THE RIDES OVER

 TUESDAY - Its raining again the clocks go back this weekend so it will be darker on a morning when I take the dogs out unless they sleep in ,

Years ago I read two books "Stop The Ride I Want To Get Off "and 'The Rides Back On" both brilliant reads and both about Dave Courtney who sadly took his own life the Sunday before my birthday R.I.P Mr Courtney you was a true legend .

Had my haircut this morning at HD Seven in Slathwaite I had the usual two cups of coffee and a grade one side and back cut short on top Messed up with with wax thank you Sophie .Helen had hers dyed blonde and cut into a Bob like it was when we meet seventeen years ago .

cooked chicken for me and the dogs I had mine with chorizo and chips they had theirs with rice .

I also put a tin of Delmonte peaches in the freezer left them a couple pf hours nice and cold ice cold peach juice the best .Finished reading the Shari Lapena "Every One Here Is Lying " very good an abrupt ending not impressed another chapter would have been better .

Helen went out at half past three in the afternoon she is doing readings in a pub near to Pendle Hill .

We can get two Lenovo laptops i5 500 with ssd drives and 8gb ram super fast both for under the price that you would pay for one , they have virtually not been used even if we get these the thing is I still want a Mac book even if I get a windows machine I still want an Apple no two ways.

WANTING TO BUY - Canon Printer , Cider , and cookies .

LOOKING FORWARD TO - Pay day and the weekend .

READING - Gillian McAllister "Wrong Place Wrong Time .

LISTENING TO - Rolling Stones "Hackney Diamonds ".

B-DAY / TRUST

 MONDAY - Today is foggy and damp but I don't care I have no work for the next two days and  short weeks at work are the best weeks . I took Rosie and Bailey out just after seven a.m it is also getting colder. Rosie's eye treatment seems to be working her eyes are looking very much improved she is a great little dog she is my bestie  .

Birthday it's my twin sister and my birthday today.  On the day we was born was two months premature our mother didn't even realise she was having twins .We was christened baptised straight away as we was only given a fifty percent chance of surviving so the hospital Chaplin as well as the fantastic doctors and nurses welcomed us in to the Iworld .The rest is history we both made it and sixty plus years later we are both still here fighting the good fight .I don't think we are doing much we might go out later , Helen has a couple of readings to do mid morning .Went out to get her some cigarettes we also needed toilet rolls and milk lifespan's essentials .

My daughters mortgage as gone up from £650 to £1100 how scary is that don't envy any one who has a bigger mortgage a lot of house owners out there are going to be in trouble what a shit fest .

Might start buy the magazine Computer Active I use to throw it the shopping trolley years ago when it first came out use to be full of good information at a reasonable price .

After we had the storm we have water marks on the  downstairs ceiling near the front window some how rain water as gained entry to the roof space either through the tiles or the flashing I have booked a repair hopefully its a quick fix .

There is very little I need for my birthday I am not rich but don't really want for anything If I have cider in the fridge and chicken and battered fish in the freezer I am usually happy if I had enough money I would get a Mac book air I don't think I want to go back to windows as my main computer if I did I would still want a new Mac book .If I receive gifts I like something that will survive me last year I got a Leatherman I still have it ,  I carry it most days at work and have used it often .

Think we are going out for fish and chips making it a perfect Birthday what could be better crispy battered fish and chips with salt and vinegar scraps and bread and butter .Went to the fish shop ordered two fish when I got served I noticed it said cash only I didnt have the cash I was paying by card which was never a problem since covid set in , I told them its a man and wife team they said no worries bank transfer it when you get home , I have been there before but I cant say I am a regular customer depending on which fish shop is open and where we are it varies , but what an amazing gesture of trust , I offered my phone number they was not interested of course I sent Helen the bank details and the money was transferred before I got home .The fish and chips were still hot .

LISTENING TO - Rick Astley - "Are We There Yet" & Scouting for Girls "The Place We Use To Meet ".

READING - Every One Here Is Lying .

WATCHING  - "Dead Mans Hand" which is a western .

ETING Fish and chips from the chippy .

TWO BIG ONES

 SATURDAY - The rain has stopped so was able to walk the dogs.After I went to the farm shop for bread cakes and bacon .Did nothing all day caught up on the book I am reading did a few more chapters of "Every One Here Is Lying " by Shari Lapena its a gripping read like all her books .

SUNDAY - A day very much like yesterday forgot how much pain in the arse windows is all the fussing on updates and drivers and permissions using the registers etc etc .Trying to add Helens Samsung to the printer is a nightmare I had to download plugins in it was working ok then it stopped a fcucking pain .

I cooked Yorkshire puddings to go with the roast beef dinner I am cooking after the Yorkshires have finished they cam out ok 

A SLOW COOK

 FRIDAY - Its is torrential rain and it looks like its in for the day lucky I have no work I go back Wednesday after my birthday .

I have the slow cooker on with two massive pieces of braising steak and veggies be ready in seven hours I will do pancakes and dumplings put quite a bit of red wine in as well should make it tasty trouble is smelling it cooking makes you hungry.

The stew turned out really nice the gravy with the wine very tasty the dumplings best yet very filling we also baked a apple turnover and a apple pie which we will have with either custard or ice cream .

NEW PC ALREADY GONE UP

 WEDNESDAY - Helen has gone to Whitby for the day when she text me she was sat the Magpie fish restaurant eating fish and chips I am jealous I could just eat decent fish and chips .

THURSDAY - How can the American government charge their citizens in Israel x amount of dollars tp fly them back home when the country is a war zone is America that broke or in desperate need of money that they do this Joe Biden needs parachuting into the Gazza strip and lets see how he copes .

Finally laid the last bit of flooring its the door way under the stairs you cant see the floor because the corner sofa hides it the sofa is on castors which I fixed on so you can open the door .

The glass screen that we got put on in the ridings by the vendor in the middle of the walk way was utterly shit it was a waste of money I was skeptical they over charge and all the goods they sell you can get for the quarter of the price or less on eBay or Amazon I ordered two new protector screens for £3.99 where as the vendor charged us £12.99 for one what a rip off stay away from these pretend shops .

FRIDAY - Still waiting for a phone call to say we can pick helens new desk top all in one pc up if you ordered online you can pick a store and collect the next day ordering in store shouldn't be any different .

SATURDAY - Took the dogs out came home cut the grass in the back garden it was long the blade in the mower got stuck twice with wet grass clogging the blade up but got there in the end .

No sign of a email text or call telling us we can pick her new pc up maybe tomorrow . I might buy her a sound bar for it .

WEDNESDAY - We finally got a email that we could pick helens new pc up why its took so long I don't know then when when we went down with the paperwork to collect it the sales assistant couldn't find it she was adamant it wasn't there then she realised she had been looking for a laptop not a 27" all in one , obviously the store is only as good as the staff that work there oh well it all come good in the end .The price of the pc we bought is now gone up by £149.97p to £898.97p we bought it when the price was at £749

The pc was a breeze to set up keyboard mouse and installation no issues nothing like the Windows I remember from a decade ago I need to watch and read some stuff on Microsoft Windows 11.

HELEN'S NEW TECH

 MONDAY - After a relaxing weekend its back to work I break up next Thursday for five days off including the weekend .I would like to go to Saddleworth moors and visit the reservoirs its been a while go for a pint at the Clarence .

TUESDAY - Went to Pc world Helen bought a black all in one Lenovo pc intel i7 8gb of ram and 512 ssd hard drive with key board and mouse running Windows 11 we can pick it up in the next few days it has a 27 inch full hd screen and four USB ports for £749  it comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse she will have to buy a CD/DVD burner for around £30 .

She then went to Vodaphone and part ex her iPhone 13 pro max for a Samsung S23 ultra 256 gb storage in black its on a three year contract at £57 a month for three years that's nearly £2000 spent on tech .

THE IVY

 SUNDAY - Went to The White Rose centre in Leeds Helen bought some fur lined Dr.Marten Chelsea boots for £179 minus discount for my Blue light card saving over twenty quid .

From there we drove over to Harrogate to the Ivy restaurant our first visit very smart very plush we ordered drinks Helen a East 9 hold up cocktail and me Sassy cider .For starters we had the duck liver parfait with apricot and apple chutney and caramelised almonds very nice with toast we both enjoyed for main we both had slow braised beef and lamb shepherds pie with cheddar mash rosemary and red wine sauce with a side order of sorting broccoli with lemon oil and sea salt and Truffle and Parmesan chips both sides cooked perfect .

for deserts Helen had Apple tart fine with vanilla ice cream and calvados flambe , I had the chocolate bombe with vanilla ice cream honeycomb centre with hot salted caramel sauce both once agin perfect I also had another cider served in a ice cols walled glassed .

HOME ALONE

 THURSDAY - Off buying pumpkins for Halloween and Autumn need a different design for the scary face I use the same one for the last five years or so .

Went to the farm shop they had cooked a joint of roast pork so I had a hot pork sandwich for dinner perfection and not much more than a pre made pre packed supermarket cold sandwich no contest .

Bailey was meant to go to the grooming parlour for his wash cut and spruce up they always send a text reminder I never got one and a sa result I didn't take him this was on the fourth of October .

Thinking I need a new pack back for work the one I have lives in the boot of the car its neither at the side  of my desk or in the trunk of the car .I took a load of garden waste to the tip which had been bagged up for a while I guess either one bag as leaked and its putrid liquid gone on my bag it also had snail tracks on it which is no big deal but it kind of smells .I have looked at a green camp one on Amazon its better than the one I have I might get Helen to buy it for my birthday.

SATURDAY - Helen out from half past one home alone watched some prime cooked chicken legs and chorizo for evening tea watched Prime and You Tube did nothing .

LISTENING TO  - Jon Batiste play list on Spotify .

WATCHING - " The Nun 2 " and The Equalizer 3.

READING - " Every One Here is Lying " by Shari Lapena 

MORE TIME OFF

 MONDAY - Need to finish one small peace of flooring in the door way and then  re-hang the door then there are two rips down the side of the stairs and that door to cut and re-hang . I need to re-cut the plinths by the thickness of flooring on the kitchen base units then start putting the edging strips to cover the 10mm space that I left for the floor to expend should it wish .

TUESDAY - All the flooring is done most of the quadrant is on although I do need two more lengths one of the doorways is done with the transition strip in place all the plinths are back on the kitchen base units 

We went to Ikea bought a new rug in brown and new seat covers we also bought rugs for  each the side of the bed .The room looks a lot bigger with the flooring run length ways and should be good for the next ten to fifteen years fingers crossed .Its been hard work and for a cost of around £750 a big improvement .

Helen as mentioned flooring the bedrooms not sure moving the furniture wouldn't be easy specially the wardrobe and side drawers but it could happen .

WEDNESDAY - Glad its mid week looking forward to the weekend already really tired I wish I had booked more days annual leave I have three days to make a long weekend breaking up on the 19th of October .

FLOORED

 TUESDAY - Break up after tonights twilight shift until Monday evening which is good for me .

WEDNESDAY - Bought twelve packs of laminate flooring to packs of underlay and two lengths of edging coving to cover the expansion gap around the edges of the new floor and skirting board the cost just under £300 I reckon we need another £250 to complete the downstairs living room dining area and kitchen hopefully not much more .

The bin shed the accommodates the black and green bib wa snot fastened by the person leaving us a package I didnt notice it had been open in the middle of the night the lid blow up and ripped apart the hydraulic hinge the lid is now focused .I ordered some T-hinges and bolts and a padlock with a long shackle hoping to fix the lid I will see when I get the items tomorrow .

THURSDAY - Bought another seven packs of laminate flooring and three more packs of underlay we should have enough now to lay the floor .Fixed the bin lid it wa sa good job I ordered the 16 inch T-hinges as I hd to bend them to follow the curve of the bin roof for now I just did the side that was broken I need more bolts to fix the other hinge in place .

SATURDAY - Flooring  I have laid it twice took it up twice finally its going done right have made huge progress should be 95%done by tonight 

SUNDAY - Bought another two packs pf flooring its all nearly finished I pulled the fridge out and the washer to do the flooring I pulled the dish washer out but there was not enough on the hoses to get it farer enough out to lay the boards now the dishwasher does not work it might get the plumber to disconnect it so I can do the flooring then plumb it back in .took the kitchen unit plinths off also I have to cut down a door its not going over the new flooring .Need anew saw after cutting laminate it ruins the teeth .

Also the microwave as gone haywire it won't turn off .Guess its a new microwave .

NEW GAME

 FRIDAY - Looking forward to the weekend I love driving home on Saturday mornings specially when I an only working Monday and Tuesday next week a two day a week suits me fine I have more time off in October .

SATURDAY - Helen has readings to do tonight in Elland I am driving her there I will wait in the car I have the full first five "Rise Of The Footsoldier " to watch plus the first episode of the 'Continental " so I aint going to be bored any time soon  . I will also take juice with me and a back up battery pack for the phone just in case .Started to play Gta 5 it looks good the first few times its getting use to the controller and switching characters.I wonder how good the new Gta 6 will be its been over ten years in the making and its going to be 2025 before its released I  might have finished Gta five by then .I think I have played this before but never finished it .Like most games .I get bored .

WE SEE YOU

THURSDAY - We did a psychic investigation at my nephews house last Sunday evening and this photograph was taken randomly during the night it was on the stair way up to the bedrooms on the first floor .The photo as not been edited or altered in any way . The only thing done to it was cropped and made larger it is not fake and when it was taken obviously it was not seen . It was taken on a Samsung A 23 phone , so make of it what you wish but it is genuine if anyone as any ideas let me know strange things have occurred in this house over the years but not many incidents have happened its not ongoing with incidents and the house does not feel negative .At the moment it is empty waiting for new tenants to move in , hopefully they have happy times and experience nothing but love and happiness .

FRIDAY - This week I have bought a new iPhone pro max screen protector and a new case similar to what I have got but all black . I also bought two xbox one games Gta 5 and Sine Mora Ex I am still waiting for Gta to arrive .Helen bought a new whistling Le creuset kettle and a transgender unit for the fire it stopped producing the smoke effect it is working again ready for autumn and winter nights .

INVESTIGATE

 SATURDAY - Finished work drove home in the fog at 3.00 a.m woke up at 06.30 a.m after three hours sleep dropped Helen off at her friends house they had readings to do in Goole .

I went to Asda bought some milk a chocolate fudge cake and some pouring cream I am doing nothing I am way too tired if I fall asleep on the sofa so be it .

Saturday evening after tea I decided to soak in the bath I think I have had only five baths in the last ten years as I always shower soaking in the bath is boring after ten minutes at a push I have had enough , and I always have a shower afterwards .

SUNDAY - Bought two folding camping chairs from Go Outdoors a tenner each .We needed them later that night we was going to visit my Nephews house at Greengates Bradford to seek out spirits do an investigation with rempods and spirit boxes .The house dates back to 1870 they have witnessed certain spooky occurrences over the years the house is rented out but the tenants moved out so it was completely empty .On the way we stopped at McDonalds not impressed its my least favorite fast food outlet apart from the milkshakes the rest of the food is crap .

We got back home just after one a.m stopping off at the local garage to get a child jam pork pie and some cheese and jalapeño crisps a great end to the Monday morning .

STILL COOL

 TUESDAY - Cant believe how warm the other fridge was its any wonder that we didn't get food poisoning it was worse because the weather was hot not having ice cold drinks sucks who wants warm Coca Cola or cider or milk on their cereal its so cool now the change is mega back to being cool .

We bought more items to go in the fridge and freezer as we threw everything out Helen stocked up on salad items bought more fried chicken pieces and fresh clementine juice another item that's best served ice cold .Its amazing how something like a fridge improves every day life that we just take for granted until it breaks down and food and drinks get warm.

The dryer is really good a lot better than what we had before now its coming up to autumn drying clothes outside won't be possible .

THURSDAY - Cooked fresh pork sausages from the farm shop for breakfast with chilli and tomato chutney in a freshly baked bread cake .

Nothing great has happened life is work and sleep with taking the dogs out for their walks .

NOT WANTING - The new iPhone 15 pro max 

LISTENING TO - "Thirty Seconds to Mars " latest offering well worth a listen .

WATCHING - The film "Jules" .

READING - James Patterson "The Shadow" so far a great read .

ANOTHER CASTLE

 SATURDAY - In the blistering morning sun I washed the car at least it dried fast it was way too warm the hottest day so far and its September unbelievable Indian summers are the best .

Saying that I took Helen to Meanwood to do some reading she was going to be around three to four hours I was waiting in the car it was a sweat box total torture it was beyond hot no wonder dogs die in hot cars I went to a local shop it wa sone I use to go to years ago they did the best ham sandwiches in poppy seeded bread cakes with mustard of course that was over fifty years ago its changed hands I bought a Magnum ice cream and a ice cold cherry coke .Driving home it was air con all the way .

SUNDAY - The Samsung fridge freezer arrived and the Hotpoint condenser dryer they placed them in the rooms had to wait a few hours for the fridge before turning it on .I had to change the the hinges on the doors to the left which was a slight pain but went ok .

All I can say is I have cold cider again ice cold cider , the milk ice cold after the last couple of weeks its nice to have a fully functioning fridge .

Went to Asda to stock up on things for the fridge we threw everything out with the old fridge not running cold we still need a few other items mainly sauces and condiments bought cider , milk and coke .

Sunday night dropped Helen of at Bolsover Chesterfield she had more readings to do at least it was cooler and the sun was setting as we got there .

As always the weekend flew by even though I spent seven hours of it sat in a car at Bolsover I did go for a short walk and snapped a picture of the castle which was a 17th century aristocratic retreat built starting in 1612 .

WHITE GOODS

 SUNDAY - The day was warmer than w have had over the last few weeks the sun was out we decided to stay in and have. barbecue .I went out to get charcoal and meat bought beef kebabs , thin sliced steak , lamb chops , chicken and sausages I also bought Helen some larger and a bottle of lime I bought some Irish cider also I got some salad stuff baking potatoes and bread cakes all set .

THURSDAY - Went to Currys Pc World bought a new fridge freezer its a 70/30 so we have more fridge space which suits us it also has a water dispenser so we have no need to use the filter box that we have residing in the fridge which takes up half a shelve .Also bought a condenser Hotpoint dryer both of the ones we have where new when we moved into the house just before covid lockdown started a week later .

They are both getting delivered this Sunday extra cold cider its been a while since it was icy cold hopefully the two new items last longer than a couple of years this time I have extended warranties on them both .

MAXIMUM CURRY

 FRIDAY - Very foggy this morning out waling the dogs the road we use is blocked off making going to the centre of Holmfirth or our local farm shop having to detour not impressed the road will be closed through the week until the safety work speed ramps are completed could be a few weeks.

I go back to work tonight for one shift then its the weekend a bit shit but the shortest of weeks I aint complaining .

SATURDAY - Went out in the afternoon went to Aldi bought two curries from the fresh ready meal section we had the same the other week also bought chapattis and popadoms the curries are for two people there is a decent amount of chicken in them , but we have one each because as we like different ones but even so they are still good value but if you eat it all double the calories  .

Went went to Costa there was no Starbucks I had a steak Mexican sandwich Helen a bean and cheese and a slice of banana and pecan cake to drink she doesn't like coffee she choose a  apple and rhubarb drink with ice ,  I had a salted caramel frappe with a shot of coffee and cream very nice just over £18 .

Got home to burn a few calories I cut the lawns both front and back both to together must only ad up to 18 square foot but did it before tea which we had around seven .

SCENIC TOUR

 THURSDAY - Set off to visit Lancaster Castle we went the scenic route and it was very scenic with winding country lanes passing beautiful English cottages meadows sheep grazing at the Side of the road and rivers and bridges .

We arrived at the castle mid afternoon parked near the castle entrance and walked up the cobble road to the portcullis the entrance fee off £8 was waived and we went in the courtyard the Pendle witches where held here before being hanged a few miles away .

Helen was doing some readings at Pendle inn with her friend Julie we had tea there we both had fish and chips they where very nice the food was delivered very prompt at a reasonable price alert eating we went to find the church grave yard for one of the so called witches at St ,Marys church a few miles away and the statue of Alice Nutter at RoughLee a couple of miles further on although we had to park up and walk as the road was closed due to stone wall repairs near the water fall and river .

Gods eye symbol is below the clock and the date at the left hand side reads 1712 other parts of the church are older .

Helen finished her reading just after half past nine I had a pint of cider in the bar area we got home just after midnight it was very foggy as we got into Holmfirth .I ma back at work tomorrow for one shift before the weekend going to the coast was mentioned but looks like the weather is changing summer might be over until next year .

ALL DECORATED

 SUNDAY - Went over to my sisters house for a family gathering in the afternoon only to be told that my brother in law was just getting over for covid which was a red flag to Helen , its Helens biggest nightmare she will infer her parents we did sit out in the garden I had food Helen refused she had a cup of tea and that's all , the atmosphere was heavy I was glad when we left we had decorating to do to make ready for the wallpaper going on Monday .

MONDAY - Took the dogs on their longest walk yet , we did 9 kilometres  I had to keep out so the the Walls could be papered the the paint finished, the stairway landing and downstairs wall all looks really good,  fresh and clean you cant bet new decorated  walls and wood work makes it all looks super fresh and new .

NEED SHEEP

 TUESDAY - Did a little touch up of the bedroom wall that I painted yesterday it only took a couple of minutes .I cooked a freshly made bolognese pizza all using fresh ingredients it turned out ok needed more seasoning but it was fully loaded with mozzarella cheese sauce onions and ground beef if nothing else it was very filling .

WEDNESDAY  - Helen finished the reef for the bedroom wall after buying some bay leave stems dried poppy head pods and thistles the shop we go to charge around £130 for something similar .

SATURDAY - Had a Chinese take away its been awhile had the curried duck with noodles it was very nice to say we went out for fish and chips we took the meal home and it was still hot I did drive breaking the speed limits on the way home , as part of the route home had the roads shut for road works .

SUNDAY - Cut the grass again its amazing how quick the grass grows we need sheep .

MONDAY - Three days at work then I have a long weekend of I don't go back until next Wednesday yippee .