OneGuyFromBarlick

Morning

Typically dark but clear morning, no rain but wind forecast. This morning we are popping to B&Q in Bury to look at paint as our lounge badly needs decorating. We had a couple of damp patches on the chimney breast ( which I noticed whilst lying on the floor doing pilates). There was a slight leak in the flashing round the chimney. This has been repaired by our neighbour, a roofer, and the patch has now dried out leaving a stain on the wall paper. Its a big room that has a central folding screen that opens up to a bigger one, by including the dining room. Thus both rooms need decorating. Its going to be a long job as we have two big heavy dressers, one in each room which will need emptying.. Bob wants to start by painting the screen.

Today otherwise we will be packing for a couple of days away in Coventry and I have a routine GP appointment at tea time. We have a Tesco delivery and a meat delivery and this afternoon Wendy and Keith are calling round for a cuppa. Have a good day all

Back in the world and waiting for my tea to brew. That was a good second sleep. When I have settled in to the morning and can see daylight I shall attend to my pork belly and get it in the slow cooker with onions and oranges. There will be no shortage of choices for Xmas Dinner!

The pork belly is in the slow cooker with the oranges, onions and spices. Now it just needs time and patience.

More photos from yesterday

Sorry I ignored your post Sue! For some reason I overlooked it. I had a damp patch last year, turned out it was a cavity in the wall that was trapping water. My builders tracked it down and over time the plaster in the front room dried out. Because my standards aren't as high as yours that was good enough for me. I hope you find the paint you want.
We are dry here in Barlick but the overcast is 100% and no sign of a break.

I am early but had a good seven hour sleep. I shall be in the shed first thing doing useful things to my engine.
We are promised a brighter day but cold so a walk (Well wrapped up) is on the cards. I have one food related task. I have to separate the fat from the gravy from slow cooking my pork belly, it's in the fridge awaiting attention. Other than that the world is my oyster!

I decided today's task was making the piston and rod. Normally I make my pistons from bronze scrap but this morning I have nothing in the scrap box that will do so rather than cutting a piece of stock out of a virgin rod I decided to use the cast iron that Stuarts provide. I did my measurements of the bore of the cylinder, not necessarily dead on what the drawings demanded, and cut my stock to fit. All this took 45 minutes and rather than pressing on I decided breakfast was more important. There is no rush!

Morning

Off to Coventry imminently but have to go for a prescription on the way out for steroid nasal spray for sinusitis given me at 5.30 last night by the GP. Hope to be in Coventry for lunchtime. We are off out for a big family meal this evening . Should be dry and possibly sunny I Coventry. Have a good day all

Stanley wrote: ↑23 Dec 2025, 09:48 Sorry I ignored your post Sue! For some reason I overlooked it. I had a damp patch last year, turned out it was a cavity in the wall that was trapping water. My builders tracked it down and over time the plaster in the front room dried out. Because my standards aren't as high as yours that was good enough for me. I hope you find the paint you want.
We are dry here in Barlick but the overcast is 100% and no sign of a break.

It’s not about standards Stanley we are a bit younger though I did suggest getting a decorator in to do the job but Bob prefers to do it himself

I hope the traffic isn't too bad Sue.....

I shall be in the shed early doors doing useful things and for the rest of the day will be watching quietly while the world celebrates Xmas. I quite enjoy being on my own and able to control my world. It's perhaps the ultimate form of selfishness!
I hope you all enjoy the day in your own way......

I decided that if we were going to have a cast iron piston we might as well go the full distance and use piston rings as well so I cut a groove wide and deep enough to accommodate the rings Stuart provided. The I bored the piston and threaded it 2BA for the rod. Then part the piston off from the stock. Next job was reduce the 1/4" rod to the diameter needed for the 2BA thread on the rod and thread it. I could have crashed on and finished the rod but I'd done 45 minutes and that will do me for Xmas Day! Now for breakfast and second sleep.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all. Enjoy your day. If you are alone big hugs and take care.

Sue wrote: ↑25 Dec 2025, 07:58 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all. Enjoy your day. If you are alone big hugs and take care.

I’ll second that Sue.

Morning All! I hear what you say Sue, thanks and yes I'll look after myself. I keep thinking I should walk and then I poke my head outside and that wind is bitter. I have resisted the temptation and had a small second breakfast.... XXX

Stanley wrote: ↑25 Dec 2025, 09:33 Morning All! I hear what you say Sue, thanks and yes I'll look after myself. I keep thinking I should walk and then I poke my head outside and that wind is bitter. I have resisted the temptation and had a small second breakfast.... XXX

It’s a bitter wind Stanley . We walked up to Julia’s from the Premier Inn this morning . It’s just over a mile uphill the wind chill was not nice

Re. bitter winds. The wind chill in Barlick at the moment is -6C. Deep Joy!
I am keeping warm inside and will be in the shed early doors continuing work on my piston and rod. The forecast tells me it is too cold to get out but I need to go to the Cathedral of Choice for some milk when they open at 10AM. The forecast says it will be windy and a chill of -4C so I promise I will wrap up warm!

This morning I measured and cut the rod to length and threaded it 2BA which will be needed for connection to the crosshead. Then I checked that the piston plus rings fits in the cylinder, a snug fit. It was only 57F in the shed so I only did half an hour..... Now for breakfast.

Setting off home after a cuppa with Julia and family . We want to miss the football traffic and Sales traffic hopeyou all had a good day

Here's hoping you have a good journey. I heard a report this morning that there are less Boxing Day matches than usual so you might be lucky.
I have had my short walk and shopping run for milk. It's a bright clear morning. The wind is light but what there is is cutting. Still, quite acceptable as long as you are wrapped up well.

We’ve been out for a walk, and the breeze is bitter, it had my eyes streaming. Lovely day though.

I certainly agree with you there Gloria, I went out to top up the adblue in the Yeti and came back in with numb fingers.

I shall be in the shed early doors working on my engine. I think bearing brasses are going to be the order of the day! It's forecast to be a dry day so I hope for a short walk later....

This morning I got all the remaining non ferocious metal parts out and started work on the bottom brasses for the crankshaft bearings. That went well enough but I broke off to sharpen my two everyday cutters as both were dull and I have a lot of milling to do. I found I had been in the shed for an hour so I stopped and now I am going to attack my breakfast!

Morning
It was a good drive home arriving just after noon . We had had a large breakfast so passed on lunch, unloaded the car and put everything away. Later I did all the washing. This morning I will do the ironing . We have no plans for the day taking it as it comes. Have a good day all