OneGuyFromBarlick

Love the plaque Stanley. Today I am giving a demo on encaustic art at the craft group, followed by our weekly long leisurely lunch with Wendy and Keith at the Shepherds Rest, above Todmorden.

Mick has approved the erection! (See Shed Matters) Hope you have a nice lunch.... I shall be, as is the routine these days, attending to comms with Oz and perhaps spending an hour in the shed before going for my flu jab at 11AM.

Didn't get in the shed, domestic matters and smart phone issues got in the way. Today it will be comms, milling cutter sharpening and watching the Malaysian GP this evening.

I think I may carry on tidying the back garden and my pots of bulbs today . I bought two bumper bags of tete a tete daffodils and crocuses yesterday at B&Q. Being low growing the wind should not flatten them the same as other bulbs.
Yesterday we went to Saltaire, an interesting place. We had a lovely day out the weather being very pleasant .

Robert and I once went to Saltaire with a view to buying the mill but it was too expensive..... I remember that James Mason's widow was on the panel because he had shares in the business. She was the one pushing the price upwards!
I shan't be doing any more grinding of cutters. I have done enough and it's not good for my chest. I shall be finding ways to store them!

I'm having a day out today. Margaret & I are meeting up with archaeologist Janis Heward and historian Liz Dent for a walk around some old water mill sites at Smelthouses in Nidderdale. It looks like it's going to be a good day for a walk.
I love Saltaire, the Hockney exhibition works well in the mill, it's always worth a visit. Col worked there for Pace.

I like Nidderdale, Brimham Rocks and Glasshouses mill where we got the Quarry Bank water wheel from....
This morning is changing shape. As soon as the EE helpline opens at 8AM I shall be attacking them about my account and I need storage boxes for the milling cutters.... Cooking and washing is proceeding.

Salt's Mill. If you want the detail of what happened, and how it ended up as it is today read 'Salt and Silver' by Jim Greenhalf.

Salt and Silver

I transcribed the first chapter on the old version of the site. Titus Salt's funeral day. I asked Mr Greenhalf it it was OK to do so. Got a one word email back "yes"

Thanks Tripps.

There's a connection between Salts at Saltaire and two other mills, one of which was Black Dyke at Queensbury. The three of them got together and each took a speciality yarn, I think Salt got Alpaca, the others got Mohair and Angora. They operated by cornering the market so they held all the stocks.....
I was watching one of Doubleboost's old videos last night and found a beautifully simple idea for a useful tool. I shall be making one! Usual flood of comms..... It's getting to be part of my life!

We had a great day out yesterday exploring Fell Beck, which runs through Smelthouses, looking for signs of the flax industry which flourished there in the 19th century. I'll write an bit about it in the Steam and Water topic...got a question for you Stanley.

I remember there were mills in that area that I think specialised in making string.......

Yes it was Alpaca, Stanley

The story goes that Titus Salt came across 300 unwanted bales of alpaca fibre on Liverpool docks that had been used as ballast. It was considered worthless and against advice he bought it and developed a spinning process to deal with it.

Interesting Wendy

I should really go back into my archives and identify the third mill. They colluded, bought for each other and in effect constructed a false market for the exotic fibres. I remember once bringing ten tons of Angora into Barlick to Westfield Mill when they were wool-scourers. That was fifty years ago and the value of the untreated Angora was 3/6 per pound. A lot of money in those days.
Today I shall be attending to the comms but also trying to get in the shed to take my mind off things.....

Comms and finishing my drill gauge.

Yesterday I had to cope with my cleaners and Wendy picking up her goodies as well. Lovely on both counts!
Today we shall see, the shed is good for me, I must find something meaningful to do!

I have to report that Stanley was looking good, he isn't fading away!
Archive room this morning, getting prepared for our stall at the Community Centre Autumn Fair tomorrow. I was hoping to get some more work done in the garden this afternoon but at the moment it's quite wet, I cant decide if it's raining or if we are just up in the clouds. I may have to attempt some cleaning instead.

How is the kitchen coming along Wendy

It isn't at the moment Sue, Col has been redoing the central heating instead, a major task! He is now exhausted, I will try and get him to have a break before he goes back to kitchen work but he doesn't seem to know what that is!

Hide his Keks!
Yesterday was a complete whitewash as far as the shed is concerned. Comms all day! I shall try harder today. They are keeping me busy!

I know the feeling, Bob doesn't stop until he sits down at the end of the day, then he just falls asleep in the chair.

Today is flu jab this morning, followed by a making a toile for a skirt. I am back to using commercial patterns as we sewing teacher is still ill. This afternoon we will be descended on by Claire and little Erin. There won't be any rest then

Taking mother to the hairdressers this morning in preparation for taking her to see the Hollies tonight at the Theatre Royal, Norwich. I do hope I won't have to watch her being suggestive and throwing her underwear at them. I believe she knew one of them when she was young.