FINALLY ERECTED

started my wooden pagoda which I had some sort of work bench that I could work off cutting wood on the floor or on the patio table  is not ideal .The size and the  length of timber also make sit difficult but onwards and upwards sometimes you just have to start it ,
Also not having plans to work off makes it more difficult its all in my head and of course any snags or hiccups always happens on the first build after that you know all the pitfalls .

The legs are 100. x 100 x 2400 x four pieces  , the cross members are 150 x 38 x 2400 x 8 pieces so we are talking a little bit of weight to get erected and in situ , was no easy task making props and having spring loaded F clamps helped .It also did not help the weather changing cold and rain but luckily the rain stayed away .

Making the frame was the easy bit its all housed in so it locates in the notches cut and will take apart to fix it in situ .

its up , but was harder than it looks I have only a small pair of step ladders the back cross piece and post went up first the end cross pieces left and right slotted into  wall end cross piece then propped up and clamped  front end legs and cross piece assembled then the left and right piece lowed into position prop unclamped after that the other cross members lifted in to place screwed and fixed .

diagonal bracing cut at 45 degrees and screwed in to place realised the left and right pieces should have been placed differently so the bracing does not fix into the inside but the underneath like the two on the front not the end of the world but if I did it again this would be rectified  , £189 for the wood on eBay ones already to assemble varies from £299 up to £424 plus .

SIX CUTS

My hoodie I ordered came to day for under a tenner it was surprisingly  good quality I might have to order a couple more .
Thinking I need a small man bag for when I am walking Bailey to hold my  drink canister hand wipes phone wallet poo bags  etc bought one of eBay fo £12.99  it has various pocket and is in brown leather , but it won't be real leather but it looks ok ,

The cherry blossom tree we planted when we moved into our house has started to flower I really love any type of cherry blossom tree not sure why but I do suppose that's why I bought one bonsai and Japanese Acer trees lucky I have all three .

SUNDAY - The railway sleepers and rest of the timber came at ten o clock this morning they weighed a tonne Helen helped me move them it was kerb side delivery only the sleepers are to divide the garden from the grass area so the dogs can't get over . Had to remove some turf then had to level the ground , the saw I have will not cut the sleepers they are 245 x 125 x 2.4 so I have ordered an electric  chain saw .

the sleepers will go two high I am coming of on the  left hand side with a diagonal timber then off that a raised bed on the right hand side is h=just having a raised bed I have only six cuts to make so to get my money out of the chainsaw which has cost me £80 my do some tree tank log planters or sell it ..

NINE OFF

WEDNESDAY - Trying to purchase some railway sleepers and fence posts and other timbers to build a pergola and a sleeper wall .I 'am not having much success never mind I reckon timber merchants and d.i.y shops will be some of the first to open maybe in the next few weeks if it is deemed safe to do use , of course its not essential but it would make sitting out in the garden look a lot better .


It is amazing what you crave when you cant easily get things the other week it was strawberries this week it is apple pie and ice cream .Have not been to a decent size supermarket for a few weeks I could do with going to get the other items I cant get from the farm shops .


Bought some cleaning wipes and hair gel bought more hand soap just in case its there if we need it .
Ordered some blank cd discs and covers for Helen 100 of each .Might order her a water colour set of paints she has been watching You Tube and now thinks she can paint should be a laugh .She was totally blown away by the tobacco tin I bought her close the lid the cigarette pops out she though it was high tech magic her little faced beamed was worth it .

Another thing Helen learnt is you don't have to transfer money into pay pal to pay for purchases online she didn't know they used her debit card that it came out directly she though you need funds in pay pal  account to pay for your items.

FRIDAY - Break up tonight for a whole nine days off hopefully we will get some sun and we can chill in the back garden .

SATURDAY - Got a call for the wood I had ordered they are delivering it tomorrow between ten and four including the railway sleepers so I have enough to do the borders and to do the pergola I also ordered a water feature it s the same twin oak barrels we had before , I had to order 15m of outdoor cable and a weather proof junction sleeve so should be all set to go in time for summer .

MAD WORLD

SATURDAY - No work today two days off chilling and relaxing doing nothing . I went to two Fram shops that are two hundred yards apart one is more of a butcher from there I got 2 decent size pieces of  braising steak and a turkey joint , from the farm shop 2 x pasties 10 x pork sausage and I packet of smoked bacon , 6x free range eggs , handful of mushrooms  plus 12x  hash browns , and a bag of regular potatoes , 6x Yorkshire puddings  , carrots , leek and the smallest swede ever and frozen chips , sounds a lot but it is for two of us and will feed us for the next five seven days .

SUNDAY -Helen cut the grass while I watered and feed  the front and back gardens whilst Sunday dinner cooked we was having the turkey joint I bought it was under £4 and was awesome had it with Yorkshires and sweet potatoes and potatoes nicest meal and cheap .Helen also made a trifle for desert yesterday we finished the rest off .

MONDAY -Took Bailey out for his half hour walk posted an important letter that will be a life changer in more ways than one when it happens I will tell you what it is .

I went to work at quarter to two in the morning I received a phone call from a husband of one of my night workers currently on 12 weeks leave  he told me that she had died sad sad news. A  few Christmas's ago she had bought me a bottle of Captain Morgan spiced rum . it was not covid  -19 related she had an asthma attack and the paramedics couldn't save her and she died .

TUESDAY - Went to where we use to live we looked at our old plot the garden is dead the new owners have not moved in they have watered the garden boy not enough all of helens hard work dying sad but it is not our home .
the static home site had not changed any we dropped of some books  we had borrowed and Helen had a pair of crocs and shorts for another neighbour  further down the road .In return we got some tinned tangerines and fruit cocktail and two packets of curry sauce and a chow mien sauce not bad gratefully  received .Roll on Friday I have a full nine days off no work .

Stay healthy and covid -19 free  my friends I pray and hope everyone is coping and pulling through unscathed in these stressful times hope we are eating good and getting out for our allowed exercise period so look after one another other and we will beat this at the moment its a mad mad world.

SUN LOUNGERS AND BARBECUES

Was thinking the other day all we might leave behind when we leave this world is what we post on the media web sites Instagram  , Facebook etc. when we have left this mortal coil all what remains is our photos posts and what we write online I think that is quite nice thought so make sure you leave awesome  photos and write nice things .

Bought another ten cans of  Kopparberg fruit cider strawberry and kiwi I prefer pear but on a hot day any cold cider will .

Need to get some baking potatoes to cook in the oven to go with my canned chilli I manage to buy , with cheese on top it is a filling tasty quick  and a meal I enjoy and never get sick off.

Still having trouble buying liquid hand wash soap and boxes of dog food apart from these items everything we require I am able to buy , this is going to local garages petrol stations I am sure if I went to bigger supermarkets I be fine .


Filled the tank up with petrol how the price has dropped I do a few miles each day so its a good saving on my weekly fuel consumption.

Helen is sleeping in the spare room I get home at around quarter to three in the morning I get undressed outside I leave my shoes in a plastic carrier bag outside and enter through the rear patio doors I do hope no one has any security cameras pointing in the direction of my garden . Going inside my house I put my clothes straight in to the washer , I TOUCH NOTHING i go upstairs to the bedroom and wash my hair and myself under a hot shower before putting clean clothes on , I will then go down stairs and have a coffee and feed my two cats then start the washing machine I then eventually get to bed for around half three in the morning I will watch You Tube fore twenty minutes half an hour before I try and go to sleep .

Need to buy a barbecue even if its only a table top one the others we left at the static home were way past there sell by date we need new also need a couple of sun loungers hopefully not an impossible task.

LIFE'S A BLAST

TUESDAY -  Contacted my pension advisor see how much I have in my pension pot it was more than I thought don't get me wrong I wont be on easy street but I wont be in trouble for a few years .I can always try and always get another job be it part time or reduced hours .
Working where I work , I am in the lions den I don't want to be in the lions den its not just one lion there's a pack of them on every corridor , lift or ward and some are invisible the less time spent here the safe you are .


Today was sunny it felt like summer you could feel the heat , the sky was blue and the water from the boating lake glinted from the rays of the sun , lambs are running in the fields birds are signing you get the picture  for a few moments I forgot all the shit going on in the world , the only think spoiling it was me having to go to work setting of at five to get to work for six , it obvious I need to loose the job .
Fuck it I thought as I emailed my advisor to see what I need to do to start the paper work to cash in my pension hopefully a few weeks and I will be in a better position to decide if am out of here forever .


I really hope and pray that normal life returns for everyone as quick as possible ,I know for some this might not ever happen or it might be years down the road  ,I hope the dying ends and no one else ever gets infected and the people of all nations join together and put the world back together again better than its ever been .





WEDNESDAY - My connector that fits on the tap so I can attach my hose pipe came today I was sceptical when I unwrapped it and offered it up to the tap thought it was not going to fit but it adjusts and fits great it is the best tap connector ever , no blow back no leaks no spurting even when the water pressure is fully turned up it stays in place its ideal , it sorted my no outside tap and it is  money well spent its funny how the most simple thing can make your day , I can wash the car now although I 'am waiting for 5 litres of car shampoo to be delivered . Although some doctor twat is telling you not to clean your car  even if it is parked on your own drive ,  and watering the garden is a blast .

TWO EVILS

EASTER SUNDAY  - Hope everyone is well and virus free and are self isolating as recommended by their government hopefully everyone had s great Easter .

Cooked some rib eye steak we had it for tea with mash and peas and made a mushroom and onion gravy awesome the steak was dear but was worth it need to remember to buy some horseradish sauce.

Watered the garden hours later it rained typical hopefully will give all the plants a good watering and keep the soil damp .

I am not looking forward to going to work ,  a porter that I work along side of  posted on his facebook that they are running out of PPE including face masks  , that is outrageous how can this happen no one wants to put their own life at risk people will walk  stay at home and I can't blame them. 2000 deaths recorded in New York in one day and the U.K is over 10,000 deaths not good and the Nhs England can't provide essential ppe to its staff the virus has won .




MONDAY - Chilled out most of the day I cooked chicken breast rice and fries for tea did nothing major all day took Bailey out for a walk in the morning it was quite cold , played on the X-box for all of forty minutes and watched You Tube .


 On the way to work I managed to get some dried pasta and some bread cakes plus some tinned fruit and tinned Stag chilli as well as microwave packets of golden veg rice and bottles of Zoflora . Was finally able to get some Ceaser's  dog food . Some of the other goodies I got are punnet of large strawberries,  4 x nan breads , 3 x baked beans and 4 x tins of fruit and two boxes of coffee pods for my coffee machine cooking oil and anti bacterial wipes to leave in the car also got Helen four packets of chewing gum .


Wild fires in Chernobyl just when you thought shit couldn't get any worse if it aint the Chinkies  its the Ruskies thinking pandemic is bad  now its a bad case of radioactive waste fallout if the fire hits the reactors ,  if the virus don't kill you the radiation will  please God intervene .


LISTENING TO - Bob Dylan " Murder Most Foul " listened to this track back to back three times .

WE WONT SEE IT

Last shift tonight and I can't wait to have he Weeknd off no work until Monday evening .  This week as seemed to go on forever and seems like it will never end I look forward to home time each shift walking to my car and just driving home , I am getting undressed outside each night and then jumping in to the shower before I to go to sleep , But if that what it takes then fine .

SATURDAY - Got up just before nine a.m   took Bailey out over the fields  and behind the houses .I cooked myself a breakfast missed out yesterday only had a dinner all day so I was starving , doing nothing all day chilling out watched the film The Loft which was ok . Did some cleaning around the house took Bailey out again in the afternoon weather quite sunny and warm .

Reports of a vaccine being ready for September FOR COVID 19 hopefully if this is true we will get our lives back hopefully things will return to some form of normality but more than anything hopefully lessons will have been learned and those who have died will have not died in vain . We must make amends to the world and our planet including the animals on land and in oceans we must stop taking risks with the future of mankind and we must stop all wars and rebuild bridges and end all racism treat all equally regardless and start by improving  the lives of those living in slums those who go without  food or clean water everyone must have affordable housing clean clothes the ability to wash and bath and enough food and life's basic necessities to survive and flourish , both the old and young should be protected , and how do we pay for this easy stop build weapons of mass destruction nuclear  bombs and anymore bullets we have enough to shoot the entire population 100 x over  we don't need anymore ever . surely its never too late to learn from our mistakes if we don't we are all doomed the planet will survive will recover the difference is we won't be around to see.

STAYING SAFE

Its a good time to read a book I started and never finished to watch films I have but not yet watched and to listen to new albums , pod casts anything to break the day up  maybe we should all write a memo to ourselves what we are going to do and what we are going to change and how we want to spend the rest of our lives once this shit has ended or just to remember those who was not lucky enough to make it surely we owe it to ourselves to change ,and  do new things to help others and be more grateful for this place Earth and what we all call home its only too late if we stop believing  .

One good thing about going back to work it gives the day some sort of purpose and of course makes paying the bills easier .
Now we have our new home I don't want to loose it I want to keep what I have for me and Helen this might not  happen if I have no job , Saying that I don't want to risk my or Helen's health by getting infected that would be worse case scenario that could happen , can always get another job not sure about another life .

Got home this morning stripped off outside the patio doors at the back of the house and I put all my work clothes straight in to  the washer I left my shoes and belt out side , I then jumped into the shower washed my hair and body can't be too careful it is going to be my new routing strip and shower before bed .

Finally finally got our wheelie bins delivered I put out the recycling waste this morning for collection after the bin wagon called an hour later Kirklees council showed up dropping green and black bins off we got one of each was really happy been waiting since end of February ordered some white numbers of eBay to identify that they are our bins they are brand new will have to try and keep them clean nothing worse than a smelly bin .

Just over two hours and I will be heading back to work will see what has changed today if anything to everything , I don't want extra work and I certainly don't want to wander around checking places and areas that don't need checking just because management think I want something to do if I am not needed I rather just be in the office where if I am needed people can phone me rather than me going to them , makes sense and less contact with people less chance I have of taking anything home with me.

JUST THE THREE OF US

TUESDAY - Last day self isolation I go back to work tomorrow night back at the General infirmary based in the city for my first shift  , I have only three nights to do so its a short week before the weekend hopefully it is quite .

I went to the supermarket as we needed dog food , eggs , bread both white and wholemeal  I also bought a fresh chicken , two packets of chicken Kievs and two packets of chicken breasts in bread crumbs , I also bought two posh  pizzas a spicy one for me and a plain one for Helen.and some frozen cod fillets and frozen potato fries  I also bought some Ginster's Cornish pasties either just for a quick snack or a meal with mash and beans ,

I managed also to get some fruit and salad stuff for Helen  , and for me I bought more Kenco coffee blue top and brown sugar coffee and also I bought more Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee cappuccino pods  two boxes .
The supermarket was empty more or less of people I went at 08.30 there was only a few shopping most of the shelves were full they had toilet rolls and most of lifespan's essentials I did also stock up on gravy mix oxo cubes bisto gravy granules and stock pots

I washed the car it's not been washed for ages well over six weeks as  I couldn't get any car shampoo whilst I was out I improvised and  I used my Lynx for men shower gel it cleaned it after it dried I then went over the surface again with a waterless wax and shine it looked a load better I  also did the interior and door cills and all the glass .
I have ordered of eBay 5 litres of Simoniz car wash and a new extra large drying cloth for next time I wash the car .

Watered all the plants in the garden back and front its hard without a hose I have ordered a tap connector hopefully to attach the hose to the indoor tap until we can get a outside one fitted .

Cooked a roast chicken dinner with roasted sweet potatoes and white potatoes I also did some roasted parsnips swede and carrot with Yorkshire puddings and a great chicken gravy we had it late on at nearly nine p.m.

WEDNESDAY - Took Bailey out fo this walk I could have done it early was awake at o stupid O'clock but it was just after eight , Bentley for the first time since we moved decided to follow us which was nice not sure the where about of George so it was just the three of us  .

I am back at work tonight at six ironed my shirt and trousers after washing them even washed my canvas O'neil belt after taking the buckle off I will leave this at work until the virus as disappeared for good  so all and all I am set for my first shift saying that roll on the weekend .

RUNNING OUT OF JOBS

Have been coughing and this morning I woke up with a headache I have also been feeling  some what dizzy and I am full of cold but apart from all of this I am fine .
People will still get other illnesses apart from the dreaded Coronavirus its life I don't think for one moment I am ill with the virus but it is scary my cough seems to be going it has not been that bad today . I do feel warm but this house is so well insulated it stays warm even with the heating on low turn it up and it does get unbearably hot quite quickly .

I have a craving for chicken pizza with jalapeños and chilli sauce , for a steak and ale pie and a Sunday roast dinner its weird how you suddenly get the strangest craving for certain foods.
The other day it was chocolate and Coca Cola , I also could murder a really nice cheese cake or trifle .

Today I got delivered from eBay some black face masks a packet of five and a two pin shaver adopter came can re-charge my Braun shaver two things new builds don't have a shaving point and a outside water tap or at least ours doesn't .

SUNDAY - Fixed the kitchen maid in the kitchen area we are not having so that it  rises and falls so it is fixed in situ we are waiting for the S-hooks to arrive so we can hang all the pans up , I found the joist and screwed the pulleys in to place without hitting any wiring or pipes .

Went over to my daughters house filled up with petrol on the way stopped at the Co-Op bought some curries ,bread , chocolate and cider for me and daughter . I  also was able to take  her the Anker ear pods that  I bought her a while ago but never got round to giving her them , we talked over the fence we made sure that we both  stayed well back it was weird to say the least we stayed ten minutes before leaving it was worth it .

BURNING BIN

Did something I have not done for years the last time I can remember I did this was when we lived at Green Hill Road must at least eight years ago if not longer what is it well I ahd  a bath I have made do with showers ,  the van bath we use to live in was only 3/4 size so I never bothered  but now we have a proper full size bath I decided to have a leisurely soak , filled with radox muscle relax it was nice and did  feel relaxing specially on my shoulders and hips but unless it is winter I am really not that into it after I had let the water out I turned on  the shower and showered as normal no doubt twice as clean .

I am starting to hate being indoors days are boring I took the bath panel off and adjusted the hot water restrictor so the water from the bath tap runs hotter then what it was set up for before we moved in this is to prevent scalding , but it was way too cold .anyway I adjusted it before I had my bath .

Am I missing things yes simple things like going to the shops and doing a normal shop  unafraid it  is high on my list meeting family members free travelling to their houses .I am missing ice cream and chocolate fudge cake as well as pizza , I could have bought pizza the other day but didn't , I did buy chocolate  goodies I an also craving banana milk shake .
I have loads of cider in the boot of the car I won't run out for a while which is nice to know .
Bought some binoculars I keep forgetting to take them out with me I shall go hang them up with my coat ready to take out in the morning .

Had two deliveries today we ordered a wooden garden shed that came early this morning I was going to leave it until tomorrow but I though we really shouldn't put off what we can do today so I assembled it with the help of Helen .I assembled one gabled  panel and one side panel then did the other end panel then the side panel with the door opening next I did the two roof panels then did the roofing  felt next I hinged the door fixed the rest of panels with all the screws including to the base put on the fillets on the sides and on the roof took around four hours to complete .

Its big enough to store the gardening equipment and gardening tools as well as some compost and a few other bits and pieces put some hooks inside and a solar pull cord light the panel for which is on the shed roof it is the first shed i have ever constructed which is weird amount of sheds I have had and it just fits on the paving slabs .

The second thing delivered today was an incinerator dustbin for burning house hold waste as we are still waiting for our black and green bins to be delivered  its been over a month ,  council a fcuking joke .

Home made fish and chips for tea can't wait pan fried with bread and butter and pear cider bliss .

NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET

Still not washed the car and then it rained and I thought fcuk as we are under lock down and as I still don't have any car wash soap , and it did look kind of less dirty after the rain , plus we are not going out in it all seemed pointless .

Baked some plain home made scones and to be fair they was pretty good I which I had some fruit sultanas and cherries etc but just had the flour and other ingredients , still they tasted pretty good be better with some clotted cream but never mind .

Bought some curries for tea two chicken Kormas I was suppose to get one Korma and something different for me totally messed up and got two kormas never mind will eat it .
Had the slow cooker out threw in some braising steak with mushrooms , leeks , swede , carrots and potatoes it was cooking all day , we will have it with pancakes and roasted sweet and roast potatoes .

Took the photo this morning whilst I was walking Bailey on my iPhone , I think I walked past this building  the other day no neighbours shops or passing vehicles think it is a forestry building for those managing the trees and land what a job that must be .

Received a call from my Line manager he wants me to do some of my staff appraisals whilst I am at home self isolating , I am due back at work next Wednesday I have started to do the basics and will email him when they are completed .Going back to work is going to be testing specially for Helen all I can do is keep washing my hands sanitising changing clothes washing clothes and generally keeping  not putting myself in harms way , there is cover -19 patients on wards and yes people are dying I think there has been twelve deaths this is sad but it could be worse hopefully when it peaks the death rate does not increase too much if at all .

My Daughter is doing ok she is surviving well with her son she must be missing adult company but she is glad she is not on her own I ring her every day to check she is fine she is doing learning with her son and going for walks and doing the odd trip to go shopping for essential items .