Diverter Valve

Today I finally fixed the diverter valve in our boiler. Here's the offending piece... Got it out...

Here it is ready for servicing...

All fixed and back in again. Brilliant...

Hot water again!!!

Hollycombe Steam Collection

Today we visited the amazing Hollycombe Steam Collection. Fred Dibner would have loved this place. There is a fairground which is all driven by steam. Here are Karen and Lisa on the Golden Gallopers.... We went for a ride on Caledonia, an old slate mine engine.

Some of those rides are scarry...

Lisa and Joe on the race cars. Hope they both steer the same way!

This engine drives the bioscope and steam organ. Check here to see Lisa dancing to the organ...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81w6dck4oBM

Back to the car for a picnic...

This is the standard method of transport at Hollycombe for the Steam Enthusiast and his long suffering wife...

Great day out.

Joe and Lisa

Here's our new maid doing the washing up... Lisa and Joe in the paddling pool in May!!

FA Cup Final

Yet another trip to Wembley with Pompey. This time it's the FA Cup Final against Premiership Champions Chelsea. Pompey have no hope...or do they? Roland, Simon and Me believing the impossible....

The teams come out...The game kicks off and anything is possible.

The fans back in Emsworth....Play Up Pompey!

The Pompey fans at Wembley. Brilliant support as ever....

Pompey win a penalty. Could the dream be coming true? Dreadful penalty. Cech saves it with his feet....

Chelsea win 1v0. Avram Grant and the team salute the crowd...
That's it. Fold up the banner. The dream is over.

It feels like the end of an era, but what a five years. Two FA Cup finals, AC Milan at Fratton Park, beating Man Utd and Liverpool, magical trips to the Emirates and Old Trafford, having four players in the England team, sending Southampton down. Next year we'll be in the Championship playing Scunthorpe and Doncaster. Here's to the next purple patch!