A SNIP

The wind last night  was howling and the rain was  lashing at the windows it was torrential down pour and it was cold but it did not keep me from going to sleep , if you can sleep through Helens snoring i can assure you nothing else will wake you up.

Helen went to the doctors a week ago for blood tests .The results is that she as a under active thyroid and she now needs to take Thyroxin tablets one each day , and as a result will now get free prescriptions for the rest of her  life once she gets her exempt card back .

The office refurbishment at work is now complete it is all freshly painted and there is new flooring down, We have one bigger office with half the space again that we originally had .We also have a new sink unit where we can was our dishes and a new instant hot water boiler no more having to wait for a kettle to boil which will give us more time to talk and chill out  .We are also getting a brand new microwave and a fridge . I don't think we are getting newer pc's yet although we will have an extra two desks but cordless phones , keyboards and mouse's would help keep the desks keep more tidy as we are supposed to be now  having a clean desk policy doubt it will work.

Three months of the year already gone and the year is no different than last year . Its hard to change when you don't know how to ,  or don't have the resources to change anything .When all you want to do is  travel and see some of the world and different  places but you cant because your tied up to paying the rent and bills and you  just cant escape the rat race or get off the fcuking  treadmill.
I will be saying the same shit in ten years time life is so frustrating sometimes .

Roasting some chicken thighs in the oven with some American fries which just look like French fries but i prefer them being called American fries not sure why with chorizo slices and a toasted tortilla wrap with sour cream on the side and maybe followed with a glass of Kopparberg pear cider .

The metal blue tooth keyboard and  case for my iPad mini came today after waiting nearly three weeks for delivery ,  it is a good buy and does make typing easier you still need to use the touch screen as well if your doing loads of typing it was a snip at just over £10 .
I also received the nail clippers just waiting for a appointment diary which is a U.K seller and the skeleton usb pen drive which is being shipped from China .


Reading - "Becoming Steve Jobs"

Listening to - "War On Drugs"

Watching - "Big Eyes"

MONDAY , MUSHROOMS , LANTERNS & A CLOSE SHAVE

Used  the new Gillette Fusion razor i bought at the weekend  it cost me  £12 , i quite like how it shaves and i think it is a quite good improvement although it does take the and use the same blades as the prior model  .

Helen bought these two night light lanterns one from East Riddlestone Hall and the other from Nunnington Hall , when she got the first one home first thing she said is "i wish i had got two"

My son started his new job today fitting car windscreens and repairing stone chips before they shatter completely i wish i was starting a new  job as i hate the one that i have .
He deserves a job its a double edge sword today he starts a new job but as also he as finished with his girlfriend which is sad , you don't think about the bus that's passed you by  at the bus stop  if there is one directly  behind hopefully a bus will have his number and destination on it .
Helen made home made mushroom and onion soup for our supper it was ok i think it needed more garlic and we definitely need a liquidiser or blender i am guessing they are the same machine and do the same ,

STATELY HOMES

SATURDAY
Weather is wet and windy not a great start to the weekend , we went to East Riddlesden Hall about an hours drive away near Keighley .The hall was built in the 1600's and was featured on the t,v programme "Most Haunted" , It takes a good hour and half to go around the house two hours if you want to see the grounds as well , to be fair you seen one stately home you have seen them all saying that it was ok .

We could not stay until it was dark they shut the gates at 5 0 clock and we had to be back in Leeds for 4' 0 clock .

After we went to a friends house Graham he built this Scandinavian lodge in his garden it is quite a man den and a great retreat i be in it all the time it cost over £7000 to build .The fire pit is great for cooking and puts out a lot of heat .you can eat at the tables around the fire and some of the benches around the walls are beds .
He is a chef and he cooked us an Indian curry dish with chapatis and rice the food was spicy and very tasty it was a great day out .
He  is the only person i know that owns an owl ,  he keeps in an aviary in his garden he brought it in to the house it eats dead chicks two a day  .

Inside it is smoke free all of the smoke goes up the chimney the kettle is always on and there is a secret cupboard with cans of beer hidden in the roof .

The owl is native to America and apparently they live in borrows under the ground when the farmers plough their fields loads of these owls get buried alive .

SUNDAY 

Did another two stately homes Bolling Hall in Bradford which was free to go around again  it  is a house that has been featured on  the tv in "Most Haunted ". 

Helen stepped over the roped off area i a downstairs room  to photograph some tarot cards that was on a table that was out of reach , and  the alarm went of she did it even though it said it was an alarmed area  the security guard came but we was already out of the room we made the excuse we was leaning over to take a photo he seemed satisfied with our explanation , we escaped the dungeons .

The house below is Huntington Hall which out of the three we have visited this weekend is my favourite and out of the three is the one i would live in if i had to pick one , History is quite fascinating and quite brutal hard , i think i rather live in the future than the past .

Meet my son Guy my daughter was visiting her mother whom is my ex wife as we cant go in to the cottage , she came out and brought the baby Jensen out to see me he has grown quite a bit in the first few weeks of life it was an added bonus , went to a local pub for a pint before heading back home to Holmfirth and our 165 year old cottage 

SORTED

Hate Mondays hate my job it is getting monotamous same shit time and time again.The only good thing we are getting the office refurbished walls are being moved and knocked through to make a bigger working space ,  and we are supposedly getting new PCs hopefully running something better than windows Xp , which would be windows 7 its a hospital with millions invested in theatres x-ray scanners and we cant even have the latest version of windows forget anything Apple.
Although in one of the theatres they do have a iPod dock built in with Bose speakers through out .

New flooring is going down no more dirty smelly carpet , and the walls are getting a fresh lick of paint we are also getting a hot water boiler no more kettle and having to fill a container for water .We are also getting a new sink unit , again no more having to throw stuff in a plastic bucket for washing them elsewhere .
It looks good too good for our team makes me wonder how long it will be before we are evicted kicked out to make way for someone higher and mightier than we.

The picture below is the old one room set up the door which is open back on to the wall is the width with the computers on the lights and up to five people is a sweat box in winter never mind when it's summer.

TUESDAY
Boring day boring work what can i say the only good thing is it is not Monday and it is a day nearer pay day .

WEDNESDAY
Mid week all down hill to the weekend went to work as usual i got a free parking space the second time in a row .

THURSDAY.
Went out for breakfast to the motorman cafe it is a great sized break fast three sausages three bacon along with two slices of toast fried bread and beans egg and tomatoes plus a mug of coffee i had nothing else to eat all day until i got home in the evening.

FRIDAY
Went to the Limekiln for a posh breakfast it is the bees knees , bought of eBay an hairdressers appointment book for Helen and a pair of black toe nail clippers for me and a skeleton 8gb usb pen drive from China .
The weather this afternoon was really sunny and warm the clocks go back on Saturday Sunday morning an hour less in bed a sign that summer is around the corner waiting to put in an appearance hopefully.

GO KITTY

SATURDAY
It was after three am before we got to sleep i woke at half past eight had a shower and took Pip out for he morning walk .
We headed over to Uppermill Saddleworth to the Limekiln for breakfast this is one place they cook to perfection no grease no fat ,and all locally sourced ingredients even the coffee is decent , the bread home baked tomatoes mushrooms and eggs all fresh , and  even the black pudding looks expensive.
After we finished eating we drove over to Ilkley a little Yorkshire town which is about an hour and half away Helen wanted to go to White Stuff and Fat Face she bought two blouses and a oiled skin coat.
We bought smoked bacon , chestnut mushrooms and red and white onions and a packet linguine pasta to cook for tea with fresh parsley and basil and double cream and cheeses sauce enough for two meals.

SUNDAY
Went on to the moors although it was sunny it was cold , we went to the pet shop to buy three cat collars George is finally going out  , we think that it is unfair now the weather is getting warmer for him to be cooped up all day , so out he went  , and he is already fighting with the two black cats next door not a great start vet bills  i can do with out irate cat owners even more so. at least we don't need a cat flap there is a roof under the window he can jump on to and a wall at the side he can access to get back when he returns home.

SOLAR ECLIPSE

After breakfast yesterday of three pieces of bacon and sausages beans tomatoes egg fried bread and two toast washed down buy a coffee  i did eat the rest of the day , that was  until i got home after i finished work which was just before eleven at night .Breakfast really is the best meal of the day .

I received a email from the eBay seller saying they will either resend the item a wireless keyboard or give a full refund , i have replied i would like the keyboard resending if it does not put in an appearance by Monday , they are being really helpful and i appreciate their help.

The neighboughs chimney is putting out crap again they don't exactly burn smokeless fuel it puts out serious amount of smoke if you are outside you can taste it in the air they cottages are really small and the smoke drifts downwards before leaving ,hopefully with the warmer weather this will stop and hopefully in the next month we will be gone .

Today at around half past nine a.m we had an eclipse i remember the last one i don't think they will be another until  August 2017 .
Helen put sent her cosmic order out in to the universe as long as she has remembered to order me a VW camper van i will be more than happy .

Well the weekend come hither roll on ten tonight and let the weekend commence , i really fancy an Indian might go over to Leeds and go to Mumtaz for a slap up ruby murray .

AINT COMING

Went over the moors this morning to the Motorman cafe for breakfast , it was really sunny and it seemed like a summer.s morning , i saw quite a few mobile homes out on the road i was extremely envious .
Helen wants to have her Grandson over the weekend picking him up at around half past ten at night and dropping him back off on the Sunday , he is only two weeks old i don't think we should be doing it , i think it would stress the baby being separated from his mother at such a young age.
So will have to see not sure what else we have planned if its sunny will want to be out and about.
I bought a wireless keyboard of eBay and so far i have not received it i bought it on the 9th of March it was suppose to get it yesterday i have had no message to say it as been dispatched i have emailed the seller and so far i have had no reply , out of 106 transactions its the first one i have had any doubts about receiving my purchase.

PEED OFF

SATURDAY
Three days off here days left before going back to work on Tuesday.Went to Helen's mothers house Helen bought her a Panasonic dvd player with a usb slot so we can load up films for her to watch, as long as they are in AVI format.

Htc One m9 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge are great looking phones and in my opinion as good as the Apple 6 and in some cases better .

 i was tempted the other day to get a second phone because it was quite a good deal but declined , i think next phone i will buy is sim only and i will purchase the phone out right i said this last time my contract was up but signed up again for the Apple 5s .

I have also been looking at mp3 players that are also better than what Apple are currently selling i think they really need to update their music players pretty soon , i feel they are dragging behind and i was pissed off when they ended the classic iPod .

SUNDAY
Went to another farm shop was not as good as our usual one we go to bought some sweet pots Jerusalem artichokes and some butter short bread biscuits , and some orange and mango marmalade .
We went to an antique shop in Todmorden and Helen bought an old fashioned milk bucket .
She also bought some plants and cacti plants , i saw a nice bonsai tree and nice small skull and horns not sure what the animal was will need to have bought two and have them either side of the bed on the wall or either side of a wall mirror.

MONDAY
Last day off work it was grey and dull we went those a mortgage advisor it is doubtful we will get a mortgage on the static home , they are looking in to it but it is looking like it is going to be a no.
I called the pension provider they still don't have the paper work they expect it will be the end of March i have given them my email address and they will email me the form he it is available , it will have a four week turn around until i get the money paid out , hopefully it might be  quicker .

COSTS TO TALK

We are off to see a mortgage advisor to see if it is possible to borrow money for the static home that we wanting  to own out right  .We are going  again tomorrow to see the static home and to do some measuring up a bit premature but why not.

I got a 5500 mah battery bank power supply that i bought off eBay delivered today and it is good i am extremely happy it is another good buy .

For my next bill i will owe my phone provider £121 for going over my minutes they have said i have only 600 minutes a month  i thought i had around 2000  minutes , but i have gone over by 186 minutes hence the extra money i usually pay around £45 a month i bitched and moaned to them so they knocked £20 off but i still owe £101 , i have since been online to my account and added a package to my tariff for £3 a month i have unlimited calls to mobile numbers for three pounds yet they did want a extra  £80 robbing bastards at least Dick Turpin wore a mask .
I do speak to my son most nights when i am driving home the drive sometimes can take over an hour i i will chat to him most of the drive home , in nothing really particular just about our days.

I look at various tattoo sites and have a few on Facebook of artists and magazines i saw this Jesus tattoo and i think it is really good , i don't know who has this inked on their arm , i was wondering would it bring lots of  bad luck or jinx he owner in any way or would it invoke good feelings , serenity and peace ,

I still have another four days off and even after Sunday i will have the Monday of , apparently annual leave in America is totally non existence in some firms and companies i get nearly seven weeks of a year , one good thing about working at the Nhs .

Friday
Got up looked out of the bed room window to see the snow falling once again cant believe it .
Helen bought a foot stool with a stags head on a brown checked background looks nice.

Watching  - "Nightcrawler" brilliant film 10/10

Listening to - R.E.M

Eating - Baby parsnips and sweet potatoes .

FIRST DAY OFF

No work for the next six days am i happy of course i am got six days off and the weather seems to be getting sunnier and hotter hopefully it will last.

FIRST DAY OFF
Had a bowl of Cheerios not had any cereal for a while bought a box yesterday for a change .
Took dog out round the back of the cottage the ducks are back and she chases them it was sunny but cold .

Received the stereo Beats look alike speaker it connects via blue tooth and it works perfectly the sound and build quality is very good i connected via blue tooth in seconds for under ten pounds its a great buy , only is was sent it in red when i though i would receive it in black but i am not bitching and i have left positive feed back . i am happy.

The pictures are under water  sculptures by master artist/sculpture  Jason De Caires Taylor whom i discovered on the Internet , i go to Yorkshire Sculpture park on odd occasions and like various works on display there , but  to sable to scuba dive and see these and other sculptures would be amazing .

Taking Helen to Meltham she as a party to do not sure how many people she will be reading for but i guess it will be a few , i will drive home whilst she finishes work hopefully she will be done in a few hours .Helen did five readings i picked up after half past five , we went for fish and chips to Compo's .
Helen bought her mother a dvd player that you can also plug a usb pen drive in she is giving it to her on mothers day this Sunday.

EBAY BUYS

Always nice to get Monday out of the way two short weeks this one being the shortest as i only have to work today and tomorrow God bless.

Really looking forward to summer last summer we only had one barbecue this year i am hoping we cook more food in the outdoors .

where ever it is we are cooking sleeping and all the rest it will not be were we are living at the moment .

We need more room  and a separate kitchen so there is enough room for a table so we can sit down to eat a decent fire more natural light like more windows maybe even a back door and garden along with a  power shower and two bedrooms would also be nice .

Won my bidding on a wireless bluetooth keyboard for my iPad min it is also a cover case .

 i also bought a stereo bluetooth  speaker which i am hoping is of good quality it look like Dr Dre Beats pill as i said it might even sound as good or it might even be better will report back when it arrives this week .

HAPPY SUNDAY

We went over to my daughters and son in laws house to see little Jensen in his family home we took some flowers over and some baby grows and bibs we also took another load of photos using the iPhone i think i need to get a better camera soon i did want a Sony RX100 111 , would be a classic camera for life .

On the way home we had another look at the static home that we are hopefully buying in the next few weeks fingers crossed , before going home we went to the White Horse inn for some lunch to start with Helen had the fish cake i had liver pattie  for main Helen had the lamb i had the roast beef the food was great i could have done with another Yorkshire pudding and  a lot more roast potatoes and more mash never mind .

Tomorrow and Tuesday to work then six days off. I won a 5200mah battery power bank  of ebay for only£3.20 free p&p should be enough power  to recharge a couple of phones or an iPad when i am out and about .I think a iPhone uses 1500 mah and a iPad mini 4500 mah , i am also bidding on a 20000mah battery bank and some stereo speaks similar to the Beats pill , to be honest identical to the Beats Pill but a 12th of the price if not cheaper.

George or cat is coming out if his shell more and more each day , he sleeps on my side at night sometimes , or if he his on his cushion  in the window cill and he sees me looking  at him when it is first light he will jump down to say good morning , we never have the window curtains drawn he likes looking out to see the crows in the trees and on the old mill chimney opposite  .

I really need to buy some more jeans i seem to wear the same pair all the time and i need a pair of trainers that i can easily pull on or tie the shoe laces and slip them on i have trouble with my hip joint it prevents me from bending down so it is less hassle if i don't have to tie laces ,

I also need after shave i have only a cheap bottle of unbranded aftershave that i sometimes use for going to work i need some nice designer smelling man scent .

I also need a keyboard case for my i pad mini George jumps on the seat when i have my mac book on my lap and there is not enough room so i might use my iPad mini instead.

Listening to - Mark Knopfler as well as Dire Straits

Watching - Edge of tomorrow and Oblivion

X 2

Friday morning 01.55 am my daughter gave birth to my Grandson Jensen he weighed in at 6lb 10 oz and is perfect , my daughter is obviously over the moon and she will without a doubt be a great parent , and of course i am totally  over joyed as well  i have already held him when he was only twelve hours old , new life is totally amazing we forget how great it is , the world really should learn to live in peace regardless but it is unlikely to happen how sad is that .

Saturday morning at 04.45 am Helen's son 's partner also gave birth she had the birth  at home it all happened in the hallway when she was on the way to the toilet , he weighed in at 6lb 20z .The midwife came out and the cord was cut he is also doing fine and as suffered n o ill effects from his early birth , his due date was this coming Monday. 

Both photos were taken via i-phones love or hate technology it certainly as its uses  , with in half an hour both babies photos where on line for all to see , i could not be present at the birth due to the fact my ex wife was there , so for me to see a photo in his first few minutes of life was really appreciated , this was not possible when my daughter was born , makes me wonder what great changes these two little ones will see in their life time hopefully it will all be good ones  .

DUE DATE

My daughter maybe having her baby son tomorrow , Thursday is her due date and she is having the birth at the hospital  that i work at , although not on my wing or block so sometime tomorrow i might be getting a phone call that she is either in labour as given birth or that she is waiting for the birth to begin , either way it is going to be a stressful day .

So very soon i am going to be a Granddad I hope he as a great life and that he is healthy a happy and joyful person ,

Another generation is born and  i wonder what he will see in his life , what world events will occur and if the world will be a better place to live .
I have seen loads of inventions and discoveries , so what happens in his life time will truly be amazing without a doubt .

BACK TO THE GRIND

MONDAY
Fcuking started to snow its my last day off work until March the 11th , decided to go to the supermarket get a few things we need essentially cat litter and toilet rolls as well as food .
I had been driving about fifteen minutes when i realised i had left my wallet at home i felt in my jean pockets as i was driving and it was not there , i did a u-turn to go back home as i pulled up outside our door i looked on the side where i keep my wallet it was not there i put my hand in to my jeans and pulled out the wallet weird .
Jumped back in the car and told Helen i had had it all along she called me a muppet hehe.
Bought some chicken kathi's i have not had any for a while and we also  bought mushrooms  and cheese and chicken pieces in a white wine sauce with  , cheese and onion bakes as well as artichokes which we are going to use for chips instead of potatoes we will over cook them after adding them to a bag with some olive oil and salt just  add them to the bag and shake  .I
 also got a  voucher for 10p  of  for every  litre  of fuel so i filled the car up it cost me 96p a litre , i cant remember it ever being as cheap as that it did drop to £1.04 a litre it is now gradually rising back up so 96p a litre was a good egg.

Back to work tomorrow at least it will be a short week and next week will be shorter still , i should get my increment this month and a pay rise in April hopefully so i will least get more money .

TUESDAY
It is sunny and  it is just before midday i have just been out bought some food from the bakery and butchers , i also  paid the rent £425.
  I will be at work by two and will be home around eleven tonight sometimes i wish i worked normal hours.

WEEKEND PASSED

SATURDAY
Was up again very early and driving to Leeds Helen is in Louise's hair  salon getting her hair re coloured  and nails done she is going to be awhile .i am typing this on to my iPad whilst i am parked up tethering using my i phone .
I have also been shopping bought and i have bought a dozen gel pens and  two tubes of hair gel which where on offer , i stocked up on more  cat food three more boxes to go with the six i have bought already .
Went to a local cafe and got a steak Canadian egg and onions to eat in the car whilst watching "The Town" on my iPad at the moment I am parked up thinking about coffee as i need caffeine might go back to the cafe or take a ride to Starbucks.
Might go by some vanilla syrup and s tube of squirting cream for coffee overload whilst I am home .
Went to White Rose bought fifteen pairs of black socks and had fish and chips and a can of Dr Pepper bliss.
Oven baked some Mexican enchiladas for my the which was rather late.

SUNDAY
Went over to see Helen's son Steve's girlfriend for the first time  , she was a one night stand but  he is  sticking by her and wanting to help her to bring the baby up he has a flat but they are more or less living together in her house . We have not meet her before and she is having her baby more or less the same time my daughter gives birth to her baby in a few days or weeks what small world.
Went to a pub in Carlton the "Unicorn" for Sunday dinner it was ok have had a lot worse ,  on the way home we went on the M62 and exited the turn of for Saddleworth we drove the long way home so we could go over the moors it was very foggy with low cloud cover .
Well it is Monday tomorrow leas ti don't have to go in to work it is my last day off until the 11th of March when i have six days off in a row .