Just when you thought it was safe to relax

[Dormouse]

Was going to post this yesterday evening but footie got in the way, plus lazyitis.

Does anyone else have a Vax Lava Lamp!

[Dormouse]

Besides, I was too busy enjoying our homemade Chicken and Ham, Leek and Potato Bake.

[Dormouse]

I need to prove that I am not totally lazy so -


After shopping here for our Christmas and New Year goodies

I took this for a walk

I loaded this

Then I sat down and came on here.

[Dormouse]

Guess what kind of shoes LOML really likes.

My lightweight walking shoes and my Goretex walking shoes

[Dormouse]

As it is Christmas this is her seasonal slippers

I prefer these all year round

[Dormouse]

Here is a Casey video for you.



If this doen't melt your heart, I don't know what will.

[Dormouse]

Traced 7 of the 9 wires to here and visually checked the PCB. All 7 wires are continuous to the switch and voltage from the switch is arriving at the board but not powering the leds or the motor. No obvious dry joints or issues. Can't find a wiring diagram online so kind of winging it.
The two wires not traced up to the PCB are a red (+ve) and a black (-ve) which connect to the battery box and the plug in adapter socket and are ok at the switch. Stopped for now to think it out.

[Dormouse]

I have found two problems. The PCB is U/S and controls nothing. The motor is similarly U/S but at least it is a standard one fitted to many things.
As a result, I am going to bypass the PCB for now and power the LEDs so the tower can be reassembled for the rest of this Xmas. I will look for parts to repair it for next year.

[Dormouse]

The Starlings are getting brave/desperate. Occasionally now they are sitting on the spikes trying to peck away at them!
However the pooing has reduced.

From these

to this

So, some success then.

The Starlings have turned the majority of their attention to a neighbour across the road


However, The neighbours are one step ahead of them this year. After 3 years of installation, they had bird netting attached around their panels just this summer.

Apparently birds like to roost and nest under solar panels!

[myglaren]

Strange, I have solar panels on the main roof and birds never bother with them, but on the smaller roof it sounds like they are running around in hob-nailed boots.
They do nest in the attic sometimes though, get in through the eaves ports, other years it is bees. Always right above my bed.

[Dormouse]

The Wonderland Express is back together while I try to find spares for it. Can get lights but no music or trains moving.

The pcb and the drive motor have both failed

[Dormouse]

The other winter scenes include these models.

All animated or have light shows.

[Dormouse]

Last night I did the tea - Lemon Chicken Stirfry with Rice.

LOML is in the kitchen this morning doing Scotch Tablet ( Fudge to some people ). There are scores of people awaiting this annual event. One of her ex workmates runs a cafe now and is forever on at her to supply Tablet for sale. She used to use Fussells Condensed Milk but can't find it nowadays. Anybody got any suggestions for alternatives to Carnation Condensed Milk?

[Dormouse]

And no, it was not out of a packet. We make most of our meals from fresh. My best stirfry variation, I think, is the Lime Chicken version which includes Roses Lime Marmalade in the recipe.

[Dormouse]

I get to scrape the pots

Our spice drawer. We have another deep drawer with bottles - Soy sauce, Sriracha sauce, Oyster sauce, Saki, Rice wine, vinegars of several varieties, oils of several varieties and bulk packs of Rices, Pulses and the like.

I do experiment with the recipes and a few have got the thumbs down from LOML so they never get repeated.

I like my roast Cauliflower Steaks and LOML has to do her homemade chips when our son in law visits

Only bone of contention is that I love Lamb but LOML can't stand it.