Life on the edge - the Diary of a C5

[CitroJim]

The old Diesel-Hydraulic Westerns are fantastic When I was a kid I used to watch them in awe as they passed by the bottom of my grand-parents garden on the Westbury cut-off line running at quite a pace... I fell in love with them and their smaller sibling, the Hymek...

But wouldn't you prefer a nice Paxman Valenta as originally fitted to the HST? They were diesel bliss and not quite so smoky!

Best of all though is a Deltic That's what you really want!

[Xantianut]

Hello, Uncle Jim.

Opposed piston 2 stroke*, eh? Not sure about that, I like my 4 stroke.

What papa would love would be an EE 16SVT. V16, 25 litres per cylinder, 4 turbos and a lovely whistly exhaust note. I like them because they don't make much smoke but only rev to 850rpm! What good I'd that for a sporty girl like me?

* I looked them up on Wiki!!!

[Hell Razor5543]

Talking about opposing pistons, there is a gentleman in Thatcham called John Wiscombe. He developed an unusual spring powered air rifle that was phenomenally accurate. This was because it had two pistons heading towards each other down the cylinder. This resulted in a spring air rifle without any recoil. I did meet JW a long time back, when I was a field target rifle shooter;

http://www.americanairgunner.com/whiscombe-air-rifle/

[CitroJim]

What papa would love would be an EE 16SVT. V16, 25 litres per cylinder, 4 turbos and a lovely whistly exhaust note. I like them because they don't make much smoke but only rev to 850rpm! What good I'd that for a sporty girl like me?

Oh yes! Good choice if I may say so

2-strokes are good! I like them a lot...

Especially as triples in motorcycles...

[Xantianut]

Talking about opposing pistons, there is a gentleman in Thatcham called John Wiscombe. He developed an unusual spring powered air rifle that was phenomenally accurate. This was because it had two pistons heading towards each other down the cylinder. This resulted in a spring air rifle without any recoil. I did meet JW a long time back, when I was a field target rifle shooter;

http://www.americanairgunner.com/whiscombe-air-rifle/

Fascinating! I do like to do some target shooting, plus rat hunting......

[Xantianut]

Hello, Friends.

If there are any of you in Wolverhampton this weekend, Moseley Old Hall has an extraordinary weekend on, re-enacting the visit of Charles 2 in 1651. Papa will be acting his socks off as a traitor. Or is he?

Only if he buys a Jsguar!!!!

[Xantianut]

Hello, friends!!!

Papa is Not Happy. Why does the Bay of Evil insist on asking for reviews of purchases. Fair enough was a review of my new battery but a pack of .45mm wire? Small wonder he's tearing his hair out. Or would be, if he had any!!!

We went to Shenstone yesterday, a lovely place full of nice people and well-mannered cars. I had to mind my manners! I'm used to Wolverhampton where I can kick and spit to my hearts' content. No problem, though, it's nice to be nice! The good news is that all the fresh air yesterday has broken Papa's cold so he is no longer covering the inside of my streamlined windscreen and accurate instrument panel with mucus when he sneezes! Or coughs.

We are getting ready for the Extraordinary Weekend at Moseley with Papa acting his socks off! So if any of you can make it, please visit Moseley Old Hall and see Papa doing his stuff. Oh, and I will accept any pats in the car park that are going spare!

Love

Otterchops!

[CitroJim]

Papa is Not Happy. Why does the Bay of Evil insist on asking for reviews of purchases. Fair enough was a review of my new battery but a pack of .45mm wire?

I just ignore things like this... I do leave feedback though on the rare occasions I use the 'bay...

It does slightly annoy me that now virtually everything you buy demands a review... It's not only the 'bay...

[MikeT]

Papa is Not Happy. Why does the Bay of Evil insist on asking for reviews of purchases. Fair enough was a review of my new battery but a pack of .45mm wire?

I just ignore things like this... I do leave feedback though on the rare occasions I use the 'bay...

It does slightly annoy me that now virtually everything you buy demands a review... It's not only the 'bay...

No, it's spreafing. I get emails from the carriers wanting feedback too.

[CitroJim]

It's all just a cynical way to harvest your email address

[myglaren]

Hello, friends!!!

Papa is Not Happy. Why does the Bay of Evil insist on asking for reviews of purchases. Fair enough was a review of my new battery but a pack of .45mm wire? Small wonder he's tearing his hair out. Or would be, if he had any!!!

Feel free to ignore them - I invariably do although like Jim always leave feedback.

Amazon pesters for reviews too, I rarely submit one (usually for Jackie Evancho DCs/DVDs).
They are most frequently for Kindle books and by the time I get the review invitation I have forgotten what the books was.

[Xantianut]

Hello, Friends!

Papa does just that. He leaves feedback and then uses the stuff. But, as he says, how DO you rate a pack of .45mm wire? Sometimes he thinks that my powerful Diesel engine is too modern for his old bones. But then he pulls a rabbit out of a hat and just sorts it! Clever Papa. And then enjoys the sound of my big turbo spooling up!!! And feeling my brutal acceleration.

Love

Otterchops

[Xantianut]

Hello, friends.

Well, that is the Extraordinary Weekend over. Papa is back to speaking (more or less) normally because he went very broad Yorkshire for the weekend. He also carried a large sword. I thought he was going to cut me but then explained that the blade's edges had been ground off to make it safe for re-enactment. Even so, it could still hurt someone especially with a big numpty like Papa swinging it! Lots of bangs from Muskets and shouting punctuated the weekend but my people enjoyed it. Even if they are now very tired from their exertions. I got a rest, even if daylight did appear under my tyres when some of those muskets went off!!!

Back to normal now I think.

Love

Otterchops

[Xantianut]

Hello, friends.

I am gunnng for one of the gardeners at Moseley or, as Papa calls them, The Wrecking Crew.

You remember the little Murray tractor mower Papa fixed? Well, they broke it again! This time some fool drove the poor little soul into a tree stump and cracked her little petrol tank. Papa was not happy but, if Papa fixes something, it becomes Family to me.

Papa found that new tanks were just about unobtainable so he fixed it with some epoxy putty but even so....

Mess not with Otterchops. You have been warned.....

[Xantianut]

Hello, friends!

1st the bad news. Papa will not be doing the Severn Valley Autumn Gala because some bicycle race has closed most of the roads between us and there so we shall be doing the scarecrow festival at Pattingham instead!

However, HUGE news! I have new shoes! Yes, new tyres on the front. Papa also needs to change that suspension arm ASAP and my front brakes. So, he will be breaking out his tools soon.

Love

Otterchops