STILL ALL RIGHT WHITE

 TUESDAY - Well looked out of the bedroom window the snow is back seems to be thicker than last time.

Cars and vans are getting stuck the roads are not being used so are not getting cleared and the side roads are worse I am off until Thursday . Even Ethel below looks stoney cold bless her , if any does not know I bought Ethel the Sunday morning my mother died around fifteen years ago she has been with me ever since .The roads are not too bad our street and fields close to home are still all white covered in snow , I guess  until the temperature rises it will remain all white .

Really wonder what 2021 brings what will happen during this year are we going to recover from Covid hopefully it is going to do a massive  u-tutn and will things start to get back to normal I pray that it is not going to be getting any worse .

If it does get worse do I carry on working or do I retire be so nice not to have to work , but the bills stay the same in a few years it will be different hopefully life will be easier but who knows this year could not have been predicted maybe every year from now on will be harder than the previous one .

HAPPY B DAY

 Its my partner fiancé birthday tomorrow she is a year older and I love her as much now as I did all them years ago when we meet at work for the first time . she was getting married and I was married she did later on a couple of years down the get married .We both left our partners to be together .We Have lived in seven different places , Had eight different cars , and fourteen mega Christmas days together hopefully another fourteen plus years we get to celebrate Christmas and the New Years that follow , of course there is no guarantees got to make the most of the time that we do have .

MONDAY - Helen received a pair of Ugg slippers from my daughter I bought her a pair of Ugg boots so she is now Ugged out , might get her the Ugg bag for valentines day present .She also received two bottles of pink gin so with the Christmas gin it will last her at least three years .

Downloaded the Tomb Raider Anniversary edition for my x-box one nostalgia is everything takes be back to Christmas past just need Crash Bandicoot to go with it .

To finish off we had a fish and chip tea from Compo's fish shop at Holmfirth with peas and curry .

POSITIVE I'AM NEGATIVE ?

 Boxing Day - Hopefully a chill out day planing  on doing nothing much except finally cooking our Christmas dinner , today the turkey crown as defrosted and is going to be plenty big enough for the two of us two cats and two dogs .

loving the Apple Watch roughly changing the clock face every forty minutes its so much more than just a watch .Best present guess anyone lucky receiving one for the first time are pretty much going to be chuffed to bits .

The turkey dinner was well good everything turned out great including the Yorkshire puddings the roast potatoes were done in goose fat with rosemary from the garden and a splash of vinegar salt and pepper trust me the vinegar disappears through cooking .The turkey was moist also cooked in goose fat .

SUNDAY - its a sad day today I am not writing why , I have mentioned why in a previous post written a couple of years ago hopefully both my children  ( daughter is thirty my son twenty seven ) will cope however its best for them .

Took Bailey out for his morning five minutes earlier it had been snowing now the sun was coming out but it was blowing a cold icy wind , we didn't stay out long it was nice to get back inside .Off until Thursday I have to go out Monday and get Helens birthday present .

Found out one of my staff had an heart attack she as also been tested positive for Covid , I have just tested myself and it come back negative got to say it was a long half hour hopefully my work colleague is fine and makes a full recovery wishing and praying for a speedy recovery .

MERRY XMAS

 Helen has bought me a Apple Watch SE for Christmas it was ordered of Amazon Prime and it should arrive on the 23rd .It is not only the most expensive watch I will have owned its the dearest Christmas present I have had bought I am lucky and blessed its a great gift the best thank you Helen .

The watch arrived safely it is wrapped and sitting under the Christmas tree waiting for the 25th .

Wages went into the bank finished work  at 2a.m went to Asda  bought some festive food and drinks bought two bottles of pink gin and stocked up on cat and dog food we should be ok for a while bought some fresh orange it was half past five when I went to bed and was up at nine a.m not enough sleep ,feeling tired and grumpy its Wednesday and I am off to Asda again tonight I want to be in and out.

It is sad to think this time last year there was no such thing as deaths from Covid many people have passed and will not be here to spend Christmas  hopefully they are having a great party up in heaven and looking down on us and our celebrations , as I say each Christmas next year we are going to be prepared hopefully all who read this are reading some other shit here same time next year hopefully I will be prepared but doubt it .

Christmas Eve - My daughter and her boyfriend called cooked a load of sausages and bacon and buttered a load of bread rolls and let them make their own sandwiches ,.

CHRISTMAS DAY - Set up my Apple watch Helens son Liam came with his Indian girlfriend Som I was in the car going to work at midday I was home for ten two hours left oh well might have not been where I wanted to be but at least I made it and saw Christmas thank you.

SPOOKY HOTEL

 I have recently not sure why been  drinking a lot of fresh orange juice I like a glass when I have come home after finishing my shift and have jumped into the shower at around half three in the morning it just hits the spot I think its because the hospital is always hot and wearing a face mask .

My son rang me the other day to say he has found a job he starts Monday working for a building company I hope it pans out for him and he continues in employment ,Building firms usually shut down for two weeks over Christmas it will help him out sort his money out .

SUNDAY - We went to the Durker Roods Hotel not far from where we live in the Peak District .We are doing hopefully a paranormal investigation on the 2nd of January 2021. We had a quick look round it is closed due to Covid and is getting refurb . It has over thirty rooms and  room  number 14 is the room people swear who have stayed over night have left in the morning vowing never to stay in the room again .

We want to know why simple as we are allowed in from 21.00 until 03.00 hopefully we will discover what and why ?.

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

 SUNDAY - Did nothing chill out day cooked dinner had lamb chops new pots and sweet corn was ok quicker than doing a full Sunday roast , watched some You Tube and "How To Get Away With Murder" on Netflix will see how it goes .

MONDAY - No work until Wednesday set the X-Box up in the spare bedroom needed an update started a quick game of C.O.D Modern warfare .

Went to Asda its been a while bought a new electric fryer its been a while since we had one we don't clean them out just through them out and buy new they are cheap enough although I still think a old fashion chip pan is all you need .

WEDNESDAY - Back to work I break up after I finish my Christmas Day shift I have the weekend off then three days so I am off forHelens birthday then I am back at work for a day then I have the Friday off New Years day and the weekend .

We have bought a turkey crown for Boxing Day when we will have our traditional turkey dinner .

Have had no stollen this year and no Christmas cake I have had a couple of nice pies , We usually get a Christmas chocolate log off Helen;s mum that hasn't happened this year , bought Helen a litre bottle of Bailey's . Need gin and whiskey and JD , and cider .

CHINESE CANDLES

 Need new jeans al my jeans have worn through at the crotch Helen says its because I fart too much its weekend the denim through , if that's the case why are my underpants intact and ok .

The last two pairs I bought were Jack Jones and cost £75 per pair I think this time I will just go to Next and pair a couple of pairs might buy black denim instead of blue denim will see .

Have been looking at silver spinner rings on eBay I have saved a couple might treat myself for Christmas might buy matching pairs for me and Helen.

My son is not having a great time he is struggling to find work and is getting down obviously he is not on his own and certainly a pandemic is not helping him finding employment and Christmas is a shite time to be without any money hopefully a new year will bring new luck new chances my fingers are crossed for him.

FRIDAY  - Break up for a long weekend four days off from work will do me which it was for longer have done the Euro Millions £175 million a few people would never have to work again if I won that amount of money .

SATURDAY - Helen had a couple of readings over at Linthwaite I stayed in the car in the churches carpark and watched the film Tenet I couldn't get my head round the story maybe I need to watch it again .

Went for a drive through Marsden they had their Christmas lights on saw a nice display on the river where the mini waterfall cascades down looked very festive I got out of the car and took the photo below.

We had a Chinese for the very first time since moving here in  February we had sweet and sour pork balls , fried rice , prawn toast , onion rings curried duck and fries with prawn crackers just under £22 went down a treat was a five minute drive home the food was still hot .

MORE LIGHTS

 FRIDAY - Having a unexpected day off yesterday was bliss thank God for snow taking time to rest your mind and unwind. 

 I just happen to find  out that NHS staff including front line staff , which I am not are not even going to be first inline for the Covid  Pfizer vaccine should they want it , no vaccine and no pay rise or bonus to me it sends out a loud and clear message. Hopefully we are still getting double time for working Christmas .

Taking time to rest your mind and unwind is important  we all need a little time away an holiday bur seeing as we can't go anywhere time off from work from Covid central will do .

SATURDAY - Most of the snow is gone driving is ok , we went over to Linthwaite Helen had a reading to do on the way home we stopped off and got fish and chips we ate in the car .

SUNDAY  - Helen bought a real Christmas tree for the outside at the side of the front door she also bought a stand we need to buy lights for the tree and the fence at the side of the front garden .

MONDAY - Went over to Gordon Riggings at Todmorden and bought two boxes of 10 metres long main operated pastel coloured lights managed to get them up and plugged on before it went dark , looks well .

IT'S SNOWED

 As you get older every Christmas looses some magic you stop doing things you use to look forward to doing.Advent calendars its been years since we had one hanging on the wall. Mince pies we seem to buy less each year as well as Christmas cake with marzipan puddings and stollen .Not even bought a Christmas truffle from Greggs or a festive bake it just any happening .

Used to always buy a calendar and a diary to start in the new year I but neither , don't even ask about any New Years resolutions .Christmas Boxing Day sales I have not been to any for numerous years .

One thing that's making it feel like Christmas is that it is snowing where we live I am at work and wont leave until 02.00 hopefully it is too not heavy. The garden is looking all white with a thin film of snow .

Its was my mothers birthday on the 4th of December and my father's was on the 13th of December it always made Christmas imminent Helens is three days after on the 28th and my ex wife passed away on the 27th of December so December is very eventful time .

I used to always have two weeks of at Christmas and new year , now I work on Christmas day which just kills it dead .I have not asked for anything from anyone if they decide to get me things  it is their choice there is nothing I really need or desire apart from good food cider and time off work it is all I need and some half decent things on Prime and Netflix tv.

some traditions remain we will get a over sized over priced turkey crown more than likely we will eat it on boxing day with pigs in blankets and cranberry sauce and of course everyone's favourite greens sprouts .

FRIDAY - Drive home into the snow Leeds was clear not a flake Hade Edge a different story it is white icy and slippy the Skoda Karoq a bag of shit in the snow can't risk crashing sliding into a wall or another parked up car, We drove to the post office a couple of miles away it was scary all over the road was going no more than 12 mph got some bread and cider and chocolate on getting home safe I phoned work to tell them I am snowed in which is true offered to face time my manager to show him the snow , he declined the offer .

DECEMBER TIME

 Cooked a home made lasagne with red and green peppers and half a onion. I used bread cakes to do garlic bread , I melted some butter in the microwave and added three gloves of pressed garlic and a sprinkle of parsley then all you do is cut the bread cake open and pour and brush the melted butter evenly on to each side of the bread cake you could sprinkle cheese on top but I didn't bother as I had already put loads of grated cheese on to the top of the lasagne before it went into the oven ,it  turned out great also did some slow cooked oven chips .

Need a haircut off to my daughters tomorrrow think we are ordering a Indian from the local curry house ,

We had  our hair done and we met my daughters boyfriend for the very first time a great lad he is so good compared to the dick head she use to be with he is the other side of the coin . We also had a curry we ordered it off the street I where I used to live on in Swillington it was spot on .

MONDAY - Back ay work booked some days holidays I have some long weekends and two whole weeks booked one at the end of January the other the beginning of March.

We did the garden I blasted all the patio with the jet washer and Helen planted some trees and moved some all ready planted to different spots .

Every Tim I drive trough the surrounding villages , new Christmas lights appear its like Santas grotto naked trees with coloured or white lights , stags that a full size all lite up truly amazing it makes the drive to work so much better .

COMING FASTER

 Christmas is coming faster than a Bmw M5 its not even a month one more payday .

We are getting security cameras fitted to both the front and back of the house , I work late and get home in the early hours of the morning . Helen can't see who is outside or if any one comes to the door . I will also be able to see as it sends alerts to your phone if any motion is detected in real time.

If we have cameras the will be linked to our phones and tv with an attached 1TB hard drive that can record up to two weeks worth of video content in colour with sound its got to be a no brainer . Hopefully they will be installed this week .

The cameras went in yesterday it took him six hours the hard drive is in the loft and all is up and running .He is coming back next week to swap the cameras to wide angle lenses . I get alerts when any motion is detected by anything cats , birds and of course humans .We can view both cameras from the tv in our bedroom .

Will order Helens Christmas gift from The White Company you plug it in add oil and it smells not hard to guess what she as asked for  but with a twist I ordered the oils from Neom but  its what she wants might get her something else that also smells for her birthday or glitters.

STUPID CRASHED IT

Had the flu jab a couple of weeks ago a lot of my health care co workers have also had the inoculation yet people are skeptical about the cover vaccine , my thoughts are if its offered to you and you refuse and then get cover its going to be a very regretful decision that you made . But if you agree to have it and it works with no lasting side effects then its got to be a good decision  , would I have it at this moment in time I would go for it for  sure as I currently work in a hospital with covid infected patients if I was not working chances are  , then no I wouldn't but it is a hard choice to make.

What do I get Helen for Christmas she wants a Neom diffuser not a reed one a electric plug in one they are expensive I know she wouldn't turn her nose up if it was a White Company one which ain't that much cheaper , also it is her birthday three days later .

I have been thinking about a new tattoo not sure why or what is impelling me but I feel  compelled to get one as its been a few years since I felt the tattooist needle not 100% certain what to get I think I need something positive in these shitty times and I am thinking on the lines of something to do with music or art.

Work is ok staff are sick of wearing masks and goggles and forever washing and sanitising  their hands every time we go on to and exit a ward , but of course we understand the reason why .

My daughter's ex crashed his BMW M5 whilst driving at 140 mph all I can say is what a dick head luckily he was driving alone in the car and  no one was seriously injured or killed . A white van pulled out on him they probably didn't even see him coming and the van took him out broadside apparently  the van then end up on its roof on the opposite  side of the road ,the BMW passenger side was totally wrecked and the car is a total right off , the police took it away I guess they will check the onboard computer find out his speed I am also guessing his insurance will be void he will lose his license and job then who knows what else , I also know he spent £5k on the engine etc last year every two hundred miles you need to top up  oil it drinks petrol specially at 140 mph what a chav what a moron and this happened in broad daylight mid afternoon .

I have two hours short of four weeks annual leave remaining at work I need to get some hours booked in I have until the end of March to fit them all in , might have to save a few days just in case I get snowed in .

WELL STONED

 We picked the Yorkshire stone fire  hearth up from the stone masons yard o unbury . it was way too heavy and was just too long to fit in the car , we asked for them to cut it in half .I still struggled to get it in to the house and into the room I walked both pieces  on the edges through the alley via the back patio doors the day after it all fixed and in place job done .

The Yorkshire ripper is dead Friday the 13th brilliant news he lived far too long .I hope he hated every day in prison he should have been hanged .

Next project I need to fit a folding door on the under stair store room not sure which one need to find a half decent one .

Looking forward to the weekend not sure we are doing anything special fish and chips a take away some cider read a book , catch up on You Tube and Netflix total chill time sounds good to me .

Christmas is looming I am working 13.00 until 21.00 which is totally fcuked Christmas Day up I have asked for the 28th of December off as its helens birthday I have yet to have it granted .

ITS UP

SATURDAY - Had a busy week bought the railway sleepers i hand cut them to size to  make the fire surround size we needed picture of this is posted in previous blog post  we was supposed to pick up the stone hearth but it will not be cut until Monday which is a bit of a bummer  .

 Also the bolts that came with the tv wall mount to fix the hanging brackets to the tv where too short so i had to mess going out to get to longer screws obviously they have to be dead on the right size too long and they will come through the front of the tv not what you want .

Finally got the tv mounted on to the wall I used over a dozen fixings just to be sure its 65inch tv so its not a light weight it took two to lift  and position it on to the bracket anyway twenty four hours later and its still up so guess its good .

SUNDAY - The Christmas tree is up its early I know but what the fcuk we have moved the rest of the furniture in to place and the room is set need to alter a door apart from that and the stone hearth we are done , hopefully we will collect it tomorrow .

Holmfirth and Hade Edge is bad with fog its been foggy the last few nights its eerie we have a grave yard I want to go and take photos in the fog at midnight too scared lol .

Cider in the fridge a Indian is  on order we I went out and bought a joint of pork for our Sunday roast but we didn't get finished until late so we ordered from our local take away for a curry .

Going to spend the rest of the night watching Truth Seekers on Amazon Prime chill out time for a change .

BUSY

Recieved another letter from the police regarding the dreaded speeding ticket they are asking for £100 fine plus three points on my license or I can take it to court of course I am going to accept it I was expecting six points and a weeks wage as a fine so I was quite happy with the offer they have given me . I have since paid it and sent my driving license off for the points . Two weeks off flew by the second week i did some decorating i did the living and dining room the entrance hall and stair case bulk head and top of the landing in white , i had to buy a flood light from Tool station way too dark to paint probbarly . we have also bought a living flame effect electric fire that puts out fake smoke using water converted to steam looks highly realistic .New Houses dont have fire places just centeral heating which is highly effective the fire is for the effect of a real fire only we wont have the fire as a heat source. we have ordered a two inch stone hearth from a stone yard in Hourbury they are cutting it to size we should be able to pick it up this friday and i am making a fire surround out of some wooden ten by four sleepers , i bought a bracket to mount the tv on to the wall .

My daughter is having to close her hair salon once again due to lock down commenicng for the second time this year which is totally going to make life difficult for her , at least her son will be goig to school well fo rnow any way .

CROSS

 WEDNESDAY - Helen having headache over the last three days not good not sure why but it a constant issue hopefully they will pass .

THURSDAY - Been taking Bailey out in the car to different locations for his morning walks so far we have done four different locations and three different reservoirs .All within a ten minute drive from where we live .

I am of this week and next as it is my birthday tomorrow Friday the 23rd another year passed what changes have occurred . We sold the static home for £85k , moved in to a new build got locked down with cover had three months off work , bought another car and there's still a couple of months to go until the new year .A year full of ups and downs positives and negatives but made it none the less its no good moaning we just got to live every day as if its your last stay safe be kind to others and carry on .

The paranormal Team we are in have appeared in our local paper first time I have ever had a photo in any paper , we go out to different locations and try and hunt ghosts and spirits using different equipment its great fun and it gets us out whilst observing the cover rules do's and dont's .below is a photograph from a recent location there was graffiti on most walls there was eighteen different buildings of various sizes .

FRIDAY - Recived my three nail cross yesterday for my birthday today thank you Helen , I am well happy with it .

THE TICKET

 I have been updating this blog for 15 years how the world has changed and how things have changed during my life time .One thing that has not changed I am still getting speeding tickets another one hit the door mat through the later box I think this is the worse one I was caught doing 65 mph on the M1  motorway the speed limit was set for fifty because of road workers and road repairs in progress even though it was half two in the morning and no workers were doing anything to the road anyway still got a ticket have to fill it out and return it ti discover my fate ,

Ebay buys bought a new laser pen we lost the end bit that makes the patterns and dots so I bought a new     one this is in a box and comes with four ends so we can use both pens .

I bought a Ulanzi video rig from one seller and the two led lights from a different seller the full rig is on Amazon for £99 I bought the rig for £11.99 and two lights for £23.99 a third of the price I need to get a microphone which will be around another tenner . I also purchased a JBL Go2 bluetooth speaker which also as a cable to wire it to your phone .

For myself I bought a dog tag crucifix I am also looking to buy a solid silver crucifix I have not worn a chain for years I used to have a solid gold crucifix that I wore for years but sold it years ago when I I took it off for due to dress code policy at work.

whilst I am off I would like to go to Lou and Jo's burger joint in Holmfirth we have never been and I am all in favour of supporting local eating establishments .

Helen has bought me a three nail cross for my birthday hopefully it arrives before my birthday this Friday if not I shouldn't be that late after .

Have been driving to different reservoirs whilst I have these two weeks off I love the landscape and the water the stone walls and scenery and it is a five minute drive away I am blessed .

Had a KFC double down meal for the first time which consists  two fillets of chicken breast with bacon rashers and cheese but without the bun , the KFC fries I like a lot better than McDonalds and Burger King  in my opinion they are the best  , no milk shakes was been served  had to have a Pepsi Max ,

DEAL OR NO DEAL

 MONDAY - Five days to work then a full sixteen days off I can't wait I admit all I work for is money and time off what else is there the time off is generous the pay could be better because of the unsocial hours I do it is all paid at time and a half so it does boost my wage up to an half decent amount .But if you are working and have bills  who docent need more money in there wage packet .

I fancy buying my self a silver pendant not too sure what to get but it has to be heavy with a half decent size chain  and want people to take notice something unusual something a little bit different .

Did a deal with the Skoda dealership over the three month on us car payments it is run by the finance  company and not D.M.Keith so problem is it will cost them money to cut it short I have agreed to five hundred pounds via a bacs transfer into my bank and a full paint and and seat  protection which is worth nearly four hundred pounds I am happy at first the cash they wanted to part with was only £250 so we agreed and signed the paperwork this was Monday afternoon it is now Thursday the money has not hit my account fcuk sake its £500 your a multi million pound company send the cash I don't want to have to ring them to chase it up , but I will .

THURSDAY - two more shifts then sixteen days off yippee always love time off in the autumn and winter months when its dark windy and raining staying in seems more ideal .

Isnt it a pain when you wake up on a morning and realise you forgot to put your phone on charge and its on 3% then you go down stairs to the kitchen and find out you have run out of your favourite coffee .

SATURDAY - Helen had two readings to do in Linthwaite we got home just after half six we ordered a curry from the local Indian take away I ordered  a mix kebab starter , a butter chicken and chicken tikka , 2 x mushroom rice 2 x poppadum and two chapatis the delivery driver got lost she couldn't find our address we had this problem before but this time she was over twenty minutes finding us from when she called us saying she was unsure of our location she finally arrived lucky the food was not too cold we managed to microwave the rice and curry but we are only a three minute drive away from their location , I don't pick up because its on a narrow road with no parking and its too long to walk .

FULLY FEED

WEDNESDAY - Work rest of this week and next and I am then off for two whole weeks and I cant wait not even bothered about the weather I ca go to be at a reasonable time and get up before eight and have the whole day to chill out relax watch Netflix and You Tube and drink cider and coffee obviously not together it sounds like a plan to me .

Looks like we have another lock down looming in the north of England the pubs restaurants maybe forced in to closing their doors again which is not good but we have to put people safety first .

I work in an hospital I have access to all patient moment at both major hospitals in real time  I can see all the jobs that have been allocated and all the jobs hat have also completed by the porters .This includes all the  sad job of  taking the deceased patients to the mortuary . This is a computer system and you can look back weeks to see what as occurred 

All I can say is this time round we don't have anywhere near the number of deaths that we had during the first wave people still might be getting infected but the deaths are not happening maybe it because it is less server or we are more immune to it I don't know obviously its a good thing and hopefully other hospitals in all the other countries are having fewer numbers lets hope so.

FRIDAY - Took Bailey or Westie out for his morning walk once again it was raining I am sleeping in a little bit more I go to bed around four a.m and I now get up between nine and half past I really would like to be up an hour earlier but its not happening .

We got a gift package at work  from Amazon for working at the NHS and being front line staff it contained an adult colouring book , some cleansing wipes a reed defuser and very large tin of Nivea hand and body cream and a large  bag of jelly sweets it also contained two thank you cards so big shout out to Amazon .

SATURDAY - Took Helen over to Linthwaite she had some readings to do straight after we went on to Saddleworth moor to Rimmon cottage it was already dark but not in the dead of night there was no moon we parked up and had a half mile walk .On the way home in the village we stopped at the local kebab shop had a mixed kebab on a nan with chilli and garlic sauce with cheesy chips was ok it filled me up Helen had the fried chicken pieces not so good .

SUNDAY - A quite day in cut the grass which took all of forty minutes cooked a roast beef Sunday dinner bought fresh from the local farm shop it was dear than I wanted to spend but it was a decent size it feed us both plus the two dogs and both cats none went to waste .

BURNT FINGERS

 Not happy put on on a pair of my Jack Jones jeans on big hole in the crotch not lasted at all I am quite disappointed not sure if to stick with Jack Jones or get a different brand decisions decisions .

Baked  some Galaxy chocolate  cookies I bought a packet of their mix and all I had to do was just add butter and water and bake for 12 minutes  . It is quicker for me than going to the shop for a packet of biscuits and they came out more or less perfect they was real tasty soft and moist can't beat it .

SATURDAY - Woke up it was a rainy very  misty and the fog was all about I couldn't see the reservoir   , I still had to take Bailey out as he still wanted to go out for his morning walk .

 Helen had readings to do in the afternoon so I  was left to my own devices until she had finished watched the film  "The Girl in the Spiders Web  "  a half decent film . I bought a new iPhone case of eBay and I  picked fish and chips up for our tea/supper we was not impressed they seem to be getting worse might have to find another chippy.

SUNDAY - Went over to Bury to Newland's garden centre its a lot bigger than the one we usually go to over at Dobcross and had a wider range of goods it was an hours drive its a gorgeous scenic drive there with plenty of waterways and reservoirs along the way .Bought a massive stags head to go above our bed the antlers Lehrer too large so we had to put it on the bulk head over the stairs ,

cooked a roast pork Sunday dinner we left it slow cooking in the oven as we shopped the crackling was nice and crisp and the meat just pulled apart I burnt my fingers on a roasting tin it was left on the halogen hob the hobs take ages to cool down I picked it up the other two water cold this one was hot and I dropped it burning three fingers in the process I had to keep running them under the cold tap to cool them done eventually  I had a bowl of ice cubes it took a few hours for the pain to subside , halogen hobs are nightmare if you spill anything and want to wipe the top down it switches all the hobs of really bad design .

FIRST SUNNY DAYS OF AUTUMN

 My daughter called over Sunday she cut our hair and re coloured Helen's she wanted corned beef hash for dinner with pancakes  we oblige before we went for a walk to a local reservoir a few minutes away it was a sunny day and quite warm .

Below me with my grandson Jenson he likes to walk and liked the reservoir it is nice to get out on a sunny Sunday afternoon it won't be long when it is dark on a morning and dark on a evening .It also presses my reset button and clears my mind it gives you time to think and dream and go to far away places .

I love clouds in the sky a bright blue sky with white fluffy clouds is amazing and forever changing the are magical and I prefer to see them floating above than just a pure  blue sky imaging the picture below without the clouds be a boring photo .

Work at the hospital is  picking up more cover patients the cleaners cleaned a closed ward and it was full of respiratory tubing masks and ventialator equipment it was an icu ward it is re-opening for the use of covid- 19 patients but at the moment it is not as bad as it was but we are expecting a rush of cases .

Went to the local garden centre Totties  they have a bistro there the Olivie Tree we could smell the fish and chips as we walked round the sun was out the skies where blue and of course we had to indulge and they was spot on the fish was cooked in beer batter and the chips thick and triple cooked I had mine with baked beans Helen had peas even the bread was nice it was money well spent and it saved coking tea .

Skoda the new Karoq I purchase is a great car the only one  problem that  I have is the first three months was on them so I had no repayments and no monies was to come out of my bank until the 27th of December the first payment has already been took out .

 I am trying to get D.M Keith to sort it out the sale person I bought the car from Lee knows about it he his on holiday .I went down and was offered a credit note for £1000 which is useless I can use it on my next car which ties me to Skoda I also might jobless so getting credit would be impossible or I might not want the commitment of buying a new car so I politely refused their offer . I want them to honour the  original agreement of three months on them I am waiting for a call from the business manager to speak to me , this is the third car I have bought from the same dealership and not had any issues .They knew this on the 19th of September they payment came out on the 27th of September and it is still on going .

WHITBY AND YORK

BUSY WEEK  - Went to Whitby to say  it was wet and windy is an understatement we got so wet after it had stopped raining my jeans dried with in ten minutes I was air dried .We checked out the whale jaw bones and the captain Cook statue .Went to the Magpie cafe to the take away counter  and had a freshly cooked haddock fish sandwhich it was very welcomed .

Went up the 199 steps to the grave yard and church we saw the pirate grave stones and others all with a sea view the sea had calmed down and the sun was out .

The  Magpie restaurant one of the best on the east coast allegedly plenty of rich and famous have eaten there over the years which is revealed if you go inside the restaurant .

Went to York the day after observing all the Covid -19  does and dont's and using the track and trace app and wearing face masks .They was quite a few people milling about it was busier than I thought it would be but after all it is York .Parking was a nightmare got a spot and tried to pay by phone a total annoying experience it wouldn't recognise my number plate twenty minutes finally did it next time I need to take cash not being able to pay by card is a pain.

Had a hot roast beef sandwich with horseradish and stuffing it was ok would have been better with gravy and if the meat was a little bit more tender . As always took loads of photos of the Minister Its hard not to apparently it costs £23,000 a day to run not sure why it is so high if its because of all the restoration work and the cost of scaffolding then maybe anyway its an on going project its took longer to restore than what it did to build it dates back to the 700 a.d .

I think the Shambles is also photographed quite a lot the streets are that narrow opposite households could shake hands by leaning out of the upstair windows the urine pots where thrown out and ran down the middle of the cobbled streets.

THE VIADUCT

 SATURDAY -

I took Helen over to Linthwaite to do more readings I came home , on the way back did some shopping and bought toilet blocks and toilet duck as well as an apple pie boring but essential specially the pie  .

Picked Helen up just before seven on the way home we stopped at Compo's fish and chip shop take away to get both our tea and supper with Chinese curry sauce bliss .

The entertainment system in the car is playing up its going to get checked on the Monday 5th of October it might just need a software upgrade or re-install ,

SUNDAY - My sister Anne came over with her husband Alan he loved the house think he is interested in buying a new build not sure it will happen but anything is possible .

went to the garden centre bought  terrarium a sheep head and a rustic gear wheel to disc as well as some plants for the glass terrarium we only went for bulbs which we didn't end up buying .

think the buddha statue looks really in place with the circular gear or cog not sure if Helen will agree won't say anything wait till she sees it .The terrarium needs planting up more than likely it will be Monday .

Might give the. sheets head a black nose and ears if its not done right will look a mess ,

Helen likes Hens I went back into the garden centre to buy her this we didn't pick it up when we went round .

Whilst we was out  at Dobcross we had a big pot of braising steak stew with leeks and mushrooms cooking will do the pancakes and dumplings when we get back .

SUNDAY EVENING - Helen , Wayne and I did a ghost hunt just the three of us we went to a viaduct quite a few people died in its construction and quite a few more have jumped from the top instant death doubt anyone would survive the fall .

The above picture was taken using my iPhone at around ten o clock at night I think it looks pretty good to say it was a moonless night no street lights here  the light was from a head led torch .there was some lights further down the other side of the viaduct which kept turning on and off when spirits was asked to do so eerie .

DEVILS BLOOD

 SATURDAY - Helen as two readings to do to day and is getting her nails done as well I will have a few hours on my own to kill .I ended up going to the chemist in Asda at Durkar which took a good hour and a half also I was an hour early I wa son time Helen had her readings put forward so I had an hour to kill in the car 

Due to the changes in distancing rules due to cover we can not check out the old workhouse in Wales we will have to sort out more door locations we might go to York amazingly Wayne has never ever been to York  .

SUNDAY - Cooked a roast pork dinner which was the high light of the day spent the day chillin out a bit of a waste but really tied , getting motivated not happening .

MONDAY  - Back to work the weekend went too fast .

its been a busy week with work and lack of sleep its catching up manage to wash the car used devils blood on the alloys what a great product you can buy it of eBay does what it says on the can .I did use a wheel brush but it did bring the wheels up like new you can get it from £7.99 and it should do all wheels twice or three times obviously depending on the size of your wheels .

TIED

 I am really enjoying the new car but in a few months when the novelty of it being new wears off  it will just be just a car expect that I don't need to worry about it passing  M.O.T well not yet , unless I puncture the tyre I won't need to buy new tyres it comes with all the brake fluids  , oil , anti freeze,  coolants etc topped up worry free driving .

I of course appreciate what I have got and know that  I am lucky to be able to get the car in the first place and I do understand that for a lot of people owning a new car or any car would be a dream . This  it is not the first new I car  that I have owned I think this is the fourth but I do pay for the privilege its not for nothing it is at a price  I have monthly payments to pay and if I don't keep up the payments I will have the car taken off me , chances are I will change it before I own it so I will always be paying for a car that I drive unless I complete all monthly payments and the ballon payment at the end of the term I won't own it out right.

So although its a nice car it is at a cost but I don't smoke and don't really spend a lot on alcohol , I don't gamble and don't spend a fortune on clothes , and if I can't work through coronovirus I will  get paid if I loose my job and worse case scenario I cant keep to the payments then let them take the car from me  at this current time there are a lot  more important things in life than new cars .

Took Bailey to the groomers at a cost of  £45 his next cut will be just before Christmas .

Looking forward to finishing work I am so tied lack of sleep as caught up and having the weekend off having two bonus days off this week its been a short week but its took its toll due early morning bed times so roll on two a.m Saturday morning when I will as Simon and Garfunkel said  I will be Homewood bound .

SATURDAY - Got up at nine a.m cooked sausages and baked beans and scrambled egg and toast a little tip don't put milk in with the scrambled eggs there is no need it makes the eggs go rubbery just add butter to the pan once melted season with salt and black pepper then crack the eggs and cook whilst stirring with a whisk .

STEW AND DUMPLINGS

 Helen has been really bed bound and poorly , and I have been doing my Florence nightingale impersonation to the best of my ability . I  was off all last week on annual leave Monday this week Helen phoned our doctors with her symptoms and they told her to get a covid test done .I was able to sort this out through work I do work at a NHS Hospital they could get the test booked until the following day Tuesday .

We had to be there for five past midday I was not having the test as I had no symptoms and was well it was a drive through test and only took a few minutes we got the results Wednesday morning texted to my phone it was negative , I let work know and went back that Wednesday night .

Helen is improving even day but is still suffering with a sore throat and a nasty taste in her mouth , I cooked us a big pot of braising steak stew I put it in the oven on a low light we had it with pancakes and dumplings , just what the doctor ordered which of course was me .I went out after I had took Bailey out for his walk the farm shop is a two minute drive away and I slow cooked it until Hal three in the afternoon  we had nothing to eat all day .The dumplings was the best yet the pancakes we used a plain stone baked flour which changed there appearance but tasted fine .

WORK HOUSE

WEDNESDAY -  Helen is  not well she is full of cold aches and pains  , we was supposed to be dining out with my sister Anne and her husband Alan .We had to cancel and maybe do it this weekend instead .

Had a Heinz big soup steak and potato with toast first time ever it was ok to be fair it was pretty good and quite filling and tasty .

The rubber car mats which i ordered when I choose the car I called in got them yesterday they are a great accessory for the car keeping the rugs under pristine and I good condition they also have  have the Koraq logo on the side and  they are a tight fit in the foot wells .

THURSDAY - We was supposed to go on a ghost hunt tonight but Helen is way too ill to go she is full of gold and flu and is staying in bed to aid recovery when she gets a really bad flu/cold  it can knock her out for four to five days she as also had to cancel quite a few readings .

FRIDAY - Trying to get the Friday the 25th of September of work not looking good we was going to Wales if I can't go Helen will have to go it alone some others are going she can hitch a lift with as usual I be left holding the fort looking after the dogs and cats .Later in the day i found out that I can have the day off so its off to Wales we go to Llanfyllin to do a ghost hunt at the old work house , we have from 21.00 until 03.00 and we can sleep over in the bunk house which will be the most haunted room in there .

THE ABBEY

 THURSDAY  - Took Bailey out for his walk arrived home made a coffee and tea . Cut the grass it was a bit to wet and was laying flat  did the best I could .

Went into the kitchen cooked sausages , baked beans and scrambled eggs with toast and fresh orange juice sorted breakfast out .

The usb car plug in 12 volt adaptor was delivered that I had ordered of eBay it lays flat with the insert so the lid on the centre consul does not hit it .

Need to buy some cheap all black trining shoes for work got to be comfy might even get some slip ons .

Had my grandson over the weekend we all went for Sunday dinner at the Bowshaw Trout had the roast lamb Helen had the roast pork not as good as the roast beef .

MONDAY - All week off work took my Grandson back to my daughters house in the afternoon stayed for a coffee and a chat .

TUESDAY - Went to Ikea at Sheffield for the first time Helen spent well over £200 on furnishings for the house , lambshade new bedding pillow cases and pillows on the way home via the M1 went via Wakefield so I was able to pick up my interior rubber mats for the front and back they do look better than just having  carpets and a lot more practical specially the amount of rain we have been having recently .

We had fish and chips for our dinner tea  and supper with curry sauce we ate them in the car made no mess what so ever which was amazing , We are both going on a ghost hunt tonight at  Kirkstall Abbey  which dates back to 1152 it is in Leeds and we have got to be there for eight went ok we finished way after midnight .

WEDNESAY  - Helen full of cold she is not well we had my sister coming for a meal we had a table booked he Boshaw Trout but had to cancel ,

GROUND HOG DAYS

 Normal weekday routine leave work at 02.00 a.m set the phone up to play my Spotify Tik Tok playlist on the hour that it takes to drive home which is done half the time on the motor way and half done on the normal street roads .

Get home at three go through to the back garden gate and go through the patio doors to the kitchen strip off and throw the work clothes I wear at the hospital in to the washing machine , and then go and have a shower Helen will either be on the sofa or up or in bed watching You Tube or asleep .

After the shower I put on some clean boxers and t-shirt and go make a coffee before going to bed at around half pas three .

Usually I will get up at around half past eight and take Bailey out for his morning walk sometimes Bentley my cat will tag alone and follow us around the walk which is a big loop or circuit  . 

I will come home after forty minutes and make a coffee for me and a cup of tea for Helen . I will take the washing up to the dryer so it is dried ready to iron I will then either cook a sandwich of bacon or sausage or a full English with toast and fresh orange .

I will check Instagram facebook and Tok Tok but this can be later on in the day as I am not obsessed with either of them Facebook I will check in the morning just in case it is someones birthday .

If we need anything from the shops I will go around midday so I will have a few hours in the afternoon to chill out watch aa bit of Netflix or You Tube or a cat nap .

at around four  I will iron my work shirt and trousers the trousers are crap to iron and to be honest I can't be arsed I get them some what right but by no means are they any where near perfect .

I will then cook something to eat which is only in the oven like chicken or fish with fries etc .

I will get ready and dressed for work do my hair which is some fudge hair paste rubbed into my hair shirt on trousers on and in the car for quarter to five heading for work .

usually I get to work for around ten to six that is in the office with the computer on it is ground hog day this coming  Friday I break up for the week a break from the mundane hopefully with a few sunny days thrown in but it is time off regardless I only work for a wage and time of and of course a pension .

THE GOLDEN GOOSE

 SUNDAY - Drove over to Sheffield city centre a thirty minute drive to a designer shop to pick up a Goose light it is based on a old design that as been updated , its a two foot high goose that sits in the window and glows it uses led lights and is 100% plastic it cost £135 but Helen loves it and why not it was her that she money she was spending .If you want something and have the cash get it don't put it off life is way too short not to do it no dithering spend and buy.

Went to the Boshaw Trout  again for Sunday lunch and had exactly the same as what we ordered last Sunday for some reason we did not get the creamed leeks which I only realised when we got back home , and the food although was as good was slightly different the carrots where not the same and the beef was not as stacked up as the previous Sunday there was less but still filling and  it was later in the afternoon then it was we went dined last  week by a good couple of hours and the place was a lot fuller , but saying all of  that we booked again  for this Sunday coming as we was leaving we asked for a table in the conservatory part so we can eat with a view , rain or shine its a nice view .

Went on another  ghost hunt with Helen and some of the team we went back to the P.O.W bunker which was our first hunt . The rain held off and it was warmer it got darker a lot quicker than it did the last time we went , Wayne put the drone up one of the viewers bought him but it was way too windy .it was a good night and of course it was nice catching up with the other team members Wayne and Ryan .

MONDAY - Went to work for the first time in the new car got a parking spot easy enough the back end was slightly over the waste bit of land we can park on and ever so slightly infringing on to the road but bigger cars have parked there then me ,  if there is enough room will have to try and park on an angle.  I also need to figure out to switch the interior lights  on to work when the door opens as they are not coming on when I open any of the doors at two in the morning I need light.

NEW TECH

 SATURDAY - Cleared the car out everything is now  out remembered to get the spare key for the car and the paperwork for transfer of ownership .

Ten minutes after getting to the Skoda garage we was sitting in my new car and we was on the road had to double check regarding the electronic hand brake it is weird not having a ratchet hand brake you manually have to engage and disengage .The climate control is independent on each side also I can operate all the windows from my door panel which is better , the mirrors automatically close which is an easy visual way to see if the car is locked . Filled it full of petrol at the nearest Asda filling station and drove it  home  just getting used to the six speed gear box it is a lot better drive than the Fabia but then it has only 8 miles on the clock have say so far that  I am totally impressed it is by far the best car I have owned .

Those of you are wealthy enough purchase or lease the  top of the range cars like Bentleys , Aston's and Mercedes must be buzzing ever time you get in to your car technology these days in cars is second to none even in the Skoda there is technology assisting you in ways that would not have been possible when I started driving years ago , and the Karoq has more than what the Fabia did .