BSW01

Good morning everyone 

I have planned a bit of a lazy day for today, but that doesn’t mean I sitting about doing nothing. So far, I’ve made the base for a dark chocolate and salted caramel cheesecake and retrieved the bin that I put out for collection last night. I didn’t have to wander far for it today, it was put back in almost the same place that I’d left it! 
 

This afternoon, I’ll be collecting Mike and Sarah from the airport. So in between, I’ll sit and work out how much timber I’ll need to buy for the support framework for the layout. As this will be a 2 tier system, lower being storage and upper being scenic, I’m going to use something a bit more substantial than normal. 
 

I’ve never worked in hot countries, but I did work in the furnace and forge departments of the steel works. The furnace working temperature was in the region of 1300C, so when the doors opened, boy did you know about it. In the summer, we were regularly given salt tablets to take, to supplement the losses of body salt due to the heat etc. 

Back later. 
 

Brian

Good evening everyone 

Well, just like yesterday, the rain began falling just before dinner and it stayed like that for the rest of the day. Despite that, shopping was shopped and the fridge is now groaning under the weight of it all. 

As planned, Charlie called round this afternoon and he and I spent a very productive afternoon in the workshop. He continued painting his models, he’s currently working on 3 different ones. Whilst I carried on with the 3 way point I’m making. Today I got all the sleepers fixed in place. For this I’m using a diagram printed out from ‘Templot’ which has been fixed to a marble slab, about 18in by 10in. This is actually a kitchen device for rolling pastry on, which I picked up in a kitchen shop for a few quid and very handy it is too. It also gets used for building coaches and truck bodies on, so I can ensure they are perfect flat/straight. Once happy with that, I made one to the crossing vees. This is the first time I’ve ever made anything like this before and very pleased with it I am too. 

ION. Over the last week or so, we’ve been entertained by a pair of dunnocks that continually sit on the handles of our French doors in the dinning room. For those who don’t know what they are, they are small birds, about the same size as a sparrow, with similar markings, but with a light grey head and face. They initially land on the handrail of the balcony and then hop back and forth between the handrail and door handles. They even tap on the door, but I think they are feeding or small insects etc that hide on the handles. I took a photo of one this morning, whilst it was feeding on one of the bird feeders.
 

Sorry about the poor quality, but I only had my phone with me at the time and it was taken through the window too. 

Good morning everyone 

The sun is shining and the skies are blue, but according to the weather forecast app, it should be raining! Not a lot going to get done today, as we’re out to meet up with my cousin and his wife for dinner. Well, to be honest he’s my mother’s cousin, so that makes him my first cousin once removed, however I’m his second cousin! His father was my grandfather’s brother, but we always called him uncle, I remember him very well. But as he’s only 6 months older than me, he’s feels more my cousin really. We’re meeting up at a pub in Stretton, which is about halfway between their house and ours. 
 

Back later. 
 

Brian

Good morning everyone 

It’s been a busy old weekend, with one thing and another, I managed to keep up to date with what was going on in ER land, but couldn’t seem to find the time to make a post at all yesterday. 
On Saturday, Mike and Sarah called round and we had a great meal with them and Ava. Mike and Sarah  are off to Vienna today for a short city break, so I’ve been tasked with dropping them off at the airport today! Thankfully the flight is not in the we small hours, but I’ll be heading off to pick them up about 9:30. Yesterday the sun was shining when we got up, so I decided to take full advantage of it and went straight outside to tackle the front garden and drive, as there were quite a few weed that needed dealing with. This only took a couple of hours and was surprisingly very therapeutic work and the front now looks a lot tidier too. Max turned up mid afternoon and he and I spent a couple of hours in the workshop. He continued working on his model car, whilst I managed to fix a few more sleepers down for the 2 way point kit I’m making. 
 

Last night I had my monthly chat with my brother in Canada, as is the norm with our conversation, we discussed all sorts and nothing of great interest, but it’s always great to chat with him. 
 

Back later. 
 

Brian

Good morning everyone 

The weather today can’t make its mind up. I was awoken at about 5:30 by rain lashing against the bedroom window. When I finally got out of bed it was sunny! We’ve just had quite a heavy fall of hail stones and now it’s sunny once again! Anyway, I’m shortly off to collect Ava and Vickie, I’ll be dropping Vickie off for her appointment with her nail technician (their name not mine) for her appointment. The way the weather is behaving at the moment, I think I’ll be needing my sunglasses! 

Once back home, Ava and I will finish making the lemon cheesecake I started yesterday afternoon, which will be tonight’s dessert. Mike and Sarah are coming over for tea and as it’s Mike’s birthday next week (Tuesday), so this will a sort of early birthday celebration. 

Back later. 
 

Brian