Steel Penguins braying

[Steel Penguin]

Thank you for the kind thoughts and words, they are much appreciated.

[Weaver]

Sorry to hear it mate: my condolences to you and your family.

In the middle of all the running around and organising things, don't forget to stop every now and then and appreciate the moment, whether good or bad. There's a lot of moments that are going to be one-chance-to-catch.

[Steel Penguin]

Thank you Weaver.
As yesterday was going to be My mum and dad in-laws wedding anniversary, we took a bit of a breather and I took Mrs SP, my mum in law and my sister in law and her hubby out for a meal at lunch, it gave all of us a little time away from the house, and a bit of "us" time.
Mrs SP and myself are down again tomorrow, we've got a grocery order to get first thing, then a drive down, and I can have a good look at the railway room    its been left as was, since my father in law last visited in September, so im going to try to tidy tools up, and then try to get some of the railway stuff together,  if anything of the week is going to break me, this will be it, as there is not only a lot of my father in law in there, there's some of me and Mrs SP as well, with animals and trees that Mrs Sp has done, and a slew of trackside figures and some vehicles I did for him, ( he had a small vehicle museum on a corner of his 009 layout, and wanted "something different" as others had cars, so I did him a Tiger tank, a scorpion CVRT, and a centurion, for it, along with an Airfix tank transporter,  he mainly had the Tiger on the back of it and it wedged into a narrow bridge, to give a talking point).  In addition I hope to consolidate the modelling tools he had round the house into one area / toolbox, and sort out paints etc into the appropriate areas.
If I can get all of that done, ill be happy, and content.

needless to say my own modelling has gone for a burton, the most ive managed to find any energy for is to start to clean up a West wind, empire of the dead, brewers dray.  4 reasonably heavy horses to pull it and nicely detailed barrels on the flat bed.

[NARSES2]

Best of luck with the railway room mate but if necessary walk away and take a break. I found I had to do that quite a bit when going through my father's photo collection. To many memories and a lot I'd never seen. Strangely, or perhaps not, in the end they helped me deal with it.

[Steel Penguin]

Ive made a start today,  ive managed to clear his work desk, and get the tools from 2 tool boxes in the right draws, coupled with starting to go through boxes on one set of shelfs,  as im doing that im labelling said boxes,  I will make a bit of a plea here, Guys if your working on multiple projects and have to take a break ( for what ever reason) keep the bits together and if possible a note to self of whats what, where and wrong, ive found at least 3 locos ( complete but in parts) and 2 sets of chassis, wheels and motor but no body so far.  I think im getting the right parts together.... I think.
Ive also found a couple of tool sets that I wasn't aware he had, including a tap and die set, some serious kit bashing stuff indeed,  in addition to mysterious bottles, full of strange liquids,  though funnily enough the problem isn't there unlabelled, its that there so old the labels have faded to unreadable, anything modern and odd is labelled with what it is 

When ive got this liked im going to be giving my own desk a MAJOR going over    its made me realise just how sloppy my work area is.

[Steel Penguin]

as an addition  ive certainly had one case of Uh?    today,   a small card box, (2"*2"*6" ) picked it up and it felt a bit heavy and moved "oddly" when I moved it,  opened it up and found

Coal.   small chunks and chips, and 2 wagon loads already glued to a small top up piece of wood,  It seems that the best thing to imitate coal, in a wagon is just that, coal.

[NARSES2]

Strange thing to say but you seem to be starting to enjoy this ? Nice way to remember someone : smile as you go through things 

[Steel Penguin]

Thank you Narses, yes, its a bit odd, but its nice that I get to help, sort and tidy at the same time, and I get a chance to replay the conversations I had with him regarding stuff, in my mind as I do so,  it is rather calming, and means that I can focus, on the good times wile I do the job.  Im the modeller in the family, so I can at least look at most of the parts, boxes, and sheets and stand a slight chance of working out whats, what.
Though I do wish we had the room here at chez Penguin to be able to rehome it all. 

[Steel Penguin]

well it looks like the fickle finger of fate has once again farted in my face,  looks like the washing machine is U.S.   getting a code that (apparently) means  fluctuating voltage ( Samsung  code Uc)  and the local repairers and the Samsung support have all said, ( in as many words)  " don't want to touch it"   the local guys I can understand but the actual specialist ones really leaves a bad taste,  they may go on the list of don't buy agains.

[PR19_Kit]

Nothing concentrates the mind on NOT buying a particular brand than rubbish customer service!  

People like that bring a bad name to the whole customer service industry, and I spent 30 years in that field. Shame on you all.  

[zenrat]

I can recommend Fisher & Paykel (or Fusher & Pickle as they say in their native New Zealand) customer service.  Very good.  They even believably faked concern after the dishwasher tried to electrocute me following an incomplete repair...

[Steel Penguin]

indeed Kit.
we`ve had a reply via e-mail and the advise that we get the mains supply checked, ( giving the voltage that was quoted) made me laugh, and then  stop reading as the variance would have resulted in the PCs stopping, and funnily enough they didn't bat a port all night, especially as we put down not to call the home number during work hours, and the numpty did...
so I may well be purchasing a new washer this weekend.

[Steel Penguin]

well new washer dryer ordered, a Beiko  ive had a couple of recommendations from people I work with,  It wasn't the most expensive, so Mrs SP and myself recon if it lasts 2 years ittl have paid for itself, and if it lasts 4 itll be a bargain, any more and it will owe us nothing.  hopeful being delivered and installed tomorrow between 09:00 and 13:00.

in between that and everything else ive managed to get the westwind brewers dray together, and the fire engine from the same range together, and am working on the charabanc, not too taxing, and as its cleaning up and assembling allows the hands to work.
im glad this a long weekend, can try and rest and compose for the funeral on Tuesday ( at the forest of Dean crem).  In a way its still a bit unreal.

[Steel Penguin]

new washer dryers in, the Currys delivery guys were very efficient, polite, and capable, call at 09:10 to ask if its ok to attend, as there around 10 mins away,  one of them came in to have a look at the old machine and location, wile the others prepping the new one in the van,  swapped them over, and ran a quick rinse / spin to check everything's ok,  got the signature to say its delivered and off they went. 
so ive undercoated the westwind stuff (charabanc as well), and varnished the few bits ive had waiting for that.   days looking good so far.

[NARSES2]

Glad the washer got sorted efficiently and best of luck Tuesday mate