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 .

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 FRIDAY - Helen has the bug I have I feel better but not totally I rang in sick at work again as I don't feel 100% did a covid test number two all was fine Helen tested ok as well so we don't have covid .

I had to go out to get supplies bought some ground minced beef to make a lasagne for tea and some Covonia medicine for Helen bought milk , eggs , bread , dog biscuits , cheese , potatoes waffles , coke and hash browns. I also did a line on the lottery . 

Made the lasagne Helen is getting worse she has full blown flu symptoms even though she had her flu vaccine she is suffering not a good start for the coming new year .

SATURDAY - I am chief nurse and bottle washer Helen will stay in bed after I walked the dogs in the light rain on getting home  I took her a cup of  tea up and a Lucozade as well as a bowl of porridge .. 

I can't believe that it is 2023 in a day and  and  it will be the eighteenth year  that I have wrote and posted  in this here blog . How much as happened and how many changes  and events have taken place over these past years it is totally unbelievable and amazing  . I truly couldn't foresee any of it .

This year alone its been an eventful year I changed my car yet again maybe for the last time who knows .

We had to get our Jack Russell dog  Pippa put down which was way more dramatic and upsetting then what we realised R.I.P Pippa and we got our new puppy who was called Hettie but is now called Rosie who I love to bits .

My son seemed to have his life sorted out for the time being he is living somewhere new or I though he was he left  his old life behind and is working at a new job working nights and weekend nights which pays good and seems to be going well but his latest indication is he is not living with his friend anymore I don't believe a word he says he is a liar .

I had major dentistry work done and as a result my appearance is 100% better and my teeth for the first time in years look the best ever .

I upgraded my 2012 Mac book pro with anew ssd hard drive and doubled the memory I did this myself and was well chuffed because the money I had put by went to pay the dentist bill of £2500.

We strived  and survived the year no major issues no glitch in the matrix all went well we got to the coast a lot in the summer which was great and went to new places the summer was hot and we made the most of it .Hopefully we will make 2023 a year to remember and nothing major upsets the stars quo .

A VERY HAPPY 2023 TO EVERYBODY , EVERYWHERE HOPING YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT YEAR , LOVE AND PEACE TO ALL .

ESCAPING THE MATRIX .

 WEDNESDAY  - Helens birthday is today she is a year older without giving her age away she is nine years younger than me . , it goes without saying a very happy birthday hope you have a fantastic day .

She is going to her friends Julie;s house they are having a birthday celebration afternoon party for her which is awesome seeing that her three boys do very little for her .Using the excuse its too soon after Christmas and the fact we live a fifty minute drive away the same drive that  I do to work Monday to Friday week in week out .

THURSDAY - My sister called round to visit with her husband Alan we had a couple of coffees before going out to get something to eat .We walked in to the Red Lion first time we have been inside as usually we sit outside in the summer and order food and cider from the window no need to venture inside .

We decided to go to the Boshaw Trout instead by the time we got there and got a table I was feeling really unwell we had ordered food I got the fish and chips and a pint of cider i started feeling worse so much so I left my pint saw the waitress and told her I had to leave and to plate my dinner but to  pack my order up as a take away and to give to them to bring home I walked the short distance home and crashed out at home I finally went to bed and slept a good ten hours I did not go to work .

Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have been arrested he once said "If you can't do the time don't do the crime " well said if you get thirty years for abduction , sex trafficing and rape  etc etc don't fcuking moan , of course innocent until proven guilty and to be honest I hope he is innocent and is freed if so .

If not you're going to hate prison life he did say he did predict that he had  three lives  to use one is already gone and spent which when they tried to silence him on social media didn't work , the next life is to get arrested under false charges and imprisoned  if he beat this , the next and final life would be assassination , a cliche in the matrix .

WARNING

 BOXING DAY - It is half past eight in the morning the turkey crown is in the oven I am back at work at the hospital tonight but I will be leaving with a full stomach work should be quitter than usual hopefully .

It is going to be Rosie's first Christmas turkey dinner a day late but hopefully her first of many .She is a great little dog you can't help but love her loads she is so fcuking cute .I cooked the dinner before heading for work the Yorkshire puddings I admit were frozen but the rest was all fresh both the dogs and both the cats had plenty of turkey .

Helen started writing in her Filofax I bought her and organising it hopefully she will have and use it for many years to come .

Work was quite although A&E Paeds was busy as always I was glad when home time came the oil warning light came on the car dashboard I stopped at the next gas station and bought five litres of  5w - 30 engine oil I put a litre in after checking the right oil and if I could put oil in to a hot engine it was fine I will check it Tomorrow when I get up in the morning .The oil warning light went off as I pulled out of the gas station cars and women always going to cost you .

GRATEFUL

 CHRISTMAS EVE - Well the dogs got me up for their walk the sun is out but its quite cool no chance of any snow .

I feel sorry for all the people that are struggling to provide any meal never mind a Christmas dinner  its been a difficult year for lots of people out there with the rise of inflation and the general increase in the cost of living and paying for life essentials and the necessities like gas and electric , hopefully 2023 things will improve for us all .

CHRISTMAS DAY - The dogs where given there Christmas present cuddly toys , pigs ears and a bag of balls they where happy .

Drove over to our friends Julies and Peters house we had a coffee before setting of for the Bengal Palace in Wakefield the food was ok not the best I have ever had but not the worst the deco was more transport cafe the upmarket dinner but the staff were good and the food a 7/10 .

Leaving there we drove over to my daughters and boyfriends Josh house only a few miles away it was nice to see my daughter on Christmas Day my son was supposed to be there but he never showed up not sure why he was helping a friend he ignored my phone calls my daughter was not happy .

The rest of the day we watched Andrew Tate on Youtube love or dislike he does speak a lot of sense personally I like the guy can understand why some don't but he does help the economy spending all the money he does on the scale he does good luck to him and others in his calibre .

I am happy I have food a decent house in a nice area  a reliable car a partner I love and fcuk all in the bank but we manage I am grateful I know what we have would be someone else's dream be grateful for what you have don't miss what you can't have.

Above me at my daughters basement bar her house who needs to go out no drinking and driving the have a tv and karaoke machine plus drinks a great addition to any house .

CRISTMAS SHOPPING

 THURSDAY - Picked up an Echo Dot  from Curry's for Helens parents Christmas present we also bought them a bottle of gin and a bottle of Brandy .

I set the Echo dot up they where messing around with Alexa I think they where quite impressed now they have a internet connection maybe we should have got them a tablet .

We left with a stand pie and half a chocolate gateau feels like Christmas already .They also gave me forty pounds which I think I will buy a new iPhone case and a new metal aluminium card wallet .

FRIDAY - Its just gone half past midnight we are on are way to Asda to get food for Christmas and some gift cards for Five Guys and  a couple of bottles of booze for presents sorted it was not that busy and everything we wanted we got it still took over an hour and it was just before three when we got back home and nearly four when we got to bed .

Took Helen for her nails doing we passed the farm shop the amount of cars parked up people where collecting their meat and turkeys for their festive dinner .

I dropped Helen off I went on to visit my daughter in Stanley I have not seen her in ages her house looked totally different they have been there. year and its looking totally different it will be her second Christmas in the house she has done the basement out as a bar it looks like an exclusive club very good .

  In the afternoon I went to Fox Valley outlet I bought the dogs some pigs ears and half a dozen new stuffed toys when I got back home I went  the farm shop there was only a few people queuing I picked up a turkey crown , beef brisket , shoulder of pork and a gammon joint just over £80 

Had fish and chips for tea which made a nice change we have been well behaved and not been near a fish shop for ages which made them taste all the better .

MORE LIGHTS FOR CHRISTMAS

 SATURDAY - Went out first thing in the morning it is raining with a high chance that it could turn to snow at the moment it is more sleet than snow .I had to go  to post some cds for Helen for readings she had done .

Whilst I was out I bought a loaf of  bread , white sugar ,half a dozen white bread cakes , freshly made ground beef burgers , white onions , baking potatoes  and two Hade Edge pasties and a couple of current tea cakes for toasting  .

Might have to get an external dvd/cd writer Helen's MacBook seems to be on its way out to be fair it has had a lot of usage she burns a lot of discs .

SUNDAY - It is cold but so far no snow it looks like it will stay away for a few days 

TUESDAY - Break up tonight for the rest of the week I won't go back until Monday which suits me fine .

can't believe its Christmas this Sunday added some more lights to the front and rear garden .

WATCHING - MindCage and Harry and Meghan .

D.M's

 WEDNESDAY - Did a bit of food shopping mainly breakfast items bacon , sausages , beans eggs and tomatoes as well as bread .Bought some cat food and a bag of frozen broccoli and some in-house baked minced pies .

THURSDAY - Did a shoulder of pork I started it later than I thought I did some roast potatoes Yorkshire puddings spinach and broccoli it made me setting off for work later the usual and I was ten minutes late but I enjoyed my dinner .

Had to fill the screen washed bottle up on the car the warning light kept coming on I can't believe how much it holds should last into the summer .

One thing I need to buy is an hose pipe I have had a few of the type that expand then shrink they are not cheap they never last I will buy a traditional hose pipe with a winding reel and mount it to the wall .

Helen would like a pair of fur lined Dr.Martens boots for her birthday which is on the 28th of December .

DOGS NEW COATS

 SATURDAY - Woke up to a frosting of snow it was not deep and as soon as I got out of the street it was less of a covering but the temperature as dropped .Last night was the first time ever I had to defrost my windscreen this was at 16,30 I physically could not see through the windscreen .

It was the first time Rosie had seen anything remotely resembling snow she had her nose in it she had her jumper on and her water proof coat .

I think today is a coffee and bourbon day whilst watching Marvel movie I have Black Widow , Captain Marvel and Eternals to watch has well as Harry and Meghan documentary .

We have to venture out for cat food the ingredients for a lasagne and veggies for tomorrows Sunday roast dinner I also want a couple of bottles of Aldi coke its cheap and I like it which are good enough reasons to buy two bottles .

Decide to buy some minced beef from the farm shop foe a chilli con carne with cheese and jacket potatoes whilst we were there we ordered a turkey for Christmas dinner a shoulder of pork a beef brisket and a joint of gammon as we are eating out Christmas Day it should be enough for dinners before or after Christmas .

I also found out if its vacuumed wrapped you can by it now and keep it in the fridge until Christmas Day Boxing Day and if it is kept in the freezer for a couple of years which I didn't know .

The main question on everyones lips is can England beat France in the World Cup if it goes to penalties maybe not , we need to win it in the ninety minutes of play   .

SUNDAY - Did I mention England and penalties oops if you can't score from the spot it really is game over .

Helen bought the dogs new sweaters and new padded coats as well as new harnesses the weather is below four degrees way too cold .

Bought a joint of beef for Sunday dinner had it with spinach and broccoli with all the trimmings just what you need on a freezing December day .

GAME CHANGER

 MONDAY - Helen went to the doctors everything was fine no issues clean bill of health blow pressure , heart lungs , pulse and temperature perfectly normal .

Bought some beer battered cod for tea and some bread and baked beans not the worst tea in the world .

Called out before work catching up watching Gold Rush Monday was uneventful a normal start to the week .

The temperatures have dropped to minus four in places across North Yorkshire .

Helen as been asking me what I would like for Christmas I had no idea I don't want to ask for something to for the sake of it I don't do slippers and dressing gowns it something I never have bothered with if I am up I get dressed if I am going to bed I get undress . So after thinking about one rthe last few days I came across a gadget called BackBone it allows you to connect your smart phone and play Playstation games and X-Box games although you don't need a console for this device to work .In a way its very much like a Nintendo switch but not as pricy .

So in theory you can play full versions of any console games on either your iPhone or Android devices , you can also if I am correct stream it to your T.v for a large screen option the BackBone is available for under a hundred pounds and seems to tick all the boxes for a great Christmas gift.

I also think I would be more of a gamer if I had this controller .  I don't go on my X-box a lot of the time because its in our bedroom and there I son way that I can't fit a chair between the bottom of the bed and the 55"  tv which is mounted on the wall above the drawer unit . I can't fit a chair at either side of the bed , which if I could would mean I am off centre from the screen so I play sat upright on the bed and game this way which for me does not really work .

So this might get me more into gaming I might even subscribe to X-Box game pass or even Playstaion game subscription as they say it just might be a game changer .

After watching You Tube videos looking at articles online I think this will let me get back into gaming again , this could  be one of the best Christmas presents ever .

I can't really say what my best Christmas present ever has been as I am always hard to buy for .

HAPPY BDAY MUM

 FRIDAY - Took Helen to the Hospital she came with me to work she checked in at the A&E she was having a stick like pain under her breast .We had phoned the doctors they suggest a visit to the A&E department .The only viable option was fo the rot come with me otherwise it would mean me ringing work to say I couldn't attend , this seemed the better option two birds with one stone .Some five hours later I was on my way home Helen had been given the all clear .

SATURDAY - The slow cooker is out two large pieces of braising steak are on a slow burn with added veggies and stock should be ready in six or seven hours the longer the better , I will finish it off in the oven when I put the dumplings in .

The MacBook is still running like a dream it surprises me every time I boot it up how just quick it is and for so little cost , would highly recommend other Mac book pro 2012 users to do the same just watch YouTube it really is so easy .

The temperature is dropping and mornings are now getting a lot colder and  old Jack Frost is making an appearance on the ground and on car windscreens but so far no hint of snow .

SUNDAY - Had my mum still been alive she would have been 103 years old she died in 2006 my dad died in 1985 his birthday is on the 13th of December .

LET THERE BE LIGHT

 WEDNESDAY - Last day of annual leave two days to work then its the weekend which means  two days off which is fine by me .

Another foggy morning it is getting cooler this time last year we already had snow so far it's been fine .

THURSDAY - It's the 1st of December and I am doing nothing apart from cooking a full English and snuggling up on the sofa with little dog and the cushions . Helen lighted her giant candle she bought a few weeks ago if we do have power cuts we will have light I also have three power banks but won't have the internet over wi-fi which is a pain .Hopefully power cuts won't happen .

It will be little dogs first Christmas Rosie has not had turkey before although we are eating out we will still have. traditional Christmas dinner either Christmas Eve or Boxing Day .