Today really started yesterday. Not uncommon here in MT where such mundane trivialities as time are tossed aside with abandon.

The Great Babbage had a nasty accident

Loud noises were heard, grinding of gears was accompanied by clouds of black smoke and the TelevisorWindow went black!

My chagrin can only be imagined with difficulty.

Quick as a flash I donned my navy blue shopcoat, sent a servant for my tools, and poured a glass of port.

Definitely a three pipe problem.

Puffing away I contacted The Mad Dutchman and informed him of the problem.

Helpfully he filled my head with a huge amount of totally incomprehensible nonsense about motherboards which have bites in them, and codes!

As I am fully aware that there is nothing (I already asked Ernst) which - or who - could have bitten a motherboard - whatever that might be - I decided to tackle the problem myself.

Lying on my back under the firebox, I was adjusting the clack valves when Ernst enquired, apropos of nothing as I thought, "Master, wot is falcons?"

"Birds of prey which dart through the sky with amazing skill", I replied tersely, "now go away, I am working".

He did.

By this morning I had returned the Main Lever to its proper setting, readjusted the Secondary Slides, tightened up the Gib Strips, and had the Great Dial once again reading a near-perfect 14.27.

Brought the machine up to steam and "Huzzah!" - it worked.

Tired, sore in the joints (but also a little jubilant), I made my way upstairs to hear a shout from the Drawing Room -

"Onnneeee Hunnddred annnnddd Eighty!!!"

On entering I found Ernst jumping up and down with joy, pointing to the dartboard.

There, to my complete horror, I saw, neatly embedded in the 60 slot, three P50s!

Ernst is expected home from hospital in a week or two.

R