What have you done today

[Chuffer]

After a rather shitty few weeks of hassle it was great to get out early on today`s cold and misty , moisty morning for one of my favourite local walks beside the Grand Union Canal not far from home . Simon & Garfunkle`s 1966 hit song ` Hazy Days of Winter ` came to mind as I did the 5 mile walk in very atmspheric light conditions . Within an hour or so on the way back the sun had burnt off the thick mist and totally transformed the views . The swans were swimming , the squirrels were squirreling and everything in the Garden of Life was lovely !

 

[Chuffer]

Finally got back to a day in the BIG TOY BOX today after an enforced break of several weeks due to a holiday , sickness , prolonged repairs to the Jeep Grand Cherokee plus other family demands . `It was a tender behind ` day today in more ways than one as I copped the job of crawling around on my back in the most inaccessible corner of the coal space on our project locomotive `Sir Lamiel `s ` tender to needle gun the corrosion and scale off the steel plate work under the large steel box that contains the batteries and electrical equipment for the Automatic Train Protection & Warning System that is mandated for main line running on the national rail network . Then applying a good coat Red Oxide primer . Today was one of our monthly `work party ` days when other volunteers can turn up and help with the work . With two of us needle gunning and one other using a power wire brushing tool , the noise was horrendous even with ear defenders on as our combined efforts reverberated throughout the empty tender like a giant tin drum . Good progress mad though with the rear deck around the water filler holes are painted and the steel tool locker that bolts onto the tender bulk head and other components all needled gunned , linished and rust proof primer painted . Needless to say I came home as black as the preverbial ace of spades !!