OneGuyFromBarlick

Every now and then you have to pause and do some tidying up and oiling..... So that's what I did first this morning, cleaned Mrs Harrison and oiled the ways. Then I turned my attention back to the steam valve and measured and cut the different surfaces. I am almost ready for cutting the slot for the driver bar but that's for tomorrow.

Morning

Cold wet and windy forecast today, not a day to venture out much. I shall go for a swim this morning and Lucy is coming this afternoon. My sewing with Maxine was cancelled yesterday as she has hurt her hip after a fall so instead I painted three doorways in our hall, leaving just the lounge doorway to do. The other day I re oiled all the pine doors in there too

Bob intends painting the ceiling in the hall today and is also going to collect the wallpaper we ordered for the lounge and dining room from B&Q in Bury.. In the lounge we have one wall stripped of wallpaper but that will be it for a few days as we are away tomorrow night and Saturday. The chimney breast mould has been treated and it will give it time to start drying out. The couple of days respite are well earned!

Have a good day all

"The couple of days respite are well earned! "
You an say that again, It makes me tired just thinking about Bob's activities.....

I shall be in the shed for an hour of honest endeavour.....
I doubt if I will be tempted out for a walk today but we'll see.

This morning I finished the milling operations on the steam valve and fitted the driver bar. I am now ready for installing the valve in the steam chest. Another 45 minutes spent on a small but accurate step forwards. Now for breakfast.

Morning

We had a good nights sleep last night. Thursdays are so busy.

This morning our cleaner is coming so we must get up promptly as she comes straight from taking the children to school . After she has gone we will pack for our night away, then we are out for lunch with Wendy and Keith. We are going to Liverpool straight afterwards to one of my sister’s wine tasting dos this evening. Tomorrow is Bobs birthday so we are spending the morning with Jane then out for a birthday lunch together before coming home late afternoon. We were planning on a walk on the Sefton coastal path but the forecast is not good. Same as today, wet, sleety cold and windy, snow is very typical for Bobs birthday. Have a good day all

I'm ready to face the world again after a sleep and a shower. Despite the cold wet day I would like to start the shopping for cooking my chicken and veggies.... amazing how quickly it comes round!
Just seen your post Sue, I hope it's better than forecast!
Best wishes to Bob, when is his birthday?

This morning the first order of business will be to get my chicken into the oven. I'll decide then about time in the shed on the engine.... Later, after second sleep and dealing with my cooked chicken I shall cook veggies, I did my shopping yesterday.
Later.... As I suspected, by the time I had got all my jobs done and the chicken in the oven with it's accompanying veggies and spices I was ready for breakfast and bed.....

Morning

We had a fun evening at the wine tasting last night. I think there were 17 of us some of whom we have met before. One particularly couple who were sat next to us we really got on with and we look forwards to meeting them again at future events. We always find the people of Liverpool amazingly warm and friendly.

The forecast is not good today but Bob and I hope to have a walk on Crosby beach before meeting up with Jane for a cuppa and a chat . Then we are off to a local Pub for lunch . It will be mid to late afternoon when we get home and then this evening we have a u3a wine meeting on zoom . A busy birthday day for Bob
Have a good day all

Happy Birthday Bob and many of them! I hope the weather is kind and you have a good day.
I am just going to deal with my chicken and start veggie cooking. Amazing how fast it comes round!

Later...... four pans on the hob!

All cooking done, pans clean and put away. Hob cleaned.... Nice! Now I can have a dadnap!

I had lunch at the Craven Heifer today. It was very tasty. My drain was finished on Wednesday!!

Wendyf wrote: ↑07 Feb 2026, 15:50 I had lunch at the Craven Heifer today. It was very tasty. My drain was finished on Wednesday!!

We went there for tea last Friday, I agree the food is very good. Excellent news about the drain

Nice to hear your drain is sorted Wendy.... I know what a nagging pain something like that can be....
Today will be a quiet day starting with an hour in the shed early doors.... I feel a walk coming on later because if the forecast is correct it's going to be quite a pleasant day, warmer and whilst not sunny, only overcast and light rain to bother us.... Considering it's mid-winter we are doing well!

Just one small but delicate task this morning. Finish fitting the driver bar, drill the valve clearance for the valve rod and mark and drill the driver bar to tap for the 4BA thread on the rod. Very close tolerances and I proceeded very carefully. As you can see, 45 minutes later it is done and no mistakes. I deserve my breakfast now.

Morning

Good news on the drain Wendy, one less worry dealt with.

We had a pleasant day yesterday, the rain stayed off until we left Liverpool but we didn’t do our walk. Jane had had a very busy day on Friday, a full day of zoom free lance journalism for a paper in Portsmouth plus preparing, running and tidying up after her wine tasting event. She was up at 6 and it was after 1 when she got to bed. Thus we just sat and chatted over tea before we walked to a local hotel for lunch near Crosby beach . Bob and I both had a traditional Scouse stew which was very tasty.

Today its lunch again. We are heading down to Healey Dell tea rooms down in the Dell. Its the old Rangers office converted into Edwardian tea rooms and an outside seating area. We shall be inside having a roast beef dinner, spending a voucher that we got for Christmas from Julia and Ed. Hopefully it should stay dry to walk there but I think it will be too rainy to walk through the Dell afterwards. Anyway I have some sewing to do before I see Lucy on Thursday. Have a good day all

https://www.healeydelltearooms.co.uk/

Morning Sue.... If the weather stays in the same pattern as yesterday you might get lucky with the rain..... Looking at the news this morning we are being very lucky compared to regions further south.... I hope it stays dry for you.....

Sue, Thanks for the post.
My impression is that wine drinking in general is reducing. I drink none at all now - post Covid taste changes - it doesn't taste the same. I don't miss it at all, and I've lost some weight. I see that the wine aisle in Tesco is often empty of shoppers. Wine doesn't feature in the press as often as it used to do. Where are Jilly Goolden and Jancis Robinson who used to there all the time?

I think you have had as many meals out in the last fortnight as I have in the last ten years! I don't miss them either - but enjoy reading the menus. Thanks for the Healey Dell one, which meets with my approval. Seems plenty of choice, and relatively good value for these days.

"I think you have had as many meals out in the last fortnight as I have in the last ten years!"
That is certainly true of me!
I shall be in the shed early doors to do my Occupational Therapy on the engine.... I see nothing in the weather forecast to tempt me out for a walk and I don't need any shopping so I suspect I shall spend the day cooking extenders for my veggies and looking after myself. I find that these days the dadnap at midday is increasingly attractive.....

This morning I carried on working on the valve train. One simple task, measure mark and cut the slot in the stock for the clevis that will connect the valve rod to the Eccentric rod. Difficult enough with good eyesight, a miracle that I got it central when I couldn't see it properly. Another small step nearer my goal. Now I want my breakfast.

I shall be in the shed working on my valve train early doors. Despite the forecast rain I shall be taking a short walk to the Co-op for my milk..... Beyond that all I am sure about is that I shall be looking after myself and having three hot meals!

More work on the clevis this morning. I cut it back to the size and shape we need and drilled and tapped it for the 4BA thread on the valve rod. Then I drilled it for the 7BA bolt that will connect the clevis to the eccentric rod. A nice 45 minutes of accurate progress. Now I deserve my breakfast....

Morning

I did not have time to write yesterday morning as I was running late to get to French in Haslingden. On my return the house was in disarray as Bob was doing more wallpaper stripping. We nearly have the lounge area ready for skirting board and door frame painting, normally my job. Then we start on the dining room area.

This morning I am off to Maxines for my postponed sewing lesson. This afternoon depends on the weather. I could do with clearing the last remnant of dead leaves off my perennials in the garden, some are already showing some signs of life but more important I can’t see the snowdrops peeping through it all . This evening is pilates and yoga have a good day all

Stanley wrote: ↑09 Feb 2026, 02:15 "I think you have had as many meals out in the last fortnight as I have in the last ten years!"
That is certainly true of me!
I shall be in the shed early doors to do my Occupational Therapy on the engine.... I see nothing in the weather forecast to tempt me out for a walk and I don't need any shopping so I suspect I shall spend the day cooking extenders for my veggies and looking after myself. I find that these days the dadnap at midday is increasingly attractive.....

Yes it was a busy eating out weekend, not normal just that all events coincided with Bobs birthday and Janes wine tasting event. It was also an opportunity to use our Christmas present for Sunday lunch as soon Bob will be back to the railway every Sunday