Weather observations
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Accounting wind chill * ^C
Air pressure * ^mb
Outlook * Boy that was a wet day yesterday! Today is overcast so far.

My Powabyke controller is still up the shoot. It seems that it is important to expose the thing to a plentifull air flow, to keep it cool. It ran for 10 seconds, then failed. The supplier is replacing it with a new one, because although he replaced the faulty transitor, I must have got the others very near breaking point when it cooked, when Alex was riding it. I had it mounted in an existing box, for the sake of tidiness. Tidiness is bad! Exposure is good! I think I've learned that now.

I'm all made-ready for the hollographic foiling of the tokens and the tokens themselves are all printed and trimmed ready to go. I hope the foil will arrive in the post today. I am told it was posted 1st class on Wednesday.

I have a Ferguson tractor Workshop Manual going out in the post today, along with 450 Tyvek wristbands for a college event.

Mark is planning to make some signs this morning. One is a street sign for the road next to ours, as the council have not managed to do it in time for summer. Others are for our local Smallsticks Barn Cafe overflow car park and for the wedding functions, which are about to take place at The Hill House Inn in Happisburgh.

15:30hrs
They say it has been fine weather for ducks, here in Norfolk. As I drove into Stalham, to do a little shopping, I nearly ran over a day-old duckling about 1/2 a nile from home. It was nearly at our place when I returned. Still running back and forth across the road. I picked it up, brought it home, popped it in a box and put the box under a lamp, with a saucer of water and some chick-crumbs. I fear that perhaps I should not have picked it up, but it's a white (yellow) duckling, not a Mallard, no sign of a mother or sibblings and a good 1/2 a mile from where I first saw it. There is no water in the area and, as it turns out, has not learned to drink or feed yet. I am teaching it to drink, in the usual way, by dipping a finger in the shallow saucer of water and touching it on it's beak and, to eat, by tapping the cardboard box with the chick-crumbs on the bottom. It has not started yet. I am sure it is only very young and not yet in need. Oh! and it's snuggling directly under the light bulb that I mounted have over the box, rather than moving away to a cooler part of the box, which they do as they get older and need less warmth.

I seem unable to find a camera with which to take a photo of the duckling, which Alex has named John-Duck Peckard.

18:11hrs
John-Duck has started drinking. Woopie!

19:07hrs
John-Duck has started eating.Things are going well!

Weather observations
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Humidity * %
Accounting wind chill * ^C
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Outlook * Looking like it will be another hot one. The breeze is nice though.

I am hoping to get my Byke wheel back today. If I do, it will soon be driving me to the pub etc. Woopie!

I had an engraved magnesium plate arrive yesterday, for some vounchers we have printed. I very much hope we will get a delivery of foil today, with which to holgram these, using the plate. Health and Safelty, it is claimed, has precluded etched plates these days. I deeply regret that. Engraving is not really the best way to do it, if etching is available. These Government elves need to have a re-think. Mind you! I have no idea what else you could get all these university garduates to do if we cut all this stupid legislation. They only seem to be of use in bullying people to do things their way. Grmph! 'nough!

What's all this about non-military national Service for school-leavers? Goodness me! Not to be compulsory? Yeh right! I wonder how long that will be for? Voluntary schemes today are law within a year or so, as a rule. It's just a way of banging up our youth to keep them out of mind for a while, till someone needs them. It's anti-libertarian - or it's sure to be in a short while. Not only that, but what are we supposed to do for help around the place if they steel all our labourers? Damn them! I don't mind them doing it to them city-dwellers, but we have things to get on with out here in the country; not the least of which is training our youth to do something useful. I'm all in favour of locking them up in schools till they learn enough to be safe, but once adult? Nope! Grmph! 'nough!

I do hope the weather cools down soon. I am finding this oppressive!

Mark has produced 325 feet of ribbon for a wedding function, which is being held at The Hill House Inn, our local pub, this weekend. It's gorgeous! He's now erected the marquees and organised vast numbers of straw bales for seating etc. (customer's choice).

Alex is working away at another web shop, for Calder Designs this time. Progress is much advanced. He is now working on the database, which will take a few days. There's nothing to see till he's completed the job, but I will post the URL when it's done. Do have a look at http://www.catseyepress.co.uk/shop/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=19&cat=Web+Hosting to see all about the web hosting side of things. That is Alex's work and he will deal with it for you. I am just here to liase.

Mark is just back from helping Sam to do something important, so I am off now. I have been waiting for him to extract my little air compressor, so that I can get on with setting up for foiling.

I've had an enquiry about 100 Tyvek wristbands for an event, next month. More on this as it comes in.

11:30am
Mark has extracted my compressor and now I am all set up ready to run 3000 holograms on the vouchers we are doing.

Added to the above I have printed and packaged a Ferguson tractor Workshop Manual for despatch today.

I am finding myself tempted to slightly change to look of my web site. I am told that when one has significant visitor numbers, as I have, one can save a lot of carbon by darkening the overall colour. Hmmm! Tempting!

Weather observations
Wind speed * ^mph
Wind direction *
Temperature ^C
Humidity * %
Accounting wind chill * ^C
Air pressure * ^mb
Outlook * Looking like it will be another ot one. The breeze is nice though.

We had rather a nice weekend. It was fairly quiet and restful.

I am expecting a visit today from a person who phoned on Friday, about some little books. I like printing books, so that should be good.

My Byke wheel failed when Alex was out on it on Friday. We have diagnosed the problem, but not the cause. It did come back very hot, so that is what did it, but why it got so hot we don't yet know. The man who sold us the parts is replacing them, which is very good of him and I am grateful for that, but miss my Byke.

We have moved the papermaking kit to a more permanent place in the garden. That has been going very well indeed.

Our guillotine blade is going off for sharpening today. The spare is on the machine. We have 2 so that we can still cut when one is off being sharpened.

Alex has completed another job. He has set up the web shop at www.the-apple-shop.co.uk to their specification. He also has the next job well under way.

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Outlook * Very wndy

I have received the new wheel for my electric Powa-byke. I wrecked it on a pot-hole some time ago. Mark fitted it and it does work very well. I am over the moon to have my bicycle back again. Many thanks to John, who supplied the motor, had it fitted to a new rim and also supplied the control new gear. If you want details, you are welcome to ask me. It was difficult to find parts, which were not an upgrade. However, upgrade was not an option because that would have attracted interest from Government legislation. That was of no interest to me. I just want to live a peaceful life, without interferance from rules and laws. I have found the best way to achieve that is to stay within the law and put up with the infuriating restrictions that doing so imposes.

We have completed some screen printed boxes for a local customer. Mark and I enjoyed that job very much. Mark intends to print 100m of blue ribbon in antique gold, for the same customer this afternoon.

Weather observations
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wind direction *
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Outlook * Unbearably Hot and sweaty

Mark and I are working, welding, my Morris Minor Traveller this afternoon.

Alex has been papermaking this morning, whislst Mark & I went to Strumpshaw Steam Museum, this morning. Whilst there we saw a Linotype machine and an old stop-cylder press. Both are rather in need of some tlc.

I have had a couple of pulls at screen printing today, but need some retarder in the ink if it is to work properly.

Weather observations
Wind speed * ^mph
wind direction *
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Humidity * %
Accounting Wind chill * ^C
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Outlook * Hot and sweaty

Yesterday was my 56th birthday. I thought I was 56 last year, so I get the same year twice. That's excellent!

I made a regrettable discovery about my step-father's homophobia yesterday. That was unpleasant. Such is the nature of people, I suppose! I'm not bothered about the £100,000, it's the principle!

A dog took one of our chickens out of our garden yesterday and ran off with it. Why the idiots can't keep the damned things on a lead, I do not know. Anyway! I spotted the sod out of the corner of my eye and ran after it. The chicken survived. The dog survived and the owner was sent off with a flea in her ear. Stupid girl! It was Sneezy. The one we have saved twice before. Bless her cotton socks! She's a bit ruffled and has lost a few feathers, but she's OK. Sadly, I think I look a bit uncivilised when I get into defence mode for my flock (or a friend, come to that). My mind just has 2 words in it, the first of which begins with F. I am never violent, but I worry that it may look as though I am about to do murder. I must go and have a friendly chat with my neighbours, into who's garden the chicken fled. I wasn't rude or anything, just that I was without words that applied to them. My head was in a single track and not about to settle down very soon, when I saw them yesterday.

One good thing about it! Despite both of the above, I had no sign of heart attack. So I reckon at least that is working well.

Happisburgh on Thames had a moment of fame yesterday. See http://news.bbc.co.uk to see what our pet archeaologists have been up to for the past 5 years.

Papermaking again
We are making paper again today. Quality is not right up there with the very best. Handling the material is a fabulous joy and watching Alex maneuvering it with such dexterity is brilliant.The texture is text-book. The strength is titanic and the smoothness is perfect for the pen. Woopie!

Weather observations
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wind direction *
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Accounting Wind chill * ^C
Air pressure * ^mb
Outlook * Hot and sweaty

I thought I'd upload a picture of our paper loft. There it is, on the right.

Weather observations
Wind speed * 6.9^mph
wind direction * SE
Temperature ^19.1C
Humidity * 81%
Accounting Wind chill * 17.1^C
Air pressure * 1017.2^mb
Outlook * Hot and sweaty

Mark has printed a glove this morning. It looks fantastic, and demonstrates the versatility of te Direct to Garment press!

Alex and I are planning to do a full day's data entry on a web-shop job of his.

The papermaking has been moved to evenings, to avoid interruption daytime work.

Weather observations
Wind speed * 4.5^mph
wind direction * WSW
Temperature ^16.5C
Humidity * 89%
Accounting Wind chill * 16.5^C
Air pressure * 1016.2^mb
Outlook * cool and wet

More papermaking yesterday! This time with floral inclusions. I do enjoy this little hobby.

Weather observations
Wind speed * ^mph
wind direction *
Temperature ^C
Humidity * %
Accounting Wind chill * ^C
Air pressure * ^mb
Outlook * Uncomfortably hot

Yesterday saw us demonstrating basic papermaking. Just one of our little hobbies! Today I would rather like to do it with our or own re-cycled paper instead of pure cotton. Before we go on, I really must get ourselves some new felt. I have ordered some.

Weather observations
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wind direction *
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Humidity * %
Accounting Wind chill * ^C
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Outlook * Uncomfortably hot

As the month draws to a quiet close, we have spent a few days winding down after the, very successful, Hill House inn Soltice Beer Festival. As usual, the weather has got hotter since, and we swelter. The North Sea is now warm.

We have a little project on for a near-neighbour. No doubt that will all come out in due course. Meansbetimes it is under wraps. A little mystery for you all to enjoy!

Ferguson tractor book sales have plumeted as as usual for this time of year, as people pay more for poorer quality but in their face convenience at the shows. Fine! I'm so pleased that is no longer a bother for us. It used to be a terrible financial worry, in the past. It's just not a problem now that I am more or less retired!

Having said that, it may be that the new Government may be about to jigger that, with their new, proposed controls on housing benefit rental property rents. We shall have to wait and see! It won't take much reduction in my £550 a month income to make that insufficient to live on. What I do in printing is not a living or anywhere near it. I hate living to print, anyway. I prefer to live to print. It's a hobby; no more. And anyway! I much prefer to live life helping people, than working for them, if you see what I mean.

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Outlook * Uncomfortably hot

Dear Norman,
You know that I am inclined to be passionate about political issues, so please pardon my passion now. I am still in the process of replying to your latest kind response to my request to reverse the iniquetous smoking ban. That is not the subject of this communication. I intend to reply when my communication on the subject is complete. Suffice to say that my polite objections to what I percieve as a duplicity and lack of logic on that subject, continue.

I recieve most of this week's emergency budget with pleasure. I am ready, for the most part, to do all I can to engage in the necassary savings. I have said all along that as a nation, we have been over spending. It is my opinion that we have, especiallly, done so on military projects. I hate to think that I have paid towards killing people. I would prefer to make savings in that area above all other areas. I am disgusted that I, of all poeple, am being expected to pay for weapons and service personnel. As far as I am concerned, I am prepared to defend our nation, being here on the front line (NE Norfolk coast), I do not accept the need to send forces abroad so to do.

I want it to be clearly understood that I do comprehend that on my income of under £6475 this year, I will be paying an extra 2.5% extra next year in VAT. That's £162. I further understand that from April I will not be paying tax on an extra (up to) £1000, which equates to (up to) £200, does it not? Clearly Although I will not need to pay any extra in this regime, I will have to work more to earn it, which is the same thing. This I really am perfectly prepared to do on the following understanding:-

I sincerely hope that your hike in VAT will be used to repay the stupid debt, which New Labour ran up. This I am prepared to pay, for as long as it takes. Please take it from me that I am more than happy to reduce Goverment involvement in the many services, which should be for The People and for Private Enterprise, to provide, for the sake of saving money, increasing efficiency and, most particularly in order to allow personal choice of the consumer, over whether or not to purchase a particular service or product. If I cannot afford something, I will not buy it. Why on Earth have I been forced to buy it, by Government, when I know I cannot afford it? That has been irritating me for years.

I hear today that our new, promising and exciting coelition Government is talking in terms of stealing from me; a year of my pension. I am not pleased by that. I have paid for that pension (well, nearly). If any private pension company were to claim that they unilaterally decline pay out my pension on the grounds that they'd already spent it, there would be trouble. Well..... naeive as you may believe me to be, it was only very recently that I discovered that Government has not been investing my pension contributions for my pension, but rather spending it on other pensioners. I was then (under New Labour) and remain (under Lib/Con) deeply unimpressed.

Listen to me! I expect to be paid out, because I have paid in. I only expect that which is mine!

I am perfectly happy to do what I can to help, by way of training new people in my trade and to give other, considerable, assistance, as I feel able. This I continue, in my own way, on a day by day basis, already, despite there being no financial need for me so to do. I am not prepared to go without the pension, for which I have already paid, without lodging an objection and by doing what I can to reverse it. I believe this one-sided change to my contract with the state pension to be illegal and is, most certainly, immoral. I am aware that I could not win at law against the all-powerful Government, if only because I am excluded from even trying, by being unable to afford so to do. But, surely the most simple logic should demonstrate that I am just plain right. Goodness knows, at this rate you will kill me with a heart attack, brough on by frustration at being a victim of my own Government's manipulations, if by nothing else, by the time I am 66. This appears to me to be plain wrong!

Here's another thought on the subject. Is it reasonable that women, which we are told live longer, and who pay less in contributions over a lifetime (in part due to their insistance on increasing an already excessive population), should get a pension earlier than men? Well! That is the contract. On that I must concede. But on the forcable removal of my pension at age 65 years, I shall never concede! Consider your Government challenged!

It's no good telling me that I am going to live too long (I have declined your endless nagging invitations and outright bullying, to live miserably, but longer by stopping smoking. I live constantly with back-pain following decades of hard work and fight diabetis, which will surely kill me sooner rather than later). In my case that is unlikely to be true. I am simply not going to continue to work myself to death for other people's children. I also declined to procreate, when it was obvious to me that to do so would be reprehensible. I have paid what was demanded of me and I expect my state pension on time. Surely the new Government will not stoop to theft so soon after we have elected you? Surely I can trust you in something, so basic to honesty, as this? please?

Please be aware that I intend to publish this letter.

Graham Pressman

Weather observations
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Outlook * ALL VERY NICE WEATHER

Alex and I have been getting on with some studio photography, in the mean time. That's been between printing garments and other things for the Beer Festival.

PS
I have the long term fix for the big press in my head, I just need the plan to be executed by the practical member of the household.

Weather observations
Wind speed * ^mph
wind direction *
Temperature ^C
Humidity * %
Accounting Wind chill * ^C
Air pressure * ^mb
Outlook * ALL VERY NICE WEATHER

Alex and I completed the last couple of printing jobs for the above festival.

I have been for a couple of pints at the above and prefer to sleep now.

Good night!

P.S.
The pain in my hips has exquisite, but is passing, Thank God!

Alex and I plan to get on with jobs for his customers over the next few days.

Alex and I did squeeze a domain registration and web site in for http://www.jpservicesdrax.ltd.uk yesterday. They make grass toppers for tractors.

Weather observations
Wind speed * 4.5^mph
wind direction * NE
Temperature 15.3^C
Humidity * 82%
Accounting Wind chill * 14.4^C
Air pressure * 1010.2^mb
Outlook * A bright summer's day

Mark has been printing t-shirts for various people to do with the Solstice Beer Festival, to be held at The Hill House Inn, Happisburgh next week and a sign for for The British Museum, a group of archeologists from which is digging at Happisburgh, in connection with events 800,000 years ago. Wow! They have also had some, rather cleverly designed, t-shirts.

Weather observations
Wind speed * 3.1^mph
wind direction * S
Temperature 15.5^C
Humidity * 79%
Accounting Wind chill * 15.5^C
Air pressure * 1007.7^mb
Outlook * A bright summer's evening - Sorry I'm late!

Looking back at earlier civilisations, it appears quite a complex subject. Agricultural production as compared with food consumption (much of which depends upon population levels), energy consumption as compared with energy supply and taxation levels as compared with the population's preparedness and/or ability to pay those taxes. At the same time, at what stage is the population willing to reduce it's demands on Government? Without taxes, Government cannot provide the services demanded by the people. If the public demand those services, it is reasonable for Government to suppose that the populous are prepared to pay for them.

As I look out of the window of my home, I look upon fields of food (well, beer barley actually), growing in the summer sun. Output from those fields is greatly increased over output from those same fields half a century ago. However, the number of mouths that same field has to feed is increasing faster than the productivity of the fields. Ultimately, if that process were to continue, stavation is the innevitable result. No other alternative exists in that senario.

I have heard it argued that, in this civilisation we have far more advanced technology, which will save us from famine. What I fear is that we rely upon that technology far too much and that for want of affordable oil or other energy source, technology itself is capable of failing almost at the drop of a hat. I remember "the three day week" here in the UK, back in the 70's. For 4 days every week we had absolutely no power supply. We took it in turns, by area, to live with that lack. In this day and age, surely if we cannot run the entire network of computors, how are we supposed to supply even a limited service in insurance, banking or any other of the spurious methods which we claim earn our livings in the UK? To whom will we sell our leasure goods or services, since no-one will have any money (although, no doubt, there is great potential for leasure time). How will we market our goods if the power is off in London (one of the few the homes of the web servers) on the same three days to those in which we have power at our address to run our PC's to download our orders? Indeed, how will anybody place an internet order? No! Technology is not our salvation, it is heading towards being our downfall. Without it, we cannot even have water delivered to our doors in the pipework anymore. The whole system is 100% dependant on energy (if only for pumping) and technology. Without water we have 10 days to live. Ouch!

What was the downfall of the Romans? Water, food and energy. What led to such an enormouse empire suddenly lacking such basics? Taxation, led to over-population, led to food shortage, which was exasserbated by deforestation for energy to supply an overly large population, which in turn led to soil errosion, want for food and so on. What are we witnessing now? I submit that it's much the similar set of events. The differences being that oil replaces timber and the population has doubled more than once since then. At least, back in Roman times, there were humans who could live without their technology. The human race survived the dark ages. So it will again, no doubt, as long as we don't destroy the remaining hunter-gatherers, who are the only ones not dependant upon technology. They are our insurance against extiction. Treat them with respect!

But we're not going to be without oil!
OK, we are not, at least, not in our lifetimes! But it's getting harder to come by and more expensive, literally, by the hour. I am not just reading the dial on the petrol pump here. I am monitoring the cost in hours of work a day expended every day by every working person who desires to use any kind of technology. It's huge. Have a look at the stats! See what proportion of our national turnover goes on energy of one kind or another? We are not net producers of the stuff, here in England! On top of that we are paying over 50% (unless you belive me, in which case it is over 90%) in taxes to pay Government to do the things we, the electorate, demand of them. Are we mad, or what?

And all this assumes that we do not end up at war on our own territory - not a fair assumption, given that we are fighting wars on other people's territory!

Let's see what you think of that? - Upload!

Weather observations
Wind speed * 10.7^mph
wind direction * E
Temperature 14.0^C
Humidity * 95%
Accounting Wind chill * 9.3^C
Air pressure * 1001.6^mb
Outlook * Overcast and damp-feeling. Thick sea frett!

I have ordered new batteries for our Powabykes.

CRIPES! They have arrived! 55 minutes from Norwich. www.multicell.co.uk. I can but recommend them.

Alex is out with customers this afternoon. He has completed his data-entry work.

Alex is up to date with his data entry. He has since had excellent meeetings with a number of customers

I have bought new Batteries for my electric Byke. They got me TO the pub, but were too flat to get me home. I will look into that in the morning. I am not happy!

Weather observations
Wind speed * 10.7^mph
wind direction * SE
Temperature 16.0^C
Humidity * 85%
Accounting Wind chill * 16.0^C
Air pressure * 1002.8^mb
Outlook * Overcast and damp-feeling.

I have a bit of a sore throat, but no doubt that will pass. I am, on the other hand, revelling in my new-found eye sight.

I have posted all orders for tractor books this morning. The only one not posted is one order, which has not been paid for, bound for Ireland. It is printed and ready to post when payment is made.

To print few business cards using one of my letterpress machines, is the idea for this morning. I intend to thermograph them with a low-gain, matt powder. This will make them look for all the world as though they have printed from an engraved intaglio plate. I have a special method for producing the reverse-impression effect, but even I have a trade secret or two..

Weather observations
Wind speed * 10.7^mph
wind direction * SE
Temperature 16.3^C
Humidity * 75%
Accounting Wind chill * 13.6^C
Air pressure * 1009.3^mb
Outlook * Overcast and pleasantly cool.

We bought the perfect binding machine a long time ago and have been looking forward to producing an edition of the Ferguson Workshop Manual, available at a price consumate with the lower-cost method of binding. Mark and I hope to produce a dozen or so books today for stock. Mark and I will use the artwork for the Workshop Manual covers and change the title etc.

We also have a mind to produce a few Parts Manuals, ready for sale at the drop of a hat; off the peg, as it were.

Before doing those, we need to produce a run of Tyvek wrist bands for Live'N'Up Music Festival, which is soon to be held at Woodlands Castle.

Between all of the above, we hope to get the Hill House Inn Solstice Beer festival glasses all washed and ready for delivery.

Alex has already gone off to Wroxham Barns to manage The Apple Shop for the day, whilst the owner is away for a few hours.

Weather observations
Gorgeous!

It's Friday already!
Oh well! There's so much on and so little time. Retirement is such a busy time of life! I had no idea!

I went to Optical Express today for a 1 month check-up. All is groovy! better than 20:20 vision will do me! My goodness that was worth every penny and easily worth the slight discomfort and the journey to London for the Interocular surgery and the second to Norwich for the laser top-up. Now all I need to do is to learn to bother to look, after a lifetime of doing so being a complete waste of effort. This element of things is proving the most difficult to get over. There seems to be nothing much I cannot see if Ijust look.

It has been a good few days. We are part-way through washing the glasses for The Hill House Inn Solstic Beer Festival. That's a good thing.

I had a ton of wonderful new bookwove paper arrive today. I love it! This paper will make the very highest quality books, with a wonderful texture, crisp and hard, as well as opaque as can be and a gorgeous, but subtle off-white colour. You have never had it so good in the world of short-run and print on demand book publishing. If you have written your book (many of us have one in us), then ring me to find out what I can do to help. I live to get people published on real paper.

Yesterday we had 1/2 a ton of "beer-mat board" arrive. We have no particular job in mind for it, but it will be great to play with it. I intend to contact the ink people on Monday to see what it will need us to acquire.

Peter came from Germany yesteday for some Ferguson tractor Workshop Manuals. It was great to see him again and we had a pleasant cup of tea and a chat together as well.

Weather observations
Wind speed * 1.6^mph
wind direction * S
Temperature 13.2^C
Humidity * 86%
Accounting Wind chill * 13.2^C
Air pressure * 1010.3^mb
Outlook * Overcast and cool.

I started the day by printing a High lift Loader Instruction Book, a Workshop Manual, a Levelling Blade Instruction Book and a Vaporising Oil (TE D 20) Tractor Instruction Book, for Ferguson tractors and implements. They should leave here this morning's post.

I have had breakfast and now wait for the rest of the team. Wooho! Here's Mark! Great!

We completed most of the Hill House Inn T-shirts yesterday. This morning we have 2 or three more of those to do, a sweat shirt and a hoodie, for the same Solstice Beer Festival and then I have in mind for us to get on with a web site job with Alex. Whilst doing that, we have to put 1464 glasses through the dish washer. That's quite a lot for a domestic machine. It may take some time!

Meansbetimes I have an appointment for some business for my mum at 10am. She is in the early stages of Alziemers, bless her. It is a difficult time in a person's life!

Weather observations
Wind speed * 13.00^mph
wind direction * NE
Temperature 12.9^C
Humidity * 85%
Accounting Wind chill * 7.1^C
Air pressure * 1012.1^mb
Outlook * Overcast, cool and damp.

We completed the fronts of The Hill House Solstice Beer Festival T-shirts yesterday and today I have, already done all the make-ready and registration for the Elgoods sponsership details for the reverse, but then we had a power cut. Well! It is not so much a cut, but more a very low voltage. The ink-curing heater plates are not heating and the lights in the room are all out, so we cannot see what we are doing. As a result, Alex and I are doing some domestic jobs and will then have a wee break for a while.

One the t-shirts for the Hill House Inn Solstice Beer Festival are complete, we intend to do some of Alex's things. He has a couple of web sites and some printing for me to help him to do work on. Many hands make light work; One good turn deserves another; and all that.

Mark is doing a shift at the Hill House Inn to cover for a friend. I expect hiimhome later. I know he wants to be involved with the t-shirts, so he will be pleased we have lost the morning to a power failure, in some ways. Added to that, his help will be much appreciated.

Weather observations
Wind speed * 11.4^mph
wind direction * NW
Temperature 14.1^C
Humidity * 77%
Accounting Wind chill * 8.4^C
Air pressure * 1000.5^mb
Outlook * Bright, if slightly overcool and damp.

Steve, Alex and I printed Gold on glassses, which are now completed. All that is left for those is a good washing.

Today we are attacking T-shirts for The Hill House Inn Solstice Beer Festival. Then Tyvek wristbands and Tasting Notes, in the days to come.

Mark printed some Loyalty Cards and Aprons, yesterday, for Waterside cafe in Norwich and some signs for The Hill House Inn Solstice Beer Festival.

Weather observations
Wind speed * 13.1^mph
wind direction * S
Temperature 13.1 ^C
Humidity * 70%
Accounting Wind chill * 13.1^C
Air pressure * 1012.5^mb
Outlook * Bright, if slightly overcast.

Alex and I got 5 boxes of glasses printed and cured in the ovens yesterday. There are another 25 boxes to do. Steve is joining us in that endeavour today.

Mark prepared artwork for the STAFF uniforms for the Hill House Inn Solstice Beer Festival and produced a poster for Smallsticks Barn Cafe further up Cart Gap Road. He also produced some artwork for loyalty cards for Waterside Cafe in Norwich, belonging to a friend of ours.

I have had a call from another RNLI lifeboat station, in the north, which needs some Tyvek^TM wristbands for a fundraising event in August. It will be our pleasure to help, if we can. The big thing, for us, is that we can produce bwristbands in full colour for around the same price as other suppliers can supply plain black. This is a matter of some pride for us. We will be producing wristbands for the Hill House Inn Solstice Beer Festival again this year, numbered with special ink, to avoid it rubbing or washing off over the period of the festival.

Weather observations
Wind speed * 13.6^mph
wind direction NW*
Temperature 13.6 ^C
Humidity * 63%
Accounting Wind chill 7.7 * ^C
Air pressure * 1009.8^mb
Outlook * Bright, if with a chill in the wind.

I was hoping for an earlyish start today, but I am not overly optomistic, as it is already gone 9 and I am still the only one working here. In Mark's case it is clearly because he works late at his Hill House job. not so with Alex! The good thing is that I can get my desk-work done, up till 9 and post on The Friends of Ferguson Heritage web site forum. I enjoy that. But come 9, I am ready to begin, as a rule.

I used my Production 550 digital press from DTG for the first time yesterday, since Mark fitted the new airflow feeder separator system. It's brilliant! This is a system which enables us to feed awkward papers and cards, which would not otherwise feed properly. With 115gsm silk finish coated papers it was a devil. It would mis-feed every few sheets and need a complete reset each time. Frankly it was driving me mad. Now that we have the sheet separating air-flow it is brilliant!

Call me a silly name if you like, but I have been searching high and low for years for bookwove paper, which I can use to print paperback books and which I would also like to use for my Ferguson Manuals and Instruction Books. I finally found a supply and have ordered a pallet-load. The silly thin is that that excites me something wonderful. I really do get very excited about good paper!

I spoke to a chap yesterday who works for a company who make the finest foiling dies I have ever clapped eyes on. They are stunning! They are far from cheap! I could easily spend as much as £300 on a set of dies and not a sheet printed! But what skill! What quality! What design style! These things are beyond the fantastic. As always, with things which fire my imagination, they combine the traditional with the most modern (n this case, laser) technologies. Ho hum! I wonder how Mark will react to me wanting to spend a small fortune on dies for our stationary? I shall procede with caution and wait till he has read this page and see how he reacts. I jest; all will be fine, when he sees what I have in mind.

Weather observations
Wind speed * 3.1^mph
wind direction SW*
Temperature 11.2* ^C
Humidity * 71%
Accounting Wind chill 11.2* ^C
Air pressure * 1007.9^mb
Outlook * Bright

I shall bind and pack yesterdays books, for dispatch this morning, then get on with more glasses. I expect Alex will join me in that.

Mark made a permanent job, yesteday, of the air conversion work to our big digital press. That is an even greater improvement than our temporary setup. We have a bunch of knobs to twiddle now and buttons to push. So proferrional! Thank you Mark!

Weather observations
Wind speed * 6.9^mph
wind direction W*
Temperature 10.3* ^C
Humidity * 69%
Accounting Wind chill 16.8* ^C
Air pressure * 1012.4^mb
Outlook * Sea frett still

Weather observations
Wind speed * 0.7^mph
wind direction SW*
Temperature 11.0* ^C
Humidity * 86%
Accounting Wind chill 11.0* ^C
Air pressure * 1026.3^mb
Outlook * Brilliant sun

Later
Time - 12:00^hrs

Weather observations
Wind speed * 7.6^mph
wind direction SW*
Temperature 25.4* ^C
Humidity * 48%
Accounting Wind chill 23.9* ^C
Air pressure * 1021.4^mb
Outlook * Dreadfully hot

Mark, Alex and I went to http://www.ipex.org/ yesterday, which is being held at the NEC. The last time I went was 40 years ago. How things have changed! Things, in very general terms, have come much more technical (electronics and stuff), in the case of the big presses, much faster and in nearly all other cases, much slower and designed for much shorter runs. Fascinating!

We even saw a gold-plated Hiedelberg platen. No! I have no idea if it ws real gold! It was just incongruously pretty-looking!

I met a couple of suppliers, who I would never have met besides over the phone, had I not gone there. Oh! I do like the phone! People can look however you like! No wonder the video-phone never took off! Nuff said!

It's the artsists who have crunched it really! They have applied more and more pressure on the print industry to perform more and moore magic, till it has become too expensive to do ordinary printing I the new jobbing shops. Now I think of it, I have been under similar pressure, and I have even bent to it a little. But I still have the means to do a simple business card or letter-heading, for any old fuddy-duddy, like me, who wants some.

Weather observations
Wind speed * 3.8^mph
wind direction N*
Temperature 9.4* ^C
Humidity * 94%
Accounting Wind chill 8.2* ^C
Air pressure * 1029.6^mb
Outlook * Sea frett still

http://www.ipex.org/

Weather observations
Wind speed * 3.1^mph
wind direction NE*
Temperature 10.1* ^C
Humidity * 91%
Accounting Wind chill 10.1* ^C
Air pressure * 1029.6^mb
Outlook * Sea frett

We have comleted the single sign for the OPen Studio, to be help locally tomorrow, along with a couple of A boards for the same event.

Progress is being made with glasses for The Hill House Inn Solstice Beer Festival.

This sea frett is something to behold. There's no point of trying to take a photo of blank everything. There is just and even, and slightly rolling grey to be seen everwhere.

Alex and I have been working on a new web site design job, which is briliant! We have all the admin elements set up and hope to begin the design some time, asw soon as we have the time.

No Weather observations today
Wind speed * ^mph
wind direction *
Temperature * ^C
Humidity * %
Accounting Wind chill * ^C
Air pressure * ^mb
Outlook * Very bright

I have a single laminated A3 sheet to print, in colour, for an Open Studio some time today. I believe Mark ahs two or three signs to make for the same event.

No Weather observations today
Wind speed * ^mph
wind direction *
Temperature * ^C
Humidity * %
Accounting Wind chill * ^C
Air pressure * ^mb
Outlook * Bright, but chilly!

Never mind! Onwards and upwards!

Hey look!
You have a photo!
Steve, being overseer, at the near right, Alex sitting down, cleaning and positioning glasses for me to print and me (Graham) in the distance doing the printing. Mark, of course, is being the cameraman.

Today it's a garage again, till the new screen arrives.