ON THE TILES

 SATURDAY - Two things we have not done for ages is go to the cinema and go to the coast plan on going to the coast on Monday be nice to go see Jurassic Park at the picture house in Wakefield .

SUNDAY -Tiled the back of the fireplace black grout is a nightmare to use it stains I used my angel grinder to cut the tiles and used the fix and grout I had enough tiles three left over I run out I had to buy another tub of black grout after going out coming back and finishing off .I  Did a Sunday lunch cant beat the old Sunday roast dinner did roasted broccoli and green beans.Helen really loves the fireplace so its a job well done ,

Helen still wasn't feeling good with the hay fever and tooth issues which have been ongoing since November last year .

MONDAY - Went to Ikea yet again bought some more potted plants some artificial flowers a glass vase a new lamp chopping board and other bits and pieces bringing the shop to over £350 its easy to get rid of money these days in fact its way too easy .

GETTING HOTTER , GOING GREENER

 MONDAY - Break up on Wednesday for a long weekend I do go back until the following Tuesday do hope the sun is out .

Bought some creosote to do the outside table and chairs they have not been recoated since we bought them in the first covid lockdown . Also bought some red bark for the back garden Helen is suffering from either a very bad cold or has started with hay fever .

THURSDAY - Creosoted both chairs and the table the sun was beating down it was hot as soon as I finished I mowed the lawns both front and back I trimmed some of the bushes the sun was still hot I was not complaining but soon as I finished I went for a nice  cold shower .

 

  FRIDAY  - Creosoted the two seater bench it didn't take to long and the day was cooler after we cleaned the house from top top to bottom which basically took the rest of the day .

Went to the local chippy for fish and chips for tea .We visited Ikea bought a new rug and some plants once we got home watched Glastonbury live on t.v was way after two am.

GOAN FISH CURRY

 FATHERS DAY SUNDAY - Going out for tea to the GrandIndian at Swillington we have eaten there before but it was a while ago I am tempted to order the fish curry just for a change but I will decide once I get there after I have checked out the menu .

The food took a while there was fifteen of us eating and everyone ordered something different I went for the Goan  fish curry made with fresh tomatoes and coconut it did have a kick to it was very tasty but could have had more fish in it the dish was excellent I had it with mushroom rice and chapattis wash down with Peacock cider one apple and a mango and lime the later was the best .

The restaurant use to be the local pub we had drinks there with my daughter before she went to New Zealand for a year in 2013 this is the second time we have been there to eat .With my daughter how things have change to us all in such a short time .

NEW HOUSE PLANTS

 SATURDAY - Went to a charity football match at Woodlesford it was held by St.Gemmas hospice it was £5 to get in you was given a ticket for a meal and three free drinks including beer and spirits .The food was a mixture of sausage , pull pork and chicken kebab with fries the total raised was £150k which is a a great result .Arrived home the two pairs of black denim jeans arrived I ordered on line thanks George .

SUNDAY - Went to see helens father for father's day we got him a gift card for Tesco he is eighty so its difficult to get stuff for him there is a Tesco superstore near to where he lives where he shops so he can get what ever he wants including brandy should he wish or he can eat at the cafe get breakfast dinner or tea or just get thirty quid knocked of his shop .

We had to get home early so we only stayed an hour and half , on the way home we stopped of at Blacker Hall farm shop got two tubs of strawberries , four scones , four slices of pork and four slices of ham as well as four granary bread cakes four white bread cakes and a wholemeal loaf three plants including a pukka and two ceramic pots  we already had the white one , cant have enough greenage. 

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WHAT'S MY NUMBER

THURSDAY - Waited whilst Helen had her nails done she was longer because she had her toe nails done as well.Went to the Red Lion at Jackson Bridge had a fish sandwich with chunky chips with a pint of cider sat in the beer garden in the red hot sun the only downside is I had to go to work .

FRIDAY - Had to change my phone number I have had my original number for 15 plus years it only took ten minutes to get a new number ,its a pain had to change my eBay , Amazon , Pay pal , Yahoo , details just to name a few .Now I need to let people know my new number so far only three people have it a lot won't be getting on the plus side now telesales.  I need to memorise it myself 

SWHBB

 SATURDAY - No work today or tomorrow I have downloaded four episodes of Obi Wan Kenobi not the biggest Star Wars fanboy but I have saw all of the films some even at the cinema .The Disney series looks ok see how I go with it .I am waiting for Resident Evil series starting on the 14th of July on Netflix .

My SWHBB (Should'nt Whale Hunting Be band ) TPDTV T-Shirt came this morning in black with red and white logo I preferred whit but black is more practical its  great fit and came in some really cool packaging hopefully it machine washes ok .

Was finally able to buy some more black denim jeans for work from Asda bought 14 pairs of black socks as well as some enchiladas and cloudy apple cider and toffee cheese cakes .Petrol at Asda is now £1.77 a litre a station on the way home was £1.89 a litre scandalous .

SUNDAY - cleaned the car inside and out in fine detail its never been has cleaned except when it was new it took a while but was worth it .

Cooked a Sunday dinner bought a fresh chicken some broccoli and green beans and mash potatoes and Yorkshire puddings its not bad two hours and we have a diner sorted .In the evening we watched Edward Scissorhands forgot a lot about the film Helen had never seen it and that ends another weekend .

BARBADOS IBIZA

 THURSDAY - Went to hair dressers to get our hair cut Helen got hers recoloured while I was waiting for her I walked from Slathwaite to  Linthwaite via down the side of the canal .

My daughter phoned I need to save up she is engaged to be married and the wedding looks like it is going to be abroad across the ocean in Barbados . I don't know the dates 2025 was mentioned I am all ready excited if it happens be amazing and will be the farthest place I have travelled to and the most beautiful by looking at other peoples photos .

FRIDAY - My partner fiancee Helen her son wants to take her to Ibiza for a long weekend and she wants to think about it I said to her what's to think about one life live it be a fool not to . I ma already looking at hand luggage , suitcases and sunglasses .The best part of the trip is the build up and planning if I do get to Barbados it could be a different location I will be on the next level work won't be a toil it be for something other than just paying the bills it be a dream a dream with purpose .Helen will go to Ibiza and I will go to my daughters wedding .

NEW DENIM

 FRIDAY - Have been listening to You , Me And The Big C podcast everyone who moans about how shit life is what a struggle it with the ever ending increasing prices increases the war in Ukraine etc etc should listen to this pod cast it makes you cherish life no matter how bad if you haven't got cancer then count your blessings and live every day with a smile and appreciation for what you have health is everything .

SUNDAY - Downloaded Post Malone's new album "Twelve Carat Toothache I quite like it and was playing it in the car on the way to a Tesco superstore in Leeds .Bouhgt a new Tefal mega frying pan , and a new plate set as well as a grey wicker woven circular tray and a wall wreath for the bedroom wall .Bought some steak mince hand picked broccoli stems and green beans as well as fresh mash that's dinner covered .The Jubilee picnic was cancelled due to the shite weather .

MONDAY - The new Mac Book Air as been released on the WWDC 2022 it is more expensive then I hoped for but its worth it will give it a few months before I order on , Petrol is now at £1.81  a litre that's  way too much ,Had the Bolier serviced need new batteries in the thermostat .

TUESDAY - Went to Junction 32 outlet we went last week Helen had  shirt to take back to Barbour outlet to swap it for a smaller size .I Calle din to the Levi shop and bought a black denim Levi Jacket was £70 with 20% off for my blue light card it was £49 thanks Levi .The last Levi jacket I bought was when I was married it is still in the back of the car it was legend  I also paid more fo fit then the new one I bought today 

G.S.T.Q

THURSDAY - June already how the year as flown bye .Summer has not really kicked in yet w have had a few days of sunshine hopefully summer is on its way .I love hot sunny days chilli outdoors drinking cider and eating food cooked on the barbecue .

Obviously its the Jubilee bank holiday today and Friday I am at work .I am not a royalist either ram I anti royal she the queen would do more for the homeless people living rough on the street of London specially an ex forces but she seems to turn a blind eye I think that is a major let down on her Jubilee you think she would do more the common folk rather than making people Sirs and Dames .I cant see 70 years on the throne ever being beaten so glad Charles won't have that long to reign .

Waiting for Apple event see what Mac book airs are getting released I have money put aside hopefully I will get one this Mac book is ten years old and has been a machine and a  half .

We both had hair dressers appointments we totally forgot our appointments it is not the first time we are re booked for next Thursday at 10.30 .

A FEW DAYS OFF

TUESDAY - Suffering with the hayfever it generally keeps away but every so often it returns with a vengence .I bought three boxes of Piriteze tablets and a Beconase nasal spray give it a couple of days I should be fine .

FRIDAY - Broke up from work this morning after my twilight shift and  I don't go back until the following Wednesday which suits me fine it is also pay day.

SUNDAY - Went to visit my daughter she has had the kitchen and hallway and front room done the kitchen need some finishing off the island needs some work and some tiling but its 95%completed .

MONDAY - Went to the Designer Outlet at York I bought myself  two Adidas T-shirts and two hoodies and from the Levi shop  I bought three T-shirts and a hoodie and T-shirt for Helen .She also got another Michael Kors bag and purse as well as a  second purse from Fossil .

TUESDAY - Went to a designer outlet near Rotherham it was not what we thought so we went over to Junction 32 at Castleford its been a few years since I was there .They had a Levi shop I bought a couple of more t-shirts 30% off with my blue light card. I also picked up  a blue checked shirt from Burberry . Evening meal we went to the Bulls Head near Blackmoorfoot reservoir we both had fish and chips which where excellent we both loved the food we will try Sunday lunch there one weekend . I am back at work tomorrow night oh well I have more days off at the end of June .

MIXED GRILLS

 The first burn to be fair its ok the fire took no time to start and once lighted remained so the paint did not burn off it just went matt looking I did managed to burn quite a bit of wood over the three plus hours its amazing how quick it went through it .

SUNDAY - Adam our neighbourhood had two wooden pallets that he didn't want is I took them and chopped them up for kindling .Waste not want not I have more kindling now then I started with .

Last night I went through have a bag and half a bag of logs and a complete box of fire lighters ,The fire was burning from seven at night to way after eleven .

wahed the car its been a few weeks got the pressure was he out and the long handle brush after that I pressured washed the paving both front and back and I watered the garden and all of the hanging baskets and wall baskets .

It was too late in the day to cook a Sunday roast so we went out for dinner to the Forde Inn we both had the mixed grill which way too much food the meat that we didn't eat we took home for the dogs .

RESULT

THURSDAY - I got a full refund for the chimnea that I bought of Amazon and was not happy with and the company didn't want it back either .They said it was mine to dispose of how I wanted . Now it did cost the best part of two hundred quid I cant resell and  its something  that I wanted but obviously not in this style but I will give it a go ,  if it last me a couple of years so be it I will keep it .Hopefully we can get it fired up over the weekend the weather forecast is not that good but this is England what can we expect .I managed to half sort the door out its not perfect and it does not fit as it should but it will do the heat might reshape it some what .

UP IN SMOKE

 Blogging is hard when life is normal when nothing is planned when we are doing nothing we want to go to the beach which will mean taking the two dogs with us Bailey is great in the car Pip just wingers all the time which sort of ruins the day out making plans that are for longer than a few hours is hard work as much as I like having dogs its at a price .

Bought a new lawn mower for £118 it was a Mac Allister assembling it one of the fasteners snapped we took it back the  following day and exchanged it for a Bosch the model up from what we had which lasted a good five years .

My daughter is in Gran Canaria holidaying with Josh , Jenson and Freddie wish Helen and I was with them .

Have been listening to " You , Me and the Big C " it is a podcast about three ladies with different forms of cancer one is already dead which i didn't know and one lady Deborah James has days left to live she has raised over the last few days 2.5 million for cancer research and has been made a Dame by the Queen .

SATURDAY - Went over to Helen's parents i pressured washed the paving all around their static home we took over a home made lasagna made with fresh pasta sheets and beef mice along with lemon cheese cake.

SUNDAY - Went looking at some Mexican chimenea's mainly at the clay ones but you have to protect them from the frost put sand or gravel in the base to stop them cracking and seal the clay with a water proof coating cast iron ones are in my opinion a lot more durable sturdy   so i ordered one off Amazon with a swivel mesh grill its over four foot tall be a nice center piece .

Went to the Will O Nat's for Sunday lunch  Helen had a roast dinner i had the fish and chips it is a pub we have driven past numerous times but never called in the food was ok have had worse would have preferred different chips and baked beans instead of peas but never mind it was very filling i left nothing and they only had dark berrie cider on draft which i sampled .

TUESDAY - Went out to a hose that sold flowers bedding plants and chopped up logs for the chimenea also bought a bag of kindling we have fire lighters .

Assembled the chimenea the mesh door did not close right it was also not cast iron the only things made out of cast iron where the feet I am in the process of returning it to the supplier the next one I buy will be on I can actually physically  see. Also the paint burns off after one use so it is going to end up very rusty so why bother painting it .

BACK TO WORK AND BROKEN PROMISES

 TUESDAY - Bought Helen a egg chair for the garden it was priced at £399 but at the till when I paid for it was only charged £369 , it just fitted in the car assembled it was only two bolts and was ready in a few minutes for Helen eo test it out all was well .

WEDNESDAY - Went back to work my back ache is almost gone the odd twinge just got to be careful of base movement and lifting but I cant justify another day of sick leave .If my back does go then a sick note it will be .

THURSDAY - Went to Meadow Hall Helen wanted to go to Primark for cheap vests and T-shirts I bought her a bottle of YSL Libre , I was toying of buying myself a bottle of Sauvage but a is. was given a free sample so didn't bother . I went to Next bought eight pairs of boxers and eight pairs of socks just under £65 ouch should have got them from Primark.

FRIDAY - Promises from my son to pay me back some money he owes me never materialised its one way traffic all going out nothing coming in I am not happy with his attitude false promises and lie after lie , in fact I have totally had enough this has been going on for years and for the thousands he has had of me he has never paid a penny back well the bank of Dad is now permanently closed the shutters pulled down no more money ever .

SATURDAY - Went over to Helens parents Helen had cooked a dinner she had promised them a couple o f week ago , well it was for all of us s a simple dish of minced beef and mash with green beans and broccoli done in garlic and brown sugar and a very rich gravy .

SUNDAY - Went over to mt daughters hose fixed the dado rail I. was doing last weekend but had to cancel with my back issues.Helen did some of the bushes that needed trimming it was a good job that they had a skip on their drive .On the way home we stopped at a Wetherby Whaler for fish and chips from the take away they was ok had better had worse .

SMOKE ALARM

 SATURDAY - Back still giving me jib  not sleeping great waking up at silly o'clock in the morning .I had drive to the shops I had no choice bought some supplies essentials dog and cat food cat biscuits  , milk , coffee and sugar also needed some toiletries shaving gel hair gel mouth wash , Also needed  dishwasher tablets , salt and rinse aid also toilet cleaner and paper needed washing tablets and conditioner and some food items lamb chops , new potatoes , sweet corn , I also bought more paracetamol and ibuprofen tablets the two boxes of heat boxes from Amazon got delivered this morning . Bought nine solar lanterns for the back garden hopefully we get some sun to super charge them .

SUNDAY - Picked the two seater garden chair up we ordered at the start of the week I got it lifted into the car for me hopefully I can assemble it easier enough it comes in four pieces got to be careful bending and lifting I manage it ok with out further injury to my back Helen helped me there wa sonly six bolts to tighten .

I have been watching a lot of You Tube clips of the Johnny Depp defamation trial I believe he was always  innocent he's been shit on without a doubt .

MONDAY - Went to the local pub for tea it was easier than going shopping for food my back is still aching and I have to be careful even driving .We both had to order rib eye steak as the fish and pie wa son the menu not happy its a poor menu calfs liver and risotto the alternatives is not something I would want to eat the desert menu was rubbish too the triple cooked chips looked like the had been cooked more than three times think the chef was using the smoke alarm as a timer. The picture below is the chips there is no coating on them they are just potatoes sliced and cooked .The steak was fine the little glass jar is horseradish .

NO WORK TODAY .

 MONDAY - De weeded the back garden there was quite a few growing even flourishing I must have taken out three bucket fulls the garden I looking more brown then green as you can see more soil .

We ordered a two seater wooden bench to go under the window we cant pick it up until next Monday also bought a hanger for the garden hose that fits to the wall near the outside tap .

WEDNESDAY - Went to Slaithwaite to get my haircut Helen was getting hers coloured her reindeer was picking her up and she was spending the rest of the day with her . I went hone after I had been to the supermarket for dog food , ground coffee , coffee pods , sugar , sunflower oil there is a shortage but managed to get some , I spent the rest of the day chilling until it was time for work .

Ordered some various sizes S.D.S drill bits need to order some various size plastic wall plugs I don't have any suitable ones most  I have are for cavity walls . The  countersink drill bits and plug cutters to make wooden pellets  came the other day I am fitting some dado rail at my daughters house this coming Sunday .

My Son told me again that he  is going to start to pay me back some of the money that he owes that he has borrowed over the last five years , He is starting  from next week great news .The trouble is in the past  he has lied and his  promises have been false I don't think his word oaths pledges mean anything they are just sounds coming from his mouth . But as always I give him the benefit of my doubt I really hope this time he keeps his word . Yes I want the money back or at least some portion of the money back .But also it is about principal and ethics as well and also commitment to keeping a job and to stick to what you say if he cant do that then in my eyes he is not much of a man  or a Son .

THURSDAY - I am still hell bent on getting a new Mac Book Air unless the price is ridiculous then I will get a Mac book my savings is doing really good I have half the money saved I know when the time comes I won't want to spend it saving to spend instead of just saving that's other reason I want so much each week off my son .

Picking dog poo up from the back yard and my back went a shooting pain in my lower back I couldn't move took a while to straighten up its a horrible pain so intense took some ibuprofen and ordered 14 curaheat patches of Amazon though it was going to be that bad as the day progressed it did get easier but I have to be cautious and careful how I move expecting it to get worse fingers crossed it doesn't . I been sat upright most of the day I see walking up and down don't want my back to lock .

HALF SIZED

 Bought some things of eBay and Amazon bought some wired ear buds which had a good write up and reviews a pair of KZ ZS10 Pros in matt black for under fifty quid excellent buy sound quality real .I added a Prozor head phone amplifier it is not as good as I hoped but it does improve the sound quality some what  maybe I was expecting more than it delivers as the ear buds on there own are good enough .

I also bought a 39 piece socket set putting the hanging baskets up I used coach bolts and my cordless drill with a socket bit was not strong enough that was under twenty pound I won't be using often so its more than good enough for my needs .

Bailey finally made it to the groomers for his coat cutting , thought I would  try somewhere different it was less money nearer and in my opinion a better cut , as you can see he looks the dogs bollocks .He is half the size he used to be he looks like a puppy .

Bought some new T-Shirts for summer two Nike and one Adidas finally bought some new North Face sliders need breaking in as well as a bum bag for my phone keys and wallet should have bought one ages ago so handy .

SATURDAY - Watched the new Batman film I love the batman movies I was not impressed it was good in parts but overall not brilliant hated the Bat-mobile hated the ending struggled watching it until the end I was tired and it was not making it w=easy to stay awake I think I dropped of a couple of times a third of the way through Helen went to bed .

SUNDAY - Went to visit my son have not seen him for a while he looked well he is still living in a static home he needs to decorate and get some different curtains and sort out his bedroom checked his fridge at least he had some food in and no beer which was good .After leaving my sons went to visit Helens parents they both seemed well .We left the some braising steak in the slow cooker it was ready when we returned home .

GREENSIDE UP

 MONDAY - Started to plan the front garden its going to get a make over .Went to the garden centre bought six rolls of turf .We are taking out all the plants and bushed and shrubs .They are going to get replanted in the rear garden .Then we will turn over the soil and lay the turf the only thing you really need to know when laying turf is green side up.We also bought two baskets to go under the window cill and a new bigger hanging basket and bracket for the wall as well as two new planters for each side of the front door and two topiary bushed to go in them just them was £150 like everything gardening is not cheap .

We have also feed the lawn and seeded it as well hopefully it will take a hold and grow and hopefully look all the same colour most of it was from the same batch one of the rolls did not look that good so we replaced it along with another one that had a fe moss patches growing and they came from a different batch .

PROBLEMS SOLVED

 SUNDAY - Well fcuking tired I was up at ten a Amazon I bought two 9v batteries yesterday they happened to be rechargeable we didn't have a charge so I ordered one yesterday got it this morning Thanks Prime .

Went to the farm shop to get bacon and bread cakes did Helen a bacon sandwich and myself a sausage and fresh tomato .

Went to the Fleece at Holme for Sunday lunch it was spot on I had the belly pork and Helen the roast beef and pork we have been before but way before covid for desert Helen had apple pie and ice cream I had the fudge cake just for a change .It was a £54 with drinks so more costly then cooking it ourselves but we was tired from or jaunt to Liverpool yesterday so why not .

MONDAY - Put the castors on to the corner sofa so we can move it to open the door to get to the under stairs storage .I put eleven castors on and it glides like a dream so easy not sure why I didn't fo this before the castors cost £36 for a dozen so by far it was the cheapest and easiest option problem solved .

I also went do to Holmfirth hardware shop and bought jubilee clips for the hoses on the water feature the pipes after so long kept dropping off another problem solved .

I also to my drop dog my Fossil self winding watch to the watch repair shop it had stopped and would not start working again only to find out it contains  a batterie inside that need replacing a bit of false advertising by Fossil . The watch man replaced the battery which he did for only a tenner another problem fixed .

M.M IS BACK

 FRIDAY - Checked all four car tyres all needed air in don't want any hassles for the drive over to Liverpool tomorrow I will fill the car up with petrol on the way home from work tonight that should be fun will help to deplete the bank account if it needed any help .

On the way home went to Asda bought a load of AAA and AA batteries for the ghost hunting equipment 

 SATURDAY - Had a Massaman curry with rice bad idea I always get bad wind but I really like the curry .

We had over a two hour drive went out earlier and filled the car up of petrol not the E10 shit it was nearly £60 I did have petrol in the tank price of gas extortionately high .

Made it to Liverpool got there no hassle on the way we arrived  forty five minutes early the gates to the Hospital asylum were shut there was about twenty five cars waiting to follow us in once we all drove through the gates where locked behind us , it had already turned dark no way out no getting out until three a.m .

                                          

The hunt was in teams w all had a leader then we swapped areas and leaders they where four leaders working for Dusk till Dawn events it was good a few strange things happened a gurney table moved down the corridor when w all placed our Hands on to it and messages came through t Ouija board directed at Helen .

The journey home went ok got home in bed just after five Sunday morning we had a drink before going to bed for a few hours well deserved sleep no nightmares.