Today I shall be Mainly...

[Stanley]

David, I agree and of course have a very soft spot for Poland because of the way they contributed during WW2. I've read the marvellous history, 'God's Playground' by Norman Davies and would recommend it to anyone. Ed Lee has read the original three articles I did and wants to publish it across Pendle as a full page article. Of course he's being commercial, he knows the size of the Polish community.... He gave me the final go-ahead yesterday and I've promised it will be on hid desk on Monday morning. So, big editing job in progress!

[Stanley]

As you will have noted, I got War Story off my agenda yesterday. Now I have to do some regular articles for the BET to build up a stockpile so I can go into the shed with a clear conscience.

[Stanley]

Did two regular articles. My head says do more today but my heart says no, get in the shed. I think the shed will win....

[David Whipp]

Helping host a visit from judges for the Great British High Street Award, in which Barnoldswick is a contender.

There's a premiere of a new 15 minute film promoting Barlick at the Rainhall Centre at 12.30pm today (Monday). The screening is being held specially for the visit.

Please come along to clap and cheer if you are able...

[Sue]

Well that is 100 daffodil bulbs potted up. All covered up to protect them from cats and squirrels.

New bedroom furniture arrived today, Bob is busy assembling it.

[Stanley]

Sound of dropping screws and Allen keys from bedroom... I was once asked to help put a two tiered bunk bed up, piece of cake for an old fitter. I had almost finished when I realised that the bit I needed was bolted firmly in place in the bottom bunk, it fitted but was slightly different. Had to take the whole bloody contraption to pieces to get it out.
Word from Ed Lee that he is going to find space in this week's paper for the uncut 'War Story'. Good! If he manages it I'll bet it's the biggest single article they have ever printed! I think it's going in all the Leader Series. I'll bet a lot of Poles will be cutting it out for their scrapbooks or sending home....

[Sue]

I can tell a funny story about Bob doing some fitted wardrobes. It was the classic wardrobe with top box at each end , sliding doors and dressing table in the middle. He put a chair in the first wardrobe to reach to assemble the top box, then did the dressing table then last wardrobe. He went to get the chair from the first wardrobe to do the top box and couldn't get it out. He had to dismantle the whole thing. I was left speechless with laughter, tears rolled down my face. We had only been married a year or so, I am surprised we still are after my reaction. I did go and make him a brew!

[Stanley]

I think I would have considered dismantling the chair! Poor Bob.... My best cock up was on a slightly larger scale. When putting the Whitelees engine together I found a part I had missed which made it 9" higher.... This was serious as we only had 3" clearance to the roof! Big engineering rethink and we solved it but only because I had a flash of inspiration when we were digging the pit and made it a foot deeper 'just in case'. Phew!
I shall be in the shed as soon as I have got the daily tasks out of the way.... It's doing me good, my legs are standing up to it better!

[Stanley]

In the shed again, it's doing me good!

[Stanley]

Usual Friday tasks and going shopping with Susan to Skipton and Embsay.

[Sue]

How is the eye now Stanley?

[Stanley]

Thanks for asking Sue.... The right eye is still improving slowly, in fact I now have better vision in it than the left one which is slowly misting up because of a film on the inside of the replacement lens. This can be cured when it has progressed far enough by non-invasive laser surgery so I'm just putting up with it and leaving it to mature! The funny thing is that the better the right eye gets the worse the dystopia is. I'm pretty certain that if I want for another eye test, another prescription and another £300 I could get an improvement and start reading again but I told Susan yesterday when we went shopping for a magnifier that I didn't want to be able to read too quickly because I have been forced back into the shed and it's better for me pottering about on my feet than sitting in my rocking chair reading.
The back-lit magnifiers were interesting. There was a floor standing one that would have cured my reading problems but I went for this one....



It has a magnetic base as well as a clip and will be just the thing for the shed for reading very small scales on measuring tackle. The supports are flexible of course and it has LED lighting from three AAA batteries.

[Sue]

Looks good. The floor mounted back lit ones are often used by cross stitchers and other sewers. Glad to hear of the improvement. My friend who had her cataracts done about 6 months before you has just had the lenses lasered due to misting up, it was very successful and immediate. It took 15 minutes from start to finish.

[Stanley]

Thanks for that Sue. That's what the optician said. The misting up in the left eye has been highlighted by the clarity of the right hand one. Incidentally, the big floaters have gone from the right eye because they changed the fluid!
Today I shall be in the shed again and recording the Japanese Grand Prix for evening viewing! (don't like missing my afternoon sleep....)

[Sue]

Interesting about changing the fluid Stanley. Kath has problems with large floaters and they won't do anything!

[Big Kev]

Interesting about changing the fluid Stanley. Kath has problems with large floaters and they won't do anything!

Unfortunately it's not something the NHS will do on request, you can have it done privately though. There is talk of a laser treatment but how far off that is I don't know.

[Sue]

Thanks for that Kev, I will tell her.

[Stanley]

Kev's right, it's not regarded as serious enough for a dedicated operation but it certainly makes a difference! Tell Kath to complain more!
Usual tasks, then in the shed and then take Jack for his jabs at noon to his big friend, Gilly Marsh!

[Big Kev]

Today I will be going to Garlick's for a new TV.

[Stanley]

Are you sticking with LED Kev?
I shall be playing in the shed and then going to see Mrs Marsh at 5PM. I know! I shame to say I did the old man's trick of falling asleep after my dinner and it wasn't until late afternoon I realised I had completely forgotten the vet. I rang up and grovelled, I shall definitely be there at teatime!
Old age isn't for cissies.....

[Big Kev]

I am. Got a Sharp 50" which, because of its design, doesn't take any more wall space than the 42" it replaced.

[Stanley]

My Sony 32" is ploddi9ng along well. It seemed enormous at the time but I think I will be going for 50" when I have to replace it....
I shall be playing with my fly cutters in the shed.....

[Sue]

Well we are in France for a week. We have come to pick the apples , potatoes pumpkins and parsnips, as well as do a general pre winter tidy up. Good idea except it is raining and is due to do so most of the week! Tomorrow is forecast sunny so may get the lawn cut otherwise we will be out there in our kagoules doing the odd bits of gardening we can do. Our next trip will be in early December, the last until next spring. I would like to get the veggie plots rotivated with the compost incorporated then cover them with tarpaulins for the winter. That should give us good growing conditions for next summer!

[Marilyn]

You always inspire me to get back out in the garden, Sue.
Last week, I had a friend come and stay due to the death of her son ( quite unexpected...only 35...and he took his own life). I took her to the garden centre to choose a Rose in memory of him, and planted it in the garden. She left last Friday and it's first flower is about to open, so I have been out photographing it for her this evening after dinner, and I promised her pics of the blooms. It survived the 12 hours of 100+km winds on Monday, so is determined to present itself.
Must get out there and trim a few shrubs tomorrow...

[Sue]

Lovely bought Maz. I have a rose at home for my mum and one here in France. I look at them and think of her as mum loved roses.