Still here........

[Stilldrillin]

Hello, All!
 It's been a long time, as I sometimes say.......

Had a poor summer.
 Bad back. Then, sciatica. Then, another bad back, stopped most of my usual workshop activities.

I'm finally upright again.
 But, the old feet and legs are well out of practice. Half an hour at a time, on the duckboard, is all I can manage these days.

Winter's closing in, too........


It's not all doom and gloom. I've made another, oily rag, Mamod triple. Using the remaining spares, from my steamtoy days.









Then, after a modification to the pipework.......

Full story, here....... http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/ftopic83359-0.php


I'll probably, never steam it again!
 I just take the specials to the shows, and let any interested member have a steam up.

It will probably be sold, on behalf of Rainbows Children's Hospice, in a couple of years time.

Thanks for looking in!

David D

[millwright]

Hi David , goood to hear your still getting a bit of shop time in, another nice little runner there
ive  had similar probems to you this year, just when i thought i was over the new knees now i found out the hips are going!!!!!!!! and the sciatica has been really bad. not been sleeping cant stand for long cant sit for long and laying in bed even worse. just got the letter today to see a specialist inJjanuary been waiting since August Its a bugger this getting old lark, keep making steam may see you in Harrogate again next year.

John

[RobWilson]

Nice one David , good to see your getting some shop time   


Rob

[John Rudd]

Hello, All!
 It's been a long time, as I sometimes say

David D

It was Harrogate when we last spoke.....
Nice job in the Mamod triple 
Tbh, I've not had the enthusiasm neither to do much....I got my new lathe in June.Havent done much with it....
My boat has not progressed any further....
I have managed to do a few days contract working....but like many of us, illness prevents...sadly.
I am hopeful that after the coming festivities that my enthusiasm returns and more time in the shop will be productive.....
So to those fellow health sufferers, I wish you all seasons greetings and felicitations and good health for the future...

[appletree]

By all accounts it won't be Harrogate but Doncaster racecourse, do a bit of research I think I am correct.

[rleete]

Had a poor summer. Bad back. Then, sciatica. Then, another bad back, stopped most of my usual workshop activities.

Back problems are not for the faint of heart.  I had back surgery just over a year ago, and before that it put me out of commission for most of the summer.  A good 6-8 months of my life lost to sleepless nights, drugged days and constant pain.  Glad to hear you are on the mend.  But give it time; it's been over a year for me and I still have the occasional flare-up if I over do it.

Just one question: what's the pointy thing in the first pic for?

[micktoon]

Hi David , good to see you getting back in the workshop again and posting. I heard rumours too about the show being at Doncaster. I was just at the woodwork show at Harrogate last weekend it was in a large top class marquee and the new hall well on the way, all the framework etc done.
  Cheers Mick

[awemawson]

Hi David, sorry to hear about the back problems. I empathise with you.

Been there, spent months lying on a hard floor staring at the ceiling, had the operation. That was ten years ago, and largely cured but still get the occasional sciatic twinge

[philf]

....... I heard rumours too about the show being at Doncaster.......................................

David,

Sorry to hear you've not been too good. Touch wood my back is OK but I have a dodgy shoulder which I got falling off my bike in early September (doing something stupid). It keeps getting slightly better and I forget and try to lift something above shoulder height and set it back to square one.

Doncaster might be a better venue than Harrogate. I can get there without touching a motorway which will make the journey more pleasant. I wonder if it's a one-off move or permanent. It's on 20-22nd May. See http://www.thedoncastershow.com/.

I'll have to give it a miss next year as my wife and I will be on our way cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats. (Unless I can persuade her to make a detour.)

Cheers.

Phil.

[Stilldrillin]

Thanks for all your kind, sympathetic replies, Chaps. Very much appreciated! 

I've had a delicate back, for the past 50 years or so. Didn't help, being in machine shops, all my working life.
 But, the sciatica was a whole new experience! Never before, suffered so much pain, for so long!
Also the osteopathy, (at £35 a time), made me feel worse, for a couple of days afterwards!

I can cope, with the mild arthritis, and walking on my bones. Due to no padding, in the soles of me feet......

As you say John Mill. It's not much fun, wearing out. (You're well ahead of me!). Wishing you good luck, for January!

John R. It was the journey home from Harrogate, when the sciatica kicked off!
 I had a brand new car delivered. It had to stay in the garage for 3 days, as I couldn't drive it!

Thanks all, for the Doncaster info. Closer to me, than Harrogate. But, the floors will be just as hard.
 Think I might have done my final, walking about show.
Though I can still manage to sit at my table display, when necessary. Last one for this year, Papplewick Pumping Station, Dec 12th.

Just one question: what's the pointy thing in the first pic for?

That's an oil dropper. Dip n dab. Pointy end puts a spot where it's needed, usually.
 The knurled end, is drilled 4mm dia, to fit the Mamod regulator. Saves burned fingers!
I have made several, over the years. Given them to steamtoy friends.

David D

[ieezitin]

Dave

I understand your pain as a sufferer myself I relate, I dont know if in the UK they practice chiropractic methods but if they do I strongly advise you see one, It saved me from back surgery and having them poke around my spine.

when my spine or rather (disks) flares my sciatica totally disables me, it takes about ten days to clear it up with my chiropractor, my last episode was about a year ago with no problems to date, I have been suffering with is problem for ten years now.

PS..... Nice Mamod set up. I enjoy your work.


All the best  Anthony.... 

[Lew_Merrick_PE]

You know you're getting old when aspirin (or equivalent) has become your drug of choice!

I've had a delicate back, for the past 50 years or so. Didn't help, being in machine shops, all my working life.  But, the sciatica was a whole new experience! Never before, suffered so much pain, for so long!

Understood.  In my case it is not only machine shops, but mountain climbing and parachuting (round dome types) to make things worse.
 

Also the osteopathy, (at £35 a time), made me feel worse, for a couple of days afterwards!

It's like anything else, there are doctors (people) who understand and can work the problem and there are those who can't.  The problem is finding those who can.

[krv3000]

brill

[howsitwork?]

good to see you back on line. I found hiking boots excellent for both padding and insulation. If I hadn't had mine at Harrogate wood show last weekend I would have been even more nithered ! Every time the gale howled the marquee top lifted and any heat went out on the Saturday. Mind you I saved a fortune ( similar logic to women in shoe shops-invest to save!)

Keep up the good work.

[Stilldrillin]

Anthony, Lew, Bob.
 Thanks for your commiserations, and advice! Much appreciated!

Ian.
I also found hiking boots gave great relief. Even better, when fitted with orthotic insoles!

I have a pair of these in every pair of shoes/ slippers etc...... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Premium-Orthotic-Gel-High-Arch-Support-Insoles-Gel-Pad-3D-Arch-Support-/261195023659?var=&hash=item826dfb856e
 
The 3-7 size, is a perfect fit. In my boots, I paired them with gel insoles. 

David.

[mechman48]

I can relate also; have got arthritis in lower spine    so my GP told me last year so know how you feel but glad you're feeling better... my drug of choice... recommended by GP... Paracetamol...Nils desperandum   
George.

[millwright]

Seems You have opened the flood gates here David, looks like we need a new posting heading for Aches Pains and Age Related Problems.
                         

John

[Stilldrillin]

Seems You have opened the flood gates here David, looks like we need a new posting heading for Aches Pains and Age Related Problems.
                         

John

Yer not wrong, John! 

David.

[howsitwork?]

paracetamol is ok but makesme throw up- also it's not anti inflammatory but kind to stomach ( of most people).

If you need anti inflammatory ibuprofen is kindest but watch out for indigestion ( stop if affected) and can be an issue for asthmatics.

I find black sheep "medicinal healing fluid" helps- "Yorkshire square" of choice but geeting harder to come by.

[Stilldrillin]

Hi Ian.
 My choice is Co-Codomol. Will be taking a couple, at bedtime, To ease the aches, and get off to sleep.

At really painful  times, I alternate, 2 hourly. With Ibuprofen.

Your "Yorkshire Square", threw me for a moment. I know of the Rhubarb Triangle........ 

David.

[mechman48]

When my joints & back ache I tend toward a Scottish remedy... spring water, with a good helping of peaty aromatics. I do believe their secret ingredients could be sugar, yeast, possibly malt hops, but wouldn't swear to it, seems to work wonderfully at bedtime, sometimes earlier, much earlier...     the only problem is that it takes approx 5 -10 years for full efficacy...    

George.

[howsitwork?]

Co-codamol is fine just make sure diet has lots of fluids in it( of all kinds to add variety and flavor) care as it bungs you up( unless you like long novels and making notes on the throne

Alternating with ibuprofen is good - US research showed this is morebeneficial than taking both together for fever /pain relief in children ( no one is dure why but it definitely works and we're all kids a heart, some slightly bigger than others

George-would the Island spring waters be more beneficial than those of the mainland perhaps?

One last observation - heat locally is really beneficial in softening muscles and easing aches an electric blanket works wonders. Being massaged by a nubile maiden with warm hands could be fun as well but probably more expensive

[lordedmond]

Well aren't we a bunch of crocs 

Well it's me calling the pot black, I have a smashed up foot , bone growing in most joints pushing them apart.

Good day is 8 codine 8 paracetomal , bad day it's 16 codine and 8 paracetamol

With that lot booze is no go now ,

But it's crutches for short distances , personal wheels for longer,

Forgot the tabs are duff as well to long working close to turbine blowers for base exchange units

Brian cell is still functioning ( I think ) so I have to sit to machine no standing .

I have just purchased a CNC mill and I am learning fusion360 it's free to hobbiests


Looks like it's a A G E  in saying that I packed up work 18 years ago ( retired at 50)

Looks like some of us are in the same boat but hey you have to cut the cloth according to the width

Chins up lads and lasses

Stuart

[Oldboy]

We all have the aging problem, for some reason everything seems to go faster as you get older.  It only feels like yesterday that our grandchildren come into to world and now the oldest is 15 and growing.  I followed a lot of what you have done to and with your mini lathe and learnt so much.  Thankyou for putting it up.  I didn't start doing this until I retired which is over 10 years ago now, I am still learning.

Barry

[SwarfnStuff]

Cheer up all, we made it this far even if the floor gets further down as do my shoelaces, people seem to talk softer and some idiot types messages on this forum and paints the street signs with a fuzzy paint brush.
  New optical crutches only help marginally as I wait for things to get bad enough to justify a cataract opp.
    Still, I, we are above ground (unless you live in a cave in Coober Pedy, an opal mining town in central OZ, or somewhere else where homes can be underground) and still messing about in sheds so life's good.

John B