On coming home, it takes me at least a week to get back into the swing of things; jobs have piled up and my motivation needs re-energising - mainly because I can't remember how I left things when I went away.

The ROV frames were finished first...

... followed quickly by a stainless-steel stone trap.

The Great Collector's Bedford needed recommissioning in anticipation of a move to a new garage...

... and whilst I was in the mood, the pretty little AC drophead coupé was given a run up. Fortunately, despite spending a good few months idle, it still started on the button and ran very sweetly.

More onerous was the stripping and fault finding of an Atco ride-on mower. I had the engine out of this some time ago to replace the valve-lifter. This time I had to take all the plastic covers off to get at the wiring and the starter solenoid. What a blinkin' palaver!

A visit to a local antique centre produced this pair of rather elegant candlesticks. They reminded me of Christopher Dresser's decanter, in the Abu Dhabi Louvre, and £30 for candlesticks which hint at the Arts and Crafts movement, I considered them a bargain. There's evidence of previous silver plating on the nickel, but without markings, I have no idea of age or origin - they might be only a few decades old, but they're 'right' - which is all that matters.

In anticipation of the difficulties of the Special's bodywork - there's not a straight line in sight - I had been thinking about a chum's machine which he had constructed for making shrinking tucks in panels. I remember that it took a bit of practice to land the bossing hammer just where it was needed; this press removes some of that requirement. I popped over and took a few measurements, and was pleased to see on my return, that I had all the material in stock.

I've yet to make up the male and female oak dies, but all the indications are that it will be very effective. For those interested, I'll put the details in my next entry.

The farm has taken a cut of silage from my old airstrip, and with the ground still soft, have deployed the roller. This is timely because...

... a chum wanted to make room in his shed. It's a long time since I flew a radio-controlled aeroplane; I wonder if I can pick up where I left off?