Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside RESTO-GO!

[Palf70Step]

I just finished lunch, but after seeing your grill'n, I am HUNGRY again.

[aggie91]

Looks good Rian. Stay Safe over there...

[Indian113]

Dang it Rian! That Feast is going to be Tough to Beat the next time " The Rowdy Bunch" comes to the States.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I just finished lunch, but after seeing your grill'n, I am HUNGRY again.

We put some aside for you Bill.

Originally Posted by aggie91

Looks good Rian. Stay Safe over there...

Thank you mate, it was good, and we are trying.

Originally Posted by Indian113

Dang it Rian! That Feast is going to be Tough to Beat the next time " The Rowdy Bunch" comes to the States.

If you have us a spot again, we could always bring the extras and create a feast, as long as you do us some of your spectacular pork chops.

The Rowdy Bunch would happily darken your doorstep again, if you and Mrs Boss were up for the upheavals



So Sunday Sally came around again, we are doing the separation thing fully, frustratedly.

We had decided to rest on Sunday which led to a 5 mile or 8 km walk over the farm, down to the edge of the Thames river.

Some Irisis on the way.



Shipping carrying on, up the river.



Down on the tidal wall, Sally saw some friends based on their profiles.....

Note the distance being kept, some sensibility maintained.

River tide was mostly out.



Loads of driftwood on the bank, including this long board, worn away over time, leaving a lovely pattern, I really wanted it.







We picked up loads of glass and some other bits, including a lump of driftwood for Sally’s garden, and a construction helmet, that seemed brand new.



Sally’s treasures, glass will be part of a wind chime mobile.



Our route.

[Indian113]

Rian, we always have room for our friends! I can fix Pork Chops again, How many do you want?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Indian113

Rian, we always have room for our friends! I can fix Pork Chops again, How many do you want?

Only one of your Pork chops will be good Ray.

Then we garnish our plates. With other interesting foods.......



BUGGERRRRR !!!

Tried to start the Galaxy..... Needed food.


KZZZZZZZZ...Pffft

KZZZZZZ...Pfffft

KZZZZZZ. KZZZZZ KZZZZZ

Kzzzz... Pfffft


Being stood so long now with COVID 19, another casualty.

I knew the battery was fragile.




.

[Palf70Step]

, Sorry to hear that. Always a pain when they die.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

, Sorry to hear that. Always a pain when they die.

Thanks Bill,

This one just needs to be started weekly, but the cold is a killer.

And I am too tight to go buy a new mastery yet.

[Grizz1963]

Considering this COVID-19 thing has turned our lives into a Groundhog Day from hell, some more of the same.

Sunday

Started part 2 of paving cleaning, moving the house firewood box and other items away, its amazing how long prep, clean and clean again takes.





Eventually by 15.30 only that bit left to get to.



Done.



Bad lighting, still wet in places, but job done for part two.



Next up over next weekend will be the driveway strips and down at the garage which is a real mess.

Sally came to visit to weed my garden bed and dust the living room, and as usual, hard as it is, we managed to keep our distance, sensibly.

I cooked Cajun chicken thighs and veggies.

Assisted by Brandy and Pepsi Max, I thought I had earned it.









Chatting with Dennis, who is still working, he sent pics of Hunter the new pup at around 10.00 USA time.



Seems everything was still very quiet after the previous days quad and three wheeler party.....

Beer won.



So life goes on, just with a bit more thought and social distancing.

Plan churning in my head as to how to get that long wooden plank the 4km from sea level at the Thames river, back to my home.

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[Palf70Step]

I wonder how maneuverable that will be on your folks streets over there? Looks neat for sure though.

[Micmac]

Hey Rian, watch out for your toes with that power water blaster, don't ask me how I know! You safe.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I wonder how maneuverable that will be on your folks streets over there? Looks neat for sure though.

I think it will be fine.

3 point turns.

Originally Posted by Micmac

Hey Rian, watch out for your toes with that power water blaster, don't ask me how I know! You safe.

Hi Mate, good to see you here.

Hope all is good at home.

I am careful with my toes, but flip flops rule.




Went for a quick 2 mile walk on Monday.



How fresh do you like your asparagus



Mate Steve asked me what retirement would feel like.

His day.



Paving cleaned twice.



I am so bloody tired of cleaning paving, unfortunately my place has a lot to do.

One more section left to do, down at the garage. Needs some stuff to be moved though.



Grubby down there.





Had some “FREE TIME” from work today between training sessions.... sick and tired of this now.

Went to Sally’s place in the Galaxy and cleaned her patio, walkway and also the alley behind her place.





One more meeting 5.00 to 5.45 then close up shop till tomorrow morning.

Sally was awarded some beers at work for being employee of the week last week, I did get to share in her win.

Corona’d




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[Palf70Step]

[Palf70Step]

Rian, I thought I had a bunch of crud to trim and care for, but you definitely got me beat! I get tired of just looking at all your plant life, let alone dealing with the driveway stones/pavers. We must really like abusing our body with all this plant life care. Who da thunk we'd get old!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Rian, I thought I had a bunch of crud to trim and care for, but you definitely got me beat! I get tired of just looking at all your plant life, let alone dealing with the driveway stones/pavers. We must really like abusing our body with all this plant life care. Who da thunk we'd get old!

Indeed Bill,

And there is always something that needs sorting out.



Weekend almost over.....

Went to Sally’s place to check up how the grouting held up after the rain this week.

All good.

Went inside and found Sally busy making bunting for a friend.



My young friend @PaulY sent me a pic yesterday.....





Been a while, but Stas and his family are well in Siberia.

Been in isolation like everyone else.

Yesterday they worked on the grounds around the block of flats they live in.

Garden beds, flowers, trees, shrubs etc planted and prepped.





Today Stas was going to paint the parking space lines on their estate,



Afterwards, a shower and a beer.




Followed by a walk with his family.

And a “Sakura” moment with Katya.




In the mean time, Stas and his family carry on regardless


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[aggie91]

We only have Stihl chainsaws at the farm for the same reason, reliability.

Nice work!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by aggie91

We only have Stihl chainsaws at the farm for the same reason, reliability.

Nice work!

Morning Karl,

Thanks.

Yes, reliability seems to be the common opinion out there.



COVID 19 has no real benefit for anyone.

For me, working from home means up to 5 Teams, Zoom etc meetings per day, some up to three hours long, followed by tests, exams, validations, and tasks.

Also a load of online training and tests......

Stuck mostly indoors sucks for someone like me who is used to working away from home.


However, some jobs can be fitted in, between those others that pays the mortgage.


So after cutting down the Leylandi conifer that broke the wall, I tried to pull the two very long Red Robin trees up and away from the drive.

I failed, so cut them back, leaving enough to start new shaped growth.





Part of the reason for changing the back is to rebuild the wall, but also a longer term plan is a 6x6 meter carport in front of the garage that will be done up to look like a 50’s garage forecourt
There needs to be a support post for the main I-beam to run from the garage outward.

Hope this makes sense.

Wall to be pushed back on the left by 400mm reducing to zero when it joins the existing footprint to the right.

Galvanised post to be put in place for future reference.



After that, I decided to use my Galaxy tow bar chainsaw to remove another tree that has irked me for a few years.



The killedtree is being replaced with a pot plant that needs a new home.



Behind the garage my fruit trees were dwarfed by weeds, so clearing up that strip of land was next up.

The Fig tree seems really eager to prove its worth this year.



Apple, pear and plum trees are looking good, pile of scrap steel less so.



Also cleared up behind my 86 year old neighbours place and cut her hedge.





Neighbour Sam has also used this period to sort a gym for his kids and create some garden beds.

Mickey as always on hand to help and supervise.




And still the odd jobs kept presenting themselves......


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[Grizz1963]

More Covid craziness

Since moving here 10 years ago, I have disliked this very thorny shrub at the front door.



Time to make a change then.

Local nursery got £24.00 out of me. So watch this space.



Multiple other odd jobs seemed to join the list every time I turned my head the other way.

So one of the jobs was to clear the new from last year, deck of all the potplants,

This guy was earmarked for the space where I pulled out the conifer with the Galaxy.



So a hole was due to be dug where the tree got pulled out.

Roots are a problem, but a home made sharp axe on a 5 foot length of scaffolding pole meant deep reach and quick work.









Done.



Out back, the Fig tree seems happy.



Not a great pic, taken from the kitchen, but a total of 50p for 4 solar lights has to be a bargain, thanks Sally.



Roll on summer.

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[Grizz1963]

TITS.......

Blue Tits.

They come every year.

Without Harley, they have a better chance.

Saturday.







Was looking for a cheap cement mixer to buy on FB Marketplace and saw a pair of Butler sinks for cheap.

I used to have a pair but gave them to mate @Jabbo iirc.

Pounced, fetched and brought home.

Galaxy to the rescue.



In place, herbs to go in next.



Another weekend job the Galaxy stepped up for was scavenging for brick pavers up at the farm, followed by taking them to Sallys place where some were put to use as potplant stands, and also creating little surrounds for shrubs.

Perfect builders van.







Some cement and pavers laid on it, then cemented down from the sides as well. It is not load bearing.



Done first one.



And still it was not over.

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[Grizz1963]

After doing Sallys garden bits, we went for a walk, taking some tools, including a golf pull along caddy and some ratchet straps.

Proceeded to walk to the Thames river to see if that lovely 15 foot plus board was still there, we knew there had been a super high tide in the mean time, but hope springs eternal.




Real decent social distancing. Looking toward London.



Brought a bit of wood back as a consolation, for my garden.



Of course life goes on for others, and mate Bryan @MrTiki had repainted the wheels on his ever changing Imp.



And he also carved another winner of a Tiki.



Back home for a sandwich before carrying on with more work outside, this guy had made himself comfortable in the lounge.

I am 100% not bothered, his presence means there is work for him.



Great weather again




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[Grizz1963]

So Saturday morning, I started early.

Insomnia and body aches have their merits.

Cut back the hedge as reported before.

Alarm set for 09.20 to remind me to lock up and head out to @Johnnybravo to check out his new machine shop and collect the mixer he had offered me.

35 minute unencumbered drive was the longest drive I have done in 8 weeks, and showed just what a pleasant and comfortable drive this Galaxy offers.

Johnnybravo getting on with the whole social distance thing after the House Elf helped him move the mixer from his Berlingo van to the Galaxy, leaving me to capture the load on film.



Along with the machine came a new replacement fan and cover for the electric motor, part of the “Needs some attention” message, needed some modifying to get to fit.



Had a restricted visit and shop tour with JB and the House Elf, who is both better looking and nicer (not yet jaded by life sucking) than his dad would admit ;-)

Amazing how much efficiency they have managed to bring to the shop through sensible planning and layout, with the Mezzanine level adding another 60% of useable space for machines and of course automotive storage.

Being that they are working alone, against the proverbial clock, we kept it shorter than usual, and I missed out on a coffee and cookies, so after leaving a case of Bud Lights, I headed home where work was not doing itself.

Back home, I carried on with cleaning and clearing up the hedge that I had cut back earlier.

Sally popped over by about 11.30 to help me unload the mixer and plant some sunflowers and green beans she had grown.


So first view of the mixer was not exactly encouraging.



After coffee and cookies with Sally, I started to look at the mixer barrel, and decided that a bucket of gravel and some water would be the way to go.



Messy cement and dismissive use in its previous life as a hire company (that had gone bankrupt) evident around.

Note exposed motor axle on left, that would be needing some attention.



The stand again, showed dismissive use in the past, with cleaning not a priority, ever.



Two hours of running it in various ways with changing content left me with the drum inside looking a lot better.

Lump hammer had to be pulled into service to break out a load of real thick concrete in the bottom nd around the paddles.


At one point when it became obvious that the stones were not progressing, I added some sharp metal edges and chain, which seemed to help, along with the the lump hammer.



And a sobering last thought at this point.

The cost of a new mixer online means the three or more hours it may take to get the machine back to where it will be an asset here when I start mixing and building is time well spent.




.

[Grizz1963]

Sally is a bit of a menace with her camera, but sometimes it does make me chuckle

Sunday early.



Back to random little jobs that steal time.

Fitting the new cooling fan to the motor.

I started by carefully filing out the inside to get it to slide onto the axle, fail.

So measuring the axle showed 16mm and fan15mm so one of the old large drills I saved years ago was ground down to 13mm to fit the chuck on the pillar drill.

Hey Presto !

Hammer persuasion.



Cover on, tested, all good.



Sally had been bugging me for weeks to strip back and paint the BBQ table made from the garden gate last year.

Unfortunately all the layers of paint and varnish had started peeling badly, having stood outside in all weathers.

So I told her she could sort it out.

Carried the table onto the lawn, gave her a steel brush and some fence paint......



Result.



Another Sally generated job, the BBQ I built 9 years ago has started to show its age.

https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread...ies-build-kent

So the plan was to strip back just the tiles on the work surface.....

Ooooppps.... mistake.



Suddenly the wood frames looked rubbish, so I tore apart what was built not to be replaced.



Managed to get repair sections in.

Ideally would have loved some resilient marble or synthetic all weather replacement material in place of the tiles, but will get that figured later.



Now the doors were clearly looking rubbish.

Guess they need replacing too. Took them off.



Repurposed and cut down to become floors to holes, will keep kindling etc dry.



Busy week ahead, though it’s Wednesday morning already So not much will happen with dy job stuff getting in the way.

Doors to make up next, once I find some wood to use.

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[Grizz1963]

Another Sunday afternoon job was to address more of the wear and tear from abuse to the mixer.

A bit of grinder and welding action resulted in what will hopefully be an extended life.

Both the paddles in the barrel showed holes where the welds had torn away over time, and obviously leaked out when mixing cement.

Started by cleaning them up and cutting patches to weld over



The rolled rim was broken and barrel torn and one could see the metal was worn thinner around the edge.

So I took a 6” nail and bent it, cut a 50mm length off the top, including the head to slide into the rolled rim.

The nails head would partly fill the gap and allow me to bridge the tear.



Aligned and kept in place with my extra fingers.



Gluing metal.



Camera menace



Barrel patches.





Rim.



And finally late afternoon, just because I am like that, I took a belt sander and ran the mixer and sander in different directions to clean up the barrel a bit more.

Then added some random Dulux paint I bought unidentified years ago for £1.00 for a litre tin .





Ready for work once all the prep is done and materials ordered in.


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[Grizz1963]

For the garden and nature lovers out there.

Cacti seem to be happy right now.



And next door in Mickeys garden.







76 years old and still cannot settle down.



So Mickey had to rebuild his one pond, again.

Half the materials are recycled, scavenged or found up on their farmyard rubble pile.





From Siberia, Stas is not particularly enjoying this whole lockdown thing.



But sacrificed animal always puts a smile on his and the family in laws faces.

[Grizz1963]

So back to corona maintenance fitted inbetween meetings about meetings and tests about tests.

After starting on the BBQ refurbishment, it was all downhill.

New door frames and doors because the old ones just looked, well, old.





Next up was using the stored wood from the deck rebuild last year to make up some new doors.



While doing all these little bits of work between doing my day job, other bits happened.

@PaulY dropped off a Chevy C10 cab lifter for Martin on his way to a business meeting local to where I live.

While he was at it, he dropped off a few chainsaw chains for me as the chainsaw they used to fit had been stolen in a burglary.

It was so surreal having my mate stop on the driveway, drop off the stuff like a dead body and drive off because of this whole Corona virus thing.

I felt wounded.


Sally texted a pic too, she was at her home and painted the chairs SawdustSteve had brought last year.

Ready for summer.



Typical sally, who seems to find me all sorts of jobs around here.......

Comment on the pic of the new door frames was “You need to clean the brickwork”



So pressure cleaner came up from the garage.



After



Then pressure cleaned the recycled decking doors. Makes a big difference.



And my painter..... working remotely.



Turned into a lot more work than anticipated.

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