diff --git a/main.cpp b/main.cpp
index 1fb7d33..ef2bd30 100644
--- a/main.cpp
+++ b/main.cpp
@@ -17,39 +17,31 @@ namespace epee {
 }
 
 
-
 int main() {
 
     path blockchain_path {"/home/mwo/.bitmonero/lmdb"};
 
-    fmt::print("Blockchain path      : {}\n", blockchain_path);
-
      // enable basic monero log output
     xmreg::enable_monero_log();
 
     // create instance of our MicroCore
     xmreg::MicroCore mcore;
+    cryptonote::Blockchain* core_storage;
 
-    // initialize the core using the blockchain path
-    if (!mcore.init(blockchain_path.string()))
+    if (!xmreg::init_blockchain(blockchain_path.string(),
+                               mcore, core_storage))
     {
         cerr << "Error accessing blockchain." << endl;
         return 1;
     }
 
-    // get the high level cryptonote::Blockchain object to interact
-    // with the blockchain lmdb database
-    cryptonote::Blockchain& core_storage = mcore.get_core();
 
-
-    // get the current blockchain height. Just to check
-    // if it reads ok.
-    uint64_t height = core_storage.get_current_blockchain_height() - 1;
+    // get the current blockchain height. Just to check  if it reads ok.
+    uint64_t height = core_storage->get_current_blockchain_height() - 1;
 
     fmt::print("\n\n"
           "Top block height      : {:d}\n", height);
 
-
     std::string view {"Blockchain height {{height}}"};
 
     mstch::map context {
diff --git a/src/MicroCore.cpp b/src/MicroCore.cpp
index c3f72b8..7d66e24 100644
--- a/src/MicroCore.cpp
+++ b/src/MicroCore.cpp
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ namespace xmreg
     {
         int db_flags = 0;
 
-        db_flags |= MDB_RDONLY;
-        db_flags |= MDB_NOLOCK;
+        //db_flags |= MDB_RDONLY;
+        //db_flags |= MDB_NOLOCK;
         db_flags |= MDB_NOSYNC;
 
         BlockchainDB* db = nullptr;
@@ -273,4 +273,27 @@ namespace xmreg
     {
         delete &m_blockchain_storage.get_db();
     }
+
+
+    bool
+    init_blockchain(const string& path,
+                    MicroCore& mcore,
+                    Blockchain*& core_storage)
+    {
+
+        // initialize the core using the blockchain path
+        if (!mcore.init(path))
+        {
+            cerr << "Error accessing blockchain." << endl;
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        // get the high level Blockchain object to interact
+        // with the blockchain lmdb database
+        core_storage = &(mcore.get_core());
+
+        return true;
+    }
+
+
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/MicroCore.h b/src/MicroCore.h
index 6e64559..9e694a8 100644
--- a/src/MicroCore.h
+++ b/src/MicroCore.h
@@ -65,6 +65,15 @@ namespace xmreg
         virtual ~MicroCore();
     };
 
+
+
+
+    bool
+    init_blockchain(const string& path,
+                    MicroCore& mcore,
+                    Blockchain*& core_storage);
+
+
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/tools.h b/src/tools.h
index 4f058e4..f8be91d 100644
--- a/src/tools.h
+++ b/src/tools.h
@@ -144,8 +144,6 @@ namespace xmreg
     array<size_t, 5>
     timestamp_difference(uint64_t t1, uint64_t t2);
 
-
-
 }
 
 #endif //XMREG01_TOOLS_H
diff --git a/src/tx_details.h b/src/tx_details.h
index 1cb551b..db77038 100644
--- a/src/tx_details.h
+++ b/src/tx_details.h
@@ -60,7 +60,6 @@ namespace xmreg
     get_encrypted_payment_id(const transaction& tx,
                              crypto::hash8& payment_id);
 
-
 }
 
 template<>