Gondor's Grumblings

[Rick Lowe]

Pellson, you have nothing whatsoever to worry about.  I am aware that you are communicating in a second language, and using it very much better than several  native English speakers I have taught!!

Agree with the good usage of the language. 

[Gondor]

One of the things I thought of yesterday, or was it the day before,    was that to get the mojo going, I should start a fresh build. I thought about the M-10 Booker that I had bought at Telford, an instant whiff in a box if operational markings were used. That was until I looked at the instructions. Not only are there levers which are accessible through the turret hole, which allow you to adjust the height of the road wheels in four groups, front and rear, for each side. Why? Then I saw how the track links are supposed to be assembled.



I think I might be doing that differently. So the box is back in the stash. That is way too complex for a mojo-inducing build, more like a mojo killer.

[Rick Lowe]

  

[NARSES2]

I was wondering what some of these multi-part track links were like ? Now I know     

[Gondor]

I was wondering what some of these multi-part track links were like ? Now I know     

It's the most ridiculous set I have seen so far. That is not to say that there isn't a worse set out there. At least the track pins are metal, but they look as if they are 0.1mm in diameter, so I am not sure how well they will stand up to handling. I would probably have to drill out all the holes just to be sure the pins would go through.

[Rick Lowe]

There was a fella at the club once, he was making up some Fruil tracks (remember those?) and he substituted their wire with sewing pins.
Much sturdier than most wires, and a nice domed end as well.

Just a suggestion. 

[Gondor]

There was a fella at the club once, he was making up some Fruil tracks (remember those?) and he substituted their wire with sewing pins.
Much sturdier than most wires, and a nice domed end as well.

Just a suggestion. 

I have some Fruil tracks with wire, I think I will do that. It would not work with the M10 tracks; the wire is much thinner.

[Rick Lowe]

 
Happy to help.

Having said that, there are different grades/thicknesses of pins...

[Gondor]

So Monday is tomorrow, and I will be going under the knife again. Eye surgery again, and as with the previous surgeries, its age related. I am now fully committed to going, as I have phoned to confirm that I will be turning up for the appointment at 8am. This means that I have a start tomorrow morning, the same as I normally would, as if I were going to work, which is what I would be doing if I didn't have surgery tomorrow.
I have most things ready to take wth me, medicines are with my bag, as is a book and a spare power cable for my phone. I will pack a change of clothes tomorrow morning, and as I have made cake tonight, I shall prepare a section of that to take with me for the staff in the ward who will look after me, along with a copy of the recipe. Talking of which. I know that Supertom had posted a picture of the cake he made using the recipe, but that whole post was lost in the last crash of the site. So below is a copy of the recipe for those who wish to try it. Saying that, the recipe is a modification of a recipe from a 1968 Womans Own cooker booklet, so feel free to modify to suit your own particular taste.

Alastair's Fruit Cake

Ingredients:
1lb Self-raising Flour; ½ level teaspoon of salt; ½ lb margarine; ½ lb granulated sugar
½ lb currants; ½ lb sultanas; 1 punnet of cherries; 3 medium-sized eggs
Just over ¼ pint of milk
Method:
Grease and line an 8-9-inch cake tin with greased grease-proof paper. Sift self-raising flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Add the margarine, cut into small pieces, then rub into the sifted flour mixture until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in sugar and cleaned, dried currants and sultanas. Beat eggs into the milk. Add to the dry flour and fruit mixture in the mixing bowl and mix with a wooden spoon until well blended. Turn into prepared tin and bake in a moderate oven (375°F, 190°C, Gas Mark 4) for 1 and a half to 2 hours, or until firm to the touch and golden brown. Cool on a wire tray, then store the cake in an air-tight tin.

[Rheged]

Madame Rheged, who is a baker of some repute  in our village,  tells me that this is a first rate, classic recipe and easily capable of modification to personal taste.............a form of culinary Whiffery perhaps................... and with  your permission and approval intends to bake one or more  for our village New Year festivities.  She may reduce the cherry component and add mixed peel but this is still under discussion. 

Those familiar with village/small community life will know all about what I can only term  "competitive catering" between the ladies  but she believes that this fruit cake will  uphold the standards of  whiffworld

[kerick]

One of the things I thought of yesterday, or was it the day before,    was that to get the mojo going, I should start a fresh build. I thought about the M-10 Booker that I had bought at Telford, an instant whiff in a box if operational markings were used. That was until I looked at the instructions. Not only are there levers which are accessible through the turret hole, which allow you to adjust the height of the road wheels in four groups, front and rear, for each side. Why? Then I saw how the track links are supposed to be assembled.



I think I might be doing that differently. So the box is back in the stash. That is way too complex for a mojo-inducing build, more like a mojo killer.

If I can count correctly these days that's 54 pieces in that jig to make that one short bit of track. So how many times would you have to do that to build two lengths of track? Whatever that might be it's insane. I was thinking of getting that kit of the "light tank that's not a tank", but not on your life now.
BTW, ever notice how whenever the US Army names a vehicle after an enlisted person that program gets canceled? Anybody got one of those Sgt York kits in the stash?

[Gondor]

Madame Rheged, who is a baker of some repute  in our village,  tells me that this is a first rate, classic recipe and easily capable of modification to personal taste.............a form of culinary Whiffery perhaps................... and with  your permission and approval intends to bake one or more  for our village New Year festivities.  She may reduce the cherry component and add mixed peel but this is still under discussion. 

Those familiar with village/small community life will know all about what I can only term  "competitive catering" between the ladies  but she believes that this fruit cake will  uphold the standards of  whiffworld

Not a problem at all. The quantity of the cherries is determined by the amount that is provided by the supermarket, who sell tubs of pre-halved cherries. I have in the past used some of the cherries as decoration for the top of the cake.

[zenrat]

At least they give you a jig.  And as far as they go that's a pretty comprehensive one.

But I appreciate not everyone wants to build their own working tracks so a rubber band option would be a good idea as well.

[Gondor]

Rather than clog up the medical thread for my recovery, I am posting details here.

Getting in early with the practising for next years Internation Talk Like a Pirate Day, September 19th 2026.



And without the patch



As you can see, the eye doesn't look exactly normal. A month's sick leave was given to me, and I have forwarded a photo to my work. I have also had replies from both my boss, who was checking how long it was, and the handwriting looked as if a four-year-old had done it. HR was a lot more sympathetic, but as she is female, it's understandable.


I got a reply from Jadlam late yesterday about the wrong item I was sent. They want me to send it back and have sent me some sort of print it yourself lable to do so. I have replied that I will be sending it after Christmas. I want to be a bit more funtional before I do things like that, such as being able to look where I am walking rather than at my feet.

[Accidental Loggie]

Best wishes for your swift and full recovery Alastair  .  It's surprising just how much recovery time is needed after eye-related surgery, and I think that you're very wise to pace yourself.  Have a relaxing Christmas and keep taking the eye drops.