MERRY CHRISTMAS 2025

 TUESDAY - The day before Christmas eve .Went to The farm shop before taking the dogs out picked up a turkey crown , a leg of pork and a joint of gammon as well as pigs in blankets and a giant pork pie £103 there is just the two of us .I went at the right time before I left they was queuing out of the door and the car park was full 

We went over  to Slaithwaite to get our haircut Helen had hers coloured £65 for the both of us very reasonable .The car park at Aldi were we usually park was full there were cars waiting so I packed on a street nearby .

Morrisons for more food and nibbles for the few days over Christmas some party food for Helens birthday couple of days after xmas as well as another bottle of Baileys £166 , and then there was another £54 on four packets of cigarettes it is what it is thankful its only once a year .I was going to get another bottle of Gentleman Jack but there was none left .

CHRISTMAS DAY - Finished work at 02.00 a.m. got home Helen had put the turkey crown into the oven on a low heat setting . I did the mixture for the Yorkshire puddings before going to bed .

Was up took the dogs out went to pick Helens son  up Ste he was having dinner with us returning home did the veg and stuffing sprout and roasted parsnips and carrots as well as mash and roast potatoes .It was a pity I had to go to work ..

WRAPPING UP

 SUNDAY - Did some Christmas wrapping up and writing  and hand delivering  some Christmas  cards to our closet neighbour's , I think they wait to see before sending one back .My wrapping is not the greatest but I do a neatest gift wrap depending on the shape and size . Christmas over the years as lost some of it's magic the main thing I look forward to is Christmas dinner  it that is cooked right and everything is there then I am quite happy the way I see it lots of people wont even have the luxury of eating a hot meal so all those out there moaning Santa never got them what they asked for fuck off stop whining and be happy with your lot .

Went to my daughters house in Kippax , the weather was foggy and raining on the way .They all fly out to Thailand the day after boxing day .She did a buffet and  cooked up some finger food mini chicken Kiev's ,mozzarella cheese  sticks , fries , pigs in blankets   and a couple of  pizzas it was very filling had a cherry Kopparberg cider and a coffee . 

A MAN CALLED JACK

 FRIDAY - Drove over to Meadow Hall shopping complex to get a few things for Christmas .Bought myself a new T-shirt from Joe Brown's and Helen a hoodie they had a pre Christmas sale on so did a lot of other stores and outlets ,it didn't seem overlay busy guess it would get worse once the kids left school .

Bought a bottle of YSL Libre Intense for Helen it is her birthday the day after boxing day for her main Christmas present we headed for the Apple store and got her a rose gold Apple watch 11 , I have also ordered her a Kindle colour it will get delivered Sunday. 

SATURDAY - Lounged about did nothing much Helen is going tech mad she is now looking at a Canon Selphy portable printer to use for her journaling, diary etc. I ordered her some Anker Soundcore ear pods with hooks so she can listen to her audible books whilst in bed they should be good enough. In the evening Helen went to Sister Circle  in Slaithwaite when I picked her up we went to Morrisons bought gift cards for Next , M&S , X-box Waterstones  and  Just Eat presents sorted , I bought myself a bottle of Gentleman Jack it is chilling in the fridge .I sampled it later in the evening it was very smooth it tasted better than I thought if you like it you like it .I usually buy a bottle of Bullet bourbon from M&S but Gentleman Jack was on offer , hence the buy to try .

BREKKIE

 TUESDAY - Went to Zorros for breakfast Helen had the regular I had the big one you got an extra sausage , hash brown , egg and bacon .I also had a large glass of fresh orange juice a cappuccino and Helen had a pot of tea .The bill was over £45 which is average for breakfast in and around where we live unless you do take away .It was very filling I didn't eat anything else for the rest of the day .

After breakfast I went to All Sport and bought a pair of all blacky Adidas trainers and a pair of blue with red stripes £65 for both they were in the sale I have worn these same trainers in different shades for the last ten years .

ANOTHER SOVEREIGN

 SATURDAY - Helen was supposed to go to Sister Circle. She cancelled so we both could go over to my sisters house ,for a family get together .All was there my sisters , my daughters family and my nephews .

Mark also  brought his dog with him , it is a Cockapoo called Mojo we have not meet him before , He was very well behaved so was the dog .

Nobody out stayed their welcome I think we was the last ones to leave it was only ten o clock not burning the midnight oil , on the way to the motorway I cut a police car up they didn't seem phased so all was good not that I was over the limit I don't drink and drive ever so I was not worried about being breathalysed I would have passed easily .

SUNDAY - Headed to Halifax once again we always seem to be getting party bookings for readings in Halifax Helen had five to do  I waited outside in the car on my phone entertaining myself until she had finished .After she got out heading home se booked a table for the Sovereign at Shepley  .Helen had the chicken liver pate to start , I had tomato and red pepper soup which was spicy and hot but very nice could have done with some cheese on top and some parsley .For mains we both had haddock and chips with b&b , I had cheese cake for desert not the best ever cheese cake it was ok .

MONDAY - The doors that  we got fitted last week all needed the screws changing over from brass to black . I  did the seven doors after I had a coffee its raining yet again so no walking the dogs this morning .

WATCHING - Welcome To Derry.

LISTENING TO - Band Of Horses .

READING - Sophie Kinsella book and P.Diddy Allegations Exposed 

BEDDED DOWN

 - THURSDAY - The Ottoman came in the afternoon four men came to assemble it this time the headboard made it up the stairs they had it up and working in under an hour the bed can be manually raised if the electric supply is cut to the bed it is great having storage space under the bed we should have got one years ago. Ikea sell them why we never got one is beyond me .I think the bed might be slightly higher than the old Monki can still jump on to the bed which is good so used to her sleeping with us be strange if she wasn't there doubt I would have a good nights sleep .

FRIDAY - Slept ok on the new bed the mattress has not be replaced so sleeping should be no different after sleeping on the floor for the las few weeks it was nice to sit on the edge of the bed getting in and out so much easier .After putting everything inside the bed frame we still have plenty of space left for other items .

SATURDAY - Washed the car with the pressure was using a snow storm foam the car went from black to white and it did look like it had been  snowing first time it has been washed for ages got the alloys cleaner and the wheel arches blasted and the bottom of the doors  amazing how much shit you pick up travelling .

Bought five black wrought iron coat hooks for the doors to match the other iron work two on our bedroom door , two on the bath room and one on the office door 

READY FOR BED

 TUESDAY - Door fitters arrived the doors look good they have a few swinging by dinner time had to go out to Screwfix and get some better screws than what cam e with the hinges I got online .Tomorrow I will have to cut the doors in half to fit them in the car so I can dump them  at the tip .

WEDNESDAY - Cut the doors in half got them all in the car and went to the tip first trip of two second trip was domestic waste and cardboard and other packaging shit polystyrene is the worst thing ever nightmare anyway its done .

The door fitter came back to put the latch plates on to the door frames only took him an hour and half all done .My daughter knows him he made her a bar for her cellar in her previous house and is good friends with his wife .

THURSDAY - We have had confirmation that the bed will be delivered tomorrow afternoon fingers crossed the head board goes up the stairs the bedroom is cleared we have took out everything we can .