DOGS ON FILM

 SATURDAY -It is quite sunny and the temperature over the last couple of days has improved  although there is still a ground frost most mornings .Latest purchase from Amazon is a Blurams indoor swivel tracking camera it cost under thirty pounds the app and set up really easy .It focus and image quality very good truly impressed obviously you get what you pay for , but to be honest its flawless so far no regrets .We bought so I can see how Helen is when I am away from home due to her health issues also as well as seeing her we can have a live conversation  in real time so its well worth the money . Be nice to see what the dogs and cats get up to when we are out .

DAFFODILS AND SAUSAGES

 SUNDAY -Went to a farm shop we use to be regulars at when we live din our static home at Flockton.We buy most of our sausages ,bacon and Sunday roast and veg from Thorncliffe Farm shop very near to Emley  moor Tower .We bought some thin long pork sausages , a joint of pork , lambs liver and sausage casserole , swede , carrots ,baby potatoes , extra large Yorkshire puddings  bread cakes and some potted miniature  daffodils with Helens birth year on the front was the only one they had on display 1968.

Cooked the liver and sausage casserole for Sunday lunch along with the carrots and swede  and one of the Yorkshires with extra sausage the dogs love lambs liver we will have the pork through the week .

Went to the garden centre Helen bought a load of bulbs and daffodils to plant in the garden and new liners for the wrought iron planters we have under the front facing downstair windows .

3 IN 1

 THURSDAY - Rang in sick for the rest of the week no work until Monday still sleeping on the corner sofa with a quilt and pillows would be a decent sleep if I was not consistently coughing .Went out to get fish and chips from the local chippy we were both craving them and it saves cooking .Watched Kim Basinger in "The Getaway " and "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood".

FRIDAY - More bedding came from Asda George and Next all white sets in brushed cotton .slept in the bedroom first time all week be nice to get back into bed not messing around setting the sofa up. 

SATURDAY - Started watching the Gorge and Apple released film was ok watching it in two sittings .Did nothing much .

SUNDAY - Went to see Helen's parents at Acaster Malbis my coughing has subsided other wise we wouldn't be going had  salmon and prawn sandwiches and to follow apple pie , trifle and Victoria sponge cake three separate desert cakes in one bowl  a great combo .

RINGING AGAIN

 SATURDAY - Ordered a new Ring video door bell for the front door the one we  currently have fitted keeps dropping its wi-fi connection sometimes within seconds of it being set  and the door bell when pressed does not always ring which happens nearly always so we ordered a new 2024 model Ring door bell hopefully this solves all known issues .

SUNDAY - Went to see Sharon's and Lee's new house its a work in progress but is 80% done and looks nice the bathroom very modern with black taps and shower head the kitchen is from Ikea and looks well they have to be moved in by march they should do it .On returning home late afternoon I  Cooked a turkey and gammon dinner with home cooked Yorkshire puddings , mash and carrot and swede with a few sprouts for good measure .

MONDAY - Not well again bad cough sore throat and head ache I rang in sick did nothing all day watched Prime Django and Book of Eli .Slept on the sofa so less chance of passing my illness infection  on to Helen.

TUESDAY - Still suffering coughing sore throat it seems worse than yesterday no work today , I swapped the Ring door bell the new came Sunday we now have a fully functioning ringing video door bell .

THREE HOURS

 SATURDAY - Helen went to a candle making event it was originally  only two hours  but it got extended to three .I crossed the road from where I was parked and went to Aldi I bought some hot dog rolls , ham  and a packet of  cooked chicken for Rosie who is under the weather . I started watching the Black Doves series whilst I waited for Helen .Try sitting in a car for three hours its quite a stint there was quite a few people on the streets going to the pubs and picking up fast food from the numerous  take away outlets.

Below the candle Helen made in her class well worth a £25 fee and a  three hour wait in the car , not sure how long it will burn for maybe three hours which is as long as I sat in the car waiting for her to make it .

DONT JUDGE

 FRIDAY - It's my last day off another chilled out day , Helen was working I watched the new film bio of Bob Dylan "A Complete Unknown " I thought it would have been better than it was is was ok but was  glad I didn't waste money watching it at the cinema .It was good in parts and boring in other parts .Timothee Chalamet was good at portraying Bob Dylan who approved of  the film so who am I  to judge .

I cant believe January is almost over this year is already flying by not seen or heard anything from my son hope all is good for him , but I doubt it knowing the life he is living but who am I to judge .

CHILL OUT DAYS

 SATURDAY - Took the dogs out it was very cold with a heavy ground frost back home I cooked a full English breakfast  Firing up my laptop I ordered a new iPhone case and six pairs of black boxers from the  Amazon website  . Helen worked most of the day intermittently .I t was her mothers birthday we decided to get her a voucher for the Wetherby Whaler fish restaurant , there is one located in  York that they have frequently visited so much better than flowers .We decided to have our tea/supper there  tried their in house Chinese curry sauce it was ok have had better the fish and chips as always spot on .

Went to Asda bought a blue coloured Little Joe air freshener and some car plan demo foam for the pressure washer  and some Original Source mango shower gel for me also for me along four  triple chocolate muffins and a carton single cream , 

SUNDAY - Drove over to York Acaster Malbis to see Helen's parents I had taken his Tom Tom sat nav  and updated it his maps option  were out of date our address was not showing up ,  they were built in 2019  hopefully a lot of other routes where added to his device  .We also took her mother birthday present a gift card for Wetherby Whaler fish restaurant or take away  , there is one near to where they live.

Her cousin Sharon was there and her son Adam we all had a cooked  dinner together and the rest of the afternoon was spent looking at old photos and chatting about the past .

MONDAY - The week off work drove over to my daughters house in Kippax it is her birthday , we dropped a birthday card off and a gift voucher for various restaurant outlets  .First time we have seen her since Christmas .

TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY - Chill out days did nothing much still better than being in work nice being home without the need to get ready and go to work .

THURSDAY - Went to Hd7 for our haircutting by Sophie as always a top experience and haircut Helen had her colour re -done looking very blonde .

NEW PEN

 WEDNESDAY - Helen gifted me her Majohn extra fine retractable fountain pen she got the fine one delivered yesterday , a few years ago I use to do all my audits at work using Lamy fountain pen .Could say it was a belated Christmas gift.

Looking forward to Friday a whole nine days off which will suit me this means in January I will have only worked a total of  two weeks which is  a great start to the year .

Going to watch the American Primeval season one already watched the first episode there are only six to view .Last gull series I watched in full was "The Day Of The Jackal" . I have been told to watch "Black Dove" maybe that will be next on the list .

Finally took the Christmas lights that we had along the roof line I also cleaned the cctv camera lens  and clipped the plastic guttering back in place and removed some of the debris from the gutter .

FISHY FINGERS

 SUNDAY - Took the dogs out Bentley and George both came out was listening to Mel Gibson on the Joe Rogan podcast a very intellectual man Mel certainly likes his history and religion he was one of the unlucky people to have lost his house and home in the L.A fires that rage on , cant believe they are still burning , what a utter shit fest.

Went to Helens son's house he bought just before Christmas with his girlfriend Mel its in Driglington and is three bedrooms two bathrooms and utility room with garage I really liked it the rooms are average size but its a great location and is a new build .We went with his Christmas present a White Company hamper of creams and potions .

Got home cooked and made fish finger sarnies with baked beans in tiger bread bliss .

DONT FADE AWAY

 MONDAY - Back at work never great going back after nine days off I have another nine days off at the end of the month .At least all the snow as gone .We might now get the waste bins empty we are allowed to put out two extra bags out because they missed the collection last Thursday because of the snow .

Spoke with my daughter she is going to Manchester at the weekend to get another tattoo she is booked in for five hours and it is being done freehand incorporating roses and dragons have not seen a drawing so will have to wait when the tattoo is finished .

FRIDAY - Took the dogs out a lot better without the snow very little wind seemed more like spring .

SATURDAY - Went to Pc World to get another Epson Eco tank printer £208 its similar to the one we have but a later model it came with four ink bottles which will last ages got home set up to the pc and my phone Helens phone a Samsung S23 was a nightmare but downloaded a plug in for the phone and it seemed to work .

My Daughter had her tattoo done in Manchester at Five Knives she needs to go back for some more shading adding , she was getting inked for four hours no pain no again so they say , she had some dragons tattooed  because I also have numerous dragon tattoo's which is a very  nice gesture ,I hope her tats fade long before I do .

ONCE IS TOO MUCH

 THURSDAY - Highlight of today was cooking Ikea meatballs with fires peas and Ikea gravy I also baked some baguettes I had a pear cider to go with my meal Helen had a cup of tea .

The snow is still on the street and in the gardens but the roads are not that bad the gritters have been out and no further snow as fallen in the last couple of days .The bin men never emptied the bins from outside our homes not sure when they will come I thought when they gritted the roads it was so the bin wagon could manoeuvre up and down the street did not happen .

FRIDAY - L.A wild fires are out of control what a nightmare the amount of houses destroyed and people that have lost everything is unbelievable whether your insured does not compensate for the possessions and personnel  items you have lost that can never be replaced , plus the loss of pets think of all the fish tanks that had to be left behind all the caged animals its total devastation . Hopefully lessons are learnt  and this sort of heart ache and pain never happen again , once is one time too many .

I also noticed that many cars were burnt out some insurance companies will already be looking at get out clauses we all know they hate paying out this is going to cost .Hopefully the pay-outs and the re-build is swift .

BLACK TO WHITE .

 TUESDAY - its the second morning I have not took the dogs out because of the winter wonderland that is our village .

Later in the morning  I had no choice but to clear the snow from the car and off the drive so I could get the car out .Our street is always worse once out of the cul-de-sac and the main roads have usually been gritted through the night early morning once  gritted its a lot  safer even though our main road is a 12% hill driving down to the centre of town and up going back home , you still have to take it easy as there is still pockets of snow and two cars cant always pass but I made it to my local supermarket .

We needed both dog and cat food , as well as eggs , bacon , bread , milk and toilet rolls  the road driving down was ok the car park on the other hand was a nightmare mostly solid ice very dodgy .I made it home .I cooked us a turkey roast dinner the turkey took over four hours to cook I did home made Yorkshire puddings and all the trimmings it was like Christmas day all over again , a late white Christmas ..

The snow started again came down quite fast , it soon covered my black car which was white again in no time  . I am so glad I am not going to work . There is loads of Turkey just off the legs for the cats and dogs .I basted it every hours it was not dry we all enjoyed it I slightly burnt the sprouts in the frying pan a moments loss of concentration was all it took .

NO WORK

 MONDAY - No work phoned in sick have the dreaded Norovirus is it any wonder working were I work. Its snowed again during the night some snow slides down the roof both front and back the snow fall took the back garden light out that was fixed on to the wall .I turned the power off and cut the wires then taped them up and put a plastic bag over and taped that should keep it dry until I can get it re-fixed in to  position . 

                             

CHEAP BUT HIGH MAINTENANCE

 FRIDAY - Nearly the first weekend of the new year and it looks like we are getting snow it might be over a couple of days hopefully I can get a day off work a  unexpected day off out of the blue is always enjoyable and welcomed .

Discovered a few  new bands already this year  thanks to Spotify "Cigarettes After Sex" ," The Reverse Engineers" and "Death Cab For Cutie" .I want to get a decent music player a Ibasso will do nicely and upgrade my iem's a good few step ups from what I have now and some higher quality Bluetooth adapters .

Nearly first weekend of the year its predicting snow we need to put the Christmas tree out for collection .

SATURDAY - Very cold did not stay out too long walking the dogs hopefully it gets warmer think its a chill out day will cook a mince cobbler with carrot swede and peas .I might get some of my Shari Lapena novel read not stuck with it like the other books she published .Noticed one of my neighbours  as bought a second hand  Porsche 911 class  he said not that expensive to buy quite cheap he said  already he is putting new tyres on sure sure guessing be £150 a tyre the joys of motoring .

DAY ONE DONE

 WEDNESDAY - It's a new year if you are reading this then be grateful whatever issues we have faced whatever losses , hardships toils and turmoil's we made through , we survived and we are here .

I hope the war in Ukraine ends and the fighting and killing stop as well as the massacre genocide  being performed by Israel also ends . I hope China behaves itself and stands down from any conflict .If we stopped producing weapons and bombs aircraft carriers that cost billions and fighter jets that cost millions everyone the citizens of the world could  have free gas , electric , food and all of life essentials pay very little or no tax , get free health care and bigger pensions and a general better life , it's the war machine that keeps everyone poorer .

Anyways we made it the big question do we change adapt rethink and do new things new and challenges  not sure what changes I can make hopefully be a nicer and happier person than I was in 2024 if that is possible I was pretty ok in 2024 but there is always room for improvement .

I want a warmer sunnier  longer summer this year to sit in the garden and have barbeques .

Cooked us a chicken roast dinner with all the trimmings before setting off to work roll-on Easter .

Looks like we may be getting some snow hopefully we don't get snowed in and I cant go to work .

HELLO 2025

 BOXING DAY - Relaxing day back at work tonight then I have three days off .unfortunately Friday's day leave  is for a funeral . 

FRIDAY - Drove over to Bramley for the drive to Rawdon crematorium a few miles away for the cremation service off Helen's auntie Doreen she was 83 years old when she passed .The service was conducted by Gaynor Barnes T.V presenter .After the service we went to the Owl Inn at Rodley which used to be our local and I had my fifty birthday there with my twin sister and family .There was a buffet laid on with enough food to feed everyone three times over it was a good send off .Helen's brothers were there and Helen's parents and other relatives .Helen had two Baileys and I had a cider .

SATURDAY - Went over to Tong garden centre Helen bought a stone lamp for £80 we had to go to B&Q to get a led bulb .

SUNDAY - Cooked one of the Turkeys we bought for the festive season had it with pigs in blankets , stuffing , roasted carrots and parsnips and mash , roast potatoes , sprouts with pancetta  and Yorkshire pudding .

MONDAY -Took the tree down put it in the front garden ready for collection on Saturday go back to work after three days off new years day in two days end of 2024 good bye good riddance hello 2025 .

CHRISTMAS 2025

 CHRISTMAS DAY - Drove home just before 02.00 a.m the roads where clear I knew they would be .

We drove over to Acaster Malbis to see Helens parents we took the dogs along with us they like it in the car and are always well behaved .We got back home had a coffee and drove over to Kippax to have Christmas dinner with my daughter and husband and friends and family . She had cooked us all an amazing dinner which included Turkey , Gammon and beef with sprouts , stuffing , roast potatoes mash potatoes and different gravy's it all turned out perfect she had been up early hours cooking and prepping.

I think a meal cooked by someone else always tastes nicer there was a little Jack Russell puppy also with us all Woody .

Wishing everyone out there a very merry Christmas and fantastic 2025 .

HE'S ON HIS WAY

 SATURDAY  - Need to buy a Turkey and a gammon joint just in case we get snowed in high unlikely but never say never Bought an Anker Bluetooth speaker from Amazon it was reduced to £18.99 a steal a bit Bose looking .Also bought some KZ AZ09 IEM Bluetooth adapters which convert my wired IEM'S into wireless .they come Monday and cost £27.99 Helen is buying them for me for a Christmas present . I bought her a Hobinichi mega week journal diary and a Scribbles black paper starry night journal plus different nib size white pens and a zipper brown leather case for the Hobinichi which will arrive in the new year .

MONDAY - Roll on Christmas still need to get a turkey and other items hopefully we will get sorted tomorrow at work I have Xmas day off . 

TUESDAY - Bought a turkey we bought two and a joint of gammon and other stuff parsnips , sprouts , carrots  was all  15 p which will make a huge difference to the shopping bill .Got home Helen wrapped some presents I cooked tea quiche and fries  then went to work .The Fat man is on his way according to Santa tracker when I checked he was flying over the Philippines . 

THE SECRET IS OUT THERE ?

 MONDAY - Got a call from Helen whilst I was at work she has decided that she does not want the sofas we will keep our corner unit .We will lose the £25 deposit for the van which we realised when we made the booking its a lot less hassle for me it would have been a bust day I that I don't need .

TUESDAY - Went over to Joseph Tate's funeral directors  we went to pay our last respects and goodbyes to her Auntie as she was in the chapel of rest apparently lots of people have died and getting a viewing is difficult and limited .

she was laid in her coffin she looked just like she was sleeping , its a sad fact we are all going to follow her  , thing is we don't know where we are in the line or how far the finish line is , also we don't know if we are walking there or running , make sure you do something every day that makes you happy make memories take photos and videos because that's all what will remain that people will have to look back on your life .

WEDNESDAY - New Jersey drone sighting's or U.F.O'S or U.A.P'S what's going on are we witnessing a alien presence invasion or is it the American government in some covert operation its been going on too long and new reports are happening every night and in other parts of the U.S.A. Its a job for Mulder and Scully 

 

NOT THAT HOT

 FRIDAY - Someone had a great idea for collecting money to buy the managers a Christmas present why? with the money they collect it be enough to buy nothing of any importance its so hollow and embarrassing I would rather get them nothing .

SATURDAY - Went to Meltham to a Indian curry house we was going to dine out in the early evening to our surprise it was packed out .Went to Aldi instead and bought two fresh curries , rice , nan breads and onion bhajis , I got four cans of pear cider and some coffee pods , we had our Indian at home .

SUNDAY - Was going to go for a local Sunday dinner it got late in the night so we went to McDonalds instead I had a double chili burger fries and vanilla milk shake Helen got the same but changed the burger to a fillet O fish . So not that hot bet thing was I got a sweet curry sauce dip for later .