jamie92208

Afternoon all from z wet and wi dy Charente. Up betimes again this morning just in time for the nurse. Then off to the market for a coffee and chat with friends. Then home and a stew for tonight has been donated by a neighbour . Then another friend rang to say that she'd made too much soup, so that was lunch sorted. It' good that I have an interest in things with wheels as I niw gave to solve various shunting puzzles each day. We are using 3 different wheeled appliances. Each can get through adifferent selection of doors. Beth can propel herself on two of them. Two have brakes that Beth can apply but one set only stays on when the levers are being squeezed. When transfers are necessary to complete a planned journey then the shunter has to position the articles corectly. It's all good fun making sure that there is always a clear route. Happy birthday to Mrs B and Mrs GDB. Regards to all. Jamie

It was this year chasing the Big Boy. Jamie

I wondered if it was getting one of the channel tunnel regulars back to Crewe for maintenance. Jamie

Morning all from the Charente. The nurse has been and has advised that we wzit till mid October for our flu jabs. Surprisingly the builder has appeared. Trying to make up for the lost days this week. He has been supplied with coffee. Breakfast has been eaten and after ofher duties I will be off out to the bank and then to so e friends. They are away for a few days next week and I am chicken sitti g. Today I will be given my instructions. If the weather holds we will be out round the village usi g the wheelchair. Beth wants some fresh air. Todays dinner is in the sliw cooker. A neighbour came in yesterday and prepared it all. A meal in one cooker. Andy, early snow in Montanna. It was 21st May when we got 6" of unseasonably late snow in Cheyenne. Maybe something is happening to the climate.... Not a lot else to report. Regards to all. Jamie

On the subje t of 800's, did anyone else see the episode of Train Truckers on Yesterday on Thursday night. One of the two storylines was movi g three completed 800 vehicles from Teesport to Hitachi at Doncaster. If you discRd the false dramatics in the commentary, i fou d it quite interesting. Jamie

It would be nice to hear from Ddolfelin who we haven't heard from for a while. Great to hear about the Whelkmen again Smiffy. I hope that the other issues get sorted. Also good to hear from PeterBB who seems to have had his hands full. Here we seem to be getting into a bit of a routine and are still gauge clearing various items related to mobility assistance. I managed to get back to the hospital to pay the bill and it turns out that it's all covered on our Carte Vitalle and the top up insurance. The district nurse has been and will be here every morning for the next few weeks. We had a good tea and then had fresh made pancakes for supper, they went sown well. Regards to all. Jamie

Funnily enough those problems we t back to 1908 when the Midland 6 600v system was switched on. There was of course no ban on steam working. The first recorded accudent inolving a fireman dates back to 1908. He climbed into the tender of his loco at Green Ayre to trim the coal. He didn't watch where he was and his head earthed the contact wire. Like any good northener he was wearing his flat at and also his Ulster with the collar turned up. Equally fortunately it was persisting down (it was in Lancashire) so the aerth oath was via the sodden at, bis coat and tben his boots, into the coal. He woke up in hospital the next morning with a headache and a 2" diameter hole in the sole of one boot, otherwise he was none the worse. A very lucky chap. Jamie

Looking forwzrd to seeing more of this. I'm just wondering when the Centurions in various forms are going to appear, together with deliveries of components. Jamie

Morning all from the Charente. Beth is doi g well and we are gradually working out what she can and can't do. Movi g on crutches is causing other problems due to sciatica in her good leg. Various mobility aids have been dug out of storage and we are worki g out which can fit through which door. The problem of getting i to the shower was solved with a high stool. It's all good fun. Yesterday the builder cracked on and got a lot of the blockwork done on the en suite. At some point we will have to change bedrooms while the doorway is cut and sorted. Anyway i've got to go back to the hospital to pay our bills today other tasks will be completed no doubt. Regards to all. Jamie

As far as I know it was the potential for flashovers and many classes had big yellow diagonal stripes on the cab sides to remind crews that they couldn't work under the wires. Eventually some experiments were done to determine a safe distance and allowable clearances were reduced. However it appears that the documentation from those tests can't be found and that is causing some problems in the modern world. Jamie

Was the loco that brought the 15 guinea special in in August 68 before it was dispatched back to Lostock Hall. I think it was 45110 but can't be sure. Jamie

There are two ways that I know of holding a tube for soldering. The first is jubilee clips and the other is florists wire twisted round. The last one I did I put a length of brass strip inside the joint, soldered it to one side then found some half inch dowel that can be put in a vice. Then covered the strip in solder and flux, tightened everything up then put the boiler over the dowel and soldered it up using somehing to press the seam down as I went along. Hope it works out. Jamie

I've had chance to have a look at the plan. It looms OK to me. I can't quite make out the exit from the exchange sidings. The standard Midland way was a double slip in that position, interlocked with the entrance poi t from the main line. If you need it I've got the plan for the proposed bridge over the LNWR line if you need it. Jamie

Good morning all. Up and about and waiting for the call to duty so breakfast is bei g consumed. The builder is due shortly then it is time for phone calls and errands. Some rugby may be watched later. I don't need to cook tonight as it's fish and chip night in Aulnay. Regards to all Jamie

Very early morning to all. Great to see Pete posting again and hope that Dave, and others, black canines stay in the kennel. A bit of commotion here in the very damp Charente. Beth has been having pain in her foot for a few days a d it was getti g worse. As a result a trip to A & E was in order. 22 miles each way. She is now well and truly plastered with a broken ankle confirmed. How and when she did it is a total mystery. However we have all the necessary equipment in store and life will hopefully go on relatively normally. I may not have chance to post in the morning as various phone calls and errands are needed plus her ladyship will no doubt be setting tasks. Regards to all. Jamie

Start saving noe Neil they are very very expensive and appear to have the ability to open wallets from well before birth. Congratulations. Our little bundle of joy will be here in about a fortnight. Jamie

On our cruises hand sanitizer has been much in evidence at every entrance to dining areas. On a P&O one we did in 2007 they didn't allow passengers to serve themselves from the buffet for the first two days. Jamie

From the plans it looms as if it's remaining in place. It will at least provide an alternative route if things fail. Jamie

Good morning. Some of our burnt garden carpet has started to turn green. Unfortunately it's mainly the weeds so far rather than the actual grass. We certainly needed the rain. No building work got done yesterday and thebuilder has just rung to say that he won't be coming today as more liquid sunshine is due after lunch. However the day was not wasted and I finally got a substantial timber top fixed on my new workbench. I now have two vices (be careful on the back row) to fit along with a drill press. Then the great tidy up of the area can take place. Today I'm off to the Danglies to collect a freezer. We were told yesterday that half a lamb will be ready for collection tomorrow so needs must. I hope that our travelling ER's get home safely and obviously warm thoughts to all others in need. Jamie

Yes a YouTube link is the easiest way. There is some way of embedding it in the post but I've no udea how that works. Jamie

Morning, we have liquid sun down here today as well so the builder isn't coming. Beth is off shopping shortly. I've got some phone calls to make then need to print some boarding passes for some neighbours. This afternoon I'm hoping to get the top on the bench and perhaps even install a vice. I may even ve able to tidy that area of the shed soon. Regards to all. Jamie

Iit's dry for the moment but that's due to chage apparently. The builder has got the floor slab laid and the main delivery of materials has taken place. Beth and I got the woodshed tidied up and 2 stear of oak barrel off uts was cut up and very neatly stacked. Not by me. The new saw is a good piece of kit. Lunch was mussels in cream and white wine then in the afternoon I went and bought the remaining timber for the workbench. A pleasant evening has been spent playing cards and now some Sottish medecine us being consumed along with some ripe blue cheese. Not a bad day. Regards to all. Jamie

It's always been like this. IIRC some law research I once did, animal cruelty in certain forms was a statutory crime back in the 1600's but Child cruelty and sexual offences against children only became illegal in the 1800's. Jamie

A nice touch. It would also show up fingerprints Simon. It's been a standard forensic technique for several years. Looking good. I thi k by the 80's it would gave had a Police Aware sticker on it. Red lettering on a white background.

And most of those voices are from the shallow end of the gene pool as well Simon. I know that at times it's difficult to ignore those chattering twerps but there are many on this forum wh are in awe of your project and the vision behind it. I may never get the chance to see the layout, unless it comes to France but you will have my moral support and admiration wherever you are. Jamie