CRACK ON

 THURSDAY - Another day of painting just got the middle ceiling left to do then that's the living/dining room completed Helen has had a massive declutter and thrown out stuff to make it look more minimalistic which makes less dust collecting .We had rain come in through the bay window the leak was fixed but need to get some stain block paint paint over the stains does not work its ok when its wet as soon as it dies the stain reappears rode a tin on Amazon Prime comes tomorrow .

FRIDAY - Have had confirmation the bed is coming Saturday need to paint he back wall the bed is going to go on didn't start it to late after midday and I go to work at half four so the pressure was on to get two coats done had no choice but to crack on knuckle down and load the roller why couldn't it have been just a flat wall if life was that easy . .I did it was ten minutes late setting of to work can make that up on the motorway .

JONES SHUTTERS AND LAMPS

 SUNDAY - Bought 10 litres of paint , paint tray and rollers , masking tape and brushes guess I 'am painting the main room wants the ceiling and walls doing in white one wall is getting a colour the biggest wall .I also bought a oscillating multi tool I have been wanting one for ages ..I Also bought all new black hinges and door latches and handles for all of the interior doors in the house .

TUESDAY - Went to Next Sheffield Helen bought three light fittings two for the living room one for our bedroom which is now going in the downstairs toilet 

WEDNESDAY - Started painting the living room /dining room have all the walls and ceilings to do so far so good I aint rushing it  ,I had four hours sleep its snowing I am sleepy and need to crack on preparation is everything so they say. We had a quote for some interior shutters three windows and the patio doors £2570 for making and installation its 8/10 weeks before they will be ready I  paid 50% deposit by bank transfer it will be a good start to the new year and will make the house look different again .Helen is happy she is already visualization how they will look keeping up with the Jones's whoever they are .

ZORRO AGAIN

 FRIDAY - The pressure washer and leaf vacuums came both package up together was quite a weight the pressure washer was easy enough to assembly got the model up from the previous one I had. Which got fcuked when the water inside freezes and expanded a component that made it shoot water out from the from the front vent not ideal .

The leaf blower/vacuum a bit more difficult you have to take a part of either you cause it as a blower or a vacuum you have to remove and add parts if you want to use it as a blower or a sucker its way heavier than the cheaper model I bought of Amazon a few months ago which is totally shite , as always you get what you pay for .

The weekend always seems more special when you have been in to work its like you deserve it more its a reward for working all week .I have always loved the weekend regardless after all these years I still look forward to them .I don't sleep in I have not slept past nine a.m for years regardless off the time I go to bed I will be up if its midnight or three I get to sleep I will always be awake .Time spent in bed is ok if your ill otherwise get the fcuk up life is too short chances are you will die in bed get out of it its a death trap .

bought some chorizo sausages from the local farm shop I have been waiting three weeks for them to do another batch final they hit the shelves I bought a dozen I might go back and buy twelve more .Another discovery is clotted cream fudge from Aldi think it is £1.25 a box check it out .

SATURDAY - Helen had readings to do in Aldmonbury I picked her up just after half past five .We drove over to Fox Valley we decided to eat out at Zorro Restaurant we have had a meal here before the food is good buy it is a limited menu .Helen had the Louisiana chicken I had the Mediterranean Mezze grill chicken skewer , lamb kofte and prawn skewer with fries and flat bread very nice , 

The drive home was very foggy it was thick fog on narrow country roads we had to go to Shepley to  a garage to get cigarettes it was slow and very dense visibility was 10 yards  to make matters worse it was rain and the car wind screen need cleaning it was like one way glass when another car approached with its lights on of course we made it home safely it did tak three times as long .

UNDER PRESSURE

 MONDAY - This year is flying it is going to be Christmas before we know it we will put the tree up on the 1st of December and take it down after Boxing day or maybe the new year. Helen wants just the tree and lights and no decorations I think it will need some but not loads less is more .

Not had any stollen yet I have had an iced Christmas cake and I did buy six mince pies don't think I will bother with Greggs festive bakes since watching a You tube video my impressions have changed  the only thing I will buy is fresh sandwiches and coffee or tinned drinks. 

WEDNESDAY - Day off work due to my phased return schedule .Helen had reading to do in Halifax at five p.m she had six .I had a fish buttie and a Chinese curry sauce will I waited .it was a long four hours it is noy often I do these lengths of waits so I don't mind it too much and it helps Helen .

I ordered a Karcher pressure washer and a Bosch leaf blower / vacuum off Amazon they come tomorrow cant use the pressure washer yet due to the ongoing  hose pipe ban , and the leaf's are way too wet and soggy to suction up due to all the rain that's been constantly falling so cant use either of them yet.

Bought some wagyu rib eye steak for tea will have it with boiled baby potatoes and mushroom and onions or maybe mashed potatoes and  sweet corn .Cheaper than eating out have a chicken tikka masala for tomorrows night tea before going to work.

 

TWO DINNERS

 SATURDAY - Had a shower before walking the dogs it was not a bad morning not cold but not warm .

for dinner we headed to the Strines Inn on Mortimer Road which is steep in places it has sharp bends and deep inclines there are forests with autumn leaves falling from the trees everywhere it is very scenic with reservoirs along the way .The Inn was first a Manor house built in 1275 a few years later in 1771 was converted to an Inn. It is popular with dog walkers and cyclists .The first time we went they had peacocks everywhere on the roofs in the trees perched on  the outside tables.

We ordered the giant Yorkshire pudding Helen had pork I choose the roast beef it came with vegetables and roast potatoes and lots of gravy I had a pint of Thatchers cider Helen a pot of tea for desert I had biscoff cheesecake with ice cream , no kidding it is one of the best cheesecakes I have ever had .

SUNDAY - Went to my daughters house we were invited for Sunday dinner it has been awhile since we visited she cooked a full roast dinner with red cabbage and cauliflower cheese also roast potatoes mash potatoes and Yorkshire puddings we ate the lot it is always taste nicer when someone else cooks it .She showed us around the house the rooms she has decorated she is very a good painter she also had bought a corner sofa for the dinning room/lounge which you downstairs to with patio doors opening into the garden.

PEN & INK

 WEDNESDAY - Back at work tonight until midnight got tomorrow off l soon be back to my normal hours in the next few weeks .Things will return to normal its already feeling Like a toil and that I have never been away new managers same shit .Our old Manager got shipped out to a different wing for issues  with staff guessing both medical and non medical .The assistant manager shipped out to a different hospital and demoted to a supervisor not sure why some dodgy dealing at least they were not sacked guess its a lot better outcome than being sacked and out of work specially if they have a pension .

Went to the local garden centre for fish and chips specifically said no mushy peas it came with mushy peas they were on the side of my fish totally pissed off they replaced the meal but still had peas on the fish won't go back there for another meal , they were not that great anyway .

THURSDAY - Day off work went to Asda bought some prawn toast , spring rolls prawn crackers and a special fried rice and a chicken curry and some chicken and sweet corn soup for tea was ok .

FRIDAY - Ordered some new 2026 diary I week on two pages inserts for my Filofax along with a packet of lined paper. Might see if I can get  a nice pen for the pen holder at the side for my hand written pen and ink  entries. Helen went to Scarborough she went with her cousin and picked her Mother up on the way .I had to go to work which was extremely busy .Helen got dropped of just before midnight out side the A&E Department and we drove home together after I finished my shift  at midnight  .Helen took some photos using her Iphone 17 max pro very impressed with the low light quality some really great shots credit were credit is due .

                                                                                                                                                   

NO WORK TODAY

 MONDAY - I got up just after six not a great night sleep went to bed at eleven Sunday night after half an hour I woke up thinking I had been asleep for hours and I never really got back into a deep sleep I was restless and woke up every couple of hours .

I am still doing a phased return at work this week I am working three days Monday , Wednesday and Friday doing shortened hours 18.00 - 00:00 , I am getting used to shorter hours and less days working part time suits me its best of both worlds subsidies my pension and get me out of the house with purpose it will either shorten my life or extended it .Hopefully the later .

My Iphone 13 pro max for the second time as not recognised the sim card in the phone when this happens I reboot my phone to reset it and so far it then recognises the sim card .I have been told  it is because its an older phone if it persists I will have to get a new phone might get the 16 pro max who wants and orange phone that scratches easily and turns pink .The other option is to install a E -sim which is in built to the phones mother board or workings I have checked my Iphone supports one .

TUESDAY - Day off work went to Meadow Hall Helen had some jumpers and jeans to take back to Bershka it has a great check out you just throw everything into the drop box and somehow it scans everything inside you put your phone number in and email and once you pay it sends you a email receipt you then take of the electronic security tags super easy super fast .Helen bought a bag from Urban Outfitters BDG. 

On the way back home stopped at Fox Valley to get dog and cat food we had a coffee and toasties  at Costa I bought a couple of cups and drink containers with a gift card my daughter had given me for my birthday.

FREE TRAVEL

 SATURDAY - Went to Meadow Hall Helen needed to shop at Primark I hate the fcuking place it makes my blood boil everything about it I hate , and  if I  never had to shop there again it be too soon .

On the way home stopped off at a McDonalds at a service station another hate give me Kfc any day of the week not into fast food burger places specially big macs , I got a double burger with cheese bacon and maple syrup and a banana milkshake which was ok one of the better choices I have made.at least it saved cooking tea .

SUNDAY -Helen's parents were not answering their mobile phones or house phone this was just before 11.00a.m.We rang their immediate neighbours who went round to the house and banged and knocked on every window it is a static home it is all on one level no response .He went back a second time no response he again knocked on the doors and windows no movement no sounds from them inside their car was parked up doors and windows locked ,Helen was getting worried I was concerned we heard how loud their neighbour was knocking he was on the phone it was loud the ret of the street would hear it .We was about to leave our house and drive over when her Dad rung her they had slept in it was just after eleven a.m. panic over .

We told them we wanted to take them out for Sunday dinner .I booked a table at The Ship Inn for 14.30 .The food was really good the three of them had the roast pork with Yorkshire pudding roast potatoes and various veg  , I had the trio of meats with the same side of veggies  the food was really good .I was the only one who had a desert , The apple crumble with custard and ice cream ..I told them it was to celebrate me becoming a pensioner and receiving my first monthly pension both from work and the state .I also applied for a free West Yorkshire bus pass which gives you free travel on off peak services it is unlikely I will ever use it but its there if I need it who knows .

Their street and local surrounding houses  had a power cut , so the  the internet Wi-Fi was down and not working. I  phoned up the internet provider said it be around five hours before it went back online the hub and router should automatically connect once power was restored , which it did. We told them to put their mobile phones and tablets on charge the always need charging . 

TRICK OR TREAT

 WEDNESDAY - Went to Wentworth garden centre bought a pre lit 7foot Christmas tree I swear this is the last Christmas tree I am going to buy  ever I believe the same tree should be used time and time again my parents only ever had one tree for years and years my sister Anne as it and she still puts it up in one of her rooms every year its well beat up well old and well beat up but its an antique .

THURSDAY - My first state pension got paid into my bank account in the early hours Until you get your first payment paid you wonder is it going to happen have I given the right bank details it is nice to know all is good I paid twenty percent of the money sent into my savings account . Also won £3.00 on the national lottery haha.Second day back on my nights saw more staff I had not seen on my return to work on Monday did 15702 steps up from Mondays 12,927 which is 2775 steps more.

FRIDAY - Took the car in to the mechanics it is having four all weather tyres and front brakes renewing also hopefully they are sorting out the 12v cigarette lighter sockets which I need for recharging the phones and tyre inflator etc .As it will take a few hours booked a taxi to take me home way to far and up hill for walking home .

latest tech bought of Amazon two Apple Watch chargers a cable and a dock one is for home and when for my work bag which working the times I work usually need to charge the watch and a Anker usb c 7 port hub .A Anker 4 port usb 3.0 hub with a two foot cable .Usb C to usb A adapters .

Had quite a few trick or treaters out some had made huge efforts with he face painting and costumes we still have loads of lollipops and master eyes left .