Monday 29th December 2014 to Sunday 4th January 2015

Monday 29th December 2014
Have decided to stop using alarm clock unless have got to be up at crack of dawn.  So far so good. Up at 5.30.  Minus 5 when I scraped the car.

Dog walked, papers fetched, into office for 8am.  Loads of Brand Protection eBay work done.  Got musical gear put away so Miles-Bramwell suite can return to it's normal usage.  Back home for about 7pm.  Dog walked.  Soundbar installed on telly - not impressed - that'll teach me.   Watched a couple of episodes of Elementary.  Brought a load of drum pollution out of the car and got it into me shed somehow - it's going up in the attic once I've got all the pollution together in one place!

Tuesday 30th December 2014
No alarm clock again.  Got up at 5.40.  Minus 7 outside, proper cold, in fact so cold I had to carry the dog the last couple of hundred yards of the walk, poor pooch.  Into office for a bit after 8am after getting the lad's car scraped and out of the way of bosskat's so she can go shop, shop.  All good stuff.

Wednesday 31st December 2014
Up early.  Dog walked papers fetched.  Still damn cold but due to warm up a bit.  Another year older - it's not fair you know!!  In the office for 8am.  Did some ace Brand Protection stuff, quite pleased with meself.  Back home for a bit after 5pm.  Got some serious drinking done but over a long period of time so wasn't drunk just convivial and got to be by 1.30am!!!  First time have seen New Year in for donkey's years.

Thursday 1st January 2015
Up at 7.20, woke up a bit earlier.  Feeling fine, took pooch out for a big walk.  Got back coffee. Went up town in motor and got papers.  Bro came over.  Mum and Dad came over.  Went to Stepping Stones for luncheon - it were grand.  Afternoon, I got the red drum kit into the attic with some assistance from Phil.  Put inflatable beds up into the attic as well as the Dog's cage which we don't use any more so all good stuff went to bed early after watching a bit of Elementary and House of Fools Christmas special. Got woke up at 1.48 by the ruddy wind humming through the bedroom window.  At 3.30 still awake so went out to check things weren't being blown all over the shop.  Fastened the off thing down and went back to bed.  Woke up at 6.20.  Took dog out, fetched paper.  Got into the office about 8.30.  Busy on a job that had to be turned round quickly for publishing.  Then some more excellent Brand Protection work done and some new leads started.

Friday 2nd January 2015
In the office early enough.  Loads done, loads of walks.  All good stull


Saturday 3rd January 2015
Up early.  Dog walked.  Papers fetched (except for Times which wasn't in).  Lots of bits and bobs but golf cancelled due to bloody rain.  Watched most of True Detective which is one of the best things I've ever watched ever. Took pooch another walk up golf course in afternoon, Found half a dozen balls.

Sunday 4th January 2015
Dog mithering at 7am.  Got up took her a walk.  Frosty and cold again.  Coffee, shave happy days.  Watched last episode of True Detective.  Absolutely the best series I've ever seen.  Awesome.  Got Christmas stuff took down.  Four dog walks before 3pm!  Bloomin hound.  Not much else to report - banging stuff up into the attic, sorted the boiler out.  Washed mine and the missus' cars.  Went a walk with bosskat in the afternoon.

Bed at 10pm again, making myself stay up so sleep through,

Monday 22nd December 2014 to Sunday 28th December 2014

Monday 22nd December 2014
Up early.  Dog walked.  Into office early. Stuff moved to conference room - it's Xmas party day at head office tomorrow.

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
Xmas party day, up early, dog walked, into office for 8am in Fancy Dress.  Band rehearsal.

Xmas Dinner, band performance, won luxury hamper in raffle.  Ace

Wednesday 24th December 2014
Up at 5.  Dog walked papers fetched super early. At Tescos, Alfreton at 7:30 - mad house.  McD brekko. At Aldi at 7:55 - folks queuing across the car park - stuff that.  Into office for 8am.  Good few hours and got most of the drums took down if not brought home, Back home for 2pm, had a look at Aldi and a look at Sainsburys and both were madhouses so called the whole thing off.  Up in the attic getting stuff ready for the big day.  Dog walks, bit of telly, chippie tea - not so good but never mind.  Bed at midnight!!

Thursday 25th December 2014
Up at 7!!! Yikes, kids in no hurry to come downstairs.  Dog didn't want to go far so a mini walk and comfort break for the dawg.  Shave.  Brekko. Bigger walk with the dog. Fixed my computer by uninstalling the Nvidia driver.  Xmas Dinner with the folks, too much alceehol, lots of walks.

Friday 26th December 2014
Boxing day.  Woken at 7am by Phil's damn alarm, shame it didn't wake him but there you go.  Took dog up town, fetched papers - no queue at paper shop at 7:30!   Computer not sorted.  Think it's definitely the graphics card.  Took pooch on a massive walk round the golf course - got 30 balls!  Then the snow did come.  So took poochie out in wax jacket - ace!

Saturday 27th December 2014
Up early - took pooch on the railway loop walk she is loving this snow!   Then went and fetched papers on me tod.  Piccy B shut so bosskat did a top job of brekko fry up.  Ace.  Went up golf course with pooch in the snow this time - she loves it.   Went homebase to get a bit for the loo upstair to fix the cistern.  Job done, all good.

Sunday 28th December 2014
More of the same.  Took em to Stepping Stones for tea, still getting bugger all done.  Back to work tomoz.

Monday 15th December 2014 to Sunday 21st December 2014

Monday 15th December 2014
Up early.  Dog walked.  Papers fetched. Stuff in car for rehearsal tonight.  Am absolutely full of cold. Never mind, such is life.  Decent day in the office.  Get stuff moved to second rehearsal place.  All good so far.  Stayed til 6.20 but felt rough as so went home a bit earlier than usual.  Got home - West Wing and Game of Thrones.   All good stuff.

Tuesday 16th December 2014
Up at 5:30 before alarm clock.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  New toilet seat fitted.  Into office for 8.15 with hardware for second drum kit. Not too bad a rehearsal after a bit of motivation deflation for some band members at lunch time. First one on an acoustic kit and sooooo much better.   Home for about 8:30pm.  Listened to a bit of the Derby v Chelsea match and it sounded like Derby played well but were somewhat done by a crap referee decision.  Such is life.

Wednesday 17th December 2014
Alarm got me up.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Into the office before 8am.  Got second (or third if you include the Electonic) kit set up before 8:30

Good day at work, lot done.  Hollie's group after - pound off against the grain.  Home. Xmas card. Web work - found out how to do horizontal menus.   West Wing.  Bed really late.


Thursday 18th December 2014
Woke up at 5am.  Closed my eyes for a moment and it was half past.  Up and out with the dog.  Papers fetched.  Brekko.  More Xmas cards off to work.  Into office before 8:30 will do. Funny sort of a rehearsal after work  - beginning to come together.

Friday 19th December 2014
Didn't get to bed until 12:30 am getting that sad feeling of getting towards the end of West Wing and knowing that after the end of series 7 there ain't no more.  Anyway, gave myself an extra 20 minutes in bed.  Dog walked and back home for 6.30 in the office by 8am moving gear.

Saturday 20th December 2014
Up early as always.  Papers fetched with the wee dog.  Piccy B breakfast when the lad finally gets up.  More West wing.  Rubbish to the Tip.  Little bit of golf and a beer.  Back home more Xmas prep.   Over to me mums for fish and chips which were proper grand.  Bed early.

Sunday 21st December 2014
Up early.  Dog walking. Niot sure what else I done. Tea at stepping stones.

Monday 8th December 2014 to Sunday 14th December 2014

Monday 8th December 2014
Up early.  Scraped car.  Took dog up town to fetch paper.  Someone ran into back of me car at roundabout at riverside retail park.  Marvellous start to the week.  Only scratches, not the end of the world.  Into work for a bit after 8am.  Busy day in the office then rehearsal after work.  Quite tired only self to blame.   Home for about 8.30, tea, dog walked then sorted out Phil's CV for him.


Tuesday 9th December 2014
Up at 5.43, managed to switch the radio on rather than switch the alarm off.  That could have gone better.  Scraped car and repeat of yesterday without being rear-ended.  Into office for 8.15  Rehearsal after work.

Wednesday 10th December 2014
Up at the crack.  Dog walked.  Papers. Work early til late.  Xmas Party at 7:30. One glass of red wine. Dull as.   Home for 11pm.  Mini dog walk in rain.  Bed

Thursday 11th December 2014
Up at 5.43.  Dog walk, papers, work - this is life in bloody winter.  Sick of it.  Went to Jayne Scott's group in Hatton to try to see if we can sort out the signal reception problem, Seem to have worked okay.

Friday 12th December 2014
Papers, dog walks.  Hollie's Belper Group - 4.5lbs on, yikes. Work, Down to Burton-on-Trent to get microphone stands etc.  Home.

Saturday 13th December 2014
Up early. Dog walked, papers fetched.  Piccy B fetched. Football with Lucy and bosskat - dog got a big walk.

Lucy's team Aztecs U16s beating Ripley 3-0

Lake at Osmaston all frozen up

Big Buzzard on bottom branch of this tree

Golf at 2pm - lost the shiny poond on the last putt.  Idiot - hit it too hard - still happy with 20 points over nine holes.   Very tired went to bed early.

Sunday 14th December 2014. 
Up early. Dog walked.  Getting stuff ready to fetch a greenhouse from Uttoxeter. Me and Phil at McDs for about 8:50am and on the job by 9:15am.   By 3pm we'd got everything back to Clifton. in two trips. All good stuff.

 Need to get a base down now.

Monday 1st December 2014 to Saturday 6th December 2014

Monday 1st December 2014
Up before alarm clock, up town walking dog for 5.40.  Got papers into the office for about 8am, all good stuff (had shower at work so paint in ours could keep on drying).  All good stuff. Rehearsal after work with a key member missing and it was still very useful.  Back home for about 8:20pm.  Tea. Dog walked.  Three episodes of West Wing and bed by 11:30

Tuesday 2nd December 2014
Up at 5.30.  Dog walked. Papers fetched. Into office for just gone 8am.  All good.

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
It's all got a bit too samey of late in my view.  But that's life.  Dog walk, papers fetched.  Out of office early today for dentist.  Yikes.  Tea, more walking of pooch.  At 9.30 went to put a deposit on a greenhouse probably overpaid a bit but such is life - it's a good un I think and it has some extras - staging for seed trays, shelves and temperature window things.

Thursday 4th December 2014
Bed late last night but still work up before alarm clock.  Walking dog up town at 5.40.  Papers fetched.  Into work early to drop off a ton of games and toys for Red House Charity which is something SW supports particularly at Xmas.  All good stuff.

Just doing a little bit of research - how two google calendars would work.

Rehearsal tonight, then over to Darley Dale to collect Phil's dinner jacket and then back home.

Friday 5th December 2014
Up Early, dog walked, Work , home, tea, dog walked etc.

Saturday 6th December 2014
Up early.  Dog walked.  Papers fetched.  Fetched piccy b breakfast.  Another two walks. And a load of web research.  11.10 set off to catch bus for Derby, got on at Tintown at 11.18, in Derby for about 12.10, first pint at the Alexandra at about 12.30.

Derby vs Brighton - 3-0 in 20 minutes then 70 minutes of passing practice

Now here's the clever part; with excellent pacing me and cousin-in-law (and decorator supreme) Jason only drank five pints all afternoon - 2 at the Alexandra, 2 at the iPro Stadium, 1 in a pub near the bus station whose name I've already forgotten.  Anyway was pleased with that.  Bed early as was knackered.


Sunday 7th December 2014
Up early. Dog walked.

Is this stick long enough???

Fixed the outside light.  Took missus to Uttoxeter to spend a voucher that  would have gone out of date at Wilco. Bit of shopping at Lidl and then back home for about 2pm.  Down the Allotment to put up the alarm fitted signs (that we got on 8th November).  Think the IBC is full as the bucket I put under the tap for leaks was full to the brim.  Need to do a bit of rerouting so that we're filling the water butts up as well.   After tea we fetched the red drum kit that had been lent out for a couple of years!  Bed early again (9.20ish).

Monday 24th November 2014 to Sunday 30th November 2014

Monday 24th November 2014
And so the countdown begins - fetching Phil back from Heathrow on Friday.  Plan in place - up at 4am, dog walk, 4:30 set off for a McDs on Bath Road ten mins from Heathrow.  Watch him come in on flight monitor and then set off for Terminal three.  Anyway, back to today, got up at 5.35am - got ready and then scraped the car (-1 Celsius when set off) got papers and walked the pooch.  Got back - had a bath as the shower room still not 100% dry - think it will be dry tonight.  Think I'm going to need to get the skirting done though for the sake of completeness.   Funny day at work - couldn't quite get what I wanted out of Access but will get there - I have a plan.  After work did another rehearsal - finding out a feet a bit still but we'll get there!  After rehearsal got home for about 7:30, a naughty chippie tea but such is life when you is late.  Took pooch a walk.  Then painted skirting in shower room.  Quite pleased with all that, tomorrow night will need to get door frame done and then we're just about done. An episode of West Wing before bed time.  Bed a few mins before 11 o'clock.

Tuesday 25th November 2014
Up at 5:40.  Dog walked and paper fetched by 6:30.  Got all the masking and other decorating debris out of the bathroom.  Got one little bit more to do tonight then 99.21% of painting before Xmas is done.   Into the office for 8.25 all good.  Funny day in the office, all manner of hassle with Access but some good brand protection work done (I like to think).  Rehearsal after work - coming along nicely.  Back home for 8.45.   Missus told me to have a night off - so I did.  Two episodes of West Wing and in bed by 10:40.  Marvellous.

Wednesday 26th November 2014
Two more sleeps and I'll be fetching the wee lad back.   Bit tired this morning but up before alarm went off.  Walked dog.  Fetched papers in the office by 8.20.  All good. Group after work 3lbs lost somehow. Not complaining.  Got home. Had tea. Took Dog a walk, watched two possibly three more episodes of West Wing.  Marvellous.

Thursday 27th November 2014
Up before alarm.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Did a bit of fillering in the shower room - a bit more to do there.  Breakfast, shower and then into work for just gone 8am.  Good day getting a report off and working on an analysis - quite pleased.  Not in the office tomorrow as am fetching the boy from Heathrow.  Can't wait!  Will be early to bed tonight and no mistake as it will be very early to rise!!!

Friday 28th November 2014 - Return of the Firstborn
Woke up with the alarm at 4am.  Had put coffee and what have you ready the night before.  Got dressed, took dog a quick walk.  Set off for Heathrow at 4.20.   Down A515, A50, M1, (got off at junction 15a and went cross country to get to  M40, M25 and then headed for a McDonalds on Bath Road a few miles from Heathrow.  Had a big breakfast and waited until about 8:40 before setting off for Heathrow, got parked up, waited a bit collected the cowboy.

Anyway, got the lad, paid £6 for an hours parking and set off.  Stopped at Beaconsfield Services and got him some Gregg's sausage rolls which he was happy with.  Got home for a bit after 1pm all good stuff but was seriously knackered.

Saturday 29th November 2014
Up early.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Piccy B all round - JAS and Lucy off to football.  Painted the door frame for the downstairs loo so painting all but done. Golf at 1:15.  Did just nine holes and had to pay the pound out to John!   Hit the ball fairly well but no touch with the putter at the moment costing me dear.   All good stuff.   Back home more dog walks and West Wing.

Sunday 30th November 2014
Got the shower room dried out by having windows open all the time and a nice day meant I could put some bathroom paint on the ceiling above the shower area that hadn't worked the first time (I think we went back in too soon and used shower before it was totally dry).  So painted that. Took Dog four good walks during the day so she was proper knackered by the end of it.  Top tea over at me mum and dads, back home for 8pm.  Another dog walk.  West Wing and bed by 10pm.

Monday 17th November 2014 to Saturday 23rd November 2014

Monday 17th November 2014
Last night I pondered not bothering with setting Alarm clock as I always seem to wake up on time.  I set it anyway.  Woke up about 5am and it was hammering it down so went back to bed for a bit.  Dreamt the missus was shouting at me to "get up it's 5:30" - it wasn't it was 5:33am and it wasn't the missus shouting but just goes to show how ace the subconscious is!!  Anyway rain petered off a bit at 5:45 so took dog to get papers as usual.  Got back, put Uncle Peter's barometer back up.  Into work for just gone 8am.  Moved my stuff over to a different desk. Busy day. Got home for 6:30ish.  Fitted 2 smoke alarms.  Replaced 2 coat hooks (why do they always break - they used to get broken when I was at Churchtown Primary School 40 odd years ago).  Did a bit of sanding - took pooch for two dog walks.  Did most of work on an electronic cymbal - soldering and what have you. Went bed at 11pm after two episodes of West Wing.

Tuesday 18th November 2014
Up at 5:40.  Needed the alarm this morning - it's catching up on me. Walked pooch and fetched papers.  Put some gubbins away from previous night.  Got to work for about 8.20. At lunchtime me and Chris Hall moved a ton of kit up to the rehearsal space.  After a busy day of work it was rehearsal time and we got the big old pa set up and did the stuff til gone 8pm. All good.  Got home, took pooch a walk.  Watched a bit of Scotland vs England (3-1 to us, Rooney scored twice) then watched two episodes of the amazing West Wing - seems even better the second time round!

Wednesday 19th November 2013
Woken by the alarm again - very tired indeed at the moment.  Up town fetching papers and walking the pooch and then off to work for 8:30. Tired, tired, tired. Busy day crunching numbers.  Went to group at Belper on way home - stayed the same (another whisky miracle).  Stopped at Doug's on the way back to sort his Ipad mini out.  Got home for about 6:30.  Tea, dog walk, painted one side of toilet door.  Watched two more episodes of the West Wing.  Took Pooch for a final walk before bedtime and tucked up at 11pm again.

Thursday 20th November 2014
Up at 5:20am, switched alarm off.  Took pooch up town to get papers.  Into office for 8.10am.  Another frustrating day crunching numbers but am getting there I tells ya! Got the numbers done at end of day and sent on to boss.  Got home for about 6:20, tea, dog walked, painted half of skirting board in Toilet and one side of Lucy's door.  Made the mistake of putting BBC 6 Radio on while did the job - what a pile of manure they played.  Jesus and Mary Chain - give me a break.  Put Planet Rock on and listened to Dave Gilmore talking about the new Floyd album and listened to a few tracks from that - bloomin marvellous,.

All done by 9.20.  Two episodes of West Wing and then off to bed.

Friday 21st November 2014
Up early.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Into the office for 8.20.  This time next week I'll be waiting for the child at Heathrow. Busy day in the office.  Off home for 6ish.  Painted t'other side of Lucy's door the minute I got home so it could be hung before bedtime (got into trouble for it not being in place night before even though she has the door open every night0 hmmpphf.  Dog walked. Couple of episode of WW and bed time.

Saturday 22nd November 2014
Up early.  Dog walked, papers fetched.   Breakfast fetched at 8:30.  Took our bedroom door and got it painted on one side.  Off to Alvaston Park, Derby for Lucy's football - she was made captain but things conspired and they were well beaten and missed a penalty along the way.  Such is football. Back home, painted the other side of the door.   Dog walked.  Tea.  Adam's 21st - stopped for an hour or so - the disco was abysmal so glad to get away.  Watched a bit of MOTD and then bed.

Sunday 23rd November 2014
Up early.  Dog walked.  Decided I'd paint the shower room - initially was just patching it up here and there but got a bit carried away!  In the afternoon took a ton of rubbish down to the recycling. Sainsburys on way back to get some bread and used the opportunity to use up Nectar points for Xmas Wine.  All good.  Dog walks, painting.  Got Phil's computer and miscellaneaous tat out of the Attic so need to get that setup in due course. Dog walks, painting. Bed.
   

Monday 10th November 2014 to Sunday 16th November 2014

Monday 10th November 2014

Up early (before the alarm) at 5:25ish.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Car loaded up with drum junk.  Took all masking tape up off stairs carpet.  There will be some touching up to do.  Not too bothered about that.  Into the office before 8:30.  

Alesis DM6

After work got all the gear to the reheasal space and tested it out.  It works thank heavens!  Got it for a song, spent maybe £30 to sort the new crash and fix the old one (now working as ride cymbal).  Anyway it's all working now!  

Got home and had tea about 7:30, took pooch a walk round, then did a bit more work on the stairs skirting and put the carpet fastener-downer strip on our bedroom door down again.  Moving along a bit now. 

Phil got a bit of work done in Texas - 120 acres before a dust storm hit! - still looks nice out there but apparently going to be minus 5 tomorrow there!

Tuesday 11th November 2014
Up at 5:40 with the alarm clock after a few sherberts to round off last night.  Funny dog walk - pooch went mad for eating grass then was mega sick and did an about turn.  We then went a funny route down mayfield road up towards the old St Oswalds Hospital and then down the super steep path.  All in all okay and into office for 8:20
Funny day at work - loads done but loads still left to get done.  Home for 6:30ish.  Tea. Dog walked then painting banister.  Watched same damn episode of Elementary (which was billed as New Elementary) that I watched the other day.  Then watched the excellent "The Walshes" on BBC2 - very good craic!  Bed for 10.45 

Wednesday 12th November 2014
Up before alarm clock at 5:30.  Dog got a bigger walk than usual as she wanted to go a different way.  Back home, brekko, shower into the office for 8am.  Bought tickets for DCFC vs Brighton on 6th December.  Good seats in East Stand right in middle, fairly high up in case it rains!  Group after work.  1lb off - that's the whiskey plan that is!   Back on the wagon next week fo sure!   Anyway got home about 6pm - tea, dog walk in the dark.  Then overalls on and a bit of painting.  Then upgraded the firmware on the DM6 no less to Alesis DM6 Firmware v06 - always a bit worrying when you mess with firmware.   

Thursday 13th November 2014
The usual.  Papers, dog walk. Work.  First rehearasal.  Back late.  Dog walk, bed.

Friday 14th November 2014
Up early. Dog walked, papers fetched. Home.  Prep for Decorating. 

Saturday 15th November 2014
Up early.  Dog walked, most of papers fetched - Saturday Times missing the supplements for third weekend running.   Piccy B breakfast fetched.  Missus and Lucy off to footie, me up a ladder painting.  In afternoon me mum and dad popped over bringing a cool little computer desk that's gone in Phil's bedroom.   Painted the stairs and landing today.  All good stuff. 

Sunday 16th November 2014
Up early dog walked.  Started moving stuff from bottom of stairs so could finish the job off.  Got in trouble for waking the missus at 8:30.  Pressed on, got first coat on.  Dog walked at 11am.  Hoping to get second coat on nothing doing.  Painted upstairs toilet  




16/8.5

Monday 3rd November 2014 to Sunday 9th December 2014

Monday 3rd November 2014
Up early but bucketing down with rain so waited til 5.45 before taking dog out and getting papers. Into the office for 8.20 after some queuing on the crappy A38. Funny day at work.  New software release is doing what it's supposed to and revealing what I expected.  Nipped out at lunchtime and got some bits and bobs.  Didn't really get anything done in the evening.  I found my components tin in the shed and it's not got any of the piezo things I want in it so am going to have to get some bought on Tuesday to be ready for rehearsal on Wednesday. Watched Toast of London on C4 - not sure what the fuss is about it and why it's won awards? Anyway, off to bed late with a wee bit of whisky in me again.  Not good, need to snap out of it.

Tuesday 4th November 2014
Up at 5am.  Somebody tooted an air horn on the A515.  Bosskat reckons it's my cousin but she can't know for sure.  Anyway, parked up town, took pooch a walk then back home, ready and off to work to get there for 8am. It also turned out not to be my cousin so that's ace!  Went to Derby to get some bits for the annual Xmas racket at work. Got home.  Tea. Dog walk.  Bit of sanding and put door back on bathroom - got two more doors to asap.  Then got busy with the Alesis DM6 cymbal fix.  Took it to bits and found it was the 1/4" jack connection that was no good - think am going to have to replace it.   Bed late after more than enough whisky and a final dog walk at 10pm (she's not done her business today so we're a bit worried).  Dropped really cold today but the clear days mean we're doing better on the solar generation front (in fact after four days we've generated 25% of the November total so hopefully might pull a little bit back after a disappointing October)/

Wednesday 5th November 2014
Not mentioned it before but last week on Thursday 30th October I bought an Aves Argon DAB radio with alarm function.  As yet I've not actually heard the alarm function work as I seem to wake about 5am and switch it off so it doesn't wake everyone else up.  Got up, took dog walk as usual - have found a way to get me socks on (been struggling with my back you see) by putting whichever foot it is about three steps up the stairs and it's working quite well.  

Anyway, got the papers, got ready went to work (after emptying half the shed to get an amplifier out!  In for 8.20am - no traffic problems if I set off 10 minutes later than I have been doing. Practice was cancelled which is good as I've not got all the leads I need yet.  Anyway, went to group after work - 2.5lbs on - that because the Sober in October has finished and the Bender for November has started! Need to get a grip and best way is to get something done so I put a 10w LED PIR security light from Maplin up on Phil's shed which is something bosskat has been wanting for a while and it works a treat (which is nice).  I am going to alter it a wee bit as the wire is going to take rainwater onto the shed the way I've done it which isn't ideal.

Single LED but bright as anything and only 10W power being consumed

Thursday 6th November 2014
Up before the alarm clock again - have had it a week now and still haven't heard the alarm tone!! ?It's called  an AVES Argon and has a port for charging an IPOD/IPHONE which I'll never use but am not overly bothered about that. There was a choice for one just the same without the port but as the price for the more expensive model in BM Bargains was the same I thought I might as well have that one.  The sound quality is really good but although it finds Radio Derby it won't ever play it which is a bit of a pain.

Anyway such is life.   Up at 5.30, dog walked, breakfast, into the office. Jobs getting done.

Friday 7th November 2014
The usual!  Bit of decorating. All good stuff.

Saturday 8th November 2014
Up dead early as always.  Dog walked papers fetched. Piccy B.  No footie - raining too hard.  No golf neither, not really bothered.   Decorating to do.  Getting the job done.  Watched Doctor Who - a really odd ending I couldn't help but think.

Sunday 9th November 2014
Up early.  Dog walked. Polished shoes.  Decorating.  Put curtain rail up in Phil's bedroom.  Painted wood skirting board down stairs and one bannister.  Missus put hand on bannister - sand and repeat!  All coming along nicely. Lots of do walks - scraped car first thing so damn cold.  Took a picture from top of the little hill over the field from our house - was amazed at the size of the Leylandi (no idea how it's spelled hedge next to Denise and Paul's House!

Central heating on for second time at night! Did some soldering to fix one cymbal and make a new one for the Alesis DM6 Drumkit I bought for £60 but will probably end up costing me about £80 - which is not bad if it all works okay!

Get the size of that Leylandi Hedge thing

Monday 27th October 2014 to Sunday 2nd November 2014

Monday 27th October 2014 
Hell's teeth it's the last week of October already, where is the year going???  Up at 5.30.   Dog walked, papers fetched and into the office about 8am.  Not a bad day, well got through it anyway.  Got home for a bit after 6pm.  Had tea, took pooch a walk and then decorating again - painted otherside of Phil's door and the radiator.

Almost there, sanded a bit of filling I'd done as well as will need to do one last bit of painting tomorrow before carpet man comes on Wednesday.

Tuesday 28th October 2014
Up at crack of dawn. Dog walked, papers fetched into office for 8am. Got a lot to do as break up at lunch time on Wednesday for a few days.  Busy day in office got most of a big report done.  Aldi after work for bits and bob.  Home for about 6.45, Tea, Dog Walk then final bit of painting doing another coat on door and a bit on skirting board that wouldn't take and a quick coat on the door frame as bosskat has got a ruddy carpet coming tomorrow.  Marvellous.  Let dog out for a winkle at 10pm and then bed for about 10:30ish

Wednesday 29th October 2014
Up at 5.35.  Dog walked and back home for 6.25.  In the office for 7.30.  Only doing a half day today as got to get back to shift things about for bloomin carpet man.  Carpet man (lads in fact) arrived early so not moved everything out in time - they worked round the big wardrobe so that made things easier!! Off to Uttoxeter after to get a load of bedding and stuff (keeping the boss happy).  All good stuff. Lots of walks and stuff.

Thursday 30th October 2014
Up 6.30 (am on me hols).  Dog walking.  Bit of painting, bit of filling.  All good stuff.  Took Lucy to see the Book of Life at Cinebowl, Uttoxeter - which was grand. Took Lucy and bosskat to Stepping Stones for tea and it was alright.

Friday 31st October 2014
Last day of the month - gone already.  Up early, dog walked papers fetched, the usual routine.  Cars washed.  Lots of painting in the upstairs area.  Feels like the Forth Bridge at the minute.  Down to the lotty.  A bit of weeding, half a pot of the raspberries (which seem to have died back a lot in two weeks).  Potato project a total failure unfortunately. Finished painting bathroom door.   31 Days with no alcohol almost done!  Ever so mild today - T-shirt weather in October!

Saturday 1st November 2014
Hell's teeth first of November.  Up early dog walked, most of papers fetched.  Fetched brekko from Piccy Bs then up to Osmaston for footie.  Nine holes of golf a wee bit late then coffee in clubhouse before getting back to cut lawns front and back for hopefully the last time in 2014.  All good stuff. Finally, after stopping sober in October it was time for a mini-bender in November so hit the bourbon and coke like a good un before off to bed nice and early!!

Sunday 2nd November 2014
Up early.  Dog walked.  Around 10am took her a bigger walk along by the river at Ellastone.

Farm in the distance is where wee Phil used to work

Nice morning considering how much it rained first thing.

Then 11.30am on the road to Carlton for a family do (Ruth and Jim's Diamond Anniversary!).  Back home for 6pm.  Took pooch a walk then settled down to watch Dr Who and that was yer lot - didn't really achieve owt on the last day of the mini-break!

Monday 20th October 2014 to Sunday 26th October 2014

Monday 20th October 2014
Up at 5.35.  Dog walked. Papers fetched. Into office for 8.20.  Stressy day but that's what life is supposed to be about!  Never mind.  Home for 6.15.  Tea, then dog walk.  Then a last undercoat for Phil's cupboard doors.  Still dried cracky so top coat going on - am not putting a 6th coat on it and the missus likes it anyway.   Painted the skirting board that had the lovely green on it another coat and also put a coat on the radiator prior to a top coat tomorrow.  Helped Lucy with her maths homework, - find the mean - at last some maths I can do!  Huzzah.  Wanted to watch Man Utd game on the goggle box but Sky have switched off  the sports (was hoping the bleeders had forgotten but they ain't - anyway £23 a month from 7th November).  Took pooch another small walk then bed.

Cracking job done by Jason and Stuart last week putting backing paper on.  Will all be done by end of week

This is the cupboard that is being such an arse - losing count of how many coats of undercoat have gone on. 

Tuesday 21st October 2014
Up at 5.30, headache again - think the paint is getting to me!!   Never mind, took the pooch a walk up town.  Weather is a bit iffy today as we get the remnants of Ex-Hurricane Gonzalez (like an ex-Girlfriend,??).  All good stuff.  Got papers and got home relatively dry.  Little dog is on top form again. Got to work for 8am which was good too.  Funny old day at work.  Got home at 6.30, tea then dog walk in mad howling wind.  Wet feet but never mind.  Then put a coat of satin matt on the door and all the skirting board I'd already put undercoat on.  Pleased to say that it's taken very well so think a bit of touching up hear and there and it will be done and dusted! Had a few episodes of Count Arthur to keep me entertained in the background and tomorrow it will be the Planet Rock radio player running on me phone!

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
Up at crack of dawn.  Parked up near the rec for a change to walk the dog which went fairly well except for a police van had parked behind me when got back to car after getting papers.  So had to put pooch in the back seat (she normally rides up front with me).  Anyway, she was good as gold and we got home for about 6.20am.  Shaved then did a bit in Phil's bedroom, then showered, breakfast and off to work , in for 8.20.   Group after work.  1.5lb off - better than I'd hoped. Then home, tea, dog walk, sifting carpet and painting skirting board in Phil's bedroom.  Took door off again  bit of filling and sanding.  Hoped it'd dry to get a second coat on but it wasn't to be.   So... took dog another walk.  Bed.

Thursday 23rd October 2014
Up at 5:30. Dog walked.  Shaved, got stuff ready for work.  Put another coat on the skirting board.  Hopefully can get it finished off tomorrow.  Got to take missus to Nottingham tonight so not going to get at it later (at least don't think I'll have time).  Time-consuming day today.  Yikes. Got home, tea, no time for nowt else.  Nottingham so missus could see Peter Andre with two mates as Royal Concert Hall.  I went to Cinema over road to see 7.45 showing of Fury which started at 8.15 (30 minutes of ads and trailers and I didn't get in until about 7.55).  Anyway it was good but gory - not a hell of a lot of character development or plot but it was very authentic.

It finished and as I was coming out of Cineworld folks over the road were streaming out of the Royal Concert Hall so know for the future that a film starting at 7.45 and lasting 2hrs 15m should be just about right.  Also need to remember for next time to do a Tesco Clubcard exchange as then an adult ticket is £4.50 which would save a fiver!  Got home for midnight, took dog a little walk and then bed.

Friday 24th October  2014
Up at 5.30, dog walked papers fetched, into the office for 8am.  Got the numbers finished for September for a project I'm on.  Took a cake in for Cancer Research and Leicestershire Air Ambulance fund raising.  Got home - more work on Phil's bedroom.  8.59 got front row tickets for Count Arthur Strong next March at Buxton Opera House.  All good stuff.

Saturday 25th October 2014
Up early.  Last coat of paint on skirting board. Dog walked.  Papers fetched.  Breakfast fetched.  Took dog another walk while waiting for paint to dry.

Got back, started banging on White emulsion using a pad for the first time - after getting used to make sure you don't overload it, it worked grand. Got three walls and ceiling done and a second coat on a third of it later on.  Took dog a walk, noticed a sign to keep dogs under control was falling off so went back to get impact driver and a few screws to sort it out.  Got to post to screw it on and noticed had lost the bit to screw it with.  Great.  Scanned with torch a few times but couldn't find the bloody thing.  Watched Doctor Who with Lucy, tried to stay up a bit later so when clocks go back I wouldn't be too knackered.

Sunday 26th October 2014
Up early due to halfwits in the neighborhood whistling at 4.30 in the morning.  Took pooch a walk.  Came back to bed, got up at 7am, took her another walk.  Got painting to finish off the white.  By noon was banging on the blue after masking off all the skirting, finished pretty much by 2pm.

At 3.45 we took Lucy and her mate Grace to Middleton-by-Wirksworth for a sleep-over with her mate Philippa.  At 5pm we were at me mum and dad's for a bob-on tea.  Took pooch another walk while we there.  When got back to Ashbourne did some snagging where masking tape had taken paint off here and there - got to be careful as we have bugger-all white paint left in the can! Bed for 10.20.

Monday 13th 2014 to Sunday 19th October 2014

Monday 13th October 2014
Another alcohol-free weekend successfully negotiated. Grand.  Up at 5:50 after ignoring alarm clock twice.  Took dog up town to get papers then got stuff ready for Cycle2Work and into the office for a bit after 8am.  Busy day in the office.  Home a bit after 6pm, tea, dog walked, half an hour on Phil's bedroom.  All good stuff. Watched the 'Kill the Moon' episode of Dr Who with Lulu. Wanted to get to bed early but failed due to sorting stuff out online  birthday present etc and checking weather for Cycling to work

Tuesday 14th October 2014
A fortnight of no alcohol today and am just kicking on with it!  Up at 5.30, dog walked and papers fetched.  Then car loaded up for a cycle2work from Belper.  Light rain as forecast and a pain-in-the-arse wind however, if it stays in same direction for way home I will be well pleased (it'll turn round, have no fear).

On way home the damned phone broke down again.  Set off at 5:19, got back for 6:02 so approximately 43 minutes to get back - I think I had the wind with me and have been giving the bike a blast with GT85 spray after last few rides which seems to do it a power of good

Wednesday 15th October 2014
Kept having to get up in the night to sort the pooch out.  She's got the runs and wants out of her crate when she needs to relieve herself.  After the 3am walk I took her I left her out of the crate and got up at 5:50 to find she'd done another, bless her.   Never mind, took her up town at 6am, got papers got into the office for 8.20am straight into Countdown Analysis. Long day of data entry but it will be more than worth it when it's all done and dusted.  Hollie's group after work - 1lb on.  Not too pleased after giving up alcohol but such is life - the scales don't lie.    Dog still poorly - took her a walk after tea.  Did a bit more on Phil's bedroom  haven't even done any painting yet!!!

Thursday 16th October 2014
Woke at 5am, out of bed for 5:20.  Took pooch a walk. Loaded up bike and off to Belper to Cycle2Work.  All good stuff. Under 52 minutes so a good three minutes quicker than Tuesday but almost perfect conditions for it!

Had a top day at work doing analysis of stuff.  Getting it near done now and well pleased!  Set off home about 7.15 and in Belper for a bit after 6pm, home for 6:30pm all good - got over took by two road bikes  - am almost of a mind to .  Got a call to say Jason coming tomorrow to put paper on for us so a bit of a panic.  Had tea, took dog walk, got busy upstairs.  The good thing is though that once this is done we can really move on. 

Friday 17th October 2014

Dog still got the runs, bless her so first job at 5:30 was to clean up the mess.  Then a walk and papers fetched all good.   Did a bit of sanding as I had to do some more filling last night on bits I'd missed.  Anyway, off to work nice and early and first McDonalds big breakfast in weeks!  Busy day in the office getting out reports to FMs but cut short when had to take dog to vets.  She does not like having her temperature taken or having an injection of vitamin B12 but by crikey it was worth  the £52 (with a tube of probiotic stuff) as following day she was rapidly getting back to normal.  

Saturday 18th October 2014

Up early, dog walked, papers fetched.  Brekko fetched from Piccy B early doors.  Off to Ripley for football.  Took the pooch a good walk round Ripley of a mile and a half or so.   Lucy's team won 4-0 over Ripley and Lucy nearly scored so all good stuff.  Back to Ashbourne Golf Club for 1pm and nine holes with John - very slow again.  Shan't miss that. Took Poocher a walk over to Sprinkshill wood.  Then back home - did a bit in Phil's bedroom. Off for a barbecue(!) at Beresford Dale in October - what a mild day!  Back home at 11.30 knackered.

Sunday 19th October 2014

Up early.  Mini walk with dog.  Shoes polished.  Big walk up Bradley Wood with pooch.  Back home and started the undercoating mullarky in Phil's bedroom. Put many coats on Phil's cupboard doors over the day but still drying cracky - not pleased.  Skirting board looking grand! Took Lucy and pooch for a walk and we got a load of sweet chestnuts - millions getting crushed on road. Shame. Then another coat of undercoat on the doors before a trip down to the lotty.    Pulled up the pea row and the secondary bean row (that didn't work that well - note to self for next year).  Got another punnet of raspberries, bosskat had two small cabbages).  Tea, then another coat.  Watched last night's episode of Doctor Who which was jolly clever and all that. Then bed early and asleep in about three seconds (give or take). 

Poocher up Bradley wood, Sunday Morning.

Lucy and poocher walking up to Sprinkshill Wood, Sunday afternoon.

16/8.5

Monday 6th October 2014 to Sunday 12th October 2014

Monday 6th October 2014
Up early, raining, waited til 5:50 to see if it would stop (it wouldn't) .  Little dog went 20 yards from car, had a wee, turned round and then went back under car - enuff said!   Got papers, went home, got ready for work.  Talk her a better walk in the drizzle so that made it alright.   Into the office for 8.20.  Busy day at work.  Nipped into Aldi - no pound for a trolley so got what was needed in a basket - no queues really at 5.40 either which was nice.  Also bought a sledge hammer that had been reduced to a tenner - saves me having to keep borrowing me dads!

Anyway, back home for 6.30, tea, then dog walked then into Phil's shed to find a heat gun I bought. When we met Paula and Darren yesterday he suggested it and I'd totally forgotten about the heat gun so gave it a go and it worked a treat (apart from briefly setting off the smoke alarm).  Anyway a few more nights and we'll have the skirting boards and cupboard door all sorted.

Tuesday 7th October 2014 - end of week 1 of Stoptober/StaySober or whatever it's called!
Up at 5:40.  Dog walked (fee constipation issues for pooch to resolve - perfect way to start the day).  Back home, showered, shaved, breakfast then off to work.  All good stuff so far.  Looking at Thursday and Friday for cycling again - right miserable start for October.  Funny sort of a day - didn't get out of the office until gone 6pm then had to fix Doug's Ipad Mini's email problem on way home (done and dusted in five minutes - brilliant), then quick tea, then dog walk, the up stairs and finished stripping one of Phil's cupboard doors.  Getting there slowly.  Watched last two episodes of Count Arthur Strong and then bed for about 10.10

Wednesday 8th October 2014
Up at 5:40, knackered again - need an early night soon I think!  Dog walked, papers fetched, ready for work and at desk by 8am.  All good.  Not to mention first week of no-alcohol completed.  Bloody grand.

Cracking full moon - be a good night for fishing somewhere!

Thursday 9th October 2014
Up at 5:24.  Yikes, it's early.  Dog walked, papers fetched, all good stuff.  Cycle2Work day nice and steady; just over fifty minutes to do the ten miles with the killer hill that is Wood Lane into Pentrich (a 300 ft climb over a mile doesn't sound bad but my legs would argue differently).   Weather forecast for going home doesn't look too promising but then again it's supposed to be chucking it down now and it's nice and sunny in reality).

Despite the crappy weather forecast I got home nice and dry.  Got home, had tea, took dog walk, got working on Phil's cupboard doors.  Almost done going to do a last sweep over it tonight and hopefully get it nicely sanded down and then start on skirting boards.  Getting there slowly!

Friday 10th October 2014 - Ten days of zero booze.
Up at 5:30.  Dog walked, papers fetched, half decent weather forecast so Cycle2Work day!!

Misty morning - turnoff for Back Lane at Pentrich (not that I've ever been down it!)

Moon over the Chevin Road Ridge (I ran along there in 2013 Rugby Rover - them were t'days!)

Good day in the office - lots done.  Then cycle home - supposed to have been best day of week but copped for the rain on the way back. Same view 11 hours later...

Think we watched the end of Count Arthur series then bed.

Saturday 11th October 2014
Up early, dog walked, paper fetched - damned nippy out - about 4 degrees when me and pooch went up town.  Back early missus and Lucy off to London.  Did a load of jobs outside tidying up - took down the little greenhouse, chopped back the brambles on the back.  Moved the bbq and waterbutt from the front to the back.  Took the little shelve things down for greenhouse project next year.  All good stuff, couple more walks with the dogs then off to play golf with John and Doug.  Played okay think it was 29 points on 3/4 handicap - got four pars on the trot and missed a shortish putt for a fifth one - hit some cracking drives.   On way back picked up a Knog Blinder front LED flasher from Halfords, it's USB rechargeable and works a treat so have ordered another for the road bike.  Watched Doctor Who and thoroughly enjoyed, stayed up til about 11 but had to go to bed after that.

Sunday 12th October 2014
Up at 6:30, took dog walk.  Pottered all day really.  Took Lucy to her friends at Wirksworth at lunchtime. Me and the missus and dog went for a walk at Middleton top - bloody grand up there in the sunshine.

Then back home, did a bit on the lotty - wrapped up the IBC against frost.   Missus had the broccoli and we got a tub of raspberries - plenty of em about this time.  Got back went to Stepping Stones for tea which was okay.  Then walked dog.  Then as dog wouldn't go far enough I got the bike out and went in search of chestnuts.  Not many yet but need to be on me toes as it won't be long...

Watched the "Caretaker" episode of Dr Who - very good.  Bed late again at 10.30.  Tired

Monday 29th September 2014 to Sunday 5th October 2014

Monday 29th September 2014
Hell's teeth September is almost gone.  Anyway, woke up in Rugby (as you do on a golfing trip), dead early and knackered.  Breakfast was nice about 8am, we did a few balls on the range then golfed at 10:40ish.  Spoilt by being held up and rushed in equal measure, at least Dad improved on his score I shot something like 108 - very first shot was out of bounds and that sort of set the tone for me.

Never mind - back home for about 3:40pm, tea and then mowed lawns and what have you.   Then down lotty for more mowing and then walking dog.  Bed early as very, knackered.  And haven't even mentioned all the Ryder Cup I watched!


Tuesday 30th September 2014
Up town with the hound really early.  Still wearing my postman pat shorts at the end of September - bloody marvelous!.    Papers fetched and off for a cycle2work.  Second bike in the shed - very good!  Good day at the office then off home on me bike.  Have stopped using Endomondo as it takes a week to start (exaggerating for effect of course but it does my head and often errors out) so have swapped to Runtastic which seems to work nicely.  Took 49 minutes to get home but was stood a minute before set-off, got stuck at all the lights, got stuck behind an old fella walking on my pavement! but don't care enjoyed the ride home (well, halfway home!).

Wonder whether this link will work for anyone:-
https://www.runtastic.com/en/users/paul-siddall-4/sport-sessions/324744695 

Well if it don't it'd look something like:-

Did a bit more work on Phil's room - scraped some paper off that we'd not got and found a ruddy great hole so have done a Siddly Special on it and hopefully it will be okay!  Also put Phil's door back on after a few alterations to strengthen the door frame! Spoke to Scottish Power and found out we were owed a load of money for them over charging so getting a whopping big refund and a low monthly deal - kerching!

Wednesday 1st October 2014, Stoptober Day #1
Up at 5:40 - proper lie-in.  Dog walked up town.  Into the office for 8:15!  Cycling again tomorrow!
Went to Hollie's group in Belper to check all okay with trial.  Lost pound and a half after all that booze and because I'm doing Stoptober I should be really cooking next week.  Got home, tea, dog walked, tomato plants torn up and in the green garden waste bin.  Bike prepared and bed early in readiness for a cycle2work in the morning!!  Upgraded to fibre broadband online, got an email saying going to be charged a one-off £15 fee and £5 for router delivery - so rang em spoke to Siobhan in the Preseton Customer Care centre eventually and said not having that so getting a £21 credit - kerching!

Thursday 2nd October 2014, Stoptober Day #2
Another brilliant night's sleep.  Up at 5:20.  Dog walked, papers fetched (well apart from cruddy Express as papers late in).  Shave and quick brekkie then off for a cycle2work.  Great fun and got an award from Runtastic for greatest elevation gain of 1145 feet, oh it is nice to me.  Anyway it was damn cold this morning so had jacket on (still walked up town in shorts and cycled in shorts so am still hard, me).  Cracking trip back home as well - had to take me jacket off after a couple of miles as was way too warm!   Got a thorn in the tyre with four/five miles to go but it held out and the actual inner tube was fine and dandy.  Was waiting for this sort of thing to put the new tyre on anyway so now got Cityjets on front and back.

Continental Sport Contact with optional thorn

Scwalbe City Jet fitted, tube good as gold!

After work got back for 6:30, had quick tea then down lotty as going dark - brought back 3 cauliflowers, some raspberries and a couple of sweetcorns with the bosskat.

Did a wee bit of sanding and stuff in Phil's bedroom - need to get a move on with it, really.


Friday 3rd October 2014 - Stoptober Day 3!

Up nice and early at 5:15, dog walked, papers fetched, third cycle2work of the week!  Whooped along in 48 minutes which is cracking (helped that I hit traffic lights at Belper, Sawmills and Swanwick all at green - almost unheard of!!).

https://www.runtastic.com/en/users/paul-siddall-4/sport-sessions/326260541 

At me desk before 8:30 all good stuff!  Steady cycle home. All good stuff.

Saturday 4th October 2014 - still off the juice!
Lie-in until 6.45, then dog walked, papers fetched. Breakfast from PiccyB's at 8:25, on road to Norton United's ground in Stoke for Lucy's footie!  Least said about the scoreline the better, they tried hard but these gals were very good and at least at 9-0 they kept it in single figures.   Weather was absolutely awful wind and rain - even dog wanted picking up and warming bless her!

 Back home, weather changed completely (see pic below) took dog a walk to see if any sweet chestnuts to be had at Sprinkshill Wood - not quite ready.

Cracking.  Chip shop tea not quite up to standard.  Did some more work on Phil's room.  Watched a couple of episodes of Count Arthur Strong o DVD with Lucy - genius t'is!  Bed earl as knackered.

Sunday 5th October 2014
Up before 7am, mini dog walk in the frost - first of the year.   Then back home for a brew, then a bigger walk up Bradley Wood - lovely up there.

Back home for 9.20, down lotty to do some jobs, brought back the last (probably) of the beans, some peas, some raspberries.  Did a bit of weeding and put a row of spinach in for the missus.

Over to Beresford Dale for a cuppa with Paula and Darren then over to me mums and dads for tea before they go off to that France.  Absolutely marvellous fish and chips, complete contrast to what we had from Compton Chippie, had half a mind to put some in a bag and post it through their letter box with a note saying "This is how you do it....".  Took pooch for a walk up Foggs Hill and what have you.  Cracking views Gromet.  

Back to Ashbourne for a bit after7pm so Lucy could help someone get their homework done.  Went to bed early again as was absolutely tatered for no good reason.



16/8.5