Ian Brady convicted Moors Murderer

I'm so happy that
Ian Brady lost his bid
But I would have
been much Happier
if he had never lived

Roger Bennett
Penrhyncoch
June 2013

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard

Poetry
With the Breaking News on SKY and BBC that Australian Prime MinisterJulia Gillard has been defeated in yet another leadership challenge, I immediately turned and penned this short poem

Oz

Rudd the dud

Waiting in the wing

While Hawks

Do plot and sing

Oh this Australia

Of mine

With fickle heart

And now broken line

You cast me off

Away from your life

Replaced by Rudd the dud

And the inevitable strife

Roger Bennett

Penrhyncoch 2013

Oil

Just watching a TV programme regarding Ghana's oil. Way to go Ghana, but let's hope that the new found wealth is spent wisely and benefits all Ghanaians. in particular let us pray that the manner in which the oil money is spent; is a manner that provides legacy and strength for the future.

It's no good if the oil money is wasted, or the oil money is used to prop up an economy. The oil money must be used to build things that in turn will create wealth through tourism, or science, or whatever the strategic theme is.

The oil will go, but its legacy is needed for many generations to come. Those in charge now, are only the custodians. Their strategic vision and actions of today; can make or ruin the tomorrow.

Repairing a door latch that fails to fully return into the door rebate Part 3

Please fully read all earlier Blog Posts in this help series. Having successfully removed the lock from the door, place the lock on a flat surface without too much clutter around in case any pieces fall out during the next stage.

Check either side of the lock for the provision of a screw. Remove the screw to separate the two main housings parts of the lock.

Photo 4: showing the two parts of the lock, its assembly and the retaining screw

The spring provided to maintain the latch in the out position so that the door remains closed when shut. The spring locates onto a protrusion to prevent it slipping.

Photo 5: showing the worn end on one part of the rotating device

The rotating locking device moves along its separate housing, and this movement allows the device to be removed and to be reinserted. Either side of the rotating locking device is supposed to be identical. The difference in shape is caused by wearing of the metal during use. To restore your door lock to full working order, you simply dismantle the lock, turn the rotating locking device around, and reinsert it. Then place the spring back in position before securing the two main metal housing plates back together using the securing screw.

Photo 6: showing how you reinsert the rotating device

Place the lock back into the door and secure the retaining screws. Slide the metal bar through the central hole and bak into the door handle that is still secured to the door. Refit the door handle that you previously removed. Check that turning each handle does operate the latch. The watch should now return fully into the door lock allowing ease of use.

If a previous repair has already been undertaken to turn a worn rotating looking device around, then you will need to obtain a new device or a new lock for the door.

Hope this helps you in some way,

Happy DIY

Repairing a door latch that fails to fully return into the door rebate Part 2

Please fully read all earlier Blog Posts in this help series. The door lock that contains the latch is removed by removing the screws on the edge of the door that hold the lock in place.

Photo 2: showing the removal of the retaining screws

In this example it is a two lever lock which has a second bar or bolt with a thumb turn to lock a bathroom or toilet door.

Having removed the one or two securing screws, you then remove one of the door handles. Removal of the door handle allows you to access and then remove the metal bar that runs through the door and the door locking mechanism. Note: the metal bar will often be dirty with an oil like residue, so it is worth having an old cloth or some kitchen roll to hand to wipe this clean. You have to remove the bar in order to slide out the locking mechanism. If having removed the bar, it is difficult to remove the lock then; (1) check that all of the screws securing the locking mechanism have been removed from the edge of the door, and (2) then insert a screwdriver into the square opening into which the bar normally slides and use this screwdriver to slightly move the lock forwards.

Photo 3: showing the use of a screwdriver to assist in freeing the lock

Repairing a door latch that fails to fully return into the door rebate Part 1

I recently Blogged a series of 'How To' posts regarding how to repair a failed Renault Clio fuel flap. This series of posts is submitted in the similar vein of helping my fellow man.

These Blog posts are about repairing an internal door latch where the latch now fails to fully return back into the door rebate or locking mechanism when you turn the door handle. the failure of the latch to fully retract inwards towards the door will leave part of the latch protruding out beyond the door edge. This protrusion can cause the door to lock in the closed position, thereby trapping the user on the other side.

In all instances the commentary in this and other parts does not supersede professional advice or the skill of a trades person. All tools should be kept out of reach of small children. You should wear safety glasses when working in close proximity of a screwdriver and when working with objects that include springs that could force an item to dislodge and spring towards the user. It is best to keep small children well away and supervised by another adult during the repair process in case a small child inadvertently closes the door and locks themselves on the other side. I am unable to accept any responsibility for the advice obtained in these Blog Posts as you are free to accept or reject the advice as you see fit.

Principles of operation of a door latch: the latch mechanism contains a square hole through which a metal bolt or bar slides through and engages into the hollow internal recess of the pair of door handles which are secured one on either side of the door. For the purposes of these posts I shall refer to the central 'bolt or bar', as simply the 'bar'. As the user moves the door handle, the metal bar also turns inside a square hole in the locking mechanism. This turning action of the handles and the metal bar, simply retracts the latch back into the door.

Photo 1: showing the latch, thumb lock, and metal bar visible when the door handle is removed

Quote

"If you are going to train; then train like a Warrior"

Roger Bennett, 2013

TRAINING Part 3

The fluidity of a training plan may involve (amongst other things): changing the frequency that the plan is used, ceasing or changing the intensity of one or more elements of the plan, extending or reducing the duration of an element, adding a new element to the plan, increasing or decreasing the recovery time between two or more elements or between particular sessions, and or incorporating alternative training into the plan.

Subtle changes will also include changing the time of day when activities are undertaken, or changing the nutrition or other systems that support the training plan. These systems are not restricted to physical items, and this almost non exhaustive list may extend to such things as: the use of friendship networks to support completing various elements of the plan, training reviews of what or how activities are undertaken, fitness analysis of current performance, health analysis, peer group comparison, and competitive timed events.

TRAINING Part 2

As a qualified strategist I would also mention that 'no plan survives first contact with the enemy'. This point alone suggests that all training plans should be fluid to enable them to be modified to suit the prevalent circumstances.

There I was this afternoon at the softer running track with an intention of stringing together some fast kilometre splits. I couldn't use the stopwatch provision on my iPhone 4S as I use the Nike Running App to record my activity, distance, total time, weather conditions, and overall pace. I couldn't use the stopwatch on my Polar watch as I needed to use the Heart Monitor function to ensure that I did not exceed my safe exercise limits. So thankfully the gang at the Aberystwyth University Sports Centre came to my aid and lent me a stopwatch.

My plan was to try to run 5 x 6 minute kilometres with substantial walking breaks in between. This madness came about when I accidentally set off to fast last Saturday and recorded an incredible (for me that is) 5:59 first kilometre. I mention 'accidentally' tongue in cheek, as there is nothing accidental about running beyond your known zone. i simply got caught up in the rush of the start and swept along at an unsustainable pace. But I was asked by a trainer friend: if I could replicate that pace, and try to do repeatedly with suitable walking recovery periods in between. To put this idea into context, I seem to be a comfortable 35 minute 5K runner with only once out of lots of runs, when I have romped home under 35 minutes.

A pace of 6 minutes per kilometre on a track, requires a pace of 1:12 per half lap, repeated time and time again. That folks as I found out today is tough!

Better still: my pre-training-run observations were that I was not certain that I could replicate the 5:59 'accident', and if I could, then I would be well chuffed if I managed it once let alone being able to repeat the effort. Which was a good observation as one of my friends piped up that he was not expecting me to run all of the splits at 6 minutes per kilometre.

Phew, I was so grateful for that comment, and equally grateful that the Heavens opened up half way through the extended session!

This was my 30th recorded run and I was out moving on the track for 55:43 minutes, of which I managed 6.93 kilometres distance and 1km split times of (in order) 6:00, 6:21, 6:28, and 6:33 with most of the fading happening in the last half lap to three quarters of a lap of each kilometre.

TRAINING Part 1

Well the best made plans can go wrong: as unfortunately the astonishingly talented Jack Carroll found out on the weekend when he was robbed of his BGT victory. Jack instead romped home as the best act from Britain in the 2013 Britain's Got Talent competition, but alas the accolade of being voted the best act from Britain didn't bring with it the glorious sum of £250,000 or the knowledge that you are considered the best in the competition. When Jack embarked on his journey, he would not have planned on being beaten by a group of shadows from someplace other than Britain.

Sometimes what we plan for, or what others plan for us, don't always work out. Planning is in many ways about proposing an 'ideal', the thing that we want to happen, or that which should happen, if everything proceeds as expected. This expectation applies equally to business planning, military planning or physical exercise planning in its various forms.

"A training plan is just that: a plan. It is not a set of laws, commandments or marching orders that you must live and die by, and never deviate from. Your training plan represents an ideal scenario: (how) you hope to be able to perform if everything goes as expected." Brad Hudson, author of Run Faster (£10, Broadway)

Robbed

Well Jack Carroll was robbed, mugged actually as he is someone oozing talent and should have been the BGT Winner 2013. Now what part of Britain did the 2013 Britain's Got Talent winners come from? Was it Wales, Worcestershire, Wiltshire. Jack Carroll the REAL winner of BGT 2013. Jack starts off by ad-libbing and gets a big laugh with an unprepared line:

I was going to run on and throw some eggs, that's been ruined


This is followed by some more serious comedy:

Greece as an example, they hosted in 2004 and they are pretty much ok aren't they?

He's looking to downsize

It's now horses for main courses

Runner up, a little bit insensitive is it not?


Jack Carroll you are a very funny guy indeed and you brightened up a few evenings for me and undoubtedly countless others, well done!

Well done Mr Cameron et al

Further to my 04 May 2013 Blog post; the BBC REPORTS today that ". . . Up to 600 Afghans who worked as interpreters or in other dangerous roles supporting allied forces in Helmand will be allowed to resettle in the UK, the government has confirmed."

Well done to our government.

Wear YOUR T-Shirt with PRIDE

I'm proud to have been able to have bought and now wear my HELP FOR HEROES T-shirt. It's blinking cold today, but sometimes you just have to tough it up