REAL WORLD

 THURSDAY - Bought twenty two bags of plum slate for the opposite side of the drive which is shared by Adam our neighbour we covered all of the soil with the slate .Watching the latest episode of " Gangs Of London" although I have watched them before I  binged watched the first and second series to get refreshed I have also got the first three series of "Godfather Of Harlem" after seeing a trailer on YouTube.

FRIDAY  Went over to York to visit Helens parents we meet up with her cousin Sharon and Craig and headed off to Wetherby whaler in York we all had fish and chips apart from Helen she had scampi .

APRIL - Started having to clock in and out at work its pissing a lot of people off for years they have been signing in and out but not entering the correct time and in some cases leaving work an hour earlier or later than the signing time suggests that they started or left which of course is fraud .Obviously that will now stop so earlier and late buses time to join the real world .

FINISHED

 THURSDAY -Did the front of house or more to the point the front garden area .It has never been a pasture of green , from the house getting built real cheap turf at least it now looks fresh and clean rather than mud looking  .We have thrown down numerous boxes of grass seed over the last four years  , and even  returfed it all to no avail . So bye bye grass we trimmed  the trees back a few days ago . Now the grass is gone for good  the picture below has had thirteen bags of Yorkshire cream gravel it needs another fifteen bags for it to be complete .It needs the liner trimming back  and the wood work on the right needs  repainting so it looks fresh  for around £150 job done .Think it needs a bird bath and a sun dial Helen wants some large silver spheres will see .

FRIDAY - Should be breaking up tonight or Saturday morning but I had a unplanned snow day later on in the year  so I cancelled the  Monday next week annual leave  and have fours days off from Tuesday .

Bought some plum coloured slate makes a nice difference to the right side slate weighs a lot more than the gravel .This part of the garden is finished maybe a few pots .

WHERE WE WAS

 The Little cottage that we rented and lived in when we first moved in to Holmfirth is on the market for £169.950 it as been totally refurbished with new kitchen , bathroom and radiators it looks well nice it also looks bigger than it is .The floor space down is more than the floor space upstairs because of the bathroom that's ben put in the corner originally back in the day it was a mill cottage 

GET A GRIP

 SATURDAY - Water pressure hosed the rear patio some of the green alga was still left behind will have to get some solution to get rid .It does look 100% better and a lot cleaner roll on summer .I also refitted the outside light that came down in the snow fall from the roof I had to fix it through the front plate its slight skewwhiff but its working will have to re drill one side  to pull it level .

SUNDAY - Found some Jeye's fluid put it on the back patio let it dried in whilst I did the front flags and block paving it was quite messy and took quite long to get rid of all the muck I had to move the car after that we cut back some conifers and trimmed some other bushes Helen made the mess and I cleaned it up .

After finally finishing and tidying up and hitting the shower we decided to go to the Wetherby Whaler for fish and chips in the restaurant it was shut for refurbishment so we ended up going to the Sovereign and had fish and chips in beer better very  nice . 

WEDNESDAY - Did the top of the dividing wall with the pressure washer its blowing water from the front of the machine in a word its Fcuked as well as my cordless drill which for some reason longer operates put the handles that Helen bought on her desk and bureau had to cut every bolt down .And we need more handles at least ten to do the rest of the drawer fronts.

 

OLD DESK

 WEDNESDAY - Took Rosie to the groomers for her cut and shampoo it takes around two hours .I hate leaving her I hope she realises she will be back home in a few hours I always talk to her on the drive there she's my princess .She looked super fluffy and clean and all prim and proper hopefully they cut her nails short enough 

THURSDAY - Took the bureau and desk upstairs to Helens office , smashed up the existing Ikea desk vanity unit so I could assemble the new desk and bureau to move everything and refit the desk took a couple of hours preparation takes longer then the actual task .It looks classic and more professional .Every scratch and dent adds character to it just need to fit the new d-handles in matt black they should get here this Saturday another job for my calendar .

CANT MISS IT

 SUNDAY -  Went over to a school in Huddersfield for a Spiritual and well being event you can buy various spiritual objects tarot cards incense stick  dream catchers and the like it was ok Helen bought a few crystal balls and a triangular dream catcher we was there just under three hours once you have been round it twice there is not much left to do .

We went to The Foxglove Inn for Sunday dinner we both decided to order the trio which included  turkey , belly pork and beef we ordered pate to start with before our main dish came the waiter called and said they had run out of beef so I had extra belly pork and Helen had extra turkey .

TUESDAY - Went over to Wortley near Sheffield to pick up a corner office desk and a bureau we went to Wortley Hall grounds to the Chimney Cottage we was told to look for the chimney we was told you cant miss it , the lady selling us the furniture had two white German Shepherd dogs they were gorgeous .

DOGS ON FILM

 SATURDAY -It is quite sunny and the temperature over the last couple of days has improved  although there is still a ground frost most mornings .Latest purchase from Amazon is a Blurams indoor swivel tracking camera it cost under thirty pounds the app and set up really easy .It focus and image quality very good truly impressed obviously you get what you pay for , but to be honest its flawless so far no regrets .We bought so I can see how Helen is when I am away from home due to her health issues also as well as seeing her we can have a live conversation  in real time so its well worth the money . Be nice to see what the dogs and cats get up to when we are out .

DAFFODILS AND SAUSAGES

 SUNDAY -Went to a farm shop we use to be regulars at when we live din our static home at Flockton.We buy most of our sausages ,bacon and Sunday roast and veg from Thorncliffe Farm shop very near to Emley  moor Tower .We bought some thin long pork sausages , a joint of pork , lambs liver and sausage casserole , swede , carrots ,baby potatoes , extra large Yorkshire puddings  bread cakes and some potted miniature  daffodils with Helens birth year on the front was the only one they had on display 1968.

Cooked the liver and sausage casserole for Sunday lunch along with the carrots and swede  and one of the Yorkshires with extra sausage the dogs love lambs liver we will have the pork through the week .

Went to the garden centre Helen bought a load of bulbs and daffodils to plant in the garden and new liners for the wrought iron planters we have under the front facing downstair windows .

3 IN 1

 THURSDAY - Rang in sick for the rest of the week no work until Monday still sleeping on the corner sofa with a quilt and pillows would be a decent sleep if I was not consistently coughing .Went out to get fish and chips from the local chippy we were both craving them and it saves cooking .Watched Kim Basinger in "The Getaway " and "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood".

FRIDAY - More bedding came from Asda George and Next all white sets in brushed cotton .slept in the bedroom first time all week be nice to get back into bed not messing around setting the sofa up. 

SATURDAY - Started watching the Gorge and Apple released film was ok watching it in two sittings .Did nothing much .

SUNDAY - Went to see Helen's parents at Acaster Malbis my coughing has subsided other wise we wouldn't be going had  salmon and prawn sandwiches and to follow apple pie , trifle and Victoria sponge cake three separate desert cakes in one bowl  a great combo .

RINGING AGAIN

 SATURDAY - Ordered a new Ring video door bell for the front door the one we  currently have fitted keeps dropping its wi-fi connection sometimes within seconds of it being set  and the door bell when pressed does not always ring which happens nearly always so we ordered a new 2024 model Ring door bell hopefully this solves all known issues .

SUNDAY - Went to see Sharon's and Lee's new house its a work in progress but is 80% done and looks nice the bathroom very modern with black taps and shower head the kitchen is from Ikea and looks well they have to be moved in by march they should do it .On returning home late afternoon I  Cooked a turkey and gammon dinner with home cooked Yorkshire puddings , mash and carrot and swede with a few sprouts for good measure .

MONDAY - Not well again bad cough sore throat and head ache I rang in sick did nothing all day watched Prime Django and Book of Eli .Slept on the sofa so less chance of passing my illness infection  on to Helen.

TUESDAY - Still suffering coughing sore throat it seems worse than yesterday no work today , I swapped the Ring door bell the new came Sunday we now have a fully functioning ringing video door bell .

THREE HOURS

 SATURDAY - Helen went to a candle making event it was originally  only two hours  but it got extended to three .I crossed the road from where I was parked and went to Aldi I bought some hot dog rolls , ham  and a packet of  cooked chicken for Rosie who is under the weather . I started watching the Black Doves series whilst I waited for Helen .Try sitting in a car for three hours its quite a stint there was quite a few people on the streets going to the pubs and picking up fast food from the numerous  take away outlets.

Below the candle Helen made in her class well worth a £25 fee and a  three hour wait in the car , not sure how long it will burn for maybe three hours which is as long as I sat in the car waiting for her to make it .

DONT JUDGE

 FRIDAY - It's my last day off another chilled out day , Helen was working I watched the new film bio of Bob Dylan "A Complete Unknown " I thought it would have been better than it was is was ok but was  glad I didn't waste money watching it at the cinema .It was good in parts and boring in other parts .Timothee Chalamet was good at portraying Bob Dylan who approved of  the film so who am I  to judge .

I cant believe January is almost over this year is already flying by not seen or heard anything from my son hope all is good for him , but I doubt it knowing the life he is living but who am I to judge .

CHILL OUT DAYS

 SATURDAY - Took the dogs out it was very cold with a heavy ground frost back home I cooked a full English breakfast  Firing up my laptop I ordered a new iPhone case and six pairs of black boxers from the  Amazon website  . Helen worked most of the day intermittently .I t was her mothers birthday we decided to get her a voucher for the Wetherby Whaler fish restaurant , there is one located in  York that they have frequently visited so much better than flowers .We decided to have our tea/supper there  tried their in house Chinese curry sauce it was ok have had better the fish and chips as always spot on .

Went to Asda bought a blue coloured Little Joe air freshener and some car plan demo foam for the pressure washer  and some Original Source mango shower gel for me also for me along four  triple chocolate muffins and a carton single cream , 

SUNDAY - Drove over to York Acaster Malbis to see Helen's parents I had taken his Tom Tom sat nav  and updated it his maps option  were out of date our address was not showing up ,  they were built in 2019  hopefully a lot of other routes where added to his device  .We also took her mother birthday present a gift card for Wetherby Whaler fish restaurant or take away  , there is one near to where they live.

Her cousin Sharon was there and her son Adam we all had a cooked  dinner together and the rest of the afternoon was spent looking at old photos and chatting about the past .

MONDAY - The week off work drove over to my daughters house in Kippax it is her birthday , we dropped a birthday card off and a gift voucher for various restaurant outlets  .First time we have seen her since Christmas .

TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY - Chill out days did nothing much still better than being in work nice being home without the need to get ready and go to work .

THURSDAY - Went to Hd7 for our haircutting by Sophie as always a top experience and haircut Helen had her colour re -done looking very blonde .

NEW PEN

 WEDNESDAY - Helen gifted me her Majohn extra fine retractable fountain pen she got the fine one delivered yesterday , a few years ago I use to do all my audits at work using Lamy fountain pen .Could say it was a belated Christmas gift.

Looking forward to Friday a whole nine days off which will suit me this means in January I will have only worked a total of  two weeks which is  a great start to the year .

Going to watch the American Primeval season one already watched the first episode there are only six to view .Last gull series I watched in full was "The Day Of The Jackal" . I have been told to watch "Black Dove" maybe that will be next on the list .

Finally took the Christmas lights that we had along the roof line I also cleaned the cctv camera lens  and clipped the plastic guttering back in place and removed some of the debris from the gutter .

FISHY FINGERS

 SUNDAY - Took the dogs out Bentley and George both came out was listening to Mel Gibson on the Joe Rogan podcast a very intellectual man Mel certainly likes his history and religion he was one of the unlucky people to have lost his house and home in the L.A fires that rage on , cant believe they are still burning , what a utter shit fest.

Went to Helens son's house he bought just before Christmas with his girlfriend Mel its in Driglington and is three bedrooms two bathrooms and utility room with garage I really liked it the rooms are average size but its a great location and is a new build .We went with his Christmas present a White Company hamper of creams and potions .

Got home cooked and made fish finger sarnies with baked beans in tiger bread bliss .

DONT FADE AWAY

 MONDAY - Back at work never great going back after nine days off I have another nine days off at the end of the month .At least all the snow as gone .We might now get the waste bins empty we are allowed to put out two extra bags out because they missed the collection last Thursday because of the snow .

Spoke with my daughter she is going to Manchester at the weekend to get another tattoo she is booked in for five hours and it is being done freehand incorporating roses and dragons have not seen a drawing so will have to wait when the tattoo is finished .

FRIDAY - Took the dogs out a lot better without the snow very little wind seemed more like spring .

SATURDAY - Went to Pc World to get another Epson Eco tank printer £208 its similar to the one we have but a later model it came with four ink bottles which will last ages got home set up to the pc and my phone Helens phone a Samsung S23 was a nightmare but downloaded a plug in for the phone and it seemed to work .

My Daughter had her tattoo done in Manchester at Five Knives she needs to go back for some more shading adding , she was getting inked for four hours no pain no again so they say , she had some dragons tattooed  because I also have numerous dragon tattoo's which is a very  nice gesture ,I hope her tats fade long before I do .

ONCE IS TOO MUCH

 THURSDAY - Highlight of today was cooking Ikea meatballs with fires peas and Ikea gravy I also baked some baguettes I had a pear cider to go with my meal Helen had a cup of tea .

The snow is still on the street and in the gardens but the roads are not that bad the gritters have been out and no further snow as fallen in the last couple of days .The bin men never emptied the bins from outside our homes not sure when they will come I thought when they gritted the roads it was so the bin wagon could manoeuvre up and down the street did not happen .

FRIDAY - L.A wild fires are out of control what a nightmare the amount of houses destroyed and people that have lost everything is unbelievable whether your insured does not compensate for the possessions and personnel  items you have lost that can never be replaced , plus the loss of pets think of all the fish tanks that had to be left behind all the caged animals its total devastation . Hopefully lessons are learnt  and this sort of heart ache and pain never happen again , once is one time too many .

I also noticed that many cars were burnt out some insurance companies will already be looking at get out clauses we all know they hate paying out this is going to cost .Hopefully the pay-outs and the re-build is swift .

BLACK TO WHITE .

 TUESDAY - its the second morning I have not took the dogs out because of the winter wonderland that is our village .

Later in the morning  I had no choice but to clear the snow from the car and off the drive so I could get the car out .Our street is always worse once out of the cul-de-sac and the main roads have usually been gritted through the night early morning once  gritted its a lot  safer even though our main road is a 12% hill driving down to the centre of town and up going back home , you still have to take it easy as there is still pockets of snow and two cars cant always pass but I made it to my local supermarket .

We needed both dog and cat food , as well as eggs , bacon , bread , milk and toilet rolls  the road driving down was ok the car park on the other hand was a nightmare mostly solid ice very dodgy .I made it home .I cooked us a turkey roast dinner the turkey took over four hours to cook I did home made Yorkshire puddings and all the trimmings it was like Christmas day all over again , a late white Christmas ..

The snow started again came down quite fast , it soon covered my black car which was white again in no time  . I am so glad I am not going to work . There is loads of Turkey just off the legs for the cats and dogs .I basted it every hours it was not dry we all enjoyed it I slightly burnt the sprouts in the frying pan a moments loss of concentration was all it took .

NO WORK

 MONDAY - No work phoned in sick have the dreaded Norovirus is it any wonder working were I work. Its snowed again during the night some snow slides down the roof both front and back the snow fall took the back garden light out that was fixed on to the wall .I turned the power off and cut the wires then taped them up and put a plastic bag over and taped that should keep it dry until I can get it re-fixed in to  position . 

                             

CHEAP BUT HIGH MAINTENANCE

 FRIDAY - Nearly the first weekend of the new year and it looks like we are getting snow it might be over a couple of days hopefully I can get a day off work a  unexpected day off out of the blue is always enjoyable and welcomed .

Discovered a few  new bands already this year  thanks to Spotify "Cigarettes After Sex" ," The Reverse Engineers" and "Death Cab For Cutie" .I want to get a decent music player a Ibasso will do nicely and upgrade my iem's a good few step ups from what I have now and some higher quality Bluetooth adapters .

Nearly first weekend of the year its predicting snow we need to put the Christmas tree out for collection .

SATURDAY - Very cold did not stay out too long walking the dogs hopefully it gets warmer think its a chill out day will cook a mince cobbler with carrot swede and peas .I might get some of my Shari Lapena novel read not stuck with it like the other books she published .Noticed one of my neighbours  as bought a second hand  Porsche 911 class  he said not that expensive to buy quite cheap he said  already he is putting new tyres on sure sure guessing be £150 a tyre the joys of motoring .

DAY ONE DONE

 WEDNESDAY - It's a new year if you are reading this then be grateful whatever issues we have faced whatever losses , hardships toils and turmoil's we made through , we survived and we are here .

I hope the war in Ukraine ends and the fighting and killing stop as well as the massacre genocide  being performed by Israel also ends . I hope China behaves itself and stands down from any conflict .If we stopped producing weapons and bombs aircraft carriers that cost billions and fighter jets that cost millions everyone the citizens of the world could  have free gas , electric , food and all of life essentials pay very little or no tax , get free health care and bigger pensions and a general better life , it's the war machine that keeps everyone poorer .

Anyways we made it the big question do we change adapt rethink and do new things new and challenges  not sure what changes I can make hopefully be a nicer and happier person than I was in 2024 if that is possible I was pretty ok in 2024 but there is always room for improvement .

I want a warmer sunnier  longer summer this year to sit in the garden and have barbeques .

Cooked us a chicken roast dinner with all the trimmings before setting off to work roll-on Easter .

Looks like we may be getting some snow hopefully we don't get snowed in and I cant go to work .