my apologies for absence

I have had a rather tough week with really long hours, and have been very tired.

But enough of the good stuff I am still alive and well but in need of a holiday in the sun, I think I will go to some third world country and help the starving millions by teaching them how to fish and grow crops and also how to stop getting aids by keeping their dicks in their trousers or loin cloths, instead of holding their hands out.
It always made me think that if they have the strength for sex they should have the strength to work or dig.

I also need to know when women, have got to get whats coming to them, or what ever that is.
But read the comments on the last blog and all will be clear but at the moment all is clear as mud.

Today I have been to Yorkshire to see my children. it's a good long drive from here I am used to it but there and back in the day is also tiring.
Anyway all is well with them all and it was nice to see them.

Yesterday I invited the German Chappies who are at work around for a curry, home made of course, they came and marveled at how small our house is and also only one toilet, we had a bloody good evening and a good laugh and yes I did mention the war, but only in the mutual films we like and how the language has altered from that time.

I feel next week will be more of the same, so be patient I will pick up the threads of normality soon.

Meanwhile here is some more of the garden

This sunflower is now 9 feet tall

you don't need another pic of me with my fat arse

and we planted wild flowers I think it is truly wild.

In the land of Giants

this year has been great for the garden and I am really impressed with the sunflowers this one is 8 feet tall I am 6 feet 2 inch. Grow baby grow.
Take no notice of the towels on the line, just pretend they are not there.
It looks like I am getting chubby must get the bike back out.










this one is also 8 feet tall


















we do get a little help from our friends














and the Bee's are busy, I used a macro setting and just hoped for the best


















I love to see the vibrant colours on all of these

Marigolds






Clematis I just love this colour




Pansy's and sweetpeas









another glorious day we went out for Sunday lunch at one of our favorite pubs The Black Horse (Illey) all the jobs have been done and now it's chill time.

well that was the week that was

This week has gone sooo quickly.

I hav'nt had time to sit or do this, it just seems to have been a big rush.

Everything is upsidedown at work, there are workers everywhere moving machines and installing new one's.

There are 2 very nice German blokes here fitting the New Shotblaster and I am trying to brush up on my German and they too are getting to know how to speak English better.

they made me laugh the other day when one of them said whilst working on the machine
"alle Scheiße" I understood him straight away.

On Wednesday we travelled up to Leeds for middle son's graduation what a bloody long day running around from pillar to post photographs here and there the ceremony and at last he got his degree A first in phyics with astro phyics.
I would say all his hard work has payed off and that will set him up for a lifetime.

Well done middle son you are a credit to yourself and all your family.

We had some drinks and D and I went to our hotel, well I know Leeds and knew it wasn't in the best part of town but at least it would be a bed for the night and the view was amazing






yes thats Leeds alright
not something you want to write home about
can you just imagine
(what was Leeds like? well shite really)




Any way enough of the good stuff we got up early the day after and turned down the offer of continental breakfast for £6 each and traveled down the M1 and turned off to visit Holmfirth where they film The last of the Summer Wine, we had a bloody good english breakfast there for about £5 each and that set us up for the day.

We travelled home slower than normal and got home at about 12. 30 it was a glorious day and we stayed in the garden and I made some pimms we didn't have the proper stuff so I improvised 2 pints of lemonade a quarter of a bottle of vodka some fresh fruit some brandy, orange squash and ice, after we drank that, we did'nt care much about anything.


Then only one day left and its the weekend again not so sunny today but very warm and muggy

weekends go too quick

Because we had middle son down to see us on Saturday we didn't do too much as D wanted to spend some time with him he graduates next week, so we slobbed all day in the garden, and I trimmed the front hedge.

We waved him goodbye as he cycled off to the station and slobbed some more.

Sunday though has been much different I woke early as normal and got on with my Jobs, first I ahd promised myself, to degrease and jet spray the cars engine that went well and the car started after, so I though oh good I then fixed the leaking tap which is in the back garden, got showered and changed and we were going to go out.

Car refused to start, I wasn't suprised I had just drenched it, so when the battery had almost died on me, I took the plugs out well they were knackered so I walked to the shop and got new ones, I still wouldn't start so I took off the distributer and oh yes it was full of water, anyway I cleaned it charged up the car battery put everything back on and bingo it went.

So that sorted we did a bit of shopping at the local shops only to find a man dressed in armour riding a horse and he told us there was display at Weoley Castle, so the shopping done very quickly, we raced home and walked down to the Castle and this is what we saw













































and this is just a short walk from us we are lucky
oh and it was free

at work

my desk












the new building.
100 meters long 18 wide












we still have room outside











inside now is about 150 mtrs long and about 80 mtrs wide





its big enough if you have to walk around it all day

little wonder I am tired
I like it there I am proud of what we have achieved and there is a lot more going on

an early one

Today I left work early to go to the hospital to have tests on my heart.
arrived 4.00pm ecg done by 4.10 pm

4.15pm saw young consultant and very nice she was, (but I have daughters older than that).
Told me to stop smoking ( I expected that )

Told me to cut down on the drinking(I expected that)

Went into great detail about how my liver would be if I carried on drinking as much(didn't expect that)

I now am waiting for one of those things you have to wear all day to test your heart rythem.
There is nothing wrong with me she just wants to check.

I think she just wants to see the tall handsome Yorkshire Man again(she is only human)

you only get

one chance sometimes to get the picture.


I had to run for the camera for this one.





it's not pretty and I took 10 to get the right one but I will never see that again.

life in suberbia.

come walk round the garden

lillys







and daft stuff




sunflowers over 6 feet tall















hanging baskets

Hope you enjoyed it, its not everything, but it's nice to share I look at it everyday.

the overtime the curry and the exhaust

What a week I am glad it's over we had a lovely week off and then back to the grindstone bloody big time.

I did 19 hours overtime this week but that is ok I will get paid for it,but I have been tired out all through the week. 11 hours a day plus Saturday morning does'nt leave much "Steve Time".

I knew my car exhaust was starting to blow a bit,but now it's great,I have the sports sounding car I always wanted,I will wait for it to drop off before I do anything.

Then last night instead of cooking we ordered from our favorite Indian Takeaway,
well bugger me it went faster through me than a vaseline coated sports car, so at 4.00 am this morning I was up rushing to the toilet,and then again, and again,
( I know "tooo" much in information) so I already have been up a long time.

So what today,I think I need a nap or I will be in bed by 8.00pm.

Their coming home

I have never watched football but the other night when england was playing,,,, ohhh I don't know who don't ask me ! I thought the match would have finished but I caught them in extra time then it went to penalties.

Well bugger me I know now why I don't watch, I can kick a ball harder than that,,,, and I would for a lot less money.

BUT,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I did at least manage to get a picture of them on the way back home.




See below














Yes thats what I saw

Justins picture

Justins ramble one of my links who I may say does a fine blog went on holiday recently to Cromer on the East coast of England.
His picture on the left inspired me and I asked if I could paint it.

Well this is my interpretation



















Justin it's yours if you want it, but it will have to dry first.

funny names

Yesterday we decided that it was about time we got some roller blinds for our living room the window faces west and as the sun sets it is blinding and we have to pull the curtains just to see.

So off we go to IKEA they build the IKEA stores like a maze and you have to pass every single thing once entering just to get out, anyway as walking around I noticed that all the stuff they sell be it a table, chair, sofa or box, they all have strange silly name's.

Now I got to thinking who the hell thinks up these name's do they have a special office for making up silly name's, why call a chair "harold" why call a table "isbit"or "llitl"why is a wardrobe called "ginflextion"any way it is just a thought, but I wonder how much the job pays because I could sit in an office all day and think of silly names for furniture.

Anyway we live about 20 minutes drive away from Birminghams Botanical Gardens and you know we have never been.

So we went and spent all afternoon walking around this haven of tranquility that is so close to the city centre. We had a really nice time and had ice creams and pop.

The weekend is here and our short break is over so we shall slob in the garden for two whole days.