Alarm

 The Gorse Fox set his alarm overnight. This was the first time in several days.  Urban-cub was dropping Ellie off with us on her way to work and the Pistol Pete would collect her at 10. This fitted quite well with our plans - football and Pilates.

Ellie turned up and charged into the kitchen. She was, predictably, wearing her new school uniform and her new school shoes. She had insisted that she wear this so that Grandpa could see it. She looked as cute as a button, and so grown up.

The Gorse Fox headed off for football. The forecast was a bit iffy but, as it worked out, things remained dry and sunny - if a little breezy. The sides were well matched today. It took a long time before there was any breakthrough and by halftime it was a very even 1-1. The pendulum swung back and forth and despite the competition, there was only one further breakthrough on each side. It finished off with a very fair 2-2.

It has been a pleasantly quiet afternoon. The Gorse Fox used some of this to sharpen his wood chisels. This is a skill he has failed to master but can now perform with a fair degree of confidence thanks to a snazzy little device he purchased over the web. Most of the motor-driven devices are too flimsy and get very poor reviews. The device the Gorse Fox chose was an exercise in simplicity. A small carrier holds the chisel while it is moved back and forth across a diamond gritstone. A simple slider sets the correct angle for the chisel in question. Simples.