PupCam

April 8

1 hour ago, Dunsignalling said:

Though such abuse is more likely to be "historical" than recent.

In my Beeza's case I think the butchery was far more recent as was the replacement of the standard piston with a Triumph high compression piston that took the CR from the stock 6.2:1 ish to over 11:1. It ran when I got it but it didn't keep running for long (no surprise) particularly as they failed to ensure that the plain main bearing was and remained aligned (which it didn't). 11:1 CR plus no oil to the bottom end ..... It didn't end well but it wasn't a problem; it was an "opportunity" for Puppers to have a go at building an engine from the ground up.

Shame the oil passageway between the bearing and the casting is only about 1/8" diameter ...

Other butchery involved replacing almost unobtainable cam followers with more common jobs. This was done by forcing the new guides into the old guides with a great degree of force resulting in bits of the crankcase casting falling off. Still, not to worry ...

Making sure that the oil pump mounting face is in good condition ......

Never mind, it's all part of the fun of keeping an 80+ year old machine on the road and it's such fun to ride now.

Hopefully any "butchery" that I've added for pragmatic reasons has at least been done to a reasonable and acceptable standard (it's certainly an order of magnitude better than what a previous owner managed!)
🤞

April 7

On 06/04/2024 at 16:25, Dave Hunt said:

The Dental Officers on RAF stations certainly got more dosh than I did.

Dave

Yes, but think of the wonderful toys you had to play with! All they got was a drill and a pair of pliers 🤣

12 hours ago, polybear said:

Not him; I can't recall his name at present ( @PupCam ?) but it'll come back to me.....

No I can't remember now, too many grey cells have departed for a better life elsewhere.

12 hours ago, Happy Hippo said:

Which would require a Dentist!

No, I can do wire-locking and I ain't no dentist. Actually, I really enjoy wire-locking, there's something therapeutic about doing it when it goes well.

April 7

4 hours ago, MrWolf said:

In a typical case of "The more there were, the less there are" as American collectors put it, the little ride to work bikes from the thirties and forties are pretty thin on the ground compared to expensive and sporting machines.

Back in the fifties my father had a lot of 250 and 350 bikes such as B21 and B22 models which were often available for £2 or less, which he fixed up and put the profits towards a 1954 Norton 88.

I often think that a time machine would be handy!

What , like this one? 😁

Although it sports an Empire Star badge it is actually a '39 B21 De-luxe. The B21 de-luxe replaced the '38 B22 250 baby Empire Star in the range. Why they dropped that famous name I have no idea although they were "pruning" the range perhaps in anticipation of the wholesale decimation of it in 1940 as the war started to bite.

Bought as a project ~5 years ago, you may well recall it's been a bit of a trial as the remains of the engine were, it transpired, put together by a butcher. Still, now the bottom end has been completely re-built using bits from numerous engines including a couple from a certain Emporium in Framlingham in deepest Suffolk. The engine is now a bit of a hybrid but needs must; unfortunately now with the older style cams with live shafts and no outside support plate but no timed breather (as it's got a later mag idler gear that uses the breather on the nearside crankcase) and various other pragmatic mods "to make it work & stay working". It is also an excellent example that high-lights the nonsense about "matching numbers". The offside crankcase HAD to be replaced because the butcher had completely stuffed the original but try as I did I could only find the earlier style version. This was modified and adapted as alluded to to make a hybrid (that works). BSA chose to put the engine serial number on the nearside crankcase which of course is still in place. Now I could sell it claiming it was "matching numbers" (which it is) but that wasn't the engine it came out of the factory with by quite a long way! Now that isn't actually going to happen because, if I did sell it, I would make damn sure that the purchaser knew the (recent) back-story but far more importantly it's staying in my garage anyway!

Perhaps I should name it "Flying Scotsman"? 🤔

I do enjoy riding it although some more comprehensive suspension might be useful for the roads round here.

Oh yes, it cost rather more than £2 to finally get back on the road again which reminds me, I really must think about flogging some of those spare crankcases, crankshafts etc I acquired in order to build one good one. Perhaps I could invest in a couple of noisy Deltics if I got all of my money back.

Alan

April 5

Afternoon

2 hours ago, Winslow Boy said:

It'll be due to being kept in those 'burnt' oak barrels that does it. You mark my words. Could we apply for a grant to pay for a scientific study.

It's perfectly OK to use as an antiseptic solution prior to surgical incision. As for drinking, well* ....

* Unless anyone wants to volunteer to educate me to show me the error of my ways 😀

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

From personal experience (and experimentation) I can say that unwashed potatoes last a damn site longer than washed potatoes even if stored correctly.

We are always amazed, no, thoroughly Peed off at the incredibly short lifespan of supermarket potatoes. Just how do they do that?

1 hour ago, Ozexpatriate said:

...... 'boutique' dairies

🤣 I've heard everything now.

1 hour ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Traditional glass milk bottles are still used by 'boutique' dairies and are reusable.

<snip>

That and expansion of new 'official' state-operated redemption centres are now unwelcome and protested by NIMBYs - due to the clientele the centres attract.

Imagine the scene; 1960s, Scruffy urchin collecting Corona Lemonade bottles and cashing them in for the 6d reward. Unwanted clientele AND ahead of my time 60 years ago. Who would have thought!

ION

World put to rights - Tick

Email addresses collated and passed on to a former colleague in readiness for the organisation of a a re-union** - Tick

** It's a sobering thought that the site closed 35 years ago this year, some of the bods were nearing retirement at the time. Some of those Email addresses may no longer work ......

Nothing else to report

TTFN

April 5

Morning!

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

ION

I’ll have to get a copy of the Frank Whittle biography mentioned in dispatches by @PupCam.

If you can keep up with all of the characters, their changing attitudes, their motives and their real intentions you're a better man than me Gunga Din!

Just now, Winslow Boy said:

The councils in Manutopea have taken, for once, the quite wise decision to provide features such as steps, handrails etc to enable the old folks to stay in there properties. This is because they've worked out that it's cheaper to do that than to have them shipped off to the old folks home. Trust the bean counters to do a cost benefit analysis.

Having said that though there is a great incentive to keep people in their own homes if possible and that is because many of them are/will be far more happy and content in familiar surroundings. Puppers' mother is still living in her home of 50+ years, with very modest local physical assistance (cleaning, gardening), some remote assistance (from Mr & Mrs Puppers) and is generally happy and content. Such safety aids as mentioned have been provided albeit in this case by me and not the council but that's perfectly fine. The topic of going into a home has been discussed many times over the years and it always comes back to the contentment of living in one's own home rather than somebody else's. While she can do it long may it continue!

We'll be writing to Buck House very shortly to request a card from KC ......

ION

We're being visited by SiL and hubby today. He's from a similar engineering background to Puppers albeit choose a very different career path later on.

I dare say they'll be a good deal of putting the World to rights and, unfortunately, I guarantee the World won't be listening AGAIN. Its loss .....

Back later no doubt.

TTFNQ

April 4

11 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

The story I heard was that someone in the Air Ministry also had the idea of a jet engine and wouldn't pass details of Whittles developments further up the chain. As a result he had to register his work with the patent office to preserve his intellectual rights but where all comers could view it. Almost as soon as he had registered it someone from the German embassy was there taking notes. That is why the Germans got there first with a jet aircraft.

Sort of but that's only about 1/50 of it .......... And I've not finished the book yet!

April 4

41 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

Where we live may be really dull and not at all trendy but at the end of our road there are bus routes to both local large hospitals, the railway station and various community clinics on Canvey. One bus route stops right outside our GP surgery too. Not that I am obsessed about healthcare access…

GP Surgery? What's one of those? I best Google that .....

36 minutes ago, polybear said:

And yes, that IS a LDC in the middle 😁....and did Bear have any? Well, er, no.....cos' not shown in the photo is the ikky sticky choccy birthday cake that arrived shortly after this piccy was taken....and very nice it was too....😉

Does this mean that Bear didn't get a Donut after all? Don't be silly.....

<Snip>

As for that four-letter word beginning with D, well it was postponed for today.....

Yes but all calorie free don't forget!

TTFN

April 4

Afternoon

5 hours ago, TheQ said:

I saw a programme a couple of days ago where they mentioned the cost of food to the average person was 60% of wages just post WW2, but today it's 5 to 10%...

Of costs just noticed this...

the light grey is the Cremated Swan, the brick is the house including the former shop, that went with it ( three bedrooms three bathrooms 3 reception rooms).. as in mostly burnt down. the brick encases medieval flint walling that was part of the friary . Note, the house behind means there's not much garden, yes that's a busy road on two sides...

Yours for £665,000!!!

I see what you did there but all back up and running now by the look of it. More iD than PB I'd say?

Can't see the Bear paying £7-50 for "Parmesan & Truffle French Fries with Leek Ashs" as a side dish! 🤣

4 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Hmm. Receptions Rooms -----> house plans....

I'd say you need (ground floor) a living room (aka reception room), dining room, library/study. a snug (like a living room but smaller with comfy well worn [and worn-in] furniture), a decent sized entrance hall plus downstairs "guest" toilet (WC). The kitchen should be of a reasonable size with a "proper" walk in larder. If budget (and building footprint) permits - then a music room and/or a billiard/smoking room are very nice nice-to-haves. A proper "boot room" leading out into the garden/side entrance is a big must if you have dogs and/or a Percy Thrower in the family.

It goes without saying that an adjacent garage and a decent sized shed should be mandatory outside fixtures.

Upstairs: an appropriate number of bedrooms - preferably all en-suite. To keep SWMBO contended (as far as they can ever be) at least one bedroom should have an adjacent walk-in wardrobe/small dressing room.

The attic can be converted into a "man cave" for when it's too cold for shedding.

So, the first property Mr & Mrs Puppers purchased wouldn't have cut the mustard then. 2 up 2 down middle of terrace country cottage, ground floor area 10'6 x 18', front door opening on to the pavement. However "This deceptively spacious property" did benefit from a tumble down Privvy at the end of somebody else's garden🤣 Mind you, what it lacked in size it made up for in more than doubling its value (with a lot of hard graft from the owners as it was a Doer Upper) in the ~4 years we owned it.

I think I recalled sometime ago the occasion when a double glazing salesman called with a special offer on patio doors. I told him if could find some where to install them I'd buy them.

He looked, he saw, he bxggered off ...

3 hours ago, woodenhead said:

And we wonder why blokes don't talk about feelings and sensitive things:

ION: Woke up feeling very rough after a poor night's sleep, don't know what caused it but I am more alert now.

I have to say, the rating of that post could have gone either way. The trouble with the written word on social media is you never really know the REAL back story. Can lead to all-sorts of unintentional, unfortunate misunderstandings.

3 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

In Swiss houses the utility room and plant room are in the basement - together with the air raid shelter/wine cellar.

Well you've got to have something to do while waiting for the balloon to go up. Might as well work your way through the wine rack before you kiss your ar ....

ION

The water company man came back slightly perplexed. The problem appeared to be the ingress of muddy carp from the semi-submerged stop-cock*/water meter into the supply pipe. After much graunchy grating of the internal stop-cock and the removal of the kitchen tap nozzle to let air locks were expelled along with various lumps of grit and stone. Once sorted we let the water run for a bit** .....

* I wonder if I'll get away with this term?

** And we'll have to pay for the flaming water

I may have mentioned previously that I've been reading a book about Frank Whittle and the trials and tribulations he faced getting his invention (literally & metaphorically) off of the ground. This is the book, a truley fascinating book detailing the ineptitude, the double dealings, the "Not Invented Here" attitude of those that could and should have helped get his creation into a form fit for a service aircraft rather than try and hinder it every step of the way. The Meteor could have been around to help the war effort towards the beginning of the war rather than the back-end of it if there had been a bit of foresight and assistance rather than the exact opposite. Despicable! That maybe considered to be a bit of a historical rant if you wish.

Anyway, it's an amazing story with more twists and turns than a Swiss mountain pass and thoroughly recommended for those with an interest in aviation.

Meanwhile, Bonk has been busying himself reading a rather fine book that Great Uncle Neil provided on Allied Aircraft Engines of WW2.

Here we find him studying a drawing of the Bristol Hercules the sleeve valve drive gear train of which makes a Napier Deltic's phasing gears look simple.

Right, I'd best get a wiggle on and get the dinner cooked.

TTFNQ

April 4

Morning!

5 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

SIGH!

When will @polybear, @Tony_S et al. realise that my objections to baked beans, frozen chips, etc are NOT because they are baked beans, frozen fries, etc., but because they are UPF junk!

Now, some people (particularly Brits) may love carbohydrates on carbohydrates with a side of carbohydrate, followed by carbohydrates and custard. Fine, whatever floats your boat. But as @New Haven Neil and others can tell you, there are carbohydrates and then there are carbohydrates! So why go for the junk versions?

It may seem to many that I am a pedantic purist regarding food (to a certain extent, true), but there is also a significant professional interest and concern involved. Practicing colleagues refer to seeing more morbidly obese patients, more patients with nutritional deficiencies due to fad diets and patients with mental health “issues”, than when they first started in the late 70s (back when UPF were the exception, not the norm).

Data indicate that the UK is the worst nation in Europe for eating ultra-processed foods. It reportedly takes up 57 per cent of the national diet and costs the NHS around £6.5 billion a year (the NHS itself has said that lifestyle related illnesses [poor diet, drinking and smoking] cost the NHS in England alone more than £11bn each year. And this was the conclusion from Public Health England back in 2016).

Perhaps it’s time to consider that eating UPF junk is not only bad for your own health, but it’s bad for the health of the nation and will impact, sooner or later, on your ability to get care from the NHS.

Whilst there is no denying UPF are bad for one's well being particularly when excessive consumption is the order of the day (just look at the average change in body shape over, say, the last 50 years) moderate consumption is, I would have thought, no worse than the totally unnecessary consumption of any alcohol or the inhalation of smouldering tobacco products (or as will no doubt be found in scientific studies 10+ years hence their "safe" new substitutes). On the other hand you do have to eat and you do have to consume water and oxygen. What is it; 3 weeks, 3 days, 3 minutes respectively or there abouts?

Consuming commercial baked beans etc may not be ideal but there are far worse things you can use to abuse your body. As Father used to say "Everything in moderation", it's a good motto.

Is it too early for a G&T? Asking for a friend ....

ION

We've been visited by a man in a van from the Water company. He's very kindly 🤪 installed a new water meter to replace the defunct one. Hopefully, someone will be back this afternoon to restore the water supply because the pitiful trickle that is now present can't keep pace with the rate at which gravity can empty the pipes. One expects a few air locks but really! A number of factors make me wonder if the stop cock in the road has failed? We'll have to wait and see!

Right, what to do now? Yes, MIUAYGA I think.

TTFN

April 3

9 minutes ago, polybear said:

I recon Puppers has his heart set on the Monkey Bike......

Who are you calling a Monkey? Mind you, I wonder how much it would cost to ship to Aus? 😉 Chimpy would love it to chuck in the back of the UTE.

April 3

13 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

You going for that Z1 then? Number 9.......that is going to go for a LOT of dosh.

No I'll give it a miss. Z1's seem to be as common as muck, there's 6 of them in the auction (albeit of varying pedigrees 🤣 )!

I've always fancied a Scott but no, I mustn't. The BSA 350 Empire Star caught my eye, it being the proper version of my 250 baby Empire Star. Looks very nice (that tank would be good on mine) but the more I look at it the more strange things I see so I'll give that a miss too.

April 3

Anyone got any spare* money kicking around? There's another auction in Puppershire at the weekend at Old Warden. It was quite good last year with some interesting lots and mostly reasonable prices. I belive the term is "It's a seller's market" at the moment. I might have a toddle off over there on the viewing day and take a gander.

* No, I've never understood the concept of "spare" money either being a lowly peasant 🤣

https://www.iconicauctioneers.com/the-shuttleworth-spring-motorcycle-sale-2024/2024-04-07/ipp-100

Alan

April 3

Evening All!

4 hours ago, Smiffy2 said:

@jamie92208 Chimp question... How can I tell if it's steel? If it is I assume it will bend?

I think the most likely candidate, as others have suggested, is Pewter. What ever it is it's very ductile as shown by the deformed undercarriage leg. You could solder it with a suitable solder BUT DON'T MELT THE ITEM!

ION

A trip to the supermarket this morning severely broke the credit card and that's another (silent) Deltic plus some accessories that won't be coming my way. Still, the cupboards were almost bare, it's only money and I get hungry! No Turkey Twizzlers were purchased. Not because I have anything against the Twizzle, it's jut that really can't stand the much-hyped and totally over-rated Turkey.

This afternoon I felt obliged to take the RD to the local Esso garage to fill it up with Premium Unleaded which hopeful still contains no Ethanol and is thus "old vehicle" friendly. Unfortunately there might be some doubt about that now as I heard a rumour that even Esso were starting to introduce Ethanol into their premium fuel. If true that's a very large helping of TCs. Boy was it windy on the bike. The ~ 10 mile round trip was extremely lively. I wouldn't have wanted to go very much further today. I've just remembered that as well as not "doing" rain, frost, fog and snow I don't do high wind on a bike these days 🤣 On the way home I stopped off at a motorcycling mate to see his latest acquisitions; a 500cc Matchless twin and a 650 AJS twin. No doubt in due course they'll be buffed up and moved on as they don't have a Vincent tank badge.

Other than that there's not a lot to report. Puppers has been quite inactive over the last few days and, as @polybear would say, I really need to get my furry little posterior into gear. Maybe tomorrow.

Night All!

April 2

Evening All!

12 hours ago, RobAllen said:

Fantastic Easter weekend, but back to the grindstone today. Our eldest son was home so that he could use our driveway to update stuff on his car. He seems to have finally solved a rattling noise that had been annoying him!

He's back in early May to replace the some important belt or something (can you tell that I'm not a car person!)

That'll be the cam belt then I presume. Nothing trivial ......

I'm reminded of my Mk3 Escort many years ago. I had the new cambelt in the boot and was going to change it "Next Weekend". I couldn't do it "This Weekend" as I was at the Alban Arena all weekend for a certain show depicting things that run on parallel strips of metal. Halfway home on the Sunday evening in the back end of Luton (by the Rugnby Club for those that know it) the engine suddenly stopped and couldn't be encouraged to start again. Fearing the worst (cam belt broken) I took the top cover off (in the dark) and felt the belt. Relief, it was still there and taut. I arranged for recovery to get the car home.

It was only on later investigation I understood the typical cam belt failure mode. They don't "snap" and part company they just loose a few of those important little teeth and go all smooth and bald (like Puppers?). But of course every single one of those teeth is there to do a job. Those that aren't there shirk their duty, the cam(s) stop going round and some of the valves start getting all close-up and friendly with the piston crowns (in Mk 3 Escort engines anyway) . That was a TC moment if ever there was one!

There's an old proverb: " A new cambelt in the boot is worth Diddly Squat!" How true that is.

1 hour ago, polybear said:

The thing Bear learnt rather quickly whilst driving in Wales (from Carmarthen to Newcastle Emlyn "over the top") was that when a road had "SLOW" painted on it then it really, really was a rather good idea indeed.

Puppers may know that road quite well ..... 🤣

12 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

Morning, from a damp but drying rock, 8c and still. The corresponding Fraggle is somewhat enamoured with the tall lady in iD's post of the Deer's Cry. Oooerr.

A day of silly little errands beckons, and the possibility of a delivery of a green device for perambulating along parallel lines to look forward to. The b*llocking will come later when herself comes in from work! An unplanned purchase but I have wanted one for some time, and one popped up on Rails used site (unavailable new).....oops.

49 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

Wonky - a word that always makes me smile, for some reason.

ION, no comment yet about the large red box's contents. Maybe 'Ixion' means something else in wife-world.

Surely it means the illustrious writer in the "The Green One" (or was it "The Blue One" - I can never remember!). Nice ploy to throw her off of the scent I'd say, she being a biker an all that.

ION

I went for a short thrash on the RD to Marston Moretaine (famous for a venerable old fund raising Captain and an illegal spa pool) this morning. The purpose to visit a former colleague (actually, he was originally from the same discipline/department as a certain white bear who frequents this parish but I don't believe they worked together or even knew one and other). This was most enjoyable; a thrash in the sunshine, a degree of "Putting the World to Rights" followed by a return thrash. Fortunately the rain didn't turn up until much, much later in the afternoon. I may have mentioned before; I don't "Do" rain (or dark, or ice, or fog) on a motorcycle these days. There was plenty of that when, as a young Pup, my bike was my only form of transport and "needs must". Now their sole use is for entertainment and amusement so dry, daytime conditions are a must.

Other than that there's not a lot to report from Puppershire.

Night All

April 1

Afternoon!

4 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

Girding my loins, as the saying goes, for tomorrow when I am due at the hospital by 0730 for my spinal decompression operation. If all goes well I should be pretty much pain free and fairly mobile again after a few weeks’ recovery time. If it doesn’t ….. well, that’s not to be dwelt on. Luckily I am going to about the best orthopaedic hospital in the country and being operated on by one of the best spinal surgeons so I have high hopes. Wish me luck.

Dave

Best of luck Dave for tomorrow and for a successful & speedy recovery. Do what the Doc says ......

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Good luck for tomorrow, Dave.

Some pointers:

Ambulate as soon as permitted - the initial ambulations won’t be fun, but a DVT is even less fun.

Don’t “tough out” the pain, demand analgesia as soon as the pain starts to manifest itself - taken early you’ll have a better response to the medication and overall you’ll have less pain, be more comfortable and use less analgesia in the long run.

Work with your patient management team towards an early as is feasible discharge. By their very nature Hospitals are full of nasty bugs and the less time spent there the better.

And finally ENJOY THE DRUGS! Nowadays, everyone is so hyper sensitive about the possibility of addiction that use of narcotics is heavily monitored, so there is no need to worry about taking them – just lie back (literally) and enjoy the buzz 🤣😁😄

When I had my electronics fitted I needed some additional analgesia and morphine was administered. At first I had a shooting pain down the arm as it went in. I thought (being complete ignorant of such things at the time) that hurts, who on earth would do drugs for the fun of it ........... a few moments later and Ahhhhhhhhhhh I drifted off to a warm, cozy land, without a care in the world (despite the need to be plugged into a load of machines that go "Beep" repeatedly) 😁 Mind you, given the choice, I'd rather not have been there in the first place and denied myself the opportunity to try it out.

1 hour ago, Tony_S said:

If the amount of certain chemicals naturally occurring in broccoli and other cabbagey veg were found in a manufactured product they probably be classed as not allowed for humans. Cooking methods reduce such toxins.

I knew there was a reason why I'm not that fond of broccoli.

14 minutes ago, polybear said:

The rear brakes are drums with a proper manual handbrake (not those silly switch jobbies) though it does have “hill hold” - no idea how that’s done though. In my experience rear shoes seem to last forever.

Monty has a "Hill Hold" feature. It's called the driver who knows how to use the handbrake and clutch properly. Monty has done over 197K miles now; original clutch & original exhaust still giving sterling service.

ION

Not-a-lot!

Repositioned one of the bird boxes in the garden. Let's see if the new location is more favourable to them. These homeless birds can be so fussy don't you know.

Most importantly, I finally got round to sweeping the Myford down after my most recent turning activities some days ago. Don't tell Robbie @polybear he would have had my guts for garters had a let the sun go down on a grubby machine!

I was reminded on Faceache this morning that it is 30 years to the day since the last flight from that once mighty airfield at Hatfield. Dick Bishop the son of the legendary R.E. Bishop, the designer of the Mosquito and the Comet, was the chap doing the honours when he took off, quite fittingly, in a Tiger Moth. IIRC Sir Geoffrey de Havilland's grand-daughter Anne was in the second cockpit for the final flight.

WARNING to Bear! You may catch the occasional glimpse of the Bear cage in this video. There's also a glimpse of the ~~torture~~ test tank, the night shift premium from which may have assisted a certain Puppers in paying his first mortgage 😀

What a waste of a wonderful airfield and a historic company. Even though de Havilland had morphed into / been absorbed by Hawker Siddeley a few years before I turned up I still consider myself to be "DH stock" and I'm proud to have been associated (along with thousands of others!) with that hallowed place.

Oh yes, and please can we refrain from any Smart Alec comments regarding windows .....

I'll hop off my soap box now, it's too late to do anything about it and the world has moved on.

TTFN

March 31

Morning

4 hours ago, polybear said:

True - if only he hadn't knocked whilst A Certain Bear was enjoying a rather yummy Pizza.....

Now come on Bear! You've been complaining for some time that these people "Drop and Run" and now there's a hint of an improvement you are complaining. You can't have your ~~cake~~ pizza and eat it too you know!

2 hours ago, polybear said:

Anyone for skiing?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-68695712

No, you're alright. Puppers will stand on the ground and watch Bear have a go.

1 hour ago, Coombe Barton said:

It's from this respected journal that I get an example I use when teaching people how to structure a paper which has all the correct elements therein - this the example

https://www.bmj.com/content/331/7531/1498

I love the stated fundamental question to be answered 🤣

42 minutes ago, Hroth said:

You tell the reader what you are going to tell them.

You tell them.

You tell them what you have told them.

All quotations must be noted and backed up by reference to appropriate sources.

I find being told the same thing 3 (or more) times extremely tedious generally and particularly as modern documentary makers have taken it to exciting new levels by adding 3 levels of dumbing down and numerous, puerile animations for those that can't understand the spoken (dumbed down and more than likely inaccurate) word.

As for the media telling us things people are going to say in the future e.g. "The Prime Minister* is going to announce a week next Thursday that it shall become an offence at the end of April to visit a London bar without consuming copious quantities of Heinz Baked Beans " just blxxdyy STOP IT! By all means, consider that to be an anti Media rant.

* Any politicians, other officials from government or industry maybe substituted here. I wouldn't want to pick on the Prime Minister. On second thoughts .....

ION

Sad day here today as Junior Puppers has packed her bags and set off on the long drive to almost Distant Signal (West). We've enjoyed a splendid family week but all good things must come to an end. Can't wait for the next visit.

Weather Vane painting** has been completed and it has been re-installed on the pergola. A little bit of touching up will be required but it's just started raining slightly so any excuse to give up for now was gladly taken. My heart is just not in such tasks these days, I just want to get them done and move on to something that is actually interesting.

** Very loose use of the term here, ref previous post on new Hammerite paint.

My neighbour has been out for a thrash on his RD this morning. I did get an invite but as previously stated, far more important things on the cards early this morning than breakfast at the end of a thrash.

TTFN

Now, what to do after lunch? Probably sleep! I was up late last night and of course an hour mysteriously disappeared in the middle of the night so I'm extra tired today.

March 30

Evening

13 hours ago, New Haven Neil said:

Morning, from an undecided rock, was raining but now sunny, 8c.

@polybear The family have spread far and wide, they're a bit like rabbits in some practices....

MrsD, aka Dronk, is a bit too keen on booze, as may show in the photo. The first kid, Dink, now lives near Swansea, and looks after nephew and great-niece and nephew.

The familial likeness can be recognised by the smile, other miserable non-Donk related versions should be discounted as impostors from overseas.

Bonk was so pleased to see the (extended) family photos he got up, scurried off muttering something about finding a photo album.

5 hours ago, polybear said:

ION......

A Courier called at Bear Towers and presented me with an unexpected parcel, asking "Is this for you?" Well let's see now......

The Parcel address starts with No.7; the number on the front wall of Bear Towers isn't No. 7.....

The road name ends with "Close"; Bear Avenue is, well, an Avenue.....

I think he got the message. F.Wit.

But at least he knocked on the door and didn't just dump it like they usually do ..... Small acorns and all that.

2 hours ago, polybear said:

ION.....

I decided that changing the vast majority of clocks in Bear Towers this evening was a good plan - so that's now been done; the only ones I haven't done are those that I think may change themselves automatically, as well as the ceiling projection clock above the Bear Pit.

A very good friend has quite a lot of trouble sleeping. He has ceiling projection clock and recounts stories of laying there watching it for hour after hour. Bit of a theme developing here?

Dump the projection clock! It's just a gadget and it's one that exacerbates a problem.

ION

I had a very pleasant thrash over to Pure Triumph in Woburn this morning for a coffee. Not with the usual bunch of OFs this time but with a couple of ex-colleagues. Both of whom still have the misfortune of being employed. On the way home I stopped off and bought a new tin of black Smoothite paint for the weather vane. Funny enough, the topic of this paint turned up at the last ex-colleagues Pie & Pint night discussions. Someone mentioned that he thought it now has a new formulation (environmentally more friendly no doubt).

This afternoon I started painting the weather vane. Can't get on with the nice shiny new tin of paint at all! The only good thing that can be said about it is that it seems to dry a lot quicker than I recall. As for ease of application and finish on wire-brushed but rusty, dry and clean surfaces - Hopeless! Actually, it went on best on the new galvanised steel support pole. It says to use a special primer on galvanised surfaces which I didn't have and so I made a mental note that if the paint should flake off in-service that would no doubt be the reason why. Anyway it's only a weather vane, it's out in all weathers, it's halfway down the garden and you can't even see it during the hours of darkness so I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

Time for bed!

Night All.

March 29

19 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

The whole rotary thing is the sort of development I love, outside of the box stuff.

And boy do they sound good, I was sitting on the bank at Sulby village the day Hizzy won the senior TT on the White Charger, passing at close to 200 mph - sublime. I have video somewhere. (And a few years later there we were living on the island and with our besties who live just around the corner on the course at Sulby Bridge). The arguments as to how to measure its swept volume will never be settled mostly because 'they' (discuss whom) were doing their best to ban it, as it was making them look silly. Great stuff from Creighton, and he's still at it.

Funny you should use that phrase Neil. A good number of years ago I had some dealings with Gilo Cardozo who was doing some engine development work. He too was someone who came up with some amazingly innovative, very low cost solutions to some tricky problems that "traditional" companies with "traditional" solutions couldn't hope to crack. It was an education.

The pair of them together must be a real tour de force!

Cracking stuff, and the bikes will be old in due course 😀

March 29

That's good!

A bit quicker than my '39 Beeza 250!

Alan

March 29

Evening

3 hours ago, Tony_S said:

There are only two days.Binsday and Notbinsday.

I'm reminded of "There are 10 types of people; those that understand binary and those who do not" 😉

ION

A tragedy was avoided today!

Whilst out for a quick thrash on the RD Mrs Puppers & Junior Puppers were "sorting" through the big plastic box of long forgotten childhood soft toys To keep it topical it was a binary choice; Keep or Go (to the charity shop). Imagine my dismay @New Haven Neil when, on my return, I found Donk's cousin Bonk assigned to the Go pile! Fortunately I was able to highlight the error in the filtering process and Bonk is now safe and ready for some Bimbles, Chugs & Thrashes over the coming months. He said it would be great to "Do the TT course" sometime with his cousin (I didn't like to disappoint him so I just said "Maybe one day" and left it at that 🤣)

I've modified the weather vane and made a fitting to attach it to it's new mounting pole. This had to be silver soldered to the base of the fixed section. I may have got the wooden Workmate jaws slightly too warm whilst doing so. In the world of old motorcycles it's called patina .... I just call it burnt wood.

That's about it for today I reckon.

TTFN

March 28

On 27/03/2024 at 19:57, Tom F said:

Evening everyone.

I was having an email chat with Tony earlier regarding my weathering business. Tony kindly suggested I share some of my recent work in here.

I began weathering professionally back in 2019. I am a peripatetic violin teacher in various schools by trade. Originally it was only ever meant to be a top up to income, but increasingly I've been beginning to rely on it more.

I've become very frustrated with the teaching, and with 400 miles being clocked up for 32 weeks of the year, I'm looking at a change. I'd like to make the weathering more full time, perhaps moving to twice a week, or potentially three times a week.

Anyhow enough of my rambling, here's some examples of my work of late.

They are absolutely superb Tom!

12 hours ago, gr.king said:

Good luck Tom with the change of work emphasis towards something more enjoyable and less stressful. Take care to ensure that the weathering work doesn't become a chore as the music-teaching evidently has done.

46 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

Sage advice - having run a well-known 'box-shifter' for 5 years with a friend and with 8 staff, it has taken three years since we gave up to get my interest in the hobby back.

Sage advice indeed but good luck for a successful and fruitful transition. It would be a great shame to waste such talent!

Alan

March 28

5 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Tom's visited LB from its early days...........

Now that is a fantastic photograph!

It is reminiscent of a typical LNER publicity shot set up on a quiet Sunday morning, absolutely brilliant.

Perhaps another go now the background (and the point rodding ...) is complete is in order?

Alan

March 28

Evening!

23 minutes ago, Coombe Barton said:

... I am impressed by both the scholarship and by someone getting things done so that history is not lost ...

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/03/28/covid-and-influenza-down-who-to-trust-local-history-made-public-and-it-works/

"A £100m spend fighting sub-postmasters in court despite knowing its defence was untrue seems a pretty poor use of money." but it's got absolutely nothing at all to do with the truth and everything to do with "Saving face" and protecting an "image" irrespective of the cost (or the morals) IMVHO John.

ION

Yesterday I successfully managed to screw cut a thread (as opposed to tapping it) in an ali tube that mates with the 1" 32tpi UN thread that is the C Mount camera lens thread. I probably can't claim that the thread I cut is 1" 32 tpi UN on the grounds that the thread form is probably wrong (I know the bloke that ground the tool), the major, pitch and minor diameters are probably out of spec and a host of other failings to boot. Nevertheless, the lens screws in to it, doesn't rattle or fall off so I think I can award myself a reasonably big tick. Quite pleased really that it worked first time! 😁

Today has been spent providing a taxi service for Mrs & a Junior Puppers and attending an overdue optician's appointment. That's a whole fleet of Finsbury Park racehorses I won't be seeing then, even with my new glasses ......

I think an early night is in order.

Night all.

March 27

Morning

Some time was spent yesterday morning wire brushing the old paint off of the second RD silencer. Tough moving it to start with but made easier of course when frustration sets in and you press much harder with the rotary brush! Once that was done the said item was mounted vertically on a suitable wooden pole mounted in the workmate. Thoroughly heated with my monster blow torch (a relatively new acquisition to aid bigger silver soldering jobs and "persuading" rusty, corroded together objects that they really do want to come apart) until it was too hot to touch, the first coat of VHT black was applied. This of course dried off immediately due to the elevated temperature which enabled more coats to be put on as a continuous process. Once done and touch dry the trusty old Black and Decker hot air gun (circa 1984 according to the label) was used to blow hot air through it to accelerate the curing. Later that same morning it was back on the bike looking very smart 😀

The monthly meds run down to the GPs was planned for the afternoon. It would have been rude not to try out the RD with it's new rear brake shoes and restored silencers. I don't like to be rude 🤣

It might get another thrash today while the weather holds as I was planning to take a run over to see a former work colleague this morning but I'm still waiting to hear if it's convenient. Otherwise it might be weather vane refurbishment or I might have a go at screwcutting a 1" - 32tpi UN female screw thread to make a mounting for a C mount video zoom lens that's a potential candidate for the telecine machine.

Just to echo @Barry O previous sentiments about missing ERs. There seems to be quite a few at the moment and I hope all is well with them 🤞

TTFN

March 25

Morning!

7 hours ago, polybear said:

According to the Met Office Website yesterday, today was gonna be an ok day (= no rain); eight hours later and they're now saying it's gonna piddle down for 3 hours this morning. Can they really not to better than that?

3 hours ago, Coombe Barton said:

Challenge - you do it better. Forecasts about anything are not guaranteed.

But the thing about weather forecasting is all about the timing. I and everybody else can predict that it's definitely going to be sunny/raining/frosty/hot/windy etc etc, what we cant' tell you is when with any sense of accuracy. If the weather forecasters can't do it what is the point (and expense) of the weather forecasters? - Note 1

And as for long term weather forecasts, well, buying a crystal ball probably makes more sense!

Unfortunately what the weather forecasters (aided and abetted by the media) have got very good at is crying wolf and issuing pointless weather warnings "just to be sure of not being called Michael Fish" which only serves to mask those occasions when such warnings would be REALLY useful. Oh, I forgot, they can't guarantee their forecasts - See Note 1

1 hour ago, Hroth said:

If I can see Wales, its going to rain.

If I can't see Wales, its raining!

Reminds me of my former work colleagues based in the Bolton area. They soon enlightened me to Bolton weather forecasting;

If you can't see the TV mast on Winter Hill it's raining

If you can see the TV mast on Winter Hill it's going to rain*

* In my experience the second statement was almost superfluous although, to be fair, I didn't go up there often and the best bit of such trips was always the return drive home over the Snake Pass with a sandwich stop at the Ladybower reservoir.

ION

I know this sounds unbelievable but the sky was clear after sunset last night! The telescope was therefore dragged out and set up.

Difficulties in polar alignment once again highlighted the frustrations incurred in using budget (read that as crappy) equipment. Actually, I'm convinced there would be many more people interested in astronomy and far fewer budget telescopes on EBay, Market Place etc if they sold better quality but less "feature packed" beginners equipment. Most newcomers will try them, fail to get any results through no fault of their own and give up and move onto stamp collecting or whatever. Only the cantankerous, tenacious and persistent few will struggle on to get some results "if it kills me". When you you do actually make some progress and recognise "it's not your fault" the rewards are great! Anyway I did get to take another look at Jupiter again before it (soon) disappears for a few months. Looking at Jupiter always pleases me. I also had a quick squint at the Orion Nebula but then the clouds rolled in and so it was pack it all away time. I had hoped to try and take a look at the Pons-Brooks comet (currently forming an equilateral triangle with Jupiter & Mercury) but by the time it was dark enough it was hiding behind next doors great big oak tree.

The new RD brake pads have been fitted this morning although the correct tightening of all nuts, fitting of split pins etc and chain tensioning/wheel alignment have still to be done. The task entailed removing the other silencer in order to get the axle out. So, while it's off the bike, now would seem to be the obvious time to strip it and repaint it so that I have a matching pair. So that is a silencer and a weather van that both need cleaning and painting black. Now, where is my big box of motivation? Or shall I just watch the TV?

TTFN

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