Monday 17th August 2015 to Sunday 23rd August 2015

Monday 17th August 2015
Back to work to do a bit of catching up, same with Tuesday 18th August 2015.

Wednesday 18th August 2015
Recommencing the holiday - took missus to Uttoxeter, came back 2pm and it started to rain so allotment work put off.

Thursday 19th August 2015
Up early dog walked etc.  Down lotty got lots and lots harvested.   Mowed round both plots. Did a bit of weeding.  Plenty more to do.  Looks like plot 5 has gone to seed wonder if he's giving it up?  Went a walk and got a tub of early blackberries need to get out again as it looks like being another good year for them.

Friday 20th August 2015

Up early.  Dog walked three times. off to London.  Pics to follow but visited (in order) Buckingham Palace and saw brass band, guards and all sorts going on, Trafalgar Square (don't know why we've not been there properly before, Leicester Square for a big dinner, Covent Garden, Oxford Street, Tower Bridge then back to Euston.  It was expensive in parts but we drove to Lichfield Trent Valley and took London Midland service into London with a day travelcard for London Transport and the cost was £80 for 4 on a family travelcard and you only have a ticket each to carry - thought that was damn good value!  Got home just as Birmingham vs Derby game was winding up - four draws for Derby so far is not looking too good.

At Buckinghbam Palace (with twenty thousand others)

Trafalgar Square

Coldstream Guards whizzing down the Mall

Three posers at Nelson's Column

Leicester Square

My feet on the glass walkway above Tower Bridge (have run over that bridge three times, did you know!)

View from London Bridge - if you wondered why there's a crane shortage, look no further!

Saturday 22nd August 2014
Up early.  Dog walked. Did a little bit at the lotty. Golf at lunch time - only played 14 holes as group in front very slow and wouldn't let us through so went up 13 instead of playing 9th.  Karma got them though as it absoluetly hammered it down with rain when on way back home.  Serves em right. Chippy Tea.

Sunday 23rd August 2014
Up early.  Dog walked.   Down lottie - got some runner beans and some french beans, a celeriac (no idea of spelling) and some spuds (just one plant resulted in the haul below!), did a bit of weeding and then back home for 9:30.

Took pooch for her 6 week grooming and did a bit of shopping in Belper.  Coffee and a bacon buttie at morrisons very nice indeed.   Problem is that you can barely see difference now we keep her in good nick but you can feel the difference.

Before

After

Got a load of bargains in Morrisons and B+M all good stuff!  Down lottie

Saturday 8th August 2015 to Sunday 23rd August 2015

Saturday 8th August 2015 - Saturday 16th August 2015
We're all going on a Summer Holiday.  Anglesey again, five and a half hour trip again (but got there).  Didn't go fishing first couple of nights went with our Andrew to a couple of marks but nothing being caught apart from odd dogfish.  At Llam Carw we saw porpoises.  Fishing was very indifferent although Phil caught "one sea-bass and one dogfish, doo dar, doo dar" after arriving about half an hour earlier on the Tuesdsay.  Got out on the kayaks when sea was calmer although still didn't catch nowt on them beggars.

First day on the beach - moody with the tide rushing in

Lily enjoying a bit of freedom on the beach

Lily on the beach

Point Lynas in the Distance

Think that 200 yards out you might be able to make out a porpoise

The bit of white top right-centre and black shadow next to it is a Porpoise no less

Wee Phil with the Skerries Lighthouse in the background

Wednesday 12th August 2015
Went to Anglesey Show - good fun as always.  Out in yaks at night

Friday 14th August 2015
Last day.  We visited Cemaes and then went to Amlwch for top fish and chips and a walk round both. Fished the beach at night - nothing doing.

Saturday 15th August 2015
Back to Ashbourne - damn sight quicker than coming!

Pleased with these sunflowers - will have to keep some seeds

Down lotty harvesting. All good stuff.

Plot 7 - runner beans in flower

Got a tub in the greenhouse for Xmas new potatotoes we bought from the legendary Stermat!  Soon as some tomatoes is finished there will be another one going in.

Sunday 16th August 2015
Allotment in morning over to me mum and dad's in afternoon for me dad's birthday.  Very nice too!

Monday 3rd August 2014 to Sunday 9th August 2014

Monday 3rd August 2014 
Went to bed really early last night so woke at 4am but stopped in bed until 5:30.  Dog walked, papers fetched then into the office at 8am as usual.  All good stuff.  Watched a marathon session of True Detective Series 2 - just the finale to come now.  Excellent TV

Tuesday 4th August 2014
Up dead early.  Dog walked papers fetched.  Tons on at work.

Wednesday 5th August 2014
Overlaid, didn't get up til almost 6am.  Rapid dog walk and papers fetched.  Work.  Group after, pound back on - get what you deserve.  Home, tea.  Changing things round in the greenhouse.  Got some more tidying to do.   Swapped water butts over.  Taking the one out the greenhouse down to the lotty to go on number 7s shed seeing as how Citizen Siddall don't want to finish the job off.  Bed at 11pm way too late.

Thursday 6th August 2014
Up at 5:30.  Dog walked, papers fetched, into work before 8am all good stuff.  Back home for 6.15pm.  Tea. Dog walk.  Down lotty to get a ton of raspbobs and stuff.   Getting things tidied up.   Watched cricket when got back - amazing stuff skittling Aussies out for just 60 then putting on a 200 run lead for four wickets.   Also got a new golf standbag that has a bit of rub on the back pocket but the chap let me have it for £14 - well pleased.

Friday 7th August 2015
Up at 5.30, dog walked, paper fetched, brekko, office for 8am.  Got Fantasy Football team sorted for in-house league.   Half the players I don't know but never mind I have every confidence of winning the league!

Monday 27th July 2015 to Sunday 2nd August 2015

Monday 27th July 2015
Woke up at 5.30 (no alarm) dog walked, papers fetched, made sure the boy got off to work.  Got into the office a bit before 8am.  Pounding on with stuff.  Home from work about 6.15, bloody raining.  Took pooch a short walk (she don't like the wet stuff).  It turned to drizzle so went down lotty to finish off doing me water butts on number 7.  With the relative lack of depth to Shed 7 I'm going to have just one bit 220 litre drum with an overflow to feed into one of them little 110 litre ones.   Am going to chop the other drum in half and use it for tubs in me greenhouse to grow some spuds for Xmas.  Got finished as much done as I could by 9 o'clock'ish then walked home.

Tuesday 28th July 2015
Woke up at 5:00, back to sleep for a bit then up at 5:30.  Dog walked.  Watered Toms.  Into office for 7.50am.  Down lottie to try and finish off the bleedin waterbutt but not got the right tools.  Started chucking it down as well - what a ruddy pain.

Wednesday 29th July 2015
Up early.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Into office before 8am.  Went to group after work.  1lb off - am really not on track these days need to get head in right place I reckon.  Got home about 6pm.  Dog walked for 7pm.  Watched cricket on Channel 5 - nice to see the Aussies getting a bit of a pummeling.  Watered the toms.  Took the gazebo down and got it packed away.  Didn't do much else!

Thursday 30th July 2015
Up a bit after 5am.  Dog walked etc. Into the office for 7.45 - all good stuff.

Friday 31st July 2015
Up early, dog walked.  Into office for 8am.  Busy as usual.  Home for about 6.15.  Tea. Dog Walk.

Saturday 1st August 2015
Cripes! August already! Up early, dog walked papers fetched.  Did a bit down the lotty then fetched brekko for Lucy and me.  Golf at 12.30.  Only played 14 holes as weather intervened.  On front nine I had four pars and birdied the 8th after getting to side of green in two and a chip and a putt for a four.  Almost beginning to be my favourite hole that one!   Two pars on back nine and we called it a day after coming off the 14th (with a par).  All good stuff.  Watched a bit of telly after and bed early.

Sunday 2nd August 2015
Didn't get up until 8.20am - slacking.  Dog walk.  Brekkie.  Down lottie for an hour or so harvesting cabbagge, broccoli, rapsberries, strawberries, peas, potatoes - the works, really.  Only disappointment has been having to throw the cauliflowers that  have bolted for whatever reason - too much muck? not enough water? Weather too hot? I don't know.   Took Lucy and bosskat to the Cross for dinner.

Monday 20th July 2015 to Sunday 26th July 2015

Monday 20th July 2015
Up at 5.40am.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Into the office before 8am all ticking along like clockwork.  Funny day doing investigations.  Back home 6.15ish.  Hoohar over nowt.   Long dog walk then went out on the bike to observe what is happening with the land opposite the allotments.

Fence knocked over

Police on site

Tuesday 21st July 2015
Up at 5:30 - funny night's sleep but never mind. Dog walked, papers fetched, lad woke up and off to work.  Into office for just gone 8am.

Took pooch a big walk after work.  Watered toms in greenhouse.  Then down lotty - punnet of raspbobs, load of strawberries, peas and a few beetroot.  All good stuff.  Bed for about half ten after watching three episodes of Yonderland.

Wednesday 22nd July 2015
Up early.  Dog walked.  Papers fetched, a bit disappointed at the stunner's coverage of the damage made to the plot of land that the travellers have been allocated - thought they'd have had some comment from the villains of the piece - DDDC.   Never mind, in the office for 7.40am has to wait fifteen minutes for it to do ruddy Windows updates. Got masses done at work. Good stuff, went to group after work, not so good stuff. Not bothered too much.  Tea.  Big walk with poocher.  Watched a few episodes of Yonderland with Lucy which were grand.  Found paperwork for missus' car for service on Saturday.

Thursday 23rd July 2015
Up at 5.45 no alarm but it's getting later.   Dog walked, papers fetched.  Into office for just gone 8am but before Clare Lee it would appear!!

Friday 24th July 2015
Long old day.  Meeting with Fd for much of it.  Got away about 5.30.  Ready for the weekend.

Saturday 25th July 2015
Up early. Dog walked, papers fetched.  At 7.30 was on road to Stoke on Trent to get missus' car fixed.  Walked round Stoke for about three hours and read To Kill A Mockingbird a bit - great read. Back home for about 1.30 all good stuff.

Down lotty - strimmed, mowed, weeded, took rubbish to tip.  Started cutting top on one of big barrels that I'm going to use for water-butts on number 7.

Sunday 26th July 2015
Up early dog walked.  Rained most of day.  Did a bit down the lotty then we went to Alstonefield Car boot - not much there so back to Ashbourne.  Missus went to another sale at Town Hall so I stopped outside with pooch.  Brunch, yay!   Over to me mums for a bit of a do.  Back home about 7.30pm dog walks and bed!

Monday 13th July 2015 to Sunday 19th July 2015

Monday 13th July 2015
Up early, dog walked, papers fetched. Into office for 7.30am, forgot bloody laptop - back home, fired off a couple of emails then in office for 10am!   Lucy's Birthday so home for 6:30pm had a bit of choccy cakey stuff.  Watched True Detective S2E4 - bloody brilliant with an emphasis on bloody!!

Tuesday 14th July 2015
Up at 5:30.  Dog walked, papers fetched into the office for 7.40am.   Access database number crunching today. Can't fail to be impressed by George Osborne - he's removed a plan for making new homes zero carbon which will make them £2,500 cheaper (doesn't say cheaper for whom but my money is that house-buyers won't see a penny saved).

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/business/industries/construction-property/article4495019.ece

Wednesday 15th July 2015
Up early dog walked.  Group after work 1.5lb on again?   What be going on?


Thursday 16th July 2015
Up early, dog walked.  Load of data to crunch today.  All got done all okay.

Friday 17th July 2015
Off work, Supposed to be going Wales, supposed to be taking Missus' car in for service - neither happened never mind.  I did get my diabetes retinopathy done which was nice, did get my hair cut - got the lotty watered so all good stuff.

Saturday 18th July 2015
Up early.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Did a bit down the lotty.  Piccy B brekko.  More dog walks!  Golf at lunchtime played great apart from chipping and putting but then again that's the bit of the game you lose when you're not playing regularly.  Never mind.  Got home watched a bit of the Open on the telly.   Went down to the lotty after.  Pulled up some broccoli that has now been fully harvested.   Came back with a ton of stuff.

Sunday 19th July 2015
Up early as always.  Phil's birthday.  Dog walked - raining a fair bit so not much of a walk.  By about 10am though it was all nice and sunny nothing like what was forecast.  Such is life.   Cross at lunch time with ma and pa.  Very nice.  Got missus to drop me off near cemetery and walked back home with the pooch (well carried pooch a fair bit as she doesn't like grass at times it would appear)/.   Saw quite a lot of Butterflies - there is a butterfly count thing going on apparently.  Mainly Red Admirals but also saw a Comma and a brown coloured one that I couldn't get an image of (they never sit still it would appear).

 Bed at 9:30 after dog walked - got stuff ready for work in the morning.

Monday 6th July 2015 to Sunday 12th July 2015

Monday 6th July 2015
Up at 5:40, went bed a bit early last night as was very tired.  Dog walked, papers fetched into the office for 8am.  Home for 6.15pm.  Tea.  Dog Walk.  Bit more work on shed down the lotty.   Filled up watering cans too - save a few minutes somewhere down the line.  Didn't need to water as bit of rain going on.   Back home bed early as nothing on TVs I wanted to watch.   Still finishing off Anger is an Energy by John Lydon.

Tuesday 7th July 2015
Woke at 4.13, got up proper at 5.30.  Dog walked, papers fetched into the office for 8.05 after traffic snarl up on the A38.  Marvellous.  Home at 6.15.  Tea. Dog Walk. Late for forum meeting at Ashbourne Leisure Centre.  Am getting into this local politics mullarky so I am.   Missus dropped me off at lotty to water on way back. Did a bit of weeding too.  All good stuff.  Watched episode 3 of True Detective series 2 - it's brilliant, gory at times but brilliant none-the-less.

Wednesday 8th July 2015
Up at 5.30.  Dog walked, papers fetched, fixed a bit of guttering on the greenhouse, in work for 7.45am.  All good stuff. Back home for 6.30 after putting a poxy pound and a half on at group which I didn't expect.  Home for 5.45pm because Lucy had a presentation night at QEGS which was great - fantastic music interludes some really talented individuals.  Got back, took poocher for a mini-walk, went for a spin in Phil's new motor.  All good stuff.

Thursday 9th July 2015
Up at the crack of dawn'ish.   Dog walked, papers fetched.  Office for just gone 8am, computer causing a headache so switched the damn thing off and on again.

Friday 10th July 2015
The usual.  Ketch for steak night with Darren and Paula after - very nice.   England doing nicely in the test match as well!

Saturday 11th July 2015
Up early, dog walked, papers fetched.  Piccy B.  Did a bit down the lotty.  No golf.  Not bothered.  Listened to test match in the afternoon  all good stuff and the Aussies beaten in the first Ashes Test.  Nice.

Sunday 12th July 2015
The usual.  Dog walk.  Down lotty did a bit of weeding, took rubbish to tip.  Over to Darley Dale to Grouse for lunch with me mum and dad.  Very nice.

Monday 29th June 2015 to Sunday 5th July 2015

Monday 29th June 2015
Up at 4.13 to close windows to block out some of the noise of the dawn chorus, back to bed then up at 5.48   Dog walked paper fetched, into office for 07.45  Tons done.  Home. Watering. Moved shed roof - did a load of weeding,

Tuesday 30th June 2015
Up early.  Dog walked. Papers. Work for 8am.  Hot Hot Hot day.  Lotty after work - watering and not much else!! Bosskat came too and got some strawbobs.  Bed a bit late again, bad habits.

Wednesday 1st July 2015
Up early as usual.  Dog walked.  Bit cooler first thing but going to be hot hot hot.  Tons of good stuff at work.  Taking new chap to see Hollie's group later.  Lost pound and a half at group which is a sort of a result all things considered.  Went home to melt - didn't water the lotty as apparently there was a bit thunderstorm yesterday in Ashbourne that hopefully took care of it.

Thursday 2nd July 2015
Woke up at 5:15, still really warm but better than it was last night.  Took dog walk, fetched papers,  Up in attic to get camping stuff down.

Friday 3rd July 2015
Supposed to go camping.  Called off due to weather.  So mowed lawns and a did a few jobs instead. Shattered blade on the big honda, ordered one off eBay.  Took missus to lunch at the Stones, alright I suppose.

Saturday 4th July 2015
Up early.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Piccy B.  Took pooch for dog grooming.  While that happened got paint for bathroom.  Got home - scraped paint off bathroom and applied PVA bond.

Sunday 5th July 2015
Up early, dog walked.  Two coats of paint on bathroom.  More dog walks. Down lotty dug round shed to rodent proof it.  Got wet through.  Got job done in end though so all good.  Decided 2 coats of paint was enough.  Tidied everything away, hoovered again.  Back to work tomorrow.

16/13.5

Monday 22nd June 2015 to Sunday 28th June 2015

Monday 22nd June 2015 
Up early. Dog walk. Papers. Brek. Work at 8am. Another funny day.  Home for 6:15pm. Tea.  Emergency planning meeting at Ashbourne Town Hall.  Well attended by the general public.  The council has a plan for contacting Derbyshire County Council to get assurances that they will neither sell nor lease the land to Derbyshire Dales District Council.  They are also going to ask Derbyshire Dales District Council for clarification on a number of points such their Corporate Director of Housing citing a report that is not in the public domain and dismissing a report that is in the public domain as being irrelevant (it's nothing of the sort, merely inconvenient for their agenda).  After doing my bit for democracy I went to the lotty for a bit of a potter - I got the onions/leeks covered with nets to stop the damn pigeons pulling em out. As it had rained a fair bit there was no need to do any watering (which was nice!).  Watched England ladies football team beat the Belgians 2-1, coming from a goal behind.  Great result - bed at midnight!!!

Tuesday 23rd June 2015 
Up at 5:20.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Into office for 8am, on third coffee by 8:30 (including one at home!).  Another day of fun and games in the office.  Home for 6.30, tea, dog walk, down lotty to finish painting new shed and do a few other jobs I'd been meaning to do - put a net over onions to stop the darned pigeons pulling em up all the time, got slug pellets spread everywhere.   Brought some strawbobs back for the missus.  Watched first episode of new series of True Detective - looks like it will be really good but the first series was something very special so a tough one to follow.

Wednesday 24th June 2015
Up at 5:30.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Dropped a couple of posts off at the lotty that I forgot to carry up previous night.  Still got into the office before 8am.  Another testing day at the office.  Got home a bit earlier after visiting a group on way home.  Took some of the shelving out of the greenhouse to make space for every expanding tomatoes.  Need to find somewhere better to put them.  Went to lotty on bike a bit later than normal.  Did a load of weeding first, then watered everything - forgot key to shed 7 so that put the mockers on digging the rabbit proofing fence round shed 7!  Never mind.  Dog walks and a late bedtime.

Thursday 25th June 2015
Up at 5.40.  Dog walked and the usual.  Work for 8am, All good stuff.  Going to see "And this my friend, Mr Laurel" tonight - a one man show by Jeffrey Holland.   Am quite up for it which is unusual as plays aren't usually my thing!  Got back from work about 6ish.  Dog walked and up Ashbourne by 7.10pm.  Play started 7.30 and was really good.  It's a one-scene monologue - Jeffrey Holland (perhaps best known as Spike from Hi-De-Hi) plays Stan Laurel visiting a bed-bound Oliver Hardy and reminiscing during which you learn tons of stuff you never knew about the pair.  In between conversing with his silent partner there are mini-sketches where Mr Holland plays the parts of both Stan and Olly, he got a round of applause after each of those and they were all well-deserved.  The actual play last an hour which positively flys by, after a short break, Mr Holland comes out for a Q&A so you learn even more.  We really enjoyed it.

Friday 26th June 2015
Up at 5.30am.  Dog walking up town by 5.40.  Have noticed the bells at St Oswalds have been silenced?  In the office by 8am.  Nipped to plot and watered after work.

Saturday 27th June 2015
Up early.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Piccy B brekko.  Down lotty for about half an hour - took two barrow loads of rubbish to the tip.  Golf with John and Doug, got first eagle ever on par 5 8th - driver, 5-wood, 10 foot putt.  Magic.  Also finished with two pars which was nice.
Me and the missus went and watered.  All good stuff

Sunday 28th June 2015
Up early.  Dog walk. Tinkering. Cross for Lunch, very nice.  Back home.  Dog walk with the missus.
Didn't really get much done

Monday 15th June 2015 to Sunday 21st Sunday 2015

Monday 15th June 2015
Up early. Dog walked. Papers fetched.  Early into the office at 7am then left at 2pm for Lucy's school parent's day which went really well - nothing but good feedback about the little duck.  So home early, tea then a good dog walk then put some sweet peas up canes at home.  Then down the lotty with a spirit level to dig out base for shed.  Nephew Ben appeared on the scene unexpectedly and an hour later said shed was erected.  Some guttering and some anti-rodenting to do, a bit of painting as well and then it should be good to go.  It's a bit of an odd shed in that it's only 3 foot deep but it cost nowt and you can put a seat in it and have sit me down and look over the plot.  Next year am going to move the bean row more to the right so there's a better view!!

Tuesday 16th June 2015
Up at 5.10.  Dog walked. Papers fetched.  Off to work at 6.45am  Nipped to Lotty to do a bit of measuring on the way.

Good day in the office but missus reminded me that I had to go to a planning meeting regarding a proposed gypsy site near to the allotments.  Like 183 others I went to along to see the proposal railroaded through and approved.  What a farce it was, I'm sure there will be a tick in the box against "Was the public Consulted?" when they finish the paperwork off and rubber stamp it through but the reality was that the paperwork was completed before anyone entered the room.   The point me and the missus walked out was when one of the Ashbourne Councillors raised the point that the guide for placing Gypsy Sites states not to be placed near a rubbish tip (the planning permission has been approved for it to be right next to the recycling centre and a short distance from Severn Trent's sewage works) - the councillor was told by the planning bod that the guidance has now superceded!  It also doesn't matter that it's being put on a flood plane, doesn't matter that it will potentially prevent any bypass linking the A52 Derby road to the A515 Buxton Road.  Nothing was going to stop this going through, nothing.

Anyway, went home after wasting an hour and a half and had some tea then down the lotty.  The tin of shed paint that was in number 13 fell to bits when I picked it up so spent a few minutes swilling that away (shame as I reckon there would have been enought to do most of the little shed).  I did save a bit in a plastic tub and set to painting a door and a bit more on the new shed on plot 7.

Will be getting some more paint for it tomorrow.

Bed late.

Wednesday 17th June 2015
Up late at 5.50am, still got to work for 8am after dog walking and paper fetching so all's well.  Went back to group 3lbs on.  At least I can get started again.

Thursday 18th June 2015
Up at the crack.  dog walked, papers fetched. Crazy day at work.  Home for a bit after 6pm.  Dog walked, down to lotty - mowed, strimmed, painted new shed - sort of an olive colour lighter than it looked on the tin but can't be helped. Home for about 10pm.

Friday 19th June 2015
Up early.  Dog walked. Papers Fetched. Work for 8am.  Hell of a day in the office.  Thank flip for the weekend.  Got dog walked. Down lotty for a bit of watering and weeding and what have you.

Saturday 20th June 2015
No golf today so plenty to do.  Up at the crack.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Lotty - first trip took some bits and measured up for shelves in Plot 7 Shed. Postman brought a letter from the docs need some lifestyle change it said.   He's not wrong.

Next trip to lotty I took some shelves that I'd cut to size and fitted them with a bit of help from Phil's impact driver.   Also banged up the guttering and fixed the downpipe on the butt on plot number 13 to boot.   All going grand. Also painted round the other side of the flower so front is pretty much done!

Sunday 21st June 2015
Father's day, sent the boy off early doors.  Walked pooch. Lucy made me breakfast for father's day - jolly good stuff.  Down the lotty.  Tidying, planting (leeks and spring onions in plot 7), (spring onions and carrots in plot 13).   Finished off bean row on  plot 7.

10.30 back home, dog walk, shower, shave, tidy up mesen.  Off to Ketch for father's day lunch withj ma and pa.  Then we took them for a tour of the lotty on the way back.  Back home for a drinky poo and a bit of a kip.  Then dog walk and missus dropped me off at lotty to water.  Did a bit more weeding while I was there and also put some string up to get the sweet peas on plot 7 going (the ones on plot 13 are doing better already).