This morning I went to the local supermarket to get a few odds and ends. It was raining and although the fields in general are standing in lots of water, we here have been very lucky. Let us hope that 2013 will be a little kinder to those who have been flooded.
I had a phone call the other day. He called me by my name and told me it was Mike. It certainly didn't ring a bell to me so I asked him who he was. He told me he lived next door to me. After going on for a few minutes I asked him how he had my telephone number as I was Ex. Directory. He seemed taken aback and then asked me if I lived in the next village. I told him he had unfortunately got the wrong number. He of course was full of apologies but I told him not to worry and have a nice Christmas.
On a quite different subject. I am not mad on football but the other night on Match of the Day on BBC the pundits highlighted an Everton player who physically abused a fellow player. He not only head butted him but hit him in the face, it was not clear if it was by the flat of his hand or a punch. The pundits suggested he was in serious trouble and could expect a 6 match ban. Incidentally the referee missed each offence. The player who offended immediately apologised for the wrong doings. I don't suppose he would have done so if the evidence was not caught on camera. The outcome was a 3 match ban.
This got me thinking, several months ago a Liverpool player was banned for 8 matches for using racist language to a Manchester United player although the language he used was not considered racist in his own Country.
My thought were, first the player who was offened should grow up, secondly the FA should get their punishment in perspective. We were always taught that. "Sticks and stones may break my bones but calling never hurts me". The FA seem to think that calling hurts more that physical abuse. I think the world has gone completely mad.
Finally may I wish all who bother to read this blog a Peaceful Christmas.
I will have a few days break from writing my blog. More not so soon.
Monday, 24 December 2012
Tuesday, 18 December 2012
Barbers
Yesterday I decided to go to the Barbers to get my haircut, as I walked to his shop I saw a window cleaner I knew. Well I knew his Father very well. We had a few words and as I walked on I noticed that there was a Charity Shop almost next to the Barbers.
In I went and there was a young Lass I guess in her late teens. She had a young child in a push chair. He was nice and clean and seemed to be well cared for. He would be nearing 1 year old.
This young lass was talking and I only caught some of the conversation. The Hairdresser told her that if she had toothache she shoud go and have it seen to as an emergency. She then told him she also had ear ache.
Then she started to mention what had happened on Sunday night. There had been a stabbing but couldn't say much about it also a shop window was broken. The hairdresser asked her who had been stabbed but she told him she had no idea but some shopkeepers were taking names. Then she just said "I puled last night". I thought all she was interested in was to get laid.
A few minutes later she left the shop whereupon the Hairdresser stated that she had told him she can't get a regular guy. He told us that he could give one reason and that was she never stopped talking at all and he only could do with her in small doses. I remarked that although she had ear ache and toothache it didn't seem to stop her jaws from working. Laughter was then heard.
Eventually I had my haircut and he shook my hand and wished me Seasonal Greetings. I then proceeded to look into the Charity Shop window. There was a grotty looking wrist watch displayed. I thought it looked a cheap rubbishy watch. Then I noticed the tag on it. £10.00 no battery hence the price. Heaven alone knows what price they would have asked if it was in full working order.
I always thought Charity Shops were supposed to be reasonably cheap places. I wouldn't have gave the watch a second glance had it been £5.00 and if it had been working properly Oh well! Perhaps it is me getting old. More soon.
In I went and there was a young Lass I guess in her late teens. She had a young child in a push chair. He was nice and clean and seemed to be well cared for. He would be nearing 1 year old.
This young lass was talking and I only caught some of the conversation. The Hairdresser told her that if she had toothache she shoud go and have it seen to as an emergency. She then told him she also had ear ache.
Then she started to mention what had happened on Sunday night. There had been a stabbing but couldn't say much about it also a shop window was broken. The hairdresser asked her who had been stabbed but she told him she had no idea but some shopkeepers were taking names. Then she just said "I puled last night". I thought all she was interested in was to get laid.
A few minutes later she left the shop whereupon the Hairdresser stated that she had told him she can't get a regular guy. He told us that he could give one reason and that was she never stopped talking at all and he only could do with her in small doses. I remarked that although she had ear ache and toothache it didn't seem to stop her jaws from working. Laughter was then heard.
Eventually I had my haircut and he shook my hand and wished me Seasonal Greetings. I then proceeded to look into the Charity Shop window. There was a grotty looking wrist watch displayed. I thought it looked a cheap rubbishy watch. Then I noticed the tag on it. £10.00 no battery hence the price. Heaven alone knows what price they would have asked if it was in full working order.
I always thought Charity Shops were supposed to be reasonably cheap places. I wouldn't have gave the watch a second glance had it been £5.00 and if it had been working properly Oh well! Perhaps it is me getting old. More soon.
Monday, 17 December 2012
Daydreaming
I don't know why my mind wandered off to the days of my youth, I think it was my best Pal talking about the youths of today not capable of doing a full days work.
I remember having to do my National Service. 2 years in the Army. I was fortunate, although I didn't realise it at the time, by being posted to Hong Kong. Out there we were spoilt to death but didn't appreciate it.
During the summer months, from April until the end of October we only worked in the mornings. Parade was 8.00am. and then work started unli noon. The afternoon was ours to do as we pleased. In the summer we wore what was called. O.Gs. Olive Green light weight clothing. Shorts were the order of the day
I must tell you that although I said Hong Kong, we were in the New Territories. Victoria was the capital of Hong Kong but Kowloon was the capital of the New Territories. These territories were several times larger than Hong Kong Island itself. I was based in a R.E camp some 17 miles from Kowloon. The roads followed mainly the Coast and where we were based was only about 50 yards for the sea. So generally in the summer afternoons we would go to the beach and lounge around.
Another bonus was that we had facilities also. These included a "boot boy". What he used to do was clean out boots daily and also change and make our beds, this for a princely sum of $1. These were Hong Kong dollars and there were 16 to each pound sterling. The boot boys stayed on camp but went home for the week end. Our billet had a young lad called Chung Sek Kong. He was a nice lad and had about 24 of us to look after. Also on the Camp on a daily basis was an old woman. Well she looked old to us but I guess she would be about 50. Her name was Sew Sew. Well that is what we called her, she would come into the camp daily and if anyone wished to have any darning done then you would give it to her and the next day it would be done and very little was charged. I guess we became rather lazy out there. So easy for us to do. I suppose the younger element have never had to work hard but I guess if they were made to, then they would do quite a decent job of it. More soon.
I remember having to do my National Service. 2 years in the Army. I was fortunate, although I didn't realise it at the time, by being posted to Hong Kong. Out there we were spoilt to death but didn't appreciate it.
During the summer months, from April until the end of October we only worked in the mornings. Parade was 8.00am. and then work started unli noon. The afternoon was ours to do as we pleased. In the summer we wore what was called. O.Gs. Olive Green light weight clothing. Shorts were the order of the day
I must tell you that although I said Hong Kong, we were in the New Territories. Victoria was the capital of Hong Kong but Kowloon was the capital of the New Territories. These territories were several times larger than Hong Kong Island itself. I was based in a R.E camp some 17 miles from Kowloon. The roads followed mainly the Coast and where we were based was only about 50 yards for the sea. So generally in the summer afternoons we would go to the beach and lounge around.
Another bonus was that we had facilities also. These included a "boot boy". What he used to do was clean out boots daily and also change and make our beds, this for a princely sum of $1. These were Hong Kong dollars and there were 16 to each pound sterling. The boot boys stayed on camp but went home for the week end. Our billet had a young lad called Chung Sek Kong. He was a nice lad and had about 24 of us to look after. Also on the Camp on a daily basis was an old woman. Well she looked old to us but I guess she would be about 50. Her name was Sew Sew. Well that is what we called her, she would come into the camp daily and if anyone wished to have any darning done then you would give it to her and the next day it would be done and very little was charged. I guess we became rather lazy out there. So easy for us to do. I suppose the younger element have never had to work hard but I guess if they were made to, then they would do quite a decent job of it. More soon.
Thursday, 13 December 2012
Strange
Yesterday morning I had a telephone call from my local Surgery. I immediately thought there was something wrong because I had my annual urine test but also my blood test.
To my surprise, it was the receptionist requesting me to contact LLoyds Chemist. They deliver my medication for me. Well I tried to ring them well over a dozen times, each time the line was engaged. So I decided to go to LLoyds myself, it is only about 3 miles away.
When I arrived, immediately before me was a woman she just beat me to it but she wanted something that they hadn't got so then it was me. I introduced myself. I told them my locl surgery had asked me to contact them but trying to get through was impossible. I was then informed that unfortunately the computer had failed. I just told the lass, incidentally had never seen before to give me my medication and I would be on my way.
Unfortunately this was not possible as prescriptions could not be made up.
I then asked her where the others were. She told me that she was new and the other girls had left. As for the Chemist, she was on a course and the delivery man no longer worked there. I told her I didn't want to know the details.
This afternoon I had my prescriptions delivered. The man told me he had come from Grimsby. He told me he was on zero hours contract. What that means I have no idea but he told me that the man that worked there left rather quickly. I felt sorry for him because he told me he knew nothing of the area at all. He had tried to phone me but all he got was an unobtainable note on his mobile. I told him he must enter the area code as well as the local number. He thanked me and told me that would help him a lot. As he was leaving he told me that he had originally been informed he would not be needed until early January next year so he had decided to do some decorating. No sooner had he started when a phone call told him he was needed in this area for the next 3 days. He had travelled this morning 30 miles so I guess something went wrong with the original driver. I guess I wil nere know. More soon.
To my surprise, it was the receptionist requesting me to contact LLoyds Chemist. They deliver my medication for me. Well I tried to ring them well over a dozen times, each time the line was engaged. So I decided to go to LLoyds myself, it is only about 3 miles away.
When I arrived, immediately before me was a woman she just beat me to it but she wanted something that they hadn't got so then it was me. I introduced myself. I told them my locl surgery had asked me to contact them but trying to get through was impossible. I was then informed that unfortunately the computer had failed. I just told the lass, incidentally had never seen before to give me my medication and I would be on my way.
Unfortunately this was not possible as prescriptions could not be made up.
I then asked her where the others were. She told me that she was new and the other girls had left. As for the Chemist, she was on a course and the delivery man no longer worked there. I told her I didn't want to know the details.
This afternoon I had my prescriptions delivered. The man told me he had come from Grimsby. He told me he was on zero hours contract. What that means I have no idea but he told me that the man that worked there left rather quickly. I felt sorry for him because he told me he knew nothing of the area at all. He had tried to phone me but all he got was an unobtainable note on his mobile. I told him he must enter the area code as well as the local number. He thanked me and told me that would help him a lot. As he was leaving he told me that he had originally been informed he would not be needed until early January next year so he had decided to do some decorating. No sooner had he started when a phone call told him he was needed in this area for the next 3 days. He had travelled this morning 30 miles so I guess something went wrong with the original driver. I guess I wil nere know. More soon.
Tuesday, 11 December 2012
Wonders of wonders
Yes! It has happened, the scaffolding has finally been removed. It was removed on Saturday morning.
Today I saw the Postman , the first time in a while and he was delivering to next door. He commented on the scaffolding gone eventually and the man next door told him that the scaffolders refused to remove it because they hadn't been paid for the job. All I know is that it was up there for almost a month. I told him I thought they were leaving it up so that Santa could get down his chimney easier. They do have some decorations outside and I think the youngest is in his 40s.
I told the Postman that during is leave of absense mail was very late. He then told me that he had 10 days hol;iday then another 10 days with a bad back. I shall make no comment only to say when I was in business I often had a bad back but still had to carry on.
I went to see my friend in Mablethorpe and took him some more DVDs of Railwayana. He gave me a Railway periodical to read but I did tell him that it would almost certainly be next year before I see him again.
I think I did mention it on how we got to meet. I was wearing my old Railway overalls and he asked me if I had been on the footplate, a terminology to know that you was on steam engines. I told him I was and told him that I had a serge jacket and overcoat which I would wear to show him. The other week I wore the serge jacket for the first time ever. Great when you think it must be nearing 50 years old and it fits well. Today as it was cold I decided to wear my Lambing Gown. This was commonly known as the Overcoat. It weighed a ton and when they got wet it was not easy to walk and a sod when wet to get dry. I did take it off for him to handle and he was suirprised just how heavy it was. I must admit that the overcoat now seems a little on the lage size.
I told him that I could now understand my late Mother. She had bought a sheepskin coat. They were generally 3/4 length but quite heavy. I guess she only wore it less than 10 times in a couple of years, eventually she told my Sisters that it was just too heavy for her to wear and they must take it to the loacl charity shop. What a bargain for somebody working there. I am sure that it would never go on display for sale. More soon.
Today I saw the Postman , the first time in a while and he was delivering to next door. He commented on the scaffolding gone eventually and the man next door told him that the scaffolders refused to remove it because they hadn't been paid for the job. All I know is that it was up there for almost a month. I told him I thought they were leaving it up so that Santa could get down his chimney easier. They do have some decorations outside and I think the youngest is in his 40s.
I told the Postman that during is leave of absense mail was very late. He then told me that he had 10 days hol;iday then another 10 days with a bad back. I shall make no comment only to say when I was in business I often had a bad back but still had to carry on.
I went to see my friend in Mablethorpe and took him some more DVDs of Railwayana. He gave me a Railway periodical to read but I did tell him that it would almost certainly be next year before I see him again.
I think I did mention it on how we got to meet. I was wearing my old Railway overalls and he asked me if I had been on the footplate, a terminology to know that you was on steam engines. I told him I was and told him that I had a serge jacket and overcoat which I would wear to show him. The other week I wore the serge jacket for the first time ever. Great when you think it must be nearing 50 years old and it fits well. Today as it was cold I decided to wear my Lambing Gown. This was commonly known as the Overcoat. It weighed a ton and when they got wet it was not easy to walk and a sod when wet to get dry. I did take it off for him to handle and he was suirprised just how heavy it was. I must admit that the overcoat now seems a little on the lage size.
I told him that I could now understand my late Mother. She had bought a sheepskin coat. They were generally 3/4 length but quite heavy. I guess she only wore it less than 10 times in a couple of years, eventually she told my Sisters that it was just too heavy for her to wear and they must take it to the loacl charity shop. What a bargain for somebody working there. I am sure that it would never go on display for sale. More soon.
Friday, 7 December 2012
Typical
It is typical that one's central heating goes on the blink when the weather is very cold.
So it was that yesterday morning I awoke to find a covering of snow and it did not get above freezing until late afternoon.
Thank goodness my mate came over to get the heating going properly, this was arranged well over a week ago.
He did all of the work, all I did was to be a sort of nuisance odd job man. He had to spend quite a while in the loft, it was, of course very cold up there. He just told me that it proved the loft insulation was working properly. It should as I have the recommended 10" of insulation. He had to bleed the system which took quite some time as air locks seem to get into the system. We stopped for dinner(lunch to the posh folk) but we finally got the whole lot working just before 1.30pm. He stayed for another 30 minutes to make sure that all was well and he left for home. Thank goodness that the roads did not get worse, if anything they improved a little.
I got up this morning and sure enough the heating is once again working properly, thanks to my mate.
He remarked on the scaffolding that is still on the house next door. It has been there for getting on for a month. As he said, scaffolding work is a bit thin on the ground. It wouldn't do for me as it makes their home much darker. More soon.
So it was that yesterday morning I awoke to find a covering of snow and it did not get above freezing until late afternoon.
Thank goodness my mate came over to get the heating going properly, this was arranged well over a week ago.
He did all of the work, all I did was to be a sort of nuisance odd job man. He had to spend quite a while in the loft, it was, of course very cold up there. He just told me that it proved the loft insulation was working properly. It should as I have the recommended 10" of insulation. He had to bleed the system which took quite some time as air locks seem to get into the system. We stopped for dinner(lunch to the posh folk) but we finally got the whole lot working just before 1.30pm. He stayed for another 30 minutes to make sure that all was well and he left for home. Thank goodness that the roads did not get worse, if anything they improved a little.
I got up this morning and sure enough the heating is once again working properly, thanks to my mate.
He remarked on the scaffolding that is still on the house next door. It has been there for getting on for a month. As he said, scaffolding work is a bit thin on the ground. It wouldn't do for me as it makes their home much darker. More soon.
Tuesday, 4 December 2012
Visibility
Yesterday I had to go to the local Surgery and this morning I went to get my State Pension then go to the next town to the Bank. On the way back home the visibility was very poor, wet roads and very low sun. It reminded me of a golfing colleague who used to go out to Australia for the winter months, November to February. After many years of having this routine his wife informed him that she no longer wished to go out to Australia for the winter as she was missing the Grandchildren growing up especially round Christmas time. He then told me that he had forgooten just how low the sun was in the winter. It certainly wasn't good for me today travelling with the low sun in my eyes.
Yesterday I saw the Nurse I generally see, it is not always possible as she has reached retirement age so only works part time. Anyway she got on about her dogs. She has Apricot Poodles, very expensive and less than 3 years ago decided to put her bith to a dog and have pups. 9 were produced 1 died, she kept one and sold the other 7. She told me she received £850 for each puppy. I immediately thought that was more than I get a year for State Pension. Almost £6000. She then told me that the bitch that she kept would be put with a dog but the stud fees were very expensive £500. She also told me that the dog owner insisted that tests would be performed so that her bitch was in fine form. She told me that if all goes well it will happen early next year.
I told her that it was different to my late window cleaner. He told me he was going to make money breeding Pekingese dogs. Needless to say they made nothing at all but it does seem that if you get the right breed, money can be made. She told me that she would tell me more the next time we met. More soon.
Yesterday I saw the Nurse I generally see, it is not always possible as she has reached retirement age so only works part time. Anyway she got on about her dogs. She has Apricot Poodles, very expensive and less than 3 years ago decided to put her bith to a dog and have pups. 9 were produced 1 died, she kept one and sold the other 7. She told me she received £850 for each puppy. I immediately thought that was more than I get a year for State Pension. Almost £6000. She then told me that the bitch that she kept would be put with a dog but the stud fees were very expensive £500. She also told me that the dog owner insisted that tests would be performed so that her bitch was in fine form. She told me that if all goes well it will happen early next year.
I told her that it was different to my late window cleaner. He told me he was going to make money breeding Pekingese dogs. Needless to say they made nothing at all but it does seem that if you get the right breed, money can be made. She told me that she would tell me more the next time we met. More soon.
Wednesday, 28 November 2012
Alarm bells
Yesterday I went online and saw that a local Supermarket named Lidl had some meat on offer. So off I went. I arrived early, it was great because hardly anyone was in the store. Mind you, there was not the selection of meat available. It was though, the last day the meat was on offer. I managed to get some legs of pork joints. I bought a few other items and went to the checkout. I duly paid for my goods and picked up a couple of leaflets. Then the alarm went off. Well it was a screetching sound really. Anyway the man on the till asked me to go back to see him. He told me that it was to stop people from trying to go out of the store without paying and usually when it is put though the scanner the sensor was disabled but this time it had not happened. He took a couple of these things off and told me that if it went off again to just carry on walking.
Sure enough it happened again. One woman who was near me told me that she had a similar thing happen to her.
Later today I had a call from the man who was going to change my meter. In fact yesterday I also had a telephone call, this was an automated call reminding me that the engineer would be calling today.
He was a very pleasant young man from the Lincoln area. He told me that the manufacturer was paying for all these meters to be changed as there was some fault with them. It was something to do with the display.
We had a cup of coffee after and he told me he was married to a Brazillian woman and he had been to Brazil a couple of times. The whole operation took about 35 minutes so now I have a brand new meter, some are reconditioned but not this one, so he said.
Tomorrow I plan to go to see my Sisters at Grantham so I hope the the weather will be kind to me. More soon.
Sure enough it happened again. One woman who was near me told me that she had a similar thing happen to her.
Later today I had a call from the man who was going to change my meter. In fact yesterday I also had a telephone call, this was an automated call reminding me that the engineer would be calling today.
He was a very pleasant young man from the Lincoln area. He told me that the manufacturer was paying for all these meters to be changed as there was some fault with them. It was something to do with the display.
We had a cup of coffee after and he told me he was married to a Brazillian woman and he had been to Brazil a couple of times. The whole operation took about 35 minutes so now I have a brand new meter, some are reconditioned but not this one, so he said.
Tomorrow I plan to go to see my Sisters at Grantham so I hope the the weather will be kind to me. More soon.
Monday, 26 November 2012
New Potatoes
Nothing much has been happening lately but as one knows the weather has been dreadful lately.
We here are lucky, yes we have had lots of rain but at least no flooding.
The other morning it was dry so we had an overnight frost. In the polytunnel I had a few potatoes growing. I had obviously missed them early in the spring. Easy to do at my age. Anyway, the frost had caught the tops so I decided to dig them up to see if there were any potatoes on them. I was surprised because I managed to get enough for two meals. They scraped beautifully too. Mind you I don't go mad on new potatoes. They are nice as a treat but am glad when I can peel them and use them as a mature potato. I also managed to find a small sprig of mint, so all in all was satisfied with the outcome.
Recently I noticed that my sitting room was getting all steamed up. I do have the central heating turned down on the radiator there. I never sit out there in the winter because it is always on the cool side. This time however I noticed that the radiator was not getting warm at all so I turned it on full, made no difference so I rung my mate up telling him that I thought it was the pump. I also went online and it said that if a radiator upstairs in a home started to keep cool then it was probably the pump. Anyway he will hopefully be here next week to fix the problem.
On Wednesday afternoon I will be having my electricity meter changed. I had a call reminding me of the visit today. I then have plans to go to see my Sisters in Grantham on Thursday so this week is fairly busy for me.
I als gave my FIT reading for my Solar on Thursday last week. Heaven alone knows what goes on at British Gas. My first years installation does not occur until December 10th. So I don't know exactly what I will have produced until that day. I was informed that I should phone in or e-mail my reading every 3 months. So much for every 3 months. More soon.
We here are lucky, yes we have had lots of rain but at least no flooding.
The other morning it was dry so we had an overnight frost. In the polytunnel I had a few potatoes growing. I had obviously missed them early in the spring. Easy to do at my age. Anyway, the frost had caught the tops so I decided to dig them up to see if there were any potatoes on them. I was surprised because I managed to get enough for two meals. They scraped beautifully too. Mind you I don't go mad on new potatoes. They are nice as a treat but am glad when I can peel them and use them as a mature potato. I also managed to find a small sprig of mint, so all in all was satisfied with the outcome.
Recently I noticed that my sitting room was getting all steamed up. I do have the central heating turned down on the radiator there. I never sit out there in the winter because it is always on the cool side. This time however I noticed that the radiator was not getting warm at all so I turned it on full, made no difference so I rung my mate up telling him that I thought it was the pump. I also went online and it said that if a radiator upstairs in a home started to keep cool then it was probably the pump. Anyway he will hopefully be here next week to fix the problem.
On Wednesday afternoon I will be having my electricity meter changed. I had a call reminding me of the visit today. I then have plans to go to see my Sisters in Grantham on Thursday so this week is fairly busy for me.
I als gave my FIT reading for my Solar on Thursday last week. Heaven alone knows what goes on at British Gas. My first years installation does not occur until December 10th. So I don't know exactly what I will have produced until that day. I was informed that I should phone in or e-mail my reading every 3 months. So much for every 3 months. More soon.
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Back to normal
Back to November weather. Today has been a very very dull day with early rain, not what the local weatherman forecast but it's what we got.
Yesterday I saw the young man who has had solar panels fitted. I asked him if he had everything sorted. He told me he had just turned on the computer and was going to scan the details to E-on who I presume is his electricity provider.
They have night storage heaters installed, they were there when they moved in and of course they are very expensive to run. They also have 3 phase electricity. This was installed by the builder who originally planned to live in the property but finances forced him to sell the property. I was lucky because someone told me that his hobby was to tune up noisy cars in his double garage, that is why he wanted 3 phase as he would be using plenty of electricity.
Anyway the guy next door has a 5kw. system fitted, well he thinks that is what it is. He is still waiting for the papers to confirm what he has actually got.
One thing that is still there is the scaffolding. It has been at his home for a week and when I enquired just how long it was going to be there, the answer was that hopefully by next week it should be removed. I just remarked that the scaffolding work must be a little slack for the lot to be left there for well over a week. Normally it is taken down as soon as there is no more need for the scaffolding.
I hope that he has registered so that he can start producing electricity. According to my mate, he should get around 16 pence per kw for the first 16 kw. Thereafter the tariff reduces to around 10p per kw for the remainder he produces each day. They have relaxed some of the rules but tightened on others. The guarantee is now for 20 years where it used to be 25. The exported electricity has also been altered, now it is around 4.3p where it used to be 3.2p. Still he has a useful system and he should save a little on his annual consumption of electricity. Mind you not on today's production. I produced almost zero. Still better days will be here again. Not for the next couple of months though for me, but I am happy at what I have produced and that is the main thing. More soon.
Yesterday I saw the young man who has had solar panels fitted. I asked him if he had everything sorted. He told me he had just turned on the computer and was going to scan the details to E-on who I presume is his electricity provider.
They have night storage heaters installed, they were there when they moved in and of course they are very expensive to run. They also have 3 phase electricity. This was installed by the builder who originally planned to live in the property but finances forced him to sell the property. I was lucky because someone told me that his hobby was to tune up noisy cars in his double garage, that is why he wanted 3 phase as he would be using plenty of electricity.
Anyway the guy next door has a 5kw. system fitted, well he thinks that is what it is. He is still waiting for the papers to confirm what he has actually got.
One thing that is still there is the scaffolding. It has been at his home for a week and when I enquired just how long it was going to be there, the answer was that hopefully by next week it should be removed. I just remarked that the scaffolding work must be a little slack for the lot to be left there for well over a week. Normally it is taken down as soon as there is no more need for the scaffolding.
I hope that he has registered so that he can start producing electricity. According to my mate, he should get around 16 pence per kw for the first 16 kw. Thereafter the tariff reduces to around 10p per kw for the remainder he produces each day. They have relaxed some of the rules but tightened on others. The guarantee is now for 20 years where it used to be 25. The exported electricity has also been altered, now it is around 4.3p where it used to be 3.2p. Still he has a useful system and he should save a little on his annual consumption of electricity. Mind you not on today's production. I produced almost zero. Still better days will be here again. Not for the next couple of months though for me, but I am happy at what I have produced and that is the main thing. More soon.
Thursday, 15 November 2012
Better day
Contrary to all the weathermen, today turned out to be a far better day than anyone expected. Yesterday was sunny in London so it was thought that everyone had a nice day. Here was a dreadfully dull dank dreary November day although it was not cold.
The big house next door has these last few days been a hive of activity. First scaffolding was erected on Monday and the vehicle which bought the scaffolding had on it advertising PVC stuff Conservatories and such, I naturally thought they were having soffits and facia boards fitted because it is rather hard to paint them. I was completely wrong. I saw the youg man in the garden so I asked him whether he was having PVC fitted. He told me that he was having Solar Panels fitted and as he had just sold his old property he could not afford to have them fitted before but assured me that he had beaten the latest deadline for the tarriff the Government pays. There are 20 panels in all and although he had not got all the information yet as soon as he had he would let me know. Yesterday the fitters came and fitted the Solar Panels but I haven't seen him to enquire as to if the system is up and running. I hope so because he would have produced a few kilowatts of electricity.
As for me, being in the situation I am, almost blocked out by their big house I can not produce 2 kilowatts but I knew this and to be honest I am very happy at what I have produced this year. It will improve once again in the spring.
My year ends at the end of the month. Well not exactly as it was the 12th. December when I started to produce electricity but British Gas, they are the Company who I chose to pay me for me electricity, sent me e-mails a little earlier these last 2 quarters. I presume that was because there was a huge influx of applications to get registered before the deadline of December last year. Now my final quarter ends on 30th November but I will not have had the system in for a year but that will make no difference. It is that I will go now from December 1st to the end of February, March until the end of May. June till the end of August and September to the end of November. These next 3 months will be very poor for me but as I have said, I am pleased at what I have produced.
Now finally to the little teaser.
"The quick brown Fox jumped over the lazy Dogs."
I am assured that the sentance although not absolutely grammatically correct has every letter in the alphabet in it. A little bit of useless information.
More soon.
The big house next door has these last few days been a hive of activity. First scaffolding was erected on Monday and the vehicle which bought the scaffolding had on it advertising PVC stuff Conservatories and such, I naturally thought they were having soffits and facia boards fitted because it is rather hard to paint them. I was completely wrong. I saw the youg man in the garden so I asked him whether he was having PVC fitted. He told me that he was having Solar Panels fitted and as he had just sold his old property he could not afford to have them fitted before but assured me that he had beaten the latest deadline for the tarriff the Government pays. There are 20 panels in all and although he had not got all the information yet as soon as he had he would let me know. Yesterday the fitters came and fitted the Solar Panels but I haven't seen him to enquire as to if the system is up and running. I hope so because he would have produced a few kilowatts of electricity.
As for me, being in the situation I am, almost blocked out by their big house I can not produce 2 kilowatts but I knew this and to be honest I am very happy at what I have produced this year. It will improve once again in the spring.
My year ends at the end of the month. Well not exactly as it was the 12th. December when I started to produce electricity but British Gas, they are the Company who I chose to pay me for me electricity, sent me e-mails a little earlier these last 2 quarters. I presume that was because there was a huge influx of applications to get registered before the deadline of December last year. Now my final quarter ends on 30th November but I will not have had the system in for a year but that will make no difference. It is that I will go now from December 1st to the end of February, March until the end of May. June till the end of August and September to the end of November. These next 3 months will be very poor for me but as I have said, I am pleased at what I have produced.
Now finally to the little teaser.
"The quick brown Fox jumped over the lazy Dogs."
I am assured that the sentance although not absolutely grammatically correct has every letter in the alphabet in it. A little bit of useless information.
More soon.
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
Nostalgia
I was watching a programme on Satellite T.V. It is called PBS America. It isn't a popular channel but sometimes has something of interest. Well to me anyway.
This programme was about Funfairs in the USA. Old fashioned ones that is.
They are all static funfairs therefore can have the old fashioned big dippers. Also though were rides that I could recall when I was just a youngster. Moonrocket to name one.
We had at Grantham what was called Mid-Lent Fair. It was as it said is held in the middle of Lent so sometimes it would be held in early March. I have been there when it has snowed. However I digress.
The fair would arrive late Saturday night then it was all hands to the helm. The workmen worked like trojans all Sunday erecting everything from the Steam Boats to the local stalls. On Monday the fair was officially opened on Monday at Noon by the Mayor who traditionally had a ride on the dodgems. On Wednesday evening after the fair was closed, dismantling started and by Thursday evening everything had gone.
Back to the nostalgia. Besides the moonrocket there was the whip. a sort of waltzer but they were individual contraptions on level ground. You could brake the speed to make it whip round. I'm not very good at explaining things. Moonrocket was the fastest ride of the whole fair, closely followed by Noah's Ark. Whereas Noah's Ark was an undulating ride Moonrocket was always built on an angle so was tilted at an angle of about 15 degrees. Popeye was going anticlockwise at a gentle speed of about 15mph and when the speed of the ride reached it's climax, in the evening the lights would be turned off for a few seconds. Scary at the time but very tame for the kids of today. One year the caterpillar came, this was on the PBS, it was that that reminded me of some of the rides. The caterpillar was a level roundabout, not going at huge speeds but as it went round a canvas hood came over and covered the whole ride. Hence the caterpillar. I only ever saw it once, I guess it was too tame in those days to generate some excitement. It must have been some to years ago since I saw that ride. What memories.
There was a Noah's Ark on some of the funfairs and they seemed to be very popular with the general public.
I guess that the film was taken a few years ago, unfortunately I didn't catch the year. Sky 166 is the place to find the programme.
Here is a little teaser.
"The quick brown Fox jumped over the lazy Dogs".
Answer the next time. More soon.
This programme was about Funfairs in the USA. Old fashioned ones that is.
They are all static funfairs therefore can have the old fashioned big dippers. Also though were rides that I could recall when I was just a youngster. Moonrocket to name one.
We had at Grantham what was called Mid-Lent Fair. It was as it said is held in the middle of Lent so sometimes it would be held in early March. I have been there when it has snowed. However I digress.
The fair would arrive late Saturday night then it was all hands to the helm. The workmen worked like trojans all Sunday erecting everything from the Steam Boats to the local stalls. On Monday the fair was officially opened on Monday at Noon by the Mayor who traditionally had a ride on the dodgems. On Wednesday evening after the fair was closed, dismantling started and by Thursday evening everything had gone.
Back to the nostalgia. Besides the moonrocket there was the whip. a sort of waltzer but they were individual contraptions on level ground. You could brake the speed to make it whip round. I'm not very good at explaining things. Moonrocket was the fastest ride of the whole fair, closely followed by Noah's Ark. Whereas Noah's Ark was an undulating ride Moonrocket was always built on an angle so was tilted at an angle of about 15 degrees. Popeye was going anticlockwise at a gentle speed of about 15mph and when the speed of the ride reached it's climax, in the evening the lights would be turned off for a few seconds. Scary at the time but very tame for the kids of today. One year the caterpillar came, this was on the PBS, it was that that reminded me of some of the rides. The caterpillar was a level roundabout, not going at huge speeds but as it went round a canvas hood came over and covered the whole ride. Hence the caterpillar. I only ever saw it once, I guess it was too tame in those days to generate some excitement. It must have been some to years ago since I saw that ride. What memories.
There was a Noah's Ark on some of the funfairs and they seemed to be very popular with the general public.
I guess that the film was taken a few years ago, unfortunately I didn't catch the year. Sky 166 is the place to find the programme.
Here is a little teaser.
"The quick brown Fox jumped over the lazy Dogs".
Answer the next time. More soon.
Thursday, 8 November 2012
More Insurance news
This morning I went online just to see if I had received any mail. To be honest it is rare for me to get much mail.
This morning I did receive mail and whilst I was reading it I noticed an advert for Moneysupermarket for Motor Insurance.
Last year late they sent me a quote which was about the same I as had paid. Well I decided to give it a go. As they held my details I didn't have to fill everything again. Eventually I received several quotes, all very reasonable. I noticed that one quote was from the Company that I am insured with. Whilst I was perusing the prices I heard the letterbox go so went to check mail. True to form, all mail was from Insurance Companies including my Insurer. I opened the envelope with some relish expecting a reasonable price. To my horror, the quote was for over £50 higher than the offer I had been given on the web. Well there is a freephone number so I called them.
What a palaver, I don't know how many options there are but eventually I managed to talk to a representative. He also asked several questions then we got to business. I asked him why my renewal was for over £200 when I had been offered on the web a deal saving over £50. He then asked me if I could retrieve it. I told him it would take a few minutes as I had to turn on my computer. After a minute or so I managed to access my mail. I read the offer out to him. He then asked me to go and save the offer. I queeried this and he then said that this would go back to their office but it would take about 2 hours. I asked if he could call me back and verify the offer had been received but he informed me that he was not allowed to call out but if he was not busy he would ring me.
About 2 hours later I once again turned on the computer opened my mail because I had an unread mail in my box.
It was from my Insurer stating that although I had NOT saved the offer they would resubmit the offer to me.
Once again I was on the phone, that's right. Going through the same tedious routine. A different guy this time. I explained all what had happened. He then told me that they had indeed received my saved offer. I asked him what was to happen. He told me that if things were the same they would match the web offer but would have to transfer me to another department. That was fine to me for it was costing me nothing.
I didn't have to wait long but once again questions. Eventually he told me that according to what he could see, nothing different was offered to what was being offered with my renewal so they would match the offer on the web. The bonus was that because I had bought it, well would have done, I would get a courtesy car for 14 days if I had an accident free of any extra cost. Well worth the hassle so anyway I paid there and then. Now I wait for replacement documents. More soon.
This morning I did receive mail and whilst I was reading it I noticed an advert for Moneysupermarket for Motor Insurance.
Last year late they sent me a quote which was about the same I as had paid. Well I decided to give it a go. As they held my details I didn't have to fill everything again. Eventually I received several quotes, all very reasonable. I noticed that one quote was from the Company that I am insured with. Whilst I was perusing the prices I heard the letterbox go so went to check mail. True to form, all mail was from Insurance Companies including my Insurer. I opened the envelope with some relish expecting a reasonable price. To my horror, the quote was for over £50 higher than the offer I had been given on the web. Well there is a freephone number so I called them.
What a palaver, I don't know how many options there are but eventually I managed to talk to a representative. He also asked several questions then we got to business. I asked him why my renewal was for over £200 when I had been offered on the web a deal saving over £50. He then asked me if I could retrieve it. I told him it would take a few minutes as I had to turn on my computer. After a minute or so I managed to access my mail. I read the offer out to him. He then asked me to go and save the offer. I queeried this and he then said that this would go back to their office but it would take about 2 hours. I asked if he could call me back and verify the offer had been received but he informed me that he was not allowed to call out but if he was not busy he would ring me.
About 2 hours later I once again turned on the computer opened my mail because I had an unread mail in my box.
It was from my Insurer stating that although I had NOT saved the offer they would resubmit the offer to me.
Once again I was on the phone, that's right. Going through the same tedious routine. A different guy this time. I explained all what had happened. He then told me that they had indeed received my saved offer. I asked him what was to happen. He told me that if things were the same they would match the web offer but would have to transfer me to another department. That was fine to me for it was costing me nothing.
I didn't have to wait long but once again questions. Eventually he told me that according to what he could see, nothing different was offered to what was being offered with my renewal so they would match the offer on the web. The bonus was that because I had bought it, well would have done, I would get a courtesy car for 14 days if I had an accident free of any extra cost. Well worth the hassle so anyway I paid there and then. Now I wait for replacement documents. More soon.
Wednesday, 7 November 2012
Insurance
I was just about to have my mid day meal when the phone rang. It was an Insurance Company, they had me on their books from last year. Ohdear he went on and on for ages. Eventually I told him to hurry up as my dinner was ready. When he gave me the quote, all I told him was that he wasn't on the same planet' said goodbye and put the phone down. The quote which I received was £100 more than the cheapest quote I had on the Internet. I did tell him before I would not be accepting any deal as I hadn't had my quote from my current Insurer.
This morning I went and picked up a few more leaves, this year there seems to be more than ever. I did manage to dig in the leaves into where next year my runner beans will be so that is a job well done. The ground however is very very wet. Normally just now the ground is just beginning to get a little heavy. Let us hope that we don't get too much rain during the next couple of months.
Yesterday, when I went to see a friend who first asked me if I was a footplate man. This was because I was wearing my old Railway overalls. Anyway I was telling him I would soon be looking for another fridge freezer. He tols me to find a young man called ****. I found him easily and explained to him what I was looking for. A fridge freezer with lots of freezer space and not so much fridge space. He told me he would look out for me.
When I got home I decided to go online to check prices. I was somewhat surprised as the prices start at around £250 and those are not suitable. Over £300 is at the bottom end, near £400 is more like a decent price. Anyway I will just sit tight and see what happens.
More soon.
This morning I went and picked up a few more leaves, this year there seems to be more than ever. I did manage to dig in the leaves into where next year my runner beans will be so that is a job well done. The ground however is very very wet. Normally just now the ground is just beginning to get a little heavy. Let us hope that we don't get too much rain during the next couple of months.
Yesterday, when I went to see a friend who first asked me if I was a footplate man. This was because I was wearing my old Railway overalls. Anyway I was telling him I would soon be looking for another fridge freezer. He tols me to find a young man called ****. I found him easily and explained to him what I was looking for. A fridge freezer with lots of freezer space and not so much fridge space. He told me he would look out for me.
When I got home I decided to go online to check prices. I was somewhat surprised as the prices start at around £250 and those are not suitable. Over £300 is at the bottom end, near £400 is more like a decent price. Anyway I will just sit tight and see what happens.
More soon.
Monday, 5 November 2012
Getting ready for winter
Over the last few days I have been getting ready for the winter months.
On November 2nd. I had my last meal of runner beans. Not bad considering I had my first meal on July 15th. Well over 3 months of runner beans. To be honest, for many days I have had 2 meals of runner beans as they have lots of iron and because of some of my medication I am low in iron.
Today I dug in some leaves where next year I will be setting my runner beans. The ground was too wet really to do this job but I managed to do one side. By the way, I have this year set a couple of plants in my polytunnel and also 2 plants are in pots in my greenhouse. These are what I dug up. They were this years producing plants so I hope they will be alright.It was my Italian friend who told me that they could be kept over winter if protected from frosts. I will of course also set some seeds in late April just in case the frosts kill the plants.
From now on until next spring I will have to do with what I have in my polytunnel and a few leeks outside. Mind you those leeks are very poor. I do have plenty of carrots, a few cabbages also the odd cauliflower so I guess I will be buying some vegetables soon after Christmas.
My central heating has been on regular these last few days, here it has been cold also wet and generally dull. Today we did see a fair amount of sun though. Still got the odd shower to remind us that winter is approaching. Getting dark early now, will only get wiorse for the next 6 weeks.
Bonfire night went off as usual with little or no fireworks. I guess I heard about 6 bangers and didn't see a rocket or anthing like that. I know that tonight is bonfire night. Will let you know if there is any firewoks. There is a house a few doors away with children. More soon.
On November 2nd. I had my last meal of runner beans. Not bad considering I had my first meal on July 15th. Well over 3 months of runner beans. To be honest, for many days I have had 2 meals of runner beans as they have lots of iron and because of some of my medication I am low in iron.
Today I dug in some leaves where next year I will be setting my runner beans. The ground was too wet really to do this job but I managed to do one side. By the way, I have this year set a couple of plants in my polytunnel and also 2 plants are in pots in my greenhouse. These are what I dug up. They were this years producing plants so I hope they will be alright.It was my Italian friend who told me that they could be kept over winter if protected from frosts. I will of course also set some seeds in late April just in case the frosts kill the plants.
From now on until next spring I will have to do with what I have in my polytunnel and a few leeks outside. Mind you those leeks are very poor. I do have plenty of carrots, a few cabbages also the odd cauliflower so I guess I will be buying some vegetables soon after Christmas.
My central heating has been on regular these last few days, here it has been cold also wet and generally dull. Today we did see a fair amount of sun though. Still got the odd shower to remind us that winter is approaching. Getting dark early now, will only get wiorse for the next 6 weeks.
Bonfire night went off as usual with little or no fireworks. I guess I heard about 6 bangers and didn't see a rocket or anthing like that. I know that tonight is bonfire night. Will let you know if there is any firewoks. There is a house a few doors away with children. More soon.
Friday, 2 November 2012
Visiting
As it was a nice day I decided to call my Italian friend to see if he would be in the home if I called a little later. He assured me he would so I arranged to see him around 9.00am.
I arrived just after 9.00am and was welcomed as usual. I did take a yellow rose cutting which has a wonderful scent, this was mainly for his wife as she has not been too good lately.
I was taken outside the rear and shown the patio that his wife had ordered and bought. It certainly looked very nice indeed and improved the rear an awful lot. She can now hang out the washing without wondering if her shoes would have mud on them. He also showed me the Solar Panels. 16 in all and he told me that this was a 3.5kilowatt system. I think it is probably a 4 kilowatt system although it does not affect him as he only gets the free electricity that the system produces.
We went indoors and after giving me a coffee, I asked them to show me the controls. He only has the meter which tells him if he is not being charged for the electricity he is using. There is a constant red light on all meters if there is no electricity being used. I then told both to use electrical appliances if possible when the sun was shining and the system was producing electricity. I told them that it would be wise to buy an oil filled radiator as this could be used instead of a gas fire reminding them that they must check to see that the red light would be constant and during the winter months that would almost certainly not be possible for many of the winter days. However in late February and March when it was clod the oil filled radiator would serve it's purpose well. I also suggested that they purchase a George Foreman grill or something similar. His wife has always wanted him to have one. Whether he will get one is debateable. I did remind him that what the system was producing would automatically go to the National Grid and it was not possible for him to save electricity for later. He then showed me everything and sure enough the light was constantly on. What he said then made me realise he hadn't grasped the situation completely. He told me that sometimes he would get up in the night go and look at the meter and see it was flashing. I told him that of course he would not be producing any electricity at all when the sun went down and there were appliances that would be working such as a fridge and freezer. I asked him if he left his T.V. on standby. He confirmed he did. I then asked him if it was an LCD or LED Television. He got his book out and told me what I had expected, it was an LCD. I told him he MUST get into the routine of switching the T.V. off at the mains at the end of the day as the set on standby would be using about 70watts per hour. Probably more if I am honest but at least he did seem to take notice.
TheT.V. was on, as it always is when I visit them. Always Italian as he has a Satellite dish that is tuned to Italian T.V. His wife is not interested at all and told me that an oil filled radiator would suit her fine as she goes into another room to watch Television. No wonder she is rather poorly. It is her nerves and she is on several drugs. In fact she was going to see the Doctor later this morning.
I finally told her to come to see me, she always feels better for seeing me, well I presume that would be the same with any caller. Still I hope She will get to see me with her Husband before Christmas. More soon.
I arrived just after 9.00am and was welcomed as usual. I did take a yellow rose cutting which has a wonderful scent, this was mainly for his wife as she has not been too good lately.
I was taken outside the rear and shown the patio that his wife had ordered and bought. It certainly looked very nice indeed and improved the rear an awful lot. She can now hang out the washing without wondering if her shoes would have mud on them. He also showed me the Solar Panels. 16 in all and he told me that this was a 3.5kilowatt system. I think it is probably a 4 kilowatt system although it does not affect him as he only gets the free electricity that the system produces.
We went indoors and after giving me a coffee, I asked them to show me the controls. He only has the meter which tells him if he is not being charged for the electricity he is using. There is a constant red light on all meters if there is no electricity being used. I then told both to use electrical appliances if possible when the sun was shining and the system was producing electricity. I told them that it would be wise to buy an oil filled radiator as this could be used instead of a gas fire reminding them that they must check to see that the red light would be constant and during the winter months that would almost certainly not be possible for many of the winter days. However in late February and March when it was clod the oil filled radiator would serve it's purpose well. I also suggested that they purchase a George Foreman grill or something similar. His wife has always wanted him to have one. Whether he will get one is debateable. I did remind him that what the system was producing would automatically go to the National Grid and it was not possible for him to save electricity for later. He then showed me everything and sure enough the light was constantly on. What he said then made me realise he hadn't grasped the situation completely. He told me that sometimes he would get up in the night go and look at the meter and see it was flashing. I told him that of course he would not be producing any electricity at all when the sun went down and there were appliances that would be working such as a fridge and freezer. I asked him if he left his T.V. on standby. He confirmed he did. I then asked him if it was an LCD or LED Television. He got his book out and told me what I had expected, it was an LCD. I told him he MUST get into the routine of switching the T.V. off at the mains at the end of the day as the set on standby would be using about 70watts per hour. Probably more if I am honest but at least he did seem to take notice.
TheT.V. was on, as it always is when I visit them. Always Italian as he has a Satellite dish that is tuned to Italian T.V. His wife is not interested at all and told me that an oil filled radiator would suit her fine as she goes into another room to watch Television. No wonder she is rather poorly. It is her nerves and she is on several drugs. In fact she was going to see the Doctor later this morning.
I finally told her to come to see me, she always feels better for seeing me, well I presume that would be the same with any caller. Still I hope She will get to see me with her Husband before Christmas. More soon.
Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Tidying up for winter
Today I have been picking up plants that will not last the winter such as calendulas or marigolds as they are generally known. Antirhinums plus a few weeds. The reason I have done this is that tomorrow the garden waste bin will be emptied for the last time this year. It will be April nexr year when the collection will recommence. Mind you, I will not be prepared to pay for this collection if they decide to charge for the service. To be honest, I think this will happen as the finances are being squeezed. I don't think people on benefits will be looking forward to paying towards the Council Tax. I have always paid in full for the services.
When my mate called a few weeks ago, my Italian friend also called. Later my best Pal came too. Typical I suppose. No visitors for ages then 3 the same day.
Anyway, my Italian friend was full of it when he came to see me. As my mate was also here he pulled out a leafleet and asked my mate if he had Solar Panels. My mate told him he had, the Italian then asked him how much it had cost him. My mate told him and then my Italian friend smiled and told him that his had cost nothing. He then told us that he had FREE electricity to use. I told him that it was firstly, subject to the sun producing electricity and secondly during the times that the sun was below the horizon he would not be producing any electricity at all and what he was using in his home would have to be paid for. I think he thought that if he was producing 4 kilowatts an hour, if he was using say2 kilowatts, then he would have the extra to use at a later date. I told him that he could only use what the system was producing at any time and what was spare was being sold to the Electricity Company and the supplier of the Solar Panels would get the payment. He knew that part. I then told him that my mate had received in excess of 10% of his outlay so far this year and there were a few weeks to go.
I will try to go to visit him and his wife well before Christmas to try to explain better to him. Incidentally his wife is not too good but I think she will grasp the system more readily than he does. More soon.
When my mate called a few weeks ago, my Italian friend also called. Later my best Pal came too. Typical I suppose. No visitors for ages then 3 the same day.
Anyway, my Italian friend was full of it when he came to see me. As my mate was also here he pulled out a leafleet and asked my mate if he had Solar Panels. My mate told him he had, the Italian then asked him how much it had cost him. My mate told him and then my Italian friend smiled and told him that his had cost nothing. He then told us that he had FREE electricity to use. I told him that it was firstly, subject to the sun producing electricity and secondly during the times that the sun was below the horizon he would not be producing any electricity at all and what he was using in his home would have to be paid for. I think he thought that if he was producing 4 kilowatts an hour, if he was using say2 kilowatts, then he would have the extra to use at a later date. I told him that he could only use what the system was producing at any time and what was spare was being sold to the Electricity Company and the supplier of the Solar Panels would get the payment. He knew that part. I then told him that my mate had received in excess of 10% of his outlay so far this year and there were a few weeks to go.
I will try to go to visit him and his wife well before Christmas to try to explain better to him. Incidentally his wife is not too good but I think she will grasp the system more readily than he does. More soon.
Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Back in business
Thank goodness for that, after several days of more or less inactivity, I finally think that all is now fixed.
Over the last few days I have been working in the garden. With the high winds there were plenty of leaves on the ground so I have picked up almost 2 black bin liner bags of leaves, just about enough to bury in the ground where I plant my runner beans. I did pull them up the other day, well not exactly because I have put a couple of bean plants in my polytunnel near the door just to see if I can get a few early runner beans. Mind you I don't know why really because I was looking in my diary and noticed that I had my first taste of beans on July 15th. I just have enough left for another 2 meals taking me to the 1st. November. Well over 3 months of beans. I can't understand why most people don't grow some. Even if they just have 4 bean sticks in a wigwam shape, the yield would be good.. Anyway I have once again dug up a couple of plants and put them in pots, large pots because the roots are large. These pots I have put into my greenhouse. Whether I move them into my garage is debatable. Will give it some thought. I think I mentioned it many moons ago that it was my Italian friend who first did this and he told me that the runner beans were stronger that way. I did try it but found that they were a little later in producing fruit. More soon.
Over the last few days I have been working in the garden. With the high winds there were plenty of leaves on the ground so I have picked up almost 2 black bin liner bags of leaves, just about enough to bury in the ground where I plant my runner beans. I did pull them up the other day, well not exactly because I have put a couple of bean plants in my polytunnel near the door just to see if I can get a few early runner beans. Mind you I don't know why really because I was looking in my diary and noticed that I had my first taste of beans on July 15th. I just have enough left for another 2 meals taking me to the 1st. November. Well over 3 months of beans. I can't understand why most people don't grow some. Even if they just have 4 bean sticks in a wigwam shape, the yield would be good.. Anyway I have once again dug up a couple of plants and put them in pots, large pots because the roots are large. These pots I have put into my greenhouse. Whether I move them into my garage is debatable. Will give it some thought. I think I mentioned it many moons ago that it was my Italian friend who first did this and he told me that the runner beans were stronger that way. I did try it but found that they were a little later in producing fruit. More soon.
Thursday, 25 October 2012
No change
On Tuesday I went to do my ususal shopping and also had my haircut. It really was a dismal day and my solar production was less than 1 kilowatt. Yesterday was far worse. My second worst day I have ever had, just 90 watts. Still nothing one can do about the weather.
Today my mate cvame to visit me. He has adjusted my gates to the property. For many years I left the gates permanently open and it was not until a man selling LPG made a comment about the rusty gates that I did something about it.
First my neighbour managed to free the gates then my mate gave me some Hammerite paint and today altered the fitting so now they are a lot better. Not 100% but I am sure he will suggest something to put that right. I am pleased how they look right now.
My mate after having a cuppa fitted my new router for my broadband but sadly, there is no improvement at all. I have since he left for home, checked my speed and unfortunately it was 0.2mbs per second when I would expect something like 4.5mgws per second. Iwill give it a few days just to see if the router settles down but I'm not holding my breath at all. I only hiope that it is B.T with a line fault that is to blame, otherwise it will cost me a call out charge. Oh well such is life. More soon.
Today my mate cvame to visit me. He has adjusted my gates to the property. For many years I left the gates permanently open and it was not until a man selling LPG made a comment about the rusty gates that I did something about it.
First my neighbour managed to free the gates then my mate gave me some Hammerite paint and today altered the fitting so now they are a lot better. Not 100% but I am sure he will suggest something to put that right. I am pleased how they look right now.
My mate after having a cuppa fitted my new router for my broadband but sadly, there is no improvement at all. I have since he left for home, checked my speed and unfortunately it was 0.2mbs per second when I would expect something like 4.5mgws per second. Iwill give it a few days just to see if the router settles down but I'm not holding my breath at all. I only hiope that it is B.T with a line fault that is to blame, otherwise it will cost me a call out charge. Oh well such is life. More soon.
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Golf
The Guy who used to work for me many years ago rung me last night. I must be honest and say he does ring me faily regularly. I asked him how things were and he told me that he had been playing golf at Wentworth in September. It was by invitation only and was Charity Competition. The cost per person was £200 but he was given four tickets for £400.
His Daughter has a boyfriend who is a golf professional so he was one who went. He also knew a colleague who works for the Company he works but is in a different area so he and a friend wished to go.
He told me that caddies were provided.
He did contact them earlier asking if it was possible to book a meal but was informed that meals were only served to Club Bembers only. He then asked if he could get a breakfast there because it was a long way from the West of England to Wentworth. He was then told to go and see the Secretary upon arrival. This he did and a breakfast was provided. The Secretary also informed him that the greens had been lost and that a regenerastion programme was in progress so that they were not to the highest of standards.
Well they all played their rounds and surprisingly the Club Secretary greeted them when they had finished their round of golf and asked them how they had got on. My ex employee told him that the day was good but unfortunately the greens did spoil their day a little. He was somewhat surprised at his reply. He informed him that if he contacted him next April, he would arrange a day of golf, free of charge with once again 4 caddies.
When he got home he decided to e-mail the Secretary just to see if he had meant what he said. The Secretary confirmed that this offer was bona fide. So he is looking forward to a day out at Wentworth.
Whether it is true or not, he did tell me that a round of golf at Wentworth would cost in the region of £250.
I did tell him that the trilby tour was on Sky later. He did tell me that he looked at entering that competition but the cost of £250 was just a little too high for what it was worth. Mind you, since it started in 2007, the competition has gone from strength to strength. More soon.
His Daughter has a boyfriend who is a golf professional so he was one who went. He also knew a colleague who works for the Company he works but is in a different area so he and a friend wished to go.
He told me that caddies were provided.
He did contact them earlier asking if it was possible to book a meal but was informed that meals were only served to Club Bembers only. He then asked if he could get a breakfast there because it was a long way from the West of England to Wentworth. He was then told to go and see the Secretary upon arrival. This he did and a breakfast was provided. The Secretary also informed him that the greens had been lost and that a regenerastion programme was in progress so that they were not to the highest of standards.
Well they all played their rounds and surprisingly the Club Secretary greeted them when they had finished their round of golf and asked them how they had got on. My ex employee told him that the day was good but unfortunately the greens did spoil their day a little. He was somewhat surprised at his reply. He informed him that if he contacted him next April, he would arrange a day of golf, free of charge with once again 4 caddies.
When he got home he decided to e-mail the Secretary just to see if he had meant what he said. The Secretary confirmed that this offer was bona fide. So he is looking forward to a day out at Wentworth.
Whether it is true or not, he did tell me that a round of golf at Wentworth would cost in the region of £250.
I did tell him that the trilby tour was on Sky later. He did tell me that he looked at entering that competition but the cost of £250 was just a little too high for what it was worth. Mind you, since it started in 2007, the competition has gone from strength to strength. More soon.
Thursday, 18 October 2012
Unpleasant surprise
In October 2011 I filled up with LPG as the Company informed me that it would probably go up for the winter months. The cost was 42pence a litre. This October the same thing happened, I once again topped up with LPG and the cost was 48.5pence a litre. Yesterday I had a letter from the Company informing me that world prices of LPG had shot up so from that day, LPG would be increased by a further 5pence a litre. That is an increase of over 27% in a few days over a year.
The Government are complaining that the Utilities have put their fuel prices up by around 8% and are looking at ways to help the consumer. I am as cettain as night follows day that they will do nothing at all to help those poor unfortunate people such as I who don't have the option of using natural gas as we are not on the gas pipe route. I am not alone. I would guess that there are over a million of us who have no natural gas available. Still we are in a minority so nothing will be done. If one complained all they would say is that we get the winter fuel allowance.
This afternoon I had to go for my flu jab. The weather was nice and fine and thankfully there were not too many people queueing. I, unfortunately got amongst a few old people with walking sticks so had to wait a little while. Still that is it for another year. More soon.
The Government are complaining that the Utilities have put their fuel prices up by around 8% and are looking at ways to help the consumer. I am as cettain as night follows day that they will do nothing at all to help those poor unfortunate people such as I who don't have the option of using natural gas as we are not on the gas pipe route. I am not alone. I would guess that there are over a million of us who have no natural gas available. Still we are in a minority so nothing will be done. If one complained all they would say is that we get the winter fuel allowance.
This afternoon I had to go for my flu jab. The weather was nice and fine and thankfully there were not too many people queueing. I, unfortunately got amongst a few old people with walking sticks so had to wait a little while. Still that is it for another year. More soon.
Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Bits and bobs
Yesterday I went as usual to get my Pension and also went to the bottle bank to put a coffee jar in the glass bin. Unfortunately for me I left my car door open and not thinking just put the jar in the container and as I turned to get into the car, it started to move the wind had made it go forward. I went running after the car but thankfully there was a puddle of water and that slowed it enough for me to get in the car. I then went to put my repeat prescription in the local dispensary. I went to the window and asked them if they could help me. I told them that when I went last month for my diabetes check the head Nurse informed me that my B.P was high and if I agreed she would double my dosage to 100 mgs a day. I agreed but nothing had been done.
The head of the dispensary informed me that unfortunately they had no connection on their computer but when connection was restored she would enquire for me.
Imagine my amazement when around 1.30pm. the door bell rang, as I went to answer and was trying to think who it could be but was shocked to see the delivery man of my prescriptions. I told him what had happened. Normally I hand in my repeat prescription and get the medication the following day which is good but to receive it the same day was fantastic.
The mention of having no connection was and is a sore point with me. I, once again have difficulty with my broadband speed. I rung yet again the technical department, which is free phone but one seems to get a differeng person each time.
This guy was, as all of them have been nice and helpful. I explained that I have been having trouble for several weeks and the last time I was told that they were going to start from the beginning and I would have no connection for a few days but after 10 days all would be well.
He asked me if I had rebotted my router. I told him that I had not and was informed that I must leave it turned on at all times. I then gave him my download speed which I had tested it was 0.1mgs just about dial up speed. He then asked me to wait while he checked my line. After a couple of minutes he casme back and told me that the line spedd to my home was good but the speed showing from my router was 0.1mgs. He then told me that he had done all he could and I also had done everything and the last resort was to replace my router free of charge although I was just out of warranty.
So now I wait for the new router with cables and filters, I have informed my mate who will, hopefully be here next week so he will replace the router.
Finally the guy told me that if this does not work then they would have to get on to B.T to check to see what id wrong with the line. Mind you, it is only these last few months that I have had any trouble, so I hope that a new router will solve the problem. Here's hoping. More soon.
The head of the dispensary informed me that unfortunately they had no connection on their computer but when connection was restored she would enquire for me.
Imagine my amazement when around 1.30pm. the door bell rang, as I went to answer and was trying to think who it could be but was shocked to see the delivery man of my prescriptions. I told him what had happened. Normally I hand in my repeat prescription and get the medication the following day which is good but to receive it the same day was fantastic.
The mention of having no connection was and is a sore point with me. I, once again have difficulty with my broadband speed. I rung yet again the technical department, which is free phone but one seems to get a differeng person each time.
This guy was, as all of them have been nice and helpful. I explained that I have been having trouble for several weeks and the last time I was told that they were going to start from the beginning and I would have no connection for a few days but after 10 days all would be well.
He asked me if I had rebotted my router. I told him that I had not and was informed that I must leave it turned on at all times. I then gave him my download speed which I had tested it was 0.1mgs just about dial up speed. He then asked me to wait while he checked my line. After a couple of minutes he casme back and told me that the line spedd to my home was good but the speed showing from my router was 0.1mgs. He then told me that he had done all he could and I also had done everything and the last resort was to replace my router free of charge although I was just out of warranty.
So now I wait for the new router with cables and filters, I have informed my mate who will, hopefully be here next week so he will replace the router.
Finally the guy told me that if this does not work then they would have to get on to B.T to check to see what id wrong with the line. Mind you, it is only these last few months that I have had any trouble, so I hope that a new router will solve the problem. Here's hoping. More soon.
Monday, 15 October 2012
Autumn
To me it is always a sad time of year. Autumn means that my garden is slowly getting ready for the long winter months.
The weather forecast told of frosts, I went to pick the runner beans that were not quite ready but unfortunately for me, we have had no frosts so far. It was the same with my marrows. Well courgettes really. I let them grow into marrows. However this late in the year, I have had a few small courgettes. To be honest they would never have grown into marrows anyway so I have picked them.
My beetroot, what I managed to grow was lifted yesterday. Frosts tend to make them grow woody. They were small and I gave a few to the next door as a thank you for knocking some stakes into my ground to support some fencing. He has a big lump hammer.
I did managed, with difficulty I might add, to cut a point to 3X 6ft stakes. On Saturday we had heavy rain so the wood was wet through and to be candid, I have no suitable tools. Well no tools of quality. We'll leave it at that.
I cut down most of my asparagus ferns today and dug the ground over.
In the greenhouse I have pulled up some tomato plants but I still have a few plants with tomatoes on, some are ripening slowly.
I have looked closely at my grapevine. Almost certainly I will reduce the vine still further so that I have no more than 20 bunches next year. Well, that is my lpan at this moment of time. Hope I don't change my mind.
I do have a few cabbages in my polytunnel, also some cauliflowers but they don't seem to be progressing as well as I had hoped. I will keep my fingers crossed. Still I have plenty of carrots so at least I will have one fresh vegetable for most of the winter months. More soon.
The weather forecast told of frosts, I went to pick the runner beans that were not quite ready but unfortunately for me, we have had no frosts so far. It was the same with my marrows. Well courgettes really. I let them grow into marrows. However this late in the year, I have had a few small courgettes. To be honest they would never have grown into marrows anyway so I have picked them.
My beetroot, what I managed to grow was lifted yesterday. Frosts tend to make them grow woody. They were small and I gave a few to the next door as a thank you for knocking some stakes into my ground to support some fencing. He has a big lump hammer.
I did managed, with difficulty I might add, to cut a point to 3X 6ft stakes. On Saturday we had heavy rain so the wood was wet through and to be candid, I have no suitable tools. Well no tools of quality. We'll leave it at that.
I cut down most of my asparagus ferns today and dug the ground over.
In the greenhouse I have pulled up some tomato plants but I still have a few plants with tomatoes on, some are ripening slowly.
I have looked closely at my grapevine. Almost certainly I will reduce the vine still further so that I have no more than 20 bunches next year. Well, that is my lpan at this moment of time. Hope I don't change my mind.
I do have a few cabbages in my polytunnel, also some cauliflowers but they don't seem to be progressing as well as I had hoped. I will keep my fingers crossed. Still I have plenty of carrots so at least I will have one fresh vegetable for most of the winter months. More soon.
Friday, 12 October 2012
Hectic day
Yesterday was a hectic day for me. I think I mentioned my mate was calling to do some work on my panels in the garden which are separating the neighbours garden from mine.
Well just after 8.00am. My Italian friend rung up and asked me if I would be in later that morning. As I hadn't seen him for a long time I told him he was welcome to call.
It was just before 11.00am when he called, I was a little sad because my mate hadn't arrived and there was talk of rain. About 5 minutes later he did arrive.
No sooner did he arrive when the phone rang again. This time it was my Best Pal, he wished to see me in the afternoon. I had expected him to call on me as the Caravan Site he is on closes at the end of October.
Well I got my mate to cut up some lenghts of wood in preparation to replace the rotting wood. The fence has been there around 17 years so I can't complain really.
My Italian friend told me his wife is not so good, she suffers from nerves and is frightened to be left alone. I know something of what she suffers from but she is alright with me.
Eventually he left, that meant that I could help my mate with fitting of the strenthening wood struts.
We managed to get all we needed to get done by 12.30pm. It was then time I got dinner for us. I had cooked the chicken earlier so all I had to do was get the vegetables cooked.
By the time we had dinner and I cleared up my mate just had time for a cuppa, it was then time for him to leave.
When he went out my Pal was just getting out of his car. Saying cheerio to my mate, in came my Pal.
Time seemed to go in a flash and it was soon 4.30pm. Time for him to leave. He did say that he hoped to get over just once more this year. Let's hope so.
Finally to update the mouse situation. I have now caught 8 so far.
Today I have been trying to secure my polytunnel. I will not know until a few weeks have passed because I don't know if there are anymore mice already in the polytunnel. More soon.
Well just after 8.00am. My Italian friend rung up and asked me if I would be in later that morning. As I hadn't seen him for a long time I told him he was welcome to call.
It was just before 11.00am when he called, I was a little sad because my mate hadn't arrived and there was talk of rain. About 5 minutes later he did arrive.
No sooner did he arrive when the phone rang again. This time it was my Best Pal, he wished to see me in the afternoon. I had expected him to call on me as the Caravan Site he is on closes at the end of October.
Well I got my mate to cut up some lenghts of wood in preparation to replace the rotting wood. The fence has been there around 17 years so I can't complain really.
My Italian friend told me his wife is not so good, she suffers from nerves and is frightened to be left alone. I know something of what she suffers from but she is alright with me.
Eventually he left, that meant that I could help my mate with fitting of the strenthening wood struts.
We managed to get all we needed to get done by 12.30pm. It was then time I got dinner for us. I had cooked the chicken earlier so all I had to do was get the vegetables cooked.
By the time we had dinner and I cleared up my mate just had time for a cuppa, it was then time for him to leave.
When he went out my Pal was just getting out of his car. Saying cheerio to my mate, in came my Pal.
Time seemed to go in a flash and it was soon 4.30pm. Time for him to leave. He did say that he hoped to get over just once more this year. Let's hope so.
Finally to update the mouse situation. I have now caught 8 so far.
Today I have been trying to secure my polytunnel. I will not know until a few weeks have passed because I don't know if there are anymore mice already in the polytunnel. More soon.
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
Very quiet
These last few days have been very quiet, except for catching mice. To date I have caught 7 mice in my polytunnel. I have tried to make the polytunnel more secure so hopefully I will not be having any more visitors.
It has been reasonably sunny recently and where some places have had frosts, we here have just avoided them. This morning was as near to a frost as it can be but my runner beans have survived. There are a few beanlets on and if there are no frosts for the next 2 weeks I will probably get enough beans to have a meal every other day.
I have pulled my french beans up in the polytunnel, I have been pleased with what I had because it is the first time I have set them so late.
I do have a small marrow forming so keeping my fingers crossed I should get a couple of meals off it.
Soon it will be carrots and cabbage, I think I will have enough carrots for most of the winter, as for cabbage, there is no way I will have enough.
There was talk today of prices going up regarding fruit and vegetables because of the poor summer. I have been telling everyone that this would be so. According to my garden, fruit will be expensive and according to the local Farmer bread and pork will be more expensive as the wheat production is down by around 15%.
Typical, my mate is calling tomorrow, supposedly to help with some work. The weather tomorrow is forecast to be very wet. Still they have been known to be wrong, unfortunately it is generally when they forecast a good day and it turns out to be a poor day.
Still getting some tomatoes but will never get all ripe. I don't know why but they all seemed late this year. Still look forward to next year when perhaps the weather will be better. More soon.
It has been reasonably sunny recently and where some places have had frosts, we here have just avoided them. This morning was as near to a frost as it can be but my runner beans have survived. There are a few beanlets on and if there are no frosts for the next 2 weeks I will probably get enough beans to have a meal every other day.
I have pulled my french beans up in the polytunnel, I have been pleased with what I had because it is the first time I have set them so late.
I do have a small marrow forming so keeping my fingers crossed I should get a couple of meals off it.
Soon it will be carrots and cabbage, I think I will have enough carrots for most of the winter, as for cabbage, there is no way I will have enough.
There was talk today of prices going up regarding fruit and vegetables because of the poor summer. I have been telling everyone that this would be so. According to my garden, fruit will be expensive and according to the local Farmer bread and pork will be more expensive as the wheat production is down by around 15%.
Typical, my mate is calling tomorrow, supposedly to help with some work. The weather tomorrow is forecast to be very wet. Still they have been known to be wrong, unfortunately it is generally when they forecast a good day and it turns out to be a poor day.
Still getting some tomatoes but will never get all ripe. I don't know why but they all seemed late this year. Still look forward to next year when perhaps the weather will be better. More soon.
Friday, 5 October 2012
Requested eggs
I had to go next door to ask if she had any eggs. I had told her when I took some plums roud that soon I would like a few eggs. However she had forgotten. That must have been almost 3 weeks ago.
When she opened the door she told me that they had been away for a week. They had been to New York. I naturally asked her if they went alone. She told me that they had and they got married. Whether in New York or here I do not know but I will find out.
She then told me that she meant to let me know. Her Parents were going to live at her place and look after the (children) and cats as well as the chickens. Someone from the next village was looking after the pigeons. Children in brackets is because they have the brains of a child, one is about 18 the other is I guess in her 30s.
Here I was thinking I had got the sack for the first time in my life when it was obvious I would not be able or willing to look after the two mentally handicapped people. let alone the cats, who I don't care for. So I did not get the sack after all. It would have been the first time in my life had I got the sack.
I caught another mouse and hoped that this would be the last one but this morning I went in the polytunnel and found that the piece of KitKat chocolate biscuit had been eaten but the trap had not gone off so there is at least one more mouse waiting for me to catch.
It has been more like Autumn today, no sun at all and rather cool. I hope that we don't get a frost for the next couple of weeks because I do have quite a few of small runner beans forming and if it stays frost free I should get several more meals out of them. Here's hoping. More soon.
When she opened the door she told me that they had been away for a week. They had been to New York. I naturally asked her if they went alone. She told me that they had and they got married. Whether in New York or here I do not know but I will find out.
She then told me that she meant to let me know. Her Parents were going to live at her place and look after the (children) and cats as well as the chickens. Someone from the next village was looking after the pigeons. Children in brackets is because they have the brains of a child, one is about 18 the other is I guess in her 30s.
Here I was thinking I had got the sack for the first time in my life when it was obvious I would not be able or willing to look after the two mentally handicapped people. let alone the cats, who I don't care for. So I did not get the sack after all. It would have been the first time in my life had I got the sack.
I caught another mouse and hoped that this would be the last one but this morning I went in the polytunnel and found that the piece of KitKat chocolate biscuit had been eaten but the trap had not gone off so there is at least one more mouse waiting for me to catch.
It has been more like Autumn today, no sun at all and rather cool. I hope that we don't get a frost for the next couple of weeks because I do have quite a few of small runner beans forming and if it stays frost free I should get several more meals out of them. Here's hoping. More soon.
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
Meat
My Best pal called to see me today, sad to think that there won't be many more times he calls to see me this year. I think he will be going home for good before the end of October.
As usual we put the world to rights, well we think we could do better than those in charge anyway. What surprises us is just how wasteful people are today. Not just today but over the last 25 years. To economise is a word that most people under 50 don't seem to understand at all. They think they do but unfortunately have no ideas how to cut down on expense.
I told him about one incident that happened over 25 years ago. I used to visit my Mother once a week in the winter months after my Father died in 1975. I guess this happend around 1984.
We used to call in at a local butcher's shop which was on the private housing estate. He gradually found out that I was also in business so used to talk about things that fellow businessmen would understand. He took us into his preparation room where he made his sausages, pork pies and hams etc. He told me that each Thursday he went to the local Cattle Market to bid on anything that took his eye. There was an Abattoir nearby so when the aminals were sold, they were then sent to the abbatoir and once suitably prepared were delivered to his shop. He told me that beef was always left to hang for at least two weeks. Generally I didn't go to Grantham on a Thursday. However once it was unavoidable. We called in as usual and a retired Butcher was there. He knew my Mother but addressed her by Mrs. My Mother called him by his christian name. He asked us what we would like and my Mother asked for Best End of Lamb. Now more commonly known as Crown Roast. This started him off talking about when he was a young butchers boy. He said he had to cycle to a big house quite a way in the country which had a long driveway. He told us that a titled Lady lived there and he always went there with fear and dread. He said that he had to use the tradesman entrance but when he went there the Lady informed the person answering the door to tell him to goto the main front door. He had to doff his cap and call her My Lady. He told us that when it was the cut of lamb that we asked for she told him exactly how she wanted it and that he would personally take it to her for inspection and if it was not as she asked, it would be refused and he told us he would be in trouble.
What he did next was a surprise. He just told us that he would do the lamb the same way as the Lady of the House requested. He proceeded to skin the lamb then remove all the fat he could see then cut the bones to about half the size of what you would normally get. Finally he weighed the lamb and informed us how much it was and gave it to us. It certainly looked fantastic. We thanked him and left. When we got home I just said to my Mother that this was value for money as we did not pay for the skin, fat and much of the bones. My Mother looked at me and grinned. She hadn't given it a thought.
By the way, the best end of neck of lamb was beautiful. We never did tell the Butcher what his part time assistant did for us with the meat. More soon.
As usual we put the world to rights, well we think we could do better than those in charge anyway. What surprises us is just how wasteful people are today. Not just today but over the last 25 years. To economise is a word that most people under 50 don't seem to understand at all. They think they do but unfortunately have no ideas how to cut down on expense.
I told him about one incident that happened over 25 years ago. I used to visit my Mother once a week in the winter months after my Father died in 1975. I guess this happend around 1984.
We used to call in at a local butcher's shop which was on the private housing estate. He gradually found out that I was also in business so used to talk about things that fellow businessmen would understand. He took us into his preparation room where he made his sausages, pork pies and hams etc. He told me that each Thursday he went to the local Cattle Market to bid on anything that took his eye. There was an Abattoir nearby so when the aminals were sold, they were then sent to the abbatoir and once suitably prepared were delivered to his shop. He told me that beef was always left to hang for at least two weeks. Generally I didn't go to Grantham on a Thursday. However once it was unavoidable. We called in as usual and a retired Butcher was there. He knew my Mother but addressed her by Mrs. My Mother called him by his christian name. He asked us what we would like and my Mother asked for Best End of Lamb. Now more commonly known as Crown Roast. This started him off talking about when he was a young butchers boy. He said he had to cycle to a big house quite a way in the country which had a long driveway. He told us that a titled Lady lived there and he always went there with fear and dread. He said that he had to use the tradesman entrance but when he went there the Lady informed the person answering the door to tell him to goto the main front door. He had to doff his cap and call her My Lady. He told us that when it was the cut of lamb that we asked for she told him exactly how she wanted it and that he would personally take it to her for inspection and if it was not as she asked, it would be refused and he told us he would be in trouble.
What he did next was a surprise. He just told us that he would do the lamb the same way as the Lady of the House requested. He proceeded to skin the lamb then remove all the fat he could see then cut the bones to about half the size of what you would normally get. Finally he weighed the lamb and informed us how much it was and gave it to us. It certainly looked fantastic. We thanked him and left. When we got home I just said to my Mother that this was value for money as we did not pay for the skin, fat and much of the bones. My Mother looked at me and grinned. She hadn't given it a thought.
By the way, the best end of neck of lamb was beautiful. We never did tell the Butcher what his part time assistant did for us with the meat. More soon.
Monday, 1 October 2012
Early Autumn
These last few days have reminded me that the summer is over. I really should have taken notice of the mice in my polytunnel. By the way, I caught another one this morning so tomorrow I will buy some chocolate of some sort. Cheese on a mousetrap is a myth. They will not touch it. Chocolate or anything sweet is what they go after.
Friday I did just a little more in the ditch, I didn't do too much as the ground is now a little damp. My shoes were picking up the mud. Anyway I have decided to call it a day for now.
This morning I went to have a look to see if the rubbish had been removed from the ditch that I had piled up on Friday. I only looked because yesterday it was windy but I noticed that there was smoke from the field where the large pile of rubbish was. I was surprised, well amazed really. There wasn't a thing there only ashes, everything had been burnt. The rubbish from the ditch had also been removed.
I was somewhat surprised when I went to pick my runner beans. I managed to gather just over 1/2 lb and if the weather lasts. that is no frosts, I will be getting runner beans for another 3 weeks or so.
My Sister rung me at the week end with news that her Daughter, my Niece has had notice to quit from her home that she rented. The Landlord was in financial difficulties and has been forced to put the property on the market. It is a worrying time as she has 2 young girls and the eldest is now at infants school in the local village where she lives. Not far from Grantham and she wants her to stay there. I doubt if this will happen. Such is life. More soon.
Friday I did just a little more in the ditch, I didn't do too much as the ground is now a little damp. My shoes were picking up the mud. Anyway I have decided to call it a day for now.
This morning I went to have a look to see if the rubbish had been removed from the ditch that I had piled up on Friday. I only looked because yesterday it was windy but I noticed that there was smoke from the field where the large pile of rubbish was. I was surprised, well amazed really. There wasn't a thing there only ashes, everything had been burnt. The rubbish from the ditch had also been removed.
I was somewhat surprised when I went to pick my runner beans. I managed to gather just over 1/2 lb and if the weather lasts. that is no frosts, I will be getting runner beans for another 3 weeks or so.
My Sister rung me at the week end with news that her Daughter, my Niece has had notice to quit from her home that she rented. The Landlord was in financial difficulties and has been forced to put the property on the market. It is a worrying time as she has 2 young girls and the eldest is now at infants school in the local village where she lives. Not far from Grantham and she wants her to stay there. I doubt if this will happen. Such is life. More soon.
Thursday, 27 September 2012
Poor season
It has been a poor growing season this year, even my runner beans have been less than prolific this year. Next door have fared even worse. My marrows seemed to get old before they were ready also fruit trees were very very poor indeed. No eating apples at all but I did manage to get a few plums. By the way folk were talking I was fortunate indeed.
With the weather these last few days being so bad, I thought I might have a mouse in my polytunnel. I was wrong, I have mice, yes plural. So far after setting my trap 4 days ago I have caught 4. Heaven alone knows if there are any more but I have set my trap once again.
It is common knowledge that animals have a sort of instinct when bad weather is around. It certainly is early for mice to find somewhere to winter this time of year. I guess they knew it was going to be a bad few days. Anyway I have managed to rid a few of them, keeping my fingers crossed.
I thought I had a mouse because I found a small strawberry it was green and nowhere near ready, it was on the ground. I could see that it had been taken from the plant and that was the only thing I could think of. A mouse.
My late sowing of French beans, the climbing type have proved a success. I did sow them in early August, in the polytunnel and I didn't know just how they would fare. I have given a few meals of beans away and had them for myself each day for well over 3 weeks. They are just about done though now. I have found that the only real way to get a good crop is to sow them under glass. Preferably in a polytunnel as they do much better than in a greenhouse. Don't try it with runner beans though. The temperature gets too hot for them and the beans won't set.
In the greenhouse, my tomatoes are very late indeed. Most people I have spoken to have noticed that their's are late too. Today I managed to pick a few gardeners delight but to be honest, I have loads that are coming but I doubt if they will ever ripen. I will not be making tomato chutney though with the green ones. More soon.
With the weather these last few days being so bad, I thought I might have a mouse in my polytunnel. I was wrong, I have mice, yes plural. So far after setting my trap 4 days ago I have caught 4. Heaven alone knows if there are any more but I have set my trap once again.
It is common knowledge that animals have a sort of instinct when bad weather is around. It certainly is early for mice to find somewhere to winter this time of year. I guess they knew it was going to be a bad few days. Anyway I have managed to rid a few of them, keeping my fingers crossed.
I thought I had a mouse because I found a small strawberry it was green and nowhere near ready, it was on the ground. I could see that it had been taken from the plant and that was the only thing I could think of. A mouse.
My late sowing of French beans, the climbing type have proved a success. I did sow them in early August, in the polytunnel and I didn't know just how they would fare. I have given a few meals of beans away and had them for myself each day for well over 3 weeks. They are just about done though now. I have found that the only real way to get a good crop is to sow them under glass. Preferably in a polytunnel as they do much better than in a greenhouse. Don't try it with runner beans though. The temperature gets too hot for them and the beans won't set.
In the greenhouse, my tomatoes are very late indeed. Most people I have spoken to have noticed that their's are late too. Today I managed to pick a few gardeners delight but to be honest, I have loads that are coming but I doubt if they will ever ripen. I will not be making tomato chutney though with the green ones. More soon.
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Sky
It is very rare I check my diect debits. Well that is not true at all. What I should have written is that it is rare that I check on the day that a direct debit is debited from my account.
Today I decided to check my account because yesterday I rung my provider and asked for the best price I could get and was prepared to pay for my telephone a year in advance. This was done but I had to pay by debit or credit card. I paid by bebit card so today I went to see if it had been debited from my account. It had not but a sum of £85.08 had been debited from my account by Sky.
I went onto their chat line. I first spoke to a guy called Daniel. I didn't seem to be getting anywhere at all with him. Anyway I must have hit a wrong button, not for the first time and I completely lost contact.
I now had to go through all the security again as I had another person to chat to. I began to wonder if it was me but I persevered and I told him much the same as I had to the other guy. At one stage I told him to read what I had written. In July I had debited from my account £55 in August it was £56.93 now this month it was £85.08. I asked him to justify the cost. He told me that my H.D would be cancelled on October 15th and then my price would be in the region of £38 with a 20% discount.
I thought I would try a different tack. I asked him to confirm that debits were taken from accounts monthly in advance. He confirmed this.
I then told him that on July 25th. I was charged £55 for my package, in August it was a little more £56.93 this was adjusted for the increase on September 1st. I then told him that even if they had charged me for H.D which I did not receive after 15th September the cost would be £58 which was the package I was on.
At last he seemed to understand where I was coming from. He told me to wait 2 minutes while he did some checking. It took a little longer but eventually he agreed with me that it was not correct. He had found that I had been charged twice for the package and he then asked me if it would be alright if they could hold on to the money and take it off my next months payment. I told him to save any more trouble that would be the best way to proceed. I did remind him though that I would still be a little in credit after next months payment. He agreed with me and told me that I would still be in credit in October for about £7.
So now next month I will be checking my bebit from Sky, mind you, this is the first time I have had any trouble with direct debits. By the time I eventually managed to get it all sorted it was way past my tea time. It must have lasted almost 2 hours. Still it's sorted. Hopefully. More soon.
Today I decided to check my account because yesterday I rung my provider and asked for the best price I could get and was prepared to pay for my telephone a year in advance. This was done but I had to pay by debit or credit card. I paid by bebit card so today I went to see if it had been debited from my account. It had not but a sum of £85.08 had been debited from my account by Sky.
I went onto their chat line. I first spoke to a guy called Daniel. I didn't seem to be getting anywhere at all with him. Anyway I must have hit a wrong button, not for the first time and I completely lost contact.
I now had to go through all the security again as I had another person to chat to. I began to wonder if it was me but I persevered and I told him much the same as I had to the other guy. At one stage I told him to read what I had written. In July I had debited from my account £55 in August it was £56.93 now this month it was £85.08. I asked him to justify the cost. He told me that my H.D would be cancelled on October 15th and then my price would be in the region of £38 with a 20% discount.
I thought I would try a different tack. I asked him to confirm that debits were taken from accounts monthly in advance. He confirmed this.
I then told him that on July 25th. I was charged £55 for my package, in August it was a little more £56.93 this was adjusted for the increase on September 1st. I then told him that even if they had charged me for H.D which I did not receive after 15th September the cost would be £58 which was the package I was on.
At last he seemed to understand where I was coming from. He told me to wait 2 minutes while he did some checking. It took a little longer but eventually he agreed with me that it was not correct. He had found that I had been charged twice for the package and he then asked me if it would be alright if they could hold on to the money and take it off my next months payment. I told him to save any more trouble that would be the best way to proceed. I did remind him though that I would still be a little in credit after next months payment. He agreed with me and told me that I would still be in credit in October for about £7.
So now next month I will be checking my bebit from Sky, mind you, this is the first time I have had any trouble with direct debits. By the time I eventually managed to get it all sorted it was way past my tea time. It must have lasted almost 2 hours. Still it's sorted. Hopefully. More soon.
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Latest broadband
Today I checked my broadband and it was fine. I decided to go and freephone them to ask if I could not get a better deal. I was surprised that the lady agreed that I could pay a year in advance what they call line rental saver she also informed me that she would arrange to get a reduction to my broadband. I did get confirmation from tham that my line saver would start from my next direct debit so will not know just how much I will be paying until then. With paying an annual payment I save about £44 a year.
We have been lucky here with the weather over the last couple of days we have had about 1/2" of rain, yes it has been very windy and dull as well as being cool but thankfully we have been spared the persistant heavy rain.
The Farmer who has a field opposite my home managed to get his harvest in, also got his straw baled then the other night got it ploughed. On Sunday evening he managed to harrow the land so it is ready to be sown again.
He came to see me the other day, it was when he was ploughing the old stubble in. He comes to see me when he sees me around. It started a few years ago. I was out in my front driveway watching him and I was surprised when he stopped his tractor opposite me and came over. He introduced himself and told me that a relative lived next door. It was then up for sale and his relative has left.
I asked him a few questions and he noticed that I knew a little about farm life. I know next to nothing really but my ex Brother in Law used to be Farm Manager for Lord Brownlow on the Belton Estate. It was mixed arable and livestock. Only cattle. All they did was to increase the herd so any bull calfs were castrated and after about 20 months were sent for slaughter. The female calfs were kept for breeding. He used to sow wheat, barley and the latest thing rape seed. This would be in the early 80s.
The Farmer told me that now they didn't have to crop rotate. This was always the case. As us old ones would know it was generally accepted that after 3 years of different crops a fourth year the ground was planted with clover or some other crop that would help fertilise the soil. Or some Farmers left the field fallow for a year.
The farmer has a Brother, he has pigs so what he does is that when the wind is in the right direction(so we do not get the smell) he sprays pig slurry on the ground, when the stubble is about to be ploughed in so that as soon as it is ploughed in, there is no smell.
He also told me that because he has no need to rotate the crops he will once again be sowing wheat. What was most surprising is that he told me that the yield should increase for the next 3 years. This is because of the seed which has been treated in such a way that it can be grown on the same field for several years.
I noticed that when he was gathering the wheat in he had a combine harvester. As it was dusk, I was not sure it was him but he waved to me. He told me that he had bought the machine and that he had hoped I would have gone over to him for a ride. I told him that I might next year. We will see, but he let me know that there was a spare seat and the cab was nice and quiet. The harvester is steered by the rear wheels. More soon.
We have been lucky here with the weather over the last couple of days we have had about 1/2" of rain, yes it has been very windy and dull as well as being cool but thankfully we have been spared the persistant heavy rain.
The Farmer who has a field opposite my home managed to get his harvest in, also got his straw baled then the other night got it ploughed. On Sunday evening he managed to harrow the land so it is ready to be sown again.
He came to see me the other day, it was when he was ploughing the old stubble in. He comes to see me when he sees me around. It started a few years ago. I was out in my front driveway watching him and I was surprised when he stopped his tractor opposite me and came over. He introduced himself and told me that a relative lived next door. It was then up for sale and his relative has left.
I asked him a few questions and he noticed that I knew a little about farm life. I know next to nothing really but my ex Brother in Law used to be Farm Manager for Lord Brownlow on the Belton Estate. It was mixed arable and livestock. Only cattle. All they did was to increase the herd so any bull calfs were castrated and after about 20 months were sent for slaughter. The female calfs were kept for breeding. He used to sow wheat, barley and the latest thing rape seed. This would be in the early 80s.
The Farmer told me that now they didn't have to crop rotate. This was always the case. As us old ones would know it was generally accepted that after 3 years of different crops a fourth year the ground was planted with clover or some other crop that would help fertilise the soil. Or some Farmers left the field fallow for a year.
The farmer has a Brother, he has pigs so what he does is that when the wind is in the right direction(so we do not get the smell) he sprays pig slurry on the ground, when the stubble is about to be ploughed in so that as soon as it is ploughed in, there is no smell.
He also told me that because he has no need to rotate the crops he will once again be sowing wheat. What was most surprising is that he told me that the yield should increase for the next 3 years. This is because of the seed which has been treated in such a way that it can be grown on the same field for several years.
I noticed that when he was gathering the wheat in he had a combine harvester. As it was dusk, I was not sure it was him but he waved to me. He told me that he had bought the machine and that he had hoped I would have gone over to him for a ride. I told him that I might next year. We will see, but he let me know that there was a spare seat and the cab was nice and quiet. The harvester is steered by the rear wheels. More soon.
Monday, 24 September 2012
Back online?
Well, I am here but to be honest I don't know how long I will be here.
Several days ago I had next to no broadband power at all. I rung up the technical department and this nice young lady had to seek another guy who reset the system for me. They thought this would cure the problem. Unfortunately it didn't.
The next morning I once again rung them up. I must say this, all of the people in the technical department are so nice and helpful. This guy told me he had to go and do some investigation as to what had happened. After several minutes he came back with the news that there was noise on my line, more than would be expected and that they would have to go back and start from the beginning once again. He told me that this would take time and it would take up to 10 days before I would be back to my normal speed. Hopefully. But I would see some appreciable improvement within about 3 days.
Yesterday morning I tried the internet and sure enough it was good. This morning I went online again to see if t was still good. No it wasn't at all, in fact it was worse. I tried to go online to test my broadband speed but when I tried, it told me that the test had to be aborted because of lack of data. I just thought I had gone back to the start again. I did try late this afternoon and it was great and to be candid, it seems to be working well this evening. I am keeping my fingers crossed.
By the way, the last e-mail to me from them had an increase in my broadband and telephone. It is a year since I joined them and to be honest as I am very limited as to which provider I could get was not on a good deal at all. It was costing me around £24 a month for broadband and telephone. The latest bill is for almost £29.
My Postman, this morning bought me some mail with it was a circular from B.T offering me a better deal than I am on at the moment. This is surprising as I am with a subsidery of B.T. I will have to get in touch with them because I don't wish to leave them as every time I have had to contact them, almost every time the technical department, they have been great.
Let's hope that I am now more or less back to normality with my broadband. I wondered if the adverse weather had affected my broadband, but I don't think so. More soon.
Several days ago I had next to no broadband power at all. I rung up the technical department and this nice young lady had to seek another guy who reset the system for me. They thought this would cure the problem. Unfortunately it didn't.
The next morning I once again rung them up. I must say this, all of the people in the technical department are so nice and helpful. This guy told me he had to go and do some investigation as to what had happened. After several minutes he came back with the news that there was noise on my line, more than would be expected and that they would have to go back and start from the beginning once again. He told me that this would take time and it would take up to 10 days before I would be back to my normal speed. Hopefully. But I would see some appreciable improvement within about 3 days.
Yesterday morning I tried the internet and sure enough it was good. This morning I went online again to see if t was still good. No it wasn't at all, in fact it was worse. I tried to go online to test my broadband speed but when I tried, it told me that the test had to be aborted because of lack of data. I just thought I had gone back to the start again. I did try late this afternoon and it was great and to be candid, it seems to be working well this evening. I am keeping my fingers crossed.
By the way, the last e-mail to me from them had an increase in my broadband and telephone. It is a year since I joined them and to be honest as I am very limited as to which provider I could get was not on a good deal at all. It was costing me around £24 a month for broadband and telephone. The latest bill is for almost £29.
My Postman, this morning bought me some mail with it was a circular from B.T offering me a better deal than I am on at the moment. This is surprising as I am with a subsidery of B.T. I will have to get in touch with them because I don't wish to leave them as every time I have had to contact them, almost every time the technical department, they have been great.
Let's hope that I am now more or less back to normality with my broadband. I wondered if the adverse weather had affected my broadband, but I don't think so. More soon.
Tuesday, 18 September 2012
More ditch clearing
They are nice there but it was a female this time and to be honest she didn't seem to know what to do. She eventually found a guy who supposedly sorted it out for me. I don't think so. I checked my speed again, exactly the same as before. She did tell me that if this persisted thay would have to do some investigations as to why this keeps happening.
As you can see, I have eventually managed to get some photos on my blog. Not without trouble, once it said photo failed because of internet failure.
I am dreading trying to post this blog.
Now you will notice just how much I have done, I have been hard at work for the last 3 days. It is nowhere cleared but at least you can see just how much I have removed. The guy next door keeps taking the rubbish and as you can see, the pile is getting quite a size. Will see if my speed has improved tomorrow. More soon
Monday, 17 September 2012
Normality reigns
Well I say normality reigns but to be honest the speed I have regarding broadband is not fit for purpose. Heaven alone knows if I will be able to post this blog, only time will tell.
These last few days have been rather busy for me. On Wednesday last week I had to prepare for an internal inspection on Thursday.
Thursday arrived and all went according to plan. I was surprised at one of the questions the Nurse asked me. She wanted to know if I had at any time major surgery. I told her I had not, she then mentioned gall bladder removal. I told her that I had my gall bladder removed but surely this was routine surgery and not major surgery. She told me it was a serious operation. I left it at that.
After asking several more questions she then told me that we would get prepared for the procedure. She told me that as I had this procedure several times before I knew what was going to happen. I then had my blood pressure taken. I told her that it would be high, sure enough it was. Far too high for my liking but she told me that it would come down. The last thing I had before my Consultant came to see me was to have my B/S tested. I told her that I guessed it would be around 6. She told me she would guess at 5.8. It was actually 4.8 so very good indeed.
I told her that I had bought a few boiled sweets and had bought with me a teacake to eat after the procedure. That would be the first thing to eat in 24 hours. She told me that she would get me a cup of tea, I told her I wished to have coffee. No problem at all. It was beautiful. I could tell it was made with semi skimmed milk. I only use skimmed it tasted so creamy to me. She also told me she would bring me a glass of water so that I could take my medication
My mate got me home around 5.30pm. I just rested for the remainder of the evening but didn't feel bad at all.
On Friday, I just took it easy and did nothing all day, although my best Pal came to see me. He is always welcome.
On Saturday I felt much better and hoovered tghrough and later in the morning I decide to try to get rid of some of the ivy that has invaded the ditch at the bottom of the garden. I should have taken a photo to show just how bad it was, but that is me, never thinking at all. I saw the young man next door and asked if he could take the rubbish away and burn it for me. He told me no problem at all so I have made a start.
Later in the day, I thought I heard the local farmer ploughing the field, sure enough he was there so I went out, when he saw me as soon as he got to this end of the field he came to see me. More soon.
These last few days have been rather busy for me. On Wednesday last week I had to prepare for an internal inspection on Thursday.
Thursday arrived and all went according to plan. I was surprised at one of the questions the Nurse asked me. She wanted to know if I had at any time major surgery. I told her I had not, she then mentioned gall bladder removal. I told her that I had my gall bladder removed but surely this was routine surgery and not major surgery. She told me it was a serious operation. I left it at that.
After asking several more questions she then told me that we would get prepared for the procedure. She told me that as I had this procedure several times before I knew what was going to happen. I then had my blood pressure taken. I told her that it would be high, sure enough it was. Far too high for my liking but she told me that it would come down. The last thing I had before my Consultant came to see me was to have my B/S tested. I told her that I guessed it would be around 6. She told me she would guess at 5.8. It was actually 4.8 so very good indeed.
I told her that I had bought a few boiled sweets and had bought with me a teacake to eat after the procedure. That would be the first thing to eat in 24 hours. She told me that she would get me a cup of tea, I told her I wished to have coffee. No problem at all. It was beautiful. I could tell it was made with semi skimmed milk. I only use skimmed it tasted so creamy to me. She also told me she would bring me a glass of water so that I could take my medication
My mate got me home around 5.30pm. I just rested for the remainder of the evening but didn't feel bad at all.
On Friday, I just took it easy and did nothing all day, although my best Pal came to see me. He is always welcome.
On Saturday I felt much better and hoovered tghrough and later in the morning I decide to try to get rid of some of the ivy that has invaded the ditch at the bottom of the garden. I should have taken a photo to show just how bad it was, but that is me, never thinking at all. I saw the young man next door and asked if he could take the rubbish away and burn it for me. He told me no problem at all so I have made a start.
Later in the day, I thought I heard the local farmer ploughing the field, sure enough he was there so I went out, when he saw me as soon as he got to this end of the field he came to see me. More soon.
Monday, 10 September 2012
Broadband problems
I have tried to see what ISP providers could offer me so I went first to Uswitch.com. There they told me I could have lots of choices with plenty of offers. Wrong. They told me things that it was not possible for providers to give me.
I did write and ask them to update their web pages because they were displaying incorrect information. Needless to say they never replied to me.
I did try to get Talk Talk also Sky plus Primus.
I must say this Talk Talk did contact me the next day. The conversation went something like this.
Talk Talk. "Am I speakin to Mr ****"
Me "Yes that is correct."
Talk Talk."This is Michael from Talk Talk, can you give me your telephone number?"
Me "It is the one you have just called me on" Laughing he then asked me for my post code.
I duly gave it to him. He then informed me that I had visited his site. I then said I had but there was nothing for me there.
Talk Talk. "Just a minute I will check your line," a pause, It looks as if we can't supply you but if you will wait a minute I will check to see if it is possible to put a line to your place."
After less than a minute he came back.
Talk Talk. "I am sorry but it is not possible so therefore we can not offer you a service to your home. I am sorry for wasting your time"
Me." Don't apologise my friend, you have tried to help me but unfortunately I am in a very rural place and to be honest I don't expect to see any improvement in the next 3 years".
I thanked him for contacting me and he rung off.
Next was Sky. They have a special offer to Sky subscribers which was something like £3.55 per month plus phoneline.
I put my post code in and immediately Sky informed me that the special offer was not available in my area but the good news was that they could offer me a package at £31,50 a month.
I was disgusted so I went on to their chat line. I was put in touch with a guy called Sandeep .All you could get from him was that he was sorry but the offer was not available in my area. I told him straight that I had been a Sky customer for many years he told me it was more than 20 years. I then told him that with the package I am on and the price they offered me was nearly 25% of my weekly State Pension would go to Sky and this was not acceptable to me. I then asked him to give me the address of SKy so that I could write and inform them that I was cancelling my contract. All he offered me was their phone line. I told him that I had no intention of ringing them just to be put on hold for about 20 minutes. Their lines are NOT freephone at all.
Finally I found this Primus. I went and filled the application form up and I had an e-mail confirming that my order was being processed and I was given an order number.
A couple of days later I had another e-mail from them informing me that unfortunately they could not supply the package to me but if I wished to contact them they would see what they could do.
I did telephone them, it wa a freephone number. The man on the other end told me that after checking all, he could not offer me anything at all as I was on IP stream, this I have found out is controlled by B.T. and Primus do not use it at all. He did say that more than likely, there would only be B.T and Plus Net that could supply me. How sad.
Finally for now, I went to Grantham on Friday because there was a planned power cut on Friday morning. I noticed that fuel here was 1.46.9p per litre. At ASDA in Grantham the price was 1.40.7 pence a litre more than 6p a litre. A huge saving but those living in that area were complaing about the price. They should live in the country, perhaps they would realise just how fortunate they are. Natural gas, cheaper fuel and a choice of Internet Broadband Providers.
By the way, I have posted my cancellation to Sky of my subscription. More soon.
I did write and ask them to update their web pages because they were displaying incorrect information. Needless to say they never replied to me.
I did try to get Talk Talk also Sky plus Primus.
I must say this Talk Talk did contact me the next day. The conversation went something like this.
Talk Talk. "Am I speakin to Mr ****"
Me "Yes that is correct."
Talk Talk."This is Michael from Talk Talk, can you give me your telephone number?"
Me "It is the one you have just called me on" Laughing he then asked me for my post code.
I duly gave it to him. He then informed me that I had visited his site. I then said I had but there was nothing for me there.
Talk Talk. "Just a minute I will check your line," a pause, It looks as if we can't supply you but if you will wait a minute I will check to see if it is possible to put a line to your place."
After less than a minute he came back.
Talk Talk. "I am sorry but it is not possible so therefore we can not offer you a service to your home. I am sorry for wasting your time"
Me." Don't apologise my friend, you have tried to help me but unfortunately I am in a very rural place and to be honest I don't expect to see any improvement in the next 3 years".
I thanked him for contacting me and he rung off.
Next was Sky. They have a special offer to Sky subscribers which was something like £3.55 per month plus phoneline.
I put my post code in and immediately Sky informed me that the special offer was not available in my area but the good news was that they could offer me a package at £31,50 a month.
I was disgusted so I went on to their chat line. I was put in touch with a guy called Sandeep .All you could get from him was that he was sorry but the offer was not available in my area. I told him straight that I had been a Sky customer for many years he told me it was more than 20 years. I then told him that with the package I am on and the price they offered me was nearly 25% of my weekly State Pension would go to Sky and this was not acceptable to me. I then asked him to give me the address of SKy so that I could write and inform them that I was cancelling my contract. All he offered me was their phone line. I told him that I had no intention of ringing them just to be put on hold for about 20 minutes. Their lines are NOT freephone at all.
Finally I found this Primus. I went and filled the application form up and I had an e-mail confirming that my order was being processed and I was given an order number.
A couple of days later I had another e-mail from them informing me that unfortunately they could not supply the package to me but if I wished to contact them they would see what they could do.
I did telephone them, it wa a freephone number. The man on the other end told me that after checking all, he could not offer me anything at all as I was on IP stream, this I have found out is controlled by B.T. and Primus do not use it at all. He did say that more than likely, there would only be B.T and Plus Net that could supply me. How sad.
Finally for now, I went to Grantham on Friday because there was a planned power cut on Friday morning. I noticed that fuel here was 1.46.9p per litre. At ASDA in Grantham the price was 1.40.7 pence a litre more than 6p a litre. A huge saving but those living in that area were complaing about the price. They should live in the country, perhaps they would realise just how fortunate they are. Natural gas, cheaper fuel and a choice of Internet Broadband Providers.
By the way, I have posted my cancellation to Sky of my subscription. More soon.
Friday, 7 September 2012
Planned power cut
This morning was a planned power cut. The information we received was that it was to improve the service to our area. Next door, the one with chickens had the letter but not really read it but she told me she would go and find the letter.
I decided to go to Grantham. I know what some are thinking. On a Friday! It was not a good day at all. It took me almost 2 hours to travel less than 60 miles. When I did get to Morrison's I had to go and drive rould the car park twice before I managed to find a space.
I did find a coulple of Herring, well not exactly, I asked the lady on the counter if there were any Herrings. The two Herrings were burried under a Plaice, anyway I took both of them, one I have had today and the other I will have tomorrow. I also bought some sugar free jellies, some cooked meat, 1/2 fat cheese, a box of cornflakes and a box of bran flakes. The lot cost me £20.01. Unusually for me, I did fill up with fuel. 1.40.7pence a litre.I had just over 18 litres. I then went to my Sister's but she was not at home. Her Husband was and he informed me that she could not get in the car park. It was not long before she arrived back home. Nev, her Husband showed me the tomatoes. Not good at all. He told me that his Sisters would not eat them. I suggested that when my Sister goes next on a Car Boot put them in bags and try to sell them.
I took with me for my Sisters and Niece some plums, a few grapes, pea seeds and a few tomatoes plus some french beans for her.
I managed to get back home about 1.15pm. The electricity was back on. The first job was to go and pick the runner beans. The guy next door was about. Yesterday he gave me 4 paving slabs. Not the large ones, I would never be able to lift them but those about 2' square. I asked him if he would like the beans I picked, his eyes lit up and told me he would love them. I also went and picked a few plums for him too then went in and cooked my Herring. It was very nice. For my tea I had pressed Ox Tongue, not good for me really as it is a little fatty but it is nice and I only have it as a treat.
I will tell more about my experiences regarding me trying to get a Broadband deal next time.
I decided to go to Grantham. I know what some are thinking. On a Friday! It was not a good day at all. It took me almost 2 hours to travel less than 60 miles. When I did get to Morrison's I had to go and drive rould the car park twice before I managed to find a space.
I did find a coulple of Herring, well not exactly, I asked the lady on the counter if there were any Herrings. The two Herrings were burried under a Plaice, anyway I took both of them, one I have had today and the other I will have tomorrow. I also bought some sugar free jellies, some cooked meat, 1/2 fat cheese, a box of cornflakes and a box of bran flakes. The lot cost me £20.01. Unusually for me, I did fill up with fuel. 1.40.7pence a litre.I had just over 18 litres. I then went to my Sister's but she was not at home. Her Husband was and he informed me that she could not get in the car park. It was not long before she arrived back home. Nev, her Husband showed me the tomatoes. Not good at all. He told me that his Sisters would not eat them. I suggested that when my Sister goes next on a Car Boot put them in bags and try to sell them.
I took with me for my Sisters and Niece some plums, a few grapes, pea seeds and a few tomatoes plus some french beans for her.
I managed to get back home about 1.15pm. The electricity was back on. The first job was to go and pick the runner beans. The guy next door was about. Yesterday he gave me 4 paving slabs. Not the large ones, I would never be able to lift them but those about 2' square. I asked him if he would like the beans I picked, his eyes lit up and told me he would love them. I also went and picked a few plums for him too then went in and cooked my Herring. It was very nice. For my tea I had pressed Ox Tongue, not good for me really as it is a little fatty but it is nice and I only have it as a treat.
I will tell more about my experiences regarding me trying to get a Broadband deal next time.
Wednesday, 5 September 2012
Dentist
Today it was a trip to the Dentist. He is a very nice guy and we call each other by our christian names.
As soon as I sat down in the waiting area, this man started talking to me. I told him that it was cool and that I had put on a jumper. He told me that he didn't feel the cold and hating wearing a jacket or any other clothing to protect him. He then told me that he was originally a Miner. I asked him how long he was down the pits, 10 years altogether he told me, 2 5year stints at different pits. He then told me that he was a delivery driver going to ports such as Immingham. I reminded him that Immingham was a huge port, most people had no idea just how large it was. I then told him that there always seemed to be a dark cloud over Immingham. He laughed and agreed with me.
I then told him about a H.M. Customs Inspector.
It was in the 80s. I had several years before appealed against my Business Rates but took my Accountant with me. We failed. This time I was determined to go it alone.
Anyway, this Customs Officer came to see me(an appointment was made prior). He was smartly dressed in a suit, you would never guess that he worked for Customs and Excise. He was based in Boston. Upon entry he introduced himself and we shook hands. I told him that before we started any discussion we would have a cuppa. He readily agreed and had coffee. My Mother was also there, she always came down for a month after the main holiday was over so this would be in mid September.
He told me that he couldn't do a lot for me but sympathised with me but said he could knock a little off my Business Rates. They were in the region of £880 per annum. He offered to have them set at £850. I just told him he could do better than that. I then suggested a figure of £800 and held out my hand. I was surprised when he took hold of it and we agreed at that price. He then told me his Boss would have a fit when he told him.
Well we had another drink and I just said to him that he could tell some tales.
He looked at us then told us a tale. He started by saying that Boston Office was closing at the end of the year and the staff were being transferred to Nottingham. He told us that he was not going. He had discussed it with his wife and they both agreed that Nottingham was not for them. He then said that his Son was at University so there was only the two of them at home. He had paid enough money into his pension to get the maximum pension so all he was doing was paying each month extra cash which was showing no benefit at all. He said that he would just potter about until his retirement which is 60 years. I guessed he was about 57.
He then told us how when he first started he was sent to a fishing port for duties. He said there was a guard on the gates and he had to show his pass. When it came time to leave the security guard at the gate was waitng there for him. He told him that he had some fish for him. Being a novice he refused point blank, the security guard was a little put off. Nevertheless he told us he went straight back to the Office to see his boss to tell him what had gone on. He said his boss threw his hands in the air and exclaimed. "Oh my God, I hope you haven't upset them. They are the most militant group of workers and if they come out on strike, it will soon be Nationwide. You had better go back tomorrow and sort things out. Giving a little fish is like a Cafe Propreitor giving you a cup of tea. Fish is dirt cheap to them"
He said to us that he went back the next day and the security man on the gate asked him if he would have some fish this evening. He said he would love a little Plaice. The security man suggested that a couple of Dover Sole also would be nice. He agreed.
When it was time to leave, the security man asked him to open his boot of his car. He was amazed at the size of the box that went into hi boot. He told him that he must pay something for the fish. The security guard told him it was a shilling.
He siad when he got home there was enough fish for about a month. Not just Plaice and Dover Sole but plenty of Cod too.
He told us that whenever he went there he was always given a good lot of fish.
It was time for him to go and he told us he had thoroughly enjoyed his visit with us. I too told him it was great. I wished him a happy retirement and he left.
My Mother couldn't believe what she had witnessed. She said to me that nobody would believe it if we told anyone, but I can assure you it is all true.
While I was telling this man in the waiting area this story. The Dentist's assistant came out. She told me to carry on with the story. there was a woman in a wheelchair who told me after I had finished she had been captivated by the story I had told.
When I was ready to leave I said to the assistant that I guess that she would mention the story to the Dentist, most certainly I will she said. At least, I made somebody's time pass a little quicker by the tale. More soon.
As soon as I sat down in the waiting area, this man started talking to me. I told him that it was cool and that I had put on a jumper. He told me that he didn't feel the cold and hating wearing a jacket or any other clothing to protect him. He then told me that he was originally a Miner. I asked him how long he was down the pits, 10 years altogether he told me, 2 5year stints at different pits. He then told me that he was a delivery driver going to ports such as Immingham. I reminded him that Immingham was a huge port, most people had no idea just how large it was. I then told him that there always seemed to be a dark cloud over Immingham. He laughed and agreed with me.
I then told him about a H.M. Customs Inspector.
It was in the 80s. I had several years before appealed against my Business Rates but took my Accountant with me. We failed. This time I was determined to go it alone.
Anyway, this Customs Officer came to see me(an appointment was made prior). He was smartly dressed in a suit, you would never guess that he worked for Customs and Excise. He was based in Boston. Upon entry he introduced himself and we shook hands. I told him that before we started any discussion we would have a cuppa. He readily agreed and had coffee. My Mother was also there, she always came down for a month after the main holiday was over so this would be in mid September.
He told me that he couldn't do a lot for me but sympathised with me but said he could knock a little off my Business Rates. They were in the region of £880 per annum. He offered to have them set at £850. I just told him he could do better than that. I then suggested a figure of £800 and held out my hand. I was surprised when he took hold of it and we agreed at that price. He then told me his Boss would have a fit when he told him.
Well we had another drink and I just said to him that he could tell some tales.
He looked at us then told us a tale. He started by saying that Boston Office was closing at the end of the year and the staff were being transferred to Nottingham. He told us that he was not going. He had discussed it with his wife and they both agreed that Nottingham was not for them. He then said that his Son was at University so there was only the two of them at home. He had paid enough money into his pension to get the maximum pension so all he was doing was paying each month extra cash which was showing no benefit at all. He said that he would just potter about until his retirement which is 60 years. I guessed he was about 57.
He then told us how when he first started he was sent to a fishing port for duties. He said there was a guard on the gates and he had to show his pass. When it came time to leave the security guard at the gate was waitng there for him. He told him that he had some fish for him. Being a novice he refused point blank, the security guard was a little put off. Nevertheless he told us he went straight back to the Office to see his boss to tell him what had gone on. He said his boss threw his hands in the air and exclaimed. "Oh my God, I hope you haven't upset them. They are the most militant group of workers and if they come out on strike, it will soon be Nationwide. You had better go back tomorrow and sort things out. Giving a little fish is like a Cafe Propreitor giving you a cup of tea. Fish is dirt cheap to them"
He said to us that he went back the next day and the security man on the gate asked him if he would have some fish this evening. He said he would love a little Plaice. The security man suggested that a couple of Dover Sole also would be nice. He agreed.
When it was time to leave, the security man asked him to open his boot of his car. He was amazed at the size of the box that went into hi boot. He told him that he must pay something for the fish. The security guard told him it was a shilling.
He siad when he got home there was enough fish for about a month. Not just Plaice and Dover Sole but plenty of Cod too.
He told us that whenever he went there he was always given a good lot of fish.
It was time for him to go and he told us he had thoroughly enjoyed his visit with us. I too told him it was great. I wished him a happy retirement and he left.
My Mother couldn't believe what she had witnessed. She said to me that nobody would believe it if we told anyone, but I can assure you it is all true.
While I was telling this man in the waiting area this story. The Dentist's assistant came out. She told me to carry on with the story. there was a woman in a wheelchair who told me after I had finished she had been captivated by the story I had told.
When I was ready to leave I said to the assistant that I guess that she would mention the story to the Dentist, most certainly I will she said. At least, I made somebody's time pass a little quicker by the tale. More soon.
Monday, 3 September 2012
Becoming forgetful
The other day I put some plums on to cook then I went out in the front driveway to pull up a few weeds. This took longer than I thought and completely forgot about my plums cooking. As soon as I entered the house I could smell burning fruit. The saucepan was in an awful mess. I have spent many days trying to get the carbon removed but so far with limited success.
This morning I used a stainless steel pan to cook once again some plums. Only enough for me for my meal. I turned them low and completely forgot about them. This time I had to go to the Surgery for a blood test and also a B.P. check. This was a little high, would have been much higher if I had remembered I had left the plums cooking. When I got back home, once again the burnt smell met me. The stainless steel pan was in an awful mess. Funilly enough though it seems to be a lot easier to clean carbonised fruit off a stainless steel pan. Yes it is not perfectly clean but is useable.
A little later I went to have my haircut and he told me he was moving premises to what he hopes is a busier position. He will be opposite the Co-op supermarket and next door to a newsagent so he should do more business I hope.
I then went to the Butchers and bought some more liver, a pork pie and I asked if he would bone and roll some loin of pork, this he did and cut them into 3 joints. I just had 3 slices of ham and that was the lot.
I called to see the guy who lent me a DVD about travel from King's Cross to York, it did show a lot of where I was at Grantham, so much so that I watched it 4 times. We would have talked for much longer but a delivery man asked him where he could drop something off. I left the two sorting things out.
Next door, the one with the chickens told me she had been to my neighbours on the other side to complain about the bonfire he had. Mind you, the smoke was dreadful and when I went into my greenhouse the smell of bonfire smoke was powerful.
Unfortunately for her, she was cutting the field and had washing hanging on the line. I did tell her that the other week, I too had some washing out but was lucky for I saw the smoke in time. I did mention it to her that they had washing out too but they didn't fetch it in.
Finally I have been in touch with Sky. They offer to Sky subscribers a discount on the broadband and telephone. Not for me though as I am not in their area. I have told them that I will now cancel my subscription on principle. It costs me almost £60 a month with another £8+ for H.D. box protection. That is if anything goes wrong with your equipment from Sky, it is automatically repaied free of charge. The trouble is that as in most businesses it costs you about £5 in telephone costs. More soon.
This morning I used a stainless steel pan to cook once again some plums. Only enough for me for my meal. I turned them low and completely forgot about them. This time I had to go to the Surgery for a blood test and also a B.P. check. This was a little high, would have been much higher if I had remembered I had left the plums cooking. When I got back home, once again the burnt smell met me. The stainless steel pan was in an awful mess. Funilly enough though it seems to be a lot easier to clean carbonised fruit off a stainless steel pan. Yes it is not perfectly clean but is useable.
A little later I went to have my haircut and he told me he was moving premises to what he hopes is a busier position. He will be opposite the Co-op supermarket and next door to a newsagent so he should do more business I hope.
I then went to the Butchers and bought some more liver, a pork pie and I asked if he would bone and roll some loin of pork, this he did and cut them into 3 joints. I just had 3 slices of ham and that was the lot.
I called to see the guy who lent me a DVD about travel from King's Cross to York, it did show a lot of where I was at Grantham, so much so that I watched it 4 times. We would have talked for much longer but a delivery man asked him where he could drop something off. I left the two sorting things out.
Next door, the one with the chickens told me she had been to my neighbours on the other side to complain about the bonfire he had. Mind you, the smoke was dreadful and when I went into my greenhouse the smell of bonfire smoke was powerful.
Unfortunately for her, she was cutting the field and had washing hanging on the line. I did tell her that the other week, I too had some washing out but was lucky for I saw the smoke in time. I did mention it to her that they had washing out too but they didn't fetch it in.
Finally I have been in touch with Sky. They offer to Sky subscribers a discount on the broadband and telephone. Not for me though as I am not in their area. I have told them that I will now cancel my subscription on principle. It costs me almost £60 a month with another £8+ for H.D. box protection. That is if anything goes wrong with your equipment from Sky, it is automatically repaied free of charge. The trouble is that as in most businesses it costs you about £5 in telephone costs. More soon.
Thursday, 30 August 2012
Chutney
Today my mate called to see me, it was nice as always but the weather did turn nasty. In fact it rained heavily and the wind, from the noth was strong and it also turned very cool.
I managed to pick him a couple of marrows earlier so he had some of his favourite vegetables.
I told him earlier that I had made some runner bean chutney. He had told me the last time he came that onions were on offer. I asked him to get me a net. In the meantime I decided to make this chutney.
When I was in business there were many nice people that I made friends with, none more than a couple from near Newark. They had a touring caravan which they kept on a site near Skegness. They would come to see me regular and always told me they only cmae up to see me. It was then £2 to park their car.
I was taken ill towards the end of 1997 and never swa them again before I sold the business. I was lucky because the couple who bought the business from me had several requests from customers to tell them where I had gone to. This couple they did give my address to. One day the following year there was a knock on the door and sure enough it was this couple. I was so pleased to see them. He had given me some strawberry plants several seasons before, so when they came I always gave them a little something to eat. Both had type 1 diabetes although I didn't know this at that time.
One day thay asked me if I had ever tasted runner bean chutney. I told them I had not. His wife then told me that the next time they came to see me she would bring me the recipe.
When they would come he would always bring me something and I found out that he loved my James Grieve apples so I used to save almost everyone hjust for him although I never let him know this. He used to bring me plums in the late summer which he knew I loved.
True to her word the next time she bought the recipe. By the way, they would ring me and tell me they would be calling in the next day.
As it was late summer, I decided to try this chutney out and made it but only using half of the measures supplied. I was delighted with the outcome.
The couple called regular for the next 3 years but sadly, soon after giving me a call informing me he had been in hospital but was on the mend and soon hoped they would be down to see me his wife rung me up to tell me he had died . The year before they had told me that they would not be taking their tourer to Skegness again but they would come to see me.
I was looking at some papers when I saw this recipe. I could not believe it. The recipe was put on a millennium paper so I guessed it was given to me no later than 2001. He must have died no later than earlier 2012. I could not believe it, how time flies.
Anyway I decided to make another lot of chutney. Unfortunately I didn't have any onions but lots of small shallots so I started to peel them. It took me ages as my shallots were the worst I have ever had just about the size of small marbles.
oday I gave my mate a taste to see if he liked the chutney. He certainly did, so much so that he wanted the recipe, I gave him a pen and paper so that he could copy it down whilst I washed the pots and pans after our dinner(lunch).
Anyway I have decided to post the recipe so anyone who wants to make this chutney I am sure will be well pleased.
2.lb of Runner Beans
1.1/2lb of Onions
1.1/2 lbs Sugar
1.1/2 pints of Malt Vinegar
1. Tablespoonful of Turmeric
1. Tablespoonful Dry Mustard
1.1/2 Tablespoons of Cornflour
Method.
Slice beans and cook in a little water until tender
Peel and chop onions and cook separately in a little water until tender. Drain both beans and onions.
Add both beans and onions together with 1.1/4 pint of vinegar, add sugar and bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes.
Mix Tutmeric, Mustard and Cornflour with 1/4pint of Vinegar. Add to the pan bring to the boil and cook for 20 to 30 minutes.
Allow to cool then bottle when cool.
If you don't like chutney too sweet then reduce the amount of sugar.
This amount will make about 5 jam jars of chutney. I decided to do only half of the amount so had almost 2.1/2 jars of chutney. More soon.
I managed to pick him a couple of marrows earlier so he had some of his favourite vegetables.
I told him earlier that I had made some runner bean chutney. He had told me the last time he came that onions were on offer. I asked him to get me a net. In the meantime I decided to make this chutney.
When I was in business there were many nice people that I made friends with, none more than a couple from near Newark. They had a touring caravan which they kept on a site near Skegness. They would come to see me regular and always told me they only cmae up to see me. It was then £2 to park their car.
I was taken ill towards the end of 1997 and never swa them again before I sold the business. I was lucky because the couple who bought the business from me had several requests from customers to tell them where I had gone to. This couple they did give my address to. One day the following year there was a knock on the door and sure enough it was this couple. I was so pleased to see them. He had given me some strawberry plants several seasons before, so when they came I always gave them a little something to eat. Both had type 1 diabetes although I didn't know this at that time.
One day thay asked me if I had ever tasted runner bean chutney. I told them I had not. His wife then told me that the next time they came to see me she would bring me the recipe.
When they would come he would always bring me something and I found out that he loved my James Grieve apples so I used to save almost everyone hjust for him although I never let him know this. He used to bring me plums in the late summer which he knew I loved.
True to her word the next time she bought the recipe. By the way, they would ring me and tell me they would be calling in the next day.
As it was late summer, I decided to try this chutney out and made it but only using half of the measures supplied. I was delighted with the outcome.
The couple called regular for the next 3 years but sadly, soon after giving me a call informing me he had been in hospital but was on the mend and soon hoped they would be down to see me his wife rung me up to tell me he had died . The year before they had told me that they would not be taking their tourer to Skegness again but they would come to see me.
I was looking at some papers when I saw this recipe. I could not believe it. The recipe was put on a millennium paper so I guessed it was given to me no later than 2001. He must have died no later than earlier 2012. I could not believe it, how time flies.
Anyway I decided to make another lot of chutney. Unfortunately I didn't have any onions but lots of small shallots so I started to peel them. It took me ages as my shallots were the worst I have ever had just about the size of small marbles.
oday I gave my mate a taste to see if he liked the chutney. He certainly did, so much so that he wanted the recipe, I gave him a pen and paper so that he could copy it down whilst I washed the pots and pans after our dinner(lunch).
Anyway I have decided to post the recipe so anyone who wants to make this chutney I am sure will be well pleased.
2.lb of Runner Beans
1.1/2lb of Onions
1.1/2 lbs Sugar
1.1/2 pints of Malt Vinegar
1. Tablespoonful of Turmeric
1. Tablespoonful Dry Mustard
1.1/2 Tablespoons of Cornflour
Method.
Slice beans and cook in a little water until tender
Peel and chop onions and cook separately in a little water until tender. Drain both beans and onions.
Add both beans and onions together with 1.1/4 pint of vinegar, add sugar and bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes.
Mix Tutmeric, Mustard and Cornflour with 1/4pint of Vinegar. Add to the pan bring to the boil and cook for 20 to 30 minutes.
Allow to cool then bottle when cool.
If you don't like chutney too sweet then reduce the amount of sugar.
This amount will make about 5 jam jars of chutney. I decided to do only half of the amount so had almost 2.1/2 jars of chutney. More soon.
Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Holiday over
The late Summer Holiday is now over not that it makes a deal of difference to me these days.
Last week end I had a pleasant surprise. I heard my neighbour, the one with the chickens, her partner was using his hedge trimmer to cut his hedge. Later I noticed that he had come round to mine and also trimmed my side of the hedge. I was surprised and of course very pleased.
Later I took them some french beans, she loves them. I asked if they would be racing but they told me the pigeons had got a sickness so they would be having a week end off racing. Just as well really as the weather was not good for racing, or anything else much. She then asked me if I would like a cucumber. I told her that would be nice. Indeed it was very nice indeed. It came from a all female plant so no need to take off the male flowers. To be honest, generally one cucumber lasts me as I am not a sales fan.
My plums are beginning to ripen, but as they are some of them are splitting and the odd one has a maggot in the centre. It is caused by the plum moth. I did put a trap but the weather has been so bad that I suppose the moths were out later than normal. I know the plums are much later than I have ever known for ripening. They are normally ripe, that is the first plum tree it is called Early Laxton, they are generally ripe by early August. The Victoria plums are a little later but they will not be ready until early next month. Some of those too are beginning to split. Still I will get a few plums, most round here are not so fortunate. Perhaps I have made up for those because I have had no apples at all. More soon.
Last week end I had a pleasant surprise. I heard my neighbour, the one with the chickens, her partner was using his hedge trimmer to cut his hedge. Later I noticed that he had come round to mine and also trimmed my side of the hedge. I was surprised and of course very pleased.
Later I took them some french beans, she loves them. I asked if they would be racing but they told me the pigeons had got a sickness so they would be having a week end off racing. Just as well really as the weather was not good for racing, or anything else much. She then asked me if I would like a cucumber. I told her that would be nice. Indeed it was very nice indeed. It came from a all female plant so no need to take off the male flowers. To be honest, generally one cucumber lasts me as I am not a sales fan.
My plums are beginning to ripen, but as they are some of them are splitting and the odd one has a maggot in the centre. It is caused by the plum moth. I did put a trap but the weather has been so bad that I suppose the moths were out later than normal. I know the plums are much later than I have ever known for ripening. They are normally ripe, that is the first plum tree it is called Early Laxton, they are generally ripe by early August. The Victoria plums are a little later but they will not be ready until early next month. Some of those too are beginning to split. Still I will get a few plums, most round here are not so fortunate. Perhaps I have made up for those because I have had no apples at all. More soon.
Friday, 24 August 2012
Bank
The other day I had to go to the Bank. whilst waiting to be served I could not help but hearing what was going on with one customer.
The conversation went something like this.
Customer. " I don't know whats wrong with your cash machine outside but it has taken my card and won't let me have it back."
Teller. "Thats funny, the machine is working alright."
Customer. " I always have trouble with those machines, I don't think they like me."
Teller. "Well what did you want?".
Customer. "I wanted to draw out some money".
Teller. "Have you got any identity so that I can check you balance then I can get you to sign and then you can get some money",
Customer. That will be alright"
She opened her handbag and pulled out her wallet.
Customer. "Look what I've found. How did that get there?".
It was her debit card.
Teller. "Do you think you put a store card in by mistake?".
Customer. "Probably so"
This took about 10 minutes to sort out and there were only 2 tellers on duty so you can imagine how long the queue was.
Eventually it was my turn. I asked the teller who I know well if Lloyds TSB will stay the same or will it convert to the Co-operative Bank. She assured me that it weas going to stay the same with the staff being the same. In fact no change at all.
Typical weather, it is the last Bank Holiday of the season and it talks of it being rather unsettled. Mind you, the other night the farmer started to harvest his wheat when we had a thunderstorm. Last night he managed to finish gathering the wheat in. Just in time as this morning it was raining again. Lets hope the weather men are wrong for the Holiday week
end. More soon.
The conversation went something like this.
Customer. " I don't know whats wrong with your cash machine outside but it has taken my card and won't let me have it back."
Teller. "Thats funny, the machine is working alright."
Customer. " I always have trouble with those machines, I don't think they like me."
Teller. "Well what did you want?".
Customer. "I wanted to draw out some money".
Teller. "Have you got any identity so that I can check you balance then I can get you to sign and then you can get some money",
Customer. That will be alright"
She opened her handbag and pulled out her wallet.
Customer. "Look what I've found. How did that get there?".
It was her debit card.
Teller. "Do you think you put a store card in by mistake?".
Customer. "Probably so"
This took about 10 minutes to sort out and there were only 2 tellers on duty so you can imagine how long the queue was.
Eventually it was my turn. I asked the teller who I know well if Lloyds TSB will stay the same or will it convert to the Co-operative Bank. She assured me that it weas going to stay the same with the staff being the same. In fact no change at all.
Typical weather, it is the last Bank Holiday of the season and it talks of it being rather unsettled. Mind you, the other night the farmer started to harvest his wheat when we had a thunderstorm. Last night he managed to finish gathering the wheat in. Just in time as this morning it was raining again. Lets hope the weather men are wrong for the Holiday week
end. More soon.
Wednesday, 22 August 2012
Cancellation
This morning I had yet another phone call from my local Surgery. It was the same receptionist who booked me in for my annual diadetes check. She told me that unfortunately the date for me to see the diabetes lady had to be cancelled as she was ill.
I was then told that an alternative slot was available for a date which she gave me. I told her that this date was not possible as I was at Hospital. Another date was given, that too was unsuitable. She laughed and told me that I must be in high demand. I told her this was so. She then gave me a date in mid September. This I checked and told her this was acceptable. She then started to offer me several times. I stopped her and told her the first available slot would be alright. She then told me she would post the appointment time to me. I told her this was not necessary as I had put it in my diary. This way it would save money. I wonder how often this sort of thing happens? I guess we shouln't be so surprised really.
Today has been a nice day, last night was had a thunderstorm with plenty of vivid lightening. Still it saved me watering my runner beans today. More soon.
I was then told that an alternative slot was available for a date which she gave me. I told her that this date was not possible as I was at Hospital. Another date was given, that too was unsuitable. She laughed and told me that I must be in high demand. I told her this was so. She then gave me a date in mid September. This I checked and told her this was acceptable. She then started to offer me several times. I stopped her and told her the first available slot would be alright. She then told me she would post the appointment time to me. I told her this was not necessary as I had put it in my diary. This way it would save money. I wonder how often this sort of thing happens? I guess we shouln't be so surprised really.
Today has been a nice day, last night was had a thunderstorm with plenty of vivid lightening. Still it saved me watering my runner beans today. More soon.
Tuesday, 21 August 2012
Bits and bobs
This morning I went to get my Pension and on the way I took a glass jar to the recycling bank. I also had my repeat prescription with me so I stopped off at the Medical Centre and put it in the repeat box. I was about to leave when I thought I would book an time in Early September for a blood test. This I did.
I then went for my Pension, called in at the paper shop for my T.V. paper then called at the local shop for a gammon, a 2ltr of skimmed milk and 2 packets of Teacakes. Then back to home.
I went to my greenhouse and picked a bunch of grapes I had earlier picked the runner beans so I collected enough for a couple of meals then off I went to see tme couple who took over the Business I had, they are in their 15th season.
As always they were pleased to see me and her Husband went mad for his runner beans, he told me they were his favourite vegetable. I know that it is not possible for them to grow any as their time is filled up with the business especially as it is seasonal.
Whilst I was there the car park man came along. I told him jokingly that I was only there for a few minutes. He surprised me by saying he recognised my car and he then saw me sitting down. He had a chat with me, I wish my mate had been there, his eyes would have lit up with what he had to say. In October the whole of Lincolnshire is being decriminalised and the Councils are being made responsible for all on street parking. He told me that as far as he knew, none of the men doing car park duties will be working the on street parking.
Within a minute of me getting home the phone rang. It was the Doctor's Surgery, the lady told me not to worry but there was a slot for me to have my annual Diabetes check this Friday. I told her this would be O.K. These 5 weeks I have been or will be to the Hospital, also to have my eyes checked. blood test, dentist, hospital for internal examination and now Diabetes. I sure have my monies worth of the NHS. More soon.
I then went for my Pension, called in at the paper shop for my T.V. paper then called at the local shop for a gammon, a 2ltr of skimmed milk and 2 packets of Teacakes. Then back to home.
I went to my greenhouse and picked a bunch of grapes I had earlier picked the runner beans so I collected enough for a couple of meals then off I went to see tme couple who took over the Business I had, they are in their 15th season.
As always they were pleased to see me and her Husband went mad for his runner beans, he told me they were his favourite vegetable. I know that it is not possible for them to grow any as their time is filled up with the business especially as it is seasonal.
Whilst I was there the car park man came along. I told him jokingly that I was only there for a few minutes. He surprised me by saying he recognised my car and he then saw me sitting down. He had a chat with me, I wish my mate had been there, his eyes would have lit up with what he had to say. In October the whole of Lincolnshire is being decriminalised and the Councils are being made responsible for all on street parking. He told me that as far as he knew, none of the men doing car park duties will be working the on street parking.
Within a minute of me getting home the phone rang. It was the Doctor's Surgery, the lady told me not to worry but there was a slot for me to have my annual Diabetes check this Friday. I told her this would be O.K. These 5 weeks I have been or will be to the Hospital, also to have my eyes checked. blood test, dentist, hospital for internal examination and now Diabetes. I sure have my monies worth of the NHS. More soon.
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