Hell's teeth I been busy. - October / November

Need to get back into the habit of blogging.

October 2018

Lots happened but not captured it.  Such is life!  Didn't have a drop of alcohol in Stoptober though so that was sort of impressive!

12th October 2018
Gig at the Latch Lifter, Ilkeston - old stomping grounds but can't remember this pub being there 30 year ago - think it was a chapel back then!

14th October 2018
Made a bit of a cock up and won a Gibraltar Rack on ebay with Cymbal Holders for a great price - the cock up was that it needed collecting from Formby - topside of Liverpool!

20th October 2018
Gig at The Barge Long Eaton.

October 21st 
Big Lix are doing a one-off reunion gig at the end of November so went and did a couple of tunes at their rehearsal.

Biggest shock of the year happened in October too:-

Only went and sold a drum kit!  A Tama Superstar EFX - 2 bass drums 22 and 24, 12,13 and 16" toms.  It was the prettiest of kits.  Only made a small profit but who cares I had a lot of good gigs with it in various formats.

November 2018 

Saturday 3rd November 2018
Went to see DCFC crush Birmingham 3-1 - it was grand!

Tuesday 6th November 2018
Rehearsal with works band so had to swap the now-sold (but not collected) gold kit for one of the blue kits!

Friday 9th November 2018
An unexpected gig at the Tap N' Tumbler, Nottingham, went down a storm but very nearly broke me foot on an unseen step just before the stage.   Good night but back home mighty bloomin late.

Saturday 10th November 2018 
Got up, dog walked, papers fetched and then went back to SW Group in Ashbourne this time.  I've no intention of stopping to group ever just need to keep an eye on my weight, that's all.  Knackered all day so didn't do a great deal.  Gig at Chequers Inn, Breaston later so was psyching myself up for that!

Have gone all blurry in the face it would appear. 

Saturday night's office

Mapex Saturn V's the toms are unbelievably sweet and musical 

Sunday 11th November 2018
Hundredth centenary of Armistice Day.  Attended the service at Clifton Holy Trinity Church.  I thought it was superbly done although the choice of hymns had me flummoxed.  Then over to me mum and dad's for lunch, even Phil came - very nice indeed.    No red wine for me - back on it again after the Derby County Match.   Took Lucy back to UNI on the way home and bed really early to catch up on missed sleep!

Monday 12th November 2018 
Up at the crack of dawn, 5:20ish.  Dog walked, papers fetched,showered, shaved etc and into work for 7.30am. Bad day at work.  Done something wrong big-style, that's life though and you learn from your mistakes (hopefully).  Back home from work for 5pm, off to Buxton Opera House to see 10cc with Smith and Brewer in support who were very good - should have bought their CD. 10cc were 10cc that is to say I really liked some stuff but not all of it.   The drummer Paul Burgess was superb,  what a player.

Tuesday 13th November 2018
Woke up proper knackered but work goes on. Dog walked, papers fetched, into work for 7.30.   Practice after work up until 6pm then off to Police Headquarters at Ripley to attend a Neighbourhood Watch AGM - had a pound on the raffle and won a bottle of Jameson - result!

Wednesday 14th November 2018
Didn't wake until 5:45 so a bit on the back foot.  Still got into the office for 7.30.  Haircut after work.
Have decided to upgrade my 'studio' computer to Cubase 10 - only £25 for me, cheap as chips to have the latest version.  Only downside is that it's a 15GB (fifteen Gig!) download so went for a walk for best part of an hour and still only 10GB loaded!  Never mind will finish off tomorrow.

Thursday 15th November 2018
Up early as usual.  No papers in yet - not a great start.   Busy day at work, nothing new there.  Rehearsal with work band after work.  Back home about 7pm.  Up in attic to set Cubase10 download off again.  Took dog a walk then went and did my 2 mile walk.  Got back and it was all downloaded.   Took best part of half an hour to install it and then the best part of an hour to get the interface to the Zoom UAC-8 device to ruddy work.   I need to make a note of how to fix it in future as I'm sure it will re-occue.

Friday 16th November 2018
Great start to the day, caught something heavy with my elbow getting out of bed and its smashed into my little toe.  Brilliant.   Dog walked, papers fetched into work for 7.15.

Saturday 17th November 2018
Up early as usual went and fetched paper.   Then off to Slimming Club with Lucy.  4.5lbs lost which isn't as much as I'd hoped but is in right direction so I will take it.   Local pub re-opens tonight but we are out in the sticks at Hartington Village Hall to see a band called Thunder Hammer.   Straight away got kit envy.   The drummer has got one of the DW Design Series acrylic kits.  About £1500 for a 5 piece new, they are.

DW Design Series Acrylic - green with envy

Thunder Hammer - sellout audience of 250 - deserved it though they play well and do non-stop anthems pretty much

When we got back home there was a emergency service presence outside the old golf course following a fatal head-on crash.  Tragic. 


Sunday 18th November 2018
Up early.  Took pooch out early doors.   Pottered about all day.  Did some work on me drum rack that.   Me and bosskat went a big walk with Lily and Bruno who thinks he's a horse or something - never stops pulling.

Night time we went up to the re-opened pub and I had not one but two pints of Old Peculier - superb, happy days now need to leave it alone for a few weeks!

Monday 13th August 2018 to Sunday 19th August 2018

Monday 13th August 2018 

Up early, dog walked, into office in good time. Left early for Retinopathy check at St Oswalds. Did a few bits and bobs at home, watched a bit of telly, bed for 10.30.   

Tuesday 14th August 2018 

Up at 5:30, dog walked, papers fetched.  Into office early doors.  Brought stuff for Cycle2Work day tomorrow.  All on rails.   Meeting about Parish Council coffee morning thing in September after work interesting stuff.

Wednesday 15th August 2018
Cycle2Work day - up dead early. Papers fetched - cycled to work.  Took me ages - very unfit need to do something about that!!  Cycled back checked out fishing marks on way back for colleague at work right enjoyed it.

Thursday 16th August 2018
Dad's birthday so nipped over after work.

Friday 17th August 2018
McFlurry Day and prep for camping mullarky.

Saturday 18th August 2018
Did a bit on lotty.  Did a bit more getting ready for camping we decided that as predictions were for 40 mph gusts which in the event turned into 50 mph gusts that we would delay going until Sunday.   So did plenty of watering etc to get stuff ready.

Sunday 19th August 2018 
Up super early.  Set off for Aberdaron at 6am.  We went the way that we'd go for Anglesey but instead of going across the Britannia Bridge we got off at junction 10 and whizzed down past Carnarfeon to Pwwhelli - we dropped Abbie off on the way at her friend's house in Abersoch so all good stuff.   Got to the campsite - a bit windy but got tent set up and everyone happy.  Cracking views!

August 2018 - part 1

As you may have noticed I haven't had any time to do blogging or anything for ages.

So what happened in August. Hmm.

Saturday 4th August 2018
Watered lotty. Went and did a bit of golf in the afternoon.  Went to Castleton Devil's Arse Cavern to see a band called Thor - Gods of Rock from Sheffield who were absolutely excellent it has to be said.

Sunday 5th August 2018
Loads of little jobs in the morning.  Crown Green Bowls in the afternoon - not my thing went on for hours and was very hot.   BBQ in the evening all good'ish.

Monday 6th August 2018
Watered Lotty. Back to work.  All good.   Went and got Phil a wee tent - an Outwell Idaho L which is enormous.  Set it up on the Lawn all good. .

Tuesday 7th August 2018 
Work. Back home.  Took Phil's tent down.  Did a bit of tidying up and recon on the Playing field.

Wednesday 8th August 2018
Too tired to water lotty.  Work.  Back home.  Fitted a 4GB memory upgrade to Lucy's laptop - it's a bit quicker now.  Good.  Took dog a walk up the golf course came back with over golf balls - 14 good enough for reuse and the rest in a pot for drainage for plant next year.

Thursday 9th August 2018 
Knackered.  But got up at 5:30 went and watered lotty then got papers then off to work - a bit late at 7.40am but can't be helped.

Friday 10th August 2018
Our kids birthday.  The usual stuff but meal at the Isaac Walton Hotel - dead posh and above my station.

Saturday 11th August 2018 
Me and bosskat took Lily and Bruno a walk round the meadow.  Very nice. Got a few hours done down the lotty. Got Paddy a new telly installed.  Watched Derby get hammered. A 40th do at Jack Rabbits in Ashbourne - absolutely hammered it down with rain. Didn't think a lot to Jack Rabbits perhaps it was too busy..

Sunday 12th August 2018
Rained a fair bit in the night.  Didn't do much at all all day.  Researched fixing Pads old' telly.   Did a few bits and bobs.   Went over to me mum and dad's for tea.  Cracking.

July 2018

Crikey I've been slack about blogging of late but I been slack at blogging because I been reet busy in everything else.

So what's happened  - been on hols.  Been busy in the lotty, did good at one Open at the Manor and less good at the other at Ashbourne!     Did Lucy's 18th while we were on hols in Wales, Did Phil's when we got back.

Saturday 21st July 2018
Up early as always.  Down to lotty - fence has been broken into in two places on number 13 plot - culprit is suspected to be a badger. Hmphf.  Played golf in the afternoon with John at Ashbourne - ground is really hard - hit a drive 265 yards up the fourth (it's uphill at the end too!).  All good got 18 holes done.

Monday 18th June 2018 to Sunday 24th June 2018

Monday 18th June 2018
Up at the crack of dawn absolutely cream-crackered.  Such is life.  Dog walked papers fetched - felt that as there had been a bit of rain the lotty would stand a day.  Over to Darley for watering duties, did a bit on the gutter, think it's about okay.  Popped down saw Uncle Michael then pounded back to watch England match.  Usual average sort of a performance from England but a last minute winner made it all okay!

Tuesday 19th June 2018 
Up early, dog walked, lotty watered.   A bit late into work but not too late.  Found out that we'd come fifth and if I'd sunk a three foot putt and the 46" almost nearest the pin putt we'd have been equal first.   No justice.  Someone beat my nearest the pin by 4" as well.  No justice x two.

After work back home for 5pm, Tea then down to lotty to get a load of stuff in the ground - dwarf french beans, some runner beans to make up for the ones that have been attacked by something, 4 pumpkins and a load of sweet corn.  Still playing catchup in June!  Never mind.

Wednesday 20th June 2018
I watered everything last night so I could have an extra half hour in bed so didn't get up until 5:30.    Dog walked,  papers fetched, into office for 7.32 all back on track.

Monday 11th June 2018 to Sunday 17th June 2018

Monday 11th June 2018
The daily order in Summer goes : get up at 4.45/5.00am - shower, shave, get dressed.  Go lotty with dog and water, walk dog and get papers - off to work for 7.30am    Work then home for tea and watering.  Also mowed lawns at our house.

Tuesday 12th June 2018
Same as yesterday'ish but after work over to Darley Dale.  Watered everything and dropped off some metal chairs.  Took the plastic chairs to the tip where I got a couple of reet big plastic containers that had had ionised water in em.  Good stuff.

Wednesday 13th June 2018
Same old for start of day.  Went to lotty and cleared another patch on number 7 - I have got tons of rubbish that needs taking to the tip though.  Planted lots of flowers here and there!

Thursday 14th June 2018
Same as usual.  Went over Darley Dale for watering.  Got stabbed by a rose so watered topless to stop too much blood getting on me shirt.  Such is life.  Trimmed the gutter so that it would fit with the slightly smaller old bracket.  Put some water in it and found out the joint needs some silicant sealant in it will get some from pound shop if I can!!  Watered everything and then back home - chippy tea.  Mowed outside to fill the green bin up.  All good stuff!

Friday 15th June 2018
Same as usual.  Back home.  Watched a load of telly.  Watered not much else.

Saturday 16th June 2018 
Raining yay!   Afternoon - plumbed in Pad's water butt.  Went and bought some silicon sealant from pound shop got Lucy to serve us. Ace.  All good stuff.

Sunday 17th June 2018
Up early.  Took dog to lotty and watered.  Got some goodies off the kids for Father's day - bolts from Phil and a cracking picture from Lucy:-

Got golf stuff ready.  Picked Andy Bill up at 8.30, teeing off for the Manor Golf Club Men's Open early at 9.15.  Rather enjoyed it played with two chaps from Sutton.   We ended up with 43 points which I thought was rather good but someone put a card in with 48!  Shows what I know.   We were  clubhouse leaders at least for a while and I had got the nearest the Pin on the 13th when we went past with 46"  - don't know if that held out or not.   Not to worry.

Swans at the Manor Golf Club, Kingstone

Andy Bill pars the 16th

Looking over 16th Green down the 17th Fairway - cracking course!

Final card with corrections in place!!

Monday 4th June 2018 to Sunday 10th June 2018

Cripes what happened to this week?

Tuesday 5th June 2018
Did I go to Darley to water on this day?  Wish I could remember!!

Wednesday 6th June 2018
Got camping gear down from the attic.  All good stuff.

Thursday 7th June 2018
The usual - up early , work.  Have I mentioned Bella Baps has shut?  Gutted.  Never mind am £6.40 a week better off perhaps.  Anyway after work over to me mum and dads to Water and do a bit on the gutter.    Got everything watered.   Got home went down lotty and watered.

Peas coming

Strawberries coming

Started loading up the car and of course the heavens opened.  That's my life that is.

Friday 8th June 2018
Up at 4:30am ish finished off loading up then off to Wales 5.15am!  Amazed at the amount of traffic about.  Got to Church Bay about 9.30ish with three stops on the way.  Raining when we set off but as soon as we got to Chester the road was dry and it stayed like that for the next three days.

Saturday 9th September 2018
Well that was the night that was.  Pumping electro dance music until 3am from nearby GottWood festival.   Hmmm.  Slept a bit though so not all bad.  Weather awesome Went to Valley Car Boot - got two Ping G2 HL Irons.   Went a walk in Penhros Country Park with the missus, lovely day and the trees gave us some much needed shade!

Sunday 10th September 2018
Got up early again, had a shower etc  Music not as bad last night someone must have had words with them!   Packed up and came home.  Got back about 5pm unloaded then went and mowed Pad's lawn.

Tuesday 29th May 2018 to Sunday 3rd June 2018

Monday 28th May 2018 
Did a bit down the lotty after work then walked back with the dog. Found out it was a mile and half back - who knew??

Dwarf French Beans, Butternut Squash and Courgettes all in. 

Walking back from Lotty - a mile and half it turns out

Tuesday 29th May 2018
Up a bit late and slow to get going.  Dog walked, papers fetched, into office for 7.45am   Stressful day, never mind. Missus rings up at lunchtime to say Phil is putting new roof on shed.  So got home and sort of helped.  Mowed outside and then front lawn. Still got to do back but Green bin is absolutely rammed.  Painted three sides of shed.  Wanted to get down to lotty to water but it was too dark so took el pooch a walk and that was that.

Wednesday 30th May 2018
Up early - 4.30.  Went to lotty at just gone 5am, someone there already and when I went at 5.45 there were another two there!    Watered everything but looks like rain is coming anyway!  Dog walked.   Papers fetched - into office for 7.20am  - no bacon butty as Bella's Baps van was shut this morning - going to the dogs this country is!  Another stressful day in the office but hey ho such is life.  Got home had tea.   Took Dog to lotty and did a bit of planting - all good stuff - too wet to do anything else really.

Thursday 31st May 2018
Up at the usual 5am.  No lotty after all the rain yesterday.  Up town with the dawg early doors, back to the car for 6am and waiting at car park at 7am, gave it 10 minutes then parked at work in the morning for first time in months.   Did a bit more down the lotty.

Friday 1st June 2018
No idea what I did.   Bella's baps was shut so no bacon bap.  Rubbish.   Got home and did a bit of work on the Village Newsletter which I've now taken on!  Not sure what else.

Saturday 2nd June 2018
Papers, dog walks, golf at Ashbourne. Steady.  Absolutely cream crackered and had kip on sofa when got back.  All good.

Sunday 3rd June 2018
Up early dog walked and all the usual.  Did some stuff up at Pads I think.  Played at Manor Golf Club in the afternoon - all good stuff.

We let these guys through - check out the heron 

Monday 21st May 2018 to Monday 28th May 2018

Monday 21st May 2018
Up early.  Down lotty watering.  Papers fetched, dog walked into work a bit 7.30 after having to play car shuffle on the drive to let Phil get out to go to work.  Rushed into Derby to get Lucy's birth certificate sorted out - dead easy to do just went on to derby.go.uk website and clicked on book-it to get the option to get a birth certificate done same day for £20.  Thought it was worth it to de-stress the child!    Got home, had tea, went down lotty - got some cabbages in the ground on number 13 and watered everything thoroughly .

Tuesday 22nd May 2018 
Up a bit late.  Didn't do lotty as had watered Monday night. Dog walked, papers fetched into the office for 7.30am all good apart from forgetting to bring me lanyard to get past the security.   Never mind, went through main reception and came back.  Such is ruddy life.     Nipped into Derby on way home to pick a drum up - took an age to get out of Derby.  Hey ho.   Had tea, nipped down to lotty to quickly water and bring home overalls.  Then up to Pad's to paint his shed.  All done by 9pm.   Still not had a look at the new drum yet!

Wednesday 23rd May 2018
Up at 5am so thought I'd water the lotty another time!  Papers fetched, dog walked. Did some measuring up for new shed roof.  Sausage and bacon cob day on walk in to work - marvellous.  Up to Pad's after to bang some plants into pots and what have you.  Then down to lotty to do some more late brassicas (such is life!!).

Cabbages, caulis and broccoli(calabrese)

Thursday  24th May 2018
Up a bit late and lots to do so didn't get into office until just before 8am!  Never mind.  busy day in the office. Back home, tea and then did a bit of Parish Council work then about 8pm went down lotty and mowed all round and then watered everything again! All good stuff

Friday 25th May 2018 
Up just after 5am.  Raining!!! Dog walked, papers fetched, wet. Got to work early but got wet walking in?   Such is life.

Saturday 26th May 2018
Lotty watering.  Papers. Dog walking.  Then work party on the playing field putting gravel down and stuff.

Then up the hill to do paddy's shed - putting new panels on the back and then painting the bugger. 

 All good stuff.

Sunday 27th May 2018
Did a bit of lotty watering in the morning.  Did a bit of work making picnic tables on playing field a bit more secure.

Then up to Alstonefield Car boot sale - bought all sorts for a change including a £70 windbreak for £4! 

Then not sure but I never stop so was doing something. Over to me mum and dad's in the afternoon.

Bank Holiday Monday 28th May 2018
Up early and off to Lotty to get bean row up. Then fetched papers with dog.

Runner beans in

Butternut squash, courgettes, dwarf french beans, random broad beans

Took a birthday present over to golfing buddy along with a load of tomato plants.

Did a load of planting and got some chairs out of the greenhouse to make space for potted up tomatos and stuff.   Got loads of flowers pricked out into seperate pots.   All good stuff.

Got Phil to drop me off at the lotty in evening to water everything then walked back (1.5miles I found out) with the hound as the sun went down.