Weekend Goals and Accomplishments

[digger303]

Looks like a interesting day was had.

[DRUMS01]

Playing with 1:1 trains looks really fun

[Tomcat64]

Looks like a interesting day was had.

Playing with 1:1 trains looks really fun

Cheers guys yep we love our time up there - something very therapeutic trundling along in restored coaches.

And like that another weekend, and another month, have arrived and I still haven't finished anything except the Egg Tank in April...

We're off to the Hawk Conservancy tomorrow for "International Vulture Day"


Back to the bench on Sunday with any luck!

[digger303]

Oh that's cool too. Love those birds of prey , well most birds actually.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Wow look at all those train and bird photos!
Perfectly Lovely

We had a bit of a Smokey time up the hill…wind blowing forest fire smoke in, nothing too close.
This is one of my favourite ski mansions framed in the trees..you can see the hazy smoke settled in
This is not my house. We are in townhouses down the road from this mansion

[aur0ra145]

Wow look at all those train and bird photos!
Perfectly Lovely

We had a bit of a Smokey time up the hill…wind blowing forest fire smoke in, nothing too close.
This is one of my favourite ski mansions framed in the trees..you can see the hazy smoke settled in

They sell time shares? Looks like a place I'd like to take the family.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Wow look at all those train and bird photos!
Perfectly Lovely

We had a bit of a Smokey time up the hill…wind blowing forest fire smoke in, nothing too close.
This is one of my favourite ski mansions framed in the trees..you can see the hazy smoke settled in

They sell time shares? Looks like a place I'd like to take the family.

We could talk about that
Let me finish the garage in the townhouse first

[digger303]

Lets not worry about goals. What i did accomplish is the garden retic is all sorted and hopefully will water everything while we are away in Bali.
Got some paperwork done.
Delivered my unlicensed ute to the local workshop whilst the cops weren't on duty....
Get the car sorted tomorrow......everything is on track.

[Tomcat64]

Wow look at all those train and bird photos!
Perfectly Lovely

We had a bit of a Smokey time up the hill…wind blowing forest fire smoke in, nothing too close.
This is one of my favourite ski mansions framed in the trees..you can see the hazy smoke settled in

That's an absolutely stunning setting - awesome & great pic too

[Tomcat64]

So here are some of the results of our visit to the Hawk Conservancy last weekend - although it was Vulture day there were plenty of others on show as well








We've got three days off this weekend as I'm taking Mrs Tomcat to a flower show on Sunday and suspect that I'll need Monday for my wallet to recover

[aur0ra145]

Very nice pics!

[Twokidsnosleep]

The Black Pearl needs a big step of wiring that is daunting and slowing me down
So I made more boxes for the ski place. Nothing modelling happening here much



Boxes, bench -temporary still due to electrical plug location and coat racks

[Stokesy44]

So here are some of the results of our visit to the Hawk Conservancy last weekend - although it was Vulture day there were plenty of others on show as well

Stunning pics mate. Beautiful animals

[Twokidsnosleep]

Got a projected bad rainy two day weekend coming up
I might get some model desk time and move the Pearl along a bit

[DRUMS01]

This was an enjoyable but crazy weekend.

First, on Friday Jarrod and I went to our local (American ) football game. They were playing a familiar rival, but the conditions were different than normal. The winner of this game would have the first place seat heading into the playoffs. The final score was 21-14, or 3-2 if your a traditional soccer fan. And yes, our local team won and Jarrod loved it all.

Saturday was a day Jarrod and I have been planning for months. To show our gratitude for all Jarrod's support staff (Therapists, Nurses, and Health Aides), we reached out to them over a month ago to secure a day where Jarrod and I could make a meal and serve them all at our house. Prior to the meal we clean the house (inside and out) raked the leaves, trimmed the grass, etc.
The meal started promptly at 4:30 PM with a mixed salad and your choice of 5 dressings, cheese, croutons, nuts, etc. Next the main course was a special recipe given to me by a Mexican friend while stationed in ElPaso, Texas, of sour cream enchiladas. The sides included Mexican rice, chips and salsa or queso cheese. The dessert was a choice of fresh mixed fruit or a almond vanilla cake with butter cream icing. Drinks included water, tea, lemonade, coffee, various soft drinks (regular, diet, and sugar free), and even a bottle of Sangria (fruity wine) for those who like to partake. Jarrod helped with the cleaning and food preparations and the meal was a resounding success!

Sunday began with an early wake-up (06:00AM) so we could be at our church by 7:00 to begin band practice. Our worship music is modern or contemporary Christian, so the drum licks can be very challenging. Somewhere in-between Wednesday and Sunday we managed to practice our percussion parts for each song. At church practice was 1.5 hours then we played for over 500 people during two services 9:00 and 11:00. Needless to say, after some very enjoyable and positive performances we went home and later took an hour nap as the weekend was catching up to us. The remainder of the afternoon was time with family and friends.

Absolutely no modeling completed this weekend, but next week looks very promising. We hope everyone else had a positive, happy, healthy, productive, relaxing weekend........

Ben and Jarrod

[digger303]

Sounds like a good one for you Ben.
A very thoughtful gesture from you and Jarrod too....very nice.

I didn't do much modelling either. Spent a fair amount of time cleaning the pool and painting the kitchen cupboards.....Apparently they were to old fashion looking

[Twokidsnosleep]

Really good weekend for B and J

I did more mundane stuff like wash and wax two cars, clean out gutters and fix a gutter hole (I put in) sweep up leaves and do a spider spray around outside doors to stop spider influx inside in the fall.

[RangerNeil]

Even more mundane for me. The Saab 9-5 went into a Saab specialist on Monday - oil pressure light kept coming on after a fast run (blocked oil pick-up - common on B235 engines) and on Friday I went to fill the screenwash bottle - and as fast as I poured it in, it poured out from underneath!! So the weekend was spent cleaning out the interior/boot as apparently mechanics freak out when confronted with long swords and rondels ..... Can't think why.

[Twokidsnosleep]

More woodwork from me from up at the ski hill place

An over sink light box so you don’t have to do dishes in the dark
Before:


Test fit of birch plywood box and Alder front facing:
Note hot tub in background through the window


Stained up the box bottom and the Alder…same wood and same stain as the cabinets. My wife did the staining as she likes doing that apparently


So now it is seamless, working with the same switch for the under counter lights AND it shoots some light out that window directly onto the hot tub stairs so you don’t kill yourself getting in and out with the lights off as you try to watch the stars while in the tub…very relaxing.
Also mounted opposite side boot dryer and did all my measure for the ski/snowboard racks for this wall that go up next visit.

[aur0ra145]

More woodwork from me from up at the ski hill place

An over sink light box so you don’t have to do dishes in the dark
Before:


Test fit of birch plywood box and Alder front facing:
Note hot tub in background through the window


Stained up the box bottom and the Alder…same wood and same stain as the cabinets. My wife did the staining as she likes doing that apparently


So now it is seamless, working with the same switch for the under counter lights AND it shoots some light out that window directly onto the hot tub stairs so you don’t kill yourself getting in and out with the lights off as you try to watch the stars while in the tub…very relaxing.
Also mounted opposite side boot dryer and did all my measure for the ski/snowboard racks for this wall that go up next visit.

Looks like a productive weekend!

[RangerNeil]

Quiet one - relatively - here. Mainly due to the £687 bill to get my car back!
And the need to keep an eye on the Houndie as she had a "disagreement" with a Badger over who had garden rights. The Badger won. Forget the images of cuddly friendly black & white creatures - they are bundles of malevolence armed with razor sharp claws well over an inch long -and are more than willing to use them unprovoked....


Did get out on Sat evening though - went and saw the re-formed group "Miranda Sex Garden" plus the backing group "Message from the Ravens" and solo artist Kristeen Young perform at The Piper in Hastings. Excellent evening, excellent music.
For those old enough to remember such days - the solo artist both vocally and visually was a mix of Kate Bush and Toyah from the 70's and 80's.

[Twokidsnosleep]

It is snow tire season here in BC
So I got down and dirty and changed both the ski suv and my car to snows
It is hard work for an old man

[digger303]

Not much to tell clean the pool and off to work as harvest has started and a little bit of bench time at night maybe.
It's hard work for a even older man.

[RangerNeil]

Laid up with Covid - both of us - and bored.
So being me I decided to change that and started repair work on a long sword - modelling in metal at a 1:1 scale

[digger303]

Laid up with Covid - both of us - and bored.
So being me I decided to change that and started repair work on a long sword - modelling in metal at a 1:1 scale

You fired up the forge

[RangerNeil]

Laid up with Covid - both of us - and bored.
So being me I decided to change that and started repair work on a long sword - modelling in metal at a 1:1 scale

You fired up the forge

Nope (I wish!!) Stripped the hilt down so the threaded section holding the pommel on can be repaired by welding!

Just spent my 67th b/day sealing the soft top on the FFR Landie. Wasn't the plan - but - sun is out, driveway was warm and it needed doing......

[DRUMS01]

Other than our normal activities (football, yard work, church, etc.), I had a very unique and rewarding opportunity reveal itself.

Several months ago I joined our "American Legion" local chapter. For those unfamiliar with the American Legion, it basically is a veteran's organization who supports active military, their families, those retired or prior-service and their families, and sponsor various children's groups and activities locally. There is much more than that, but my update here is about something I found and took under my wing to champion for out local Legion Post 771.

Across America, through each State, County, and City of America; last week was the buddy check week. It was created nationally to have veterans reach out to fellow veterans in the area they live to check up on them and see how they are doing. While it included also celebrating their military service, providing thanks, and seeing if they need any kind of support from the various veteran's services.

I brought this activity up to our local Commander last meeting because it was not a part of our agenda only to evidently self volunteer to lead the Buddy Check operation in our city. After getting two spreadsheets of names (over 70 people) that were mostly veterans or retired members I charged forward into reaching out to all of them (nobody else in our Legion post volunteered to assist).

With all this said, I can tell you now that it was a blessing in disguise as I had a great time talking with and celebrating the service of many people (95% men). One in particular was a 98 year old man who served in the Marine Corps from 1943 to 1947 in the pacific. He was still sharp as a razor and was inspired to hear that someone like me was eager to hear his story of service during that period. I hope to be able to reach out to him again very soon and ask him if I can ask him more questions with his approval to record the answers. There were others from the Korean and Vietnam war's that were equal inspiring.

After completing the Buddy Checks I has a deep feeling of respect and desire to honor many of those Soldier's, Sailor's, Airman, and Marines on this list. This was not a task or labor intensive act, no sir... instead it was an honor and privilege to talk with these people about the commitments they all made for their country. I will volunteer to do this again next year for sure....

This was a fantastic week indeed!

Ben

[BigWall]

Other than our normal activities (football, yard work, church, etc.), I had a very unique and rewarding opportunity reveal itself.

Several months ago I joined our "American Legion" local chapter. For those unfamiliar with the American Legion, it basically is a veteran's organization who supports active military, their families, those retired or prior-service and their families, and sponsor various children's groups and activities locally. There is much more than that, but my update here is about something I found and took under my wing to champion for out local Legion Post 771.

Across America, through each State, County, and City of America; last week was the buddy check week. It was created nationally to have veterans reach out to fellow veterans in the area they live to check up on them and see how they are doing. While it included also celebrating their military service, providing thanks, and seeing if they need any kind of support from the various veteran's services.

I brought this activity up to our local Commander last meeting because it was not a part of our agenda only to evidently self volunteer to lead the Buddy Check operation in our city. After getting two spreadsheets of names (over 70 people) that were mostly veterans or retired members I charged forward into reaching out to all of them (nobody else in our Legion post volunteered to assist).

With all this said, I can tell you now that it was a blessing in disguise as I had a great time talking with and celebrating the service of many people (95% men). One in particular was a 98 year old man who served in the Marine Corps from 1943 to 1947 in the pacific. He was still sharp as a razor and was inspired to hear that someone like me was eager to hear his story of service during that period. I hope to be able to reach out to him again very soon and ask him if I can ask him more questions with his approval to record the answers. There were others from the Korean and Vietnam war's that were equal inspiring.

After completing the Buddy Checks I has a deep feeling of respect and desire to honor many of those Soldier's, Sailor's, Airman, and Marines on this list. This was not a task or labor intensive act, no sir... instead it was an honor and privilege to talk with these people about the commitments they all made for their country. I will volunteer to do this again next year for sure....

This was a fantastic week indeed!

Ben

Sounds like it was quite the experience! Good on you for taking it on

[digger303]

Other than our normal activities (football, yard work, church, etc.), I had a very unique and rewarding opportunity reveal itself.

Several months ago I joined our "American Legion" local chapter. For those unfamiliar with the American Legion, it basically is a veteran's organization who supports active military, their families, those retired or prior-service and their families, and sponsor various children's groups and activities locally. There is much more than that, but my update here is about something I found and took under my wing to champion for out local Legion Post 771.

Across America, through each State, County, and City of America; last week was the buddy check week. It was created nationally to have veterans reach out to fellow veterans in the area they live to check up on them and see how they are doing. While it included also celebrating their military service, providing thanks, and seeing if they need any kind of support from the various veteran's services.

I brought this activity up to our local Commander last meeting because it was not a part of our agenda only to evidently self volunteer to lead the Buddy Check operation in our city. After getting two spreadsheets of names (over 70 people) that were mostly veterans or retired members I charged forward into reaching out to all of them (nobody else in our Legion post volunteered to assist).

With all this said, I can tell you now that it was a blessing in disguise as I had a great time talking with and celebrating the service of many people (95% men). One in particular was a 98 year old man who served in the Marine Corps from 1943 to 1947 in the pacific. He was still sharp as a razor and was inspired to hear that someone like me was eager to hear his story of service during that period. I hope to be able to reach out to him again very soon and ask him if I can ask him more questions with his approval to record the answers. There were others from the Korean and Vietnam war's that were equal inspiring.

After completing the Buddy Checks I has a deep feeling of respect and desire to honor many of those Soldier's, Sailor's, Airman, and Marines on this list. This was not a task or labor intensive act, no sir... instead it was an honor and privilege to talk with these people about the commitments they all made for their country. I will volunteer to do this again next year for sure....

This was a fantastic week indeed!

Ben

That's a great thing to do. Not many war veterans here a few who did national service.

I like asking retiree's what was there life like and what did they do for a job. There isn't many dull stories most have a interesting life even though they didn't think so when they were living it.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Yet again back up at the ski place with wifey and dog
Enjoying evening hot tubs after working on the garage
I got the ski and snowboard racks up on the opposite wall from the cubbies and test hung my skis on there

[digger303]

Yet again back up at the ski place with wifey and dog
Enjoying evening hot tubs after working on the garage
I got the ski and snowboard racks up on the opposite wall from the cubbies and test hung my skis on there

Sweet, job done.
Got the bench set up too ?

[Twokidsnosleep]

Yet again back up at the ski place with wifey and dog
Enjoying evening hot tubs after working on the garage
I got the ski and snowboard racks up on the opposite wall from the cubbies and test hung my skis on there

Sweet, job done.
Got the bench set up too ?

Yes the bench was the last trip.


It still has a bit of work to go and this top is temporary and I have two of them….one will be my workbench top in the corner of the garage but that is a project for next year. I may cut a few inches off the back so kids don’t stand on the bench top when getting things from above and tip it over.
That electrical outlet is at just the exact wrong height

[digger303]

Just out of curiosity it occurred to me because your garage is so neat and tidy and clean. Whats the deal when your out driving and want to park your car inside. Does all the snow melt of and you have this huge puddle of water every where or does it drain off as this has been catered for or does that freeze up into a sheet of ice once it leaves the building.

[digger303]

No bench time at all on Sunday...just work.

[RangerNeil]

Just out of curiosity it occurred to me because your garage is so neat and tidy and clean. Whats the deal when your out driving and want to park your car inside. Does all the snow melt of and you have this huge puddle of water every where or does it drain off as this has been catered for or does that freeze up into a sheet of ice once it leaves the building.

I was thinking more along the lines of firstly that garage is about the same floor area as our whole house - and secondly - think of all the display cabinets you could line that with!!

[Twokidsnosleep]

Just out of curiosity it occurred to me because your garage is so neat and tidy and clean. Whats the deal when your out driving and want to park your car inside. Does all the snow melt of and you have this huge puddle of water every where or does it drain off as this has been catered for or does that freeze up into a sheet of ice once it leaves the building.

100% the issue. Yes a vehicle can fit in, maybe even two


There is a ton of snow and ice around in the winter…a ton
In busy times like Christmas if we rent it, will have to let someone park in the garage as not much extra parking around
My son suggested the hockey pucks under the bench so it isn’t sitting on the floor getting wet
But a car in winter with all that crap coming off and melting, it will be a mess
Maybe a rubber car mat would be a good idea
We sealed the floor so hopefully it cleans up easier, but I expect some difficulties with renters
Have to give it a go and see what works and what doesn’t

[Twokidsnosleep]

Just out of curiosity it occurred to me because your garage is so neat and tidy and clean. Whats the deal when your out driving and want to park your car inside. Does all the snow melt of and you have this huge puddle of water every where or does it drain off as this has been catered for or does that freeze up into a sheet of ice once it leaves the building.

I was thinking more along the lines of firstly that garage is about the same floor area as our whole house - and secondly - think of all the display cabinets you could line that with!!

Ooo display cabinets, good idea
Going to put a little workbench in the back corner, likely next year.
Some model display would be fun

[digger303]

Just out of curiosity it occurred to me because your garage is so neat and tidy and clean. Whats the deal when your out driving and want to park your car inside. Does all the snow melt of and you have this huge puddle of water every where or does it drain off as this has been catered for or does that freeze up into a sheet of ice once it leaves the building.

100% the issue. Yes a vehicle can fit in, maybe even two


There is a ton of snow and ice around in the winter…a ton
In busy times like Christmas if we rent it, will have to let someone park in the garage as not much extra parking around
My son suggested the hockey pucks under the bench so it isn’t sitting on the floor getting wet
But a car in winter with all that crap coming off and melting, it will be a mess
Maybe a rubber car mat would be a good idea
We sealed the floor so hopefully it cleans up easier, but I expect some difficulties with renters
Have to give it a go and see what works and what doesn’t

Also will it flow towards your benches ?

[Twokidsnosleep]

Just out of curiosity it occurred to me because your garage is so neat and tidy and clean. Whats the deal when your out driving and want to park your car inside. Does all the snow melt of and you have this huge puddle of water every where or does it drain off as this has been catered for or does that freeze up into a sheet of ice once it leaves the building.

100% the issue. Yes a vehicle can fit in, maybe even two


There is a ton of snow and ice around in the winter…a ton
In busy times like Christmas if we rent it, will have to let someone park in the garage as not much extra parking around
My son suggested the hockey pucks under the bench so it isn’t sitting on the floor getting wet
But a car in winter with all that crap coming off and melting, it will be a mess
Maybe a rubber car mat would be a good idea
We sealed the floor so hopefully it cleans up easier, but I expect some difficulties with renters
Have to give it a go and see what works and what doesn’t

Also will it flow towards your benches ?

Yes worried it will go to the bench area or get tracked that way by sloppy people
Poseidon’s Law : ‘Water goes where it wants and most times where you don’t want it to go” so yes if it is a messy car with snow…..
I may have made up that law

I kept this quiet but on the last trip one of my L bracket screws used to secure the benchtop to the wall, well it hit something and made a phhtttt noise. Oh shoot, but worse language. No water no gas smells but oh shite.
I can open the wall from the inside the mech room but it is basically at the bottom of the stair incline.
So I left that for this trip and have just returned from exploratory wall surgery on my belly in a mess of dust and crap

I missed the stud with the screw as it is angles there for the stairs I suppose.
There are no pipes, water or gas, in the area as far as my arm can follow up on either side of this angled 2x4.

Holy S what a relief. I think I got one of the aluminum clips that hold the drywall pieces together.
Huge load off my mind

[digger303]

100% the issue. Yes a vehicle can fit in, maybe even two


There is a ton of snow and ice around in the winter…a ton
In busy times like Christmas if we rent it, will have to let someone park in the garage as not much extra parking around
My son suggested the hockey pucks under the bench so it isn’t sitting on the floor getting wet
But a car in winter with all that crap coming off and melting, it will be a mess
Maybe a rubber car mat would be a good idea
We sealed the floor so hopefully it cleans up easier, but I expect some difficulties with renters
Have to give it a go and see what works and what doesn’t

Also will it flow towards your benches ?

Yes worried it will go to the bench area or get tracked that way by sloppy people
Poseidon’s Law : ‘Water goes where it wants and most times where you don’t want it to go” so yes if it is a messy car with snow…..
I may have made up that law

I kept this quiet but on the last trip one of my L bracket screws used to secure the benchtop to the wall, well it hit something and made a phhtttt noise. Oh shoot, but worse language. No water no gas smells but oh shite.
I can open the wall from the inside the mech room but it is basically at the bottom of the stair incline.
So I left that for this trip and have just returned from exploratory wall surgery on my belly in a mess of dust and crap

I missed the stud with the screw as it is angles there for the stairs I suppose.
There are no pipes, water or gas, in the area as far as my arm can follow up on either side of this angled 2x4.

Holy S what a relief. I think I got one of the aluminium clips that hold the drywall pieces together.
Huge load off my mind

Could have been a lot worse, but thankfully it wasn't.
I went to fix a gas leak once because the guy had tried to fix the kick board the kitchen cabinet and the guy had drilled into a gas line. He was lucky because if it had ignited he would have been burned in the facial area quite bad.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Also will it flow towards your benches ?

Yes worried it will go to the bench area or get tracked that way by sloppy people
Poseidon’s Law : ‘Water goes where it wants and most times where you don’t want it to go” so yes if it is a messy car with snow…..
I may have made up that law

I kept this quiet but on the last trip one of my L bracket screws used to secure the benchtop to the wall, well it hit something and made a phhtttt noise. Oh shoot, but worse language. No water no gas smells but oh shite.
I can open the wall from the inside the mech room but it is basically at the bottom of the stair incline.
So I left that for this trip and have just returned from exploratory wall surgery on my belly in a mess of dust and crap

I missed the stud with the screw as it is angles there for the stairs I suppose.
There are no pipes, water or gas, in the area as far as my arm can follow up on either side of this angled 2x4.

Holy S what a relief. I think I got one of the aluminium clips that hold the drywall pieces together.
Huge load off my mind

Could have been a lot worse, but thankfully it wasn't.
I went to fix a gas leak once because the guy had tried to fix the kick board the kitchen cabinet and the guy had drilled into a gas line. He was lucky because if it had ignited he would have been burned in the facial area quite bad.

The gas lines come in a few feet to the right of that photo…I was sweating bricks opening that up and feeling around in there
The angled stud makes more sense from this side of the drywall than trying to find it on the covered side

[digger303]

Yes worried it will go to the bench area or get tracked that way by sloppy people
Poseidon’s Law : ‘Water goes where it wants and most times where you don’t want it to go” so yes if it is a messy car with snow…..
I may have made up that law

I kept this quiet but on the last trip one of my L bracket screws used to secure the benchtop to the wall, well it hit something and made a phhtttt noise. Oh shoot, but worse language. No water no gas smells but oh shite.
I can open the wall from the inside the mech room but it is basically at the bottom of the stair incline.
So I left that for this trip and have just returned from exploratory wall surgery on my belly in a mess of dust and crap

I missed the stud with the screw as it is angles there for the stairs I suppose.
There are no pipes, water or gas, in the area as far as my arm can follow up on either side of this angled 2x4.

Holy S what a relief. I think I got one of the aluminium clips that hold the drywall pieces together.
Huge load off my mind

Could have been a lot worse, but thankfully it wasn't.
I went to fix a gas leak once because the guy had tried to fix the kick board the kitchen cabinet and the guy had drilled into a gas line. He was lucky because if it had ignited he would have been burned in the facial area quite bad.

The gas lines come in a few feet to the right of that photo…I was sweating bricks opening that up and feeling around in there
The angled stud makes more sense from this side of the drywall than trying to find it on the covered side

[Tomcat64]

Not so much a weekend goal as one for a week off - finally hoping to get the StuG finished and the bench tidied up!

We've got a couple of trips planned and I may need to give Mrs TC a hand in the garden from time to time but otherwise I'll be living in the den

[aur0ra145]

I've been out of town recently, so it will be fun to get back to the bench. The AH-64 seems to be coming along steadily, if not very slowly.

I've got the first of my Christmas shopping out of the way. I'm thinking I could be 95% finished with Christmas shopping by the end of the weekend. However, I sort of want to wait on some purchases to see if Black Friday sales might offer some good deals on things.

[RangerNeil]

This weekend I will be up at the Cenotaph in London for the Remembrance Service on Sunday morning. So no bench time at all for me.
Everyone is praying like hell for a peaceful, respectful weekend but word is that pro Hamas supporters will try and disrupt both the Saturday and Sunday event despite what the protest organisers have said.....

[Tomcat64]

Not so much a weekend goal as one for a week off - finally hoping to get the StuG finished and the bench tidied up!

We've got a couple of trips planned and I may need to give Mrs TC a hand in the garden from time to time but otherwise I'll be living in the den

Well... not quite to plan... I did get some decent bench time in but Tuesday involved meeting up with an old mate for a verrrrrry long lunch and then came back to find the heating playing up so that took the rest of the afternoon to beat into submission

Wednesday we took my mum up to London to visit the Cutty Sark - without doubt one of the most elegant and impressive vessels ever built and sailed with a crew of just 26 men; bonus points to anyone who knows where the name comes from without having to look it up




...and then back up the Thames


and onto the Shard for a nighttime view over London - we'd only done this in daytime before


Grabbed a bit of benchtime on Thursday afternoon and then Friday was scuppered when it turned out Mrs TC had forgotten the PIN on her bank card necessitating a trip into town to speak to the branch (yup we tried via phone & online but both were pretty much non-starters) On the upside the operative at the bank was extremely helpful.

Saturday we were back into London to spend the day riding around Kent behind this

This weekend I will be up at the Cenotaph in London for the Remembrance Service on Sunday morning. So no bench time at all for me.
Everyone is praying like hell for a peaceful, respectful weekend but word is that pro Hamas supporters will try and disrupt both the Saturday and Sunday event despite what the protest organisers have said.....

I hope Sunday went off well mate, we got back into Victoria on Saturday evening to find the place rammed and underground stations shut due to overcrowding. We eventually walked to Hyde Park Corner and made our way back to Paddington from there. Leaving aside the political debate to the rest of the internet, the crowd we got caught up in were to a person well behaved & polite to a fault (we were apologised to several times during the 20 minute walk to HPC when people thought they'd bumped or jostled us).

Needless to say we were somewhat wiped out yesterday but I actually got more done in the den than I expected.

Then back to work today which is obviously why I'm online & posting

[RangerNeil]

<snipped>

This weekend I will be up at the Cenotaph in London for the Remembrance Service on Sunday morning. So no bench time at all for me.
Everyone is praying like hell for a peaceful, respectful weekend but word is that pro Hamas supporters will try and disrupt both the Saturday and Sunday event despite what the protest organisers have said.....

I hope Sunday went off well mate, we got back into Victoria on Saturday evening to find the place rammed and underground stations shut due to overcrowding. We eventually walked to Hyde Park Corner and made our way back to Paddington from there. Leaving aside the political debate to the rest of the internet, the crowd we got caught up in were to a person well behaved & polite to a fault (we were apologised to several times during the 20 minute walk to HPC when people thought they'd bumped or jostled us).

Needless to say we were somewhat wiped out yesterday but I actually got more done in the den than I expected.

Then back to work today which is obviously why I'm online & posting

Yes, thank you. It was a quiet and respectful day. A time for introspection and remebering. For myself - out of 200+ I am one of six left and this year the only one to make it up there.
Kudos to the protest organizers who kept their word. We were all very grateful for that.
A bitterly cold day though as, for the veterans, it involves standing around for hours with short bursts of movement until the actual march-past. Don't notice it so much on the day but afterwards the effects kick in! We are all playing "spot the unit" on the BBC coverage now. They caught my lot (and me) coming through the arch of Horse Guards and then again in the march-past at 1 hr 44. Oh - and the reporter Sophie Raworth got grabbed again. Walked down the columns with her film crew and the guys called her over for a groupie. One moment she's beside the column, next she's in the middle of it shaking her head, laughing and saying" Bloody RCT, can't believe I fell for it. Again". We grab her every year.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Having a week up at the ski hill
No snow at all at home, it is grey and wet so good to come up here get some fresh air and snow.
My knee is a bit shaky so I am hesitant to ski and blow it out

[BigWall]

Looks like a nice respite!

[Tomcat64]

Love that snowy scenery and great to see Piper looking recovered after her towel episode!

Yah go easy with that knee - they're unforgiving!