VETS

Both the Puppy Bailey  and Pip have been to the vets for all the injections , flea and worm treatments , Pip needs to go back and have some of her teeth out and some plaque removed on her teeth which is a big cost apart from her teeth she is healthy hopefully we are taking her back next week after the Easter holidays to begin her dental treatment .

Work wise the wholly owned company that the management  want to set up the decision to move forward as been delayed it could be end of May or June before we know what way forward they are taking it .

If they want to set up an wholly owned company it needs permission from Jeremy Hunt in Parliament to rubber stamp it so it can move forward if he says no than things stay the same ,but  they will have the right to appeal if yes it could all change by Jan 2019 , the issue is the NHS we work for can not continue the way it is we have been told that doing nothing is not an option.

Needless to say people are pissed off big time even though we have been promised nothing major will change for us but they management can do things that they currently cant do  like claiming the V.A.T payments back.

I am working good Friday and Easter Monday with vets bills everything helps I have also some shifts to do which will all be paid at night rate I am back doing 18.00 until 02.00 am for three days end of April .We should have had our pay rise by then or it will be back paid which is money in the bank either way .

EARLY DAYS

The UK time  changed the clocks went forward by one  hour thanks to world war 1 , we was up early anyway as we was going on a  drive over to Lincoln to see a West Highland terrier it is a  Pup and is only 12 weeks old , a  little boy dog.

We bought him he was £695 he is full of beans he was running around playfully , not madly he is giddy but he  likes cuddles on the drive home he was excellent to say he had never been in a car before .

All the other animals have met him the two cats and Pip our Jack Russell there was no hissing or growling a good sign . I said we should call the new puppy Apple so when we are out and we want to call both the dogs we need just shout Apple Pip and they will both come running , but  Helen as picked the name Bailey what a bag of dog poo , I like  Angus  or Mulligan  or Ivan  .

So far we have discovered he is not impressed with Helen's phone ringing and hates Alexa he loves hugs he is very loving and he likes baths or showers but it is early days yet.To be honest the top picture does not do him justice he is a lot more handsome .

ANOTHER JOB DONE

FRIDAY - Took Helen for her first physio appointment she has a frozen shoulder this was at twenty past night in the morning after we again went to Toby Inn for breakfast .

When I got home I fitted the cooker hood that was delivered Thursday  I had ordered from eBay.

 I had to cut a slot in the wall so I could  insert a piece of wood  which is longer than the cut out this was fixed in place with liquid nails and screws the piece I cut out to excess the cavity was than glued back in place invisible mending it is hidden by the cooker hood anyways it meant that  I now have a baton in the walls cavity that I can fix into. The unit is now solid and level it is wired into the mains supply  and all is working it has two lights and three levels of extraction it seems very good to say it is unbranded .

 I have also  ordered a 150 mm hole saw to cut through to the outside to run the foil extraction  pipe out through the wall of course  it needs to be done right first time I have only one chance at getting it right .

Hopefully the back splash we bought also needs fitting under the cooker hood I have been advised to use a clear sealant to bond it to the wall I think it will also drop behind the cooker I will fix a baton on to the wall for it to sit on  .

SATURDAY - Listening to Snow patrol and the radio via Amazon Echo I am quite impressed with the sound quality and how responsive Alexa is I am also subscribed to Amazon Prime which is good and better than I thought . .
Went to Asda bought diced chicken breast would have been better was not thinking a carton of  double cream  and a box of shiitake mushrooms white onions and a garlic bulb Helen is going to do a chicken and tarragon dish for tea .
Went to look for West highland terrier pups they only had bitche's no good we want a little boy dog.

ALEXA COOL

I am on top of my pay band at work  there is no more increments just the annual pay rises to look forward to from now on , we have been award 6.5% over three years a fucking joke it will be 3% to start with then 2% followed by a measly 1% lucky bastards are we anyway you calculate or add it up   shit is shit  .
Helen's mother and father gave us some money it was totally out of the blue Helen wants to use part of the money to by a Westie highland terrier which is the type of dog she had to leave when she got together with me nearly fourteen years ago one good thing about this dog breed is they do not shed their hair they have to be clipped .

What do I want a Amazon echo which will be ideal to live in the kitchen on the worktop we do need a new digital radio this will be ideal and at the moment the price as dropped . So I went  out this morning to Pc World and bought a charcoal black Echo for £74.99 I also subscribed to Amazon Prime for £7.99 after a 30 day free trail so far so good very impressed got to say anyone who as doubts buy one and see for yourself the speaker is excellent Alexa very responsive . Alexa is sitting on to of the fridge freezer she is cool .
Asda fresh soups the chicken tikka is brilliant it would be an excellent to use as a sauce just add more cooked chicken breast I also bought a keg of 7% vol cloudy scrumpy nice chilled and a tiramisu .

TRUST TUPE

This below was bought of eBay for around twenty two pounds it is made in China and of course there is more expensive ones which do the same sort of job but this is ideal for us it is just the right size for what we need .

Ordered a black 90cm cooker hood I also ordered the vent kit so it can extract to the outside of the van my black CT1 sealant arrived yesterday this morning I received another tube of black CT1 sealant hope I don't get two cooker hoods I ordered one this morning of Ebay along with an extractor kit for taking it to the outside which will help keep the van steam free hopefully .I also got the elbow for the shower delivered and a carpenters sliding bevel which are very handy and better to have one than not.

 Helen's parents came to visit they liked the transformation in both the kitchen and bedroom which are both vastly bigger the kitchen even more so that we don't have a corridor .

Work is changing there is stuff in the pipeline that if happens will change our status we will no longer be NHS staff but we will still be part of the Trust which is going to become if the go ahead is agreed a wholly owned company on paper all looks good if what we are being told is correct they should not be any issues with the switch over by TUPE are terms conditions pay holidays sick and pay enhancements will not be taken away a lot of people are up in arms like always time will tell nothing ever stays the same .

A RIGHT ELBOW

MONDAY - Up early showered and first coffee before seven thirty which for a lot of people they are already at work or on there way to work but starting at two getting up before seven is early.
The snow as not returned through the night but it is still on the ground hopefully this will disappear through today .
We are getting another two rads fitted today plus the taps doing it is amazing how just changing the taps totally transforms the basin and bath .

New rads left and right the heat out put should warm most of the van up. 

Need to reseal where the tiles meet the basin does look kind of old and maybe re grout the tiles it is never ending need a big pot of money ,The hose on the bath that come from the bottom of the bath tap is tight  , the solution is an angled elbow that I have ordered on Ebay at a cost of  £18.95 which is scandalous as  the basin taps just  cost £35 and the bath £75.

 Matching taps that we  bought from Wicke's yesterday. 

TAPPED OUT

Over the weekend I need to install the 200 mm base unit and worktop cut and fix the two infill pieces on the wall units , do some of the floor edge beading and go shopping for a shower mixer tap so we can sort the water pipes out for the bath .
The flu pipe we cut off is slightly dripping water I have ordered some CT1 sealant it should arrive Monday I need to get up on the roof to seal the flu .
All the flooring is completed end to end width to width its done ,  I have some beading  but there is a bit left  to do.
I managed to bead the small  toilet  and more than half of our  bedroom and  most of the kitchen I need to buy some more lengths of  bead  , We also we have decided to put Castor's on the 200mm base unit so we can  pull in and out and push it back in to place .

SUNDAY - The snow is back it laid over night and it is quite deep our garden looks goo all whited out saying that I want the stuff to go . it is cold we are down a radiator and it is making a big difference to the overall warmth of the van .We are getting another two radiators installed this coming Monday if we are not snowed in .
We managed to get out had to pick up the castor wheels for the unit we also bough new bath shower mixer taps in a modern chrome look and matching basin taps which will  100% look better than the out dated taps that we have  on at the moment .

Went to the farm shop at Emley moor ,  part of the winding bending hilly road was very  ice and the wind was blowing snow of the nearby fields into the road  , some of the road was fine  but we got there and bought a brisket of beef which is going to be for today's  Sunday dinner  , Barnsley chops and freshly made chicken Kiev's for the week we do have food in and the beast from the east ain't going to last .
Put the Castor's on to the bottom of the base unit but it is raising it too high above the cooker will have to re-think getting smaller locking Castor's is not likely the ones I bought was 65mm .

FLOORED

SUNDAY  - Not sure what as upset my stomach but I woke up in pain , I went to the toilet four times in a hour not good .I had the carpet and underlay to rip up due to the fact that we are having the van floor totally laminated end to end starting Tuesday finishing Wednesday we are going to be busy .

MONDAY - Went back to work I have been given Tuesday and Wednesday off unpaid leave so I can help with my new floor going down .

TUESDAY - Andy the flooring person turned up to do the laminate floor he is a great workman with great ethics he was good at his job and got stuck in the main issue was of course working around our furniture the two cats and the  dog  .The first issue was emptying and moving  the fish tank and keeping the fish safe whilst they was out of the tank making sure the cats didn't enjoy any fresh fish . The floor went down the beading followed and in the afternoon we was able to get the tank back in its corner filled and the fish back in the tank .

WEDNESDAY - Andy got most of the flooring down the bathroom and half the toilet area is still to do he is returning Friday I had to go out and buy another four packs of flooring that will give a grand total of  thirty packs of laminate that have gone down to completely cover  the total area of the van .

The triple wardrobe I had built a few days earlier was a heavy problem we had to move  it so the new  underlay and  flooring  could go underneath , we had already had to mess around moving the cooker and fridge freezer life is never simple.
.
Helen and me are totally happy with the floor the underlay that went down will keep the van a lot warmer cleaning will be easier and it will benefit the animals fleas and mites find it a lot harder to live on laminate flooring were are nearly back to normal a radiator is getting moved tomorrow and I can get the 200mm base unit in place which will go at the end of the cooker .I have also said I will finish the beading for the floor off it was only suppose to be a two day fit so I  felt obliged to make the offer.

FARM SHOPPING

Noticed a small drip o the tap connection should have turned the main supply tap off before messing around with the nuts had a blow back head to rush outside and take the front panel off so I could shut off the main feed no major damage did have a wet floor and cupboard that houses the sink .
Connected the out let pipe that runs from the kitchen all way under the van to the main drain had to but a piece in both ends I also had to buy a 22 degree bend this renovating is harder than work but is a lot more fun and rewarding .
Went over to Helen's parents at Acaster Malbis near York we had tea  with them they seem to have settled in ok it is quite a big site and is situated a few miles from the A64 motorway it is very upmarket and cost 125k with double the ground rent costs .

SATURDAY
Mounted the bedroom tv on the doorway that I blocked up  in our one and only bedroom its high enough not to be in the way  , I also put the last pair of drawer handles on the 800mm kitchen drawer unit base .

Checked under the sink for any drips or leaks all seems well which is a godsend hopefully it is settled and no further issues will arise .

Went to the tip yet again with a boot full of rubbish which  equals a lot  less mess , then we went over to Leeds to call in and see Helen's oldest son Steve .
On the way home we called in to three  different farm shops from the first Haigh's we bought lamb chops and three pork joints chocolate fudge cake a swede and other fresh veg from  the second Thorncliffe baby carrots ,  hash browns ,  garden peas and home made  gravy and a steak pie from the third  Blacker Hall Farm black treacle bacon , pork sausages  , beef mince , chicken breast , apple pie  , potato wedges mushrooms with cream cheese and chives and single cream .

Helen wants to paint the kitchen wall duck egg blue which I have on objection to what I don't like is she wants to get the paint from Laura Ashley in my opinion is overpriced and no better than cheaper paint , need to buy some CT1 sealant not cheap but great stuff might use it to fix t the 900 mm  glass cooker back splash on to the wall after I have bought an extractor cooker hood .

SINKING FEELING

Went for breakfast to the Toby Carvery where I went yesterday this time I was with Helen after we had eaten.We went and ordered our laminate flooring which will run the entire length of the van this is being fitted Tuesday I also changed the way two doors open re hung them on their opposite sides on was the bathroom door the other was the boiler door .
Ordered a Coca Cola bottle opener of Ebay it came in today's post also a plug socket tester plug you plug it in and it as three lights that illuminate depending on the sequence it will indicate if there are any faults .
I am seriously thinking of buying a Amazon echo for use in the kitchen reckon it will be good buy.
Got a stack of ox tail cooking in the slow cooker by tomorrow should be perfect might have to get some dumplings and Yorkshire puddings .

THURSDAY
The plumber turned up to do the sink and walked away from doing it he did not want to fit the Ikea waste , Ken and myself fitted it after buying some pipe and Flexi hose for the washing machine all we need to do is the waste water pipe for the grey water  the hot and cold mixer tap is working fine we did have trouble aligning it up correctly it was moving when the nut was tightened  the washing machine is also fine it is emptying ok which would be a nightmare moving the hose , all fingers and toes crossed we won't get and leaks , I  got to admit it was not straight forward but we got there in the end .Think we need a bigger bowl this size  bowl shown here  fitted the old sink perfectly .

RIPPED OFF TWICE IN ONE DAY

Renewed my photographic driving license £1000 fine if I don't it needs renewing every ten years it cost £22.00 for the privilege another money making scheme from the government to cream money from the driving population as if we don't pay enough already what a con.

Took my car in for its first service was waiting for it to be done  had at least a  two hour wait , I went over to the Toby Carvery and had a full English breakfast . Some people was really pigging out but saying that its not fair to compare them with pigs , BECAUSE  pigs ain't that greedy one had six sausages on his plate plus all the other breakfast items including bread and toast I did have three cups of coffee I had time to kill got rid of an hour .

Assembled Helen's dressing table bought from Ikea mange to scratch it somehow had a bottle of tipped mange to cover the scratch if not totally camouflage at  least it is better than leaving it with nothing .

Should be getting the sink and washer reconnected Thursday took some washing over to our neighbours also took some to my daughters house it was my Grandsons third birthday .

Wednesday already the week is going really fast we took Pip to the vet she had a rash and is constantly scratching herself after a full ten minute consultation we was prescribed some wipes and steroid tablets at a cost of £49 another rip off

WHITE STUFF ALL GONE .

Assembled the triple wardrobe in the kitchen I was taking a gamble it would through the bedroom door otherwise I would have to dismantle the new built wardrobes dismantle the bed then re-build it in the bedroom I had measured it before starting I was lucky it went through the bedroom door and we had enough room to turn it so it went around the corner of the wall .
The Ikea bags full of clothes finally got out away , we are getting our space back things are getting put back and it is looking less like a bomb site .

Washed the car after it being so cold not had chance most of the snow is gone the sun was out and it was the warmest it as been over the last week also the car goes in for a service so I wanted it reasonably clean.

Went back to Ikea bought a one drawer dressing table to go under the window it is white to match the new wardrobes .
Had no food all day went to the fish restaurant had the works including curry sauce I was struggling to finish them .

CUT DOWN

Woke up went to Ikea the motorway into Leeds was clear of snow and we got to the store just after ten .Bought some drawer tidy's for two of the 800mm drawers .Also bought a drainer cork mats three shelves and six wooden brackets and a triple wardrobe which gets delivered tomorrow spent over £400 also took some panels back I don't need for the kitchen and got £56 credited back to my card I will get another £240 back on my card when they pick up the worktops we don't need .

Put the deco end panels on the wall units near the cooker I also put a pelmet on had to cut the bottom of the units so they was no gaps showing .

Cooked chicken with fresh noodles a orange pepper and  shiitake mushrooms added a Cantonese sauce cook time 15 minutes was really nice .

SUNDAY
Finally cut the flu down to size with the help of my good friend Ken I also lent his chop saw to cut the mitres for the pelmets . The wardrobes got delivered late in the afternoon and  I will hopefully build them tomorrow after I have been to the tip with more rubbish.

I also put three shelves up at the side of the fridge and changed the large drawer front which was delivered with the wardrobes they also took the worktops I had replaced and a end panel so we have freed up some more floor space .Need to buy some slate lathes to panel out the ceiling for the boards to cover the old panels.

FITTED UP

All the wall units and all the base units bar one are now fixed and in place all the doors are on but need levelling and aligning .Need to fix the door knobs and handles and I need to build the sink base unit and of course do the pipe and waste for the sink and washing machine the sink waste needs to move about 200mm .I also need to fix the worktops and the deco end panel on some of the units .
Had to move a plug socket I ended up putting the wires in to a 30 amp plastic junction box that is hidden behind the units in the wall hopefully they will be no issues or it means taking the wall units as Michael Jackson said off the wall .

I am still full of cold I am off work sick I am coughing in the morning like I am on 80 cigs a day. Took Helen to the doctors this morning the snow was bad was a few inches deep and the car was  iced up . it  took a while to defrost the windscreen ,stopped at the petrol station bought milk , bread , eggs , sausage , pizza , bacon and filled the car up to the max with diesel.

Thursday  - More snow fell during the night it is very cold minus 5 going out is a no driving anywhere a bigger no got the sink fitted but not installed cut the unit out for the pipes for the washing machine thought I was going to hit problems with the gas pipe for the cooked but over come the issues measured the last work top wrong cut it short by 18mm need to adjust the units in the morning hopefully I can make amends .

still need the plinths on worktops fixing and sink and washing machine plumbed in but its coming on looks totally different the end goal won't be for a few weeks but when its finished will be a big improvement  on space and design .