Thanks for the welcome chaps.
Howard, I'm in Barnsley, deep in the Peoples Republic of South Yorks.
Brian, nothing specific at the moment, I'm still finding my feet & don't want my ambition to exceed my ability. I've ordered a couple of bits from Hemingway just to cut my teeth on. A rear tool post being one of them.
I've always admired old engineering, pumps, engines etc. I came across various examples in my water industry days. Ultimately I'd like to work my way up to external combustion engines, but I'm a way off yet.