New Haven Neil

Morning, from a sunny and not quite as cold rock, 10c and still for once. I was absolutely cream crackered after 80 miles on bumpy roads on the bike yesterday, so not a lot else got done. Like Brian we have a lot of birds in the garden currently, nesting time obviously due to the amount of cargo they're carrying. New is a Goldfinch, very colourful little bird, and the woody woodpecker is going bonkers over the back somewhere in the old farm, must be making a new nest in a tree. Debs has just gone for one of her bird books as she has spotted something by the not-a-Koi-pond-anymore she is unfamiliar with - doesn't happen often as she's a keen ornithologist. Edit - a Linnet, not seen one here before.

Evening all. Dave mentioned Old Farts, we were six today, and circumnavigated the island - I knackered now. No that's not me, I'm not that fat! Rant Incoming:- When I got home Mrs NHN was toting a new battery for her car - it had been a bit lazy to turn over recently so we had planned to replace it this weekend. Soooo, I thought a ten minute job. Pah. I hadn't reckoned on Citroen's (it's a C3 Picasso diesel) decision to hide the battery securing bolt UNDER the ECU, and the battery cover under another cover with a sort of spider web of heavy cables that stops you from getting the under cover under the other cover off. Then getting the ECU out - yes, another cover, there's a theme developing, then three awkward plugs, and a tanged latch....UNDER the ECU - so basically you have to rive it out, to then undo the battery support plate. By then my good humour was sorely tested I can assure you! It would have been impossible to make it more awkward. The only saving grace was the ECU didn't forget its name, or most of the settings, radio, phone etc, just the clock was wrong. Pah does not cover it.

Supermarkets - ah. Co-op and Shoprite (will soon be a small Tesco) in the Bright Lights of Royal Ramsey 5 miles away, then 24 miles to the Big City of Douglas for a Tesco, M&S and another smaller Tesco, or All the Way West to Peel for another small Was-a-Shoprite-now-a-Tesco, 24 miles again. That's your lot, one way mileages.

Morning, from a chilly but bright rock, 4c early doors, 6 now. Old Farts bike club will occur. There's rumblings from across the room about a job move, back to Railways - but exactly what is on offer isn't clear as yet. Sideways grade wise, but working directly for the head of motive power..... 😃 ....which would have certain advantages. #cough# May not happen, as I said it is not yet clear what the detail would be. Location is important to her. ION, weight loss continues, despite not being particularly careful this week, I'm now 'lighter' #cough again - relative term# than I have been for 30 years.

I think Paneers do look fine in LT livery. I have a Caramac version, actually two now I think about it, 4mm and 7mm scale versions!

Hmm, bingo is something that has never appealed to me - my God-mother was an aficionado, and seemed to win something every week she went. It's all too Mrs Brady old lady for my tastes. '59 though, was a good year....😉

Still lurking after lunch and shopping, I really should go and do something. No inspiration today to do so. Happy Birthday to Midland Red Dave, may your singles never be compounded. Or anyone mention the Midland used to paint their locos green.....🤡

HB Dave, have a great day, although Sunset Strip is before my time, just being a yoof of 65 ish. Keeps pleuting here so no biking, shopping was shopped and I should go and do something useful. Should.

Morning, from a damp, showery rock that is a mere 8c. Disappointing. No great agenda today after yesterday's exertions, a trip to the post off ice (in the village shop) is about as exciting as it is going to get. I'll try to find something creative to do later. Our Belgian friend doesn't live in Belgium for a good reason, he says!

Motorcycle we did. Too far we went, I ache like nothing on earth now. Cause? Well we like to ride light little lanes, and look for ones we haven't previously been down. As you may imagine after 22 years on a small rock there's not many left, but we found one today. However, after a couple of miles of increasingly difficult riding, we came across a ford that was too deep and too slippery to risk - a hundred yards from the end. So we had to turn around and go back!"#sigh# The footbridge steps were too steep to get my cruiser up, although the Guzzi would have made it, and maybe the Hunter. Pah. The Neb river doesn't look much from there, but it was certainly too deep for those bikes!

Morning, from a rock that is almost spring-like. Almost. 11c is a bit under where we should be to say the least. Best wishes to Beth and Dom's FiL, indeed age creeps up on us with all it's nefarious tricks to make us less well. My Tuesday morning pal, who is living with C anyway but has been OK for some time, isn't well currently, another worry. Today is one of our fasting periods s no brekky, but lunch will be enjoyed. A pal is coming for a ride, complex bloke, Belgian and of Polish descent, his surname is one only Andy SM42 would attempt - begins with a Z. Poor lad is always last to get anything! He's also Mrs NHN's Pilates teacher, smashing guy, despite riding a Harley. Well he has a Moto Guzzi of enormous dimensions too for days when it may rain. The Harley's very, very shiny indeed and takes some keeping that way. It's also very fast, it is quite special internally, surprises some other riders. I hate to think how much all that cost.

That will have been what caused the crankcase explosion, that started the big fire. Scary stuff......

That was my first ship in 197....err.....6 or so, and was fairly old by then - it was a Sulzer 9RND90 (IIRO 25,000hp), Japanese (Mitsubishi) built 120,000 ton bulk carrier, and a good ship with a good engine and was clean for an old ship. The Stirling Bridge, later sold to Shell as the Tagelus. The Lauro, ooerr, not my cup of tea!

Someone I know here once moved a tool cupboard in a loco shed as the driver had severely p!xxed him off - the loco demolished the wall between the shed and the museum. No names, no pack drill.

It's 'liar weather' here now, looks glorious, sunny, blue skies, just a breeze - but feels rather cool, to say the least. The thermy-o-meter indicates 13c, but for some reason it feels nothing like that. Pottering in the garage with the doors open is OK, in garden isn't, so I earned Brownie Points by making a shelf in Herself's shed (oh yes, we have several) with hangy-up knobs on the edge like wot she asked for only three days ago. This may be an all time record. The questions over dinner will no doubt surround what I have bought without telling her, but surprisingly it is nothing! There's time yet of course.