There Be Dragons

The dragonfly larvae in the pond are metamorphosing into dragonflies.

Here you can see an empty larval case.

We have a problem with the pond - algae.

It's caused by there being little or no shade, so the sunlight encourages the green stuff to proliferate.

Hay has convinced herself that the poo from the 3 koi is to blame and won't be told, by anyone, that 3 koi in a pond that large cannot possibly be the culprit. She's planning on emptying the pond, getting rid of the koi and then refilling it. But that won't cure the cause, which is lack of filtration. 

I keep telling her that a couple of hundred quid's worth of filtering equipment would solve the problem for good - but to no avail.

Tory Party Strategy Sessions

The way I learned to develop strategy is to do what's called a SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

Those attending the SWOT session are allowed to articulate whatever they want under the above headings without criticism, providing the ideas are targeted at the company mission. The criticism comes later, as sometimes some really innovative ideas can manifest themselves but can get slapped down before they're even analysed properly.

What usually happens is that you start with a host of strengths and opportunities and few weakness and threats. However, on investigating and sanity testing the opportunities they invariably haven't already been taken advantage of because of inherent weaknesses within the organisation, or missing strengths, and you end up with a shed-load of weaknesses.

It strikes me that the Tory Party strategists have done the SWOT but haven't sanity tested any of the madcap opportunities. Someone has walked in during a break, spotted the flip chart with all the opportunities, taken a photo of it and forwarded it to the communications department for immediate release.

Either that, or they're just putting out any old crap in the hope of reducing the hammering they're going to get, knowing full well they'll never be called upon to implement the mad-cap ideas.

A war on woke Arts degrees (I thought we had a world-class film industry); apprenticeships (when at least half of them, especially in retail and hospitality, are used by companies for cheap labour and don't result in jobs); putting youngsters into National Service (against the recommendations of those actually in uniform who say they can't be trained or housed on the budget the Cons are spouting); tax cuts (when we can't afford them), etc. 

Aldi / Lidl Tool Drawback

 A few days ago I managed to utterly destroy the baseplate of my palm router, which is a Ferrex, being the in-house brand of Aldi.

On contacting Aldi Customer Support (you can only do it by email for this kind of stuff), I was told they don't stock spares.

Now, for a router I can buy new on e-Bay for £16.99 (and did - exactly the same model), it's not really an issue, but for more expensive stuff it can certainly introduce unwanted complexities.

That's a warning to me for future purchases. 

Thoughts on the Israeli - Palestinian Conflict

While there were tensions before 1948 due to duplicitous British colonial promises concerning competing nationalist claims by Jews and Arabs, the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 was a key trigger for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

Before the build up to and creation of Israel there was no Israeli-Palestinian conflict because, logically, Israel did not even exist. The state was established primarily by Jewish immigrants from Europe, who were mainly Polish, German, and Russian nationals, in what many consider to be an act of ethno-colonialism. That's simply established fact and not a matter of opinion.

This event led to the first Arab-Israeli war, the displacement of many Palestinians, and set the stage for ongoing territorial and nationalistic disputes. 

Claiming that European Jews had historical and cultural ties to Palestine is akin to saying that people from Yorkshire have cultural and historical ties to Scandinavia due to ancient Viking settlements. However, this does not justify people from Yorkshire forcibly taking land from Scandinavians. 

Similarly, historical ties do not justify the displacement of the indigenous Palestinian population during the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 due to historical ties that aren't even as recent as links between Yorkshire and Scandinavia.

However, Israel exists and we are where we are; Australia, new Zealand, Canada, the USA and numerous South American countries exist through the same process of colonisation at the expense of the indigenous population, yet no-one now contests their right to exist.

According to reports from the Times of Israel, Democracy Now, The Defense Post, and the Hindustan Times, senior Israeli military officials have indicated that the ratio of civilians to Hamas fighters killed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is approximately 2:1. 

Given past instances where the IDF has been criticized for downplaying civilian casualties—such as in the 2014 Gaza conflict where external investigations reported higher civilian casualties than IDF's figures—this ratio might be understated. 

Despite setbacks in manpower and resources, various reports, including a 2023 study by the International Crisis Group, indicate a rise in popular support and continued recruitment efforts for Hamas. This suggests that the group's influence has not diminished and may even be increasing as a reaction to the ongoing conflict. The strategy of targeting Hamas fighters at the expense of civilian lives appears counterproductive and acts as a recruiting sergeant for Hamas.

Historical precedents, such as the increase in militant group support observed after the 2006 Lebanon War, support the idea that civilian casualties bolster support for Hamas among the Palestinian population, as noted in a 2022 report by the influential RAND Corporation. 

The killing of civilians frequently leads to heightened resentment and anger against the attacking forces. For instance, a study published in the Journal of Conflict Resolution in 2021 found that civilian casualties in conflict zones often lead to increased recruitment and support for militant groups, a pattern observed in various conflicts around the world. 

Minimizing civilian casualties requires a multifaceted approach involving advanced technology, precise intelligence, strict rules of engagement, and effective communication with local populations. Training on international laws and robust accountability mechanisms also play crucial roles in ensuring adherence to these principles. The combined use of these strategies has proven effective in various conflicts around the world. Examples include: 

• Operation Unified Protector (Libya, 2011) 
• Operation Inherent Resolve (Against ISIS, 2014-2019) 
• The Battle of Marawi (Philippines, 2017) 
• The Sri Lankan Civil War (Final Phase, 2009)

The objective has to be to win hearts and minds and for Israel to act as liberators of Palestinians from Hamas oppression, not to consider Palestinian civilians as necessary casualties in efforts to target Hamas.

A Bit of Double-Sided Tape

Rear view mirrors on the Mobylette are useless. Half the time I'm staring at my torso and the rest of the time I'm gazing at my arms. I had to find something better, as looking over my shoulder results in me swerving into the middle of the road.

I has an idea to adapt a cycling helmet mirror for use on a moped. A cycling rear mirror` attaches by Velcro to the inside of the wearer's cycling helmet, but I was certain I could attach it to the peak of my moped helmet.

Attaching things to your helmet with with sticky substances is not recommended, as the sticky stuff can, under the right circumstances, weaken the helmet.

I tackled the problem by fixing the mirror to the detachable peak using the double-sided tape that's used for keeping car number plates on - it's very strong. Putting it on the peak has the added benefit of the fact I can remove the peak and attach it to Hay's helmet for when she rides the Moby. It works a treat, it doesn't block my field of view and I merely have to move my head slightly to get a full view of what's roaring up behind me.

I added a bicycle, digital speedo to the Moby, calibrating it by using an App that reads out your speed. It's critical that I know how far I've travelled and, therefore, approximately how much fuel I have left. Early indications are 100 MPG. I clocked up 36MPH the other day, but 32MPH is more normal.

I'm not usually sympathetic toward cyclists, especially when a gaggle of them slow the traffic down for miles; however, riding on the moped has made me realise that the poor buggers are taking their lives in their hands with all the potholes in the roads. I at least have suspension and reasonably thick tyres, whereas they have none and tyres as thin as razorblades.

 

Tory Crossroads

The Tory Party, not the country, is at a crossroads. It's suffering an identity crisis and doesn't know whether it wants to be the constitutional, centrist party of the One Nation Tories, or a post-truth populist party. The post-truth element is currently in charge, but the populace has seen through the mist.

The constitutional, centrist, One Nation party is worth cherishing and saving - in fact it's a necessity in order to have a balance in the Force and to regain trust in politics. Without trust in politics, we're in a death spiral.

The longevity of post-truth populist parties in government can vary significantly based on several factors, including the political environment, the country's institutions, and the actions of the populist leaders themselves. However, there are some general observations that can be made.

Post-truth populist parties often experience a rapid rise to power due to their appeal to widespread discontent and their ability to mobilise voters through emotive and simplistic narratives. 

Their often anti-establishment rhetoric can clash with the realities of governance, leading to difficulties in managing the complexities of the state and delivering on promises. 

Populist parties may struggle to implement sustainable economic and social policies. Their focus on short-term gains and populist measures can lead to economic instability and disillusionment among their supporters. 

In many countries, strong institutions (such as an independent judiciary, free press, and robust civil society) can provide checks and balances that limit the ability of populist leaders to maintain power. 

Over time, the initial unity and enthusiasm that brought a populist party to power can fragment. Internal divisions, scandals, and political opposition can erode their support base. 

If populist leaders fail to deliver on their promises or if their policies lead to negative consequences, they can quickly lose the support of the electorate. This erosion of support can lead to electoral defeats or forced resignations. 

However, there are notable exceptions where post-truth populist parties or leaders have maintained power for extended periods. For instance, Viktor Orbán in Hungary and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey have managed to sustain their positions by consolidating power, undermining democratic institutions, and maintaining strong personal followings. 

The key is the tension between loyalty and effectiveness. Intensely loyal MPs are rarely effective and effective MPs are usually not that loyal. The Tory Party currently prioritises loyalty but, in order to function, it requires some highly effective people in key positions. Gove is highly effective, according to those who have worked for him, yet his loyalty is constantly suspect. Effective people in the current incarnation of the Tory Party are a rarity. There's also a small number of people, who are in ministerial positions, who are neither effective nor loyal - and that's the problem.

In summary, while post-truth populist parties may face significant challenges that can limit their time in government, the specific context and actions of these parties can result in varying outcomes. In some cases, they may be short-lived, while in others, they can entrench themselves in power for longer periods.

3D Print

 I managed to find a print file on-line for the knobs of the Mobylette toolbox.

They connect a bolt that holds the two sides of the toolbox to the frame. Original ones are as rare as hen's teeth and the ones I've managed to find on various forums are at least £24 for a pair, which is a bit steep. That said, these two cost me a 3D printer (£95), although that will be amortized over many such print runs.

They require a 3mm, threaded brass insert to take the bolt before they're complete, or else an M3 thread being put into the plastic, which is less stable.

I also found a print file for a bolt sizer.

Very useful when rebuilding a car.

I then spotted a Galaxy Z Fold 4 support that I rather liked on Thingyverse.com and thought I'd have a go at printing it, as it would be useful for watching streaming service videos when away in the motorhome.

When I started printing it I was shocked that the printer said it would take 15 hours to print. Surely not?

Well, I started printing it on Thursday lunchtime and by the time I was about to go to bed it was only 20% complete. I paused the print, else the noise would keep us awake (open plan house). Flashed it up again the next morning and off it chuntered, but seemed to be ripping through the time a lot faster.

It would seem the initial print estimation may be based on the assumption that the base of the object is the same length and width all the way up, which it isn't in this case. I'm not sure how long it did take, as I had to go out for several hours and it was complete when I returned.

However, I think the bloke who designed this made a few errors. If you look at the photo below, you'll see some serious spooling of the filament - this was caused by the design requiring some mid-air printing. It was the same with the knurled knobs further up - they would have been better flipped vertically for printing.

It works as intended though and I deburred most of the spooling with a craft knife.

I also found print files for a Triumph GT6 dashboard, but the panels require a print bed much larger than mine, although the designer is considering breaking the design into smaller, interlocking pieces.

Mr Whippy Hair

I get Mr Whippy hair in the mornings, caused by sleeping on one side and then the other.

Some men pay a fortune to get their hair styled into this position. They should just get better pillows.

Things Can Only Get Better

A number of countries are denigrating the ICC asking for an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and his cronies, arguing that there is no moral equivalence between Hamas and the Netanyahu government.

This is a straw man. It's not about moral equivalence, but equality before the law.

A minority of countries genuinely don't want to be a member of the ICC due to sovereignty issues, yet they're more than willing to be part of other international bodies, such as the UN. Others are worried about their own dubious records and don't want to open themselves to prosecution, and therefore won't recognise the ICC.

America is not a member, but America's ally, the UK, is. However, Sunak and Gove have criticised the ICC's actions. I'm not at all surprised they criticise it and I wouldn't be surprised if the UK, under the Tories, leaves the ICC - although it's probably to late now after yesterday's news.

The UK government's criticism stems from the implications for the UK government should an arrest warrant be issued, as the UK has shipped arms to Israel and could be considered complicit. It's in the government's interests to poo-poo the arrest warrant, if it comes about.

Interestingly, the UK government consistently refuses to publish the legal opinion it received on the arms shipments. I wonder why?

That said, the ICC arrest warrant, if issued, does not cover the hostilities themselves, but the denial of aid shipments, so the UK and America should not be as worried as they are. It does, however, cast them in a poor light, given they're avid allies of Israel.

The pro-Netanyahu press and the Likud disinformation machine have gone into overdrive, maintaining the ICC is denying Israel's right to defend itself, relying on no-one having read the application. It specifically and carefully states that Israel has a right to defend itself, but that the application has nothing to do with that.

The ICC has been criticised for going after easy targets in Africa; however, it's African countries themselves that refer most cases to the ICC. The ICC operates with due process and accusations of bias are groundless.

On another front, Rishi's parade was rained on - things can only get better. However, there's already talk of ousting Sunak before Parliament is prorogued. Stability under Starmer or chaos under the Tories - seems the Tories are set on chaos.

Castle Combe Steam Fair

We went to the Castle Combe Steam Fair on Sunday - I've lived here some 16 years and have never been before - it's only about 20 minutes away from us.

It was quite small and we saw everything within a couple of hours, but the small size may be because it's recovering from the Covid years.

It's not just steam engines - there are quite a few classic cars. Saw two GT6s - a Mk3 and a Mk2, as well as some other nice ironmongery. There's a healthy trade in old tools and I managed to get myself a mallett.

One of the GT6s I saw had a beautiful, burr walnut dash with lots of dials and switches, but lacking any heater controls whatsoever.

I queried the owner who said he'd never connected the heater up, as he only uses the car in summer (face-palm).

The switches and switch plinth I ordered about a months ago never turned up. I phoned the supplier and the address for the order was correct, but I'd forgotten to click UK on the country drop-down and they went to my address, but in Argentina. Hopefully they'll be returned to the supplier, who can then forward them to me.

I contacted the guy in America who had made his own plinth on a 3D printer and he kindly sent me his 3D print file, so I gave it a try on the 3D printer. He's unfortunately lost the original CAD file.

First, he'd used ABS, which is tougher and requires higher print temperatures than PLA. I managed to tune the printer accordingly; however, then came the next issue - it was longer than my print bed, which is limited to 20cm, resulting in it being cut off at one end.

It's meant to look like this:

Had the object been printed slantywise on the print bed, it would have printed fully. Given he'd lost the CAD file and I only had the print file, there's no way I could adjust the orientation; however, there are programmes available which will re-orientate Gcode print files or even online services, but it requires more research on my part.

First Print

Flashed up the 3D printer over the weekend and had a go at printing a test piece.

It's a squishy-squashy thing and, because of the way it's articulated, I'm not even sure how it was accomplished. I suppose I could use it as a coaster.

I had some difficulty with the filament spooling in clumps, which is a factor of the nozzle's distance from the substrate. I'll get better with practice.

Cat Theft Auto

 Is cat theft actually a thing?

No-one can be said to own a cat in the same manner one owns a dog. If a cat is pissed off with you, your house or your attitude, it will bugger off and find another home. At best it's a lodger and there's a contract between you and the cat - you provide a comfortable home and regular food, it will stay and give you some psychological benefit, or scratch you.

However, if a pissed off cat finds a new home, the person who offers that home (and a better contract) can be accused of cat theft. That isn't fair, yet the government is set to make cat theft a criminal offence.

Freedom of Movement

Something struck me this week about Brexit which I hadn't twigged before.

After the vote to leave the EU, many EU workers filling jobs in the UK left, either returning to their own countries or, using their Freedom of Movement, moving to another EU country that needs workers.

We ended up with a dearth of workers, exacerbated by a lot of people reasessing their lives after lockdown and opting to retire early.

This necessitated the UK taking in non-EU workers, mostly, but not exclusively, from former colonies, to fill the large number of vacancies - places where the inhabitants are hated by our far right, either because of their colour or their religion. It was, however, a necessity if the economy was to grow. A massive own goal.

Now this much we all know. The thought that hadn't struck me previously was that while the EU workers were highly mobile and would likely leave the UK during a downturn, those we've had to recruit from former colonies aren't highly mobile as they don't have access to FoM and, given their lives are probably a lot better in the UK than their country of origin, are here to stay, regardless of an economic downturn. 

Now who was one of the prime drivers behind Brexit over his concern about immigration? Yes, you guessed it, Nigel Fuhrage. If we're having a large influx of people Fuhrage doesn't like, it's the fault of people like Fuhrage and those who believed his populist nonsense.

Wood Butchery

Back to the GT6 dashboard and another tool. A rabetter - or rebate maker. Old hat to many, but not to me.

It really needs using in my drill press or plam router to ensure it's always vertical, but this was just a test. You get varying size bearings to put on the end, which control the depth of the rebate you want. 

I used it in a cordless drill and, because it was wobbling around a bit in my hand, it gouged a bit extra out on the left of the test instrument hole.

You can see from the image below that the bezel of the repro fuel gauge I bought from India fits perfectly into the rebate. 

I'm not actually sure I'll use rebates for the instruments, as I like the idea of the chrome bezel protruding more and hiding any possible gaps.

I'm Psychic

A couple of nights ago I had a dream in which I accidentally smashed my Bangers & Cash mug that I bought from Matthewson's on our visit to Thornton-le-Dale last month. When I woke up I remembered the dream and told Hay.

Later that day I nudged a Workmate than my mug of tea was on and if fell to the floor, smashing on the garage floor.

Glad I told Hay about the dream, else I'd think it was post-hoc rationalisation.

Spooky, or what?

Uh-Oh - Yet Another Toy

For a while now I've been on the lookout for a classic moped to put on the back of the motorhome for shopping trips and the like when camped out; however, all the ones I've seen advertised are sheds that no-one has even bothered to check as to whether they run or not - and they cost well in excess of £800.

I managed to snap this near-perfect example of a 1972 Mobylette pedal-and-pop for £420 on Facebook Market last weekend.

 

I didn't even bother haggling. It's all totally original, with the V5. Yes, I could probably get one for half the price in France or the Netherlands, but to find one even near this price in the UK is very rare.

Had some trouble starting it when I got it home, but that was down to me ignoring the fact it's French. I initially thought O on the fuel tap stood for zero (and therefore shut) and F stood for Fuel. R wasn't a problem, as that's Reserve. I then realised (after much huffing a puffing and finally detaching the fuel pipe from the carburettor to see what's what) that O stands for Ouvrir - or Open - and F is Fermer.

Now I don't yet know the exact model (it's not on the V5), but at first glance it looked like a 50V by virtue of the shock absorbers on the back end. Some further research on a Facebook Nerd Group revealed that it's possibly a 51V. This was derived from the frame number; however, the frame number, while a stamped tag, is not strictly kosher, so someone may have put a 51V number on it to register it with the DVLA. In any case, the 51V wasn't manufactured till 1980.

It's a single seater, yet there are models with a pillion seat, but in order to put a dual seat on this I'd need to obtain some foot pegs, originals of which are apparently as rare as hens' teeth. Not only that, the ones with a dual seat generally have the rear shockers more vertical and attached further back on the frame to improve support of the passenger. As it is, I think there's too much of an overhang where the pillion passenger would sit and I believe modification would be necessary, such as moving the shocker top support, or welding on an additional stay. That said, I've seen images of Mobys with a dual seat and forward raked shocks, so I heaved my vast bulk on to the luggage rack and it supported me famously.

I may struggle to get it on the motorhome bike carrier, but there's plenty of scope for lightening it - for example I could get rid of the luggage carrier, remove the weighty mudguards, lightweight shock absorbers, racing seat, ensure the tank is empty for transport, etc.. I wouldn't want to remove the chain guards, as my 1970s flares might get caught up in the chain. I guess I could 3D print some plastic mudguards and other bits to lighten it. It would also be nice to design a small, collapsible trailer on which I can put the kayaks when we're camped a mile or so from water.

The bike carrier is more than capable of taking the weight, which is 36kg unladen, but what will be more of a battle is lifting it onto the bike carrier, which will be a 2 person job. 

The fuel tank capacity is 3.6L, which should give a range of about 75 miles, if the specs are anything to go by, plus road tax is zero and insurance for Hay and me is only £66 a year.

I'm not going to renovate it as it's got natural patina and the areas of rust are so small they can be eliminated with touch-up paint. I think I've found a match and have ordered a 400ml spray can.

Even if I don't use it, No.2 Son can use it when he comes home from Uni after graduation and until he learns to drive and takes his test. It will extend his range for jobs, which he'll need in order to pay the rent on his room.

They Seek Him Here, They Seek Him There

This Scorpion bloke - the international people smuggler - how come the bloody BBC can find him but the combined the might of the British law enforcement and intelligence agencies (not to mention the Belgians) couldn't find hide nor hair of him?

Could it be that they weren't looking that hard?

Sirkar Starmer's idea of a new anti-smuggling Command to battle him and his ilk sounds like a good idea, as what's taking place presently ain't working.

Or just give the job to the BBC....

Talking of Starmer, I never realised, but his wife is Jewish. She's not strictly Jewish according to Orthodox and Conservative Judaism, as her mother converted and wasn't born Jewish - the purists believe being Jewish passes down the female line and if your mother wasn't born of a Jewish mother, then you're not really Jewish. Reform Jews are a bit more relaxed on this.

His kids are apparently brought up in the faith, despite him being more sensibly described as atheist. Nevertheless, it's bound to be a factor in his thinking on Gaza. Also, you hardly ever see her and I didn't know either her name or what she looked like before Googling her. Sunak's wife, however, was the subject of a puff-piece in The Times over the weekend - Sunak's preparing for a GE and wants to use his Mrs to his advantage, not that I think having a millionaire wife who was a non-dom is an advantage at the current time.

Mismatch

I asked Google Bard in which areas of the economy the UK is a leader. Here's the result:

The UK is a global leader in a wide range of industries, including: 

• Financial services:London is a major center for international finance, home to many of the world's largest banks and insurance companies. The UK is also a leader in fintech, or financial technology, which is the use of technology to innovate and improve financial services. 
• The UK has a thriving creative industries sector, which includes film, television, music, fashion, and design. The UK is home to Hollywood on the Thames, a nickname for several major film studios outside of the United States, and is a global leader in fashion, with London Fashion Week being one of the four major fashion weeks in the world. 
• The UK is a world leader in life sciences, which includes pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices. The UK has a strong track record of developing new drugs and medical technologies.
• Aerospace:The UK has a long and successful history in aerospace, and is a major player in the global aerospace industry. The UK is home to a number of world-leading aerospace companies, such as Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems. 
• Professional and business services: The UK is a major center for professional and business services, such as accounting, law, and consulting. The UK is home to a number of world-leading professional services firms, such as PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG. 

These are just a few of the many areas in which the UK excels. The UK's strong economy, skilled workforce, and world-class universities all contribute to its success in a wide range of industries. 

These are the areas where government should be focussing investment to maintain leadership; however, these are all areas of the economy that require reasonably high levels of educational attainment and are thus open mainly to the middle classes.

I then asked what areas of the UK economy are open to those with low academic attainment: 

• Trades and Construction: This includes electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, and other skilled workers who build, maintain, and repair structures. Many of these roles involve apprenticeships or on-the-job training, allowing you to learn and earn simultaneously. 
• Manufacturing and Production: Factories often require assembly line workers, machine operators, and other positions that focus on specific tasks. These roles can provide stability and a chance to develop technical skills. 
• Logistics and Transportation: Truck drivers, delivery personnel, warehouse workers, and logistics coordinators are all in high demand. These jobs often involve getting a commercial driver's license (CDL) and offer opportunities for advancement. 
• Customer Service: Retail stores, restaurants, call centers, and hospitality businesses all need employees to interact with customers. These roles can provide valuable communication and interpersonal skills training. 
• Healthcare Support: Nursing assistants, home health aides, and other paraprofessionals play a vital role in patient care. While some require certifications, many offer on-the-job training.

Notice the mismatch? Not only is there a mismatch between what we're good at and what's open to those with low academic achievement, but the areas open to those of low academic achievement are not, in the main, growth industries. 

Building is in the doldrums, being driven by money available for housing. We're no longer a world class manufacturing nation, having shifted to services. Yes, transport and logistics is booming with the shift to on-line purchasing; however, retail is moving to on-line platforms. Having isolated ourselves from the EU has also impacted transport and logistics. Healthcare suffers from very poor wages and most care homes are foreign owned.

The Colour Problem

I have a conundrum with the colour of the GT6. Not exactly a change of heart, more the fact I've spotted a colour closer to the one I want.

Below is the colour I want the car:

I had thought Jaguar Opalescent Golden Sand was the nearest colour; however, I spotted the exact colour on a VW Golf GTi cabriolet on Bangers & Cash. I looked up the VW colours for the year and, hey presto - VW Burnished Gold Metallic.

The Jaguar Opalescent Golden Sand, while nice, is a touch too light.

Here's another VW Golf in Burnished Gold Metallic.

It's a bit difficult seeing the difference in these photos, but there is one. However, the GT6 was called the poor man's E-Type Jag when it came out. That's because the blokes who bought a GT6 really wanted an E-Type but couldn't afford it, so perhaps it should be a Jaguar colour so that whoever buys it after I've finished with it gets as near to an E-Type without the cost. 

However, to get a poor man's E-Type, then the interior has to be the same colour as the interior of an opalescent golden sand E-Type for the full effect - like below.

It also means chrome wires, rather than the Minilites it currently has. The original pressed wheels aren't bad, but they were also used on the Spitfire, and I want something far better than a Spit.

The interior of the VWs was black with 'orrible wheels, which lack opulence.

Thoughts and opinions welcome?

After Much Buggering About in the Garage (that quaint, Cotswold village), I managed to get the bonnet support tube fitted into the bonnet, which pulled the lower wings in nicely.

Gaps are nowhere near correct, but that's because the bonnet isn't yet supported at the front, but raise the front and the gappage is near perfect.

I turned my attention to the engine yesterday and preparing it for removal. Try as I might, I just couldn't free the exhaust manifold from the exhaust. I think I'm going to have to cut the exhaust downpipe, but the intention is to replace it with a stainless one with a modded manifold, so it's no great shakes to cut the downpipe.

The UJ holding the gearbox to the propshaft is proving difficult too - I managed to push one side of the UJ through and remove the opposite roller cap, but pushing it back the other way to remove the other roller cap isn't proving easy and needs some thinking about. Access isn't easy either, which isn't helping. 

Uh-oh - New Toy

For a while now I've been contemplating getting a 3D printer. Having a 1973 Triumph GT6 to rebuild has jogged me into action, as there are many plastic parts that are either unavailable or cost an arm and a leg due to their rarity.

It's a 2nd hand Creality Ender 5, which I bought for £95 from a young chap in Tockington who has a print farm business where he 3D prints terrain items for World of Warcraft and similar games, such as the ones below.

He has rows and rows of printers in a unit on a farm that has a number of small industrial units. He occasionally upgrades his printers and sells off the older models.

I know about as much as the next person about 3D printing, but I'm prepared to learn. Thus far I've learned that there are 3 critical elements:

1. A 3D printer, believe it or not.
2. A CAD software package for designing objects you want to print - I'm using Blender, which is Open Source and free.
3. Slicer software that converts the CAD image into slices for the printer to print - I'm using Cura, which is again free.

You can additionally get a software package that will photograph an original object from multiple angles and recreate it as a CAD image. Some of these come as Android Apps, but you have to subscribe to a cloud service that performs the action and the monthly subscriptions can be quite high. Probably worth it if you're very keen or have a number of objects ready to transform into CAD files.

One obvious limitation of 3D printing is that you can't print objects with overhangs that suddenly appear part way up the object, as there's nothing to support the overhang. Overhangs that slowly build up are from the main structure are OK, as they are supported by the matrix below.  Also overhangs that extend to the base, as they can be built up and eventually connect with the main structure.

Take, for example, the object above. While the tail of the bird on the left can be 3D printed, that of the bird on the right can't, as it's not supported by anything underneath. Had the tail extended to the table top, then it could be printed, as it's supported from the bottom.

I'm going to set myself the task of printing one of the resin lamps I made a couple of years ago (in the image below), but can no longer make due to having developed an allergy to the resin.

After a couple of days mucking about with the Blender software and watching YouTube tutorials, I've managed to come up with this, but it needs a lot more practice.

It's created by draping a rectangular plane over a solid sphere, giving the plane the attributes of cloth, deleting the sphere and turning the result upside down for printing, leaving a fluted shell - much in the same manner I made the resin shape.

The seller has kindly offered to perform a one or two hour printing tutorial for me on Monday for £20 an hour, which I think is very good value. He won't go into design, just the basics of printing, common faults and parts that could go wrong (and how to replace them). Looking forward to it.

EuroVision

I don't actually watch the EuroVision Song Contest - well, at least not since Terry Wogan stopped doing the UK commentary. His commentary was priceless.

No-one knows the opinions of the Israeli contestant, although the one of the writers of the Israeli entry, Keren Peles, has been critical of the current government.

Before going any further, Israel and Australia are allowed to participate, as is any country in the world. It's not a European contest, it's merely held and organised by the European Broadcasting Union. The only limit is the number of songs you could reasonably get into a single TV show.

EuroVision is meant to celebrate coming together. Why have contestants from countries that are doing the exact opposite?

Why did Ukraine win a few years ago? I would posit that it was mainly a sympathy vote, which is not very fair on the other contestants. Will Israel win this year? I doubt it very much and they may even match the UK's traditional nul points, but is that fair when its entry will be judged politically?

I seriously believe that Israel fielding an entry this year will do them no good - better to quietly withdraw and thereby eliminate any protests. 

How about banning any country which is engaged in military operations, whether that be the aggressor or the victim? That would preclude both the political protest vote and the sympathy vote. It's estimated that only 10% of countries are engaged in hostilities at any one time; however, if you add to that the countries arming belligerents  I would imaging the percentage swells by quite a bit.

Recovery Operation

We went to the campsite on the Isle of Purbeck where we stayed 2 weeks ago and where I lost No.1 Son's drone in a tree. I took along several large marquee poles that slot together in order to poke the drone from its nest, as well as my battle rope, which I intended to put round the tree and the Galaxy's tow bar to give the tree a bit of a shake.

I needn't have bothered - someone had found it on the ground a few days ago and it was in their lost property. Why no-one answered my email is a mystery, but all's well that ends well. The finder even refused my £25 reward.

A slight crack on the undercarriage from where it hit the deck when falling out of the tree, but that's eminently fixable with a few dabs of superglue. No other damage.

When I got it home, No.1 Son put it through its paces and it passed with flying colours - if you'll forgive the pun. At least I've managed to save myself having to fork out another £250.

Water Shortage

That's any potential water shortage this summer sorted.

Two brand new IBCs with a capacity of a tonne of water in each - well, after they've been connected to the gutter downpipes of the house and filled with rainwater runoff.

They'll primarily be used on the veg garden - and as a reservoir for the patio cleaning.....