Spring has finally sprung, Bits and Bobs.

[oldherbaceous]

I have stopped the clock, Parsnip, as if the other part goes, it will drop the very large striking weight, straight through the wooden floor on the first level of the tower.

[Pa Snip]

Ouch, that does sound expensive.

Hope it is fixed soon. Always find it sad when a clock in public view has stopped, particularly a church clock.

[Clive.]

Best I'm extra careful when I go to wind our big clock this morning in case it comes out in sympathy.. .

It was repaired by Cumbria Clocks after a failure a couple of years ago. Smiths/Potts had previously been the service contractors for many years. It had been running with drive disconnected to ones of the 4 faces since a problem in 2009 but its actual failure was the pendulum suport spring fracturing...leaving the pendulum supported on a thin timber guard.

The clock of 1778 and tower was brought to Lincolnshire by Susan Lushington and given to Stephen Massingberd upon his return from the Great War in 1917.

Fascinating that this timber guard has the name Governor Hornby stencilled on it. Gov. Hornby was a governor of India and it was from his house in Hook Place, on the south coast, that our clock tower was purchased from. Secondhand.

At the time of the recent repair the opportunity was taken to replace the wooden rope pulleys that were well worn with new full replicas and the rope was returned to be actual rope rather than steel wire which it was running with before....only thing is that this now means I have to rewind every 6 days instead of a full week. ...but I'm sure the rope is kinder on the wooden pulleys.

I hope the problem with your clock can be checked out and repaired ok.


Clive.

[peter]

Started drizzling here last night around 7; 30 and doesn't seem to have stopped since.

Big rugby day yesterday, we beat the Cornish All Blacks 31-24 in National 2 division to earn a place in the promotion playoff for National 1 against Ampthill. We've been in National 2 for two seasons and that promotion day drained the clubs alcohol stock dry, judging by how busy we were in the pitchside bar I think that could have been repeated.

[Ricard with an H]

Most men wont be told, that's why we have a reputation for not stopping and asking directions when driving

I have never been sure about classifying behaviour because in my experiences most behaviours transcend race and male/female. In my case the loosing of abilities comes at a time my skills are at their highest, the skills I have are useful for where I live in retirement and are envied by pals who don't have my fat fingers and aching joints. Those pals could keep me employed full time, as it is I'm employed full time keeping up with repairs and new projects because I don't have a days work in me.

Each and every task has to be punctuated by short rest periods and to be perfectly honest I'm not thinking things through like I used to.

The rule of thumb about, "Measure twice and cut once" works. I now have to do re-thinking periods on how i'm about to deal with a problem when the solution used to kick-in almost immediately. So, think about it for a few days before going for it is the new rule of thumb.

All very frustrating for us cavemen, I'm not atypical though I do retreat to my cave and other typical behaviours of men. Be kind to us 'who won't be told', realise there are things in life as important as the lion-cloth and cudgel for hunting. Little boys with their toys in my case can be very useful and save a lot of money if only the fingers work.

[oldherbaceous]

An interesting bit of history on your clock, Clive...maybe i should try and find out a little about ours....i know it was purchased by Lady Inglis and came from a London company, but little else.....

Richard, as long as we get there in the end, we are still doing something right.....

[oldherbaceous]

Forgot to mention, the Cukoo is finally with us, it was singing for a long while this morning..... i suppose that is why it's turning colder again.

[Shallot Man]

OH. Can't remember the last time I heard a cuckoo.

[Primrose]

Serveral years for me too. Our local one probably disappeared abiut five years ago. I always listen in hope but as they're supposed to return to the same location I fear that it has died and any offspring have lost their sat navs! Sad. Hearing it for the first time again every spring was always a special moment

[Monika]

"Our" cuckoo arrived this morning, very much in line with previous years. Only the swift is now missing.

Otherwise it wasn't exactly very springlike early this morning: minus 4C - lots of the new growth on buddleias and the rose hedge has been frosted, and even the potatoes which were covered with double fleece have been slightly caught - no doubt more new shoots will emerge.

It's been a lovely clear and sunny day with views for miles!

[Geoff]

Hope you didn't get frosted last night. Caught my potatoes under a polythene cloche but probably OK. I think it was the time that got them, still below zero a 7:00 am which is unusual as the sun was shining. Now got a double layer of polythene cover for at least the rest of the week by the look of the forecast. Quite a few sad looking things in the flower garden and I guess the plum and damson blossom is done for.

[Primrose]

I think a lot of blossoms will have been caught by the frost. Could mean a poor harvest this autumn.

[Geoff]

Well to be frosty again tonight it will have to stop sleeting!

[Elaine]

I've still to see a Swallow round here, though I did see a few when we were in Hornsea last week.

I haven't heard a Cuckoo round here for two years....here's hoping.

[Ricard with an H]

Maybe that single swallow I saw wasn't a swallow though I did hear a cuckoo, he was "At-it"all day. Cuckoopint.

I thought swallows fly in groups, I haven't seen a swallow since I reported I saw a swallow so maybe my mistake.