LET THE GAMES BEGIN

 TUESDAY - We had the newel posts and th e handrail painted black while we had the painter in which was a long time friend of Helen's Sharon we went out to Curry's to buy a new condenser dryer .We choose a 10 kg drum with delivery installation and taking the old appliance away it was £350 and it comes next week on Tuesday .

I mentioned a few days ago  to Helen that two Tomb Raider games are coming out one this year one the next plus there is new resident evil and Gta and that I would need a Ps5 console so whilst in Curry's I bought one and an extra controller I shouldn't have it was  a big expense that I was not planning on well not yet but new year looming worked all three bank holidays so what the heck  to put me on I bought Harry Potter game "Hogwarts Legacy" and "Ghost of Yotei " both bought from Amazon getting delivered tomorrow let the games begin. Its been awhile since I owned a Playstation I know the controller's are totally different and the graphics beyond compare to my Xbox 1 so it will be a totally new experience it can be my new hobby was even considering getting a monitor rather than plugging into the tv .

My Daughter and her husband and kids are all in Thailand they stopped of at Singapore airport for six hours before getting a flight to Thailand nearly thirty hours of travel I aske her if it was worth it she sent me these photos , Silly question really .

MORE TECH

 SATURDAY - Joined Kindle unlimited I cancelled my Netflix subscription have not really been watching anything on there it is paid up until the end of January 2026 .So joining Kindle Unlimited which will enables me to download both versions the written  book to read as well as the audible version so I can both read and listen when needed .I also ordered a Fire tablet  10 so I can read magazines I prefer this to buying just a Kindle E-reader I also ordered a black case I will use it for prime video as well so I will get my moneys worth it will also come in handy when Helen is doing readings and I'am sat in the car for three to four hours it can be a belated Christmas present to myself .

SUNDAY - It is Helen's birthday today bought her a sweat shirt hoodie from Joe Browns in Pink .

The fire tablet got delivered along with a cover got it set up need to side download Google play store will do that tonight .We are going to York to see Helen's parents on the way they asked if we wanted to go to the ship Inn for dinner we said yes if they are tables free we would love to .Had steak and ale pie it was filled with meat the red cabbage was out of this world I had it with chips and Yorkshire pudding Helen had the roast pork dinner so did her mother her dad had the turkey dinner all with veg and gravy none of us had deserts we were way too full her Dad picked up the bill .

MONDAY - Bought a 128 gb micro sdxc card for the tablet and a pair of Kzs10 pro iems and a set of KZ A209 Bluetooth ear hooks to use them with out the wires .These are the three ear phones I have bought the first Anker open ear ear pods not good for Helens ears the second Jlab sports total waste of money to hard to control so she tried mine and they were by far the best hence the buy .

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