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Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Wed Jul 31, 19 6:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Hope you have a good weekend Gregotyn. Sometimes things really do go to great lengths to hide; we usually only find them when we have bought replacements.

Weather here was awful yesterday; strong gusty winds and heavy rain. Husband and son had a log load to do, then gave up for the day. We unloaded the truck from the show at the weekend and picked up the car that had been MOTd and serviced, then had a meeting in the evening, so good thing in some ways it wasn't busier.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Tue Aug 06, 19 1:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I have just spent a long time telling you of my weekend and loss of my keys and it won't print this for me!

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Tue Aug 06, 19 1:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Well the last bit got printed, so some progress!

I had a good time at the Burwarton Show. Much the same as last year but at least I saw some old friends and had a good time with the friends and their children and grand children. The little boy has improved a lot since I last saw him and is able to entertain himself much better than he used to! It appears he has made some leaps in his school progress too, which may contribute to his life skills, but much better to be with now than before when he was at a school which was for children too bright for his then ability!

I am thinking of retiring soon-the boys keep dropping hints-I think that the second in command has a brother who is unhappy where he is presently working-and would jump at the idea of moving in.

The key saga is that I left my keys to my buildings at home when I went to the show and now a week later I still can't find them, most annoying. I think the keys will turn up as soon as I cut the locks off and spend £200 on new locks!

I hope all is well with you MR. I guess the logs have slowed down and the charcoal through the roof! How is Cassandra faring M.R., any news?

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Wed Aug 07, 19 6:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Cassandra is preparing for their Bullock Show, which has teams of bullocks pulling carts through the place as in the old days. She is still spinning, but less in other Downsizery ways I think.

Don't let them push you out Gregotyn. Go when you are ready and not before. No doubt you are right; you keys will turn up as soon as you change the locks, and padlocks aren't cheap.

I am glad you had a good time at the show and with your friends. The problem with children who are rather bright is that they get frustrated and haven't yet learned patience. I remember my mother telling me very often that patience is a virtue, suggesting that at the time it was something I rather lacked. I must admit that I do still get impatient with people and things, but can cope with it better without letting them know now.

We are pretty busy with charcoal. Son is on holiday at the moment, so husband and I are working on our own, which slows things down rather. We emptied the kiln and bagged the last lot of charcoal, and hope to cut the wood for the next firing tomorrow. We will probably load the kiln another day, as that is going to be quite an effort for the two of us. As long as we get another firing done next week, we should be all right. We do have log orders, and need to get on with them, so again, hoping to get one or two next week, then more when son returns.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Thu Aug 08, 19 1:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I am planning to leave work next spring, in my mind, but with the winter coming I may go sooner. I suspect it will depend on what enterprise I can add at home apart from kindling and tidying up! It will have to be a paying enterprise, lessons in making besoms springs to mind; I am far enough away not to be treading on your toes with them, MR. The new padlocks turned up today £40 plus vat-their retail being around £75. On the security scale they are 9/10. The annoying thing is that the old locks' keys will show up, but not before I have had to destroy their locking ability to getting them off the doors they are protecting. There is a way of picking locks and I am hoping to have a go at this before I need to use the currently well protected machinery behind the doors. I have done it before but someone said those I have are "pick proof". Otherwise it is cut them off!

I understand the charcoal orders, but surprised you need to get log orders done too, with the weather so warm. I suppose when it rains things do cool down and not everyone doesn't have any heat all the year round like me.

Glad Cassandra is ok. If only she would at least post now and then-after all she started all this!

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45374
Location: yes
PostPosted: Thu Aug 08, 19 10:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

re a decent lock, afaik very few are pickproof ( or other means of non destructive compromise )

a long time ago i had to shut my eyes for less than half a minute while a Ingersoll trained locksmith compromised a thousand pound ( 1980's prices ) cylinder latch lock .

as they are padlocks of good quality they will be resistant to less than subtle means but with the right methods they will open.

T bar and vibrating prong works with quite a few "pick proof " cylinder locks
gates and levers need a different approach

12" petrol diamond disc cutter is pretty reliable if a direct approach is needed, i would go for the hasp if possible
but if the hasp is an " ingrower " so long as the padlock is held securely , with a " tool " not a hand, both sides of the hoop of owt without roller bars and kevlar fluff will cut pretty well with a pro level disc

if the locks are good, could you go through the wall or roof ?, with push shut padlocks they keys might be inside

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Fri Aug 09, 19 6:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I already suggested taking the hinges off, but did you try that, or are the screws the sort that lock in?

We do firewood at this time of year as some people like to get theirs in during the summer so they know they have it during the winter, and we do sometimes get busy then, so they are sure of their supply. We usually give them partially seasoned wood, so they can finish the seasoning themselves as well.

There are a number of besom makers in this area, so you wouldn't be stepping on my toes by making or teaching besom making Gregotyn. I am only really just getting established as a broomsquire, and don't know if I will have enough birch to last me through. I have far more than most years, but they seem very popular.

I think Cassandra has moved on from this and is now pretty well involved with spinning and similar things. I know she had problems with her computer a while back, so no idea if she fixed that or not. I believe the phone company is rather less than good, and think she puts most of her FB stuff up using her mobile.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Fri Aug 09, 19 1:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

These locks are Draper, I have tried the lock picking ceremony, but these are not playing ball. I was "taught" by a school "friend" how to do it, but these are not receptive to my skill ability. I have got the replacements, but would dearly like to pick the others as they cost me, trade into us £40 each, with normal retail for us out at around £80. If I could save the old locks I would use them elsewhere, but it looks unlikely. The hinges are internal on 2 doors and I cannot begin to lift them on the third pair of doors which have external hinges, even with the tractor as they are welded into place and 2 metres wide each! I put a bar above the doors so that lifting them, for anyone wishing to break in, was not an option-not thinking I was to be the one to need to break in. Something will happen, as I must saw and chop wood soon, and be able to get to my stock as the shop is running out even at this time of the year. I can take the lock "area" off the saw shed as it is mounted on the door, so that is a start, but that is the shed where I saw and chop, which is the important shed. The second shed, an old lorry body, is where I am in the process of making a child's mud kitchen, and the other shed is the netting up and storage for the finished nets, where there is currently about 250 nets ready, but the least accessible! Access through a wall would be possible, but the one door is solid with saw dust and the other has wood up against it on the opening side. It will happen one day!

My boss who wants me to leave has been quiet lately, and the other lad is asking me to go in and help have a shop turn around one week end and also paint the floor again. Basically I have 2 bosses one of whom is a complete ....; the other is not so bad. I think going is still the best route, once I find an extra form of income, another stick shop!

Just had a brain wave with the one lock It has a small loop through which the padlock goes If that will cut and there is no reason why not the padlock will come out and the bolt will slide to open, and there is an alternative loop above the one I am going to cut out. Bingo! Talking about it has given me one route to get into the sawing and chopping shed.

Well if you do come across Cassandra, MR, please give her my best wishes, and to get in touch at least to tell me how she is getting on. You can remind her we were a gang of 3!

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Mon Aug 12, 19 7:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Glad you have thought of a solution to one of your locks anyway. I would also suggest clearing the sawdust as it is a potential fire hazard, and if there is that much it would burn for months!. The question is whether a lock smith to pick them might cost more than the cost of the padlocks.

I will pass your message on to Cassandra. I know she is heavily involved with the bullock fair at the moment. She posted some pictures on FB of a bullock team, a traction engine and an old tractor in their parade through the middle of town. Not the sort of thing you see through most British towns.

We have been away for the weekend to Charfest; 5 different ways of making charcoal. The dirtiest was the earth burn. It got rather over enthusiastic at the beginning, and when we went down about 6 hours after it was lit, there were still areas that needed patching with wet hay and soil. It was hard to see them as there was so much smoke. It gave a pretty good yield in the end though. As last years wouldn't go out, I stood by the water bowser ready to constantly fill watering cans, but it had settled quite nicely, and only a moderate amount of water was needed.

There was also a ring kiln and 2 different retort kilns, all of which we are familiar with as we have used all 3. There was also a method of making biochar from brash, which was quite exiting, but looks as if it could be a way of converting a lot of brash to a smaller amount of low grade charcoal if all else fails on the brash front, and would certainly please volunteers who usually like a good bonfire.

It was pretty windy, but luckily not quite as bad as they predicted. Our trailer, which now has a small sink complete with tap, and a 2 burner gas stove was very useful and comfortable, but we need a smaller saucepan than the one I took.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Tue Aug 13, 19 2:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

That is exactly the way my friend deals with all the brash he gets after felling trees or trimming hedges-biochar, and about all he uses as a growing medium for many of his veg., along with well rotted manure and companion planting. I was impressed with that. He is totally organic, farm and garden.

No they rarely parade any livestock, beside horses in the streets of the UK. There are a lot of sheep who are escapologists. I think there are some tractors that do parades on special days, and a few that get driven to us for repairs or ad-blu. But we have a lot of tractors on the roads at harvest time. Where I am we have 2 horse stables with around 20 horses between them, and they all seem to go on the roads. We also have vintage tractor clubs who seem to think they own to road, and occupy more than half the road at great speeds! I guess you all get the tractor runs as well, when a bunch of enthusiasts, around 15-20, go for a drive around the countryside at about 20 mph when all the rest of us are in a hurry. My Massey 35 could join them but I have better things to do-chop wood!

Talking of trailers, my neighbour turned up with a beautiful tri-axle horse box, room inside to cook, sit and sleep2, and 2 horses and their tack. I would like it as my caravan!

My outside works are getting along and we have now found all things outside connecting my house to a waste disposal point across the other side of the road, on a neighbour's field. I am now returning the down pipes to their rightful places, replacing those worn bits and will have an operational system in about 2 weeks, (if I just get out there and get on with it, but fire wood is becoming a need now too! I am having difficulty getting the pipe joints to join up as they need power that my arthritis does not want to part with to get them to snap together!

Ty Gwyn



Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 4562
Location: Lampeter
PostPosted: Tue Aug 13, 19 5:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Use fairy liquid on the male end and inside the socket around the rubber,they`ll slip in easy then.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45374
Location: yes
PostPosted: Tue Aug 13, 19 8:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

wot ty gwyn said re lube, before that give em a wipe with a damp cloth to get any grits and dust out.

if it is a cut to length male pipe chamfer and deburr the end ( ditto if the full lengths have no chamfer ), rasp n emery paper is pretty quick and better than it refusing to go into place.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Wed Aug 14, 19 7:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If all else fails, get a young strong neighbour to put the bits together for you.

We do get cows in the road sometimes, but that is usually because someone left a gate open or they found a way through the hedge. Occasionally it is because some anti-social so and so stole the electric fence unit. They had goats at one of our country parks once, but they kept getting out, during a F&M outbreak too, so they got removed and exiled in Wales. If you have any escape artist goats in your part of the world Gregotyn or Ty, they could be them or their offspring.

I had a tractor get a bit close to me coming along a straightish road last week when we were picking up the car after its MOT. Rather scary and made me swerve.

Ty Gwyn



Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 4562
Location: Lampeter
PostPosted: Wed Aug 14, 19 9:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If one lives in the countryside tractor runs happen,their often for charities,
Stock on the road happens occasionally but that`s farming,things go wrong,we`re lucky this part of the country,reading on a UK farming forum,thefts of farm equipment across England seems to be at an all time high,along with the butchering of sheep in the fields,several cases around the Northampton area and sheep rustling across the country.

Talking of drivers on the road,yesterday afternoon I went down the farmers coop to fetch a 500kg bag of feed with the jeep and trailer,i passed 6 cars on the way down,thought a lot of vehicles for this lane,when I hit the first village main road I could see the diversions signs for road works,on the way back as soon as I turned into the village lane,cars came flying around the bend and backing up by the pull in,one lady had difficulty in reversing back for me,because the middle age man behind in his big white car was virtually across the road when he tried to reverse,about 1/2 further on I met another middle age man driver,well if I had my tobacco with me I could have rolled 3 cigarettes,by the time he bumped into one bank then the other going back 10yds,
One thing for sure,the Ladies were better drivers around here yesterday

Ty Gwyn



Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 4562
Location: Lampeter
PostPosted: Wed Aug 14, 19 9:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If one lives in the countryside tractor runs happen,their often for charities,
Stock on the road happens occasionally but that`s farming,things go wrong,we`re lucky this part of the country,reading on a UK farming forum,thefts of farm equipment across England seems to be at an all time high,along with the butchering of sheep in the fields,several cases around the Northampton area and sheep rustling across the country.

Talking of drivers on the road,yesterday afternoon I went down the farmers coop to fetch a 500kg bag of feed with the jeep and trailer,i passed 6 cars on the way down,thought a lot of vehicles for this lane,when I hit the first village main road I could see the diversions signs for road works,on the way back as soon as I turned into the village lane,cars came flying around the bend and backing up by the pull in,one lady had difficulty in reversing back for me,because the middle age man behind in his big white car was virtually across the road when he tried to reverse,about 1/2 further on I met another middle age man driver,well if I had my tobacco with me I could have rolled 3 cigarettes,by the time he bumped into one bank then the other going back 10yds,
One thing for sure,the Ladies were better drivers around here yesterday

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