Its all gone a bit lopsided.

As part of the ongoing investigations into my blackouts, I went to Cheltenham today for a tilt table test. This involves being strapped into a table and connected to an ECG machine, heart monitor and blood pressure cuff. They then tilt you at 70 degrees and monitor your levels. After about 20 minutes (which feels like an hour when you can't move, talk or walk) they induce an episode by giving you GTN (glyceryl trinitrate) which makes your heartrate increase about 3 fold so you feel like your head is going to explode. I didn't have a full blackout but I think they got the readings they needed. Before giving me the GTN the doctor said "it may give you a bit of a headache". Suffice to say I was ill from the moment I left the hospital and have had a serious episode all afternoon flipping in and out of consciousness. It was a good job Tree was with me all day to manage the episode as I was originally going to take the train to Cheltenham!!

I see now what the consultant meant when he said "No one likes a tilt test".

Whoa there boy. A bit of a close shave.

Tree, very kindly, pointed me in the direction of some plans for a shavehorse and I am resigned to getting on and building it. My first project will be to shingle the shed roof in oak but I need a drawknife for this. This is where I could bore you with the old ebay bargain story but I shall suffice to say that I found an antique one mis-listed and won for a mere £11 (They usually start at about £40+). The handles are cracked and need replacing but that is no problem on the lathe. I have started by regrinding the edge back to it's original razor sharpness. I shall retrim the ironwork to take the new handles and pressure fit them before burring the ends to hold them in place. I will post the photos after the restoration to show how I did.

Blessings of Imbolc to everyone.

Imbolc blessings to all!!

As part of this years resolve I decided to follow in my father's footsteps and bake bread from scratch. I'd forgotten how much time it takes and couldn't get the first batch to prove. A bit of quick thinking and a plank of wood later I found the best place to put it to rise was over the woodburner. I'd like to show the resulting walnut loaf but sadly it didn't even get to cool down before Tree and I ate it all. The house smells of freshly baked bread as well! Mmmm...fresh bread.