figworthy

Interesting. When I did A level chemistry (late 70s), we were told that some it had been degree level a decade earlier. Cynics might think that we were being spun a line. Adrian

Weekly shop day is Monday. I passed two filling stations, the first had tape around the pumps, so I'm assuming that they had run out. The second looked slightly busier than usual, but no queues. As I had 2/3 of a tank full, I didn't bother filling up. If I recall correctly, the station that was closed, is closed periodically anyway, so arguably, things were no different to usual. In the supermarket, two items on my list were out of stock (which has happened a couple of times in recent months). One of them was OOS a couple of weeks back, but last week the shelves were full. I'm guessing supply chain problems in both cases. Adrian

Ch4 was definitely not happy. I had the F1 caption that you mention, with occasional bits of advert. Ch5 however seemed to be OK. This was in the 2000 - 2030 timeslot. Adrian

I think the above is basically right, but it isn't just wanting/demanding stuff, it's wanting/demanding it NOW ! Most mail/online order set ups only seem to cater for immediate (or near immediate) delivery. I'd be happy with an option for "some time in the next ten days" if that makes for a more efficient distribution system. Be honest, how often do you need that thing tomorrow ? Adrian

I am not a lawyer, or a police officer. That said, from what I read in the paper, the legislation is such that if arrested for non-emergency presence on the motorway, they can't be remanded in custody pending trial (and if found guilty would probably only get a fine), so the same people keep getting arrested, then doing it again. Breaking the injunction is contempt of court, which can result in imprisonment. Adrian

It might have been a different incident (Sunday morning late 90s). In this case the swan departed of it's own free will. Adrian

For reasons best know to themselves, at one point Radio Gloucestershire started broadcasting the messages that listeners had phoned in regarding traffic problems (rather than a presenter reading them). One day, the message, in best central casting yokel, came across that "there was a broken down you know what, you know where". Very helpful. Adrian

I've know the M27 grind to a halt because a swan was stood on lane one. Adrian

Credit where it is due, you couldn't accuse them of making a half hearted job of it. Oh, and talking of French military success (665 years ago tomorrow): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Poitiers Adrian

An interesting picture in many ways. Not sure exactly what the barges are (I can think of several options), but at least two of them seem to have taken an interesting warp. Adrian

As any fule kno, the centre of the known universe is Headingley Cricket Ground (which of course has seen several distinguished sons of Barnsley play and officiate there). Adrian

A few bits ordered yesterday morning, and they arrived this morning. Very happy customer. Adrian

We were heading up the River Lee, when word reached us that Hertford Lock was out of use. On getting there we could see why. A boat heading downstream hadn't stopped in time, and had hit the bottom gates with such force that they had turned them inside out (i.e., they were now pointing downstream). that must have been an interesting experience for whoever was on the boat. Adrian

Ah well, if we've moved onto epic canal cruises ... Parents launched their (home fitted out) Norman 23 in 1975, and sold it in 1988. In between times, it did pretty much everything that could be done at that time (a few bits of the BCN and the middle levels were missed). I can't remember which years, but they picked up two Silver Swords along the way. Mention of the Bridgewater brings back the memory (1975) of the swing aqueduct being clipped by a passing ship when we were the "wrong" side of it. At the time, the only alternative route back to Leeds was via the Trent & Mersey and Trent, which we didn't have time for, so it ended up on the back of an artic for a journey from Lymm to Burnley (which meant we missed the ascent of the Wigan flight). Shortage of water brings back memories of the long hot summer of 1976. The summit of the Staffs & Worcs was short of water, and we hit what (according to local legend) was a 45 gallon drum full of concrete, which damaged the stern drive, resulting in another trailer ride (this time all the way), that was on the day the rains came. The drum was supposedly a left over from a scaffolding bridge that was rigged up in the midst of the chemical works at Four Ashes. Going back to the programme in question, I've missed one of the episodes, but like others, I've been a bit disappointed with both the content, and the production quality. I don't remember learning anything that hasn't already been covered in similar programmes. Adrian

A problem not unique to Darrington. Adrian

T'was a very pleasant evening, and I suspect most there would not have been playing the numbers game on the costs (which I'm pretty sure was less than you'd expect), I certainly wasn't. Adrian

Thanks. Until I get some more crank pin nuts, I'm a bit limited in what I can do. There is currently a delay on those. See : Markits would have been the preferred option, but they don't have the right sized wheels in their range. Once I'm able to make more progress with this, I'll report back. Adrian

That is a different Withington. The one that you are showing here is on the GWR route between Hereford and Worcester. Adrian

I had an invite to a 60th last week. The marque was bigger than the Manor House :-( . Adrian

Many years, I was sailing in the depths of winter. Being a wimp, I was wearing a dry suit. My crew was one of the ladies from the club, who was wearing a wetsuit. I asked her if she would be warm enough, to which she replied that she would be fine as she had her personal layer of blubber. Adrian

The conversation I had with Colin was to place a small order. I did make the point when I placed the order was that it wasn't very urgent (i.e., not to rush down the post office that day). 15 days later it hasn't arrived. I fully understand (and support) the comments about small traders, so this isn't a moan, just a "for info" post. Adrian

The wheels and crankpins / bushes / nuts all came from Gibson's as part of the same order. The pins are counter sunk, and are screwed in from behind, as you describe. Captain Kernow has one that appears on his Callow Lane layout (scroll down the link for a couple of photos) Adrian

Moving a bit from hedges, I regularly cross a private lane, which looks as though it rarely has any form of traffic. Adrian

Short of making some new rods, I'm not sure that I can dispense with the bushes. In this case the crank pins are brass rather than steel, but I take your point. As for a write up, oddly enough I have taken some pictures as I've gone along, largely for my own reference purposes. I'd have to have a look at them and see if they are any good (I seem to have the knack of taking out of focus pictures). Adrian

I had a session at the workbench this morning, and the progress such as it was is as follows. I've removed the motor so I can wind the mechanism over by hand. I didn't measure the internal diameter of the bushes or the diameter of the pins. Whilst the bushes are loose on the pins, the amount of play is not huge, certainly smaller than the diagram posted above by @Miss Prism (which I accept may have been for illustrative purposes). I removed the right hand rod and had a bit of a play with it. I can now spin the rod around the bushes, so they are no longer tight. I also measured the distance between the holes (as suggested by @Portchullin Tatty). I then replaced the rod, and repeated the process on the other side. The right hand rod's mean measurement is 21.96mm, and the left hand rod's is 22.00mm. I forget to measure the distance on the pins. Having got it all reassembled, I started to turn the wheels over by hand, and for most of the time it appeared to be smooth, but I would get the occasional bind, this was with the left hand rod at "quarter to". I then had a minor disaster. I heard a ping, and one of the crank nuts had come off (as did the bush). I managed to find the bush, but not the nut. I've no spares, but I do have some on order. I hadn't loctited the nuts, partly because I was expecting to be taking things apart on a regular basis at the moment, and partly because I'm trying to avoid getting things stuck together. However, it occurs to me, that as I'd tightened the nut, something must have slackened it, which I'm guessing was the bush, in which case, it can't have been rotating on the rod as much as expected. Regarding the straightness of the pins, so far as I can see, they are straight. Thanks again for the suggestions.