School days

Well not exactly shool days but some parts of school days.
My Americah friend wrote on his blog about school dinners and he couldn't remember if there was a cafeteria or whether anyone was allowe do bring food into school.
In infants from 5 to 9 years of age, juniors from 9 to 13 years of age there were no school dinners available. To be honest none were needed.
As I was sent to a Secondary Modern School. This was an intermediate school. Grammar Schools being the highest for 11+ pass pupils. Mind you, one had to go to the selection board to see if your parents could afford to send you to Grammar School.
Well I went to the Secondary School. It was just short of 2 miles from where I lived to school. Dinner time was from 12.00 noon until 1.15pm. This didn't give me enough time to get home, have my dinner and get back to school. As I have mentioned before, we were poor. I didn't know just how poor we were but suffice to say, my Mother could not afford to pay for me to catch a bus home at dinner time abd it was another 2 years before they could afford to buy me a bicycle, second hand of course.
Anyway my Mother decided to give me a packed dinner. Sandwiches and something sweet for afters. There was another lad who I was pally with also took sandwiches, so we had them each dinner in the nearby park. We were happy with this situation until the Headmaster, yes not Head Teacher found out and ordered both of us to his Study to explain.
The rule was that if you lived 3 miles from the school you qualified for School Dinners, as we lived less than that we informed the Headmaster that we couldn't walk home, have our dinner and get back to school in time. He then told us that arrangements would be made for us to have School Dinners from the following week.
The dinners were subsidised and cost 6d a day 2/6d a week. In todays money 12.5p a week.
I don't know if the Grammar School had their own meals cooked but other schools like mine had the meals cooked in a special place and transported to the school. It was served by Dinner Ladies as we called them. The meals were bought in some sort of insulated containers. To be honest they were always hot and consisted of a basic dinner of potatoes, a vegetable some meat and gravy. The sweet was different for several days. a milk pudding one day. a steamed pudding another day, a pastry pudding another day then perhaps bread and butter pudding as a different sweet. The meals were adequate and wholesome. My Mother though was not so impressed, she insisted that I would have my dinner that had been cooked for me at noon would be warmed up for me at teatime. This went on until I was 13 when I had my bicycle then I could get home for dinner in good time and get back to school.
Incidentally, everyone had the opportunity of having a drink of milk from the first day at school until the day one left. It was 1/3 of a pint. As 5 year olds it seemed an awful lot but as a 14 year old it was nothing. To be honest, there was more than one occasion when one could have a second bottle of milk. These were available at morning break in the Secondary School. I can remember at infants it was given to you in a beaker. I guess we thought it good to down a 1/3 of a pint in a bottle in one go when we were 13 0r 14.
My American friend also spoke of the radio, tomorrow I will talk a little about how it was here in England in the 40s. More soon.

A Visitor

These photos are of the remains of the tree that my neighbour so kindly cut down.

Now to the visitor. The doorbell rang and when I went to see who it was I was very surprised. It was the man who did the survey regarding my Solar Panel Installation. Unfortunately for him the Company whom he worked for could not fit the system in to be working by the cut off date, I reluctantly then had a different Company but had it been possible for them to get it installed in time, I would have certainly chose them.

Well, I naturally invited him in and the first thing he told me was that the Company who he worked for had made him redundant. They paid him the 4 weeks salary and immediately released him. He told me that he had found another job but things in the Solar Industry were very hard. He had been to see a prospective customer but he told me he had been unsuccessful. He gave me his latest business card and I told him I would see if the big house next door would be interested. He then asked me about my system and I showed him what I had but told him that I did not have a desk top monitor. Although it is not vital, it does give you the information easily. He also asked me what panels I had fitted. I told him and he was surprised because he told me they were a good panel. I also told him that they were 250watts per panel as against 200watts that were going to be fitted. He told me that he would have done the same as me and gone for the Company that could fit the system in to get the 43.3p per kw. hour instead of the new price of 21per kw.hour.

Tomorrow morning I am at the Dentist. More soon.

Time Flies

I have not written anything for the last few days. Where my time has gone I have no idea.
On Thursday last week, I was in the garden just pottering about, I heard the next door neighbour using his chain saw, well his attachment. I naturally thought he was cutting a few limbs off the trees for kindling. A little while later I noticed that another of his trees at the bottom of the garden had been felled.
I decided to walk up the garden and managed to look over the fence and asked him if all was well. He then told me he intended to come round and fell my leylandii tree. It stood about 15ft tall.
About 45 minutes later he came round and started to cut through the trunk. It was much thicker than he had realised and luckily he had cut it just over 3/4 when there was a sudden gust of wind and the tree gradually fell. We were fortunate because it fell directly on my fence. I have concrete posts every 6ft so no damage was done to the fence. In fact it landed perfectly. The bulk of the tree was in his garden and by lopping the branches he managed to force the trunk to go completely over to his garden.
On Friday morning I cut the side branches off the main branches of the tree that he had lopped of the main trunk. It was my intention to see if the neighbours the other side would like them for kindling. I then took a few small branches and filled, well almost filled up my recycling bin. It is not collected again until April this year.
Later I saw one of them next door and I gave then the larger stipped branches, so I am now pleased that all I have left is a clump of green small branches which will wait until April to go into the recycling bin. Further updates tomorrow. More soon.

Shrove Tuesday

Tuesday was Pancake Day, Shrove Tuesday. I did not forget the day but when I went to see my mate he obviously had forgotten.
When I went in to see his Mum, the first thing I asked was if she had her pancakes on Tuesday. She looked a little surprised until I told her that Tuesday had been Pancake Day. Then went on to explain how as youngsters it was a ritual, everyone seemed to have pancakes on that day. My Mother used to get the big yellow bowl, everyone seemd to have one. It was a dull yellow on the outside and white interior. She would make a lot and have a cup to pour the mixture. We used to have 1/2 an orange and have a little sugar also. Oranges were still scarce so it was a treat to have an orange. With 3 of us having a healthy appetite, by the time my Mother had made the first 3, my Sister would be waiting for seconds. I would then follow with my youngest Sister ready for another soon after. My Mother used to gat rather angry because all she seemed to do was make pancakes. Mind you, after 3 there was no more juice left in the 1/2 orange so that stopped us from wanting anymore. My mate's Mum told me that she had a lemon instead of Orange but everything was just as it was with us. Anyway, I guess she will be having a pancake before too long.
I went to the Surgery on Tuesday to ask if I could see a Doctor, the receptionist, who I know very well suggested that a call from a G.P. would be just as well. Anyway I agreed and just after 11.30am. a Doctor rang me. I have met him before and think he is a nice Doctor but on the young side. Well he told me after I explained what was wrong that he would do his best for me. I went to the local Dispensary this morning to see what was happening. To my surprise, after checking the computer the Assistant told me that there was some medication waiting to be collected 7 miles away. So in the next few days I will go and collect the medication. At least I may have some medication soon. More soon.

Decent weekend

These polyanthus show the signs of the effects of the recent snow. However they will recover and according to this weeks forecast it is going to be a mild week.




These two photos show the first signs of winter relenting. These snowdrops have only just begun to open. Let's remember that March is only just over a week away.
As for these last few days, it has been good for me regarding my solar electricity. Yesterday I managed to produce just over 6 kw. hours. I was thrilled as I had never produced much at all before. Only on one occasion had I produced 4kw. hours. Today was also good for me, almost 5kw. hours. I was so pleased and I certainly didn't expect to get anything like that today. Mind you, I won't let it go to my head.
Tomorrow I once again go to the local Chemist to see if she has managed to find me some medication. I will keep my fingers crossed. No point in worrying though as it will not make the slightest bit of difference. More soon.

Dull but mild

Today has been warmer, mainly cloudy but with the temperature of just over 10c it made me go out and start to think of the coming spring.
First of all, I sprayed my fruit trees with a winter tar oil wash. I rather like the smell of that, just as well because it tends to hang around your clothes.
I then decided to clean up a couple of areas where I wish to plant my broad beans. I tidied the areas up and then did a little digging. Not too much because the ground is still a little too wet. Mind you, the snow finally went yesterday afternoon.
This afternoon I decided to get a couple of lengths of guttering. I guess about 6ft. I then put them in the polytunnel, half filled with compost and then set Little Marvel peas then covered them completely. What I have done is put a couple of sacks down in the extension, bought the filled gutterings in and laid them on the sacks. Now I will wait for at least a fortnight before I transfer them to the polytunnel.
Finally, I noticed that the odd tomato seed has germinated so I am pleased. Last year I tried I think to start them off extra early and a lot either didn't survive or just never germinated.
It is talking of getting a little colder for a few days but we are well into February so hopefully the worst of the winter is over. More soon.

Tired

Yesterday I went to Grantham to see my Sisters, I don't know why but I was absolutely worn out when I got home. Just dozed on and off for the rest of the evening.
Now when I went to my local Dispensary I was a little disappointed. I had taken in my repeat prescription a few days early. It made no difference though as I was told that there was no medication available for me. What she did give me though was a prescription for the medication that she could not get. I just thought it was a waste of time giving me that when they could not get the medication themselves.
Well this morning I decided to go into the Town and go to the local Lloyds Chemist. I walked in and asked the receptionist if I could see the Chemist. I was surprised at the response. She asked me if I wished to have a private meeting. I told her that was not needed. With that, a very good looking young Chemist appeared. She was not English but spoke excellent English. I explained all that had occurred and gave her the prescription. She told me she would go and find out the situation. After about 5 minutes she came back and told me that the medication would not be available until May this year at the earliest. I told her that this was not acceptable to me as it was imperative that I had something to keep my illness at bay. She told me not to worry. She went back and I could hear heron the telephone quite often with negative responses. Her assistant came out and told me not to give up as she was going to get the big book. I saw her get this and after a few more phone calls, she came to me and told me that she had hoped that some alternative would soon be available. I told her I would call back next Tuesday, I asked if they delivered to my home and she told me they did, so I told her that no matter what had happened. I would use their services from now on.
I hope that something will be there for me next Tuesday. More soon.

Dispensary

As I expected when I went to the Dispensary, there was no medication that I had hoped would be there, the Nurse who was in charge gave me a prescription to order the medication. Thus absolving her of any responsibility as the Dispensary was closing down. I thought though what was the point. She did suggest that I try a local Chemist, Boots or Lloyds. I will probably call in tomorrow on my way back. I am going to see my Sisters, the first time since November I have been any distance in the car.
As I was walking out of the Medical Centre, an old Lady was struggling to get out so I held the door for her and in passing mentioned that it was a lot better walking this week than last week. She then talked of old sayings that my Parents would say. She said that there was plenty of snow in the hedge rows and it was waiting for some more to take it away. She then said February fill dyke be it black or white. Meaning rain or snow. I then reminds her of March many weathers, she carried on April showers, May flowers and June roses. Then someone came and interrupted us so I did not remember the remainder of the saying. I only remembered from January snows and I think July posies. I hope I see her again so that I can ask if she remembers the rest of the seasonal sayings.
At least it has been a lot milder today, dull but dry so hopefully a decent journey to Grantham with no frost or ice. More soon.

Warmer

Today has been a lot warmer. Saturday was one of the coldest days in February I can remember. I washed my throw over and hung it out to dry. Before I had finished straightening it out the lot was frozen stiff.
A little later I rung my Sister up to tell her that according to the weather men, it was going to get warmer. She told me that she had been shopping and it was bitter cold, so it was not just here.
Needless to say, I did not produce much solar power as most of my solar panels were still covered in snow. Things changed on Sunday though, I was lying in bed thinking of having a bath when there was a noise. I recognised it immediately. It was snow falling of the roof, well off the solar panels. I did check up later and found that this was so. So now thank goodness the panels were once again free of snow. It was cloudy but dry and I did once again produce some electricity.
As for today, the snow that was lying has nearly all gone but where it drifted and also where I piled it up there is still plenty. We had a few showers and late this afternoon the sun shone, also a little breezy but hopefully I hope to go to Grantham on Wednesday.
I set a few tomato seeds yesterday, so I must think that the worst of the winter is over. I hope so because the next job will be to set a few seed potatoes in the polytunnel. Then a couple of weeks later, weather permitting I intend to set a few early peas. Little Marvel I think they are the best first earlies. I tend to set them in a couple of pieces of guttering, giving them a good start to life by bringing them in the sitting room, when they have broken through taking them to the polytunnel. The mice, if they get in won't eat them once they have sprouted.
I will go to the Dispensary tomorrow with my fingers crossed. Hoping they have managed to get hold of some acceptable medication. Will soon find out. More soon.

Repeat performance

On Thursday afternoon it started to snow again. Light generally but persistent. In fact it was just the same time as last Saturday. Like last week it was still snowing when I went to bed at 11.15pm.
The forecasters did not say this was what we were going to get, so earlier I decided to change my bed completely from the throw over to my fitted sheets. I decided to wash first of all the duvet cover, so I put it in the washing machine with a couple,of shirts.
Got up soon after 6.00am put the washing machine on, looked out and was surprised at the amount of snow we had.
When the washing was done, I went and hung it out, within minutes it was frozen solid. The snow on the ground was not too deep, only just over an inch but on the shed, polytunnel wheelie bins and things like that there was almost 3".
The sun rose about 7.30am. so waited to start producing electricity. To my disappointment nothing happened. At 9.00am. I looked at my roof where the panels were fitted. They were completely covered with what looked like several inches of snow. At 10.00am. still nothing was being produced so I decided to go into the loft, to be honest I thought the system had broken down. The inverter had just come to life but was not producing anything.
I went outside a little later and noticed that the snow had slipped and bunched up at the lower portion this made it about $22 thick. Still I expected to produce plenty of solar power. Not to be, the first 10 watts of power was produced at 11.30am. Sitting back, I thought that this is caused by one part trying to produce solar power but being offset by almost 50% of the panel being covered with snow, thus nullifying the portion trying to produce electricity.
To cut a long story short. I only managed just over 300watts or less than a kw.hour. What makes it all the more disappointing is that the solar panels are still covered with a portion of snow on all 14 panels. Still it wont be snowing 52 weeks of the year. Well I hope not anyway as this is a big setback to my projected First Quarter. Yesterday was not good either. Typical though, the first day in 6 we see a little sun and I have the worst day. More soon.

Cleared snow

Yesterday I made enough room on my driveway to be able to get the car out and go to fetch my Pension, also I wanted to go to the local Surgery well the dispensary which is situated in the Surgery.
I went to get my Pension and the lass there mentioned just how bad and slippery the pavements were. To be honest I hadn't noticed it, anyway I then went to my Dispensary. I parked my car and as soon as I got out I felt my feet slip badly so I went very gingerly into the Surgery. I saw the Nurse on Dispensary and asked her if she could get me some medication to replace the one I normally use as it has not been available for some considerable time and I am worried because if i get a flare up I will be immediately in Hospital. She told me she would do her best but this was the last time she would be doing it, I looked a little puzzled at her. She then went on to explain that the Dispensary was closing and that those in there were being made redundant. I thought this is typical. Just before Christmas the Dispensary was closed for refurbishment. Now just over a month later it is closing. Talk about the NHS trying to save money, what a profligate society we live in. She then told me that what we had to do was to take the prescription round to the Chemists in the High Street. I can see me doing that alright.
I came back and finished the driveway, mind you I was absolutely worn out. So much so I didn't go online at all yesterday.
Today I decided to make a start on the back yard. At first, the ice made it very hard but after waiting for an hour or so, it was a lot better. I managed to get most of the pathways clear of snow, incidentally is still over 4" deep. So now I have a clear run to my polytunnel and greenhouse. Just seen the weather forecast for tomorrow though and it says we may be in for more snow late tomorrow into Friday. We will wait and see. More soon.

What weather

I hope you can see the depth of snow. This was between 7" and 8" I took these photos around 8.00am.


This is a photo of my side door. Perhaps you will understand just how deep it was. There was some drifting and it was not possible at that time to get out.

Finally I had to take this photo from inside and I apologise at the poor quality this is generally because of the wet outside windows but I hope it gives some idea just how much snow we had.

It started to snow around 5.45pm on Saturday evening. It had been forecast all day and as it grew dark the clouds were building up. I would not have had any idea of the weather if it hadn't been for the neighbours. They have security lights and they are on and off regularly for most of the evening finishing some time after 11.00pm. Several times I could see the heavy snow that was falling so I expected a reasonable amount when I got up on Sunday. Mind you, I didn't expect so much.

As it happened the weather front was travelling east and as we are on the East Coast, we seemed to get the most of all. You may ask how I know. Well my Sister rung me up yesterday(Sunday)and asked me if I had much snow. I told her 8". She told me that she had heard that Skegness had lots, they had about 4 of snow at Grantham, so it was not too bad.

Today, I have been trying to clear my driveway of some of the snow. I have a large driveway about 15 paces wide and 20 paces depth. The trouble is that I have great difficulty in trying to find somewhere to move the snow to. Also as I am no longer young, it is hard work. What I seem to do is go out and work for about 20 minutes, have a rest then go and shift more snow. Doing it this way I find I can do shift a reasonable amount. So much so that I have cleared about 2/3 of the driveway. Enough now to be able to get my car out of the garage.

I now hope that we get no more of the white stuff this winter. More soon.

Snow

This morning I woke up and it seemed to be extra light so I looked out of the window only to see it was white all over. Not a huge amount of snow but enough. i think a little less than 1".
It bought to my mind what my mate had told me when he was looking into Solar Panels. One representative called and in the conversation told him that in snow, the solar panels would work better. When he told me this, I told him that was rubbish. To be honest, I think he half believed the sales rep.
Well this morning was proof. The sun started to shine before 8.00am. Usually I start producing electricity from about 15 minutes after the sun starts to shine. Not today, my solar panels were covered with snow. I was a little disappointed that I hardly produced any electricity until the snow had melted. This was around 10.15am. Then I started to produce. Mind you when the sun moved to the rear of my property the same thing happened. Snow on my solar panels and it was rather late before nearly all were clear of snow. There is a couple that at this moment do not get the sun, they will of course when the sun gets higher in the sky.
Tomorrow it talks of snow again, late tomorrow night and into Sunday. Well I did have the foresight to get a few leeks and carrots in so I wont starve. More soon.

News

Yesterday evening the man who took over my business around 14 years ago contacted me once again. This time he gave me the news that his daughter, incidentally who I know, has just given birth to her first child a boy. I asked him if she would go back to work again, because she had a good paying job. He told me that she would be returning to work but not for a year as in the job she has is giving her a years maternity leave. I daren't ask if it was with pay. He then told me that her partner was going back to work on Monday next week. He had been of work for almost 3 weeks. It didn't make sense to me. as a youngster in the early 50s most women had their births at home and the main person involved was the midwife. Husbands were not encouraged at all at the birth of their children. More often than not the midwife would usher the Husband out and tell him he was not wanted, but would be allowed in to see the child soon after birth. The Men accepted this arrangement. There was, of course no such thing as maternity leave for the Husbands. Maybe I should say Partners, but to be honest, families stayed together in those days. Divorce was not only an expensive thing for the Man but not an easy thing to do. Today it is so easy. Whether it is better is open to debate.
This morning I got up to a light covering of snow. When I say light, I mean light. We had the odd flurry of snow on and off all day. It has been cold though. Still we are now into February filldyke so we are all the nearer to Spring. The immediate forecast is not too good. We will have to wait and see. I have dug up a couple of leeks and pulled up a few carrots out of the polytunnel so I am prepared. More soon.

Service

Yesterday morning I went to my local Service Station. It was a dull and very cold day. I know they don't start too early so I got there just after 8.30am. The shutters were still down. I went into the shop and looked at Ian's office he had just walked in. He looked at me and said he must get the garage open. I told him where I had left the car, gave him the keys. He then told me it would be ready round lunchtime so off I went. It is about 3/4 of a mile, thank goodness it was not raining or snowing but it was so cold. Anyway I got home and turned on the .V. It said that today would be a lot colder. As it happened not true. I thought that I would not wait until Wednesday to get my Pension and call in at the local supermarket. It had loin of pork 1/2 price. I then waited for a phone call. Just after noon I decided to put on my dinner, well potatoes and vegetables. No sooner had I started when the phone rang. Yes it was the Service station telling me the car was ready. Off went everything and I donned my overcoat and started walking to the Garage. I got there about 25 minutes later. I saw the car was parked where I had left it. It had been done though because there was some protective plastic on the drivers seat. there was a van parked in front of my car so I saw the man and asked him if he was going to be long. He told me he had called to service something. I asked him if he could move his van as all I was going to do was pay for my service and then leave. He told me he would move it. I went into the area where you pay. It is very small and there were a couple waiting to pay bills. When it came to me I told her I was to pay my bill for a service. I expected something like £70 to 80. This was because he told me all I would need was an oil change and filters changed too. It was almost £100. Pleased I didn't have a full service. I hate to think what that would have cost me.
Well I paid and thank goodness the man with the van had moved but was waiting for me to shift my car so that he could go back to where he had been. I got home and then got my dinner. after dinner, went for my Pension then into the next town to the local supermarket to buy some loin of pork. It wasn't where the meats were but on a end counter. I bought 2 pieces, almost £20 but should last for a while though. Been nice and sunny today though cold. More soon.