OneGuyFromBarlick

Morning

Happy New Year to you all. So now its January the start of a couple of cold miserable months broken up by 3 family birthdays and a holiday in the Lakes. Today we are off to Claires for lunch, a couple of curries Bob has made and one that Claire has made plus all the trimmings. Afters will be a Christmas yule log. Tomorrow brings the start of the return to normality. Have a good day all

I hope you have a good start to the New Year Sue. Be careful out there, we have all the makings of black ice here in Barlick!

I shall be in the shed early doors working on my flywheel now that I have a fitted crankshaft. Later this morning I shall be keeping warm and could well be cooking buttered swede for an extender.

This morning I made a collar to set the distance from the bed of the flywheel rim. Then I refined the finish of the flywheel and mounted it on the shaft with Loctite 638 shaft fit. Now I deserve my breakfast!

Morning

We had a lovely day at Claires. The drive over was good, not busy and the roads dry and clear. On the way back it had rained there but was ok here in Rochdale. We had a good fun family game of UNO, which left us all laughing. I accidentally and suddenly won which was a surprise, then followed another 20 minutes as the rest played the game out. It was a new version of UNO with many surprising new rules, which meant the tables could turn very quickly on someone who thought they were winning. Adam was the unfortunate player that this happened to

This morning i have u3a art at Todmorden. Wendy phoned late last night to say the heating has broken down at the hall we use, advising me to dress up warm or stay at home knowing I wasn’t well. We have decided to go and take a fan heater with us. We are booked in for lunch at the pub across the road from the centre and if necessary can retreat there earlier. Bob will have a walk to the butchers in Tod to buy a chicken for Sunday lunch as Kath our hairdresser friend will be joining us.

The sky is crisp and very clear, its going to be a dry cold day. Have a good one everyone

That was a sensible reaction to news the hall's heating had broken down....
Bright and cold here Sue. I hope you are starting to feel better.

I'm waiting for my sister in law and her hubby to arrive on their journey back from Worthing to Orkney. The current ETA is 6.30 to 7pm, but that was when they were still on the M40 down in Oxfordshire. I don't envy them their onward journey tomorrow when they stop over in Perth, especially as the M6 is due to close at 8pm tonight until Monday. Beyond Perth it's anyone's quess!
I have prepared a lasagna, but I might tuck into mine before they arrive, I'm not used to eating late!

I've just had a phone call to let me know that Dave, the only driver, has been struck by a bad migraine and they are spending the night at Cannock Chase. Nightmare journey for them.

Now there’s a coincidence, I got a migraine just after 6pm. Wonder if it could be due to the air pressure?

Currently at Leeds/Bradford airport

We were in Toronto many years ago, when the weather forecast gave a warning to migraine sufferers about the change in air pressure. I thought that was interesting as I have a history of bad migraines, that evening… boom .. a really bad migraine.

I shall be in the shed for my occupational therapy early doors this morning. First order of the day will be some tidying up, chip chasing and looking for a straight edge! After second sleep it looks to cold outside for old buggers like me, we are promised -9C if you add in the wind chill! So I shall probably cook sweet potato chips as another extender.... The rest of the day will be spent keeping warm.....

This morning I started by having a good chip chase with the vacuum. I cleaned the vise on the pillar drill, the VM and Mrs Harrison. Then i started building the engine up on the bed bolting the bed down on the base, replacing the crosshead guides and checking that the crosshead is running freely. I shall decide on where to go next tomorrow. Right now I have a fancy for breakfast.

I'm back up after second sleep. It's warm in the kitchen but bitterly cold outside!

Vending at Bosom Friends Coffee Morning. Will be out shortly to take the provisions, (Crumpets and Raisin and Cinnamon Bagels) put the heating on and switch the boiler on.

Stanley wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 13:42 That was a sensible reaction to news the hall's heating had broken down....
Bright and cold here Sue. I hope you are starting to feel better.

Morning

The hall had provided us with modern convector heaters, but I had also warn my walking gear plus thick socks and walking shoes. I was warm. Lunch was good but I felt quite warn out in the afternoon. I was in bed by 9.00 pm this virus infection whatever it is, is dragging on , the cough and sore throat are particularly nasty.

Today we will take the decorations down and clean th3 house. That will be enough for one day

Its due to be very cold and sunny. Take care everyone, have a good day

Wendyf wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 17:18 I'm waiting for my sister in law and her hubby to arrive on their journey back from Worthing to Orkney. The current ETA is 6.30 to 7pm, but that was when they were still on the M40 down in Oxfordshire. I don't envy them their onward journey tomorrow when they stop over in Perth, especially as the M6 is due to close at 8pm tonight until Monday. Beyond Perth it's anyone's quess!
I have prepared a lasagna, but I might tuck into mine before they arrive, I'm not used to eating late!

I hope they arrive ok after their enforced stop over Wendy

Sue wrote: ↑03 Jan 2026, 08:32

Wendyf wrote: ↑02 Jan 2026, 17:18 I'm waiting for my sister in law and her hubby to arrive on their journey back from Worthing to Orkney. The current ETA is 6.30 to 7pm, but that was when they were still on the M40 down in Oxfordshire. I don't envy them their onward journey tomorrow when they stop over in Perth, especially as the M6 is due to close at 8pm tonight until Monday. Beyond Perth it's anyone's quess!
I have prepared a lasagna, but I might tuck into mine before they arrive, I'm not used to eating late!

I hope they arrive ok after their enforced stop over Wendy

They have delayed their ferry crossing and are coming here for tonight. Good job I didn't eat all that lasagna!

That's a heroic journey in the present conditions..... I wish them well!
Get better soon Sue, it's dragging you down. Best of luck with it whatever it is....
I have just cooked my sweet potato chips..... Only cooking outstanding is the pork Belly..... How does one man eat so much?

I shall be in the shed first thing as usual. I'll decide on the schedule when I get in there.... Before I go in I shall get my Pork Belly cut up and in the slow cooker with onions and oranges.....
After that the main job is looking after myself and keeping warm!

The pork is in the cooker and I have just awarded myself a day off. I shall have a sit a shave and breakfast. That's quite enough honest endeavour for one day!

Morning

All back to normal here, all decorations put away and the house cleaned through.

Today is our eldest’s 51 st birthday. How can that be so. It is also near enough 53 years since we moved in to our present house. It has changed some what. Today our friend Kath is coming for Sunday lunch, we shall be having roast chicken dinner and apple crumble. I am not used to cooking a big meal at lunchtime so I will have to crack on this morning. I made the crumble yesterday . Its very cold and clear out there and is due to remain so. Have a good day all

Enjoy your chicken Sue! I have just come down after second sleep. It was a good call going back to bed, I slept for another four hours straight. I must have needed it. Now for the day. A|s you say it's cold, still -8C here if yo add in the wind chill and I note that we are promised several hours at -10C tonight after midnight. Margaret says it is 33C in Perth..... Which would you rather have?

I hope to do better with the shed this morning but it isn't welcoming at the moment! Only 9C in there. I shall take a view later.
Needless to say, there will be no walking with snow underfoot. I have no need to go out and it's too dangerous for a Crumblie like me who is a fall risk.

I declined the shed. Spending time in there wouldn't have been pleasant and I'm not into punishment! So I went back to bed and had another three hours sleep. Now I focus on dealing with the day and keeping warm. It is about -10C out there if you factor in the wind chill.