old bastards bike blog(too idle to go on a bike for over a year)

where has it gone

2008-12-31T09:43:00.009Z

The year I mean,

anyway I wake up this last day of the year to a dark and very foggy frosty morning,(all through the holidays I have woke at the same time I do as if going to work) so no" lie In's" for me I guess.

I always tend to look back at the year gone and wonder what have we done?

well here in brief

January=it rained and we got our new doggy

February=it rained and took our doggyout in the rain and got wet.

March=it rained

April =it rained

May =I think we saw the "sun" but it rained

June =it rained

July= it rained

August= yes it still rained but but stopped long enough for my Daughter to be Married.

September= it rained But we mangaged to get out of he rain by going on holiday to the USA.

This is a pic of our last day as we traveled towards Lake Mead.

October= it rained

November= it rained and got cold

December= the rain has stopped but now everywhere is ice and cold.

Someone got a nice suprise with a hot air ballon ride on Christms Day
bet it was cold up there.

It sounds gloomy, but really the year has been good I have managed to get to work all year without a single day off sick, I still walk the dog every day and he is a good and welcome part of our family. I just wish it would stop raining.

The financial depression has hit a lot of households and appears to be getting worse, I don't know even if my job is safe as we go into the "New Year" but after working since I was 15 years old(42 years now) I not too worried if I lose it.

I have never been unemployed and it will be strange for me not to get up and go, and have to re- lie on benefits.

So at this point, I would like to wish everyone who comes in here from time to time a very happy New Year and hope everything goes well for you.

We won't be going out tonight it's too bloody cold for a start and anyway we like to watch the firework displays in Birmingham from our upstairs bedroom window, its warm and cosy and no doubt will be worse for the wear from alcohol abuse.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

RATS

2008-11-09T11:53:00.004Z

We have rats under our shed in the back garden, so as my gas pistol is broke (been meaning to fix it for ages ) it prompted me to go to a place near Merry Hell in the Black Country WHERE THEY SELL BIG BOYS TOYS Yaaaaaaaaaaaa.

this gun needs fixing I need this bit for it I said, yes sure the bloke said I know just the bit you need, so I ordered it, anyway while I was there I could not resist to look at all the other BBT'S and ended up getting a new BBT.

So look out Rats I am gonna get ya

Who says you have to get old and grow up, and oh I fixed my pistol,

the holiday

2008-09-28T18:12:00.002Z

well to save doing it twice and because I am a man,,,,and lazy to boot and of course "D" is the better writer look herehttp://www.brummieblogs.com/AMERICAN%20ROAD%20TRIP.htm for the holiday adventure.

full of pics and stuff enjoy

I think I might just stop here

2008-09-18T01:31:00.015Z

here are a few more pics not in any order just us having a good time , here we are horse back riding

yes we did get to the Grand Canyon

as you can see

these roads never end

Oak Creek Canyon near Sedonna

today we have driven from the Grand Canyon to Kayenta and this is the view from our door. I f I turn left out of the Driveway I get to go straight through monument valley.

and this is me finding out that this is a dry city and can't buy a beer anywhere.

its big isn't it

look I took a small peek at the monument valley

Tomorrow I am going to drive all the way through it, seriously this is the best place to visit everyone is so friendly, but I didn't know they didn't sell booze here in Kayenta but it's a Navajo reservation, and the indians get a bit stroppy after a few beers.

we're here

2008-09-14T17:22:00.010Z

wow I can't put in words what this place is like, just bloody wow.

not going to bore anyone with minute by minute, but we are having such a great time Arizona is the best place to visit.

we are at the minute staying in Williams N.AZ. about 60 miles from the south rim, this place is so easy to get to just about anywhere, going to go on a sunset horse ride tonight and tommorow check out and head for the south rim of the Grand Canyon Everthing we have seen so far has just been fabulous.

we stayed here in Vegas

Oak Canyon

A view from Meteor Crater

Meteor Crater and Hoover Dam

never thought I would drive on a high way like this

thats all for now ,,,,,

and it rained

2008-09-07T14:11:00.003Z

bloody glad I am going away!!!!!!!!!

pictures show "small" stream close to us in full flow after the deluge it was a good five feet above normal and at one point must have broke the bank as the bungalows opposite were flooded

play this then read on

This is my freind LEE
he likes to polish his head
AND OF COURSE THIS IS A PRIVATE JOKE
this is Lee pretending to work

I like Lee and that is why I got his favorite song for him, I think he likes the Indian best,

Anyway he has asked me to keep in touch with him whilst we are away so I will be posting pics on our journey.
so look out for them.
I don't know when next post will be all depends on Wi Fi connections but will do our damdest.
bye for now

OH I FORGOT HE LIKES THIS ONE AS WELL

you would never guess

2008-08-30T12:27:00.003Z

that in this country we have things like "this" in the urban districts.

I was walking the dog on Friday night and whilst crossing this

some small children playing on their bikes called me over, "Hey Mister there is a snake come and have a look!" they were all very excited and hyper and standing well clear of this snake, so I walked up to them, they had made a bike jump out of an old table,

and sure enough when I got there I saw it,was not the little grass snake I was expecting, but a bloody big Adder.

I am not prone to exaggeration but when I tell you it was about a meter long, it was big, as thick as the walking stick I now take with me.

(I don't need a stick to walk it is to keep the bloody stray dogs away)

fatter in the middle it had eaten you could tell,

I told the kids now just stay away from it they are poisonous and it is more frightened of you than you of it,

it can bite you and it will hurt you.

I carried on home and looked on the Internet to see if it was what I saw,

I was right a big male Adder

3 or 4 hundred yards from our home.

well bugger me I have never seen one also they are a protected species

walkies and other stuff

2008-08-17T11:01:00.003Z

I have said before I quite often pass the Castle ruins with the dog , this is what it looked like this morning, quiet and peacefull.

and I know its the fashion for young people to have there pants down past their back sides nowadays but for gods sake.

you wouldn't want to mess with this guy would ya

I love these phone cameras always there just when you need them, what did we do before, well I used to carry a big 35mm film camera and no it wouldn't fit in the smallest pocket, and then wait days for the pictures, or untill you had finished the film.

wedding days

2008-08-10T10:04:00.011Z

We have just spent a couple of days back in Yorkshire at my oldest daughters wedding, we have had a fabulous time the hotel was perfect absolutely without fault, I would recommend to anyone go there you will have a terrific stay the picture does not do it justice.

The venue (Ripley Castle) she choose was again without fault, the staff,food, and arrangements all went without fault, and is barely 100 yards from the hotel the Boars Head.

My former wife bride and groom and myself

Everybody had a terrific time,

there are far too many pictures for you all to see so here is a few of them

could I be happier

see if you spot "D" in this bunch of roses

apparentley

2008-08-03T19:05:00.002Z

it was Sitemeter and internet explorer that was causing the problem, but it is sorted now anyway.
what a wasted day.

well

2008-08-02T14:51:00.004Z

this isn't the Saturday I expected, I got up this morning expecting to do stuff and have been on this thing all day.

first of all we couldn't open certain web sites then started checking stuff like what the f**k is going on, we had a lightning strike hit a house a few doors away in the week, it set off the house alarm, knocked out the wireless modem blew up the big computer and completley f**ked the printer thingy,,,,,,,, the air was live with static energy.

Genius middle son fixed(replaced) the modem, and sorted out the alarm, but alas the big mother computer is gone we have to have a new one, luckily he will build it for us.

anyway I am rambling "D" had this good idea ,,,,try another web browser so we uploaded "opera" and bingo it worked, I don't like it much it's different, and doesn't seem as easy as explorer, but at least we can view page's.

we had to download adobe flash player ver 9 to get it to go but it seems OK.

the dog was ok about it all and he doesn't seem to be growing another head or anything.

apart from all that everything is ok and looking forward to the wedding next week at Ripley castle, although shock horror I have have not yet done my speech but don't worry kids if you read this I will be alright on the night, we didn't need any more expense before our holiday in the States but that is the way the cookie crumbles.

so enough grumbling for now

illegitimi non carborundum

its a beautifull day

2008-07-27T17:08:00.002Z

here in the West Midlands the sun is out its about (phew its fuckin hot ) type of weather but I am not complaining.
Went to see my God child today as it was his mothers 40th no sorry 37th birthday anyway he's a good little chap, and don't ask me why I am GOD PARENT I don't go to church, but I promised I would be there for him and surely I will if it's needed.
So off we went using the new Sat Nav and it got us there a pub near Walsall had a couple of pints and floated back home having a Big Mac on the way for Sunday dinner, its too hot to cook.
so much for our roast beef and yorkshire puddings.
At the minute and I want you to picture this,,, we are sat quiet in our garden both doing our blogs on laptops not a lot of noise just the odd scream from a hot child,the dog is panting there is no way I am taking him on his mile long walk,and I am having a beer.
(swig,how good does life get).
Everthing in the garden now seems to be growing,,,,and fast, its amazing how 2 pints and a bit of warm weather can cheer you up.
But whats that I see dark clouds??? Jesus Christ there is going to be a thunder storm,
bloody bleeding British weather I am going indoors.

cus-o-meter

2008-07-20T13:30:00.004Z

I have added this thing which seems to be going around, and it proves really I don't swear much.

The hell I do swear,,,,,,,,,, everyday you meet some brain dead stupid bastard with no dick who thinks he knows more than you do, bleeding hell fire I must work with 1/2 a dozen fuckwits just like that.

Also some of the so called drivers on the road where the fuck did they get the license, you only have to drive to the shop a mile away and you meet some twat on the road who can't get through a gap you could drive a tank through.

Something else, how the bleeding hell do they get jobs in shops, non of them can add up without using the till to add 2+2, what the fuck are they doing at school!

There thats better got that off me chest.

post script

2008-07-13T15:30:00.004Z

Further to my post this morning, we are fortunate to live close to some Saxon ruins,,,,,,
ie: Weoley Castle, and every year they have an open day, so I took this video of the very practiced fight in armour,,,, just listen to the kids (not the adults) baying for blood ,,,,,,, I think my idea might not be so bad after all, its about 4 mins long and we are very lucky to have this so close by,
I walk the dog by this "Castle"(more a fortified manor house with a moat) everyday!

I have a good idea

2008-07-13T09:13:00.007Z

there is a lot in the news about violent crime and killings in the UK, well I have the answer.

lets stop buggering around with these people, if you are caught with a knife or gun and using it for criminal intent or are caught for violent behaviour, we could build special places like this

and perhaps dress them like this,,,,,,
then send them all in at once on the basis that the last man standing comes out.

he would then be promptly arrested for carrying a weapon and shoved back in again with the next lot. It would be great, we could all watch, and take bets on the winner, it would be a great day out, and reduce the prison population straight away, so we wouldn't have to pay thousands out every year to keep them in there.

I know what your thinking

its all been done before

well it's not a new idea but a good one just the same

I wonder how many would carry knives and guns after seeing a few of these "games"

In the the UK at the moment we have weak government with weaker laws.

A very sad place to live.

if you ignore this

2008-07-07T10:14:00.008Z

It still doesn't go away, so I have a day off from work to keep the few who might wander in here up to date.

We have not had a proper holiday all year but in the next 2 months are going to be busy.

My oldest daughter gets married in August and

we are looking forward to that, it's up north
some where a place called Ripley castle
and we will be stopping here a couple of days for the festivities

Also in September we are going away to Las Vagas and the touring around the Grand Canyon area for two weeks so that should put us right on the holiday front. we are stopping

here for 2 days then off touring in this

and when we come back we are stopping at the Stratosphere Tower for 2 days before we come home.
Am really looking forward to it and should have some good pics to show when we are back.
although at my current rate of blogging you will see them a year next Wednesday.

Other things; work is going ok, and I have just got one of those sat nav things,
bloody good them are, although I had to have the blokes voice on it named Ken because I just couldn't stand the woman telling me where to go, it works great even when I tried to trick him.
It also tells me where all the safety (speed ) cameras are, but then again when was the last time I got done for speeding (1970) so who cares.

2008-04-19T20:28:00.000Z

there done it

I

2008-04-19T19:52:00.004Z

am so laid back now I can't believe it myself.

(huffing and puffing at typing)

the months are just flying by and I don't notice

so just a few things,I think I will have a moan.

We ordered a new leather suite on December 29th

ok we have to wait 12 weeks

they phoned us to tell us it will now be April 10th

ok not so bad

The bloody thing is still in China !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and will be sometime in May before we even sit on it

I could have reared my own cow skinned it and made my own by then.

The bastards!!!!!!!!!!!!

It snowed in April

the dog liked it,,,,,

it wore him out because we still went for walkies.

Anyway enough for now it won't let me put another pic on,,,,,, and I can't be arsed
but I am still alive.

is that a bald patch

2008-02-03T18:18:00.000Z

or could it be just a trick of the light.

Any road up I'm not 21 anymore who cares.

Sam the dog is doing just fine, a fine and trusted pet, no mess, no poops in the house, no tearing and he is learning to walk just fine on the lead.

here he is waiting for dinner

We went out today to the Old House at Home and wacky warehouse for Grandaughters 2nd birthday.

Not a place I would choose to go and eat, the place was full of kids (not mine ) I think we have got to the age where we like it a little quieter.

So we got away early and went to Chiquito Restaurant And Bar and had some lunch there together, it was nice.

I like being older I can do what I want!

New Doggy

2008-01-20T14:37:00.000Z

well it looks like we have a dog now,,,,, he likes the budgies,,,,,,, to eat them I think, so we will have to find somewhere else to put them I think.

Anyway this is what he looks like

he is well mannered and very friendly

a bit wilful,

house trained

but I think I know why we got him,,,,,,,,, he likes to do runners.

Just the smallest crack in a door and he is off, he did it to me this morning and I caught him on the the doorstep of a neighbours house,

incidentally they have a bitch dog in there.

So I think soon he will be going to the vets soon and have his b*ls took off, that should slow him down a bit I think it would me.

I think someone out there lost him or couldn't be bothered chasing anymore.

We are calling him SAM

The new Dog

2008-01-13T13:50:00.000Z

or maybe,,,,,,,, after 4 years of being with out a dog we finally caved in yesterday and went to Birmingham Dogs Home.

D wanted a Labrador Like the one we used to have But I didn't want to make my mind up until we had seen them all.

Yes she saw a labby but I wasn't too keen on her, she was a big dog and although nice,, not what I had in mind to share our house with us.

Then I saw this little dog who immediately came up to the edge of it's cage to make friends with me, it sat and rolled over and wanted some attention without barking or making a fuss.

Now we don't know yet if it will be ours we have to wait till next Saturday if the owners don't come in to claim him, we will wait and see, if not he is ours.

he looks a bit like this

a brindle,,, Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Athough the one above is full grown the one we looked at was younger and a little smaller.

Oh and by the way we lost a Budgie he flew out the door,

A new year

2008-01-06T18:44:00.000Z

The years just seem to be going so quickly, it seems that there is no time, but I am making an effort and will carry on doing this, although sometimes it is a struggle.

We did so much last year that now in this new one,,,,,,, it seems like a blur,,,,,,,,,

Just to recap:

I was sick in January,

We went to Gambia and got married,

My Mum died.

I changed my job (for the better).

It rained all summer.

We went to Gambia again.

We had Christmas.

Phew that was quick.

My picture never was sold so I guess it must hand in our house (D) thinks that is great as she likes it saying so far its my best work.

I have changed my profile picture and the one showing is me sitting on the lawn of the British High Commissioner to Gambia, drinking a Gin and Tonic, (get me eh).

We went shopping in the sales just after Xmas and I have now got my huge flat screen plasma tv, we watch tv a lot so we thought we would treat ourselves, its not that big,, 32"

but big enough for our sitting room.

Both cars did make it to the Gambia and here is a pic of 5 tired drivers having just got there

Well done Lads

I have no complaints apart from the fact that it has gone so quickly, so somebody make it stop please now.

This year I really must go to the US I really would like to visit Arizona, so I have some serious saving to do.

enough for now later dudes.

So busy sunday

2007-09-23T16:03:00.000Z

As this time going to Gambia is a charity event, Bob, asked me to do a painting to auction, so I did one, this is a pic, Titled, "The creek at dawn", the creek next to hotel we stayed at in March.
So I did that and fixed the settee and one of the armchairs which were bust.
Other than that, all is fine the world is good, as far as we are concerned.
I wonder how much it will fetch at auction?????
What would you pay?(its for charity).

no I am not dead not yet anyway

2007-09-16T15:55:00.000Z

The computer died a death, it got some bastard worm and had to be formatted, so we lost all the favorites and all the junk, good job really but saved all the pictures
anyway enough of the small stuff .

the new Job is great

We are going back to Gambia in November,

but this time a small twist four guys are driving there, they wanted me to go with them, but I havn't enough time off work to complete the journey and I don't think I could bare to be away from "D" for that long.

Read here for all the stuff about it.

So I am just about getting into doing all this again, it's a bit like starting from scratch.

here is a picture of one of the vehicles that is driving there, we made the roof rack at work.

oop's

2007-07-08T17:37:00.001Z

spoke too soon

and a colleague gives me some advise

we have finaly seen the sun

2007-07-08T14:55:00.000Z

Too bloody late for all the folks who got flooded, but if you live in a greenhouse don't throw stones and if you live on a flood plane or next to a rver you are going to get wet.

I thought solicitors or someone checked out stuff like this when you moved to a new house or don't they care.

Anyway suns shining today and yesterday, so it was good to catch up on some outside chores.

so the birds get put outside
the flowers have stood up to the rain
I washed the car and trimmed the hedge's
it looks like summer at last
"D" tidy's up
the passion flowers look good.

and now I cooking dinner and having a beer.

new Job

2007-06-24T16:42:00.000Z

Now I don't want to gloat or anything but this new job I have got is bloody great.

Because the arrogant twats who I used to work for DIDN'T REPLACE ME, (they must have thought I did nowt) they are now having a pretty hard time of it, it does seem what goes around comes around, anyway I wish them all the best and hope they rot in hell for giving me the hardest 51/2 years of my life.

I now work for people who actually appreiciate what I do and I am totaly stress free.

I am doing the same kind of work for the same kind of pay and actually to most of the same customers, so nothing has changed much apart from not working for arseholes.

We have been busy the last couple of weeks and its nice to go out and visit places nearby, so we went to Dudley Zoo and the week after visited the Black country museum.

Here are a few Pic's

God their big

They must have heard "D" was coming

(she can't help it if she can't cook)

Dudley Castle

It must have been very imposing in medievil times

And finaly a Trolly Bus this is is one of the first things you see when you go into the museum and I said We used to have those in Bradford when I was a boy, very eco freindly run on electric power from the cables above and that bus was originaly used in Bradford I may have even rode on it.

If you enlarge the picture you will see Bradfords coat of arms on the side and Bradford above it.

I am totaly chilled out now and no longer have that awful feeling of fear and dread of going into work on a Monday morning on a Sunday, life is good.

and it rained

2007-06-01T07:15:00.001Z

bloody downpour and you know it's June.

What is it they call it "flaming June"

its over

2007-05-30T12:33:00.000Z

I was trying my best to finish my months notice and work as normal right up to the end of it.
but this morning I was doing my job as normal, we were behind with work as normal, and I got a message to ring the boss, well he proceded to give me a load of earache I mean I couldn't even finish a sentence to speak back to him.
(message to all bosses at this point, if someone is leaving your employ and has 2 days to go don't talk to him/her like a piece of shit and expect them to carry on as normal)
I hung up on him saying f**K this, he rang again, I took the sim card out of the phone, handed the works keys and sim card to a co-worker saying I won't need these anymore, then left to have an extended weekend break.
I stole this from my beloved's website and this is what I did all the way home, "laugh"

well I did it

2007-05-27T14:14:00.000Z

After months, possibly years of dithering, I did it.

On the first of May I handed in my months notice to quit at work, I didn't have a job to go to, nor was I bothered, I can put my hand to most things and I always have the good old fall back of being able to drive Large trucks, so there is always a shortage of drivers and I wouldn't be out of work for long.

Nothing was said at work and they told me it wasn't totally unexpected, so that was that.

On the 2nd May I got home and started looking for work I phoned up a company that did similar work to what I was used to. they said they had nothing but took my details anyway.

The day after I received a call from a Directer of the company saying he would like to meet me, a meeting was arranged and I called round to see them. After about an hours discussion they said there was no job, but would discuss it among themselves and let me know.

Another meeting was arranged and I had to go see the owner, more discussion and money was talked about.

two days later they offered me a job not wanting to let a man with my ability and experience pass them by.

I start 4th June it is a smaller company and I think I could get on well there.

I have had far too much of arrogance and stress from my current employers to want to put up with it any longer, certainly not another 9 years till I retire.

I think just getting married and my Mum dieing after a fabulous holiday put everything into perspective for me.

Whilst its pissing down with rain at the end of May in the UK and on a Bank Holiday weekend, here is a pic of me in March enjoying the sun in sunny Gambia.

This is what its like now, the foxgloves look nice though next to the small shed.

Later Dudes.

more pics

2007-04-01T14:40:00.000Z

The Deed is done

"D" was like a magnet to children wherever we went

this boy wanted his pic took so bad

I never want to see fish again

and you can't get a fresher coconut than this one straight from the tree

a big termite mound

Daniel Craig eat your heart out I will be the next James Bond

me jammin with the boys

A few more pics

2007-03-31T11:27:00.000Z

A view at 35,000feet

An old relative

The creek going out to the sea by our beach

I had to pay this man £2 for this pic, I think I should change jobs to the
Fishing Village making boats

our terrace just outside our room

Dr Livingstone I presume?

he says, its ok just grab its tail,, then turns to talk to somebody????????

My Mum

2007-03-31T09:18:00.000Z

Betty Aubrey 18th August 1920-------24th March 2007 RIP

Betty was born in Handsworth Sheffield and spent her childhood there with her father Herbert and mother Emma and older brother Clifford, at the outbreak of the 2nd world war she joined the Land Army, then later the A.T.S. and drove ambulances and staff cars.

At the end of the war she met my Father Wilf, He had been shot and wounded near Amien France before Dunkirk and spent the rest of the war as a POW.

They were married in 1947. our family had 4 children, Bob, me Steve, Pat and Betty.

We lived in Bradford My mother worked at the local Post office and later at the inland revenue untill she retired at the age of 60.

My father died in 1973 from cancer aged 55.

We had a happy childhood and were always clean, well fed and clothed, these traits have stayed with me all my life.

Mum had a good sense of justice and a very good humour and was always up for a laugh.

It was only in later months that my Mum suffering from dementia, omited to give me a clip round the back of the head saying you will have done something to deserve it.

Knowing now that I will never see her again fills my life with a void that seems unfillable.

I will always love you Mum

A few pics

2007-03-29T13:16:00.000Z

somebody pass the matches

these kids are adoreable

we loved walking the beach in the morning

ok there pilgrim let go of the reins

I will do some more over the weekend

good news bad news

2007-03-26T18:49:00.000Z

Well I don't know what bit to do first,
OK the good news
We had a great holiday the weather was great and the place was fantastic.
In time I will show the pics Gambia is a wonderful smiling country with a lot of poverty, but everyone is helpful and lets face it they are out to make a buck out of you if they can.
I did go to Senegal but that was 40 years ago and it has now changed so much I would not remember.
So this post I will be quick.
We had a really good holiday.
We got married.
My Mum died 15 minutes before we landed at Manchester Airport.
So for the minute this is as I said,,,,, is quick.

we got married

these coconuts were above our door

There will be much more later, but for the minute I am busy, with my own thoughts.

http://www.geocities.com/imatryer/Mvc-016s.jpg

Take a look at our family when my Mum was young that is how I like to think of her, the small children beneath the adults are me and my brother and sisters,I am on the right.

It's just like a bloody pet shop

2007-03-03T10:53:00.000Z

They never shut up

Our camera battery died a death so the last video I did was on the mobile phone which really is OK but not sharp enough, so having got a new battery and we needed it as we are going to Africa soon here is a new vid.

The battery came from Hong Kong and came quicker than post does from Bradford to Birmingham, good old Royal mail eh.

Winding down a lot now looking forward to 2 weeks in the sun.

I finally sold my old car, so that is the end of an era for me.

I have done over 100,000 miles in it and has really served me well.

This time next week I will be in the air so look out for the pics when I get back.

We are taking the Laptop so it may just be possible to post some while we are there, we will see.

budgies

2007-02-25T17:46:00.000Z

We are now inundated with budgies, they are nice but not enough meat on one to feed a grown man.

however they are noisey little gets.

We did have three of the little buggers but "D" thought they should be in pairs so we went off yesterday to get another.

From left to right

Puff, Poo, Pete, Pea.

Pete is the new one and has fit in real well.

he's big isn't he.

old limpy is back

2007-02-17T22:58:00.000Z

I can't stop limping,

I try but it won't go away, I could be limping forever,that bloody sciatica has left me with a limp.
Anyway that's only a small thing (no that's not what "D" says)at least I am not in pain and have been back to work a few weeks now.

I have been very tired and it has knocked me back a bit

Only 3 weeks now and we will be on holiday in Africa we did have all the Jabs yes all of them including , yellow fever, tetanus, polio,, diphtheria, cholera, typhoid,hepatitis A, and apart from having the shits for a couple of days I have been fine. "D" was much worse and seemed to have taken all the illness's all at once but she will be fine,I suspect packing will be done 1/2 an hour before we leave for the airport.

One bad thing happened at work when one of the workers got injured the other day "me" being a first aider was the first to deal with him, the poor chap got hit by some steel on his hand, I have never seen an injury like it, on the back of his hand it took the whole of his skin from the wrist right down to the knuckles completely away down to the bone tendons and muscle's.

I bandaged him up and an ambulance rushed him straight off to hospital he underwent a 3 and half hour operation soon after with skin grafts, to his hand I personally don't think he will come back to work here.

It was without doubt the worst injury I have ever had to patch up.

Today we went to our local shops we were finished and just about to set off in the car and heard this huge bang ,,,,,, A bus had pulled out and hit a passing car ,,,,,,, picture shows bus driver and disgruntled car driver and passenger arguing over details,
West Midland transport is sure fun
The silver car they are stood by is the one that got hit and knackered all his near side up

well

2007-01-30T21:12:00.000Z

I am back at work now, I don't like it I want to stop but I can't yet.

So enough of that.

Tomorrow we are going for the injections we need to visit Africa, as if I have enough pains in the arse.

Anyway on a brighter note, at Christmas I got "D" a Budgie and being like she is wanting to mother it (this is the most spoiled budgie on the planet)She decided it was lonely so we went to the pet shop for a bigger cage and came home with a further two Budgies.

We now live in tweet tweet land except one of them barks like a dog I will catch it one day on vidio but as soon as the camera goes near it it goes deathly quiet.

here they are Puff Pea and Poo

I swear we get dafter as we get older

from right to left Puff, Poo and Pea

Pea is the one who barks like a dog

Upstairs for thinking

2007-01-21T14:28:00.000Z

Downstairs for dancing,
I don't know if any of you have heard on the new s about Big Brother or been sad enough like me to watch it.
It has however been entertaining and takes us back to our primitive (Or were they ) ancestors.
A bit like watching the spectacles in the ring, seeing who would die first.
How much would it have cost Jade to have been pleasant, nice, helpful, to everyone lets face it, it is the public who have put her in the place she is now with millions of pounds to her disposal and lucrative contracts, she "was" set up for life so they say.
But to have witnessed what has happened and seen her co-so called celebrity's behave in the way they have sickened me to the stomach, but funny watching them fall from grace.
We have to watch now just to see how the public treats her co-bully's yes that is what they are when they eventually slink out of the place.
Already on the news it is said that Danielle has been dumped by her boyfriend because of her behaviour towards Shilpa, he being a footballer of some repute with at least a third of his team being non white.
Also what can be said of Jo, nothing really, both her and Danielle being swept along quite happily with the bullying and mobbing because that is what it was, to the pain and hurt of another individual.
To call the three of them trailer park trash is an insult to every person living in a trailer.
I hope they, all three of them get their just rewards.
I for one will be watching with interest to see them get it.
On a happier note we went out today to get some Groceries the sun was out and as we past Frankly Beeches I stopped and took this pic.

A beautifull view from there across to Birmingham in the far distance.

well I gave it a try

2007-01-19T16:17:00.000Z

So I went to work Monday, I hobbled around for a bit lasted till 2.00pm and went home knackered.

I went in the day after did the same went home at 3.00pm I was more knackered.

Wednesday, more of the same except they expected more out of me left at 4.00pm and then I was exhausted.

Thursday,,,,, went in lasted till 9.00am I was in excruciating agony, I have tried to do too much too quick, it is my own fault but very difficult to judge just how far I might have to walk,(the place is massive).

so now Friday I have had to take the day off, they have referred me to an occupational therapist to see if that helps I hope it does.

I hate being ill.

So although today I have been quite active there is only so far I can walk whilst at home.

I thought we would spoil our Budgie so we have given him a tree to play on.

It was "D's" idea so I went out back and took a branch off the apple tree, I think he likes it.

almost normal

2007-01-11T10:14:00.000Z

The last time I was at work was the 8th of December, I had a week off to start with chest pains and high blood pressure, caused by stress at work.

There was one time I would have grinned and bore it but now I can see the signs all too quickly, I am not going in that direction again I am going back next week, but if I come home feeling like I did again I am "not" going back.

Then there was Christmas, ohhhh the bloody joy of it,Flu right the way through it.
Two days before the 1st January I got sciatica, I am not done with it yet but I feel I am on the mend.

So what to do next, well we have our holiday booked and on the 9th March we are going to the Gambia for 2 weeks.
I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT

The last time I was anywhere near there was in 1967 when I visited Senegal whilst in the Merchant Navy, I was just a boy of 16.

Like most people we are having strange weather still its definitely not January and although a wind outside its still quite warm
and the sun is just trying to come out.

I feel quite optimistic about this year I am just going to see what it brings, lets face it, can it get any worse.

It could, but I know one thing, I would rather be alive and out of work than dead, or seriously ill because of it.

So for the time being I will sit in my study looking at the view, which on a good day I can see right over Birmingham.

global warming

2007-01-07T14:56:00.000Z

I have been looking through the archives of last year because I remember the daffodils coming up early.

Well this is now a whole week earlier and they are up again, does this mean that they will have no idea when to grow or could we have them all year round, I don't know but it is only the 7th January when I was little there would have been snow and to be quite honest I can remember the last time it snowed bad and that was in 1977 the kind of snow what brings all traffic to a halt.

When in the UK did you last see someone go sledging? when was the last time you saw a lake freeze over? freeze so thick you could walk on it.

I am sat here now in my study with only a tee shirt on(yes I do have jeans on as well) and no heating, its 10 degrees outside and 16 degrees in the house that's 60 degrees *f .

The seasons are just like becoming one with very little difference, it seems wetter for longer and if they are projecting 2007 to be warmer in the summer it is going to be very hot.

If the sea levels rise, low lying places close to the coast are going to flood and they will not hold it back, London could be under water, that of course will have a knock on effect places like where we live now which are well above sea level will become "the" place to live.

It would be funny to look back to all the money grabbing property developers who have land which is under water and totally useless. They won't be singing "oh I do like to be beside the seaside"

The damage is done by the look of it we can't stop it.

I will just go and put my winter coat away.

I am still at home

2007-01-04T08:23:00.000Z

I seem to have acquired sciatica and spent the last 7 days dragging my lifeless right leg around with me, trying to pull out the invisible daggers of pain that are inflicting themselves into my hip.
It hurts? yes it bloody well does and the smallest of tasks need such an enormous amount of effort.
I went to the Doctor who by now, is sick of the sight of me I expect, we discussed my other problems,then went on to the leg,I winced with the agony of taking my shoe off and getting on the couch so could examine me and could only raise my leg a few inches from the horizontal.
yes he says you have sciatica, it could take a few weeks to get better.
I got a sick note for a week, I said If were a horse they would have shot me by now, he replied
yes, we probably would have.
Go back home and do only light exercise,
"well I am not likely to running any marathons am I"

Do the pain killers you are taking do any good he asks? no I replied, OK I will give you some stronger ones, now these ones would knock out a horse but no, having took them for 2 days and then reading the label that they are addictive and the fact that I was still in as much pain with as without them they are still in the packet.

Yesterday I needed to go to the shop dragging the leg with me I hobbled around trying to keep myself vertical by hanging on to the baskets full of stuff they put in the middle of the isles, I realised where all the pensioners go at 2.00pm and boy do they get in the way, not having the agility to avoid the trolleys and baskets they drag with them I nearly fell over twice.
I got my stuff and dragged my weary arse back to car and went home, "thinks" no I am not fit for work.
I tried to convince"D" that the doctor had said the only way to relieve the pain was
that she had to lay with her naked body on top of me,,,,"The doctor said it",,,, I said as convincingly as possible,,,, well that didn't work either, so I am still in pain.

"Being ill is boring and crap"

happy new year

2006-12-31T12:02:00.000Z

I think the years go "too" quick I want it back,It has been a strange one 2006.

But now at least a new one beckons and at last can put some "things" that have been wrong in life, right.

Looking at the good things that we did this year it has been fun and I have met some extremely nice people on here, and as always I will endeavour to blog more.

Christmas was not so good for us as we both had the Flu or something like that and have been ill and too tired to do anything apart from sit around moaning a lot.

I got a brand new phone for Xmas with all the new technology and a camera(its more like a mini computer) so it goes with me everywhere so I might just be able to take pics ad lib and videos and put them on the site.

This next year I want to travel more and we have already got plans to visit the Gambia in March.

(picture of me pretending to type using all my fingers)

So I would like to wish all who may roam in here from time to time a very happy and bloody good new year.

I know mine will be

hello everyone

2006-12-12T15:58:00.000Z

Today is my birthday I am off work because I appear to have high blood pressure I know what has caused it but for the minute cannot say.
I went to see the Doc

he gave me the week off to rest and now I am on Beta Blockers I don't expect I will be back before the new year.
"D" has got me a DVD WRITER but it isn't here yet but should be by the weekend. we will be going out tonight for a meal and I have just been chillin all day.
Happy Birthday to me,,,,,,, Lol

We have a new friend at home

lets just call him Jack

another

2006-11-26T18:50:00.000Z

Christmas is soon on us and "D" say's come on Steve this Saturday we are going into town.
Now I have never,, I mean never,, done any xmas shopping before the 12th of December.
There is good reason for this as the 12th is my Birthday and it is only after that I consider it Christmas.
So I was tricked, bring some money I was told.
So off to the train station at Selly Oak. to find the whole of the platform full of folks anyway not phased we waited for it and to our suprise it turned up and thankfully was at least a 100 yards long and everyone got a seat.
There is only 2 stops and we are at New Street Station so 10 minutes later we were in a sea of heads, now I am closteraphobic, I hate being in crowds and for me to venture into this lot is a big thing, but I agreed with "D" it had to be done.
So off we went into the shops and into the Bull ring, out of the Bull ring, back into the Bull ring, Had a Burger King for lunch (highlight of day).
More shopping and soon it was time to leave, my fingers were wheighed down with plastic bags and they were cutting into my fingers and all feeling had gone.
We must have some Gluwien at the German market "D" said, (we have one every year here in Bimingham) we truged up New St and got to the top where the food stalls are next to the
Floozie in the Jacuzzi is.
It was bloody packed so we queued for our Gluwien(hot wine with spices in a mug) I heard one bloke saying obviousley a fellow Yorkshireman bloody hell you can buy 12 cans of Stella for the price of that( made me chuckle a bit we don't change do we).
A great place to be Birmingham at Xmas time but for me too full, however a first for me to get any presents before the 12th, I repeat the 12th oh did I tell you it's my birthday on the 12th.

Birthdays

2006-11-19T07:58:00.000Z

Today it is "D"s Birthday and she is 37 again so next year she will be 20 years younger than me, I still can't work out how she does that.

But first I will make her bacon and mushroom sandwich her favorite.
Then a quick Trip to Dunelm to buy a new duvet, and then off to Matalan in Odbury

Anyway today is special so we will go to a Toby Inn carvery in Quinten and have lunch, no cooking for me today.

Looking at the calender I have only 4 more weeks to work before I break up for Christmas then I have a full 15 days off work to chill out I will be doing some painting I think.

well

2006-11-12T17:14:00.000Z

After what seems like the longest time I get to sit down here again and do this.

I have been busy.

Since my last blog,

I have been up to Yorkshire TWICE

Once to see my kids and the other to drive the big truck full of all (D's) oldest sons belongings from his home in south Yorkshire and move him back to Birmingham.

That was a journey I will never forget , we all live life the way we want to, however he is a hourder and believe me, nothing was ever thrown away, so his life went into this bloody massive truck and I helped to fill it and empty it, and drove it all the way up and back, I did suggest a skip but he wasn't impressed.

I started at 8.00 in the morning and got home at 10.00 at night I was exhausted.

It was the longest day of my life and I will never voulenteer to do anything like it again "ever".

My oldest daughter is 30 on Tuesday.

I am getting to feel a bit old but not much.

Work's been much the same of the daily grind as it is always.

But everything is well.

I had to go back to the Hospital to see the Consultant about my heart thingy and he has discharged me so once again all is well there, all the results came out fine.

I have a wish list

someone buy my old car

someone buy my old car

someone buy my old car

someone buy my old car

its cheap,,,with a full years mot test and taxed for 6 months.
It will bring you luck and you may win the lottery one carefull owner (the rest were crap)

a ride in the car

2006-10-22T07:30:00.000Z

we had a day out in the car and went to North Yorkshire a few years ago
and this is what we did.
The idea is to get to the top of a very big hill put the car in forth gear and roll off the top with out touching the pedals this is what happens

Four things about me

2006-10-17T16:28:00.000Z

Things you may not have known about me..... Ok Justin I will give it a go.

Four jobs I have had in my life:(but not in any order)
1.taxi driver
2.heavy goods vehicle driver
3.insurance saleman
4.driving instructor
(there are lots more)
I also used to be a Justice of the Peace in Bradford.

Four Movies I would watch over and over.
1. Open Range
2. Wyatt Earp (or any of the other versions I have them all)
3. Band of Brothers all 13 hours
4. Payback(Mel Gibson)

Four Places I have lived
1. Bradford
2. Brighouse
3. Birmingham
4. (who knows we may move)

Four TV shows I love to watch
1. The news,,,, any channel
2. Have I got News For You,,(funniest Programme on TV)
3. Ray Mears on the discovery Channel(He is great and could start a fire with snow)
4. Rouge Traders

Four places I've been to
1. Austrailia
2. Japan
3. Canada
4. Greece
(also Africa both coasts Malaya, China, and Russia, France ,Spain, Belgium, Canarys,)

Four Web sites I visit regularly
1. Google
2. Googlemail
3. all my links
4. Brummie Blogs(I have to put this on pain of death)

Four favourite foods
1. Roast beef and Yorkshire Puddings
2. My Home Made Curry
3. Take Aways(yes!!!!)
4. Apple Pie and custard

Four Places I'd rather be right now
1.where I am now is just where I want to be for a very long time ,2.3.4.

Four friends (this is the hardest for me)
1. "D"
2. My Mum(I just wish she didn't have Alzheimers)
3.(I have many aquaintances but very few true freinds)
4.If you have money to throw away you can be my friend!!!lol

It did make me think a bit,, but was fun to do.

and oh yes

2006-10-15T18:53:00.000Z

I finaly got round to buying a new,,,, (new to me but 6 years old) car.

I love it.

It goes like like shit off a shovel,,,, 2 ltr deisel engine, turbo charged, all mod cons, and really comfortable.

I like it.

like this one

If anyone wants an old Cavalier with 161,000 miles on the clock see me,

were back

2006-10-15T16:44:00.000Z

We had a wonderful holiday.
We have been home a week and a half now and a lot of things have happened.

So I shall begin,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I got home from work on the Wednesday afternoon got ready, made last checks in the suitcase, called a Taxi to take us to the Airport sat down had a drink and waited

He turned up nice big car as well a Merc, we had given ourselves more than an hour to get thewre so we had plenty of time that was untill the car started to overheat and after much stopping and starting in the traffic he pulled off on a side road and drove like a man on speed waving his hand out of the window to a passing black cab, he says it's ok it's my friend he will take you the rest of the way

So we did arrive on time, but only to find the longest queue in history trying to get through airport security which,,,,,, is good,,,,, "we have to be safe" so we waited and waited eventually we were at the front and had to strip of almost to our underwear(joking) just to get through.

No smoking at all in the terminal so we were well pleased,,,,, the thought of going 6 hours without a cig is not good to a smoker, so I just thought ok we can do it we just had to wait.

The flight was good and arrived on time to a very hot Rhodes and the first thing we did was rush outside the terminal,,,, bugger the suitcase and grab a cig with the rest of the nicotine craved passengers.(there was lots)

Our hotel was fabulous right next to the sea we could hear the waves lapping in the dark onto the beach below or balcony then so to bed exhausted at 5.00am in the morning

how chilled can one man be

the views are just like this

our small beach

Rhodes Old Town

two old ruin's

What handsome couple

the cruisers were in

the middle of the island

I hired this little car

We had a fantastic time!!!!!

its over

2006-09-21T15:52:00.000Z

I think now my run of pain and suffering is done with, I can eat drink and be merry,
my stitches in the mouth have been removed the crown on the tooth is fixed and another cracked filling done all for the same price.
I left work at 2.30 pm and went home cleaned the teeth and went to THE DENTIST I just want them damn stiches out they were irritating me to hell.
enter Dentist Surgery,
Me,,,,hello love you got over pulling that bloody tooth yet.

Dentist,,,No, it was a bad one have you been ok?

Me,,,yeah(liar) just fine and dandy, can't wait to have these stiches out bloody irritating things.

Dentist,, (looking in mouth) oh yes it looks nice and pink,lets get those stiches out, right she says I will just fix that crown that was damaged.

Me,,, ermmmmmmm this isn't going to cost any more is it.

Dentist,,, oh no its all been paid for.

A few minutes later the crown was as good as new.

Dentist,, now she says I want to fix that broken filling, can you do this without injection.

Me,, yeah sure as long as its not too deep get on with it.

Drill ,,,,,drill ,,,,,,,,,,, drill,,,,,,,,,,,, scrape,,,,,,,,, bit more drilling ,,,, you have a very good pain threshhold she says,,

Me,,,, yes I think I must have.

Minutes later I have fixed crown,, fixed filling,,, and cleaned teeth,,, and my mouth feels almost normal, we chat about filling the gap caused by the removal of the molar and I soon think its the cost of a small new car,,, so I say ok love , I will see you in 6 months.

All is well my smile is back to normal although she wouldn't put the diamond in the crown like I suggested saying something about national health service won't pay for it, but at least I tried.

HAVING

2006-09-20T07:57:00.000Z

had time to recover over the weekend, and thinking life almost normal,(if it was normal it wouldn't be me and I would be thinking where and who am I).I went to work monday as normal and did a normal day of graft.

Coming home I thought we will have something nice for tea and a few beers, but that wasn't going to be was it.

My stomache felt strangly,, ,, not right, I felt sick, I put it down to being hungry so I grabbed a quick snack.

Well that didn't make it better but I just thought come on Steve snap out of it .

So we had our evening meal, I felt worse, and by 8.00pm I put my self in bed.

I struggled to get to sleep and started to have bad cramps in my stomache and abdomen and knew I was going to be sick, and by 9.30 I was,,,,,, a lot,,,"D" brought me some water and took away bucket full of vomit,,,,,,, nice this init.

Couldn't sleep all night I knew at this point it was food poisening, but what? in truth I didn't care.

Having not slept all night and being doubled up in pain I phoned in sick.

I spent Tuesday, feeling very sorry for myself and not moving a lot.

This morning I got up as normal 4.30am and thought should I go in, I still had cramps and really not too good so I thought no If I go in they "will" expect me to be as normal and walk miles and lift heavy stuff I wanted cigarettes so I went to the shop in the car of course and the short walk of some 20 yards convinced me I had done the right thing. At work I calculate I walk about 10 miles everyday.

So today I will watch movies and play on the laptop so I don't have to move much.

Not to worry in a week I will be going away on holiday YAAAAAAAAAY.

Some weeks,

2006-09-17T16:53:00.000Z

are just not the same.
Take this week, there I was as busy as ever at work, thinking not long till the old holiday.
Till Thursday,,,, well I thought good an early one,
you see I had to be at the Dentists for 3.00pm,
so I left work early.
In my head I would be at home by 3.15 latest after a quick look at the old gnashers and brush up and then wait another 6 months.
How wrong could I have been.

Dentist,,, (lovely woman)had any trouble since I saw you last

Me,,,,,,,, none really just a but sensative around here pointed to tooth.

Dentist,,, lets look.

Dentist,,,, ohhhhhhhhhhhh,, you have a big hole in that tooth and it is above the gum line it will have to come out.

Me,,,,,, Ok yank it out, but which arm or leg would you like for me to pay for it.

Dentist,,, need to xray it first,,,,

Great bloody thing in mouth,,,,,,,,,,,,,, she and assistant run out of room like I had just farted.
then came back in to check resulting xray,,,, after much embarrasment apologises and puts film in this time, same again both run out of room Like I am a lepor.

There she says,, look at this, points to hole in my tooth on moniter,,,, it will "have" to come out.

Me,,, ok you have time now lets do it.

So after many injections and me slavering down my shirt and not knowing it I was ready.

Dentist ,,, can you feel this.

Me,, no thats just fine yank it out.

all the tools were laid by my side on the little tray (I thought they don't look big enough).

puts small lever in to the gum and trys to loosen tooth,,,,,, next forceps (she would have been better off with a tyre lever and mole grips).

She pulls and twists at the tooth no movement,,,,,,,she then gets bigger forceps and bigger levers,
nope this little bugger is in here for good, we breed em big and strong in Yorkshire I quiped, slaver still running dowm my chin.

Even bigger forceps called for ,,, tug ,,,, twist,,,,, crack,,,, oh I have just chiped your crown.

No,,,,,,,, not the tooth I wanted out, but the one on the tooth next to it the one I paid £60 bloody Quid for 10 years ago

More tugging,, pulling this time with assitant holding my head "CRACK",,,, Oh she said the crown has broke off.

I felt like the size of a small pebble as she fumbled in my mouth to retrieve it.
next came the drill I will have to drill now ,,,zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz,,,,,,,zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz,,zzzzzzzzzz,
a bit more prodding and pulling.
Dentist,,I will have to cut your gum to get to the roots

Me,,, ok just do it(by this time I was losing the will to live)

anyway after much pulling and prodding I felt one by one the roots come out.
There was a pile of tools on the bib on my chest a mechanic would have been proud of and it was Dentist 1 tooth 0.

Dentist,,,, do you smoke or drink

Me,,, do Bears shit in the woods.

Dentist,,,,,well you can't do either, I am giving you this prescrpition take all these tablets you must do all this stuff hands me a list.

Dentist ,,, you have just had a surgical extraction and its very important.

I looked at the list of tablets and thought bloody hell they are at least £6 each

Anyway I have now got a hole in my gum the size of a small country and stiches in the gum to boot and a damaged crown and I have to go back next week.

I was a full hour in that chair and my thoughts of a blissfull afternoon had gone.,,,,TBC.

Once again

2006-09-10T18:25:00.000Z

I have been really busy at work and I have to say, what a week that was, but I won't bore you with all the details of steel work.
So Monday,,,,,,,,,, worked right hard

Tuesday ,,,,,,,,, worked right hard

Wednesday went to the hospital at Selly Oak got fitted with the Heart moniter
went back to work ,,,,, worked

Thursday,,,,,,, went to work
went back to Selly Oak to have it took off after 24 hours

Had Echocardiograph scan,,,,, lovely woman did it very thorough,, said to me if I were you I wouldn't worry about anything.

I heard my heart sloshing around as she checked all the valves.
are you sure you are not an Ox she quiped?
so after that I am a lot happier.

So this weekend has not been much different from any other. Apart from we "had" to shape up the garden that has been neglected for a month.

Saturday went to work got back early and had me hair cut
promptly fell asleep while "D" booked a holiday on the internet, so the good news is,,,, we are going to Rhodes "Greece" for a week, starting 2 weeks on Wednesday and we will be back on the 5th September.

I have never been there and am looking forward to it a good weeks rest, and to spend some quality time with "D".

Today I made a meal apart from the meat, with all the ingrediants we have grown in the garden.

soup ,,, fresh Tomatoes carrots parsnip and onions, delicious
main course,,,, pork (killed by someone else) roast spuds carrots and parsnip, gravy.
pudding,, apple pie ,,,, what else we have loads of the buggers.

So now we have tidied the garden and it is at this point I am going to throw down the Gauntlet.

We have this year grown some very big sunflowers, not big by some standards but big for us in a small garden.

I am going to put up a £10 prize for the grower of the biggest sunflower but,,,, grown from my seeds from Buster and Lauren that is what we called them.

It has to be the tallest and widest flower to be the winner, to give you an idea buster was 8 feet 6 inches high and his flower and only the seeds not the petals measured 8,1/2"( inches)
Lauren was higher by 6"(inches) but the same flower size.

Send me your address to my gmail address I will post the seeds.
So it will be good luck next year if you want to win a Tenner.

Buster is on the left
Lauren is on the right

say which ones you want

our greenhouse door("D"s) work

my work,
apple and red cherry pie.

so if you want the challenge go for it.

My apologies for absence (part 2)

2006-09-03T16:22:00.000Z

Once more I have been absent, but not without good reason,

1, I have been knackered doing 11 plus hour days at work getting the jobs out. All the work is nearly done all the work is nearly done on the extention and fitting of the new equipment and in a few days we will be live doing shotblasting and painting.

2. I needed the money.

3.Finaly after years of procrasternation, I have proposed to "D" here is the ring(what a relief she said yes) we are to be married next year, after almost 7 years together, the first 2 I spent traveling between Yorkshire and Birmingham, clocking up about 30,000 miles in travel.

We went out, on the Sunday night I proposed, to one of our favorite chinese restaurants.
I bought Champagne(a full bottle) that was a first.Champagne is strong we were both hung over.

4. I have been Knackered.

so without further ado I am trying to get back into some sort of normality.

It has been a wet month in August but now into September it looks like it might be better for a bit, everything is going nice on the garden front, the caterpillars love our plants but some have pulled through.

By the way Mars is about as close as it can get to us at the moment this is what it looks like,
I am not impressed I wanted bigger, its just a red dot in the sky?

Today we went to the the Kings Heath garden show is was good I got these the mother of all garden croppers

yes I know I am odd but it all adds to the flavour

here are some pics of the wind swept and sodden garden

free sunflowers plated by the birds or squirrels

tomatoes by "D"

A GOURD?

Chilli anyone we have never grown these

we still have a passion

look at the size of those apples

clematis hanging on

and finaly I see this Heron most mornings I think he must stand 3 feet tall

I choose not to write

2006-08-16T19:00:00.000Z

because I can and because I have been so bloody busy and tired I did not have the will anymore to do this.
However I am back and with heavy hand on key board and the fingers tight with artheristis,
" yes it's now got cold " I will do it, I have been reading other blogs and bloody good they are too.

I wish I had the time to do this every night but alas no, I will be glad when the alterations are done at work and I can go back to some sort of normality.

The Germans went this morning having been there a month and their job complete I will miss them and hope maybe one day to see them both again.

I will miss their humour and the rattling away in German and being so polite as to slow down the speech if I was about so I could understand, yes if slow enough I can get the drift of what they were on about.

Some of us at work now have a new vocabulary when passing and are swearing at each other in German, they taught us all the good stuff of course.

The weather has been crap this month and really is like Autumn and the plants just do not know what to do I am hoping it will warm up in September

Our garden looks like this now and is very wet but everything is growing we have tons of apples and tomatoes, peas are ok, and the caterpillars have had the rest.

the sunflowres are still good though

our neighbour has now for the third year running, won the leave your washing out in the rain competition.
I think now she should have the lifetime achievement award for being idle.
As hard as I try I cannot leave it there 3 whole days.

you can also see the top of the hedge she hasn't trimmed that is the bit I cannot reach.

It's nice to see the fighting has at last stopped in Lebonan and look forward to see some cheap holidays coming up there soon, see your local travel agent.

On that not note I will take my beer and relax in the comfort of my armchair.

this weekend

2006-08-06T19:52:00.000Z

does not seem to have been one, what with work on Saturday morning, and then a bit of shopping, ( we had to go out we had got hardly any food in the house) and of course we love shopping, (not) after I got home from work we put off the event untill the last moment and off we went,,,,an hour later we came back with carrier bags buldgingwith a load of goodies like cake and chocolate, we forgot about the food, and got all the good stuff instead.

We did buy some liver and today we had that for our rather late lunch.
You tend not to see much of that stuff in the butchers now but as a kid,I was brought up on it, doesnt take much to cook and is really tasty, so it was liver onions mushrooms crushed black pepper, I got a courgette from the green house and sauted that with garlic and tomatoes and did some mashed spuds, we had a lovely meal,at the moment there is a rice pudding in the oven but I think at this time it will be to late to eat it.

I seem to have done a lot today but got nowhere it's 8.55 pm and its just getting dark but a warm and glorious day the sunflowers are shaking their heads above the shed in the light breeze we are just getting.

I do know at this point I will be having a really tough week at work so is no good whining about it I will just have to get on with it.

now I am going to throw this one in before I go .

Why is it that all the trouble in this world seems to me to be caused by Muslim extremists,
correct me if I am wrong,but do they want to kill us all,if we don't want to believe in the same shit as them,,, just a thought.

Wednesday

2006-08-02T19:15:00.000Z

after a hard day at work, all I want to do is come home crack a can and eat then watch TV.
Why is TV so crap and in this country why the hell do we have to pay for the privilidge.
I think this is why we have so many dvd's and vidio's.

So tonight with once more just the normal repeats and the news is all about, screaming homosexual politician's,and people beating the crap out of each other in the middle east, we end up watching "CELEBRITY BREAK UPS",mmmmm who the f**k care's how many times they get married or break up, hell fire they are just people and by the look of it very shallow people.

I think too much is put on the TV about all these people I don't care if Macca gets divorced,
I don't care if some MP hangs himself with an orange stuck in his mouth or is found with a small boy in a park spanking bottoms.

I do think most of these people are stuck so far up their own arseholes they could lick their own tonsils.

Anyway it's just my opinion but then everyone is entitled to my" opinion" lol

my apologies for absence

2006-07-30T19:28:00.000Z

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

2006-07-23T16:45:00.000Z

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

2006-07-22T10:53:00.000Z

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

2006-07-16T15:53:00.000Z

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

2006-07-14T16:51:00.000Z

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

2006-07-14T16:31:00.000Z

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

2006-07-12T20:25:00.000Z

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

2006-07-09T18:32:00.000Z

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

2006-07-08T11:20:00.000Z

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

2006-07-05T20:07:00.000Z

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

2006-07-02T10:45:00.000Z

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

2006-07-01T07:40:00.000Z

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.

A Grand Day Out

2006-06-30T06:44:00.000Z

We decided that yesterday as it was warm and sunny to visit the seaside.
Living in the Midlands we are a long way from the sea and it take around 110 miles to get there, Barmouth on the coastline of Wales is a spot I have never been to so it seemed a good place to head to.
We got up reasonably early had a good breakfast and set off.
We were soon zooming up the M5 and joining the M6 then just a couple of junctions to the M54 to Telford then on to Shrewsbury and then at last into the glorious Welsh countryside that is the Snowdonia National Park, I love driving through there it reminds me so much of my home county Yorkshire and the beautifull Yorkshire Dale National Park.( The picture above shows some of the stunning scenary) with in a couple of hours we were there.
We parked up the car and headed off for something to eat.
Barmouth is a very pretty, clean, and quiet place to take a break with a beautifull clean beach and crystal clear water.

It has fantastic views which ever way you look and we couldn't wait to go in and have a paddle in the sea

"D" Gets her feet wet

this is looking towards Snowdonia

We had a thoughourly nice day out and around mid afternoon we headed off back home
The round trip was 238 miles I used just over 4 gallons of fuel (read previous post)
and on getting back home we found this the first one to open this year

A few tips

2006-06-28T06:32:00.000Z

While reading another blog today the price of fuel was mentioned, we in the UK pay about £5 per gallon or more - that’s just under $10 US, so if you have lots of cash or are not bothered then that’s ok but if you want to save money here are a few tips.

· Don’t use the car for short journeys, walk instead, the car uses more fuel when its warming up to correct temperature and that is about 2 to 3 miles, more in winter.

· Pull away smoothly, avoid harsh acceleration and harsh braking as this wastes fuel.

· Try to change through the gears quickly, you shouldn’t have to be in first gear more than a cars length, get into the highest gear possible as soon as possible to suit the road conditions you are on.

· If you are traffic lights next to a boy racer let him go, it’s his fuel he is wasting.

· Keep your distance from the car in front this will give you more time to think and brake smoother.

· Do not slow down using the gears this will shorten the life of the clutch, it is easier and cheaper to change the brakes - remember to slow down first then select the gear not the other way round.

· If you are facing down hill it is ok to set off in second gear.

· On a motorway or fast road it’s no good putting your foot all the way down to the boards as they say, you will get better economy if you build your speed up gently and keep a constant speed and keep your distance from the car in front.

· At 70 miles an hour you are going to be travelling at around 100 feet per second, so keep a good distance from the car in front you will need at least 4 seconds to stop safely and that is in a car with good brakes, not old and worn out ones.

· Do not go into neutral going down hill this does not save fuel if your foot is not on the accelerator it is only using the same amount of fuel as when it’s ticking over or idling. Plus this is dangerous as you can easily lose control of the vehicle, the wheels lock up and skid much easier when not in gear or when the clutch is disengaged if you have to brake.

· Push the clutch down only just before you have to stop don’t worry about stalling it’s easy to start the car again

I could go on and on but I hope these tips are helpful. I am not trying to be patronising, we all have our own way of driving but if you are not doing the above you are wasting fuel and throwing money away.

My own car is an 1800cc fuel injection model Vauxhall and on a run I get 100 miles for 2 gallons and local driving about 70 miles.
So go on give it a try.

The London trip

2006-06-27T16:50:00.000Z

With all the excitement of small children we got up early on Monday morning, packed our side panniers for the bike’s and got ourselves worked up to go.

This was going to be a big one, we have done day trips before but nothing on this scale and were apprehensive but excited at the sites we may see and the fact is it was different.

I was carrying all the clothes I weighed them 30 lbs mmmmm, I thought that’s over 2 stones still at least its not on my back but I will have to haul it.

Anyway “D” had smaller ones and they at least were lighter. So at 9.30 am prompt we left off down the dried up canal path through the park and dropped down to the canal and cycled into town.

We made good progress and soon reached Gas St basin turned right and went down over Farmers locks and carried on to the junction where 3 canals meet and followed the Grand Union.

We made several stops for cigarette breaks and water the weather was cloudy and cold for the time of the year but we were warm because of the exercise.

After about 15 miles I didn’t want to tell “D” but I had strained a tendon in my right leg and the pain was getting worse but I carried on.

At 18 miles we found ourselves at Catherine De Barnes where a welcome break and a pub meal at the “BOAT” gave us a good rest.

Within an hour we were off again, now we are used to riding canals around the city with good paths and fairly smooth surfaces, I expected the paths to be not as good but the whole truth is you spend most of your time looking at the path for pot holes and not at the scenery as beautiful as it is.

Well after another few miles we arrived at Kingswood Junction another place where canals meet and you may change direction, we had another break, 25 miles at this point we were getting tired the constant poundings of saddle to rear end was getting too much and we both felt it easier to walk for a while.

All we had to do was reach Warwick and we would stop for the night but first we had to go through Shrewley Tunnel and down past Hatton Locks, another break for cigarettes and we carried on not far now I kept saying as if trying to convince myself and encourage “D” the miles kept clocking up and we finally reached Warwick. right love I said lets find somewhere to stop. someone told us there was a hotel by the Station so we headed there.

Well the Station we got to I can tell you there was no bloody hotel! We looked at each other there was no need for discussion I said lets get tickets I cannot ride on them bloody paths all day tomorrow the way my arse feels now and apart from that I think I have strained a tendon in my leg.

There was no hesitation I was exhausted and “D” was too we had done too much on our first day.

We were lucky a train arrived within 15 minutes and we were on our way back to Birmingham. Half an hour later we were in the town centre 15 minutes later we were on anther train to take us to our local station and twenty minutes later we were home.

Exhausted “Tired” doesn’t even come in to it. We got into the house I Made a quick supper we collapsed on the sofa and went to bed.

We had been out the house 10 hours we had cycled 40 miles our arses ached our muscles were burning and I don’t want to look at those bikes again for at least 2 days

We did enjoy it, it was a bit of excitement but not just yet, not until my arse gets used to sitting on cast iron, and being bumped on it 60 times a minute like a road builders jack hammer against the road.

I think we might just go to the seaside instead, in the “car”

(please click on the links for pics doesn't seem to work today)

The longest day

2006-06-22T18:54:00.000Z

and what seems my longest week is nearly over when I finish work tomorrow I have a full week off work.
It is halfway through the year and we seem to have flown through it but next week it will be different we are going to cycle the whole way down the Grand Union Canal, excusing accidents bad health or pregnancy.
To find out tonight that it is national cycling week and we are doing that is just as much a suprise.
I did a lot of overtime last month just so we would not have to be stingy and we can stay where we like enroute.
The camera is going and there will be a full blog of what we get up to after the event or non event depends doesn't it.
The best thing is it will be a break away from the hamster wheel.
Now I going to read Brummieblogs leave the best till last just like a pudding I say.

and as the sun sets slowly ever so slowly this time of year.

oh I forgot I just found out today I have been working today at my company in the steel works for 12 years now that is a long time, for me any road. I missed out on extra holidays last year but now I get 2 extra, every year

fathers day

2006-06-18T18:29:00.000Z

Well I have a lovely day my 2 oldest daughters and my greandchild came down from yorkshire, I cooked them a lovely meal, this is one of my favorites, roast beef yorkshire pudding and all the veg's.
I do my meat like this
first in the foil I will use to cook it, I put salt, black pepper, and basil and roll the joint in all that, then I rubbed crushed Garlic all over it and then smothered it in english mustard.
I cooked it slow for about 3 hours in the foil then removed the juices for the gravy then browned for a further hour without the foil, it was a big joint enough for about 8 people with a good serving, probably about 3 pounds of meat smaller joints take less time.

They loved it and it was nice to see clean plates and commented on how long it had been since they had tasted my cooking(i guess they like it)my grand daughter is the most beautifull child clever, funny,and just like her mum,(and like me)I was sorry to see them go.

They got me a bottle of Glen Moray whiskey as my gift and my favorite chocolate Toblerone,
well once granddaughter and me got into the chocolate it is half gone now.
I have never had Glen Moray before,,,,,, it is one of the smoothest I have ever tasted,(just having one now).

last night I took a pic of the garden and the lights this is how it turned out why is the light bending like that,,,,, but it's pretty.

so

2006-06-17T20:04:00.000Z

after getting up very early going to work and getting home for 9.30am we have the day to ourselves or so we think, now this is not a bad thing, my partner had arranged for a freind to come along and do her feet! she is a reflexologist and she is lovely funny and charming, but we had to go to the shops so I said ok love I will do the shopping you wait for freind.
now this is not going to take me long off I went with list in hand and got everything butchers,veg shop, small supermarket, all of it done in half an hour, ohh bloody yes I am quick.

back home freind was there and the feet had to be done so I mowed the lawn or whats left of it, did some strimming hacked at my holly bush( I am gutted ) taped it up with tape hoping it will live.
The feet are now well and truly done, however as you do I had forgotten something so we still had to go out. Partner said can we go round the resa(resovoir) yes but first I need petrol, ohhh don't bother then came the reply, it's ok love I still need petrol,,, no its ok she says you don't have to go, I still need petrol and we can go round the resa.

So went to the bloody petrol station at the end of the road, full as normal I had no money went to conveniant cash point and drew out £50 all pumps were full but saw an empty spot and raced round to it like I was in the monaco grand prix, bloody hell that was lucky I said and put in a tenner's worth" except" it went over by a penny,, don't you hate that a bloody penny, called in car to "D" have you got a penny love,,,,, no all I have in change is 50p,,, ok so I took it, got to the queue paid him and he said is ok no worry's about the penny,,,,,,,, yes there is a God,,,, I got a penny out of them,,, yes yes.

So off to the resa, beautifull day sun out, sky blue,,,, big plume of smoke 200 feet high coming from the road in front, turns the corner and yes you have it, car on fire in secluded road no one in sight and it was a Merc, so instead of a nice lazy look at the boats we sat and watched while 2 fire engines turned up and argued about who would put it out first, very dramatic though seeing all the tyres burst with flames.
But at least D got to see men in uniform.

Anyway we went to the shop got our stuff and that is about it, tennis again in the morning.
make mental note here take camera everywhere that fire was good.

and

2006-06-15T20:29:00.000Z

now its about my bedtime 9.30 it's sad
but before I go here are some shots of the stuff going on in the garden

this greets me as I come home

this is the same branch I thought would have 5 on it
never count your chickens eh!

and this beauty is getting the last of the evening sun

its been a long day I am tired good night all

all

2006-06-14T20:10:00.000Z

is well things are getting sorted me and my new boss are getting on really well he has got the same sense of humour AS ME.

my partner has left her job and now is looking but we are not worried she will be ok and has left the shit she was having at work.

we have decided we will be cycling to London soon and all will be revieled.

(looks at legs and hopes they don't give in)

I expect on Sunday that all my children will be coming to see me as it is Fathers Day it was a complete suprise because I didn't know and am relly looking forward to seeing them all together
I will cook them a really nice dinner for their trouble of traveling 130 miles to see me.

why not take them out? I prefere to cook!
I like cooking.

By the way I would like comments on the last picture I have shown, it's in oil and is just some thing I made up!
it is my second painting I have done in a lot of years if you think it's crap tell me I can accept it but I will get better.
Need more canvas,,,

so in the afternoon

2006-06-11T14:48:00.000Z

I wanted to dip my feet in somewhere cool so we went here.

and all before midday

2006-06-11T10:00:00.000Z

we decided we would cycle to the park on such a glorious morning

we took the tennis rackets and got to the courts which seem to be vanalised somewhat

there is life in the old dog yet

even more life

ok lets go home

if you look carefully the squirrell is asleep in the tree

and now he's off

just one of the Petunia's in the hanging basket

and now we have rest of the day to do what we want

it's

2006-06-10T19:14:00.000Z

been an absolutley beautifull day it was that warm I opened the windows of the car full down going to work at 5.30am after that I got home and we just chilled in fact it was just like being on holiday sat outside all day.
so nothing to report all is well.

well

2006-06-06T18:54:00.000Z

seeing as it was such a lovely day on Sunday,
I thought I would wash the car
Now I am not joking here but I have not washed it for 12 months or cleaned it inside and it has done 157,000 miles, but I have looked after it and it has served me well.
there are a few rust spots but what the hell its 12 years old.

Right getting down to the week well same shit different day really same old same old at work, however the bloody garden is coming on lovely

this is my favorite spot I like to sit it might look odd to you but I like it.

and to my left I see these

and some good news we got to see the grandchild tonight I touched her for the first time.

tonights film 28 days with Sandra Bullock

as

2006-06-03T18:21:00.000Z

we live on the edge of a big city we see
a lot of wild life
there is "D "lounging, reading, and the sun is out

we have a friend who comes to visit
and steals from the bird table
he has been with us since he was little

isn't he lovely

that was taken five feet away from him from our kitchen window the flash went off and he froze but he is used to us now and does'nt care much.
on that bird table we see blue tits great tits sparrows and coal tits and even but only once long tailed tits,, but just look at him he is so handsome.

I think summer is here

2006-06-03T12:12:00.000Z

I think this is a particulary nice flower

and Mr Robin came to visit

at last we have a weekend where we can relax in the garden, work has been especialy tough this week and to be honest I am knackered, I just want to put my feet up and relax.

Next week will be busy I already know this, from Tuesday lunch onwards I will be taught how to drive our new fork lift truck at work, I don't know why they think it will take a day and a half to do it, I have driven them years ago when you didn't need special license's to do it, but at least it will be a bit easier for a couple of days.
On Friday I have to go to Rotherham to look at a new saw we are getting that will take all day, so by the look of it it's an easy week.

I

2006-05-31T21:05:00.000Z

AM GETTING WORRIED THAT THINGS ARE GOING TOO WELL AT WORK

apart from things being busy and the new lights didn't come on at all,, until I read the instructions,,,,,,, it was then I found the on /off switch,,,, so off I went at 4.45am in my dressing gown, tripping down the garden switching them all on, and yes they all do work.

so someone says I tell bloody awful jokes,, well the old ones are the best,

vicar,, was that Fanny Green in the congregation tonight,,
verger,,, no Vicar I think it was just the light shining through the stained glass window.

well I think its funny.

today the

2006-05-29T15:15:00.000Z

last day of our short break, we went out to a garden centre now I know we are getting old but I am not dead yet, the worrying thing is I am actualy getting to like going to these place's.

now is it just me who thinks like this but while I was looking around the place all I could see was old people, they were probably no older than me but to me they were "old".

I still act no different than my shoe size and I am probably fitter than some in their 20's,
but what made me laugh was when we had taken the stuff to the car I saw an old chap getting out the carpark and he took half a bush with him he just could not gauge the distance,I says to partner if I ever get like that "shoot me"

oh we got some of them solar powered lights for the path

if they work it will be a miracle the weather is dire

this,,,,,,,

2006-05-29T06:56:00.000Z

because I get up at stupid oclock

is a site I rarely see, because I am work.

It's just rained the sun is out and it's early morning.

I just thought I would share it with you.

things I like to see in a garden

2006-05-28T16:27:00.000Z

I have been hard at it today trimming the hedges not a easy task I have 2 at the front about 60 feet long and more at the back and yes my arms ache now, but below these are just some of the things I like to see in the garden

this is another type of Rhododendrom

I don't know what this is we found it (but it's pretty)

now this is a snapdragon

if you can guess what this is you will get 10 points

now this is what I like to see in the garden

I am cooking Sunday dinner now so must bugger off, Roast beef, yorkshire puddings ,roast spuds, mashed spuds, brocolli, cauliflower,and carrots.

I will leave now with mouths watering

well

2006-05-27T16:11:00.000Z

I never expected to see Grape vines grow this far north and they have been doing it so long.

Halfpenny green is about 3/4 of an hour drive from us and yes I did my normal and got lost, but we did get there in the end, I am always suprised that from where we live within 1/2 an hours drive you can be in such beautifull countryside and that is just about in any direction.

This is the place we went in they had a restaurant and a very good menu we had clotted cream teas but with coffee?
and it was freshly made the scones were piping hot.
That vine looks nice growing right across the front of the building

I am not a wine lover(diesel in a bottle)
but I wouldn't fancy any wine out of that press

and this is just one of what must be hundreds of acres of vines that they grow there they started doing it for their own consumption but it turned into a business.

We are on holiday for a couple of days now and I have to get down to some serious gardening,
that means I have to trim the hedges and my arms will ache for a week after, I am not getting rid of them they give us a lot of privacy.

Finaly after a week my partner has fully recovered and is back to her old self which is nice to know and we can get on with life.

oh my bush

2006-05-26T19:44:00.000Z

well you get your dirty minds out of the gutter
this is one of my favorites
its an Azalia a type of Rhodadendrom

The colours are so nice and as I am colour blind I see it different to you.
It will grow to about 6 feet we have had it since it was a twig.
Also I have had another "good" day at work( now this is getting worrying)

Tomorrow we will visit a vineyard,,,,,,,,, yes a vineyard in the west midlands.
I will have pictures.

2006-05-25T18:34:00.000Z

and just when you think what else can go wrong

you see this

jus one of our cactus in flower

"I don't believe it"

2006-05-25T17:54:00.000Z

I never thought I would say that,
but just when you think everything is going ok.
so I got up at 4.30am went to work had a really good day at work (unusual).

Rang Partner I am leaving at 4.00pm do you want anything?
yes she says go to the docters and get the presritciption(how the hell do they spell that) that I need , ok love I said.

So off I went after work and went to the doctors straight in no problems and over to the chemists, now as I was walking over to the chemists holding the prescriptsion(is that right) a bloody bird shit on it! well I didn't know, I noticed it just as I was giving it to the chemists assistant, bloody shit on my hand and all over the paper, I said I think I just got lucky!

Anyway she tootled off round the back all girly like and brought me back some wet kitchen roll, which was soaked in hot water and soap and some dry stuff to dry my hands on, then took it off me like I had the plague.
then wiped the prescription ( I "THINK" I got it that time) clean.

So off home I went, it was a nice evening tonight and the grass was long so I thought I might cut the Grass, so out came the mower and the strimmer and off I went around the back lawn, then I put my foot through one of the panes of glass in the greenhouse, and then strimmed one of the new bushes and the bark of of one of partners new plants.

and I thought being shit on by a bird was lucky.

washing

2006-05-22T16:22:00.000Z

I wonder what the record is for leaving clean washing out to dry in the rain????

well I think our neighbour holds this record.

this has been there 3 days now.

if its still there tomorrow I will take another shot.

we don't get on, so I am not bothered
read the link below

http://www.brummieblogs.com/2004BrummieBlogs/BBJune2004.html#fence

she still wants our fence/hedge down and My partner cannot see her Grandaughter till we do it
bloody sick people.
its a long story read brummie blogs for all the gossip.

I have refrained from making any comment on this matter for a long time.
and the full story is on partners blog
Thursday 11th May http://www.brummieblogs.com/2006/BBMay2006.htm
I will build the Berlin Wall before give in on this one.

and

2006-05-21T18:06:00.000Z

then it decided to piss down

moths

2006-05-21T11:56:00.000Z

I worked it out, "I am" to slow customers and checkout operaters like a light bulb is to a moth.

So today we decided that enough light bulbs had gone in our living room (3 left out of 5) we should buy some more, so off we went down to B&Q to get some. partner went to get some
baby bio, I got the light bulbs and we needed a bag of compost, we got that last as it was the heaviest.

So to the till, I have to think now why does it always happen to me, 4 people in front of us partner carries the light stuff I have the bag of compost on my shoulder.

First customer had a problem so we waited, next 2 no problem, man in front of us was in the wrong queue, he was returning something.
The bag of compost was now getting heavy but it rested on my shoulder nicely.

The checkout operater, a young kid doing a Sunday job couldn't add up "even" with the till to help him and the bloke bringing the stuff back had to put his card in the slot and key in his pin.

The compost is getting heavier now, he didn't know his pin so out came his mobile phone and he had to call his better half to tell him it.

This bag now feels as if it weighs as much as I do now and I was wishing I had got a trolley.

So I plonked the bag on the counter and we paid for our 3 items and true to form he got our change wrong, it was like watching paint dry.

I think I should never go shopping again "never".

seeing as

2006-05-20T08:12:00.000Z

I have been up since 4..00am I have plenty of time to do what I want today.

I don't know why I wake so early when I know I can lay in bed but it seems once up I get up.

I had a lot on my mind today the reason is my Partner has to go into hospital for some small medical procedure and I was thinking on that.

But now I have taken her and am now just waiting for the phone to ring to pick her up.

Today looks like it's going to be dull and wet but the sun keeps trying to peek out and it could change.

Nothing much has happened at work this week apart from having a massive bust up with the new boss and me virtualy telling him he can stick his/my job up his arse, but we have made friends and compromised and will be on my best behaviour for as long as I can.
At 55 years old I can do without all the corporate bullshit.
I will never get any higher than where I am now so I don't need it, but I am good at what I do and they need me as much as I need them so I am led to believe, so we will wait and see.

I suppose I could always go back to driving big trucks for a living.

I get to retire in 9 and1/2 years I guess it will pass pretty quick.

on a brighter note these are our tomatoe plants
(just a few of them which we have grown from seed) donated lettuce in front of them

and when we got our greenhouse last year (second hand) we got two grape vines with it, one died the other must have sufferd some shock, but "look",, now it will live it is throwing out new shoots.

I know

2006-05-17T19:27:00.000Z

sometimes I may moan,
but
this morning the old light came on for petrol in the car I thought I better get some,so went to the garage at the end of the road, I mean I was there at 5.35 am and yes there was a queue.
so at the front was a teenager who couldn't speak,well not like you or I, but more like a ventrilouquist.
so it went like this.

first man in queue= than I hav 2 canths of reb bulll and a bothle of waher
tiller=what
can I hth 2 canth of red bill and a botthel of wather
tiller = what
can I have 2 canth of red bill and a bothhle ov wather

you know what teenagers are like,won't open the lips to speak like they will be letting out gods gift of life or something.

so off he went the tiller,to get the stuff came back with 2 cans of red bull and a bottle of coke a cola.

teenager= nooooooooooo not koke wther
ahh says tiller goes back,

now you know what its like I am getting late now and there is still one in front of me.

so he goes back picks up the water and try's to squeeze it through the hole in the wall where they pass all the cash, would it fit in no! eventually it was passed through.

so sad bugger I am I timed my self at the till that was 4 minutes, I am thinking now I am going to be late.

person in front of me= pump 7 £10 please and ,,,,,,,,,,,,, can have the Sun please (a newspaper)
I am allready thinking this guy is going to ask for his weekly grocerys.

but oh joy of joys he left.

them me.
pump 3 £10 please

tiller= what
me= look mate that is my car there its right in front of you I want to pay £10 and bugger off to work.
tiller= takes my £20 and slips the corner of a £10 just under the little gap,(well its a bloody good job I have finger nails) I looked at him whilst trying to pry my money back.

just a thought at this point ,,,, why is it that there are no people who run garages now who are english

got my money and left.

but the first one came back he was behind me now.

can I hth a rethiet plreeth.

I tell you I was in stiches all the way to work and I wasn't late