January 2021 Week Commencing Sunday 24th January 2021

Only me!

Sunday 24th January 2021

Not getting a paper today so first thing went for a walk up Ashbourne and back.  Was a bit slippy so went steady.   Beautiful sunset.

What a sunrise. 

Then went on biggest walk so far this year.  Mainly roads but a bit of fields/woods too which was a mistake as they are still absolutely sodden.   Just over five miles in total.  Used that damned OS Maps app again and it drained my battery again - once it starts you can almost see the battery draining, ruddy poor coding. 

Snow came down in a big way in the afternoon - three or four inches which was a little bit unexpected. Dog loved it. 

Monday 25th January 2021

Payday!  Up at 5:30 wee dog making her racket.   Dressed and took her out - very cold.   7am did the paper walk and that's 2.5 miles in the bag.   Ready for work at 8am and first day of the week is on its way. 

Looking over towards Sides Mill Farm from Church Mayfield

Tuesday through Thursday

The same sort of thing every day - lots of work, lots of walking, the usual treadmill sort of life continues. 

The Henmore Brook running mighty high (Thursday)

Friday 29th January 2021

Up dead early. 3am with the dog and then 6am with the dog.  Happy days.  Bosskat got up early too so went for a walk to get papers really early which was nice!

Moonlit morning for a walk with less torch!

Saturday 30th January 2021

Not quite the usual, 4.5 mile walk.  Dropping back down the golf course.  Found a dozen balls. Ace

Watched a film with bosskat in the afternoon - Saint Frances it was called - very highly rated not really my cup of tea.  Such is life.   

January 2021 Week Commencing 17th January 2021

Week Commencing Sunday 17th January 2021

 

Sunday 17th January 2021

Up at 2.30 then up at 5am - great to have a small dog back in the house!   Walked, fed and watered her. 

Went a big walk with next door's dog, just shy of 4 miles - when weather gets better I will take him across Wyaston Flats and make this walk a bit longer.

In the afternoon got cracking on me damn tax return.   Hate doing them even if they come but once a year.  Never mind. 

Monday 18th January 2021

Up at 6.15 (after a 2am dog attending session) - dog walked, fed and watered then walked to Mayfield to get papers (2.5 miles before breakfast)!  Didn't need torch on way back as days are beginning to get lighter which is great!

Sunrise at 7:50am getting lighter every day!!

Tuesday 19th January 2021

What a difference a day makes.   Non stop rain pretty much - flood conditions - got all the mileage done so rain can naff orf. 

Wednesday 20th January 2021

More of the same - wet, wet, wet walking but getting it done. 

Thursday 21st January 2021

Up at 3:30 with the dawg.  Marvellous, back to bed aty 4am then up at 6.10am.  Never mind.   Dog fed, walked and watered.  Then walk to Mayfield and back to get papers and that's 2.5 miles and 6,000 steps in the bag.  Fields are flooded but there's snow on them hills!

River Dove at Mayfield - very high

Fields flooded - snow on hills in distance

Walking back in a morning there's always hundreds of crows (a murder of) about - what a noise.

Friday 22nd Janaury 2021

More of the same, plenty of walking, all good stuff.  Bulls Eye during the Friday night call which was good. 

Saturday 23rd January 2021

Fetched papers first thing for 2.5 miles then took the Big Lad on a walk round Snelston which was another 4 miles in the bag.   Watched some nonesense on the telly box then bed early with the happy knowledge that DCFc had lifted themselves further away from the relegation zone by beating QPR which was nice (Rotherham have a few games in hand though so perhaps a false feeling of safety). 

Bit of an oxbow lake going to form there I reckon (back lane near Snelston)

January 2021 W/C Sunday 10th January 2021

Since I last posted in 2020 much has occured.  We lost our Lily, a wonderful little dog who I miss every day.  During Lockdown 2.4 (I think) we got little Ruby who is a proper nightmare hound - bitey, scratchy etc.etc.   

Back on it. Am signed up to two different online Weight Loss Programmes which is making for lots of fun.   Have started walking again for the new year. 

Sunday 10th January 2021

Took the Big Lad for a decent Sunday morning walk (did more or less the same walk yesterday as well on me own).

Monday 11th January 2021

Have added a new morning walk to the regime.   Since lockdown 3.0 or whatever we're on now I've felt it inappropriate to fetch the newspapers in the car so have found I can easily fit a 2.5 mile loop incorporating Mayfield Paper Shop on the way as long as the missus is up to look after the crazy puppy.

I wanted to go a walk Monday evening but it persisted it down so the most I got was a very short walk with the pooch who was in bad books for making a mess in the house!!

Tuesday 12th January 2021

Same morning walk as yesterday.   All good stuff.   My brother bought me the Mortimer & Whitehouse Gone Fishing book which is absolutely great - both Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse came together after serious heart operations so Bob Mortimer talks about heart healthy food and one of the things mentioned are pears being good so have had one of them today - it was alright.  

Did my usual just under 2 mile evening walk which is designed to be as safe as possible to keep the other half happy.   Watched 'Spiderman far from Home' with Lucy after tea and what have you - a slight improvement on Cats last week but still not a knock your socks off ace film. 

Wednesday 13th January 2021

Up twice in the night with the dawg.  Marvellous.   Up early.   Usual (now) 2.5 mile walk to get papers.  Making it a habit!   After a busy day in the office (home-office) I did the two mile evening loop listening to the Drummers Only podcast - vety enjoyable.  We watched the last episode of the Pembrokeshire Murders thing on ITV - absolutely excellent I thought.    Fast asleep before 10.30 according to my watch. 

Thursday 14th January 2021

Up at 6:02 according to the watch of truth - no dawg interruptions - great.   Walked the pooch briefly as it was chucking it down.  Fed her and got things ready then did the 2.5mi walk to Mayfield Paper shop and back at 7am.   Very, very wet.  But good to get the walk done. 

Friday 15th January 2021 

Usual 5 miles worth of weekday walks followed by Whisky in moderation and Zoom call with Paula and Darren with Who Wants to Be a Millionaire - ace or what. 

Saturday 16th January 2021

Chucking it down with rain so went to get papers by car.   Piccy B breakfast.  Big walk (pics below) but phone ran out of juice so didn't get all the mileage or steps I deserved hey-ho.     Phoned me mum and dad up then chippy tea. Watched Sonic the Hedgehog movie with Lucy - crikey blimey she makes me watch some tat!  

May 2020

May 2020 
What happened in May in a single post - Allotment blooming.   Played golf for the first time in best part of a year and played pretty solidly.  Missus went to hospital for a day after not feeling well.   Was made Chairman of Parish Council (only agreed to do it for a year because noone else would).  Went fishing in Liverpool.  Daily walking of varying lengths with the dawgs.

Dark Water at Birdsgrove, Mayfield - beautiful spot for walking the dog

One of the many wasp nests in me allotment shed aparently fabric conditioner scares em off

Multipliers loaded up with 60lb shock leader

Bluebells on the daily loop walk (1mile)

Fishing at Liverpool

Broad Beans in 

Painted shed green

My third shot approach to first at Manor Golf club after driving into trees and having to chip out

Runner beans in 

Sunday 26th April 2020 to Saturday 2nd May 2020

Sunday 26th April 2020
Did a bit down the lotty.  Went with Phil to get 5 bags of quality manure from one of the farms he works on.  Got that down the lotty.   Got bean trenches dug and muck in.  Got bean row up - am thinking I will wait for a couple of weeks longer before putting beans out.  First potato leaf spotted too which was good.

A spud finally shows it's face - was beginning to worry!!

Bean row sorted.  Am about 10 plants short as things stand but they are appearing all the time in the greenhouse

Monday 27th April 2020
Up early - half a day. Busy morning starting at 7.30, finishing 1.15 (although picking up emails all day long).   Took Lily for a mile up the golf course.   Weird to see golf course with no flags on the greens.  Very sad.

Took big lad for a 3 mile circular walk taking in the lotty - which i gave a bit of a watering.

Three potato leaves now appearing on the potato row - was worrying they'd not appear as we've done something a bit different with the spuds this year although we have done Maris Peer and Maris Piper varieties in the past we've never used supermarket spuds that have sprouted - got to give it a go ain't ya!

Tuesday 28th April 2020
Up at 6.30 (one of the benefits of lockdown is I get an extra hour in bed - happy days).  Dog walked.  Meters read for Scottish Power and submitted.   Work day begins!  All good stuff.

Sunday 19th April to Saturday 25th April 2020

Sunday 19th April 2020 
Decided last week that I'd use one of the slightly narrower rows for the runner beans (which are beginning to pop their heads up in the greenhouse).  So today's job was to get the posts up - am still waiting for some muck from Phil so the bed is by no means complete but it's weeded and today has got its posts up.    Also strimmed inside and out and then mowed all round as well.   Got another half row of radishes and beetroot planted as well.  All good stuff.

Plot 13 looking something like!

The bean row going here - look at that blue sky!

Monday 20th April 2020
Up at 6am.   Dog walked.  Ready for work at 8am.

Tuesday 21st April 2020
The usual - up early.  Dog Walked work.  Tea.  Pub quiz.   Dog walk with Lucy - bluebells showing at side of the Henmore.  Very nice.

Wednesday 22nd April 2020
The usual lockdown arrangements!   Up early.  Dog walked.  Work.  Tea.   Virtual pub quiz.  Walk with Lucy - went up to Sprinkshill Wood.   Bluebells out - beautifil spring day but crappy Coronavirus f*>king everthing up.

Thursday 23rd April 2020

The usual sort of day.  Took Big Lad on his own for a walk after work to the Lotty,  watered stuff and did a bit of weeding while there. 

Friday 24th April 2020
Cracking day for a day off.  Went and mowed paddy's in the morning.  Did a few jobs fixing stuff.  Usual walk in the evening

Saturday 25th April 2020
Payday whopp whoop.  Another beautiful day weather wise - did a load of potting up in the greenhouse.   Fixed one of the kitchen drawers.   Fixed the back gate with some craft use of the car jack all good stuff. 

Sunday 12th April 2020 to Saturday 18th April 2020

Monday 13th April 2020
Easter Monday - day off working from home.  Went to Lotty with a plan to sort out the big raised bed thing next to the shed.   Things went a bit awry from the start when the key broke in the padlock.   Fortunately I had a trowel, a bucket and a bag to put weeds in so I was clear the big bed, I fixed up some of the holes in it.   Weeded it.  Then I used the trowel to shift loads of soil that some rodent had dug up under the shed.   All good stuff!!

Tuesday 14th April 2020
Up early.   Dog walked.   Back to work today.  Ho hum.  Busy as. Walked the hounds after pub quiz o'clock and then walked to the lotty to do a bit.    Put a bit of pipe onto the big water tank and weeded the strawberry thang that i ought to do a wee bit more on really.

Wednesday 15th April 2020
Up dead early.  Hound walked.  Shower.  Went to work for a couple of hours brought a load of stuff back.   Data Protection work all day.,   All good stuff. Went big walk with Lucy and the hounds.  Then walked to Lotty and back.   Watered stuff and then set about one of the last two raised beds that want weeding.  Hard work but made a bit of progress before got too dark and set off for home.

Thursday 16th April 2020
Busy day in the home office just like t'others.   After work me and Lucy walked the dogs, did the pub quiz then I went to the lotty on the bike - it was okay - just like riding a bike really.   Finished off digging the bed I started on last night and have agreed it's going to be a bean row this year at least.

Friday 17th April 2020
Half a day at home work.   Lotty in afternoon - went in car with the small dog.   Did the long bed at the top of the plot - took a good while but it got done and that's the main thing.  All the beds have now been weeded.   There's still plenty of tidying up to do but for now it's a case of keeping on top of any weeds that poke their heads up.

17th April and it's beginning to look something like!!

This took some clearing but it's the last one so good to get it done!

Thid is where the bean row is going this year - if it works it'll stay there. 

Saturday 18th April 2020

Hmm.  Woke up early as usual - not as much rain overnight as I'd expected but by mid morning rain had properly settled in.   Read papers, drank coffee, had brunch going to get working in the Greenhouse I reckon.  Did a load of potting up.   Took over Phil's window sill which missus Siddall kindly cleared for me and now there's 40 tomato plants residing in the two windows upstairs.  Ace. 

April 2020

Well we're two weeks into Coronavirus lockdown and I've had enough of it already, to be honest.  Seem to be working longer days (just at home) and less drums or opportunity for drums.

What's happened since last time was here?

Loads.  Christmas was sort of cancelled as mum and dad couldn't travel.  Saw some good bands - Buck and Evans, Stillmarillion, Last in Line.  Saw some good and some bad DCFC performances but now everything stopped.  So have watched all of Breaking Bad, El Camino and have started on Just Call Saul.

Have got loads of stuff going on garden wise but am a little behind on the lotty. Hey ho same old, same old.

Saturday 4th April 2020

Dogs walked. Lots of potting up. Also got me runner beans in old MacDonalds drink cups - not single use anymore!  Also planted cucumbers, courgettes, cauliflowers, sunflowers and much, much more as the saying goes.  Put up a mini fence along side the front lawn. All good. Took Big Lad for a three mile walk which was nice.

Sunday 5th April 2020 
More potting up.  BBQ at dinner - bit of a fiasco - takes 45 minutes for briquettes to be ready - remember for next time!!  Went and did a bit at the lotty. Had four things on my list - decide where runner beans going, get a bed weeded and ready, mow all round, got a mini row of beetroot and radishes planted, brought pea guttering back home - all done in a couple of hours so all good. 

On way home saw a massive red kite really low which was nice.

Monday 6th April 2020
A full days work.  All interesting stuff. Went shopping for me mum and dad, drove it over to Darley Dale, sorted out Kindle for me mum.  Drove back, did Andy Bill's online pub quiz.  All good stuff.

Wednesday 8th April 2020
Mums birthday.  Not going to be seeing her today though - ruddy Coronavirus.   Never mind such is life.

Thursday 9th April 2020
Half a day today.  Started early 7.30 finished 1.15pm  Went and mowed Paddy's lawns and strimmed round.  All good stuff. Clapping for the NHS after me and lucy had walked the pooches.

Good Friday 10th April 2020
I think DCFC should have been playing West Brom today.  Ruddy Coronavirus.  Anyway did a load of pricking out of various flowers then went to Lotty.  Cleared two beds. Planted spuds and peas.  All good.

Saturday 11th April 2020 
Down at the lotty - Another bed cleared.  Repaired one of the raised beds that had started falling to bit.,

Sunday 12th April 2020
The hardest bed cleared so far.  Top tip for allotmenteers DO NOT PLANT MINT IN A BED put it in a container!!