Frank is on leave until the 8th, despite the fact that the 4th was mentioned earlier as the end of that leave. We suspect the leave was extended for a few days since nothing consequential was happening on the Lion at that point.
For today, here are some shots of the coaling procedure that Frank writes about quite frequently:
View of dreadnought-type battleship HMS Orion being refuelled by a coaling ship drawn up alongside. HMS Orion, like many of the early dreadnoughts, was powered by coal-fired steam turbines, providing them with greater power and efficiency than pre-dreadnought ships. Previous to HMS Dreadnought ships were fitted with vertical triple expansion engines. Triple expansion engines reused the steam they made, they were more economical using less coal and manpower. The turbines of the Dreadnought however, proved even more efficient and economical making the Dreadnought the heaviest, but fastest ship of her time and rendering steam engines in HM ships obsolete.
Above photo courtesy of http://www.seayourhistory.org.uk/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=13626
Coaling the HMAS Australia. Note that the side rails have been removed.
Above photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4534707591/in/photostream/