Of course it is obvious that I have already broken my promise of writing more regulary....But i do have a good excuse and a note from my Mum honest! :)
I got a call last Saturday telling me that one of my sisters (the one with a learning disabilty) was going to go and stay in Crete with my Auntie for a month. Now she was eally excited about this as she loves to travel and loves company of any sort so off my parents & sister went to Nottingham to stay with my Auntie overnight before their flights. My sister got up bright and early the following morning and as she starts to come down the stairs she slips then slides catching her right leg beneath her about half way down and promptly snaps it not so cleanly at the ankle....I know thats making you squirm and thing a bit more than ouch!
So off she goes to the QMC in Nottingham where she is told that not only is it broken but it needs a plate putting in and the tendons repairing and untangling from the bone. So instead of a month in the sun 8 days in a Nottingham hospital begins.
Now my wife is from Nottingham and I have spent a few years living there myself when we first started dating so I know my way around. The in laws are still there and I have seen more of them and the city in the past week or so than I have in the last two years LOL. Being so far away my sister was not expecting many visitors so I have been up 3 times, the last with one of my daughters with who I had a lovely day out visiting the tourist areas of Nottingham that, as always the way when you live somewhere, i hadn't seen before. We went to the caves, Wollaton Hall, and enjoyed the city center which has been converted into the largest man made inland beach for the summer! What a cracking idea eh! Kids that wont be seeing the coast this summer get a taste of it complete with beach shops and food stalls...excellent!
Anyway I digress, my sister had her operation which went well and finally made it home on Sunday. We then had to source a wheelchair for her and build ramps to get in and out of the house but luckily I had planty of wood stored at my allotment for this so it cost nothing more than some time.
It was with a heavy heart I have had to sell my mini. This is due to the serious lack of work around and bills to pay. Still I am sure I will find another project when i least expect it at a good price...well thats what I am convincing myself anyway.
In a bid to save some money we set off for a cheaper way to use our mobiles today and got a great deal on a contract each supplied with new phones. As our phones are now about as ancient as the dinasours and giving up the ghost we managed to kill two birds with one stone. They are very fancy with touch screens and more applications than I will ever use so I cannot wait until the kids get back off of their holiday with their Auntie and Gran so they can show me how to use it!!!!!!!!! LOL
As you can see its been busy busy busy again but not with work! Still im a big believer that you should always be there for family so I cant complain at all.
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Saturday, 1 August 2009
Walking on Ladybirds
I do not remember the last time I have felt so relaxed for so long. I have just had a fantastic 8 days away with wifey and the kids at Trimmingham.
We left early on Friday morning for the 3 hour drive to the coast and the start of our family holiday this year. A stop at the platic food palace (Mcdonalds) on route so the kids could get their fill of crap lunch, and we call this a treat eh!, and we were at the seaside by 1pm :) greeted by a carpet of of red ladybirds. This was a joy to behold, "look dad they are sooo cute" cried my youngest but it looked like a plague to me. Still it was quite pretty.
Now my wife is obessesed with getting everything in its place whenever we get to somewhere new. So we had a happy hour putting our clothes into draws and then off to the supermarket to shuffle around with the hoardes piling in groceries and holiday treats.
After we were all stocked up and settled in the holiday could begin in ernest.
Now to say it was an interesting week would be an understatement and the best way to tell all is in sections of the places we visited.
Amazon Zoo:-
This is just outside of Cromer and the leaflets boast it to be an amazing collection od animals from the Amazon. Now whilst the idea was sound the reality was less so. There were many cats, birds and reptiles to see but unfortunely the tanks were filthy so much so you couldnt see the fish or reptiles. The birds were not wanting to come out of there boxes and the monkeys were hiding as well. The ponds were so full of weeds the ducks could not swim properly and the whole place was a sorry state if im honest. Oh and there lots of ladybirds.
Muckleborough Tank Museum:-
Now this was a place worth visiting :) Its an old training camp on the east coast just outside of Sheringham that has been converted into a war museum. There is everything from tanks to planes to trucks to jeeps. A massive collection of paperwork from all eras of the world Wars from call up papers to standard issue kits. Its well set out and you could loose a whole day there if you dont have a bored teenager and a 9 yr old in tow. Still they found it interesting enough but I would have been happy with at least another 2 hours there to read through all of the paperwork but after the best part of four hours the kids attention had not just waned but walked out and was playing on the nearest beach so off we toddled into Sheringham which is quite a lovely town. It did seem to have a growing number of lady birds under foot though.
Shire Farm Horse Santuary:-
Now this is really a girlie day out if im honest and held no interest for me what so ever but being a family holiday and the fact that my daughters are animal mad off we went.
Now the set up is for animal rescue and this is a good cause but they did tend to try and get as much money out of you as possible as often as the oppotunity arrised. This opportunity apparently arises more often than I saw fit but what the hell do I know eh?
The kids loved the Horses and all the other farmstock ad it was very hands on which is great when so many places cage up animals due to Health & Safety nonsense.
There was also a great collection of old horse carts and machinery in museum type barns which again gave some interesting reading.
There were what seemed like Ladybird carpeting and wallpaper on everything.
Holt Windmill:-
This is a fantastic restoration of a windmill. Now you may think thats a bit dull and do you wear a Kagool chap but I think we have lost so much of our history that its great when people have a bit of spare cash so they throw it at keeping something alive as was the case here. Good for them.
You can go on all four levels and the ladders are very steep, all in keeping with what it was in its day.
Strange thing was though that it had a red & black lawn. Seemed to be moving as well.
Of course Crabbing off of Cromer pier:-
The competition was set. Boys verses girls. The girls team was Wifey, the teeneager and mates wifey who was staying with us. The boys team was myself, 9 year old daughter (I know not a boy but Tomboy counts) and my mate who was staying with us.
On the first innings the boys won with 5 crabs to the girls 1. Of course we rubbed it in a bit and made them buy the ice creams.
The second innings on the last day we were there resulted in an incredible total of 24 crabs caught!!!!!!!!!!!! Not one of them big enough to eat but the sport was great fun :) The scores were Girls 17 Boys 7. Now seeing as we were so gracious when we won the girls told everyone they met they had wiped the floor with us and made us buy really big ice creams :) Strangley on the pier no red to be seen?
The swarm then took flight. My god ive seen many types of bugs but nothing prepared me for this onset that was to last a few days. You couldnt walk through the bloody ladybugs. They were in everything...and I do mean everything. You ate them, picked them out of your ears and couldn't get them out of your car because everytime you opened a window or door to put them out 5 times as many wuld get in. It was like red snow it was that thick and quite freaky! No wonder we hadnt been bothered by any seagulls there was far too much to eat in the air!
They crawled into the caravan through any hole possible and they just kept coming!! Loading the car was hilarious and we brought more than a few bugs back home with us but hey im sure they will be happy with the lack of competition for food here.
I have taken up fishing. Ive never been interested in fishing before but what a relaxing way to pass a few hours. Just relaxing on the beach with a rod up and line out trying to catch your tea:)
Of course I didnt catch a bloody thing but hey who cares I was probably doing it wrong LOL
So a great week spent in superb company with a few beers thrown in for good measure. Now back to reality with washing to be done and the van sorting for Mondays work.
We left early on Friday morning for the 3 hour drive to the coast and the start of our family holiday this year. A stop at the platic food palace (Mcdonalds) on route so the kids could get their fill of crap lunch, and we call this a treat eh!, and we were at the seaside by 1pm :) greeted by a carpet of of red ladybirds. This was a joy to behold, "look dad they are sooo cute" cried my youngest but it looked like a plague to me. Still it was quite pretty.
Now my wife is obessesed with getting everything in its place whenever we get to somewhere new. So we had a happy hour putting our clothes into draws and then off to the supermarket to shuffle around with the hoardes piling in groceries and holiday treats.
After we were all stocked up and settled in the holiday could begin in ernest.
Now to say it was an interesting week would be an understatement and the best way to tell all is in sections of the places we visited.
Amazon Zoo:-
This is just outside of Cromer and the leaflets boast it to be an amazing collection od animals from the Amazon. Now whilst the idea was sound the reality was less so. There were many cats, birds and reptiles to see but unfortunely the tanks were filthy so much so you couldnt see the fish or reptiles. The birds were not wanting to come out of there boxes and the monkeys were hiding as well. The ponds were so full of weeds the ducks could not swim properly and the whole place was a sorry state if im honest. Oh and there lots of ladybirds.
Muckleborough Tank Museum:-
Now this was a place worth visiting :) Its an old training camp on the east coast just outside of Sheringham that has been converted into a war museum. There is everything from tanks to planes to trucks to jeeps. A massive collection of paperwork from all eras of the world Wars from call up papers to standard issue kits. Its well set out and you could loose a whole day there if you dont have a bored teenager and a 9 yr old in tow. Still they found it interesting enough but I would have been happy with at least another 2 hours there to read through all of the paperwork but after the best part of four hours the kids attention had not just waned but walked out and was playing on the nearest beach so off we toddled into Sheringham which is quite a lovely town. It did seem to have a growing number of lady birds under foot though.
Shire Farm Horse Santuary:-
Now this is really a girlie day out if im honest and held no interest for me what so ever but being a family holiday and the fact that my daughters are animal mad off we went.
Now the set up is for animal rescue and this is a good cause but they did tend to try and get as much money out of you as possible as often as the oppotunity arrised. This opportunity apparently arises more often than I saw fit but what the hell do I know eh?
The kids loved the Horses and all the other farmstock ad it was very hands on which is great when so many places cage up animals due to Health & Safety nonsense.
There was also a great collection of old horse carts and machinery in museum type barns which again gave some interesting reading.
There were what seemed like Ladybird carpeting and wallpaper on everything.
Holt Windmill:-
This is a fantastic restoration of a windmill. Now you may think thats a bit dull and do you wear a Kagool chap but I think we have lost so much of our history that its great when people have a bit of spare cash so they throw it at keeping something alive as was the case here. Good for them.
You can go on all four levels and the ladders are very steep, all in keeping with what it was in its day.
Strange thing was though that it had a red & black lawn. Seemed to be moving as well.
Of course Crabbing off of Cromer pier:-
The competition was set. Boys verses girls. The girls team was Wifey, the teeneager and mates wifey who was staying with us. The boys team was myself, 9 year old daughter (I know not a boy but Tomboy counts) and my mate who was staying with us.
On the first innings the boys won with 5 crabs to the girls 1. Of course we rubbed it in a bit and made them buy the ice creams.
The second innings on the last day we were there resulted in an incredible total of 24 crabs caught!!!!!!!!!!!! Not one of them big enough to eat but the sport was great fun :) The scores were Girls 17 Boys 7. Now seeing as we were so gracious when we won the girls told everyone they met they had wiped the floor with us and made us buy really big ice creams :) Strangley on the pier no red to be seen?
The swarm then took flight. My god ive seen many types of bugs but nothing prepared me for this onset that was to last a few days. You couldnt walk through the bloody ladybugs. They were in everything...and I do mean everything. You ate them, picked them out of your ears and couldn't get them out of your car because everytime you opened a window or door to put them out 5 times as many wuld get in. It was like red snow it was that thick and quite freaky! No wonder we hadnt been bothered by any seagulls there was far too much to eat in the air!
They crawled into the caravan through any hole possible and they just kept coming!! Loading the car was hilarious and we brought more than a few bugs back home with us but hey im sure they will be happy with the lack of competition for food here.
I have taken up fishing. Ive never been interested in fishing before but what a relaxing way to pass a few hours. Just relaxing on the beach with a rod up and line out trying to catch your tea:)
Of course I didnt catch a bloody thing but hey who cares I was probably doing it wrong LOL
So a great week spent in superb company with a few beers thrown in for good measure. Now back to reality with washing to be done and the van sorting for Mondays work.
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Welcome to the lair of the new computer geek :)
I am indeed a self confessed hyped up sort of chap. I cannot bear to be idle as it drives me mad so I am constantly on the lookout for new challenges. Of course I have the allotment which takes up a fair slice of my time but is at the time of year where we have a lul between sowing and harvesting and then the next sowing for the winter season so apart from chasing weeds not alot happening there.
The mini project is coming along in leaps and bounds, I have had a hppy few days on it welding up holes. This of course involved welding new metal to old which is never an easy task and you end up chasing out a small 1" hole to about 5" ! The ignition is sorted as are the new headlights, wipers and brakes. The interior is now in and the heating system works again.
BUT this doesnot fill my evenings whilst wifey is at work and there is only so much deadhead TV you can watch so.......................
I have learnt how to build computers! I spend enough time buggering around on the things so I figured lets have a go at what makes them tick :)
A friend used to own his own PC shop so off I went around to see him where there was a table just full of PC components to which he looked at me and grinned saying " There you go lets see if you can figure it out". Now after playing with classic mini electrical systems I just followed a logical course and had the PC built in 20 mins!!! I cannott believe how straight forward they are to build! This evening I have put in an extra hard drive on my PC for storage incase I get any viruses all my data will be quite safe :)
The kids have broken up for the summer from school...Yey wohoo isnt that just fine. All will be fine this week as the euphoria of the summer lying ahead is fresh in thier minds. Next week will be fine as well as we are off on holiday for the week so the time will be filled with lots to do! The week after we will be entering the dreaded third week in which the "Im Bored" syndrome will creep in. I will be followed around constantly being asked what I am doing 20 times a day and nothing but pure will may stop me thinking of shallow graves :) LOL
Work is still ludicrusly slow but I have had a happy day today trying to get a turfing job finished in the rain! Now theres wet, then theres soaking and then theres "why didnt I just shower in my clothes this morning" wet. We were soaked but got the job done in record time and then of course the sun came out and the rain stopped. But hey ho a bit of pocket money for our holidays.
Thats it for now will keep this up a bit more regulary from now on...honest :)
I am indeed a self confessed hyped up sort of chap. I cannot bear to be idle as it drives me mad so I am constantly on the lookout for new challenges. Of course I have the allotment which takes up a fair slice of my time but is at the time of year where we have a lul between sowing and harvesting and then the next sowing for the winter season so apart from chasing weeds not alot happening there.
The mini project is coming along in leaps and bounds, I have had a hppy few days on it welding up holes. This of course involved welding new metal to old which is never an easy task and you end up chasing out a small 1" hole to about 5" ! The ignition is sorted as are the new headlights, wipers and brakes. The interior is now in and the heating system works again.
BUT this doesnot fill my evenings whilst wifey is at work and there is only so much deadhead TV you can watch so.......................
I have learnt how to build computers! I spend enough time buggering around on the things so I figured lets have a go at what makes them tick :)
A friend used to own his own PC shop so off I went around to see him where there was a table just full of PC components to which he looked at me and grinned saying " There you go lets see if you can figure it out". Now after playing with classic mini electrical systems I just followed a logical course and had the PC built in 20 mins!!! I cannott believe how straight forward they are to build! This evening I have put in an extra hard drive on my PC for storage incase I get any viruses all my data will be quite safe :)
The kids have broken up for the summer from school...Yey wohoo isnt that just fine. All will be fine this week as the euphoria of the summer lying ahead is fresh in thier minds. Next week will be fine as well as we are off on holiday for the week so the time will be filled with lots to do! The week after we will be entering the dreaded third week in which the "Im Bored" syndrome will creep in. I will be followed around constantly being asked what I am doing 20 times a day and nothing but pure will may stop me thinking of shallow graves :) LOL
Work is still ludicrusly slow but I have had a happy day today trying to get a turfing job finished in the rain! Now theres wet, then theres soaking and then theres "why didnt I just shower in my clothes this morning" wet. We were soaked but got the job done in record time and then of course the sun came out and the rain stopped. But hey ho a bit of pocket money for our holidays.
Thats it for now will keep this up a bit more regulary from now on...honest :)
Monday, 6 July 2009
Bloody Customers!!!!!!!!!!
Now its not that busy. Ive had a couple of good weeks but a rubbish year overall and I took on a decorating job under the agreement that the customer was to supply the materials and the price quoted was for labour only. I called today ready for the start in the morning to be told that I had to supply the materials etc for the price quoted on labour!!! Unbeleivable!!!!!!!!!!
Of course I politely remided her that was not the case only to recieve a torrent f abuse from her so I said you best find someone else to do the job. 2 mins later the phone rings again and I get another earfull from her daughter I really am thinking of packing it in and getting a proper job.
Less time on the plot and with the kids but I really am getting to the end of my tether with idiots like this, people wanting something for nothing and competing against cowboys who charge pennies.Sorry for the rant but I am really peed off at the moment!
Of course I politely remided her that was not the case only to recieve a torrent f abuse from her so I said you best find someone else to do the job. 2 mins later the phone rings again and I get another earfull from her daughter I really am thinking of packing it in and getting a proper job.
Less time on the plot and with the kids but I really am getting to the end of my tether with idiots like this, people wanting something for nothing and competing against cowboys who charge pennies.Sorry for the rant but I am really peed off at the moment!
Saturday, 4 July 2009
I have wholeheartedly enjoyed my kids for the last 24 hours. My daughter from my first marriage has graced us with her presence and my eldest daughter had a friend over for the night...this combination of being outnumbered 5 to 1 by the female of the species would normally spell disaster and have me running for the nearest doorway out of the house and then driving for the furthest point of the country for a couple of days until the visit was over but not today.
THE KIDS GOT ALONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No squabbling, butching, fighting or falling out. At no time have I had to step in with a gruff voice dishing out punishments! In fact everyone pitched in to get the household chores done and I then spent a happy couple of hours fixing the clutch on the mini which now drives!!
Then we all went to the allotment and everyone pitched in netting up the raised beds and mowing the pathways!! Again no fighting!!!
My eldest has now gone to her friends for the night and the other two girls are spending the night together in the den!
I am doing a carboot sale in the morning and they are coming to help...they offered!!! No winging about getting up early...I am sure I have pased into some strange parrelell universe or I may still be in bed dreaming.
I have had offer after offer of tea, in fact I have not put the kettle on myself at all today! Its not my birthday (I checked), its not our wedding anniversary (I double checked) and it sure is not Christmas!!
I hope this is a turning point of the kids growing up a bit. It may just have been a good day and if that is so I have enjoyed it immensley!!
THE KIDS GOT ALONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No squabbling, butching, fighting or falling out. At no time have I had to step in with a gruff voice dishing out punishments! In fact everyone pitched in to get the household chores done and I then spent a happy couple of hours fixing the clutch on the mini which now drives!!
Then we all went to the allotment and everyone pitched in netting up the raised beds and mowing the pathways!! Again no fighting!!!
My eldest has now gone to her friends for the night and the other two girls are spending the night together in the den!
I am doing a carboot sale in the morning and they are coming to help...they offered!!! No winging about getting up early...I am sure I have pased into some strange parrelell universe or I may still be in bed dreaming.
I have had offer after offer of tea, in fact I have not put the kettle on myself at all today! Its not my birthday (I checked), its not our wedding anniversary (I double checked) and it sure is not Christmas!!
I hope this is a turning point of the kids growing up a bit. It may just have been a good day and if that is so I have enjoyed it immensley!!
Friday, 3 July 2009
The heat breaks!
I awoke this morning all tucked up in the comfort of my bed to the sound of rain falling heavily onto the windows and leaves outside. It is a wonderfull noise and feeling to awake to after over a week of very high temperatures. This reminded me of those fantastic storms that happen in Spain after the long hot summer and all you want to do is run outside and stand in it soaking up the freshness it creates clearing away all that heat and dust!
The surge of plantlife coming into growth again and the general kick start of life from insects to mammals that have lain in a semi dormant stage for the long hot months. This was the feeling I had this morning :) A new start of a new day in which you can move around for more than 5 minutes without wanting to sit down for a siesta!
Its now pleasently warm and im off to my allotment to pull some weeds out! These of course love the rain and warmth more than any other life form :)
The surge of plantlife coming into growth again and the general kick start of life from insects to mammals that have lain in a semi dormant stage for the long hot months. This was the feeling I had this morning :) A new start of a new day in which you can move around for more than 5 minutes without wanting to sit down for a siesta!
Its now pleasently warm and im off to my allotment to pull some weeds out! These of course love the rain and warmth more than any other life form :)
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Slowly Melting.
Well its been the busiest couple of weeks of the year so far and we have enjoyed temps in the high twenties and early thirties!! I now know what a baked potato must feel like :)
The best news by far over the past couple of weeks is that our friends that have had IVF tyreatment are now pregnant!!! Ok ok we all know its very early days and the test was taken as soon as humanly possible but this is a fantastic step forward in the right direction for them after months and months of preperation with major weight loss and gallons of hormone injections with many highs and lows.
So we are praying and hoping beyound all hope that the next nine months will go smoothly for them as I cannot possibly think of anyone who would be better parents than these two.
Now to us....we had a break away again which was pleasant but the big holiday is now only 3 weeks away and we are really looking forward to it! A week of relaxing with no dog or work :) I have ordered a mobile internet thingy that we can use whilst away as I am not paying the £3 pounds an hour the campsite would like for me to hire a laptop!!! I mean how bloody stupid not to set up there wifi with a voucher system so people can use their own laptops!! I am sure they may make alot of money that way. Still who am I to tell them how to run their business.
The allotment is now in full swing and we are happily harvesting new potatos, onions, iceburg lettuce, strawberrys, peas and boy oh boy do I love it!! The other veg is coming along in leaps and bounds but there is alot of watering to do in this hot weather. The tomatoes are all growing nicely along with the cucmbers so more salad to come :)
With work I havnt spent as mich time there as I should have done but with a day off tomorrow a full day there is ahead along with lots of weeding to do as well as netting up to keep the bloody pigeons at bay!
My little mini is slowly on the mend but with every repair two more problems seem to appear! Still it will get there in time but that is running closer to the mini 50th in August that I really want to drive it too. Tonight I will fit the new clutch slave cylinder and thats one step closer eh!!
The kids seem to be testing the boundries again of how far they can be pushed along with my patience. Im not the first parent to be going through this im sure but it drives me around the twist!! First my son plays up so much at school he nearly gets kicked out and then my girls are thinking they are 21 instead of 12. Sometimes I dont think im much good at this parent thing until I speak to others with tribes the same age and they feel like it to.
So all in all lots of work and not alot of play but hey such is the way of things but it makes a dull write :) I have thought of a few observations I wanted to jot down but am far too hot and sticky to recall what they were at the moment so I will leave that for another day :)
The best news by far over the past couple of weeks is that our friends that have had IVF tyreatment are now pregnant!!! Ok ok we all know its very early days and the test was taken as soon as humanly possible but this is a fantastic step forward in the right direction for them after months and months of preperation with major weight loss and gallons of hormone injections with many highs and lows.
So we are praying and hoping beyound all hope that the next nine months will go smoothly for them as I cannot possibly think of anyone who would be better parents than these two.
Now to us....we had a break away again which was pleasant but the big holiday is now only 3 weeks away and we are really looking forward to it! A week of relaxing with no dog or work :) I have ordered a mobile internet thingy that we can use whilst away as I am not paying the £3 pounds an hour the campsite would like for me to hire a laptop!!! I mean how bloody stupid not to set up there wifi with a voucher system so people can use their own laptops!! I am sure they may make alot of money that way. Still who am I to tell them how to run their business.
The allotment is now in full swing and we are happily harvesting new potatos, onions, iceburg lettuce, strawberrys, peas and boy oh boy do I love it!! The other veg is coming along in leaps and bounds but there is alot of watering to do in this hot weather. The tomatoes are all growing nicely along with the cucmbers so more salad to come :)
With work I havnt spent as mich time there as I should have done but with a day off tomorrow a full day there is ahead along with lots of weeding to do as well as netting up to keep the bloody pigeons at bay!
My little mini is slowly on the mend but with every repair two more problems seem to appear! Still it will get there in time but that is running closer to the mini 50th in August that I really want to drive it too. Tonight I will fit the new clutch slave cylinder and thats one step closer eh!!
The kids seem to be testing the boundries again of how far they can be pushed along with my patience. Im not the first parent to be going through this im sure but it drives me around the twist!! First my son plays up so much at school he nearly gets kicked out and then my girls are thinking they are 21 instead of 12. Sometimes I dont think im much good at this parent thing until I speak to others with tribes the same age and they feel like it to.
So all in all lots of work and not alot of play but hey such is the way of things but it makes a dull write :) I have thought of a few observations I wanted to jot down but am far too hot and sticky to recall what they were at the moment so I will leave that for another day :)
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