Today I shall be Mainly...

[PanBiker]

Just about sorted with the packing apart from the odds and sods needed tomorrow morning. No problem as we don't fly until late afternoon. My hold luggage is 5k under the allowance and my small rucksack as hand luggage is about the same. Our Jack is dropping us at the airport.

[Wendyf]

Hope you have a wonderful time Ian. Watch out for Sally, don't let her wander off too far!!

[Tripps]

I hurriedly wrote a quick report in French on our 4 weeks away ready for my french conversation class at Haslingden this morning.

I know you do this as as a useful hobby rather than a chore, but it occurred to me that A.I. might now do this job.

I've just tried Quillbot using one of Stanley's long pieces, and find that (within the limits of my knowledge of French. iI seems to do a good,and almost instantaneous job.

There are even headphones that listen to a French speaker, and pump an English translation down your ears.


Translating Headphones Can they possibly work OK at that price?

It's called progress I think.

[Stanley]

Nothing surprises me these days David!
I shall be in the shed doing things that AI would find impossible with my equipment. The rubber is firmly attached to the plinth and I shall be building the engine back up mounted on that. The weather gods tell me the heavy rain will have stopped before I rise from second sleep but it looks a bit cool and I have plenty to do indoors.... We shall see later....

[Stanley]

The rubber padding on the base of the plinth is firmly attached so I could move forwards.... First I fastened the base on to the plinth. Then I addressed the bed with the engine as far as built. I cleaned up all the studs, cutting the excess off them. After checking the fit of the valve rod in the support I mounted the engine on the base and ended up ready to address the fitting of the valve train and timing the motion. I have qualified for a breakfast!

[Sue]

I hurriedly wrote a quick report in French on our 4 weeks away ready for my french conversation class at Haslingden this morning.

I know you do this as as a useful hobby rather than a chore, but it occurred to me that A.I. might now do this job.

I've just tried Quillbot using one of Stanley's long pieces, and find that (within the limits of my knowledge of French. iI seems to do a good,and almost instantaneous job.

There are even headphones that listen to a French speaker, and pump an English translation down your ears.

Morning

I haven’t tried that site but have used one similar and I often use google translate to help with translation of messages I get from France, and have used the translation thingy on my ipad to translate some major documents to do with selling the house. Both are full of errors I find in my class when I have used the various translations . I did try one of these sites where you have a conversation with a computer it was so artificial and I prefer the spontaneity and the fun of the class. I regularly use one pod cast which releases a new article once or twice a month. You can listen at a slow speed and follow the translation then listen again at normal speed. They are long interesting articles. My french teacher does her own website too which is similar and is included in our monthly fees. There is no doubt that the translation sites are very good when needed but I like to challenge myself….and yes at times it is very challenging. I am hovering on B2 level which is A level but very very frequently fall back to A2.

I have an appointment this morning and pilates and yoga this evening. Otherwise no plans. If the rain is light I may do some more gardening but we filled the brown bin between us yesterday and collection is not till Thursday. Its promising a cold damp day . Have a good day all

[Big Kev]

Putting a rose arch up in the front garden, it'll do the job.

[Stanley]

Morning Sue, you and the French translation is closely akin to me and my engineering. I don't want anything tp make it easier, the challenge is the attraction. Look at my current engine, it is almost finished and will be a runner. Inside 4 weeks it will be handed over as a gift to a dear friend of mine.
I want it to be my work not a smart computer bot!
I have just finished making my sweet potato chips and preparing my pork belly for the freezer. No AI at play there either!
Yes, we have only just got rid of the last of the rain and it's dull......

[Sue]

Putting a rose arch up in the front garden, it'll do the job.

I Love rose arches. Our wooden arch died in a storm in the winter so Bob built a new one. I had to cut the roses, passion flower and clematis back but they have just started to grow up it again. It leads to our shady corner where we have lunch mid summer. I am just about to start tidying that corner. I am busy picking a bumper crop of gooseberries at the moment

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[Big Kev]

My 'climbing' roses have grown around canes about 2ft off the ground. Ideally I need to trim them all back and encourage them to grow up the arch (not that I know what I'm doing ). Yours looks good
I did consider building a wooden one but I found the metal one on eBay for less than the cost of the timber.

[Sue]

Yes, I agree but pur wooden arch far outlived the various metal supports we have had over the years .i have a clematis in a small arch like yours

[Stanley]

When me and me Dad built one in our back garden at Stockport in 1955 we called it a pergola and it was made from rustic poles.....



Today I shall not be gardening, those days are gone (if they ever really existed!) I shall be in the shed early doors working on my latest engine. at some point during the day I shall deal with my Pork Belly and orange which I cooked yesterday. (Did you ever try it Gloria?)
No certainty about a walk as we are promised a cool showery day by the Met Office.

[Stanley]

This morning I continued with the fitting of elements of the valve train. I have mounted the eccentric arm and strap on the eccentric, checked and eased the fit of the valve rod in the support/governor stand and the gland on the valve chest. Re-threaded one of the long studs that holds the valve chest and in general, done all I can to prepare for fitting the steam valve and adjusting the valve timing. That's a clear path for tomorrow, at the moment I am heading straight for my breakfast!

[Sue]

Morning

We call it a pergola too Stanley…

This morning is a haircut for both of us, then Claire and Erin ( still oh half term) are coming for lunch and the afternoon. Bob is taking my car for its first MOT this afternoon, and this evening I have my fourth and last exercise class of the week. My body as usual aches after the unusual muscle activity combined with the few hours of gardening I have done this week. So thats my day., the forecast is dry, windy and cool. Have a good day all

[Stanley]

Morning Sue! You deserve to be ache-free after putting the effort in! Good luck with the MOT, I'm glad I don't have to bother about such things....
Yes, we are looking at a cool day as well. My CH has been on this morning..... (It's still firing now.... Flaming June eh?)
Have as good a day as is possible...

[Wendyf]

My car is also getting an MOT today, Col spent a large part of yesterday doing a bit of fettling underneath it.

[Sue]

Any bird spotters out there. What did this on our bedroom window

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[Stanley]

When Daniel Meadows had one of them he decided it was an Owl Strike. I once had it happen to me in the milk tanker and that was an owl as well because I saw it as it happened.
Mark this additional report down as a Tripps Spooky Episode. Whilst coming up the steps from the Co-op car park just now something hit me in the back and when I turned to look there was a young crow on the ground. It picked itself up and flew away unharmed....

[Sue]

It certainly has an owl shape

[Gloria]

Sue, have a look at mystery objects, I’m sure you’ll have an idea.

[Big Kev]

Going to the theatre.
I am currently in Pendle Hippodrome, in Colne, to watch a production of Abigail's Party.

[Wendyf]

Sounds good Kev!

[Big Kev]

Sounds good Kev!

First half was very funny.

A jolly good evening out, well worth a tenner

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed as usual for an hour with my engine. After that the chances are a day indoors because the forecast is wall to wall rain. I shall take a view later....

[Stanley]

China would have enjoyed this morning. I have done the last jobs, checked my valve rod length and adjusted it, then set the valve for forward running and finally replaced the steam chest lid and tightened down all the nots on their studs. We have another engine finished and ready to go. Not bad for a bloke in his ninetieth year..... I think I have earned my breakfast.
PS. The next set of castings is waiting to be unpacked and I already have a crankshaft and plinth ready for it!