NEW BOOTS

 MONDAY - Cooked a full English breakfast its been a week or so since we have had one was very tasty tried some new mini potato waffles was ok. Tonight I am going to be cooking to massive steaks , mashed pots and broccoli with a nice rich beef gravy .Went to Fox Valley outlet Helen wanted to buy a camping table from Go Outdoors  for her card readings etc only £16 .

TUESDAY - Took the dogs to the tops of the moors the sun was rising it was quite warm and sunny hence the decision to go across the tops this morning its a good couple of hours walking last time I walked this route was the last weeks of summer .

Booked a three course Christmas dinner at a pub its on a Saturday night I am having chicken liver pate to start then the traditional turkey Christmas dinner and desert a mascarpone cheese cake all in for £25 which cheap enough .

The prelit Christmas tree is not lighting up it was fine the day before guessing some four legged fur ball  has chewed a wire cant be anything else guessing its Rosie aka Monki.

WEDNESDAY - The morning frost it back with a vengeance the roofs and car windows are all whitened out there is no wind so its not cold the roads don't look too  iced over and the sun is trying to put in an appearance. I need two front tyres on my Karoq  I got two front tyres on the previous Karoq and will go back to the same tyre fitting shop that I frequented the  last time this time I needed new boots it is going to cost me £160 for them fitting and balancing etc .Once done I could feel the difference when i was driving home cant take chances need extra grip in the winter months . 

TRACTORS AND LIGHTS

 SATURDAY - No work for a full nine days bliss even if the temperature has dropped to minus one the sun is out we are putting the outside Christmas lights up hopefully it wont take too long got to get in the Christmas spirit regardless. We used the clips on the soffit and gutters from previous years ten minutes it was done another twenty mins to do the railings fir tree and the walking sticks it is looking good .

Bought some some mince pies and some stollen and Christmas cake with marzipan and icing  .Helen bought a wreath for the front door and some more lights she also bought two small Christmas trees for both our bedside drawers .I don't advocate anyone getting in to debt for Christmas and I know some wont even manage a Turkey dinner .Through out the world  there are people worse off specially  in Europe and the Middle East on all sides for them Christmas will be surviving the onslaught hopefully peace comes quickly for all those fighting wars .

All the farmers tractors descended to the village for a Christmas procession it occurs every year we always manage to see it this year we was extremely lucky  we witnessed most of the decorated festive tractors loads of people where in the village centre to see it ,

SUNDAY - Dropped Helen of were she is working for the day until late afternoon  . I went food shopping bought loads of fresh chicken drumsticks ,a couple of very large best  steaks , some frozen white fish and beef  mince meat as well has hash browns , waffles , mini waffles and skin on fries i also bought some Irish cider and a bottle of cola and coffee and brown sugar as well as liquid soap fabric conditioner and dishwashes tablets and double roll toilet paper 

FREEDOM

 MONDAY - After a week off I am back at work tonight .Took the dogs Rosie and Bailey out for their morning walk on getting home I had a Facebook notification memories I had done the exact same walk a year ago to the day how weird is that now convinced I am in a parallel universe or even  the Matrix .

TUESDAY - Found out my son has ben jailed for not doing his community service order for his drink driving conviction he was fined and ordered to complete 100+ hours community and the dick he is has not completed one hour of the order so he ended being jailed for eight weeks , no sympathy his fault rock on .

WEDNESDAY - Woke up a freeman once again I can do what ever I want today .I took the dogs out it was cold and rain was in the air but  I didn't care I saw the reservoir and forest and sheep and ducks .Once home I used my Sage coffee machine to make a perfect cup of coffee and cooked a bacon and egg sandwich later we are going out to get some freshly baked pork pies for tea we will pass fields and meadows and the boating club it be dark and grey cold and wet but who cares I am free .I might play another hour on the X-box Red Dead Redemption 2 , or I might listen to some music , go on my laptop or phone a friend I can do what ever I want because I am my own boss as long as I don't break any laws I am free. Tonight after finishing work I will drive home and shower and get in to a nice comfy bed listen to a podcast see my partner dogs and cats if I need to get up during the night the door wont be locked I can go and make a coffee put the TV on or read a magazine , Might get a nice portion of fish and chips go for a pint have a cigar or order a chines to be delivered the list is endless I have choices only limited by my imagination and funds so glad I am not in Jail .To all the prisoners who have been locked up and are totally innocent what a injustice I feel sorry for every day you are jailed ,  for those locked up because they are guilty of any crime,  then all I say is  if you cant do the time don't do the crime .

IN DATE

 WEDNESDAY - Still feeling blocked up head ache and hot sweats sleeping is still intermittent I am always waking up every couple of hours its either the cats or dogs that wake me plus Helen's snoring so I am in constant zombie mode .Hopefully in the next couple of days I will be back to my normal routine .

Half way through November already two more paydays till Christmas very scary it always creeps up on us every year we get caught out always seems to early in October to think about Christmas but guess its not with the price of things end of summer would be more appropriate .

I have no idea what Helen wants apart from the usual of perfume and jewellery I might get her  android watch to go with her Samsung phone .

THURSDAY - Feel worse than yesterday all I want to do is sleep or cat nap i am tired for most of the day so I did nothing but watch You Tube and started reading a new book did the first chapter its very gripping it a Chris Carter novel called "The Caller" , so far brilliant .

FRIDAY - Had to go out get some coffee and a few other essential items like butter , milk chocolate digestives and a big bottle of cola the cheap stuff was mixing it with some bourbon that  I had left from last Christmas and we all know whiskey doesn't go off there was not a lot left just below the label but it was enough.

  WATCHING - The Rise Of The Foot Solider "Vengeance " was ok not the best one ever.

FRESH VEG ON SUNDAY

 SUNDAY - Went to Cawthorne antiques Helen bought a musical tin some butter pats and a old Victorian shuttle use don the looms .On the way home we went to Cellar 41 at Thurgoland and bought some fresh veg swede , carrots , potatoes and cabbage .We bought a joint of pork from Tesco in Penistone I made two large home made Yorkshire puddings for our Sunday .

MONDAY - Had a lousy nights sleep waking up way too warm , chest tight and a throbbing headache and as a result I had trouble getting back to sleep I  finally got out of bed my head was spinning I was still felling hot and was starting to cough I felt bad enough to ring in sick at work I rang in early enough so they had time to cover my shift only to be told to phone back later in the afternoon just in case I felt better no pressure then if I am ill now I wont be any better a few hours later but i play ball if thats whats required .All i fancy to eat is porridge and honey and a hot coffee .

MORE CERAMICS

 THURSDAY - Helen has been busy the last two days and nights doing readings she has more to do over the next few days .Not heard anything from my son I have no way of contacting him so unless he reaches out to either his sister or me we have no idea what he is doing and where he is doing it .The weather is getting colder snow is predicted in the coming few weeks.

SATURDAY - Went to Wentworth garden centre they had the Christmas decorations we visit almost each previous year it does not seem as good as years gone buy .Helen bought a throw for the sofa and a Rise & Shine cup with chicken's which for a cup is quite expensive .

After leaving the garden centre we went to Fox Valley we called in to a few shops to buy wash gel and conditioner i needed coffee we also got gingerbread scented candles in glass jars Helen also bought another two cups .For these two cups was a quarter of the price for the one posted above but you cant put them in the dishwasher or microwave , and seeing has Helen nukes every cup of tea she drinks means a lot of tea is going to be poured down the sink.

 

On the way home we stopped of to get some fish and chips to eat at home freshly fried fish with scraps a good way to finish of the trip out .

LISTENING TO - Rotten Mango podcast excellent .

WATCHING - The Killer .

READING - The Caller by Chris Carter .

HOPITALIZED

 SATURDAY - Went to Asda bought some new bedding and bits of food and milk apart from this trip out we did very little .I Cooked some mince beef with swede , carrots and peas with dumplings and baby new potatoes .

SUNDAY - Went over to Acaster Malbis to see Helens parents we got engaged on bonfire day years ago I remember saying if nothing else there will always be fireworks on our engagement day .And there was fire works not that many but a few, they were being set off Saturday night too .I had a joint of pork to cook but will do it tomorrow instead .

MONDAY - The joint of pork wasn't pork it was gammon which I realised when it was cooked and i was carving it oh well .

TUESDAY - I  learned that  my son is once again in hospital with cellulitis I think he has had this condition before ,and  he will be in for a few days at least he will be getting feed and resting and medication . His sister is going to visit him tonight after she has finished work.  I think he will be in for a few days hopefully until he is well as I think he has been kicked out of where he was living and once again has nowhere to live .There is answers I need to know to questions that I have .

NEW OAK

 THURSDAY - Booked some annual leave nearly three weeks in the months of  January , February and March  I also have time off in November and December which is fantastic for me .

Helen bought a oak coffee table to replace the white Ikea one it is lower and has storage space when you lift the lid up there is enough room to get in and hide should you so wish  .The photo is taken at the hose we bought it from our good friend Julie it cost £600 and we bought it for a 6th of that and its solid wood its slightly bigger and lower than what we had .The gas struts don't keep the lid open which is a minus apart from that its well nice .

Set up the finger print reader on my laptop so I can sign in with just a such first time I have had this option other than using my phone .

Sick of the dull dark grey foggy weather specially on the motorway driving home its really bad in parts i do slow down specially with all the massive puddles and surface water om most of the country lanes which are also with out street lighting .

Not heard anything from my son he has gone of the radar his phone is permanently  switched off  although he has recently  spoken to his sister so I am guessing all is well meaning he is not locked up in hospital .

Rosie went to the groomers for her beauty treatment she always looks so cute when I pick her up and of course she smells like a little princess .

LISTENING TO - Neck Deep and Blink 182 .

WATCHING  -  "A Haunting In Venice "

LAZY SUNDAY

 SATURDAY - Slow cooker filled with fresh veg onions and braising steak plus stock and red wine set a timer for six hours .

I unboxed and set the printer up filling the tanks was super easy one tank one colour all which was all coloured coordinated .Setting the wifi up was  super easy using the net work password  all devices on the same Wi-Fi  connected easily that is my  iPhone , Helens android phone , two mac books and two window laptops ,the  printer heads are aligned and test paper done , so  all is good didn't even use the Epson app .

Went to Ikea bought a corkscrew and a extendable mirror for the bathroom Helen got a new lamp and new prints and frames .After shopping We had meatballs , hot dogs chips and coke spot on.

SUNDAY - The clocks went back never noticed didn't feel like I had any extra sleep had a lazy day Helen did some printing of images she down loaded of the internet .I order three usb sticks 2 x 16 gb and one 64gb if i can use the 64gb in the tv i wont order any more 16gb ones .

NEW INK

 FRIDAY - Bought a new printer from Curry's Pc World its a Epson with a eco tank that's suppose to last for ages obviously depending on amount of printing you do in any one day its cheaper than a ink subscription will see once it is set up .I also claimed £30 cash back from Epson so with four full ink tanks its cost £169 four inks cost £44 from Curry's so it was a good buy . Will set it up tomorrow when I have had some sleep .

NEW WINDOWS .

 THURSDAY - Helen brought home two Lenovo x1 carbon laptops 16mb memory , 512 ssd drive i7 processor running window 11 pro very light weight laptop sound quality great , colours super had a slight problem with one not starting and powering on fixe dit by reset hole underside for laptop this fixed it it powered dup and came back to life .

Getting use to using windows again there is plenty of help out there but so far i have to admit windows is better than it was years ago but its still nowhere as good as a Mac in my opinion .Need to get a new printer think it will be a Canon .

FRIDAY - Bought a breakfast from the farm shop two bacon three sausages , black pudding , hash browns,  toms , baked beans and mushrooms and egg for a fiver , plus its all local farm produce excellent .

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 .