Work completed.

On Saturday morning I went as usual to let the chickens out. I noticed the water trough or whatever it is called was leaking water all over the place. It was his Father who filled it up last time, thank goodness it was doing the same as my filling seemed to do.
 IT would be about 10.30am. when I ventured out next door, I noticed that he car had been moved and some washing was out so I knew someone would be around.
 I went back to get the garage key and the eggs, 36 in all and took them round to the Lady She told me she had a present for me but she couldn't find it. I told her I didn't expect or want anything but it was nice of her to think about me.
 About 45 minutes later her Husband came round with the present, a posh Disney mug. Unfortunately it is so posh with the design that it is not microwave and dishwasher compatible.  I then took him to show what I wanted to be done, some trees cut down, not that they are large but there are well over 18 altogether.
 I told him about the water, he then told me that it was a little awkward to fill the reservoir up, so that eased my mind.
 I then told him I had met his Parents, a nice couple and his Father seemed to know about chickens. He told me that his Father had kept chickens years ago. I told him that I was a little disappointed at the quantity of eggs I got, he told me his Father had looked and found 19 eggs in a heap in the chicken run. I told him that he did say that he thought there would be some eggs being laid out of the hut. It didn't surprise me as the chicken poo was getting to be all over the place. At one time I told him I went into the run and picked as much straw as |I could and place it where the chickens generally laid their eggs. I think it helped a little because the last day I managed to collect 7 eggs.
 Well that is it for another year I presume. More soon.

Near the end

This week has been nice and dry, sometimes very dull but not cold.
 My routine was to let the chickens out around 7.30am. Go and check them later about 11.00am. again check and see if there were eggs around 3.00pm. then shut them in when it grew dark.
 The first day I waited for a while until all except one had roosted. My mate told me that I should wait until dark, then go and shut them in as all would then be in their boxes. It turned out to be true.
 A couple of days ago I decided to take some of my bird seed to see if they would like it. Not much, they mobbed me and hungrily tucked into the different food.
 Now as soon as they see me coming they all gather round the entrance knowing that I would bring some more goodies for them.
 Yesterday I was surprised to see that the water trough was empty. I was informed that there was sufficient water to last them but that was not the case.
 As I didn't know how it worked I was a little while working out just how to get water in the trough.
 I eventually managed to work it out, not properly though but there was water for them. They certainly needed a drink and all gathered round the trough and had their fill.
 This morning I looked and there was enough water but not a great amount. I thought I would check after dinner and make sure enough water was there for the chickens.
 I went and was surprised to see that the tank had been filled, just as I had, the water was running out of the tank, just as it did for me.
 It would he his Parents because when I last saw them on Wednesday they told me that it would be Friday when they would be here next. It was in the afternoon on Wednesday that they called. I was talking to the chickens and giving them the first taste of my bird seed. It was the Mother who spoke to me saying that she wondered where speech was coming from. Yes it was me talking to the chickens. We had quite a long talk and they travelled about 20 miles to feed the pigeons.
 I hope they appreciate what we have done for them. To be honest I certainly don't mind letting them out and feeding them. Shutting them up is not as attractive though. More soon.

Reinstated.

Late Friday afternoon, well just before 5.00pm. to be more precise the doorbell rang and it was the woman from next door.
 She asked me if it would be possible to let the chickens out each morning for a week and then for so many days could I also shut them in at night.
 I told her that it would be much easier for all if I just let them out in the morning, checked that they had sufficient food and water and then shut them up at night.
 As I had never shut them in at night I wondered just how easy it was. I rung my mate and asked him as he had chickens as a youngster.
 He told me that they mad3e their way in when it got dusk.
 Well, I went out just before dusk and all 14 were out scratching away. I waited for a few minutes but then decided to go back to mine and wait a little longer.
 Another 15 minutes passed and it was well dusk so off I went again.
 I stayed well clear and gradually in they went all bar one. There has to be the odd one that is different to the rest.
 Eventually it went and perched on the entrance, so I hurried in and pushed the chicken inside and closes the coops  and made them secure.
 About 7.30am. this morning I went and let them out. They were certainly ready for me to let them out.
 I had checked to see that there was sufficient food and water for them so I went back to mine to get my breakfast.
 Around 11.00am. I went to see if there were any eggs. I think there were 5 altogether, not a lot considering there are 14 chickens. While I was taking the eggs to put in a tray in the garage a car drew up. I wondered who that could be. It turned out to be her Husband's Parents. They come down each day to feed the pigeons. We had a chat for about 5 minutes then off I went.
 As is my want, I go and see if they are alright in the afternoon.  Another 2 eggs I stayed there for about 10 minutes then I came back home.
The final journey to next door should be around 7.30pm. to shut them up for the night.
 Pleased the weather has been nice so far, don't want to go round in pouring rain. More soon.

Quiet

It has been a quiet time for me lately so I have had nothing of interest to write about.
 The weather had changed suddenly from being very hot to an early Autumn. So much so that my french beans suddenly finished altogether. I am still getting runner beans although a lot of my neighbours say they have more or less had all the beans and that the plants look poor.
 I must say that the photos I took show the size of my Bramley cooking apples. I have had several lbs of windfalls. These two I found yesterday.
 This morning I looked at my carrots in the garden. I do grow plenty in my polytunnel. The ones outside have been great. As you see I just picked 4 this morning and these 3 were the best. I didn't go through the row to pick them either. I just picked a few up to eat.
 My best Pal called the other day, I have not seen him for some time. His Wife is suffering from the degeneration of the spine so it is affecting her walking and she is in pain too.
 I gave him some runner beans, a few plums, some blackberries that I picked that day and some windfall apples.
 He was making his way back home the next day. He did say that he hoped to be down a couple of times more this year. He admitted that it has been a bad year for the two of them being at their Caravan. Let us hope that after going to see a Specialist she will be a little  more mobile next year.
 On Sunday I had a man call about my fencing. My mate told me about him and all being well he will fit about 10 replacement panels but not before November. It gives me time to save up enough  to pay for the panels. More soon.

Poor weather

Yesterday we had a huge clap of thunder  soon after 5.30pm. You could see it coming for about 2 hours prior to it arriving. Heavy rain and then after the loud clap of thunder, we lost power for some time.
 Today has been a cool dreadful day, very dull, wet and windy for most of the day.
 yesterday I had to go to the Surgery for a Blood Test. I have my B.P. checked at the same time.
 Unusually the place was almost full. there were a couple of Nurses come out and announce that something to do with warfarin, the monitoring machine was playing up and there would be a delay. If anyone wished to cancel and re book for tomorrow, that would be fine.
 Whether it affected my Blood test, I had no idea but  my appointment was for 9.30am. but it was around 9.50am. when she called me in. Whilst I was waiting I saw a notice stating that there was an injection for people aged 70-79 to prevent shingles. As I have had shingles, and it isn't pleasant I decided I would have an injection.
 When I saw the Nurse S. I know her very well she told me she had no information on the vaccine at all. She had hardly finished when there was a knock on the door, another Nurse asked her to go and assist her. S. just looked at me and said that was short and sweet today. We normally have a good old natter. Next time I hope.
 Off I went to the receptionist to book a shingles jab. She told me she knew nothing about it, one of the assistants in the office heard me and told the receptionist that she would deal with it.
 she came out into the waiting room and asked me discreetly how old I was. With confidence I told her I was right in the middle of the 70-79 group and I was 76. She then told me I was not eligible as it was only for those aged wither 790 or 79. I started to laugh, I thought she was pulling my leg but I could see she was serious. She showed my the leaflet and told me that they were not issuing them at all because it was causing confusion.
 What she asked me next surprised me. She asked me if I had my pneumonia injection. I told her I had and this was about 6 years ago and was told at that time that I must not have another one at all. She then told me that after about 10 years, you have to go and get another injection. She then went on to my page on the computer, told me that it hadn't been flagged up so I was not due for another pneumonia jab yet. the last thing she told me was that the Government may be bringing different ages in next year. Perhaps 71-78. What a performance I thought. I couldn't believe it. More soon.

Conclusion

I went to Blackpool the following year and first thing on the Monday morning went to see my watchmaker friend.
As always he was pleased to see me and immediately informed me that tomorrow he would take me for dinner(lunch)to the Polish RAF. Association. He told me that a few friends started this up soon after the war.
I did mention that he came over a wealthy man with lots of sovereigns but he told me that over the ensuing years he helped less fortunate Polish immigrants and that he had nothing left.
 He had originally bought a house in Blackpool but as he had married a Woman from Bolton, they had their home there. He told me he sold his house cheaply to a fellow Polish guy, now he told me he was renting a room from Monday to Friday
going to Bolton for the week end.
 Anyway the next day he closed his shop early and off we went to this place. He pulled into the car park and parked it on a reserved place. We went to the door and a doorman was there sat just before the main entrance. Immediately he saw Josef, he stood up and called him Sir. Josef just informed him that I was his guest, the doorman let us in.
 As soon as he entered the room, there were about 4 people come to make a fuss of him. I was amazed at the place. It was beautiful. there seemed to be a sort of platform at one end on either side were 2 huge propellers, Josef told me which plane they were off but I must confess I forgot.
 there was a man who came in, Josef told me that this was his Landlord and he wanted to have a word. They spoke in Polish but eventually it was English so that I could understand. This man was a cabinet maker and he was making a case for this carriage clock and Josef told me that he had been making this for about 3 years, however it was almost complete.. He had a few men come to him but he told them all that I was his guest and he didn't wish to be disturbed.
 One of them told him that it was such a long time since he had been there and he wished to discuss things with him but he waved him away.
When it came to dinner he asked me if I liked Sauerkraut, I told him I had never tasted it, he told me not to worry as I would like it. he was correct it was nice.
 They started to serve dinner, the queue was forming at the table where the freshly cooked meal was being served. We, however just walked up to the platform. There was a table with about 8 chairs facing the auditorium. He told me to sit down and almost immediately a waiter came and showed him the menu for that lunch time.
He ordered for both of us and immediately told me that I was not allowed to spend anything as this was a Private club for Polish only but allowing to bring in an occasional guest.
  I can't remember what we had but it was very nice.
 On the way back he told me that he was a Founder Member and to be honest it was mainly because of him that the place was built.
 When he got back he got a photo album out and proceeded to show me Warsaw. He then told me that the place was just rubble but over the next 15 years they rebuilt the whole of Warsaw to as much of originality as possible. It looked fantastic.
 He then turned over a page and he told me that this showed Warsaw University and he pointed out a young man about my age or a little older. He just said that this was his Son who was a Professor at the University. He didn't dwell on it and I didn't pursue the matter.
 Over the coming days he told me more. On one occasion he told me that the Police would come to fetch him in the days after the war to act as an interpreter when some of the foreign people were up in court. He told me he could speak a little German, Russian and I think Lithuanian.
He told me that the following year he would have for me a skeleton clock.
 Unfortunately the following year, just before I was due to go on holiday my Father died. I never went there again.
P.S. We had a family. my Father used to call the Mother the Doll, this was because she never had a hair  out of place. She married a Polish man and she used to tell my Father how bad it was there in Poland, they couldn't get hold of soap and razor blades. Each year she used to send a parcel to his relatives stating that they were not allowed to visit them as it was forbidden.
 Finally this episode in my life was bought back to mind by a T.V programme stating that Warsaw was completely rebuilt after the war back to it's original features More soon.

Conflict

So now Poland was at war with Germany. He was now to become an enlisted fighter.
 As he had a University education he was drafted into the Polish RAF. He told me  that he was trained to be a fighter pilot, it didn't take long, there was not much time anyway.
 He was sent to a Squadron and started as a fighter pilot, he told me it wasn't long before he was a Squadron Leader. This was because all of the other original pilots had perished, lost or injured. It was sad when he told me that the Squadrons were amalgamated and soon almost the entire newly formed Squadron were Squadron Leaders from their old Squadron.
 His Father told him that the war was lost and he must leave the Country and make his way west.
 His Father was a rich man and he gave Josef, that was his name, lots of sovereigns to take with him on his journey.
 He didn't say much about his journey only to say that he travelled in forests and as it was winter there were wolves so he had be alert.
 He eventually arrived in England and found himself, with several other Polish evacuees in Blackpool.
He was not happy at the way all the Polish people were treated. He was immediately reduced to the rank of Private and it seemed as all the others  were treated similar.
 Although he was a trained fighter pilot he never flew in this Country.
 He seemed to spend much of his time in Preston, there I think he told me was an Aeroplane factory, if not something to do with aeronautics.
Eventually the war ended and with Poland, now under the control of Russia, he and all the other Polish fighters were allowed to stay in this Country.
 He told me that he had a Wife and a small Son but knew nothing about them or his Family. As there was no contact at all, he made a new life over here.
 He eventually got married to a Hairdresser, she had a business in Bolton but he wished to have a business in Blackpool.
 He had been after a shop in Church Street Blackpool and went to see the Estate Agent who sent him to a Solicitor.
 One of the stipulations was that he must be a true Christian as the property  was owned by the Church. He confirmed that he was an old fashioned Christian so eventually had his shop which is where I  found him.
 All of this information took place over the week and it would soon be time once again to leave and get back home.
 I told him I would be back the next year, it was with sadness that I went back to the East Coast but could look forward to the next meeting. More soon.

Early holiday

When I first went into Business at the end of the second year, my Parents insisted that I went away for a week so as to get a break from my work.
 I decided to go to Blackpool, although where I was on the East Coast, the Season had done, Blackpool was still busy.
 I decided to have a walk and discover some parts of Blackpool. I walked for miles, one day I found a Sweet Factory, I thought next time I get this way I will ask them to show me round. however I never did get that way again.
 Walking back into the town down Church Street. I think that was the name, I noticed a Watchmakers and Jewellers shop. I decided to enter and look round.
 To be honest it was a dingy looking shop and rather uninviting. An elderly gentleman came to see me and he took to me straight away. I told him that I could not stay too long as I had to go back to my Hotel for  my meal. He asked me to come back the next day to see him. I readily agreed  so off I went.
 The next day he was waiting for me and told me he was pleased that I had come back to see him. He showed me some of the clocks he had built and started to talk of his life in Blackpool. It was obvious that he had not been born in the U.K. for he had  a foreign accent.
 He told me that he had come from Poland and would tell me all about it one day.
 Unfortunately for me it was my last day in Blackpool and I told him so, but I did say to him that the following year I would come back and see him.
 He said he understood and was sorry I would not be there again this year. It was 1971.
 The following year, true to my word I went to his shop first thing on the Monday morning so I had the rest of the week available. He was once again happy to see me. After talking for an hour or so, he suggested that we go upstairs to his workshop and have a drink of coffee. I was amazed at the amount of old clocks he had there. He then started to talk of how he came to live in Blackpool.
 What a fascinating story it turned out to be.
 He told me that he was born in Poland with wealthy Parents. His Grandfather was a watch maker and he wanted to follow in his footsteps but his Father forbid this stating that when he was old enough he would go to Warsaw University.
 In the meantime he told me that on a Monday it was his job to collect the rents from the tenants in the blocks of flats they owned. He told me that he would often go to his Grandfather who would show him how to repair and build clocks.
 When he was 18 he went to University and gained a degree in Civil Engineering. He then got married and soon after his wife became pregnant.
 All of a sudden his world and that of all the Polish people was turned upside down. Germany had invaded Poland. He told me this came out of the blue for their true enemies were not the Germans but the Russians. More soon.