I'm going to try to keep this page going

[giantkiller]

That machine has been used an awful lot during lockdown, with Liz making "scrubs" outfits for local hospitals and surgeries and making hundreds of masks for people - both as part of a charitable group (The Warwickshire Scrubbers......Andy might get the joke) and just doing them for people who live locally and either don't have access to re-usable ones, or don't have the means to pay for them.

She also knocked out the Santa suit I wore for the Christmas Gift run on it and is now in the middle of making 600 "Easter Chick" gifts for local children and the Easter Bunny suit that I'll have to wear for the Easter Parade (which will just be me, in a modified version of our Christmas Santa Sleigh)  

Sadly for me, the free machine was just the start.....then came an expensive "Overlocker" and 3 or 4 other bits of kit I won't even pretend to understand !!!!!!!

We also have an antique 1904 Singer sewing machine on a table, with a trestle that still has the "cord" drive. It came from a deceased relative (her daughter was going to throw it out) but we don't know how it came into the family, as it was originally sold in Canada (according to the model/serial number and Singer's sales records). It hasn't been used since we got it a couple of years ago, but Liz is intent on getting it operational as soon as we can once lockdown is over.  I must admit I think it's really cool !

My mom had one just like that. She used it all the time.  Don't know what happened to it. I wish I had it.

[Millietant]

She probably got it from Canada and eventually sold it to someone in the U.K. 

[Waiex191]

We also have an antique 1904 Singer sewing machine on a table, with a trestle that still has the "cord" drive. It came from a deceased relative (her daughter was going to throw it out) but we don't know how it came into the family, as it was originally sold in Canada (according to the model/serial number and Singer's sales records). It hasn't been used since we got it a couple of years ago, but Liz is intent on getting it operational as soon as we can once lockdown is over.  I must admit I think it's really cool !

That is a cool machine. A good 20 years older than my Singer machine.  I assume they were all made in England back then. I've posted this video link before but in case you missed it:
https://youtu.be/vTVEcLWx8yk

Also a treadle type machine. The 29K51 is actually a cobbler's machine. It will see anything heavy.

[Millietant]

With all the freezing weather, snow and ice recently I've only been able to get out once or twice a week at most on the bicycle......but with a break in the weather and some sunshine, I decided to get the FJ out today for a (legal) run to our local farm-shop to pick up some essentials (bread, milk, veggies etc) - thought I'd save the environment by not using a car 

Temperatures up in the mid 40's F and clear blue skies , but I had to take a minor detour on the way home......to avoid some dangerous slippery mud on the road !

[Waiex191]

Yesterday we had the bikes out for the first time since late January.  The FJ ran great.  I'm going to need new front rotors and pads soon.

[Millietant]

Are you going to get Arashi rotors ? 

[Waiex191]

No idea!  Are Arashi rotors recommended?  I'm assuming so.

My old rotors have a lot of pitting from leaking brake fluid and sitting for 16 years.  They look pretty nasty.  I used the ebay pads when I bought those blue spots.  That is, the used pads that came with the calipers.

So you mean these?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-YAMAHA-XJR-400-XJR400-1995-2000-1999-1998-1997-Front-Brake-Disc-Rotors/293646746370?fits=Year%3A1989%7CModel%3AFJ1200&epid=16033808615&hash=item445eb5c302:g:iTwAAOSw96ZcBMvs#vi-ilComp

[Millietant]

There are plenty of recommendations from others on her Bryan, even from a couple of people who's opinion on such matters I'd trust

Just type Arashi in the search box at the top right of the page 

[Millietant]

My ride for the day..........not as fast as a FJ........and the bunny suit is definitely lees protective 

[Millietant]

Around 500 gift bags delivered to children around the neighbourhood and to those in the local hospital Children's Ward. Makes staying off the bike today worthwhile  

[Waiex191]

My ride for the day..........not as fast as a FJ........and the bunny suit is definitely lees protective 

At least it protects your identity!

[Millietant]

Yeah, but my strong north-eastern accent gave me away to most of the parents and made a pair of 7 yr old twins I know ask their parents if "the Bunny was Daxter's (my Black Labrador that they love and play with) Dad"

Their parents managed to convince them ifwasn't 

[RetroCryptoRider]

Hopefully everyone doesn't get sick of me  , but I can't stand the quietness !!!

We had a couple of hours break in the rain and the sun came out, so I thought I'd go looking for some corners and ended up having a break at Upton House (a stately home just outside Banbury, Oxfordshire) - nice roads all around it.

I used my iPhone to try to get some time-laps pictures of me riding some of the corners, but somehow I messed it all up, so just a couple of static photo's.......this time !! ...........everyone likes photos, yes ?? 










It looks like I might get out on Sunday or Monday too......woohoo !!!! 

[Millietant]

As usual, despite standing for 7 weeks, the old girl fired up instantly on the button and after a couple of minutes of tickover before I took the choke off fully, I took her out for a run to the local farm shop again.

Its a 7 mile round trip that took me on a 60 mile ride  .

Lockdown Stay at Home is over here now, so riding is allowed. The weather has been rubbish for the last couple of weeks, rain, hail snow, a bit of sun, some heavy winds and overnight frosts.......so, the roads locally were full of dirt and loose gravel, so no spirited cornering.

Nevertheless, I had a great 90 minutes out and thoroughly enjoyed myself pottering about...still amazed by how modern my old FJ feels. There was plenty of sunshine, so took a couple of pictures of the FJ - all within about 15 miles of home.

[Ted Schefelbein]

I love that bike.....

Ted