Fallow Lands

Taken about this time of year - fairly grim sky - i rather like this little group munching on the "set-aside". This particular field, outside the back door, is awash with wildlife, the problem is they all want to tuck into our veg patch. I have seen a fallow deer clear a 6 foot fence from standing without even thinking about it, on the run they'll happily dive headlong into the thickest blackthorn hedge and emerge like rockets, unscathed the other side without breaking stride. They also have a very wholesome diet which, combined with the outdoor life and a little winter fat, make them very tasty indeed. 30-30 Win 150 grain HI-SHOCK soft point flat nose from 100 metres'll do the trick. One for the freezer ! MORE KINETIC ENERGY

Fake Tan Man

I was lucky enough to be invited to a demonstration of this prototype tanning machine. As you can see, in the interest of reliability, the manufacturer has opted for an Atlas Copco compressor to power the unit. I suspect the equivalent Ingersoll Rand vane-type machine was rejected on cost grounds as well. The gentleman providing the demonstration has just got back from his lunch break and is checking air-flow and the oil cooling system temperature guages. I believe he had a chicken liver salad and a glass of beer.

One Flue Over

Been busy with the annual chimney cleaning task, worked up quite a thirst I can tell you. Burning coal to keep warm in the eighteenth century must have produced some beautiful sights. The thought of this lot all chuffing away together gets me very excited - you'd have been able to smell your way home from the pub with ease. I'm rather pleased with the way this chap sits so snuggly in the trees.

Ready Rubbed ....

..... me thinks. Now I have been known to smoke a pipe myself but I can tell you I'm not a golfer. I'm also rather taken with the high waisted trouser idea, she seems to have the same thing going on with her shorts which is obviously what tempted him onto the fairway in the first place. Don't be fooled by the lack of smoke, I suspect he's chuffing a hot burning aromatic. This image was intended to tempt you to fly away to a Maine of the late '50s and enjoy their lovely golf courses. This period of American commercial art is my home town and I feel the urge to explore, I think my enthusiasm was aroused whilst flicking through countless old National Geographics in my youth - the car adverts were quite stunning and I'm building up a collection. I just thought this picture sums up the naive directness of that genre so well.

Plant Hungry Plant

Annual tidy up around the yard revealed this chap lurking in the undergrowth. I parked this screening plant up about nine or ten years ago in the belief that I would one day get around to making a few repairs. Powered by the ever reliable Lister HR3 this machine has seen many years service screening aggregates. I felt this picture reflected the New Year atmosphere quite well - optimistically it looks like the dinosaur is pulling itself free of last year's brambles - alternatively, and more realistically, it seems well and truly static and vulnerable to the hungry vegetation.

Series On The Move

Winter update. Few days off over the Christmas spell has seen a bit of progress on the old Series 2A. Seen here on the move 'twixt 'shops on board the slightly dodgy transporter, the floor is in fact completely rotten hence the skilfull application of a couple of scaffold boards. All's well that doesn't fall off the trailer and the series is now mobile under her own steam and ready for mot test next month. In point of fact I have very rarely lost items from trailers - complete trailers is a different kettle of squirrels, twice that would be, oh and I did run over a caravan once but somebody else was towing it so that probably doesn't count.

All Steamed Up

An exercise in reduction gearing. As a seasonal pass-time, Meccano construction takes some beating. The Britains Defender County is altogether too modern for my taste but was to hand for a test run. We managed to get up to 16 lb lift to the accompaniment of hissing and gurgling noises from the SE 2, before belt slippage became an issue. Off to e-bay in search of chain & sprockets for a more positive drive. Also in the process of building a reversing, two speed gearbox from a job lot of gears and pinions wrestled off said auction site. Choo choo. MORE TORQUE.