ITS COMING TOMORROW

 FRIDAY - Coming up to the end of the year time to take down the Christmas tree and lights back into the loft until next year hopefully I will be dragging the box out of the loft next December  2024 .I know there is no guarantee but fingers crossed all my family friends are celebrating another festive season.

We also had a major clean up took a load of rubbish bags to the local tip there was queuing up to get in took fifteen minutes to get to the front and dispose of  my refuge  .

Cooked steak for tea with garlic battered mushrooms and onion rings and mini cheesy baked potatoes .

SATURDAY - Lazy day Helen had a couple of readings to do went out later for a few provisions nothing major serve weather warning again for where we live ,  losing track of the names as they keep happening  every few days , guess global warming its happening in real time  . Be glad when this year is over .

SUNDAY - Went over to see Helens parents last visit this year on the way home calle din to see my sister had a couple of drinks at home stayed up until after midnight watched Andrew Tate on You Tube at least he is not in prison for the new year a better start for him and his brother  than last year  .

Its coming its 23.33 bye bye 2023 

HAPPY BDAY

 THURSDAY - Helen's birthday today I wont reveal  her age but it is the seventeenth we have celebrated  together and she is younger than me ., I also reported my concerns for my son missing to  West Yorkshire police  I phoned them up from my house phone . No family members including myself have had any contact with him since the 13th of December the day that he was released from prison we have heard nothing from him via email , text , phone call nothing what a great son   . The Police rang thirty minutes later to inform me that  they are not treating him as a missing person and gave me no hindsight to his where abouts if he had been rearrested dead alive nothing what  a total waste of time .

I bought the wooden stand for Helen from Wentworth garden centre along with the wooden bread cup  coasters that are situated on the bottom shelve I also bought her a glass candle cover for her moving artificial candle .The photo to be honest doesn't do it justice she also bought one for her desk and a Emma Bridgewater porcelain cup to go with the others she already owns,

For tea we drove to the local chippy and ordered two fish a large bag of chips  plus two long battered sausages and  a carton of peas for Helen and curry sauce  for me with a bag of  scraps we buttered our own  bread we had to stop on route to get tomato sauce life's a bitch sometimes .The shop already had their shelves stacked with easter eggs its never too early for chocolate .

DAYS AFTER

 CHRISTMAS DAY - Took the dogs out after I had a shower once back I started preparing our festive lunch peeled and chopped the parsnips , carrots and potatoes peeled the cross cut the fresh sprouts .

I made the mixture for the Yorkshire puddings which were cooked first and put to one side .preheated the oven and banged in the turkey crown it needed cooking for two hours forty five minutes it was covered in goose fat and covered in foil .

The parsnips and carrots with honey drizzled on and garlic salt I  cooked  them in the air fryer along with the roast potatoes with parsley and garlic salt which cooked in the first drawer .I also made the stuffing which I cooked at the same time  with the pigs in blankets whilst the turkey crown was resting all in all everything was cooked good no disasters .five o clock in the afternoon I drove to work at the hospital .

Had no contact from my son no call,  text message or email , nothing so much for his promises .

BOXING DAY - Visited Helens parents at Acaster Malbis I received a very nice wallet a tin of short breads and alcohol thank you .Helen got a picture locket on a chain she will put photos of her mam and dad in she also got a bottle of Baileys Irish cream .We had to leave early in the afternoon so I could go to work .

WEDNESDAY - Got home just before 3a.m no work now until next Monday which will be New years day 2024.

Went to Sainsbury and Asda bought a few things pate , sausages , bacon , gastro chips , and crisps bought some mini note books for work and finally managed to buy the magazine Computer Active its been years since I have had any reason to buy it but now I have a windows laptop thought I see what I have been missing 

FISH TANK NO FISH

 SATURDAY - Went to my twin sisters house I also saw my daughter there and my grandson the rest of the family was there including my nephews and their spouses .There was a big bowl of slow cooked chilli with jacket potatoes cheese and sour cream , plus cheesecake cream and other deserts it was all very nice they had just got the kitchen dinning room extension completed it looks very nice it transforms the whole house .I noticed a new Sage coffee machine that takes coffee pods might have to invest in one next year I do like fresh ground coffee .I  like the existing external window reminds  me of a fish tank its a great focal point to the extension  

On the way home we called into Asda to buy more food and other bits like curry , frozen meals for Helen bacon and sausages and baked beans I also bought a bag of chicken legs and a pizza .

SUNDAY - Went to the co-op bought milk and coffee and bottled water tried to get turkey gravy granules to no avail the fridge is full the freezers are full the bank account empty . Next year I will be prepared no kidding .I have the new Walter Isaacson's book Elon Musk I have read the Steve Jobs one when it came out I think I read that at Christmas time as well .

Later in the evening cooked a fresh pizza i had pastrami and chorizo on my half and extra cheese with chips cooked in the air fryer .

AT LAST A CROWN

 TUESDAY - I am working Christmas day and boxing day at the hospital I work at .I am still working 18.00 to 02.00 Monday night  to Saturday morning .It will be quite its not the first time I have worked Christmas day it might be the last .

We are not prepared for Christmas in any shape or form we have not bought the Christmas items for dinner yet which is not too bad seeing we still have six days until the big day .

WEDNESDAY - Completed my Hpv training at work I can now use the new machines which cost £60 k each we have three the training was done in five hours and i now have my electronic card to start the machine .

FRIDAY - Morning went Asda bought two turkey crowns and all the trimming's for Christmas dinner  I could not get turkey gravy so ended up buying chicken gravy instead also they had sold out of Christmas puddings 

Took the car in for an oil change waited in reception will it got worked on it came back washed and vacuumed out .

STEWING

WEDNESDAY - Had haircut at HD7 . Bought some wholemeal subs and cans of tuna we are going to do tuna and melted cheese subs for tea .Which we did they turned out really good will have to get some sweet chilli chicken and some meat balls .Cooked some chicken thighs in the air fryer they turned out well nice crispy and moist and tender for some reason I thought they would be dry eventually we will get the Ninja cook book from Amazon .

FRIDAY - Not heard from my son he was supposed to be ringing me he never did this was Wednesday I have not heard anything from him to say I 'am totally pissed of with him is an understatement .

WEEKEND - Went to Fox Valley bought some essentials went early evening so they would be less shoppers  and there were always a blessing easier parking fewer people at the tills    .Over the weekend Helen did work on her scrapbook/diary journal she is a few pages in its looking very detailed .Sunday I did a beef stew in the slow cooker with the usual carrots , swede onion and pots also did dumplings and pancakes not a traditional Sunday fare but very tasty and filling .

Still using the Ninja its great for chicken thighs impressed so much better than I though bacon also cooks pretty good it was a good investment a slow cooker and Ninja is a must for snyone leaving home and setting upon their own . Above what's left of the stew why does it always taste better the day after .

WHITE NINJA

 SATURDAY - Storm Fergus the storm from Ireland left us with rain all day .We was going for a Christmas meal to the Dam Inn at New Miller Dam on Barnsley road .On the way a tree had blown down which had brought phone wire down into the road the police was there and men with chain saws cutting the tree up into pieces .I t wasn't a major delay and we reached our destination in more or less on time .

For starters I had the chicken live pate the toast was cold and a couple of extra pieces would have been nice Helen had mushroom soup for mains we both had turkey roast dinner which was ok no Yorkshire pudding and a little ball of stuffing the sprouts where under cooked but it was ok for desert I had lemon cheese cake with sorbet and Helen had traditional Christmas pudding the drinks where reasonable I had a Inches cider and Helen half a lager and lime .Set off home tyre pressure warning light came on drivers rear side I stopped when safe to do so and inflated the tyre the dust cap was missing I thought someone might have messed with it we got home without stopping again .

SUNDAY - Checked the tyre flat it was as a pancake i reinflated it and went to the tyre shop the one I went to the previous week to get two new front tyres they inspected it there was a nail in-between the tread  , I got it repaired for a tenner next year I will get two new back tyres .Took Helen to Currys PcWorld she wants a Ninja two drawer air fryer they had loads £179 with 10% off when you got to the checkout .Been checking out some recipes out on You Tube today just cooked some roast potatoes to be fair they were a 8/10 need to be a little more crispy but fair does a lot better than frozen roasts ,we will carry on practicing but it seems pretty straight forward you can sync or match each drawer easy to programme so far impressed .

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS

 My son is still in jail for not doing his community service order of eighty hours , like I said before totally  his fault he should have complied . Can only guess what his cell is like cold and small with  bars on the window a heavy metal door that locks and is unpickable .Also guessing the heat is on very low and can imagine how cold it is on a night and staying warm not that  easy .I just get under the duvet put the electric blanket on or turn the heating up , go to bed with a hot drink its easy when your free . The constant noise of doors slamming shut keys turning would do my head in hope its been a great deterrent for my son he says in his emails its been a learning curve hope he s learned well so he never goes back .

Christmas is looming cant see this Christmas being that great I will settle for a decent pig out Christmas day dinner got to be the best meal of the year no doubt will be up super early to start prepping and cooking the food .

Was thinking what would I want for Christmas and as always there is nothing really I need a new Leatherman , new water bottle maybe a diary for 2024 .On the dearer end a Ps5 and a iPad pro with keyboard .I do need new jeans and some new hoodies and socks a decent aftershave would be nice and a silver bracelet maybe . I would like to buy Helen some perfume and a watch to go with her Samsung phone but i wont be getting in to debt its still Christmas its what you make it guess a lot this year will be on a budget thanks to mortgages and inflation .

I think all I want for Christmas is for all the hate and  the wars to stop and  for money that is being spent on weapons to go towards fixing the world  issues that we all face concerning the state of the planet and the mess and pollution , I want  food for everyone no famine no one going hungry and homelessness to be non existence and for affordable housing for everyone and a cure for cancer  would be nice .

ITS WHITE AGAIN

 THURSDAY - Woke up to a thin layer of snow doubt it was even 5mm but it was cold and it was white it was definitely snow .I was glad I invested in some new tyres yesterday.

I went to the supermarket bought dog food and cat biscuits along with to packets of diced stewing beef a couple of packs of bacon,  milk and coffee bread , baked beans and sausages as well as fresh baby pots and a swede , I also threw in some chocolate biscuits hash browns and mini breakfast waffles  if you have always got food in for breakfast you will never starve .The slow cooked stew with dumplings and pancakes was the best yet the dumplings turned out perfect the gravy just right .

FRIDAY - Up early walked the dogs there is still snow and the car windscreens where all frozen over for the second morning running .Received a hand written letter from my son think its the first ever letter I have ever had off him he didn't really go into great detail and most of it i could have guessed it would be what he would have to say hopefully he puts in to practice what we all want him to do.

SATURDAY - Not doing much went to the fish shop got battered sausage and chips after we did a bit of shopping got more chicken and chorizo and fries as long as I am stocked up on these items I will never go hungry it started snowing later in the night they will be a covering in the morning not sure how bad will see tomorrow .

SUNDAY - Snow is back its not too bad more than the previous day but it should clear quickly hopefully by Monday if it gets any worse there is a good chance I wont be going to work even with new tyres need to go to the farm shop for the Sunday roast what ever will do Yorkshire puddings and mash pots .

NEW BOOTS

 MONDAY - Cooked a full English breakfast its been a week or so since we have had one was very tasty tried some new mini potato waffles was ok. Tonight I am going to be cooking to massive steaks , mashed pots and broccoli with a nice rich beef gravy .Went to Fox Valley outlet Helen wanted to buy a camping table from Go Outdoors  for her card readings etc only £16 .

TUESDAY - Took the dogs to the tops of the moors the sun was rising it was quite warm and sunny hence the decision to go across the tops this morning its a good couple of hours walking last time I walked this route was the last weeks of summer .

Booked a three course Christmas dinner at a pub its on a Saturday night I am having chicken liver pate to start then the traditional turkey Christmas dinner and desert a mascarpone cheese cake all in for £25 which cheap enough .

The prelit Christmas tree is not lighting up it was fine the day before guessing some four legged fur ball  has chewed a wire cant be anything else guessing its Rosie aka Monki.

WEDNESDAY - The morning frost it back with a vengeance the roofs and car windows are all whitened out there is no wind so its not cold the roads don't look too  iced over and the sun is trying to put in an appearance. I need two front tyres on my Karoq  I got two front tyres on the previous Karoq and will go back to the same tyre fitting shop that I frequented the  last time this time I needed new boots it is going to cost me £160 for them fitting and balancing etc .Once done I could feel the difference when i was driving home cant take chances need extra grip in the winter months . 

TRACTORS AND LIGHTS

 SATURDAY - No work for a full nine days bliss even if the temperature has dropped to minus one the sun is out we are putting the outside Christmas lights up hopefully it wont take too long got to get in the Christmas spirit regardless. We used the clips on the soffit and gutters from previous years ten minutes it was done another twenty mins to do the railings fir tree and the walking sticks it is looking good .

Bought some some mince pies and some stollen and Christmas cake with marzipan and icing  .Helen bought a wreath for the front door and some more lights she also bought two small Christmas trees for both our bedside drawers .I don't advocate anyone getting in to debt for Christmas and I know some wont even manage a Turkey dinner .Through out the world  there are people worse off specially  in Europe and the Middle East on all sides for them Christmas will be surviving the onslaught hopefully peace comes quickly for all those fighting wars .

All the farmers tractors descended to the village for a Christmas procession it occurs every year we always manage to see it this year we was extremely lucky  we witnessed most of the decorated festive tractors loads of people where in the village centre to see it ,

SUNDAY - Dropped Helen of were she is working for the day until late afternoon  . I went food shopping bought loads of fresh chicken drumsticks ,a couple of very large best  steaks , some frozen white fish and beef  mince meat as well has hash browns , waffles , mini waffles and skin on fries i also bought some Irish cider and a bottle of cola and coffee and brown sugar as well as liquid soap fabric conditioner and dishwashes tablets and double roll toilet paper 

FREEDOM

 MONDAY - After a week off I am back at work tonight .Took the dogs Rosie and Bailey out for their morning walk on getting home I had a Facebook notification memories I had done the exact same walk a year ago to the day how weird is that now convinced I am in a parallel universe or even  the Matrix .

TUESDAY - Found out my son has ben jailed for not doing his community service order for his drink driving conviction he was fined and ordered to complete 100+ hours community and the dick he is has not completed one hour of the order so he ended being jailed for eight weeks , no sympathy his fault rock on .

WEDNESDAY - Woke up a freeman once again I can do what ever I want today .I took the dogs out it was cold and rain was in the air but  I didn't care I saw the reservoir and forest and sheep and ducks .Once home I used my Sage coffee machine to make a perfect cup of coffee and cooked a bacon and egg sandwich later we are going out to get some freshly baked pork pies for tea we will pass fields and meadows and the boating club it be dark and grey cold and wet but who cares I am free .I might play another hour on the X-box Red Dead Redemption 2 , or I might listen to some music , go on my laptop or phone a friend I can do what ever I want because I am my own boss as long as I don't break any laws I am free. Tonight after finishing work I will drive home and shower and get in to a nice comfy bed listen to a podcast see my partner dogs and cats if I need to get up during the night the door wont be locked I can go and make a coffee put the TV on or read a magazine , Might get a nice portion of fish and chips go for a pint have a cigar or order a chines to be delivered the list is endless I have choices only limited by my imagination and funds so glad I am not in Jail .To all the prisoners who have been locked up and are totally innocent what a injustice I feel sorry for every day you are jailed ,  for those locked up because they are guilty of any crime,  then all I say is  if you cant do the time don't do the crime .

IN DATE

 WEDNESDAY - Still feeling blocked up head ache and hot sweats sleeping is still intermittent I am always waking up every couple of hours its either the cats or dogs that wake me plus Helen's snoring so I am in constant zombie mode .Hopefully in the next couple of days I will be back to my normal routine .

Half way through November already two more paydays till Christmas very scary it always creeps up on us every year we get caught out always seems to early in October to think about Christmas but guess its not with the price of things end of summer would be more appropriate .

I have no idea what Helen wants apart from the usual of perfume and jewellery I might get her  android watch to go with her Samsung phone .

THURSDAY - Feel worse than yesterday all I want to do is sleep or cat nap i am tired for most of the day so I did nothing but watch You Tube and started reading a new book did the first chapter its very gripping it a Chris Carter novel called "The Caller" , so far brilliant .

FRIDAY - Had to go out get some coffee and a few other essential items like butter , milk chocolate digestives and a big bottle of cola the cheap stuff was mixing it with some bourbon that  I had left from last Christmas and we all know whiskey doesn't go off there was not a lot left just below the label but it was enough.

  WATCHING - The Rise Of The Foot Solider "Vengeance " was ok not the best one ever.

FRESH VEG ON SUNDAY

 SUNDAY - Went to Cawthorne antiques Helen bought a musical tin some butter pats and a old Victorian shuttle use don the looms .On the way home we went to Cellar 41 at Thurgoland and bought some fresh veg swede , carrots , potatoes and cabbage .We bought a joint of pork from Tesco in Penistone I made two large home made Yorkshire puddings for our Sunday .

MONDAY - Had a lousy nights sleep waking up way too warm , chest tight and a throbbing headache and as a result I had trouble getting back to sleep I  finally got out of bed my head was spinning I was still felling hot and was starting to cough I felt bad enough to ring in sick at work I rang in early enough so they had time to cover my shift only to be told to phone back later in the afternoon just in case I felt better no pressure then if I am ill now I wont be any better a few hours later but i play ball if thats whats required .All i fancy to eat is porridge and honey and a hot coffee .

MORE CERAMICS

 THURSDAY - Helen has been busy the last two days and nights doing readings she has more to do over the next few days .Not heard anything from my son I have no way of contacting him so unless he reaches out to either his sister or me we have no idea what he is doing and where he is doing it .The weather is getting colder snow is predicted in the coming few weeks.

SATURDAY - Went to Wentworth garden centre they had the Christmas decorations we visit almost each previous year it does not seem as good as years gone buy .Helen bought a throw for the sofa and a Rise & Shine cup with chicken's which for a cup is quite expensive .

After leaving the garden centre we went to Fox Valley we called in to a few shops to buy wash gel and conditioner i needed coffee we also got gingerbread scented candles in glass jars Helen also bought another two cups .For these two cups was a quarter of the price for the one posted above but you cant put them in the dishwasher or microwave , and seeing has Helen nukes every cup of tea she drinks means a lot of tea is going to be poured down the sink.

 

On the way home we stopped of to get some fish and chips to eat at home freshly fried fish with scraps a good way to finish of the trip out .

LISTENING TO - Rotten Mango podcast excellent .

WATCHING - The Killer .

READING - The Caller by Chris Carter .

HOPITALIZED

 SATURDAY - Went to Asda bought some new bedding and bits of food and milk apart from this trip out we did very little .I Cooked some mince beef with swede , carrots and peas with dumplings and baby new potatoes .

SUNDAY - Went over to Acaster Malbis to see Helens parents we got engaged on bonfire day years ago I remember saying if nothing else there will always be fireworks on our engagement day .And there was fire works not that many but a few, they were being set off Saturday night too .I had a joint of pork to cook but will do it tomorrow instead .

MONDAY - The joint of pork wasn't pork it was gammon which I realised when it was cooked and i was carving it oh well .

TUESDAY - I  learned that  my son is once again in hospital with cellulitis I think he has had this condition before ,and  he will be in for a few days at least he will be getting feed and resting and medication . His sister is going to visit him tonight after she has finished work.  I think he will be in for a few days hopefully until he is well as I think he has been kicked out of where he was living and once again has nowhere to live .There is answers I need to know to questions that I have .

NEW OAK

 THURSDAY - Booked some annual leave nearly three weeks in the months of  January , February and March  I also have time off in November and December which is fantastic for me .

Helen bought a oak coffee table to replace the white Ikea one it is lower and has storage space when you lift the lid up there is enough room to get in and hide should you so wish  .The photo is taken at the hose we bought it from our good friend Julie it cost £600 and we bought it for a 6th of that and its solid wood its slightly bigger and lower than what we had .The gas struts don't keep the lid open which is a minus apart from that its well nice .

Set up the finger print reader on my laptop so I can sign in with just a such first time I have had this option other than using my phone .

Sick of the dull dark grey foggy weather specially on the motorway driving home its really bad in parts i do slow down specially with all the massive puddles and surface water om most of the country lanes which are also with out street lighting .

Not heard anything from my son he has gone of the radar his phone is permanently  switched off  although he has recently  spoken to his sister so I am guessing all is well meaning he is not locked up in hospital .

Rosie went to the groomers for her beauty treatment she always looks so cute when I pick her up and of course she smells like a little princess .

LISTENING TO - Neck Deep and Blink 182 .

WATCHING  -  "A Haunting In Venice "

LAZY SUNDAY

 SATURDAY - Slow cooker filled with fresh veg onions and braising steak plus stock and red wine set a timer for six hours .

I unboxed and set the printer up filling the tanks was super easy one tank one colour all which was all coloured coordinated .Setting the wifi up was  super easy using the net work password  all devices on the same Wi-Fi  connected easily that is my  iPhone , Helens android phone , two mac books and two window laptops ,the  printer heads are aligned and test paper done , so  all is good didn't even use the Epson app .

Went to Ikea bought a corkscrew and a extendable mirror for the bathroom Helen got a new lamp and new prints and frames .After shopping We had meatballs , hot dogs chips and coke spot on.

SUNDAY - The clocks went back never noticed didn't feel like I had any extra sleep had a lazy day Helen did some printing of images she down loaded of the internet .I order three usb sticks 2 x 16 gb and one 64gb if i can use the 64gb in the tv i wont order any more 16gb ones .

NEW INK

 FRIDAY - Bought a new printer from Curry's Pc World its a Epson with a eco tank that's suppose to last for ages obviously depending on amount of printing you do in any one day its cheaper than a ink subscription will see once it is set up .I also claimed £30 cash back from Epson so with four full ink tanks its cost £169 four inks cost £44 from Curry's so it was a good buy . Will set it up tomorrow when I have had some sleep .

NEW WINDOWS .

 THURSDAY - Helen brought home two Lenovo x1 carbon laptops 16mb memory , 512 ssd drive i7 processor running window 11 pro very light weight laptop sound quality great , colours super had a slight problem with one not starting and powering on fixe dit by reset hole underside for laptop this fixed it it powered dup and came back to life .

Getting use to using windows again there is plenty of help out there but so far i have to admit windows is better than it was years ago but its still nowhere as good as a Mac in my opinion .Need to get a new printer think it will be a Canon .

FRIDAY - Bought a breakfast from the farm shop two bacon three sausages , black pudding , hash browns,  toms , baked beans and mushrooms and egg for a fiver , plus its all local farm produce excellent .