Today I shall be Mainly...

[Stanley]

I shall be in the shed easing the engine, setting the valves and hopefully steaming it. This is the culmination of a lot of painstaking effort and is always a red letter day! Lovely.....

[Sue]

Exhausted after my annual week away on an art course. No time for recovery, washing, ironing some darkening and packing to do

[Wendyf]

Darkening Sue? Is that the fake tan going on??

[Stanley]

No, putting the black out curtains up in case Trump goes overboard with N Korea!
I shall be making sure that I and the house are clean and ready for Yiota's visit today! Looking forward to it and seeing her young man Ashley.

[PanBiker]

Friends of Clarion House barbecue and fun day today. I have made some rich scones and am taking butter and home made Blackberry and Sloe jelly to compliment. We have gazebo's for the barbies. Jacobs join type job so there will be lots to choose from.

[Sue]

Darkening Sue? Is that the fake tan going on??

Ah. GARDENING

[Stanley]

How disappointing!
Yiota postponed until today so she can spend more time with me. I am ready for her!

[Stanley]

Lovely visit yesterday with two exceptionally bright intelligent kids.



I can't emphasise too much how impressed I was with them. Today I am back to normal and will be surveying the piste in the shed. I have a touch of post natal depression at the moment. It's always like that when you finish a project. I shall soon find something to occupy me!

[Sue]

There are so many nice teenagers around today, we don't hear enough about them. Glad you enjoyed the visit

Warm and sunny in Brittany, Claire and family arrive today for 10 days.

I have veggies, lots of veggies. I am so pleased. Homegrown potatoes, beetroot, courgette and mangetout for tea yesterday, with a pork chop that I didn't grow.

[Marilyn]

You need a bigger reception/entertaining area Stanley...

[Stanley]

It didn't seem to bother them Maz! You are right Sue, they are on the whole vastly underrated. Or is it that we have particularly good kids.....
I am over the post natal depression of finishing the engine and will be in the shed doing useful things.....

[Stanley]

Holding my life together, looking after Jack and enjoying myself in the shed. Retirement can be OK if you have good health and have caring kids!

[chinatyke]

Lovely visit yesterday with two exceptionally bright intelligent kids.
I can't emphasise too much how impressed I was with them.

Lovely visit today from two 13 year old boys, my students during last summer holiday. One is a WMO/IMO https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internati ... l_Olympiad gold medallist and is going to Singapore and Columbia with IMO. The other one wants to be an astronaut and is one of the nicest kids I've ever met. Both are very bright and polite lads and a pleasure to entertain. Like Stanley, I was very impressed and the future will be in safe hands whist there are youngsters of this calbre. We played pool before we went for a KFC and ice-cream.

[Stanley]

It's the yobs who grab the headlines China isn't it. I think they are a lot more savvy than I was at their age. I always said that I couldn't understand how my kids could be so smart!
Shopping and chasing accuracy in the shed.......

[Sue]

Just come to the end of our 4 th day of 32 degrees in Brittany. The heat in the day I can cope with but trying to sleep is another matter. We have fans and a portable air con system, but they are so noisy. Tomorrow is forecast the same but the temperature falls to 29 with rain on Sunday. It's good for our visiting family who are enjoying their holiday in the sun.

[Stanley]

At least you are getting some sun Sue. We are in Barlick holiday weather..... Not really high summer!
I shall be chasing my perfectly made collet chuck!

[Stanley]

Some quiet shed work plus an orgy of cooking and house cleaning on free leccy!

[Wendyf]

Looking forward to a couple of friends arriving from Scotland for a few days of walking. The house is clean and tidy, the weather is OK and I have a new pair of boots.

[Sue]

Another hot day, the forecast rain is no longer. I have leek plants in a bucket of water waiting to be planted, bought on the market last Thursday. At this rate I will have to do it at midnight. It was still 26 last night when we came to bed

[Marilyn]

Sounds like our weather for about 8 months of the year, Sue. It can prove challenging for sleeping and gardening. That's why I am a fan of cold baths during the worst of it, and when it is over 40C I water the garden early, pull down the blinds, and read a book under the ceiling fan. No wonder we have Salads for Christmas Dinner. Can you imagine a Roast and hot pudding in the heat? I can drink 4 litres of tap water on a hot day....and my appetite disappears.

"New Boots", Wendy?. Good luck with those! (Blisters)

[Wendyf]

Maz, I haven't had blister problems with new boots since the ones I bought at the Army and Navy stores in the 1970's. You never know though! My last pair of Brasher boots are still going strong but they are a bit tight in the toe and can get uncomfortable in warmer weather, they have started to let a bit of water in too. The new ones are lightweight leather with a Goretex lining and were heavily discounted on Amazon, though still the most expensive boots I have ever bought. Worth looking after my feet though, as I worry they could be the first thing to stop me enjoying my walking!

[Marilyn]

I am sure you will be fine.
If not, you will have the most expensive blisters you have ever owned.

[Wendyf]

I'll bear that in mind!

[Stanley]

Wendy, in the old days of ammunition boots and fell boots made on a hinged last a favourite trick was to fill them with warm water for a day before wearing them to 'break them in'. As they dried on your feet they assumed the shape of your foot.... It worked!



I finished my collet block yesterday but I am not satisfied with the draw bolt. I am going to make it again but this time get it exactly right! It's an obsolete thread and I didn't pay enough attention to it when I made it.

[Sue]

It was a bit cooler last night. Thunderstorms were forecast but didn't happen. I could have counted the rain drops on one hand. Dull this morning.