 th January, thus her cards etc did not get lost in Christmas stuff.

Have a good day all

[Stanley]

You didn't miss anything by sleeping late Sue. It is still dark in Barlick and we have had a power cut while I was enjoying Second Sleep. Dark enough to trigger the sensor on the security light in the yard..... Deep Joy!

[Stanley]

I shall have my hour in the shed and will almost certainly be having a walk later. We are promised a sunny day but very cold.....

[Sue]

Morning

Its a beautiful clear morning, no wind and -1 degree. We are off to Christies this morning for a routine blood test and meeting with the oncologist. It will be mid afternoon when we get back. Many of the roads down near Christies have been flooded but not the main road we use. However there are warnings for icy roads. We shall buy a sandwich and a coffee for lunch down there. Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Best of luck with Christie's and the roads Sue. I saw the reports yesterday about the flooding. We are so lucky in Barlick being on the watershed, we don't get anyone else's water!

[Sue]

The roads were fine on our route , no hold ups. We too were fine at home living on a hill, though we are also on the snow line so expect to get the forecast snow

[Stanley]

I'm glad to hear that Sue.....
Today I am hoping not to be diverted by attacking spammers (So far so good!) and will be in the shed working on my engine from 06:00 onwards..... The forecast tells us to expect a clap of snow between 05:00 and 08:00. We shall see. I have the same thoughts about a walk as yesterday, I am not taking any risks at all! I am home alone until the end of March and a fall would be bad news!

[Stanley]

Back to normal and 45 minutes slow and careful milling and finishing for the crank pin brass. Half way through I stopped and touched the cutter up on the T&C grinder, never time wasted.... I finished up with the two halves ready for further progress but that's for tomorrow, there's no rush. The project now is a shave and then breakfast!