This practical, instructional book describes the construction of a model of the Lampitt portable steam engine, which dates back to 1862, and which provided rotative power to drive threshing machines, circular saws, feed mills and other farm machinery. The construction of every component is described in precise detail and the text is supported by many helpful step-by-step photographs. In addition, useful advice is provided about obtaining materials and about the tools that are required to equip a model-engineering workshop. Accordingly, the information provided in this fascinating book will enable the reader to construct not only the Lampitt engine but also many other engineering models in the future. When the reader has finished building 'the Lampitt' he will, in effect, have completed an engineering apprenticeship, and will have a model engine of which he can be proud and which fully reveals the skills that he has learned.

Written over a period of thirty or so years, from 1985 to 2015, the poems, prose, photographs, philosophy and more: the coming together of many diverse `flavours and fillings', seek to focus on the myriad events, trials, tribulations, terrors and triumphs, minor and major, that we all experience in our daily lives and which mould our character and personality. From `dark to light', from war, hurt, loss, despair, and death, to beauty, humour, nature, hope and love: all facets of human existence are explored in this bittersweet and moving miscellany.