TOO SHORT

 FRIDAY - Ordered a new Flexi hose of Amazon it has brass fittings and is over 5oft long hopefully its leak and puncture free at least until the end of summer fingers crossed .

Its my daughters birthday today she is doing great she has her own business cutting colouring hair she has a good client base .I remember taking her home from the hospital after her birth was snowing so much water as flowed under the bridge the changes that have taken place in my life alone truly was years ago .

My so phoned me first thing this morning obviously its my payday he had no electric I sent him £20 not sure how long that will last him my wage does not subside his living costs I will buy him a bag of groceries and take them over Saturday .

Went over to Helens parents at Acaster Malbis was pointless washing the car its dirty again the dogs are well behaved in the car from getting them in to taking them out you don't hear a whinge out of them .

On the way home did some food shopping can't believe the way prices have shot up some items by 150% I reckon the cost of a weekly shop is at least 50% dearer at the moment my wages do cover it but it is  getting closer and closer to us not having the type of life style that we had a couple of years ago .

Which will mean eating out will be less frequent travelling will be cut down making do with what we have  not renewing my phone contract I have said this before and it has never happened but it would be a saving of over fifty pounds a month .

SATURDAY - The Flexi hose seems good quality but its way too short to get to the front of the house so I can wash the car oops.

Bought a bottle of Michael Kors Gorgeous for Helens valentine present they had it on show but I had to order it to pick up in the store Monday you also get a free Michael Kors tote bag .

COPS

 WEDNESDAY - Its always nice waking up on your first dy off work specially when you have a full seven ays off .

I cooked a lasagne using all the main ingredients including a generous amount of red wine I also did my own garlic baguettes we had Equinox paranormal team around it was a good night and I got to bed just after midnight which equals a good night sleep for me.

THURSDAY - Washed the car its been ages it was covered in grit salt from the roads to be honest it looked bad it was embarrassing driving it looked a wreck anyway it looks 100% better I need to order a new hose pipe I am going cheaper no more Hozelock just a run of the mill hose of Amazon if it last a year it won't owe me anything .

My second book I ordered came from World Of Books "Cops" I have started reading Nam by the same author .

NAM

 SUNDAY - Slow cooked a large joint of pork shoulder we had it with greens and Yorkshire puddings and of course roast potatoes.There was half left when we finished carving it up for us the dogs and cats we decided to take it over to my son so he could have warm roast pork sandwiches .

We also bought him some bread , butter , jam , cookies and juice  we saw him he looked pissed off cant blame him life with no tv a killer .I have a friend at work bringing me some books in so he will have something to read as all my reading material is in the form of ebooks.

I have ordered two books I read years ago both by Mark Baker both are excellent reads "Nam" and "Cops". I will read then before passing them on to my son .

MONDAY - Two night shifts then I am off for seven days yippee .

TUESDAY - My book I ordered on Amazon arrived delivered by the postman .

NO TV

 So the Tate brothers remain in jail I hope they are proven innocent of all charges at least what ever people think the Romanian police are not being bribed no one is buying their way out of prison .Every day would feel like a week I am guessing they will be held separately apart from each other which will make it ten times harder hopefully they stay strong and the Matrix does not win .After writing this I have learned that they are having their detention extended until the 28th of February not good .

Its a lesson to make the most of your freedom go out do new things seek out nature and fresh air go to the beach eat good food and above all do the things that are free and cost no or little money , every day is day that is gone forever and tomorrow is not guaranteed .

My son is in a shared house it can't be easy he has used up most of his options but he needs to be grateful for all he has .I remember a few years ago I was living out of my bag on a camp bed in my sisters and husbands back room .When I had to buy basic things to survive it always improved my living standards I enjoyed having limited possessions I valued everything no matter how small it was nice starting again I appreciated all I had .

I moan about working and moan about needing more money a better hourly rate of pay whatever the nurses get should make our wage better as we are all on agenda for change pay bands .

SATURDAY - Helen has bought gluten free bread over £3.50 for a small loaf of bread oat milk double the price of normal milk gluten free pitta bread double the price we tried to get oatmeal porridge but we couldn't see any she also bought plant base butter which was cheaper than Lurpak .Why does doing anything healthy cost more money its like the government wants you to be unhealthy die quicker don't collect your pension they save money .

The tv I picked up only this week for my son is busted and he is back to having nothing to watch no monitor for his game console his  life back to being boring .

MORE SNOW

 TUESDAY - Looks like we need a new tumbler condenser dryer the one we bought a couple of years ago when we moved in is not revolving and its smoking .Be the best part of £250 hopefully the new one will last longer.

Drove over to pick my son up so he could collect the rest of his belongings .The main thing being his tv and playstation console. His only leisure activity has been reading which you can only do so many hours in one day so his days now will be less boring .

After sorting my sons move out I went to Kfc for some fried chicken obviously gravy and fries .I had my work uniform in my bag and had a hour or so to kill I went to Pc World to look at tech laptops and chrome books are the cheapest they have ever been and the spec the highest a basic laptop years ago was £2500 .

WEDNESDAY - Leaving work half way home it started to snow it didn't take long for the car to loose traction a few hairy moments half hour later I might not have made it home love the snow just hate driving in it specially on steep winding country roads 3am in the morning .

IT SNOWED

 MONDAY -No rain today ,  just for a change its snowing  it came down fast for a couple of hours then it stopped and the sun came out .There is still snow but getting to and from work won't be an issues . Once the car is deiced and the wipers unfrozen from the windscreen .Rosie loved the snow its her first time seeing proper fallen snow .

CHILLED WEEKEND

 FRIDAY - Booked some annual leave for later on the year I have booked  three days either side off on my birthday and I have booked three days either side of of Helens birthday , mine being  in October and Helens in November .

SATURDAY - Its raining again and continued for most of the day .Went out late afternoon to buy the ingredients for a smoked ham tagliatelle I bought fresh pasta and two tubs of double cream onions garlic and baguettes for garlic bread .I also bought some pancakes , waffles , strawberries , raspberries and maple syrup and ice cream .

SUNDAY - Spent the best part of four hours prepping and cooking our Sunday dinner that was the highlight of the day .Spoke with my daughter she was fine spoke with my son he wanted money he had run out of cigarette papers , filters and a lighter I sent transferred him enough to cover these items .

We have had a chilled weekend done nothing what so ever have not ventured out at all today apart from getting a couple of cans of cider from out of the boot of the car . I did walk the dogs which I will do unless its torrential rain or I am ill .

CATS ARE SHARING

 THURSDAY - Left work at two a.m drove over to my sons new home.Its not the best house on the street .

But its a roof its dry he has his own bedroom the bathroom had a corner bath and the kitchen was massive it has a back yard and it has got to be better than living in a crack house of an hotel in the city centre .I had took him some extra bedding and towels over a couple of pans and basic other items .My son needs to start and changing his habits before there is no going back .at least he is not in a prison cell yet and should be grateful for what he has .When you have very little everything you are given or buy improves your life .

I go home after three showered and went to bed , grateful for my surroundings and standard of living even if it does mean working for what we have I rather work for it than be given it I rather live where I want to live rather than be told its this or nothing .

The weather has been utterly nothing but wind and rain the reservoirs must be getting full from the drought this summer .The amount of surface water on the roads and lanes is torrential and at junctions are themselves like small lakes .

FRIDAY - A house around the corner from us is on the market for £515,000 looking at it online its very nice its four bedrooms two bathrooms and is only a few years old I need to win the lottery .

saying that we could do with five bedrooms because  either the dogs or cats would have to share a bedroom .

NEW RECORDS FOR ME .

 SUNDAY - Slow cooker out braising beef slow cooking for seven hours with side , carrots and potatoes left the onions out so the dogs can share it with us 

Went shopping bought some Kenco cappuccino sachets and some jalapeno  and cheese flavoured max strength crisps

MONDAY - Back to work tonight a boring day .My son has be rented a house from Wakefield housing support  its a great help for him  a step forward  hopefully he won't blow it and mess it up , you only get so many chances in this life I hope he realises this and makes the most of it .The rent is super cheap if he gets a job but it still really cheap as all bills are included he needs to move forward and don't revert to anything that is not positive to his well being .

TUESDAY - The Tate brothers are in court I wonder how much money they would pay to be put under house arrest 50k a day each or even 100k at what price is your freedom worth especially if you can order Kfc chicken , Dominos pizza , beer and cigars especially when you just lost your appeal against being held in prison for thirty days .

Bought the Guinness book of records it was out when I was going to school it was a fascinating read specially before everything was on line and the internet was as far removed as the Matrix is .

THE GIFT

 FRIDAY - I feel better not quite 100% but differently on the road to improvement . Helen is still coughing and breathing is wheezy and she is still having the odd dizziness but she is also getting there .

I am taking her to the doctors to she if she needs antibiotics or any steroids to help her improve even further .After the weekend is over I will be back at work .Helen as a viral infection no medicines antibiotics or pills will sort it out she does as to wait until she beats it on her own .Hopefully she is over the worse .

Bought my son a £10 top up sent him the code so he has is life line for another month my daughter his sister os going to give him her old iPhone if she can wipe its content she as forget her password and no longer has the same email address. 

SATURDAY - Phoned work deja vu I told them I should return this Monday I have had eleven days off work how time flies .

I went over to my daughters house to pick up the iPhone she had trouble wiping the phone she had stopped using the old email address and Apple ID sohe had to phone apple support to get the phone wiped so she could hand it over to her brother .

I gave him a pair of apple wired ear phones and a lighting cable and charger plug I hope he looks after the phone and he does not sell it , its an iPhone nine and is in mint condition .She was going to give him it on Christmas Day but he failed to show she was reluctant to give him it but it was just stuck in a drawer so she relented . I hope he appreciates this gift she could have sold it on .

Hopefully Monday he will have a better idea of  what's happening with him I think he might be in the hotel for a few more weeks .

After dropping the phone off we went to a McDonald's the meal was shit I totally  prefer Burger King but they don't do fillet of fish which Helen likes .

BACK TO SQUARE ONE

 THURSDAY - Not going to work today or Friday so I have th next four days away from work going to make the most of my time at home .

Still following the Tate brothers incarcerations I watched a pod cast where Andrew said money is an amplifier well I  guess being in a prison cell with money must also be an amplifier and must make life even harder no ordering cigars fine vodkas and food .No pizza deliveries no riding in his Bugatti , strolling on the beach , chilling in his yard I rather be a brokie and be free , than a multi millionaire  top- g and in jail.

The bed and bedding along with the  food and bathing facilities worse than the lowest star hotel you must miss everything your mind going back to your Christmas shopping trip when you was free had thousands to spend . I really hope he is freed if found innocent and I hope he realises he should be helping people and charities its alright converting to muslim than living the life of a sinner very hypercritical live true to others and become the best top g possible .

Speaking of low star hotels my only son had to leave where he was living his house mate who  is unstable unsuitable and dysfunctional  to be with which means he also  looses his job .

Because of this the council have put him up in a hotel in a near by city centre .It has to be better than living on the streets . He gets to sleep in a warm room a nice bed and hot shower I took him some clean clothes over and toiletries as well as some food .They are trying to get him in to some shared housing but not until Monday Helen and I will help him up to a certain point but he as to change his lifestyle be responsible for his actions and prepare to change tracks if he dosent  he is on route to self destruct .as it is now he is back to square one .

STILL AT HOME

 WEDNESDAY - Another day I feel slightly better still coughing and sneezing feel tied and basic things are a effort just feeding the dogs and cats takes motivation obviously I do it they can't feed themselves .Helen is still worse than me and she got infected the first a couple of days before me .

Unless you can go places feel well enough to go out staying inside is boring the weather is rubbish my eyes are watering so its hard to read or focus on written words .Tv gets boring after a few days and there is only so much content on You Tube to keep me interested .

Cooked smoked gammon battered onion rings chips and poached eggs for tea still feeling the same at least I have got no worse I can see me having the rest of the week off work can't risk infecting patients and staff I come in contact with .

ANOTHER DAY ON SICK

 TUESDAY- Rang in sick again not a great start to the new year I am still bad with the flu I have a soar throat and bouts of coughing a very running nose constant headache not generally not feeling that great.I Went and and bought some essentials like different  soups and two different breads that's it as well as extra bottles of Lucozade , Lurpak , Alta Rica coffee , and semi skimmed milk all  lifes essentials .

I stretched out on the sofa with the dogs and Watched You Tube most of the day following any updates regarding to Mr  A.Tate . Apparently the Romanian police force are taking his car collection he will be able to ask the chief of police and ask what's the colour of your Bugatti bitch .If they are doing that no doubt they will freeze his bank accounts and repossessing his house to boot hopefully they won't convict an innocent man .

As the day progressed I did feel somewhat better my sore throat as eased and my coughing as improved I am still sneezing alot and I did another covid lateral flow test which was negative again .I need a shave and a shower to liven me up .

CHRISTMAS ALL BOXED UP

 SUNDAY EVENING  - Cant believe it is  back to work I go tomorrow first shift  of the new year at its paid at double time its the only time we are paid a realistic hourly rate  another plus the roads should be quiet for the evening rush hour.

MONDAY - Helen is still not well I don't see how I can go to work and leave her home alone there will be no managers in to authorise my absence but I don't have a lot of choice I will take it unpaid or annual leave I don't care I have to be at home Helen can't cope I have a duty of care to look after her as well as the two dogs and two cats .

Spent the morning and part of the afternoon taking down the two Christmas trees , other  decorations and three sets of outdoor lights from the guttering,  railings and garden pagoda and all boxed up and put away until later in the year  . I bet this year will fly by and it will be Christmas before we know it .

I really want to read more books this year its find ones that hold my interest I have downloaded "The Jigsaw Man" and  "The Binding Room" both by  Nadine Matheson and "The Chalk Man " by C.J.Tudor  as well as The Couple at Number 9 by Claire Douglas a new Shari Lapena comes out later this year .

Films just the same I can't get into them to say they are predictable and boring for some  is an understatement .I have " Lamborghini The Man Behind the Legend" and "The Wolf On Wall Street " to watch hopefully they will keep me entertained .

NEW YEARS DAY

 TWENTY TWENTY THREE

SUNDAY - Not a great stat to the new year Helen still not 100% well which is annoying we managed to stay up until the clocks struck midnight a non eventful passing into 2023 , at least we made it .

Helen is still not well I was going to cook a beef brisket but it would be a waste so I defrosted some chicken breasts for our first Sunday dinner of the new year .

Took the dogs out for their morning walk half way through it stated raining so back home for coffee ,

Did a roast chicken dinner with spinach , broccoli , sprouts , roast parsnips and potatoes plus a giant home made by myself Yorkshire pudding .The dogs and one of the chicken breasts so they where happy .

Think we are taking the Christmas trees and decorations down tomorrow .  So that's it another Christmas completed over and done with  hopefully I will be putting them back up for Christmas 2023 .