What have you done today

[Chuffer]

Finally got back to a day in the BIG TOY BOX today after an enforced break of several weeks due to a holiday , sickness , prolonged repairs to the Jeep Grand Cherokee plus other family demands . `It was a tender behind ` day today in more ways than one as I copped the job of crawling around on my back in the most inaccessible corner of the coal space on our project locomotive `Sir Lamiel `s ` tender to needle gun the corrosion and scale off the steel plate work under the large steel box that contains the batteries and electrical equipment for the Automatic Train Protection & Warning System that is mandated for main line running on the national rail network . Then applying a good coat Red Oxide primer . Today was one of our monthly `work party ` days when other volunteers can turn up and help with the work . With two of us needle gunning and one other using a power wire brushing tool , the noise was horrendous even with ear defenders on as our combined efforts reverberated throughout the empty tender like a giant tin drum . Good progress mad though with the rear deck around the water filler holes are painted and the steel tool locker that bolts onto the tender bulk head and other components all needled gunned , linished and rust proof primer painted . Needless to say I came home as black as the preverbial ace of spades !!

 

[Chuffer]

Really blew the cobwebs away big time today after hauling ass in the V8 Grand Cherokee up into the mountains of Southern Eryri ( Snowdonia ) until the black top ran out on the appropriately named Ffordd Ddu ( Black Road) . Then it was a 3 hour circular yomp up stony tracks and wild desolate mountainsides with the intention of reaching the top of Braich Ddu ( Black Arm ) which is the western end of the Cadair Idris mountain range . Having climbed the other high points of the very long ridge from the Eastern end over the years , I really wanted to tick off the western end where the mountains meet the sea . Stunning views looking north up the coast towards the distant high mountains of Northern Snowdonia .However the high winds of sustained 45mph made progress so difficult once I had climbed away from the coastal views that I aborted the full route and returned part way back via the relative sanctuary of a pine forrest lower down in the valley . Static air temperature back at the Jeep was 2.7 Degrees Celcius but the wind chill factor on the exposed mountainside was well below zero degrees . In fact the Met Office mountain weather forecast had predicted gusts up to 55mph on the summits and wind chill down to minus 14 degrees C throughout daylight hours ! Despite being appropriately atired in thermal clothing walking gear I was bloody frozen by the time I got back to the Jeep. A very poignant and moving experience part way up was finding a memorial to the 20 crew members of B17 G Flying Fortress from 351st Bombardment Group USAAF who lost their lives when they crashed into the mountainside on 8th June 1945 , almost as WW2 was over ! That was the second B17 crash site I have found in the Welsh mountains over the years as well as several more military aircraft from the WW2 era .Standing alone on a gale swept mountainside contemplating the horror of their fate was very sobering on Christmas Eve . On that sombre note , Merry Christams and Happy New Year to everyone .