February 2015

Jobs Completed

Mick changed the brake pads and the anti roll bar bushes on the mini.

Changed the immersion heater element.  It was pretty shot at and a really good save.

Went to Manchester to help his nephew Alex fix his Morris Minor ‘Hilda’.  They changed a broken valve in the cylinder head and several other smaller jobs.  They had an amazingly successful day and Hilda passed her MOT the following day.  Result.

Cylinder head with new valve.

 

Happy Hilda.

Fixed a laptop.

Tuned the piano at the Pavilion.  Jerusalem sounded decidedly dodgy at last months WI meeting and it was not the piano player.

New front tyres on the mini.

More navigation and route planning for this years trip towards Holland.

Accumulation of items for this years boat maintenance.  More of which next month.

Social

Mark’s 40th Birthday Bash at Turf Moor.  I am one of 15 cousins, so a family get together can be a large affair, hence they don’t happen like they use to.  I had a party when my dad was 80 and Mark wanted to get us all together again.  It was great to see everyone.  Facebook helps me to stay in touch with quite a few so we had lots to talk about.  Big thanks to Mark for this generous gesture, made more generous my his collection for the MS society.  His wife Laura also made him a football shirt cake with his name and Burnley colours.  Excellent night.

We made a curry for Annette and Julian.  Chinese takeaway at Paul and Marias, lovely evening with Luca and Isabella too.  Indian with Annette and Julian with their book club friends.

Went to Pendle Stitches with Liz to learn how to make Bobbin Lace each Monday afternoon.

Event City Craft Fair.  I went to Event City with Liz and Pat.  It was a large fair but not as big as Harrogate.  As a bonus there was a cake fair in the same building which we were allowed to look at.  WOW I have never seen cakes like these.  There was a competition, with may different categories and the cakes were unbelievable.

Yes these are cakes!!!

We visited Llangollen to see the Quilt-fest (as advertised at Event city).  We then went to Llangollen Aqua-duct.  Built in 1795 by Thomas Telford it is a world heritage site.  The aqua-duct is 128ft high and takes the canal across the gorge in the most dramatic way.  Quite un-nerving, must be much worse when you are steering a barge as there is no rail on that side.

Ladies Lunch.  I went to my first ladies-who-lunch lunch.  The WI have been running intermittent lunches for many years and Jan was the host.  It’s a Jacob’s join and with the usual WI precision we all managed to bring different but complimentary things.  I have never been able to go before as I was working so this was a real treat.  What the WI members do not know is not worth knowing and a new lady went home with a list of local builders, plumbers, electricians etc. including a chap called ‘Silicone Sid’, who apparently is a whizz with a sealant gun.  

Things Made

Bag for Sally.  Lloyd Loom Box refurbished.  Craft Room Chair recovered.  Summer bag for this years cruise.  Grey Rucksack for Mick.  Lace bookmark.

For details of makes and Denman trip see craft blog.  www.handmadebyannmarie.blogspot.co.uk.

Our last few days of the month were spent separately.  Mick went to Glasgow to meet up with Laura and Damian, they had a great time sampling the delights of Glasgow.  I went to Denman College with the WI Lancashire Federation trip.

March is maintenance month on ‘Fleur’ so we will have lots to report prior to this years trip.