Monday 23rd June 2014 to Sunday 29th June 2014

Monday 23rd June 2014
Up at 5:30.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Back home for 6.40.  Car washed, everything watered.  Car loaded off to work.  Sent parcel off to USA for PJ.  Cost a small fortune but then again everything does with wee Phil!!  Funny day at work with stuff but never mind.  Got home for 6:30.  Tea.  Dog walked. Down to lotty with the bosskat in tow.  She's not happy with a letter we received to say it was overgrown but never mind such is life.   Anyway - we strimmed, mowed, tidied a bit more then Ben arrived and we put a gate up!  Forgot to take a picture though - such is life!  Loaded car up with bike ready for morning.

Tuesday 24th June 2014
Up at 5:30.  Dog walked after some trials and tribulations. Watered everything (again - twice a day at the minute so did it last night too).    Showed bosskat some pictures of PJ on the dreaded facebook:-

Concentrating hard on something (Sunray Texas, 23rd June 2014)

3rd from left - at the World Famous Big Texan Steak Ranch, Amarillo, Texas 22nd June 2014

Oversize load - Sunray, Texas, 23rd June 2014)

Cycle2Work - 10.9mph average (improving slowly - averaged 10.7mph on 19th June and 9.8mph on 17th June so can see slight improvements coming!)

Showered and at desk for 8.45,  marvellous day but forgot to bring the darned bluetooth speaker.  Another funny work day but getting there.  Left the office about 5.15 got to car by 6pm back home for 6.30.  Watched a bit of the cricket - couldn't be bothered to watch poxy England vs Costa Rica and glad I didn't as it looked rubbish.

Had tea then loaded car up to do some more work at the lotty - took a 2' x 2' paving slab and two breeze blocks to secure the gate against the rodent enemy.

This is in case the swines dig down deep to breach my defences

Under the two foot paver is another breeze block - am hoping this will prove sufficient!

The gate is technically the weak link as some 46 year old idiot might forget to shut it - might put a spring on it!

Wednesday 25th June 2014
Up at 5:45, dog walked, papers fetched, into the office as early as I could.  No lunch as was leaving half an hour early.  Why? I won some free concert tickets for the Eagles at Manchester.  So was at me dad's for about 5pm, wonderful bacon and sausage cob, just the ticket then off for the Long Run to Manchester. Lots of lorries, traffic and lights to negotiate so thought I'd Take It Easy rather than Take it to the Limit.  Why? I Can't Tell You Why just that Life in the Fast Lane didn't seem right for me.

Anyway, we got there for 7.10pm and were parked up in the Boddingtons Car Park just across the road from Manchester Arena (address of it for future reference is Great Dulcie Street, M31PU - just £6 - half the price of the NCP which is the nearest one to the Arena and also remember the gate almost opposite the entrance to the Arena).  We were in and seated well before 7:30 although I managed to put us in the wrong block so we had to move to even better seats so not a bad mistaker to maker.  Funny sort of a gig - started off with just Henley and Frey talking about how they started and there were bits where video segments were run on the big screens.   Bernie Leadon was introduce next and joined the band, then Timothy B Schmidt (66 years old he is, my dad says), then Joe Walsh came on.  Then the curtains are raised and there's a full band with an additional five musicians.  Special mention to be made for Steuart Smith, the guitarist who replaced Don Felder (who doesn't get a mention in the entire show - perhaps something to do with a $50m lawsuit he took against Frey and Henley!).   Anyway all the classics were done and a few you'd not heard live before - 21,000 full house so they must be doing something right!  We came out while the third encore was being played and got away pretty well certainly quicker going home than coming to the gig.

Don Henley and Glen Frey - still a bit miffed about Don Felder lawsuit out of court settlement I reckon!

L-R Bernie LEadon, Timothy B Schmidt, Don Henley, Glen Frey, Joe Walsh, Steuart Smith

Pic from my phone gives you an idea of where we were sat - good seats in my view

Big screens were good, overall production was good but a bit of a wierd concert experience. 

Set 1

1.       Saturday Night

2.       Train Leaves Here This Morning

3.       Peaceful Easy Feeling

4.       Witchy Woman

5.       Doolin-Dalton

6.       Tequila Sunrise

7.       Doolin'-Dalton/Desperado (Reprise)

8.       Already Gone

9.       The Best of My Love

10.     Lyin' Eyes

11.     One of These Nights

12.     Take It to the Limit

Set 2

12.     Wasted Time (Reprise)

13.     Pretty Maids All in a Row

14.     I Can't Tell You Why

15.     New Kid in Town

16.     Love Will Keep Us Alive

17.     Heartache Tonight

18.     Those Shoes

19.     In the City (Joe Walsh song)

20.     Life's Been Good (Joe Walsh song)

21.     The Long Run

22.     Funk #49 (James Gang Cover)

23.     Life in the Fast Lane

Encore:

24.     Hotel California

Encore 2:

25.     Take It Easy

26.     Rocky Mountain Way (Joe Walsh song)

27.     Desperado

Thursday 26th June 2014
Up at 5:45, best I could do.  Dog walked, papers fetched into the office for 8.20.  Was hoping to cycle2work today but as didn't get to bed until 1.15am I thought the car will be acceptable in the circumstances.  Finished work and think went down the lotty to do a last bit of tidying.  Dog walked. Bed/

Friday 27th June 2014
Not going to work, going to Wales.  Up early, dog walked.  Pottered a bit in the morning set off for Wales at lunchtime.  Got there for about 4pm.  All good stuff.  Set the popup tent (it's a little bit small but I needed a quick getaway on Sunday morning as wedding anniversary loomed!).  Andrews mate, Marc arrived while I was there.  Campsite wasn't too busy so an ideal time really.  Went and dug some bait on the beach.  Got seriously rained on!  In fairness apart from a small amount of rain in the early hours of Saturday morning that was it.  Few beers, a BBQ, a bit of fishing and that was it.  The usual suspects were the species most caught - el Dogfish.  We also got whiting and plaice but no sign of billy bass.

Saturday 28th June 2014
Up at 5:30 on the beach for 6am recovering Marc's rigs!  Dug some fresh bait.  Then back to base.  Went fishing on Holyhead Breakwater.  Managed a dogfish to avoid the blank.  Andrew had a couple of dogfish and a whiting. Apparently the bait to use (according to two lads from Liverpool) is squid.  They had a smoothhound on it so could be some truth in it.  Also think we know where the best spot is on the breakwater now (of course we weren't actually on it - but we were within 100 yards of it!!!).  Back to base. Big BBQ, down to the beach for more bait.  I got stuff packed away ready for the quick getaway.   Down on the beach for a last fishing session - Andrew got dogfish and a little plaice. I got dogfish and a whiting.  Marc got a dogfish (at last!).  I packed up after four casts as we hadn't got much bait and I wanted an early night anyway.  So took rig off, packed the rod away and got it in the car.  In bed for midnight.

Sunday 29th June 2014
Wedding Anniversary! Woke up at 4.20am, packed the sleeping bag away while I lay on me back. Let the airbed down and folded that up.  Put all the bedding in the car.  Half folded the pop-up tent away and wedged it behind the drivers seat!   Set off for home at 4:50!  Magic.  Nothing on the roads, sun just coming up, tide out as went over Brittania Bridge - you can't ask for more. Got home in just over three hours with a stop for Breakfast at Congleton McDonalds.  What is wierd about the trip is that I've no memory of going past the services at Holywell that I'd intended to stop at - very odd.  Anyway back home for a bit after eight so the missus was well-pleased with that.  Off to Alstone Field Car Boot - bought five biggish plant pot things for a quid.  Bosskat bought a few bits and then we went to visit Paula and Darren at Beresford Dale which was nice.  Back home, no time for a kip, off to the Ketch for lunch.  All good stuff.   Back home. Dog walked. Down the lotty. A bit of weeding, watering and got another mini-row of Beetroots in as per missus requests.   Also aired the tent and sleeping bag to make sure no damp issues.  

Monday 16th June 2014 to Sunday 22nd June 2014

Monday 16th June 2014
Up early.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Lucy breakfasted off to work and still in by 8:30 All good stuff.  Decent day at work, all things considered.  Home, tea, dog walk down the lotty.  First bit of good news is that the damned rodents haven't had everything yet - think there's some broccoli survived.

Anyway the business of the day was getting the fence in.  Been thinking about the tricky top bit of the plot. Decided I might well go round it anyway.

Pulled the gooseberry bush back to allow fence to go right up to corner

Bottom four stakes in - nice and evenly spaced - wish this nearest one was a bit straighter but it is very solid!

Tuesday 17th June 2014
Up at 5:45.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Car loaded up. Biked in from Belper.  Ace fun into a head wind all the way!  In office by 8:30 all good stuff. Cycled back then home for 6.30 much better going back but still a windy old day.  Had tea, then dog walked a mile round the big meadow.  Down the lotty for a couple of hour, going a bit dark before I got off hence the cruddy photo below! Episode of Thrones before bedtime and in bed for about 11:30 - getting later!

Wednesday 18th June 2014
Up at 5.45.  Dog walked early as bosskat going up to Paddy's again.  Breakfasted Lucy and then into work for 8.30.  All good stuff.  Back home on time.  Tea.  Dog walked. Lotty - didn't get lots done but at least have worked out how the bit near the shed is going to work.

Got back home, found out my best sweepstake team Spain was out of the World Cup.  Watched an episode of Thrones.  Bed quite late.

Thursday 19th June 2014
Up dead early. Took dog walk at 5:30.  Cycle2Work day, at office for 8am.  All good stuff.  CycledBack.  Quick walk with the dog (mile and a bit) but some running to get back for kick-off of Uruguay vs England, wished I'd not bothered.   Very poor performance.   Watched the last Thrones episode we have on SkyPlus - waiting for a boxed set to arrive now!!

Friday 20th June 2014
Up at 5:55 - very late.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Everything watered.  Can't find poxy wallet.  Work for 8.35 latest I've been for ages. Back home for 6.15 after a quick stop off at Aldi on way home.  Decided not to do any

Saturday 21st June 2014
Up early dog walked.  Papers fetched.  Tried to help a bloke sort his transit out with a bump start - not to be though.  Down to lotty for 8am, nephew Ben turned up before 9am and we'd got the fence hung by 10am.  Brilliant.  Did a fair bit of work on filling in and left about 11am.   Got back to find had won two tickets for the Eagles at Manchester from Planet Rock!

 Fetched brekko for everyone from Piccy B.  Golf at 12.36 played okay but golf course is a right old state.  Three pars and two birdies and five lost balls - feel an email to golf club coming on.

 Watched the last two episodes of Thrones before bedtime.

Sunday 22nd June 2014
Up early.  Dog walked.  Down to the lotty.  Kept on filling in.  Put some slabs and stuff down.  All good stuff. In afternoon we went a walk down by the river at Ellastone - should have done this before now - we could let the little dog run free (with lead attached just in case) so she loved it.  We didn't go far but dog was red hot.   On to Uttoxeter to get some bbq fuel.  Barbecue tea .

Little dog pounding along

Bridge at Ellastone - cracking spot for fishing I bet

Back down the lotty later to plant some runner beans and some cauliflowers (not many to see whether the new fencing will keep the rodents from having em.

Monday 9th June 2014 to Sunday 15th June 2014

Monday 9th June 2014
Up at 5:40.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Missus up at Paddy's so sorted Lucy out before going to work. Back home for 6.15 after a busy day, quick tea then walking the dog at 6.36!   Took her along the meadow - big mistake - muddy as hell - spent 10 minutes when got home wiping the mud off her belly!   After sorting dog out it was down to the lotty to find some bas***d pest has had me cauliflowers.  Luckily I have a few reserve caulis which when I've got some regular netting will go in where the decimated ones are.   Anyway - got a row of actual cabbages in rather than brocolli pretending to be cabbages - I've left a cabbage in as had run out of brocolli. Anyway, all good stuff I suppose.  I also started taking my home made cloche to bits as it's done diddly squat since Winter.  Bed late as was doing Lucy's maths homework with her til damn near 11 o'clock.  Daft mare.

Tuesday 10th June 2014
Up early.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Breakfast, off to work early.  Back from work for 6.15, very good.  Quick tea.  Dog walked by 7.40.  Quick 6 holes up on the golf course and a further 2 miles walked!

Back before 9pm.  Another episode of Game of Thrones - there be dragons!

Wednesday 11th June 2014
Dragged myself out of bed at 6am.  Dog walked, dropped some shoes off at the shoe recycling in Sainsbury's car park.  Good, good they're out of the way.   Papers fetched into work for 8.30. All good stuff.  Went to group - another lb off.  All good!  Back home. Tea. Dog walked the long loop - no mud all on tarmac!   Mowed lawns.  Episode of Thrones, off to bed.

Thursday 12th June 2014
Jimmy's funeral today so everything getting done early.  Dog walked at 5:30.

Nice to see we are generating leccy first thing in the morning and all the other houses are just absorbing the light!

Showered and shaved and way to work before 6:30.   In office for not much after 7am including stopping to take a picture of Alport Height on the horizon - ran up there on the Belper Rugby Rover a couple of times in August!  Must have been mad but I'll sort of miss that now the knee has to be minded.

Alport Height in distance - loads of aerial masts up there and stuff - cracking views, Grommit.

Left work at noon to get to Jimmy's funeral.  Was a pall bearer for the first time.  Very sad but nice for Janette to see family she hadn't seen for twenty odd years.  Home for about 6pm,dog walked, then bit of tea.  Down to lotty to find some scumbag rodent has had everything on me plot. Fence desperately needed.

Friday 13th June 2014
Up at just gone 6!  Getting later.  Dog walked, papers fetched in office for 8am.  Off on my travels this morning.  An interesting day to say the least.  Back home for 6.45. Lucy's Aztecs presentation at 8.15 at QEGS.  Stayed up til her bit and then sneaked off and walked home - a good two miler.   Bloomin Spain got hammered by Holland 5-1 - for once I manage to get a half decent team in the office sweepstake and they start off with a 5-1 defeat.  Pah

Sent this picture to Phil as he'll have forgotten what trees / hedges etc. look like

Saturday 14th June 2014
Up early.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Went up to Hangar 4 to get a load of fence stakes and some breeze blocks to put a water butt on.   Dougs 65th birthday lunch so no golf.  Back home for about 6pm.  Dog walked, chippie tea - quality!   Went bed early but got up at 11pm to watch England's unfortunate defeat.  Bed for 1am.

Sunday 15th June 2014
Up at gone 7am.  Janette took dog for walk !!   Ace.  Down the lotty to start on digging trench for the fence.  Back home for 11am for brunch.  At the ketch for father's day late lunch at 2:30, didn't get a table until gone 3pm but there you go.  Back home Skyped Phil at about 5pm.  More dog walking then down the lotty to finish digging the trench.  All done pretty much.  Couple of episodes of Thrones before bed time.

Trench going in!

15/11

Monday 2nd June 2014 to Sunday 8th June 2014

Monday 2nd June 2014
Up at 5:50 after ignoring phone twice.  Dog walked. Papers fetched.  Showered, shaved and off to work by 7.20am   Stopped at Tescos along the way and still in the office for 8.30!  Did a few jobs after work supporting the sweet peas and what have you and took pooch for a walk but not much else to report.

Tuesday 3rd June 2014
Up at 5:54, getting later.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Showered, shaved etc. etc.  In to work for 8.30 after geting some petrol on the way.  All good stuff.  Crazy golf tonight in Nottingham - need to be playing some proper golf really.  Crazy golf better than expected - back home for 9.15pm.  Dog walked. Telly. Bed

Wednesday 4th June 2014
Sobriety kicking in again from today.  That's all I'm saying.   Up art 6am.  Dog walked. Papers fetched. Into the office for 8.20.  Stressful day.  Lots of stuff pending decisions.  Sorted by 5pm.  At group for 5.45, lost 2lbs which is bizarre considering holiday and alcohol etc.   Pleased with that.   Dog walked at night. Watched Game of Thrones episode 1 eventually on Sky Box sets - broadband playing up for some reason.

Thursday 5th June 2014
Up at 5:55 although woke up much earlier.  Think I slept better with no alcohol on board! Dog walked, papers fetched.  Raining again - June has started off really poorly in my view - solar power is still well down from where it was.    Not too bad a day at work.  Pad's care was involved in a road traffic incident so had to get away at 5.10.  Got home, made Lucy and me some tea.  Bosskat came back so took dog on a whopper of a walk (for a short-legged dog) of about 3 miles over to Snelston and then back through Snelston Park - a bit wet and muddy in places still but a grand night for it.

Friday 6th June 2014
Not much to report. Up early. Dog walked, papers fetched.  Lots of work. Home tea, dog walked.  Down the lotty to mow and put a row of caulis in. Watched a couple more episodes of Game of Thrones.  Very good so t'is.

Saturday 7th June 2014
Up early.  Dog  walked, papers fetched.  Back home did a few jobs.  Golf called off as it's chucking it down with rain.  Put some more of Phil's stuff up in the attic, put a load of my stuff up in the attic!  Fish and chippie tea!  More Game of Thrones - Lucy has recorded most of the boxed set (up to series 2 episode 8 anyway!.

Sunday 8th June 2014
Up at 7:30 took Doggo a big walk on Saturday night to try and tire her out but it didn't quite work out as planned with one thing and another.  Down the lotty most of the day then over to me mum and dad's for tea.  All good stuff.  Watched another Game of Thrones - they've only gone and executed Ned Stark!  I hope that jumped-up little bleeder gets what's coming to him.  Took dog out about 9:30pm and walked down to the bridge near the terraces and back.  Bed.  Alarm going off up the hill so I rang police as a good citizen should do!
 


15/12!

Monday 26th May 2014 to Saturday 1st June 2014

Monday 26th May 2014

Bosskat up first, didn't get up til almost seven!  Took dog a bit of a walk to see if had any new emails.  Hadn't so came back to get a file ready to send in. Went to MacDs to send the file off then to Morrisons then to pound shop then back to base.  A little liquid refreshment in the afternoon and then a low tide session.  The only session we didn’t catch a fish and the first session that Vic came along with us!  Never mind.  As the sea was very calm we got the yaks down in the afternoon.  I just used feathers and had two coalfish on the second drop, five whiting and a small cod in about an hour or so.  

Best spot was in line with the big diagonal cut in the cliffs.  Must remember that.   Night time we did the café beach –high tide was about 10am so just getting dark.  I was in first with my first bass of the year – only a pound or so but they’re a proper fighting fish even at that size. We then proceeded to catch dogfish after dogfish mixed up with just a single pout – but most casts resulted in at least a bite if not a fish on the beach.

Tuesday 27^th May 2014.

Up at 6.45 took wee dog out.   Big breakfast.  Our Andrew and his missus returned to Derbyshire.  Out and about in daytime - visited Lidl, Macadees and TJs in that order.  Returned to base and despite ramp being concreted and access to the beach being somewhat tricky we still went out on the kayaks.  No fish to report as was keeping tabs on Lucy who took the big drifter out while I was on the prowler big game.  All good stuff.  Dug some worms at low tide ready for night fishing and a potential new mark tomorrow Ty Croes (have done a reccy on it last year).   Had a night session on the main beach - three or four dogfish and a whiting for me, a whiting for Vic and a dogfish for Darren.   Bed about midnight or possibly later.

Little dog making it known she's not a sea-going pooch!

Holidays are very tiring for pooches!

Wednesday 28th May 2014

Up at 6.30.  Out with the dog.  Toasted tea cakes for breakfast.  Much pottering.  Went with Vic and Darren to fish Ty Croes which is near the Anglesey Motorsport Race Track not far from Rhosneigr.  After a bitof a dodgy climb down it was fish after fish. Mainly whiting and flatties but mixed in were a single codling (caught by me on lugworm), a mackerel (caught by me on feathers) and two pollack (also caught by me on feathers).  I packed up a bit early and watched Vic and Darren as got a bit bored with it to be honest.  Coolest thing caught was two spider crabs by Darren on one cast althoug Vic had a couple on and lost them at the edge, such is life.  It's a very good venue and where we fished seemed to be onto a sandy bottom so none of us lost any tackle although I recovered two 6 oz weighs on one cast so was in credit for tackle!

We got home about 10:30ish so a long day (we set off about 4pm).

Darren and his spider crab collection

Vic waiting the obligatory thirty seconds before another bite.

Thursday 29th May 2014

Up early - don't know when but reckon about 6:30.  Took wee dog a walk.  Home, brekko and then off to Llangefni to look at market ad shops - was okily dokey.   Back home about 1:30. Dinner then went to do a reccy on sea state with Lucy - looks ok to me I think.   Paula didn’t want to go out on yaks so just me and Darren went out – no fish found.  Fished the little beach at night – couple of dogfish caught.

Friday 30^th May 2014

What a day – glorious sunshine all day.  Out in the yaks – Lucy had a blast with Paula, me and Darren trawled the bay but found nowt.  Lovely and calm again though and went to a gathering for Linda’s 60^th in the evening.  Bit of a fish on the main beach to finish off – dogfish and whiting no further sighting of the Bass.  Shame.

Saturday 31^st May 2014

Up early.  Dog walked.  Car loaded.  On way home by about 10am after saying goodbyes.  Back home for 2pm with a couple of stops along the way for the dog. Started nodding off on the A50 towards Uttoxeter so swapped and let missus drive for a bit.  Back home.  Plants all waterlogged so sorted them out first thing.  Mowed lawns front and back.  Washed car as it had been bombing practice for various birds at Wales.

Wetsuits, pfds and yak seats washed in freshwater and hung out to dry.  Rods and reels given similar treatment to remove saltwater.  Another couple of walks, chippy tea – all good stuff.

Sunday 1^st June 2014

Another glorious day.  Up at 7am as dog was whining.  Walked her.  Put a load of resin on the water butt tap installation I did and that seems to work okay.  Hoping that it will be able to run a mini irrigation system using a soaker pipe - we'll see.  Got the meter square up and running with lettuces transplanted, radishes and beetroot gone in.  

Water butt all resin'ed up

Meter square on the go with lettuces at various states of development 

Took missus and Lucy to Ketch for Sunday lunch.  Down to the allotment when got back – weeded and got a row of purple broccoli in.  Skyped Phil at 6pm.   Back down lotty to finish a couple of bits off – need to remember to take some petrol next time to do a good mow!

Monday 19th May 2014 to Sunday 25th May 2014

Monday 19th May 2014
Up at the crack of 5:40.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Everything watered. Work for 8.20am.  Good day in the office.  Back home for 6.30.   Tea then wee dog walked again.  Some potting up of stuff (sweet corn and some broccoli).  Then down to the lotty for about 8.15.  Did a load of weeding, then took some soil out of the raised bed and used it to earth up the second row of spuds.  Finished off with a bit of watering then off home about 9.30 just at it's starting to get dark.  Phil has passed his CDL so all is looking good in Texas - Phil is loving it too.

Tuesday 20th May 2014
Up at 5.30.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Back home well early, shaved and got prepped to put a couple of tomato plants into bigger pots.  Put one (Gardener's Delight) in the little greenhouse thing and put the other (Alicante) outside it for the time being.  I need to clear the other side of the little greenhouse so two more can go in - although it might end up being just two in there - will see what it looks like for space.  Into the office for 8.40.  Gardening takes far longer than you think it will. Good day.  Home for 6.30. Phone call from Google Adwords for 45 minutes.  Then took dog walk.  Then put two more tomatoes in the mini-greenhouse outside after first emptying all the stuff out of it.  Have now got a cunning plan for the lotty re tomatoes.  Am going to use the green framing you get on mini-greenhouses to make a simple frame for the tomato plants to go in.  I can also easily put netting around the frame and it will provide support for the tomato plants within.  Texted Phil a bit before bedtime but by crikey time is absolutely flying at the moment, absolutely flying.

Wednesday 21st May 2014
Up at 5:40 after ignoring alarm at 5:30!   Dog walked, papers fetched, everything watered off to work and in for 8:30.  Loads to do. Time flying and Dentist at 4.20. Got through the dentist.  Home for about 5.15  Did some bits and bobs - planted the sweet peas in the garden.  Took Lily a walk round the meadow.

Down to lotty later on to get beans in - less to water at home being my goal! Late home but getting rid of plants at a good rate.

Thursday 22nd May 2014
Got up at 5:30, chucking it down with rain, back to bed up at 5:59!.  Still chucking it down.  Took dog up town - she was not impressed  so not much of a walk and no papers got.  Watered the indoor stuff and then off to work.

Friday 23rd May 2014
Up early. Dog walked. Work work work. Back home - still sorting plants out.  Left some stuff down at the Allotments for folks.  Got lots of stuff ready for going to Church Bay the following day.

Saturday 24th May 2014

Up at the crack of dawn. Not raining, good!   Dog walked, papers fetched.  Tomato plants in bigger pots.  Everything in trays outside for easier watering. Car loaded off to Wales at about 9.15, with bank holiday traffic and lane closures we got there for 2.20  over five hours for what normally is three and a half hours.  Had arranged broadband to Sky Go watch the Derby match and wish I hadn't as Derby all over QPR for 88 minutes managed to snatch a defeat from the jaws of victory when Bobby Zamora scored for ten men QPR at the death when it looked like going to extra time.   So drowned sorrows.  Had a kip.  Took dog walk on beach. Went to bed.

Sunday 25th May 2014

Up at 5am!  Took dog a walk.  Did a bit of work. With Vic's help got the kayaks out of storage, padlock had utterly seized up - sea air done for it I guess.  Anyway, kayaks all sorted and had a bit of a paddle, beautiful sunny day can't complain about Welsh Weather today. 

Skyped Phil in the afternoon. Ended up fishing Holyhead Breakwater until 11:30pm - an almost endless procession of whiting with a single pouting - not the most exciting of fishing it has to be said.  Never mind. 

Monday 12th May 2014 to Saturday 20th May 2014

Monday 12th May 2014
Up early.  dog walked, papers fetched.  Plants watered into the office for 8.30.  Lots of work.  So busy. Back home for about 6pm.  Tea. Dog walked.  Pottered about with a lot plants.  Put some french beans in the propogator. Potted a load of normal broccoli.  All going well I hope but conscious I need to get that damn fence done at the lotty.  Watched QPR v Wigan to see who Derby would be facing.  I thought QPR did look the better team but I'd rather we were facing Wigan!   Never Derby should be able to beat QPR but it could be a "who's more up for it on the day" sort of a  game, which would be a worry!  Never mind, off to bed fairly early.

Tuesday 13th May 2014
Woke at 4:30am but didn't get up until 5:50am.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Beautiful morning - no rain!

Plants watered. Ready for work and off.  Lots of good stuff got done including a solid three hour investigation and report on IP and FB. Got home for a bit after 6pm - got a bit of a rocket from the missus because she'd not got my texts to say Phil had passed his CDL theory tests and someone else knew before she did on the old facebook.  Lovely.  Anyway, after tea took Lily for a big walk up to Mount Pleasant Farm.  When got back bosskat still not impressed so strimmed all the grass with the battery powered grass trimmer thing - it's not ultra powerful but I reckon it will get the job done if you give it a bit of extra time.  Will be mowing tomorrow.

Wednesday 14th May 2014
Woke up at 4am, stayed in bed til 5:50.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Into the office for 8am. Good day in the office finished a big report off, lots of brand protection work done.  Group after work - all in a rush didn't go to loo, didn't take watch off, wearing jeans, half a damn pound on.  Not happy at all about that.  Arse into gear time, now.   Got home, Tea, Dog walked.  Lawns mowed.  The system of strim one night, mow the following night worked fine.   Even did the back lawn in the time allowed.

Thursday 15th May 2014
Up at 5:50. Dog walked. Ready for work, into the office for 8am.  Not a bad sort of day but went wrong towards the end.  Anyway, it will get resolved.  Home for 6.30 after picking up a laptop on the way home.  Took Lily a big walk - we nearly got ambushed by a dog called Hollie but the beauty of having a dog that is Lily-sized is that you can just pick her up out of harm's way.  It snapped at Lily though so once nearly-bitten, twice shy.   If I see it again off it's lead I'll be having stern words with the owner.

What can be better after work than a walk in the countryside?

Did some stuff for Lucy with memory sticks and what have you.  Called her outside as the trampoline seemed to be haunted with whopping great beetles - even the Lily dog was barking at 'em (it don't take much to set her off).

Friday 16th May 2014
New tactic, got up at 5.40.  Took dog, got papers.   Saw a beetle on the pavement up town - I'll bet a pound to a penny it was one of these that were in our trampoline last night!

Being an expert on beetles I can tell you that this either a summer chafer or more likelya cock chafer (ouch, I don't make the names up - that's what they be called). 

Got bike into car and rode into work. All good - seemed to take a long time this morning at 54m 24s but had to stop at pretty much every set of lights apart from a temporary set at Pentrich.  Anyway it was good to get cracking again need to be doing this three times a week, really.

Saturday 17th May 2014
Up at the crack.  Dog walked. Papers fetched.  Bit of weeding in the Allotment then off to Elvaston Park for Lucy's football.  All good stuff 1-1 draw and everyone's happy.  Off to Costco to pick up a load of photos.  Back home - chippy tea and FA cup then a load of work weeding at the lotty - this next week everything needs to be going in!

Sunday 18th May 2014
Up early.  Dog walked more work down the lotty.  Got row of peas in and got more weeding done, got mowed and strimmed on the solar power charged strimmer - all good stuff.   Plans for the lotty are popping into my head as we go - it will be interesting to see how it all pans out. Over to mum and dad's in the afternoon for tea and a skype conversation with wee Phil in Texas.  He was designated driver on Saturday night but still didn't get to bed until 2am.  Hopefully he'll be in bed in good time tonight as he's got his CDL practical tomorrow.  Me and Lucy cycled to the lotty to do some watering and get the wooden thing sorted out.


16/0 damn.

Monday 5th May 2014 to Sunday 12th May 2014

Monday 5th May 2014
Up early.  Dog walked. papers fetched. Garden stuff done.  Phil money issues hopefully resolved.  Work before 9am after having to turn round and go back to fetch PJ paperwork.  New desk but getting used to it.  Lots done.  Home for just gone six.  Found a mega new walk with the little dog - been somewhere not been before but Endomondo paused and so have lost a chunk of it.   Phil had a snake in his workshop in Texas - non-venomous bull snake but interesting none-the-less.   Got WhatsApp working on Janette's phone so she can do cheapo texts to Phil as well now.  Then bed.

Tuesday 6th may 2014
Up early. Dog walked. Papers Fetched.  Shower,  shave etc.etc.  Garden stuff done.  Moved some peas out of the heated propogator and put some runner beans in!  Work before 8:30.    New walk up to Marjorie Bower Tumulus - a tumulus is a mound over graves apparently.

Wednesday 7th May 2015
Up early. Dog walked. Papers Fetched.  Into work earlier.  Big meeting with a supplier took all morning. Plenty done though.  Back home.  Tea.  Dog walked up to Marjory Bower Tumulus and round - 1.5 miles good fun.

Went to group - 2.5lbs on so 4.5lbs in total on since marathon with a load of booze and next to no proper exercise - time to stop the slippery slope though.

Thursday 8th May 2014
Dog walked, papers fetched.  Into the office for 8:30 all good so far. A day of continued moving and a lot of searching of Northern Ireland.  Home for 6pm.  Tea, then off to Costco to pick up some pictures bit of a fail but hey-ho something went wrong with the order.  Got some bits and bobs besides.  Gto home just before 8pm,  Derby County already playing the first play-off semi final and I had to take the wee dog a walk - before I got to the Clifton Shrovetide Goal we were already 1-0 with Brighton starting much more positively, by time I was halfway across the meadow we'd got it back to a draw and by the time I was home it was 2-1 to Derby and half-time.  Marvellous.  Few texts and stuff to Phil then bed about 10:30

Friday 9th May 2014
Woke up at 5am but didn't get out of bed until 5:30.  Dog walked, papers fetched into the office by 8:20.  Lots to do today and not enough hours.  It got done.  Back home for 7pm all ghood stuff

Saturday 10th May 2014
Up early.  Dog walked.  A bit wet first thing but can't be helped.  Got family's breakfast from piccy B.  Janette and Lucy went off to football, I got golf.   Played golf in sporadic shower but such is life, 13 holes but took the money and that's important - lot of three putting.  But there you go.

The wally with (Phil's) Brolly!

Got Skysports upgraded so can watch the second play-off final - the choices were to pay £32 for a seat in a corner at Pride Park or upgrade Sky as it was it cost £11 a month for three months (half price) and I got our regular package price knocked down from £32 to £25 a month - so all good!

Sunday 11th May 2014
Up at the crack of dawn.  Dog walked - very showery again.  Did some work on Phil's bedroom - we vacuum bagged a load of clothes, cuddly toys, his PC, his printer etc so it could go up into the attic out the way.  Still a lot to do but we'll get there, no doubt!  Lunch at the Ketch with me mum and dad - all went well.  Skyped Phil in the afternoon.


15/13.5

Monday 28th August 2014 to Sunday 4th May 2014

Monday 28th August 2014
Up at 4.45, Phil got up at 5.15 - I'd been waking up all night in the excellent £36 Travelodge family room we had at Heston West-bound Services.  It did a job and it did us proud really.  It was about 10 minutes to short term  parking in Terminal Three.  It was a good decision and money well spent as the M25 on Monday morning was the usual car park - it wasn't brilliant on the Sunday night but at least it was moving.

We were at baggage drop-off for 6.25 and he was with the rest of the Haynes Harvesting Crew, as thick as thieves for 6.40 in Costa Coffee, "see you dad!", services no longer required.

Phil Outside Costa at Heathrow - in the background a dozen folks on the Haynes 2014 Harvesting Crew

 So that was that, shake of hands, look after yourself, be careful, and then am back in the car park.  A crash on M1 near junction ten so stopped for a bacon cob and coffee at Toddington Services but still back home for 10:30.  Took pooch a decent walk through the meadow.  Check Phil's flight got off okay - he's on his way!

About ten hours later he got there!

Meanwhile, played some horrendous golf with Doug in the afternoon but it was nice to be out and so damned relaxing I wasn't bothered about the rubbish golf.   Got home and mowed the lawns - no Phil to get the mower started but still managed to get it done - his words of air freshener wisdom set me in good stead!!

Bit of tea but little dog started creating so we did the meadow walk again.  All good stuff.

Tuesday 29th April 2014
Up at 6am (bit of a lie-in but was knackered from the Heathrow road trip and everything).  Took Lily up town for a walk and to get papers.  Breakfast,shave and shower and in to the office for 8:20.  All good stuff.

Left work bang on time as the plan was to skype call Phil before 6:30.  Didn't quite pan out as planned as he didn't answer his phone but not to worry we got him in the end.  Skyping a mobile overseas is quite cheap - it cost 12p for 4 minutes I think on the credit plan, there is a contract option as well but I thought we'll see how much we use first.  Anyway, we can get hold of him.  He's got wifi out there as well but it sounds like it's a bit hit and miss in the bunk house.

Wednesday 30th April 2014
Up early. Walked - loads of work.   Dog walks etc.

Thursday 1st May 2014
Same as previous!

Friday 2nd May 2014
Up early.  Dog walked papers fetched.  Loads and loads of work.  Packed up me stuff as am moving desks at work.   Coming down with a cold.

Saturday 3rd May 2014
Up early.  Dog walked.  Loads of stuff tidied up and put in attic.  Golf at lunchtime.  Took  the money with a lot of luck   Mind you, how out of the middle was this shot:-

Pitching wedge - proper middled.

Jemima Puddleduck with family near the 12th. 

Lots of gardenny type stuff.  All good. 

Sunday 4th May 2014

Up at... wait for it... 8:30!  Took some Tesco Flu tablets last night and slept through until well gone 8am!!!  Awesome.  Dog didn't really want to walk but she did her business which is all good.  Had a bit of brekky and then walked to the lotty to get weeding.  Back home at lunch time. Dog walk up to Sprinkshill and back beautiful bluebells all over the place. 

Lily dog in Sprinkshill Wood

Tea and then back to lotty to mow grass.  Put the Owl out to try and scare some of the pesky rabbits and pigeons away.   We'll have to see how successful it is. 

The owl of doom has been deployed....

After the final session at the lotty there was time for one last walk with the houndy along the meadow.   Saw a kingfisher for the second time in three or four days - flying past like lightning but unmistakeably a kingfisher.

More bluebells by the river...

Easter Monday 21st April 2014 to Sunday 27th April 2014

Monday 21st April 2014

After an epic fail yesterday we went to Currys/PC World in Burton and got Phil's laptop.  Had a play with Skype - it was okay.  Should be okay for when he's goes Stateside next week.  Not much else to report got some work done down the allotment.   Went for a few nice walks with the wee hound.  All good stuff. 

Tuesday 22nd April 2014

Back in the office, only one day off for Easter as am using one of the days next week when I take Phil down to Heathrow for him going to Texas.  Cripes, only seems five minutes ago I was pushing him round in the big pram, where did the time go.    Anyway got lots done and made a record of it for analyis purpoes!!!

The usual dogwalks and paper fetching also happened - just a bit of a hole where the running once was.  Need to get cycling, golfing or something to fill it!

Wednesday 23rd April 2014

Up at 6.10 - couldn't get going.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Greenhouse and coldframe opened to avoid further scorching.   Got into the office for 8.20.   A bit of a cockup - I skipped group last week and didn;t book a holiday so it cost me £4.95 in back fee - a bloomin schoolboy error!  Anyway, was pleased at only having put on 2lbs which after all the whisky I've had is a top result!

Thursday 24th April 2014
Up at 5:50.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  All sorts of small jobs done.  Suited and booted - off to Kirkby-in-Ashfield to do a support job.  Then up to Chesterfield for funeral of Matlock RUFC legend John Siddall who was the dad of my best mate at school; Gaz Siddall and his brother Rob Siddall - both Matlock Rugby Club veterans, now.  Very sad but a massive turnout and loads of folks not seen in years there.  Got back into the office for 12.30 - loads of work waiting for me.  Such is life.

Friday 25th April 2014
Up early.  Dog walked, papers fetched, crap weather again.  Not getting much solar generated.  Off to work nice and early.  Loads done. Busy few days.  Home earlyish waited for rain to slow down a bit and took Lily out again.  No running for a fortnight and not really much cycling to speak of - need to get back in gear!

Saturday 26th April 2014
Up early, papers fetched, dog walked. Off to Uttoxeter to get Phil a memory card for a camera to take with him to US.  Got piccy B on way back.  Bus station at 12.20, Derby by 1.20 in the Alexandria with a pint by 1.30!!  All good stuff, another in there then off to the Ipro Pride Park DCFC stadium to watch them beat Watford 4-2 - really good football too.  most impressive.

Impressive ride near the Assembly Rooms. 

Pint at halftime and a burger, then at full time we walked back to Derby for a few more at the standing order with Jason's mate Stewart.  Missed the 7.30 bus so missus came and fetched me bless her!

Sunday 27th April 2014
Up early, dog walked.  Did some gardening jobs.  Various folks visited, last day in Derbyshire for Phil for seven months you see.   Then 3.30 ish we set off for Travelodge at Heston M4 services.  Tea at burger king - cost a fortune but I enjoyed it.  Then watched "For the love of cars" - will see if I can get them all recorded for when he gets back. Early to bed but neither of us slept well!  Never mind.

15/11