LAST POST 2015

I cant believe its the last day off 2015 and we are both ill not the start to 2016 we hoped for Helen is still in bed poorly i started with the symptoms she has whilst i was at work by the time i had finished work at ten I had been sick and been to the toilet numerous times not good.
I manage to get home without incident but went straight to the toilet , and went straight to bed Helen  slept in the spare bedroom i was up numerous times either  being sick or to go to the toilet or both .

At half past eight i called work to say i would not be attending technically we are supposed to be 48 hours clear of any sickness or diarrhoea but if i feel better i will go tomorrow it is New Years day .

I managed to get out to the shops bought four fresh containers of tomato and basil soup along with tiger bread , milk coffee and brown sugar  , a tray of pork chops  packet 16 rashers of smoked bacon and pork  sausages.

I stripped the bedding of our bed and washed it I also cleaned all of the bathroom sink and toilet with bleach . The floor sink taps and all of the door handles i also threw the floor mat in to the washing machine.

Helen wants the Christmas tree taking down i cant be bothered doing it today although it does seem like Christmas never really happened .

Happy New Year to all. and  here's hoping that 2016 will bring more joy and peace  , less or no wars , a end to  terrorism world wide and for everyone to be thankful and to stop polluting for this beautiful plant we call Earth.

ROLL ON 2016

Helen is still not 100% but is better enough so i can go to work ,She still has had nothing to eat no soup or toast or has she even had a cup of tea , although i have made her a raspberry jelly which she might have later , but what is stranger she has not had a cigarette in over 36 hours it would be a very good time for her to try and stop , but i doubt she will.

The winds have returned due to storm Frank and looks like parts of Scotland and Cumbria are going to get more sever warnings with more risk flooding.Leeds where i work seems to have recovered and water has drained away but we have had the worst floods in the city history something as altered we never use to suffer with flood water so what as change should be the question on every ones lips.

I have driving on this road loads of times in my life it is Kirkstall Road it takes you from Leeds to Horsforth .Once a friend was driving his old car with me as a passenger we were in our early teens the car was more or less a classic and his breaks failed .He was talking about crashing in to this viaduct to stop but we didn't have to the car came to a halt on its own we did go through a red light but came away unscathed .

I have to take our  car in for its M.O.T on Saturday i reckon it is going to cost me a few hundred quid which is the last thing i need after Christmas but i need to be road legal .

Cooked steak pies and roasted sweet potatoes for my dinner was absolutely gorgeous simple yet filling and tasty with English mustard forget the rest you cant beat good old English mustard.

Watched - Legend The story of the gangster twins the Kray,s both of the  twins are played by Tom Hardy . Also tried to watch Spectre the latest 007 James bond film  to be honest i couldn't get in to it will try later.

HELEN IS ILL NO WORK

Helen was  up in the middle of the night with the runs she was also violently sick similar but worse than what i had a few weekends ago , the smell was horrendous i work in a hospital it was bad  poor Helen the day after her Birthday she is so unwell it is not good. If it was me officially i could not return back to work until it has been  forty eight hours clear from any sickness or diarrhoea .She does not want to eat or drink leaving her on her own is not a good option even though there is very little i can do for her .

I called the doctors surgery for advice they reckon its a bug and she should be fine in another 48 hours to feed her nothing but to give plenty of fluids and she should be fine , Rang work don't think they are too impressed but what the heck i worked Christmas Eve , day Boxing Day and I will be working ON New Years Eve and New Years Day , and all is well i should be back tomorrow .

Whilst Helen slept i watched a couple of films cooked a jacket potato with beans and cheese and at Helen's request made her a raspberry jelly.
For my tea i will have beef burgers egg onions and chips .

It will be 2016 in a few days this year we have done lots and made big changes hopefully more changes will be made in the coming 12 months but at this stage we can can only guess we all know nothing stays the same .

WET STUFF

Merry Christmas everyone hope we all had a great day looking forward to 2016 so  bring it on.
I was working at the Hospital it was very quite which is what every body wanted no major dramas .
I had my Christmas dinner micro waved first time ever i have had it nuked instead of eating it out of the oven.

I have a bottle of Jack Daniels and a bottle of Bells to get through and a chocolate orange .

BOXING DAY
Leeds and near to the city centre is under water due to flooding from all the rain  we have had over the last 24 hours ,The hospital I work at is now on its own emergency generators we have the capability of going of grid.

EVE OF CHRISTMAS

My wage went in to the bank just before one a.m  ,as soon as I could see the money in my account we jumped in the car and drove to the supermarket , the roads all the way was quite a good sign .

it was quite empty in fact it was less busy then a normal shopping night , lots of the things we required we got ,  all 2 litre bottles of semi skimmed milk had sold out so we got two one litre bottles , they still had turkeys i knew they would everyone gets them early so they never sell out to say we only wanted bits and pieces we spent the best part of £200.

We got home at around half past three .a good chunk of my wage already out of my account , i also filled up with petrol just under thirty pounds it 99p a litre at the moment i reckon i did have gallon or two already in the tank a full tank will do me over the festive period i should get about 360 miles driving .

We got up just after nine also less than five hours sleep we went to the farm shop we dropped  lucky and got a parking place  ear to the entrance it was raining again . We bought a cheese and bacon quiche  freshly made pork pies and some salad stuff and more milk , Helen panics because we cant get frozen sausage rolls , Christ  the shops are open on Boxing day ,  what we don't have why worry.

My sister Irene rang me just has we got back home to the van . She told me that she is putting some money in to my bank account paid out  from any old pension policy my parents or my Dad had and for some reason he and my mother never surrender  its like a belated Christmas gift from my parents from beyond the grave .
My  Father died over  twenty - five years ago my Mother must be ten years  , so it is a very nice time to receive it , it will go towards the M.O.T for the car due 2nd of January .

STROKE OF MIDNIGHT

Well Wednesday is here and pay day is tonight , in time  for Christmas Eve last few hours shopping if we don't do it today our goose or turkey is cooked . We will be in the supermarket just in time for my wages being paid in to my account at midnight. i am not sure how busy it will be i guess be either manic or quite but regardless we will have to battle on and get the stuff we require for our 2015 Xmas.

This is our number eight Christmas first year in the van third year away from Leeds our home city.

I need to buy  a Christmas cake with marzipan , a rice Christmas pudding with pour over rum and extra special mince pies a large tub single cream otherwise it won't be Christmas .

Whiskey for my Irish coffees and of course some Irish whiskey .

It is now just twenty minutes before it is Christmas Eve 2015 and we will be going shopping in a few minutes .

SICK

SATURDAY

 woke up  in the morning throwing up and really bad  diarrhoea i must have gone four times in a few hours it was late in the afternoon when i got out of bed .
Went to the supermarket bought a turkey crown so we will at least have a turkey it feeds 11 to 13 people there is four of us having dinner it should be more than enough we will also be having a gammon joint with it as well .

SUNDAY
 we went over to Dobcross to see the village cottages  christmas lights and decorations  we were a bit too early it was still day light we did not want to hang around so we  left will have to go back will post the photos will be after Christmas day might do it boxing day .
Had nothing to eat yesterday , tonight i ate for the first time w had a gammon joint  and roasted veg

HIGH AND LOW

THURSDAY

This week has really dragged have done nothing great at either work or at home . Everyone seems to be stressing out over christmas , money and buying presents , its getting to be a pain in the backside i be glad when its all over and we all get back to normal , its just not worth the fcuking hassle.

FRIDAY
Fire stick loaded with Xbmc or Kodi as it is now better known as all i can say is i am disappointed it is nowhere as good as i was lead to believe i guess its no big surprise , i was that disappointed i  signed up for Amazon Prime which is better than i thought it would be so all is good in the end .

Cant believe this time next week it will be Christmas day as i have already mentioned another major let down , and  i am working or at least going in to work .We still need to get a turkey crown , fruit  cake laced with brandy and xmas puddings and stollen as well as pear cider and whiskey .I get paid the day before Christmas great timing not.

A friends father is in the local police  cells tonight for driving whilst under the influence of cannabis's  oops , guessing he has a merry Christmas every day  , on a plus side at least he did not injury anyone or ruin anyone else christmas only his wallet and license is suffering , which i guess he won't see for a another couple of christmases  .

TILL CHRISTMAS

TFIF
My Amazon tv fire stick is better than i thought  i want to start and catch up on certain tv series such as Black sails , TWD , The Hand Of God and Vikings .
I want a Scan disk expand flash storage device to go with my iPad and phone £109 for 128 gb when you consider the cost of a 128 gb iPhone or pad its a big saving plus still have the original 16gb store on the Apple device its self it really is a  no brainer .

Part of my job is to take blood and platelets from the blood bank  to theatres and wards throughout the hospital  i have to scan a bar code on my i.d badge to open the fridge then there is a bar code on each  bag of blood which has to be scanned  out once you get to your destination the same procedure applies and you re scan it in , this is to check the blood is still usable . it also as a brown tag on with the patients name and ward or theatre number  on  , It  is transported in a green disposable carrier bag , some wards take it straight from you and it is given straight to the patient i handed on bag of blood to a health care assistant  and she so squeamish  i though she was going to faint weird .We had a new starter working on a ward and he saw some blood being taken from a patient and he did faint this guy is at least six foot six if not taller .

I am also taking my Mac book pro lead in to work to the med physics departments so squeamish  to see if they can re join the wire the dog chewed through ages ago we still only have the one lead for both Mac books.

We need to source a turkey farm so we can purchase a turkey crown for our Christmas dinner even though i am working on Christmas day i won't be starting until two in the afternoon not sure if i will have dinner before i go or on my return in the evening .

My manager asked me yesterday if i wanted to work Friday ten at night till six in the morning Saturday of course i declined why mess my weekend up for a few hours extra pay i did not even have to think about it.

SATURDAY
Its raining its grey but its not windy we are going out to get food think i will get some Nandos peri medium rub for the chicken legs that  i am defrosting that's  if i can be arsed going to the freezer out side in our outhouse in this rain  . Later  i will be watching the following  movies Crimson Peak , Robert De Niro in Heist and M.I. Rouge Nation.

Went to Asda and it still rains it as been pouring down with rain  all day , and the cat rescue where we got Minnie from is flooded all the kittens and cats are fine , cant believe how much rain has fallen Cumbria is awful all the people houses have flooded is sad specially so  close to Christmas the government should stop all foreign aid and build better flood defences and pay compensation to all those effected by the floods.

SUNDAY
No rain this morning so i cleaned out the gutters both sides of the van it took me around a hour and i filled a bin bag half full of leaves .I dare not empty the water butts on a already water logged garden i will leave if till the ground has had a chance to dry out.

In the afternoon we went back to our old street Upper Bank End Road to hand deliver Christmas cards all our old friends where out we did see Ken the deaf and dumb man who is out all weathers walking the country side .We do miss Holmfirth there is no the place quite like it .

Had a proper Sunday lunch with roast pots and Yorkshire pudding .

CRAPPY WEEK

MONDAY
Emptied the water butts and bagged up some of the leaves that are still about , whilst i was out side the postman called he had my package from Amazon my Kindle Fire Stick i set it up and was using it within ten minutes ,  i had slight trouble at first connecting to my wifi the screen kept disappearing not sure why but i managed it in the end to be honest i think it's a great bit of tech  i would recommend it to anyone and in some ways as good or better than Apple tv , i have to admit i am getting a bit pissed off with Apple i don't reckon its any better than using Microsoft or Android in some ways its less good with its own set of problems.

Christmas is fast approaching and  i am working on Christmas day . On my break i will take some  photos of the city centre it will be desolate and eerie as they will be no one around. The last time i was in the city centre on a Christmas day was in 2007 my first yuletide with Helen we had moved out of the Travel lodge and in to our apartment  this was three days prior to xmas day we did not have time to get a tree and decorations but we did have a great dinner and after we went for a walk by the canal in to the city centre we saw one Japanese couple who looked like tourist taking photos.

TUESDAY
Boring day work was ok survived it and went home had pork chop for supper it was so tasty bought from the local farm shop the taste is so much better the cost is more but it is worth it , with out a doubt the highlight of my day i live such a great life , i am grateful for the little things i do appreciate what i have .

WEDNESDAY
A worker from the night shift called in to see me to tell me he couldn't attend his shift tonight he told me that he was returning home to stay with his daughter whilst she dies , you cant really argue , so sad so emotional it's not the season to be jolly for all of us out there , so  be grateful for what you have .

YORK

Went to York to their Christmas market we used the park and ride it is nearer home the Park and ride was cheaper .

Helen bought some ear muffs from Fat Face although it was not that cold , we had hot pasties from the Cornish pastie company the river Ouse in places had burst it's banks and fields and farming land was flooded no houses where effected unlike Cumbria people had to be evacuated .

Bought a pyjama set for my Grandson from the White Company it as aeroplanes on it's  for a Christmas gift he is still not one yet.
This time i had my back pack no more juggling with plastic carrier bags .

Two Christmas Markets two Minsters two park and rides in two days Lincoln's Christmas market is on a grander scale but York as a lot more nicer shops and pubs .

One the way back home we stopped at my sisters house and had a coffee she had been putting  up her Christmas tree and lights .

Watching - "The Walk"

Listening to Coldplay "A Head Full of Dreams"

LINCOLN

SATURDAY
Went to the Christmas market at the historical town of Lincoln it was only a hour and twenty minute drive the roads were very empty .
We used the park and ride and caught the bus to the centre of town it was still light it gets better when its dark and all the lights go one.

This time we actually went inside the cathedral which is impressive as York Minister i am not sure which one is the oldest , they had a candle lighted for those who died in the Paris terrorists  attacks .

Went also to the medieval market it was it pound to get in it was all canvas tents and straw on the floor it was all lighted up and the stall holders was in old fashioned dress looked like from a bygone age we bought some hand made soap , some Christmas pot pour with orange and lime pieces and cinnamon scented  candle .

Had some slow cooked beef brisket and horseradish and a coffee and brandy Helen had turkey crown sandwich and a mulled wine i am not keen on mulled wine .

The medieval bishops palace the  building of the Cathedral commenced 1088 and was at one time the highest building in the world this was in the 1300's .York Minister is bigger  and older was built in 637 ad .

it

LIFE IS OK

I was that engrossed at home i forgot to go to work when i looked at my phone it was twenty five minutes past one i start work at two and it takes over thirty minutes to get there on a good day plus i had to get changed in to my work clothes eat my dinner an d generally get my arse in to gear in the end i was only fifteen minutes late not sure how i did it i was expecting to be a lot later than that .

THURSDAY
Our R.A.F bombing Syria cant say i am impressed so far it's so obvious its about oil and nothing else which is wrong ≥

Went to the farm shop bought some pork chops and Barnsley chops also some chicken legs and other goodies cant beat meat that is reared and killed locally .

Another great band releasing their album in time for Christmas  Coldplay "Head Full Of Dreams" follows Adele's 25 Album.

We are supposed to go to Lincoln this Saturday to the Christmas market should be a fun day out .

FRIDAY
So glad its Friday for some reason its been a long week and i have had enough unlike a wife the job still sucks and i cant see it ever getting  any better anyway no point dwelling on it .

I have finally started watching The Walking Dead it was hard getting back in to it guess i overdosed on it catching up on five seasons all at once it was a bit of a  overkill.

Good news i have chicken in the oven , pear cider in the fridge and ice in the freezer and Coldplay on my iPod .I am at home chilling life could be a lot worse than this ,  life is ok if not brilliant.

OIL WATER MEAD AND APPLE

SUNDAY - The wind was howling last night and rain was lashing down it was quite noisy i woke up just after 02.15 am put a t-shirt on and went to the kitchen to make myself a nice refreshing cup of coffee , Helen was fast a sleep so i left her tucked up in bed .

When i went back to bed George our ginger tom followed me and jumped on to my side of the  bed once i had got in  he laid down on my chest purring , which made it a lot harder to get back to sleep , when i woke up at eight i was knackered , we had a shower before having fried egg sandwiches for breakfast .

 Bought some anti freeze for the car i knew the water would want topping up i as i have not checked it for a while a good sign its not using loads of water i also bought some oil and checked that which also needed topping up i am always careful  about the amount of oil i pour in  too much and you can blow your oil seals which is not good , i placed half a litre i will check tomorrow and add another half litre if needed.

Bought some Christmas's presents only three but i thought i better start seeing its only a month away .

I bought a bottle of 11% mead which is made from fermented honey people have been drinking mead since 700 bc .

Apple issues i have made an appointment at the genius bar at the Apple store at the  Trinity centre in Leeds for this coming  Friday at 19.30 i will have to walk there from work to take my phone regarding the charging issues i am currently having  .
I also having trouble playing audio books every time i close my iPad it looses it place and starts from the beginning so annoying . I think i will try and add the files as a play list in music maybe that will work .Make me wonder is switching back to Android such a bad option know i would work out cheaper for the cost of the devices .

MONDAY
Rain rain and more rain for the start of the week,  at work at two enough said.

A LITTLE DEAR ?

Helen had an adverse reaction to the tablets she is taking she was totally spaced out of her tree there was no way that i could go to work and leave her at home all on her own so had trouble standing vertical ,  so i rang in work to tell them that unfortunately  i would not be attending work today.

Friday
Its payday yet again yippee it seems to have been a long month  , but good news petrol is now under a £1.00 a litre which is brilliant thanks to Asda and  Black Friday deals  .I actually bought another black Friday deal this time from  Amazon one of their  Tv fire sticks for £24.99 which seemed too good to miss .I did not pay for postage i will get it on around the ninth of December .

Saturday
Paid mine and Helens phone bill this morning she has not paid her bill for two months ,  i refused a early update the other month and turned down the chance to own a iPhone 6s , but i might have to give back word and maybe go ahead and upgrade early , as my iPhone 5s is playing up when i put the lighting cable in to charge it it does not always recognise it unless i rest it on top of a pen then it commences charging which is not a good sign for some reason the downward pressure of the phone makes the connection weird .

Bought some more christmas decorations from the garden centre at Dobcross we had a drive through Holmfirth and across the moor through Uppermill before reaching Dobcorss where we bought the  stags head pictured below or is it a deer i have no idea might paint it electric blue .
Back over the moors we had a fish butty and curry sauce from Compo's the restaurant is temporally  shut it does  re open on December the 4th after it has finished  getting refurbished .

NO SIGNAL

We put our Christmas tree up Sunday gone  i don't think we have ever put it up as early as this before .The in built lights are still working fine , it always nice to see them lite once you throw the switch for the first time I am guessing the tree is around eight years old , our first Christmas when we moved out of the hotel in to our apartment at Clarence dock in Leeds City centre it was three days before Christmas day we did not have time to but a tree and decorations .We were too busy organising our living accommodation and at that stage i did not have a car. It was a case of a taxi back from the supermarket in the city centre with all the shopping bags with the food as we did not even have a salt or pepper pot but we did have one of the best Christmas dinners ever .

We cant get a sky dish no matter where the engineer tried the dish he was just not getting a signal. The last place tried was two foot off the ground at the front of the van , not ideal place he mounted the bracket fixed the dish but still no signal or a very weak signal  , the issue is the trees most of the leaves have fallen from the tree once back the foliage would totally block the signal out all together so there is no point in going ahead with the subscription we will have to look at streaming and a tv box either Amazon , Roku of Now tv.

HIGHLY DELIGHTED

My blog Rollin Bye as  reached 31,000 page views which i never envisage  i am still highly delighted , to begin with i only thought i be the only one reading it , i started writing it instead of keeping a normal diary with the added bonus of you can add photos web links and video clips . So to all those whom have taken time out just to read one page i thank you big hugs to all  and i do apologies for it being so boring i am hardly an international jet setter , but like i said it was really only ever for my eyes only. Any way thank all again and happy reading x.

I have the following books to read  Cross Justice by James Patterson  , The Cleaner by Mark Dawson and The Warrior  by Ty Patterson.

Today we have a leg of lamb and we  cooked a proper Sunday dinner with roasted veg , we might even have eggs Benedict for breakfast if we go out and get some bacon or smoked ham .

We get our Sky dish fitted Tuesday not sure what we get with it might add Now tv.


I am currently listening to Adele's new album 25.

SUNNY AND WHITE

Get the sky dish fitted next week on Tuesday between 8.00 - 13.00 not sure where they will fit the dish us living in a static home hopefully the wind won't take it off or out of position .

Found out yesterday that are  December wages will be paid on the 24th good old Christmas Eve i bet a few will be going on sick to go last minute  Christmas shopping .

I also found out that there is a very good chance that  i will be working on  Christmas day if i have to i will grin and bear it at least it is on a Friday so it will be the weekend Boxing day being on the Saturday Christmas is not only for one day .

Woke up this morning to a sprinkling of snow i love the white stuff i just don't like getting the car stuck really wish i still had my 4x4 it was a bad mistake getting rid of it .Saying that the sun is out any snow whats as laid will not last very  long .

UP ON THE ROOF

I went to the tool shed that i have in the side garden and i happen to see  a cowl and pipe that had obviously come off in the high winds we have been having it had come off the outlet on the roof of our van from the kitchen air vent .
I took the ladder and extended it has far as it would go and cable tied the rungs of each part together so it was extra safe .
Helen footing the ladder i manage to get on the roof which was  really solid i was able to  fit the pipe part back on to the opening inlet and drill and screw it back into position using my cordless drill and screws seeing has it had no screws fixing it originally and it now has three brass crews it should not blow off again fingers crossed .At least i know now that the roof will hold my weight no problem .

I am looking forward to Christmas putting the tree up and decking out the van with lights both inside and out this hopefully will be a great festive period .We will order our turkey crown when i get paid and get some other food stuff we will need cranberry sauce and the like some things we will get nearer the time .


Whats bugging me is might have to work Christmas day it will be a grind i don't want Helen to be on her own for even a part of Christmas day all the managers assistant managers  get it off each year which is so unfair .
I had my first mince pie today it was only a cheap on but it was not that bad .

MONDAY ONCE MORE

SUNDAY

Went to Canon Hall shop bought a couple of glass baubles to hang on to our Christmas tree when we put it up next month.

We then tidy the garden up got rid of most of the leaves off the lawn and from the boarders i also emptied the water butts yet again , it can be a daily job doing both the leaves and the water but its because the guttering are not going into a grate we have to of it i might look at what options that i have.
 In summer its fine because any water will be poured  on to a fairly dry garden when it's  heavily rained  or on heavy downpours the ground and soil are already sodden which does not help.

MONDAY
Back at work weekend gone too fast yet again today is surprisingly sunny and warm , it will be Christmas before w know it i say if ever year next Christmas will be different will be more organised will save up get nice things i might get it right next year this year is not looking good hey ho.

Listening to Jeff Lynne's - ELO Alone In The Universe

RED WHITE AND BLUE

THURSDAY - No work today i spent the night in A&E with Helen we went down at 2.00 am she had another fit come panic attack or whatever they are that she as she was shaking and short of breath and had headache and breathing difficulties .We went to Pinderfield's hospital the other side of Wakefield which is our closest Hospital now we have moved from Holmfirth.
It was empty there was one person waiting we got seen really quickly they asked the usual questions made the right noises did a ECG blood pressure and blood tests the ECG came out normal we waited for the blood to be tested that too came back normal at around six am we drove back home .

At some time today we need to a find a local doctor and register with the practice we cannot use our previous doctors because we are no longer in the catchment area of people they treat.

FRIDAY
Back at work and its torrential rain and its colder than it has been thanks god its Friday looking forward to the weekend .

SATURDAY

May all  who fly the red white and blue  Australia , New Zealand , England and the United States of America come to the needs of all innocent citizens everywhere including France and HOPEFULLY together we will defeat all terrorists everywhere regardless of nationality or religion .

This is no way a racist comment we all should live in peace regardless ,  if we where to be attacked by alien species from out of space would we be then united as one , it's a scary thought i guessing yes but my heart says no.

SHORT PIPE

MONDAY
It don't feel like a Monday and its windy and wet again .
Went to cleanse a house in Leeds Helen used a sage smudging stick and salt to get rid of the negative energy hopefully the house is in a different atmosphere for those who are living there fingers crossed it has worked .

Back to work tomorrow at least its not Monday the weather as been the crap i might as well be back and safe my days for winter just in case we get snowed in because if the weather is bad enough i aint going anywhere this is England we don't do snow unless its on  Christmas card we are not equipped for driving for walking transport comes to a halt and people panic buy in the supermarkets this if its a few inches we are not talking feet but inches .

Bought the box set of Downton Abbey for Helen for a Christmas present i got the full series one to five , she was a bit down yesterday so i gave her them to her to cheer her up .


Tuesday went back to work enough said .

WEDNESDAY.

The pipe for the waste water from the sink came off again , so  i had the side panels to take off it was a lot easier this time using the cordless drill i bought ,  i managed to push the pipe back on only for it to disconnect the pipe from the opposite end which the kitchen sink connects to so i had to take off the opposite side panel i ended up connecting both ends  i taped the connections to the pipe so hopefully all is good if it comes off again i will ned to buy some more pvc piping and make another connection i reckon the original pipe was cut  a couple of  inches short , time will tell .





Listening to - Seal's album - 7

Reading the - Heroin diaries a year in the life of  by Nikki Sixx  fromMotley Crew.

WASH OUT

We was out last night and saw plenty of fire works going off .

Got up cooked breakfast whilst Helen lazed in bed we had back sausages mushrooms hash browns and eggs i also did hash browns and tomatoes from a tin .

The amount of fallen oak leafs that now surround the van is amazing no way i can i keep up to them i am not even trying anymore once they stop falling i will get rid of them all .

SATURDAY
Went to Gordon Rigg garden centre near to Todmorden  about 35 miles away . it was real heavy rain and high winds this morning i went to the petrol station to fill up and the wind took hold of the car door and took it off its stay which means if the wind gets it again it is free to blow straight back in to the car side which will either dent the panel or crease the door once i got back home i managed to re fix the stay to the door cill .

Caught this spider the cats where hunting it last night and it hide it came out to day so it would not get eaten i threw it out in to the wind and rain .

SUNDAY
Weather is bloody awful went out to buy sweet potatoes and chicken for us to cook for Sunday  dinner there was loads of chicken both the cats and the dog had a dish full  we had some of the breast meat they also had some breast meat and everything else.

 Helen had a reading so i had a shower Sunday has been a total wash out ,  i do have tomorrow off work my last day back on Tuesday i cant see us doing much . I feel the urge to get another  tattoo on the back of my left leg .

I have the latest issue of Stuff magazine to read which i will do tomorrow i might also get rid of some more leaves .and empty the water butts again .
Helen is doing her christmas list of things she wants what she gets is another matter.

DAY OFF ONE

HAPPY BONFIRE NIGHT even if it is raining cats and dogs saying that the dog is sat on the sofa and Minnie and George are both outside in the pouring rain .

I had a text from my mobile provider asking me if wanted an early upgrade to a iPhone 6s for £58 a month plus a one off payment of £134 pounds which they say will be covered if i traded my 14 month old iPhone 5s in either way its still at a cost of £134 plus a tenner a month extra on the tariff over another twenty four months is £374 , plus they will be extending my contract by another 16 months when all added up they are on to a right winner what a con they make out like its some sort of great deal that they doing me a great favour , when in fact they making loads more of cash out of me it is so one sided they still be wining if they gave me the phone and a iPad as well .

The shower head blew apart this morning , great water pressure or what. The old one was white which did not look right on a metal hose which we replaced a few months ago so  we went out this morning  and bought a shiny chrome one  , it was just a matter of dropping the washer in its outlet and simply  screwing it on the end of the hose  job done  it seems more powerful then the last which is a big plus one cant beat a few decent aimed jets of water .

I am off until Tuesday i know it will fly by it always does i am catching up on some episodes of Blindspot , i have cancelled my Netflix subscription mainly because i don't watch enough programmes sometimes i won't even watch one programme a month .

Bought the latest issue of Stuff magazine i think i will get a subscription next year as i am getting it each month anyway and it will work out cheaper .

APPLE SILVER SKY

This Sunday morning was very warm and sunny to say its the first day in November i took Pip out for her morning walk she only did a quarter of the journey and she turned round to come home i was pissed off .

We Bought two cushion covers in a dark purple to cover the four second hand chairs we got the other day Helen's father has my industrial stapler which we will need to cover the chair seats i need some pva glue to redo the tenons for the chair seat frames that go in to the back rest .

Went back to Meadow Hall shopping outlet at Sheffield the one we was at yesterday Helen took some stuff back for a smaller size .
I tested the new YSL mens  Kouros silver i use to wear the original and that was nice this is similar but more fruity smell i like it maybe Santa  will bring me a bottle who knows .

Rejoined Sky tv as we really need a dish to receive a interrupted signal and another big plus a sky hd box gives us the ability to record programmes as well as loads of more channels.

 The signal we receive at the moment keeps breaking up on certain channels which is so fcuking annoying even when you are not watching tv so we figured that the best way round it is to go digital we get it wired up on the 24th of November .

We called into the Apple store and had a go on the Apple Tv  we played one of the interactive games Beats Sports it was ok i guess we will get one before Christmas maybe next payday will get the 32gb .

Will have to check out other games and apps before buying .

Bought a bacon and mushroom quiche and some baking pots for tea absolutely gorgeous from Blacker Hall Farm shop will do for a late tea/supper .

Had a few kids for Halloween last night Helen was doing a reading which added to the Halloween event .

Like the women perfume Alaia  might get someone a bottle for Christmas its fragrance lasts well it as on the card i sprayed in House of Frazer yesterday .

I also stopped of at the D.I.Y shop and bought a bottle a bottle of  Gorilla wood glue to fix the creaking squeaking chairs i hope.

Needing - Light bulbs.

Looking forward to -  five days off come Wednesday night

Reading - "M Train" by Patti Smith

Watching - Casino Royale , Quantum of Solace ,  and Skyfall

HALLOWEEN

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL .

Emptied the water butts even the butt that acts as an overflow was nearly full we have had quite a lot of rain and its a good half hours job to drain them to empty .
I started to sweep up the leafs using a broom as quick as i was sweeping they was falling down again cleaned one side of the gutters out its amazing how quickly that  they fill up with leafs.

Went to Meadow Hall nearly bought a black fabric bound journal but want one with more pages bought a blue charity Poppy org uk bracelet and a white ruler that snaps around your wrist so you can wear it like a bracelet .

Not sure we will get any kids trick or treating  tonight we have loads of chocolate and sweets just in case if we don't we will be pigging out on the sweet stuff for days to come .

 Watching - Amy

TIME OFF AGAIN

I have got next Thursday bonfire night off the Friday and the following Monday so it is a long weekend to look forward to , as always i love days off work who doesn't and i cant wait even if the weather is not great i still look forward to and  relish days off work .

Went to the barbers to get my haircut its been a while needless to say i got my moneys worth and a free coffee i did leave a tip it cost £9.00 i paid with a tenner , they have a loyalty card i don't bother your tenth hair cut is free , i said if i don't tip you a pound which i always do and saved it i get a free haircut anyway.

Went to the local farm shop this time to the restaurant they run i have to say it was one of the best breakfasts i have had in a long time .

All on the weekend not sure what we have in the pipe line i have a few episodes of the tv series Minority report Limitless and Blindspot to catch up on.

LIFES A GAS

Well Northern gas came out last night the pressure was fine it is the gas metre that has its internal bellows stuck and won't pump the gas through so we need a new metre which means British gas needs to come out and do the work which also means it won't happen until eight in the morning when we have to phone up yet again so we won't be burning gas tonight tonight the inlet pipe as been capped off.At least the kettle is electric and the microwave all is well until we ares sorted , and its payday cant be down when it's a payday.

I have ordered a present Helen wants for Christmas from Ebay don't know what i will say when its delivered will have to tell to keep her nose out .

Helen needs to stay in at the van for the gas engineer well someone needs to and as Helen cant drive , and  i need to go and do some food shopping and at the moment the coffee i use is on offer saving £2.00 a jar i also need certain food for  throwing in to the freezer like sweet potato fries , button sprouts and swede and sweet corn  , as well as this months issue of Stuff magazine .

The man from the gas board thought he had came to fit us a new electrical metre he was given the wrong info , but  luckily they are trained to do both so a new gas metre was fitted he was totally pissed off and annoyed because the previous engineer who came last night left no notice or paperwork as to what work he had done and why he had left it capped which is a big no no.

But all is well that ends well we are cooking with gas again both the central heating and water seem hotter , no doubt this will be reflected with higher bills now we are burning more gas .

Went to the farm food shop bought some Barnsley chops , shin beef and pork chops plus beef and dumplings we are stocked up for a week or two now if we bought nothing else we would not starve .

Helen as bought a second hand round table with ball and claw feet plus  two carver chairs and two normal chairs for a grand total of sixty quid they should have come tonight but we are now getting them delivered tomorrow.

Apple tv is now on sale 32gb model for £129 which is reasonably priced will i get one in time for Christmas i guess so.

MONDAY MONDAY

Was up at eight o clock this morning on the way to the Dr's Helen need more Thyroid tablets she ended up having blood test and a egg doing which meant we was there well love an hour and half not a good start to Monday

When we got home the hot water was not running hot it was cold so this afternoon i joined British gas home care at a cost of eighteen pounds a month i get it a pound cheaper because i buy my gas and electric from British gas otherwise i be paying nineteen pounds a month.

When i got home tonight i pre lighter the gas oven and the flame was not burning like what it should have been so i tried one of the rings the pressure was low it is now midnight and i am waiting for the gas board emergency service to come out and check the supply , not a great great end to Monday or is it we might have a two hour wait which will be Tuesday.

I would like to go see the new Bond film its a type of movie you have to see on the big screen.

Looking forward to Adele's new album 25 .

I hope to buy a new set of head phones i think i want Marshall  , and a black leather  Knomad case for my iPad mini , and A5 Filofax .

I need  to read a really interesting autobiography that is a gripping read but have no idea who's.

For the  van it be vey nice to get  at some stage no rush a new ceiling light for the living room and two new wall lights .

Listening to  - Gorillaz Geatist Hits album they really are a great band .

SUNDAY LUNCH

The clocks went back by 1 hour this morning after i woke up and took Pip for her walk George followed us again then on returning home i cut the lawns i am still using the lawn mower that was left to us when we bought our house in Bramley .

I then i vacuumed up all the remaining leaves that were scattered everywhere in the boarders and under the decking after doing all my choirs i had a shower .

My  Sister and her husband Alan drove over to take us out for dinner we had booked a table for half past one at the Ford Inn at Greenfield's just on the outskirts of Holmfirth, Its a great pub they have a old iron range and fire surround not that they cook your food on it they also have old oak panelling on the walls and a great view out of the windows.

We all had starters Helen had the broccoli and Stilton soup which smelled really nice i do like certain home made soups i reckon i could live of soups if i did the right combo , i had the pate which was excellent for main courses Helen had the roast beef and i had the shepherds pie which was also excellent it is a while since we have been to this inn although it has changed owners the food was still as good as what we have had there before .

As always its Sunday night and Monday is looming fast how quick the weekend goes life is passing way too fast when you look back i wonder what if and i wonder what 2016 will bring because it will be here before you know it .

BDAY

THURSDAY

I set my alarm for six so i be up and ready to go to Leeds for my days training , there was no need Helen woke me up at half four not for sex because there was the worlds tiniest spider in our bed after that my sleep disturbed  i just couldn't  get back to sleep , next thing the alarm was ten minutes from going off i though i may as well get up .

 I got to the training venue and hour and a half early .and i got a parking spot in the car park which only charges £3.00 for a full days parking .
It was a long day the journey home just after half past this evening didn't help it took me well over a hour to battle through gridlocked cars and motorway repairs took added time  , and it was a bit of a nightmare i am glad i normally finish at ten and don't have the hassle of the commute home in rush hour traffic.Saying that it was nice getting home when i did.

FRIDAY
Its my birthday  today Helen asked me what my ex wife used to give to me and she do one better  , i said a dozen blow jobs  but it didn't work.
Went supermarket shopping got a pizza and pear cider i am easily pleased been happier with a blow job.
My daughter got me a cinema voucher for the Vue picture house i will use it to go see the James Bond film "Spectre".
I had to go to work at least i got the car parked up for the day meaning i wouldn't have to go re park it during my shift .

TRAINING

Went to the farm food shop bought  one of their pork pies to try  and we also bought a slice of Cornish pastie and a steak and onion pie guess you cant beat a decent piece of pie to go with all the pies we bought some home made gravy which is gorgeous made with really meat juices .

They was also selling vanilla syrup with a whole vanilla pod in the jar i was thinking it be nice touch to add to a coffee or ice cream at £5.99  for a bottle i might get one when i have been paid

Emptied the two water butts  on each opposite corners of the van , they have not been drained in a while we have not had that much rain the oak leafs falling of the three giant oaks are back with a vengeance  ,  i realise that i am never going to win as i was cleaning them from the decking with the vacuum as more continued to fall we will never beat mother nature and the turning seasons waiting to see when we get the white stuff , i have booked the 5th, 6th and 9th of November off work i am waiting confirmation that my leave as been  granted.

I am on a training course tomorrow and have to be up at six am to get to Leeds and find a parking spot  i am dreading it already and i feel totally knackered getting up early than normal is shit , the day after is my birthday and  i get paid on the following Tuesday.

My son starts a new job tomorrow fitting garage doors he as worked there before he got laid off when the work dried up they have change the management and are now advertising more for work so fingers crossed .

Reading - "Scar Tissue " by RHCP front man Anthony Kiedis .

App - downloaded Evernote again see if i can commit to using it .

LAST ONE GONE

I would like to buy a Knomad for my iPad mini they look very well made and seem very versatile but cost around £70 for the one that i have been spying on . seeing as it is coming up to my birthday on the 23rd i might treat myself chances are that  i won't but you never know i just might .I also want a page to day 2016 diary journal or do i get a Filofax and diary inserts.

I bought another type of coffee from Nescafe i have been getting the Alta Rica for a couple of years and it is excellent coffee then the other  month i bought a jar of Parisien what made me i don't know  ,and shopping yesterday i bought a jar of Cap Columbie  also by Nescafe which i like for my first cup on a morning or for a breakfast cuppa  i do like the Parisien a lot it does taste great  and it is a hard choice to make to  pick out a definite blend when you like them all , at least by buying three jars it is unlikely i will ever run out of coffee.

No pear cider residing in the fridge the last one just gone over ice  poured after i came in from work just before eleven o clock at night , whilst i was waiting for my sausages fries and onion rings to cook  a simple life i lead.

ANOTHER WEEKEND GONE

SATURDAY
Went to another farm food shop near to where we live its the nearest one to our static home and we have only just discovered it  we bought a liver and sausage casserole to try and some Yorkshire puddings we oven cooked them for tea absolutely gorgeous the gravy as good as a top restaurant we will be going back .

Went to Dobcross at Uppermill to the garden centre we was looking at  the Christmas decorations we need new lights for the outside of the van they had really nice icicles and orbs but today we was just looking we bought some purple and white  heather and some cabbage plants they come in white and purple we got two purple ones.
I wanted to call in to the pub but  i will wait until it is nearer to yuletide  and it is all lite up with Christmas  lights and decorations .

I got the Bosch leaf vac out and did both of the lawns and the outside on the road its quite back breaking work.

Helen took the photos below to put on a static caravan owners site on Facebook and had some really good comments and feed back .

SUNDAY

Went to Hebden Bridge it was not an ideal day weather wise but at least it was not raining . Helen bought three bars of hand made  soap from the Yorkshire soap company  .I bought a antique pair of silver plated sugar tongs from a flea market .

We went to the Red Kite a vintage inn the one we went to a few weeks ago we was told it be a hours wait for a table so we went for fish and chips to Compos at Holmfirth they are closing for two weeks for refurbishment .

Not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow start of another boring week i have a days training on Wednesday which means i have to be in Leeds for half past seven in the morning we should be finished for four which i will then go home it will break the week , it is also my my twin sister and my birthday next week on the 23rd.
I keep fancying a decent size Filofax with all the inserts and a new fountain pen .

Listening to - " Scouting For Girls ".

Watching  - Momentum

FROZEN COLD AND WARM JUMPERS

At long last i have finished creosoting the fence panels that run the width of our plot i even did what go on to our neigh boughs which live each side of us so when you look from our land it all is dark oak .

The painting of the out building has hit a hiccup Helen is not keen on the colour and we might be changing it to a pale green to match the colour of our static home .

I may also need to build a plinth for the dryer to raise it of the floor and to make loading and unloading easier lifting will also stop it from rusting should water gets under the door when we have a heavy down pour .
I also need to fit a worktop that i will take out of the office and fix it over the dryer i also need two buy and fix strip lights in each of the out buildings .

But for know i have drilled out the wall to take the vent pipe this was going with a concrete block wall i ended up drilling loads of smaller holes around the circumference from both sides of the wall 100mm diameter  hole that i wanted for the flexi pipe before knocking it through with a cold chisel i sealed the pipe in with a tube of no nails from inside and outside before i screwed the vent cover on the external wall job done the hole on the outer wall was a lot rounder than the inside one ,  the vent cover was drilled and screwed in to place and sealed now we can dry our clothes when the weather is wet bliss we can freeze our food and wear dry clothes it beats hanging clothes an the radiators  which will cause condensation.

Yesterday we went freezer food shopping we bought various meats 2  turkey crowns and a gammon joint  and three trays of lamb mince and two  lamb shanks and  leg of lamb and a full size chicken we also bought two bags chips one bag of french fries three bags of  mash potato and one bag of roasting potatoes along with two bags of various roasting veg adding  bags of garden peas and chopped onions diced peppers and sliced  mushroom we still need to get some sweet potato fries  and some  Peri Peri fries as well as roasting parsnips sweet corn  , and swede and carrot the freezer is already a  third full and is freezing as it should be.

The flora pattern roman blind came for the kitchen window it was easy enough to fit two brackets and it just clipped in to place .



Listening to - John Lennon " Double Fantasy"

Reading - The Girl In The Spiders Web

NO PAINT NO TIME NO MONEY

Spent most of my tax money rebate  but i don't care i am rent free and mortgage free and happy.
I need to save for Christmas so we have a great time need decent food not bothered about loads of presents i just want a nice spread a feast and i will be satisfied.
 i need to decide who i need to get gifts for Helen of course i have already bought her a purse and bag my Grandson i need to get for as well as my daughter and son .

Went for Sunday lunch i had liver pate for a starter and sausages and mash for main course .
When i got home i started to empty the two out buildings for the dryer and freezer i then started to paint the biggest wall of the out building it was not easy it was hard work .

MONDAY
Did some more painting i worked until i ran out of paint i will have to get some more , so i creosoted the back fence panel i did this until i ran out of time and had to go to work. So i downed brushes and  i showered change and head for the shit hole called work its ok once you are there its just the thought of going .

The chest freezer and dryer arrived whilst i was at work we was supposed to get a morning delivery slot it arrived in the evening fcuking typical great British service .

HEARTS

FRIDAY

When i woke this morning i made a coffee and put together the leaf vacuum /blower i bought the other day it was easy enough to set up i attached the large capacity leaf collection bag and the two piece  suction tube then plugged it in and was away sucking up leafs up,  of the path and decking it sorts of shreds and compacts the leaf matter and  you can suck up plenty of leafs before the bag needs emptying all in all it seems a very good buy and so far i am impressed with it.Not sure how good it is at sucking dog shite up no doubt will find out .

I bought a wooden picnic bench for the garden area of the van  it is decent thickness of timber and has bench seats both sides , i need to assemble it from it's flat pack state and paint all surfaces with decking oil this will protect it from the ever changing English weather .

SATURDAY
Vacuumed the garden took me a good twenty minutes to get 90% of the leafs up.
Went to Meadow hall they had loads of different hearts scattered throughout not sure why , they was quite colourful so  i photographed a few .

 I bought a t-shirt and two stripped  polo shirts from Fat Face and  black leather belt from Jack Jones .

Went to Pc World paid for a chest freezer and a dryer they are getting delivered Monday.

 When we got back home i put the table together with sixteen bolts and four screws it tok about half an hour , i then used deck oil to seal it i did the underside of the wood as well.

Went to Asda bought some pear cider and a lamb curry and rice for tea . Tomorrow i might paint the out building depending on the weather if i have time also gloss the windows

ALL SCREWED UP

Bought a Bosch 650 watt hammer drill it was only £45 and  it is good enough  for what i want the next drill up would have cost me £85 seeing i had saved money on the cheaper model i also bought a Bosch cordless drill with two batteries which i will use as a screw driver more than a drill .I also bought a large sized Stanley hacksaw and five extra blades ,  a narrow gauge cold chisel and a lump hammer  for when i cut a hole in the wall for the dryer outlet .

I bought two trays of wood screws each containing 1200 assorted screws of various lengths and gauge  , i also bought a Makita drill and bit set which contained 150 separate bits and assorted screw driver pieces and socket heads  , which hopefully should unscrew or fix most fastenings i am likely to come across .

I also decided whilst buying the tools  that i would spend some cash on  a Bosch 3000w  leaf vacuum/blower this looks a great piece of kit i hopefully will get to fire it up also on the weekend .

We need one to pick up  the hundreds of oak leaves that are now falling  daily from the three oak trees that are near us and drop their leafs that land on the grass  verges and paths around our van including on and under the decking .

I got some more various sized paint brushes and a tin of Cornish cream textured masonry paint to cover the external walls of the out building and a small tin of  white gloss paint for the two windows on the side elevation .
So all hands on deck and let the work commence well not till the weekend at least .

We have to dinner dates planned one hopefully this weekend with our friend Charlie and his girlfriend and the Sunday after with my twin sister and her husband Alan we will eat locally at either a inn or pub near to home .

FREEDOM

I am free i now pay no rent or do i pay any mortgage yes i still  have the utility bills to fork out every month , i have paid back  the money i owed to my sister (THANK YOU SIS) it  is all paid back to her in full , two months before i thought i would thanks to the cheque from the tax office .
so my wages are now more mine than ever before , and as a result i feel relaxed and chilled out in the knowledge that i am in this position and i do give  thanks for this.

Bought a cast iron griddle frying pan  for burgers and meat  and a cast iron casserole dish for winter stews and chili both heavy both in purple burgundy colour the best thing about this type of dish is  it will last forever.
Also got a new duvet set bottom fitted sheet and pillow cases in a flora design and a wooden salt and pepper grinder .

I also bought some Parisian coffee to try to see if i like it better than the usual Alta Rica that i have been using for the last two years which is excellent .

RAIN

MONDAY
It is torrential rain t is absolutely pouring down and it is cold not a great start to the week .
Still waiting for the cheque to clear in the bank , I need to pay my sister back and try and get some curtains for the van that are also thick enough to keep us even cosier than we are now.

My electric drill is broken the chuck is not working it was only a cheap drill and as had little use of course  i will need a new one the beauty about living in a van  is i don't need one with a hammer action as i have very little masonry or concrete to drill so  a rechargeable drill would be best no wires as long as i have two batteries it should be adequate , i would also like a jigsaw for cutting out the pelmets and a small hand router and a selection of cutters because they can do amazing things .

Now my wage is mine will around 3/4 of it will be i can spend a bit more money on items i desire rather than  need.
The last time i was so financially secure was when i was living with my parents and just paid board which is way back and longer than i care to think about.

TUESDAY
Went to supermarket bought rice and minced beef for a chilli also bought coffee cake mix and coffee flavoured  icing Helen is baking again .


Watching - "Fear The Walking Dead" and "Pay The Ghost"

Listening to - "Birdy"

Eating - Spicy pizza and pulled beef .

Waiting for - Cheque to clear

TFIF YET AGAIN IT SOON BE MONDAY

Always thank fcuk its Friday , three day week would suit me fine i love having long weekends even if its just pottering around the can picking leaves up drinking coffee going to garden centres and going in to the country side for walks it beats work .

We need to go shopping this morning as we have run out of washing up liquid milk and brown sugar and frozen chips disaster .I also need more chicken and a pizza and of course pear cider and if the coffee is on offer a jar or two of that.I also might get the ingredients so Helen can bake me a chocolate fudge cake.

Today it was the first morning that there was no morning mist and fog the sun was out and it felt as warm as a summers day .

I mentioned Christmas in my other post they are starting to get the Christmas items in the shops , they have some really nice decorations and table runners that will look great in our van might also get some coloured out door lights for the trees in our garden .
This will be our first Christmas in this home and i hope it will be filled with love peace and great food  like turkey and all the trimmings

SATURDAY
Went to Tong garden centre bought two wooden planters to fix to the decking both was reduced in price so we got quite a bargain ,  i will stain and fix them both this Sunday depending on the weather .
They also had some Easter island heads that was also planters.

SUNDAY
Had enough decking oil to stain both the wooden planters it did not take long to stain them both it was warm and pleasant i fixed them to our decking using wood screws .Helen will plant them up with various bulbs and alpines bulbs .
Little black cat went out today for the very first time she was out doors she disappeared from the safety of our van and went walk about .of course we was anxious George was out too hopefully giving her a guided tour of the neighbourhood where to catch mice and where to go when it rains and what gardens to avoid who owners have dogs , she returned home safely she also went out later in the day and returned safely , which is a great relief

BANKED

TUESDAY
I spoke with the tax office my claim as been processed and a cheque is being sent to my bank i should have it in my account in the next fourteen days . I will have enough money to pay my sister back which means my wage will be mostly for me which is what we always wanted this should make life so much easier .

THURSDAY
The cheque from the tax office is in my bank but it will still takes three working days to clear so by next Wednesday i should be in a position to  pay my sister the money i owe her back in full which will two months early which is a great blessing and a great weight lifted from my shoulders .

We should have a great Christmas it might even be the best one yet , we are home owners have no rent or mortgage it will be a great start for 2016 .

Watching the following tv series "Minority Report" , "Limitless" and "Blind spot".

OLD FOR NEW

SUNDAY
Meet up with our good friend Charlie who lived on the same little street with us at Holmfirth and who  also helped us to move out of the cottage and in to our van he also helped us with the top soil for the garden .We meet up at the Fountain Inn at Ingbirchworth Reservoir we had steak pie chips an peas and a pint of cider i won't  have more than a pint when driving.

Helen has been buying cushions for the sofa and dried flowers and lampshades and a canvas picture for the spare bedroom wall which is all looking good .
We are swapping some Mexican pine furniture which is getting to look dated we are trading in for a older mahogany dresser it is on sale for £125 it sort of goes with the writing bureau , we are giving up a two draw side board a tv cabinet with glass door and two chest of drawers plus we are also being given £65 in cash , so we are quite happy.

MONDAY
Went to Trinity shopping centre at Wakefield for the first time this afternoon bought a ceramic cat and another cushion .
George our ginger tom cat was out last night and never showed up this morning come two o clock there was still no sign i checked the out buildings he had been locked in one since last night sorry George .

I also paid mine and Helen's mobile phone bill which was over £200 for both of our outstanding bills.

The dark oak dining room dresser arrived this afternoon it was heavy the drawers are all green felted and dovetailed the doors are proper glass leaded solid wood no veneers .
 We swapped the agreed items and we was also paid  the money as promised .
we bought a led strip light to go under the top plinth its a mega 2w it is fine i had to remove the wall light and wire the new light in place after i had drilled a hole through the dresser to pass the wire through.The light is above the plate in the centre .

Got hold of the tax people today this time i was only waiting twenty five minutes a record i was told my claim had been processed and the cheque is being sent to my bank why they cant do a bacs transfer is beyond me seeing that they have my full bank details , the amount was more than what i was expecting and i should have it in my account in the next fortnight .

Tonight we went to the Red Kite another vintage Inn at Durkar Denby Dale Road a few miles from home  , i had the burger Helen the lamb we had a bit of a wait but the food was the usual standard its our first visit to this inn and it did not disappoint .

JD

I have been given a set of aluminium two tier ladders which has saved me a good sixty quid or more which is a good thing  ,and they are long enough for me to reach above the height of the guttering which is what i wanted .I will clean all the dead leaves twigs and plant life from the recess of the metal guttering over the next two days.

I need to pay my phone bill i have been suspended from making calls i can receive but not call out or use 3g services.

I am hoping that tax office have received my tax rebate form i will check with them Monday to see if they have received it if i can believe what they say .

The little black cat's eyes are improving and George has been more friendly towards her which is a good result Pip is no problem what so ever a dog excepts the intrusion of a cat better than another cats does weird .

Creosoted more fence panels i have about four left to do i bought another 5litres of the brown stuff don't think i will have enough.

There is a radio programme about the last ten weeks of James Dean life it is being aired next week at ten o clock on Wednesday i very much hop i get to listen to it i put this picture below of the late great actor as wallpaper on my iPhone and iPad .I am intrigued by his myth and the legend of him as well as the fact that  he was one cool dude.
The radio broadcast is being aired on the day James Dean died 30th of September 1955  60 years ago age 24 .

ONE MORE RAINY MONDAY

Its a boring Monday and to make it worse it is raining and to make it even worse i don't have to go to work .

Helen has two reading booked in this week Tuesday and Thursday which will help buy food and gas the car .

Updated my iPhone and iPad mini to ISO9 .

We are going out later this afternoon it won't be far we might go to one of the garden centres that has a farm food shop to get something for tea .We did go and we bought a mince beef  and onion pie for tea along with some cabbage and new potatoes , and for desert a Apple cake and a packet of instant custard lazy i know  .

Another three days at work and four days off be nice to do a three day a week every week i wish well be great in the summer and be even greater if i still got the same wage .

The little black cat is ok she hides under chairs or she is a sleep on your bed she does not like being picked up , but she will come to you when she is called and she will let you stroke her .George hide under our bed for three weeks when we was in the cottage and only came out for food which we use to leave on the stairs for him .

Listening to - One Republic and The Script .

ANOTHER ONE GONE

SATURDAY
messed around in the garden weeded the soil w are going to be using for the veggie patch i also dug the soil over . moved the rotary clothes dryer and planted a tree all good fun least the sun was out and i had my iPod on so it was all chilled .

SUNDAY
Bought some more creosote to finish the neighbours fence he is in Turkey at the moment and  it was agreed if i did our side i would do his side as well  he will come back of holiday to a newly stained fence i do  hope he's bought me a nice present from his holiday or he will reimburse me for the cost of the creosote apparently he is loaded .

At least i have tomorrow off work then Friday and the following Monday it is also payday Friday three more payments to my sister , and i will be five hundred pounds a month better off cant wait , hopefully my tax form i filled out and sent will be getting processed this time around fingers crossed , Well thats another weekend gone .

MINNIE MO

No work today no work on Monday either it was quite warm and sunny throughout the day .

We went to the vets today yo get Minnie's eyes sorted out we was in and saw the veterinarian nurse for a total of  five minutes she administered some eye drops and gave us the tube of antibiotic drops to care on the treatment we went to reception to pay it came to a grand total of  £42 the drops i reckon would not have cost a fiver so £37 for five minutes work is £444 a hour nice work if you are qualified.

Went to get some chicken thighs chorizo and two large bag of thick cut  frozen chips oven  and herb tortilla wraps that is me sorted for the next three to four days .

Reset the lawn mower blade on the Flymo  lawnmower to re cut the grass it was having its second cut i did this in the sun whilst listening to tunes  on my iPod classic .

Went to the Reindeer pub with Ken and Sharon our friends from across the way  it is near to were we live and you can see the mining museum from the back doors i had three pints of cider not had three pints to drink in ages .two more pints would have been pushing it .

NOT ON FORM

Back to work today then i have  four days off i am blessed better than the weather , the water butts were full again it takes a good twenty minutes to empty the both of them .

The new cat Suki is ok with Pip our dog but our cat George is hissing when ever he sees her but it is early days yet,

Playing Stick Hero on my  iPad and phone you have to put planks down to move on plank  too long and you fall off ,if it's  too short you also  fall off get it right length and you move on sounds boring but it is quite addictive .

Contacted the tax office after again waiting another forty minutes for my call to be put through to an advisor , she then told me there was no record of my form application ever  being submitted for my pension tax rebate , bull shit. I was told it had been received weeks ago and my cheques should have been sent out last  week ago so who's kidding who ,  i have no other choice but to resubmit another application form i have been told this time it will take thirty days to process well heres counting .


                                 pictures are just random ones taken over last couple of days

The new cat Minnie is doing fine George is still hissing at her but has not gone for her he is just being vocal , he is just protecting his home .

SUKI

We discovered a new farm shop on the way to Keighley bought some chilli burgers potatoes and cider also a Rolo cake and carrot cake and double cream , plus a chicken and ham and leek pie hope it tastes as good as it looks ,

We have adopted a all black cat Helen wants to call her Suki  we guess that she is about a year old she looks in very good health  she had been abandon  when she was pregnant and went to a foster home ,  if she can fit in with George and Pip then all should be good . if she does not than we have problems its hard living in a van for space saying that she is now  in the spare bedroom on a double  bed laid on a cosy blanket cuddle up to the radiator purring away totally chilled out.

In the first few hours with us she has had water and food and cat biscuits and is not stressed out to be in our home.

She as yet to meet George the ginger tom and Pip our Jack Russell i cant see Pip being a issue it is George that might kick off if he does not like his new Queen , she is neutered , micro chipped , wormed and de flead.

The weather today was very warm with loads of sun shining through my twin sister called with her husband Alan its the first time Alan has been to see us i think he approved .

Tomorrow i have a day annual leave hoping the weather is as good i want a chilled out day whether i get one i cant say fingers crossed .

FIVE OFF

Picked my repaired dentures i thought i had to pay for them i also thought i was getting a new set seeing that i had a mould done but the owns given to me was same as the old so i am guessing these are to put me on until  the new ones are made , well that's my excuse and i am sticking to it .

Took out a built in unit out of the can it was stapled in to place from the outside which made it difficult to remove i had to saw it out ,  i also had an electrical socket to relocate this was so we could fit our writing bureau in the alcove at the left hand side of the fire surround .

I am off work Saturday , Sunday as always but I am  also off this Monday and  i am also of the following Friday then the following Monday again and then the following Friday again then one more following Monday five days in total so much better than having five days all in  a row .

Eating -  Indian chicken curry with poppadoms and bahjees , rice and nan.

Watching -  "Southpaw' and 'The Rise Of The Krays".

Listening to -  "The Libertines " Anthems for a doomed youth.