Monday 22nd September 2014 to Sunday 28th September 2014

Monday 22nd September 2014
Cripes am behind with the blog.  Up at 5.20.  Dog walked, papers fetched, cycle2work.  Reports knocked off at work with awesome precision.  A bit of a hoo-har with a District Manager that will be resolved in due course.  Cycled back - got a puncture.

Tuesday 23rd September 2014
No Cycle2Work - am not putting same tyres back on - want to put a pair of gatorskins I've got but they are pigs to fit so have ordered some smaller tubes.  Good day in the office, the hoo-har got sorted.  Got one of the big reports done to make time for special project work on Wednesday.

Wednesday 24th September 2014
First day we've had any rain of note in September I think.  Still, by 5:40 it had stopped so took the wee dog up town to fetch papers and we stayed fairly dry.  As with yesterday not rushing to work as Janette is up the road at Pads.  Bought some new inner tubes in an attempt to get the damned gatorskins onto the rims thought that might be what was making the difference but it wasn't am going to give up trying to get em on - damn things.  Did a bit of work in Phil's bedroom.  Took pooch for a big old walk.

Thursday 25th September 2014
Up at 5:48 - must have altered my alarm so a bit late for the off.  Took pooch up town and fetched papers. In the office in good time but not as early as usual due to having to wait for Lucy to go to school while boss up at Pads.  Went to Wilko at lunchtime got two bags of seedling compost for £2.20, bought 4 bags of plant markers for 40p!  Bought two packs of seedling markers for 20p each and 2 15m hosepipes with attachments for £3 each.  A good sortie I couldn’t help but think.  On way home did an Aldi shop and stopped off at Halfords for second night running as I decided I'd see if a different puncture resistant tyre would do the job.  So got 2 Schwalbe Cityjets for £24 (cheaper than Wilko at £30) and guess what?  They go on no problem in no time at all. 

Scwalbe Cityjet - on in five minutes!!

Watched a programme called Marvellous on BBC2 and it 100% lived up to its' name - will watch it again on Iplayer.

Friday 26th September 2014
Up at 5:40.  Dog walked some papers fetched (late delivery again!).   In to the office for 8:30.  Stopped and took a pic along the way.

Saturday 27th September 2014
Up early.  No golf today as taking me dad golfing Sunday and Monday.  So went footballing with Lucy instead in morning taking in a walk through Osmaston Park at same time with the wee hound.

Sunday 28th September 2014
Up early.  Dog walked first thing.  Whizzed to Lotty and did a bit.  Back home to set off for Rugby about 11am with me dad for Golf at Draycote Hotel.  Got there for a bit after noon and teed off bay 1.15!!

Nice course, 5.5 miles to walk, bit tight in places - trees everywhere - went round in 95 on first day and so expected great things on Monday. 

16/10

Monday 15th September 2014 to Sunday 21st September 2014

Monday 15th September 2014
Up at 5.20. Dog walked, papers fetched.  Cycle2Work all good but Endomondo app not working. Good day in the office and on the road home by 5.15.  Bombed along - Endomondo not working still might look at putting Strava on (if it's free!!).

Tuesday 16th September 2014
Up at 5.20.  Dog walked and papers fetched by 6.30, ready to cycle2work only to find a rotten puncture in rear tyre.  So no Cycle2Work.  However, it's a sort of opportunity I can take to swap the tyres on the UMB from the Continental sport slicks to even narrower Gatorskin tyres which are much more puncture resistant.  At my desk for 8.25.  Tea then Dog walk when got home, picked a ton of blackberries for the boss.  Got home and had a wee dram while watching New Tricks then bed.

Wednesday 17th September 2014
Up a bit later as had day off.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Brekkie then down the lottie.  Bit of shed fixing, weeding, watering, picked some raspberries for the boss then back home.

Dow walked, then golf with John and Doug at Breedon Priory - a nice course, friendly people, terrible, terrible greens. Such as shame as the layout is quite good.  Back home,  tea, dog walked, got me sky price brought down. Probably need to do same thing next year as well.

Thursday 18th September 2014
Up at 5:30.  Dog walked, papers fetched, shower, brekkie then in office for 8am! Good solid reporting day in the office.  Left about 5.15, back home for 6pm'ish.  Tea then dog walked then down lotty before it was dark.  Lots of watering and harvesting  - all good stuff.

Back home, walked dog then did me tyre on me bike and fixed innertube to be my travelling spare (although I think I might just have to get a few decent replacements thinking about it).  A nip or two of tasty whisky then off to bed.

Friday 19th September 2014
Up early. Dog walked, papers fetched.  Belper Rugby club to see one of the trial Consultants then into the office.  All good stuff.  Dog walks as usual.

Saturday 20th December 2014
Up deal early.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Did a bit of work in Phil's bedroom - damp newspaper in the big gaps ready to polyfiller over top of em.  Then piccyBs at 8:30! Then off to Rangemore Fields for Lucy's football.  Took the dog a biggish walk which was okay in the lovely drizzle then watched last fifteen minutes of the match which Ashbourne Aztecs U15s won 3-0 - marvellous.  Then back home.  A bit of work down the lotty preparing a plot for some spring cabbages the missus has bought (it's a bit late to be putting em in but we'll see what happens).   Then back home to take the pooch out then chippy tea.  Then Doctor Who, then a mini walk, then bed!   Forgot to mention Phil is on the move - Montana to New Salem, North Dakota - 598 miles.

Sunday 21st December 2014
Up about 6:15, took dog a walk but she was acting funny and didn't want to go far so got down the lotty and got the spring cabbages in.  Got home and did a bit more polyfillering in Phil's bedroom then took wee dog for a walk up  Bradley Wood.

Then we were up to The Ketch (Greyhound?) at Kniveton for a bit of lunch.  Then Lotty to show me mum and dad what it was like (been a few months since they were last there).   Then back home, cup of coffee, then another walk for the hound. Got stuff ready for cycle2walk in the morning.



16/11

Monday 8th September 2014 to Sunday 14th September 2014

Monday 8th September 2014 
Up at 5.20.  Dog walked and papers fetched by 6:30.  Missus going up to Pad's.  Me making sure Lucy gets off to school okay.  Into office for 8.45 still all good stuff.  Preparations made for Cycle2Work tomorrow.  Home, tea, dog walked - lily really on form and fair bombed round.

Down lotty got some raspberries, a few beans.  Did a load of watering as it's been dry for a few days.

Tuesday 9th September 2014
Up at 5.20.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Off to work early.  Good Cycle2Work but a bit nippy. Busy as hell at work didn't get what I wanted to do done but did a load of stuff for everyone else!  Cycled home at 5.20, back home for about 6.35.  Tea then dog walk, polar opposite of last night - no go at all in little dog and took ages.   It might have been due to paragliders buzzing about - got some pictures of em against a nice sunset.

Such is life.  Back home and then down lotty.  Got netting off Sweet Corn and bosskat took one home. Look alright but probably not worth growing if truth be known.

Wednesday 10th September 2014
Up at 5.30, struggled to get out of bed but such is life.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Moon really big - got some pictures on bosskats camera but not had time to get em downloaded.   Phil sent some pictures home at last with himself on em.   Missus well happy.

Thursday 11th September 2014 
Phil got 2 inch of snow overnight - that'll teach him to go gallivanting over to the states won't it.  I got up at crack of dawn.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Long day at work (or so it felt).  Got home a bit late after making the mistake of going to Aldi (bottle of Jim Beam in the bag).  After tea, me and the bride went for a walk with the wee dog, got a load of blackberries which was grand, then walking back through the posh bit of Clifton we bumped into a couple who Janette knows and they gave us some cooking apples, just needed to bump into someone with some pastry and a bowl and we'd have had a full house - but you can't have everything.

Got everything ready for a cycle2work tomorrow, watched Castles in the Sky on iplayer which was very good but felt a little bit rushed.


Friday 12th September 2014
Up super-early at 5:20.  Took pooch a walk and got most of the papers. Cycle2Work morning - second into the bike shed (that red one has apparently not moved for several days!!)

Cycled back in good time, quite pleased.  Tea and dog walk.  Did'nt do much else!

Saturday 13th September 2014
Up early. Dog walked, papers fetched.  Went and got breakky from Piccy Bs'.   Did a bit of sanding with the new sander. Golf at lunch time played grand but round cut a bit short - had five pars and a birdie on front nine, two pars on the four holes we played on the back nine.  All good stuff.  In evening we went to Chopper Woodcocks wedding do.  Very good fun but didn't get to bed until nearly midnight - very tired on Sunday morning.

Sunday 14th September 2014
Up early.  Dog walked got some elederberries.  Then a bit of tinkering at home then another walk and more elderberries (me dad uses for winemaking if you must know).  Then down lotty, pulled up a load of brassicas that had gone past best and did a load of weeding, missus did some harvesting of broccoli, beans, carrots, raspberries and anything else that looked about or just about ready.

Watched Forest (11 men plus ref) vs Derby.  1-1 draw a great result but Forest fans very bitter.  Then went mum and dads for tea - very nice and took the pooch round the block which she always enjoys. Back home, quick walk with dog, off to bed early.

Monday 1st September 2014 to Sunday 7th September 2014

Monday 1st September 2014
Hell's teeth, how can it be September???  Up early, dog walked, papers fetched. Into the office nice and early. Lots to do.   Got Lucy's homework photos uploaded to Costco so bosskat can fetch em.  Back home for about 6pm.  Tea. Dog walked and then down the lottie.   New Tricks on telly then bed.

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
Brill night's sleep.  Up at 5:30. Dog walked, papers fetched.  Lovely looking sort of a day.  Cycled2Work from Belper.  Bit slower than before - need them tyres pumping up a bit I think.  So long since last had the bike out that there's rust on the chain!!!  Never mind really enjoyed the ride in, feel more alive for having done it somehow.  Rode 10 miles back in 49 minutes which is acceptable as not fit at the moment. Passed Jason Hutchinson at Sawmills which was cool.   Got home for about 6:30 so not bad all told.  Tea then dog walk, little dog not very well it would seem.  Thought she might have swallowed a sticky bud (spiky plant seed or something but we think it might also be her coming into season.  Did a little bit up in Phil's bedroom. Going to have to do a wad of filling it would seem.  Never mind.

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
Huurah little dog is still okay!  Up at 5.40.  Took her a walk up town and fetched papers.  Brought a load of stuff in for Cycle2Work day tomorrow.  All good stuff. Funny day at work couldn't quite get what I wanted done all day.   Back home for 6.20.  Dog walk. Took picture of last cut of silage being done for wee Phil.

Lawns mowed.  The amazing England football show on the telly.  Early bed.  Fire engines in the middle of the night.  A house round the street on fire it, everyone okay I hope.

Thursday 4th September 2014
Up at 5.20.  Walking dog at 5.30.  Papers fetched and back home by 6.10.  Cycling to work about 7am.  Marvellous.   Had organised the Cycle2WorkDay event at Slimming World and at 8:30 was tucking into bacon cob, croissant and a muffin for later!  All went well, turnout could have been better but people are very tied to their motors at the moment.

A small group of Cycle2Workers - all from IT Team it has to be said

Got home for just gone 6.30.  Tea then walking the hound.  Then a couple of hours on Phil's bedroom refurb.  Then bed.

Friday 5th September 2014
Up at 5.20 after dog made a bit of a funny noise.  Not a problem as am Cycling2Work again anyway.  So fetched papers and took dog walk.  Bagel for breakfast, coffee on the hoof.  Cycle2Work in for 8am - not getting any quicker but showing more commitment after third ride in of the week!

Top day for another Cycle2Work!

Home for 6:30ish.  Top tea.  Dog walk. Bit of filling in Phil's bedroom.   Fitted a new tip ring to a 1-3oz spinning rod I've got that I want to use for bassing next summer.

Saturday 6th September 2014
Bit of a lie-in - didn't get up til 6:30.  Took dog a walk and got papers.  Serviced the multiplier reels.  Fetched breakfast from Piccy Bs.  JAS and Lucy went footballing.  I took wee dog a walk in the rain - texted Doug and John to see if golf was going to be cancelled and got laughed at as one was in garden at Hulland and t'other was mowing his lawn at Marston.  Never mind, I know how much it was raining.  Anyway, met em up at the golf course - teed off at 12.30 and played some solid steady golf - didn't putt well but hit some cracking shots - drove it further than I had for a long while - this must be what happens when you leave five weeks between rounds!  Got home, chippy tea! Missus and Lucy went out to a do - I watched Doctor Who and all sorts of rubbish with the dog.

Sunday 7th September 2014
Up early.  Dog walked. Pollyfilla plaster repairing Phil's bedroom - blooming brilliant stuff it is too. Went down lotty in afternoon and did a bit.  Tea at Stepping Stones (again!) all good stuff.

Monday 25th August 2014 to Sunday 31st August 2014

Monday 25th August 2014
Up dead early. Dog walked first thing - her bottom is back to normal which is great.   Although it's bank holiday I went into work as had a ton to do and anyway it was raining.  So got in for 8am and left about 4:30.  After tea, took the dog a walk and then did some work on Phil's bedroom.  All good stuff.   Watched Man City crush Liverpool 3-1 then off to bed.

Tuesday 26th August 2014
Up 5:40.  Dog walked then took her over to me mum and dad's as bosskat going to Skegvegas all day.  Still got into the office for 8:30am.  Fetched a load of stuff from lotty and did a bit of weeding.

Wednesday 27th August 2014
Dog walked, papers fetched.  Into office nice and early lots to do.5 lb off at group

Thursday 28th August 2014
Up early dog walked.  Into work early, loads to do.

Friday 29th August 2014
Knackered before I start even!.  Day off work woohoo. Took the wee dog out first thing.  Then off to Meir to get Lucy's school blazer sorted out.  Bit of a fail as it's not in stock but they are going to send us one out so all is not lost.  In afternoon we met up with Paula and Darren who we know from Anglesey but also have a static caravan in the back of beyond somewhere near Hartington.  Stepping Stones for tea, very nice.

Saturday 30th August 2014
Up early, papers fetched, doggo walked.  Tinkering with websites. Fetched brunch from PiccyB's - grand. Started on Phil's bedroom got a ton done.    Watched Doctor Who after taking pooch for a walk round te meadow.

Sunday 31st August 2014
Last day of bloomin August - where's it gone? Up early.  Dog walked.  More working on Phil's bedroom. Good to get that going after four months of him being away!!  Over to mum and dad's in the afternoon for a marvellous tea.  Took pooch a walk when we got back.  Couple of beers and bedtime!

Monday 11th August 2014 to Sunday 24th August 2014

Monday 11^th August 2014

Up at the crack – same story with the pooch.  Let her out in the small hours to have a wee in the orchard then she wanted to go walk in Ashbourne time.  So down the beach we go.   Nice thing about Church Bay early doors is no-one about so can let Lily off the lead with a fair amount of confidence.  All good stuff.   There’s a job I can’t delegate so I sent off most of the files on the blackberry but still needed wifi to send some of the big ones off so went into Holyhead.  Took Ray with me to give him a tour of the facilities – Stermat, TJs Discount Warehouse, Tesco, Asda, Lidl, showed him where the harbour and  breakwater are, came back through Trearddur, showed him Spar and Costcutter in Valley.  All good stuff.  Got back about lunchtime, kids on beach so went down to sit on beach for a couple of hours.  Back up at 3pm for lunch!  Sat in Orchard in the Sun – marvellous, Ray came round for a chat, went and had a couple of hours sleep.

Went fishing about 8.30 with day old lugworm not expecting much.  Sea still a bit fruity and by 9pm was on the ramp as the tide was rushing in for a 32 footer (Tuesday’s high tide is even bigger).  Any by fifth cast of the night I had a nice fish on and pulled in the first codling I can remember catching off the shore here.

A plump lil old codling!

A keeper too which after bosskat had had first refusal and refused we gave to Ray for his bbq.   In hindsight, should have filleted it, covered in breadcrumbs then took round to the Sizzlin Kitchen for them to deep-fry for us!!

Tuesday 12^th August 2014

Up in middle of night to let dog out and then up at 6.30 to take her a walk.  She’s not settling at all in the big cottage it would seem.  Early breakfast then off to Anglesey Show.  We got there for a bit after 9pm – this was a good move as we didn’t hit any traffic problems at all.  We stopped for about four hours before coming back home.  Saw an old David Brown 885 like my uncle Peter used to have and loads of vintage and modern tractors.  The New Hollands brought a tear to bosskat’s eye – everything reminding her of the missing son!  Anyway, Dog walked on beach while girls went crabbing after a bit of a spat.  Dug enough bait for an evening session – caught two dogfish – better than nowt (just).   Back home before 11pm Drinky poo and off to bed.

Wednesday 13^th August 2014

Up in middle of night to let the pooch out.  Then up at 6.30 to take her down to the beach for a walk.  Did good deed for the day taking a load of fishing line junk to the rubbish bin.  Am getting a wee bit tired it has to be said.  We went to Penrhos Coastal Park around lunch time – Grace wanted the loo but the loo at the Coastal Park was shut, so we went back to Valley and the loo there was shut too.  Must write a nasty letter!!   So, we went to TJs Discount Store and the loo was open – result!!!   Never mind we had a walk round the Coastal Park with the pooch then back to base.  Phil’s fishing rod blew over in the wind and the tip ring broke again.  

Thursday 14^th August 2014

Early brekkie from the Seaside Snacks Van – it’s the future, you know.  Then on the road.  Llangefni market first. Potter round the shops etc.etc.  Then on to Bangor to find you can’t take dogs on the pier.  So walked the pooch and had a good long sit down in the little park that overlooks it.  Bosskat brought me a coffee after a bit and the girls caught crabs so mission accomplished!!

Friday 15^th August 2014

Over to Amlwch to teach the girls to fish.  First went to Telboys Tackle and got Phil’s rod fixed for next to nowt (£4.50) so gots some bits and bobs too.  Then parked up above the museum with the intention of fishing the opposite side of the breakwater only to find I’d left the bait at home.  So the kids went in the museum while me and the missus had a coffee (damn good coffee at the shiploft).    

Then we did a bit of crabfishing with yesterday’s bacon bait – no joy though, not as good as Bangor Pier for them crabs.  Then we walked up to the main square for fish and chip dinner with a sausage for the pooch.  All good stuff.  Back to base and took them down to the café beach as we call it to have a go at fishing and that went well too.

Saturday 16^th August 2014

Dad’s birthday.  Up at the crack.  Dog walked.  Did some loading up of the car as bosskat had packed some stuff the night before.  Then brekkie from the Seaside Snacks van and we hit the road about 11am.   Test match special all the way back.  A stop off at Holywell services – a bit of a telling off for not stopping again but got folks home for 3.30.

Mowed the lawn, fish and chippie tea.  Dog walk, marvellous.

Sunday 17^th August 2014

Up early.  Dog walked.  Down the lotty for harvesting.  Running late.  Off to The Royal Oak at Hurdlow for lunch, rushing, hit a curb, split the tyre.  Rang Green Flag, got recovered(!), dropped off at Selector Tyre, Ashbourne, new rear tyre, cost fortune but at least back in business!

Monday 18^th August 2014

Up at 5.30.  Dog walked.  Fixed computer at MRS Paper shop for em’ system disk failure – someone left a floppy disk with no system tracks in it when it was switched off!  Into work before 8am, loads to do.  Aldi after work at 5.30.   Back home for a bit before 7pm.  Tea. Dog Walked. Watched footie on telly need to be cancelling sky pronto.

Tuesday 19^th August 2014

Up early, dog walked. Papers fetced not much else to say. Slight threat of a frost so went down to Lotty to cover up the blessed beans.

Wednesday 20^th August 2014

Guess what? Not frost.  Up early.  Dog walked papers fetced.  Whizzeed down to lotty to uncover plants. Then off to Sheffield and then Eckington to bring kit in from one project.   Weighed in at Sheffield 4.5lbs on!!  Yikes, that’s holidays for you.  Need to be getting back on track again!

Thursday 21^st August 2014

Up early dog walked. Papers fetced. Finally got Phil’s parcel sorted after a million nasty emails and phone calls.  All the hassle was due to the inclusion of some rolling tobacco for is mates.  Won’t be doing that again in a hurry.

Friday 22^nd  August 2014

Day off.  Going Wales on me tod.  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Loaded up and gone for 9.30.  Got to MacaDees in Congleton just in time for a big breakfast.  Got a load of hassle with one of the trials on the way to Wales so spent an hour sorting that out.  Got to campsite for about 3pm.  All set up in no time at all with the Coleman InstantDome 3!  Aweseome it is.  Eventually brother arrived so as I’d already dug some bait we went and did a bit of fishing as planned! I caught a dogfish and Andrew caught a pouting – not many bites to be had.

Saturday 23rd August 2014

Didn’t sleep much due to non-stop wind flapping the tent all night.   Had a walk on the beach first thing.  Breakfast from the Seaside Snacks at Church Bay Cottages.com and then as brother was off to Moelfre I thought I’d go and climb Holyhead Mountain.  Every time I go I seem to go up a different way so it was no surprise that the same happened again this time!  Cracking view from the top.  Can’t beat it.  Dug bait at low tide. 

Had fish and chip tea from Seaside Snacks, marvellous and then later on went for a fish on the little beach.  Took a picture of sunset before we went.  Lovely but for the clouds spoiling it. 

I caught a herring(!) and a dogfigh, our Andrew had another pouting. Anyway it was nippy so as there weren’t many bites we decided to call it a night.

Sunday 24th August 2014

Slept a bit better as wind had dropped.  Perfect day for kayaking but it didn’t happen. Say no more on tat lad,  least said, soonest mended.  Anyway, up bright and early about 7am.  Walked to the point and back. 

Breakfast at Seaside Snacks.  Then  as there was to be no kayaking I took the tent down and buggere off home.  Simples.  Set off at 11am and back before 2.10pm – amazing short journey time (although it was non-stop in fairness).   Didn’t do much when got home – took dog a walk.  Had tea.  Had a catnap.  Got up, took dog evening walk, back to bed!!

Monday 4th August 2014 to Sunday 10th August 2014

Monday 4th August 2014
Up before 5am, mini dog walk and into the office for 6am.  Have to get everything done early as am going to my cousin's memorial services today.   Lomas Distribution have put stickers on their lorries which is a lovely gesture.  So very sad, Brian was pretty much same age as me.

A nice send-off but it all feels so wrong and so sad.   No words.

Tuesday 5th August 2014
Well am glad that yesterday was done.  So sad.  Got home after the do after panicing that I'd lost my phone 'found' it in the car.  Took dog walk.  Had a drink in memory of Brian and went to bed early only for the boss of the world to put all the lights out at 10pm and a candle in the window for an hour. So couldn't go to sleep in case the house burned down.  Such is life.  Woke up at 5.30, took dog walk, fetched papers, got home, watered everything went to work.  Good day at work - got loads done which occupied my mind nicely!  Home for 6.30ish, tea, dog walk then did bog-all basically.  Need to snap out of this and get going again.

Wednesday 6th August 2014
Up eary / 5.40ish.  Dog walked about a mile and back home for 6.40 ish.  Brekko and then off to work.  Lots done, group after work 1.5lbs off so an unexpected result.  Tea. Dog Walk. Down lotty to pull all the spuds up and prepare ground for another experiment.

Some had got canker on em and a lot of em had green on em so they had to be chucked - must put em down deeper next year and leave more space around them.   A bit more 'self-medication' then bed.

Thursday 7th August 2014
Woke about 4am, got up a bit after 5am.  Dog walked. Brekko. Down lotty to fasten net down properly on the peas that the missus had left up.  Also took the brassicas that are going where the spuds were (as an experiment).  So they're waiting to be planted.  Have got some lettuces to go in too.

Friday 8th August 2014
Up early, the usual.  Got everything planted and netted up.   Appointment to have ears irrigated.  Didn't seem an awful lot better, never mind.  Into the office then hospital appointment to have diabetic retinopathy - for te fifth time in a row everything is fine.   Back to lotty to finish off.  Back home getting stuff ready for holiday tomorrow.

Saturday 9^th August 2014

Off to Wales for jollies.  Dog loaded, family loaded, all set to go.  Up top of Derby hill to pick up Lucy’s friend Grace, where is she? Down at ours!  Miscommunication rules!  Anyway traffic queuing three miles out of Knutsford – need to find best diversion if should ever go that way again! 5.5 hours later we got to Church Bay.  Our Andrew was packing up to leave so gave him Birthday cards and cake and he was off.  Lots of dog walks.  Fished an hour and a half for one dog fish.

Sunday 10^th  August 2014

Up at the crack of dawn, dog wouldn’t settle down in big cottage so walking her about 6am.  V. Tired.   Went out on Ray laad’s boat for a bit of a fish, not for long as Ray got seasick!  Got a good picture of him though in his captain’s hat!  Anyway we landed the boat at the top of the tide in a big swell like seasoned pros so that was good – always best to impress an audience I think.   Dragged the boat back up to the campsite. 

A proper fishing hat!

In the afternoon Hurricane Bertha’s fallout hit us and blew a hoolie through.  A lot of tents departing at pace in the afternoon!  Not us though, we got bricks and mortar this time.  Missus went shopping with the girls in the afternoon, I took dog a walk then had a bit of a read. No fishing tonight as sea was just a bit too rough! 

16/1.5

Monday 28th July 2014 to Sunday 3rd August 2014

Monday 28th July 2014

Up at 5:50 (very tired after not much sleep over the weekend), dog walked, papers fetched. Got a doctor's appointment at 9.50 to have ear syringed. So got down the lotty at 7.20 to put in a row of peas and net em up.   Took longer than thought so glad I went early.

At Doctors for 9.40 appointment, actually saw nurse at 10:15, she gave it a good go but couldn't shift the wax build-up so got to do the drops for two more weeks.  She had a look at my other ear while I was there and said I'm surprised you can hear anything at all as your left ear's only slightly better than your right one.  So am banging drops into that one as well, now.  Got to work for 11.20 - what a nightmare.  Put me well behind schedule but such is life!  Did some more drops at lunchtime.  Got one of the weekly reports out before 3pm which was tolerable with all the hassle.  Back home for 6:30.  Tea.  Dog Walked.  Small amount of golf - didn't get on with the 9.5 degree version of the Hi-bore driver so back to the 10.5 degree at least for a while.  Done for 8.40 then down the lotty for 8:53.  Watered everything.  Weeded one lot of brassicas.  Coming back home for 9.55 and it's rotten dark.    

Tuesday 29th July 2014

Up earlyish (am a bit knackered if truth be known).  Dog walked, papers fetched.  Stuff watered.  Into office for a bit after 8.  Good day at work and an early finish because - playing golf with Mike from work at Horsley Lodge.  Very enjoyable - 45 on front nine and about 56(!) on the back nine - Horsley Lodge is a lovely course but if you make bad decisions and start thinking you can channel Seve then you will have a hard time of it - two big scores on the 10th and 17th and a few treble bogies  due to poor putting and a lost ball messed up the card properly. 

Card at Horsley - think I got whooped by a 22 handicapper/bandit

Mike's 22 handicap swing

Me wandering along answering emails like an eejit - must switch the damn thing off next time!

2nd hole I think (or possibly the 11th!)

Can't remember which one this is either!!!

Never mind a very enjoyable round and the only lost ball was when I managed to find a little bit of a stream thing on I think the 14th hole - Mike who generally hits it 20 yards past me with his 22 handicap swing also found the water a couple of yards to the left of me (I think he thought he'd carry it past with his longer drives - that'll teach him).  Couldn't make the 3 wood work at all either that cost me quite a few shots - might have to stick with the 5 wood which went along nicely. 

Got home for a bit after 8pm, dog walked then down the lotty.  Watered everything then weeded the other patch of brassicas. 

Wednesday 30th July 2014

Up at 5.55 - very tired, dog walked, papers fetched, breakfast, off tow work, stopping for petrol, sat down for 8.30 not too bad all things considered. Busy day at work.  Home for 6.30, tea, dog walked, watered the homestead stuff, pulled up the dead sweet peas. Down the lotty, planted a couple of feet of radishes - icycle and french breakfasts.  Weeded.  Watered. Came home. Coffee . Telly, late to bed. 

Thursday 31st July 2014

Final day of July and solar has so far done very well this month - hoping for one last good day of generation. Got up at 6am after hitting snooze for half an hour.  Dog walked,  papers fetched, into the office for 8.22. Cracking day in the office and England won the test match to boot.   Phil's mega busy on t'other side of the pond.  They have 12 combines all working together cutting a 350 foot swathe through the crops!   However, all this production means big queue to unload at the elevator so there's a downside too! 

A few dollars worth there, no doubt.

Anyway, back home about 6.30. Tea, dog walked, took Lucy to 99p shop to get some pens then back home and chillaxed for a change.  Rain predicted so decided not to water lotty.   Didn't really come but it's predicted again for Friday so hopefullly the met office will deliver. 

Friday 1st August 2014

Crikey August already.  Up at 5:30.  Dog walked, paper fetched.  Ready for work but detour to Darley Dale first to drop some stuff off for me mum, still into the office before 8am so all good stuff.  Left work at 4pm back home, quick tea, little dog walk in rain then off to Sunny (not) Cardiff.   Good to see a bit of rain coming!   No need for watering the old lotty today and tomorrow I reckon!

Hell's teeth a four hour drive due to most of M6 and M5 seemingly being worked on.  Never mind such is life.  Stopped in a very comfy Travellodge near Cardiff. 

Saturday 2nd August 2014

Woke up at 5:18 in Cardiff (well closer to Barry than Cardiff but more-or-less).  Chucking it down outside. 

https://goo.gl/maps/a8eUm

Did group visit then a 4.5 hour drive back, got home a bit before 3pm - M4 and M5 are right waste of time. Wished I'd got on A38 earlier.  Didn't do much when got home as knackered, took the wee dog for a walk.

Sunday 3rd August 2014
Got out of bed a bit late.  Janette had taken wee dog for a walk.  Did some little jobs - sorted out the roofbars so the roof box would work.  Put "Please shut the gate" sign back on properly.  Got Lucy's bike out the shed for her.  Moved one of the tomato plants to the back - got a drip drip irrigation system sorted for the two tomato plants at the front (awesomely complex system). 3 mile walk in the afternoon managed to get stung to bits and cut on barbed wire other than that it went like a dream.  Took the pooch for another 1.5 miler at night as well.  Bed early as going to work dead early to come home early for funeral.