Repairs

The man from Calor arrived soon after Noon. It was the guy who has always serviced my C.H. boiler so he knew me well and the state of the boiler. I told him that the fault was intermittent and explained all what had happened so the first thing he did was to check the room thermostat, he decided to change it to be sure. At the same time I let him know that my hot water was getting too hot and let him feel just how hot the water was getting. He was somewhat surprised and told me he would check it out later.
 On changing the room stat he found that it had made no difference at all so he went to the cylinder stat, on testing it I did tell him that my mate had suggested I move it up higher on the cylinder, he then informed me that this would make no difference. On testing it he then gave me the news that it was no good and he would be replacing it with a new cylinder stat. With the new one installed he then tested it and it was working perfectly but the room stat was not. He told me that the stat was set at 40c and the recommended setting was 55c and he set it at that.
 He asked me where the controls were and I told him in the loft. I got the ladder but when I tried to open the hatch I could not get it open because my mate had closed it the last time he checked it and hadn't slid the ladder completely to the closed position. After about 5 minutes we managed to get the loft open and up he went. He soon came back down and told me he would get his water hoover at the same time he asked me if I had power in the loft which I told him I had not so out he went again to get his extension cable.
 He was up there for ages but kept me informed at all times, eventually he ;et me know that the 3 way port had more or less seized up and he hoped he had a spare in his van. Soon after he came back with the new 3 way port. He told me he had managed to get an air lock so he didn't have to drain the system completely but when he eventually emptied his water hoover I saw that there was about 2 gallons in the tank.
 All this work to a long time to do, I really like him because he is thorough and will double check everything. When it was all fitted he then gave the system another complete check to see that all was working well. When he was fully satisfied he left, by now it was almost 2.30 pm. As one knows I have diabetes and should eat regular so I was not sorry to see him go as normally I have my dinner(lunch to posh folks) around 12.30 pm. but although I was still feeling a little under the weather the late eating didn't affect me.
 Today has been the first real sunny day in ages but the forecast is not so good. I feel for those folk who live in Cumbria for the amount of rain they have had is devastating, with so many homes being flooded more than once is heartbreaking. Let us all hope that 2016 will bring that area some pleasant relief. More soon.

Under the weather

Last Thursday I went to the Surgery for a blood test. On entering the Surgery I noticed that there was a receptionist i hadn't seen for about 2 years. We had a long talk catching up on the last 2 years, eventually O told her I had better go and sit and wait to be called in. No sooner had I sat down when Louise the Nurse called me in. I remarked she was on the ball and she immediately informed me that I was 1 minute late. She then told me she was in a hurry as a receptionist had asked her if she could pull in a foot inspection. I told her I knew that they had tightened things up. I gave her the form and as usual she was gentle and good when she took the blood. After filling in the small phials I told her I had better leave so that she could get on with her foot inspection. She then informed me that it was ME who was going to have the foot inspection. We both laughed heartily and she proceeded to inspect my feet which included pricking my feet with a blunt instrument then used a type of tuning fork. It sends s funny sensation through your big toe.
 She then told me that all was good and that she asked me not to walk barefooted. finally she told me that as I had good veins she was prepared to do the foot inspection but had I been bent over with poor veins she would have informed them in reception that she hadn't ime to do the foot inspection.
 The next day I received a letter from the Surgery asking me to make an appointment for a foot inspection. I have, until this year ahd a annual foot inspection but this year it has been 2.
 On Friday I started with a sore throat and on Saturday it turned out to be a heavy cold,so much so that on Saturday evening I went to bed at 9.00 pm. most unusual for me. I even went to bed early on Sunday night too.
  This morning I was due a visit from the Calor Gas people as I had a contract regarding problems with my Central Heating. Thank goodness I had a call from Lee, my usual service man. He rung up around 9.30 am. saying it would be after Noon before he would get to me. This gave me the chance to go to the Village to collect some paracetamol's. More soon.

Tomatoes

With the mild weather it does mean that although being very dull in general my tomatoes have fared quite well. I guess that I will have a few to eat well into the New Year and that is always my aim. I looked in the greenhouse this morning and noticed that the last tomato plant still had a few tomatoes on but they are nowhere near being fully formed. As long as they are full grown or thereabouts they will ripen without going wizened. I was going to fumigate my greenhouse but I have decided to wait just to see if the last 10 or so tomatoes will grow sufficiently to be pulled off. It does not matter when I fumigate the greenhouse as long as it is well before the grapevine starts to grow. Incidentally I did take all other plants out also everything metal as they tend to discolour if left in while I light the sulphur candle.

 

As you can see by these photos there are plenty of tomatoes ripe enough to eat now and quite a few ripening well, the odd green ones are what I picked off the plant a couple of days ago.

I saw the carer yesterday and she told me they all were going for a meal I think this is organised by the people who give support for the young man Tim. I also had a delivery for next door, in fact I had another today so I know when Tim gets home, he catches the bus and it drops him off outside mine so I waited to give him the package. He told me he had turkey and Christmas pudding with brandy sauce and he said it was nice. As he normally does he had a coke to finish it off.                                             

Tomorrow I go for my 3 monthly blood test, this was booked in Early December, it just goes to show just how short handed they are, still that will be done for this year and the next appointment will hopefully be in March 2016.  More soon.                                                                                             

A meal

Late on Friday night the carer from next door came to tell me that they were going to Spalding, something to do with pigeons and that they would have to leave at 10.15 am. in the morning. I told her that it would not be a problem as young Tim could come round earlier. That pleased her and off she went.
 Saturday morning soon after 10.00 am. the young man rung the doorbell and we then went out to the garage to get the compost out of the car and ready to take it round the rear to the polytunnel and greenhouse.
 Soon after we started he noticed they were on their way to Spalding. I got him to take the bags of compost in a wheelbarrow round tio where I wanted them. I then had him take about 3" off the top to remove some of the old compost. While he was doing that I was preparing the soil so that I could empty the new compost. It took about an hour or so to get the job done so in we went.
 I had asked him prior to him coming round what he wished to have. Steak pie was his answer. I asked him what vegetables he would wish. I named about 6 different vegetables, he chose frozen peas and my frozen broad beans. I had made the steak pie earlier and when he saw it he remarked that it looked nice. It had been made but not obviously cooked. I then suggested that although he had requested blackberry and apple crumble perhaps a blackberry and apple sponge would be nice for a change. I then proceeded to tell him how I was going to make it and he seemed happy with the suggestion.
 I had already part cooked the blackberries and apples in the microwave earlier so they had cooled down.
 I proceeded to mix a little sugar with margarine, creaming them until they were almost white, in went 2 large eggs which I beat well in. All the time showing him what I was doing. I added a pinch of salt and finally the flour. When I poured the liquid on top of the blackberry and apples I told him that it would rise a lot while it was cooking. I then let him taste the stuff left in the bowl, we used to love cleaning the bowl with our fingers when my Mother cooked something similar. He enjoyed the taste.
 I then lit the oven and about 15 minutes later put the apple sponge in to cook. I also lit the top oven and again about 15 minutes later put the steak pie in to cook. On went the potatoes and vegetables to boil, I had to get some gravy ready as he loves gravy and I try to make tasty gravy with saved meat juices.
  The first thing to finish cooking was the apple sponge, around half way I told him to look through the glass door to see how much the sponge had risen. He was amazed, I don't suppose anyone else has shown him this sort of cooking. I told him that I had done this earlier as I didn't want the sponge too hot to eat. I knew it would stay reasonably hot for about an hour.
 It then came time to take up the potatoes and vegetables, first I took the steak pie out of the oven, leaving it to rest for 5 minutes. I strained the vegetables and put on the gravy. I cut the pie up to the size he wanted, put the potatoes and vegetables on the plates and poured the gravy which was now ready on to where he wished it.
 Once we had eaten the dinner I then made some custard, mainly for him and while the milk was boiling I gave a generous portion on his pudding dish, I also had a generous portion, incidentally it was still hot, jut hot enough to eat without burning one's mouth.
 Once he had finished he told me had enjoyed it very much and it had been very tasty.
  While I had been busy taking things up he had taken a photo of the steak pie and the sponge. He later told me he showed it to his carer.
 By the time we had finished it was well after 2.00 pm. and we had a cup of coffee and went in to watch T.V and wait for his carer to get back. I told him that it would not be for some time but he seemed happy as he calls my place his second home.
  To keep him occupied is not easy so we went on to Sky and watched the football scores as they came in. He had a text saying they had just left Spalding. I then told him I guessed that they would not be back soon and I thought it would be soon after 4.30 pm. Around 4.45 pm. they text him to tell him they were in the village so soon after I told him to gather his things as they would be home by the time he was ready to leave. He then told me he would not need much to eat after what he had eaten today and he had enjoyed it a lot here with me. With that I took him round just as they were getting out of the car, they did apologise for being so long but I told them there was no problem at all as he had enjoyed himself.
 I was pleased to see him go though as it seems to take it out of me whenever I have someone for a meal. Guess it is called getting old. More soon.

Sirloin

Last Thursday I went to Grantham to see my Sisters, before I called to see them I went to Morrison's for some every day stuff also I wanted some Sirloin of beef for my New year's dinner. I already had my Christmas meal sorted it is Roast Duckling.
 I looked for some sirloin but none was for sale, soon after a Woman filling up the shelves with fresh packed meat so I asked her. She checked but couldn't see any but then the Butcher came along. She asked him if he had any sirloin and he told her he had. I then asked him if I could have a joint, he said there was no problem and went into the rear, came back with a sirloin that was vacuum packed. He put it on the scales and told me that would be around £80 and then asked me how much I would like. I said almost 30% so he cut off a piece and asked me if I would like it tied up. He weighed it before he tied it all up and it came to less than £25. It looked nice and I thanked him and went on my way.
 This Tuesday I went to Lidl and picked up a leaflet for the offers starting Thursday this week(today). I just glanced at it but yesterday looked at it properly. To my surprise on offer was a sirloin joint which was rubbed with horseradish and mustard. The price was £19 .99p.  a kilo. I then got my magnifying glass out and I noticed that the sirloin had what is called the skirt on. That is the piece which  is attached to the sirloin. People of my age and older would know this as when one wanted some stewing beef, occasionally one would ask for skirt. In general it was skirt and kidney. Now days it is generally shin of beef for stewing beef. This I thought was plenty for Lidl to charge especially as it included the skirt. The one I bought from Morrison's was primary for sirloin steaks. So what I did next was to check the price per kilo for the sirloin at Morrison's. I was  pleasantly surprised that I was charged £17. 99p a kilo. If I want any fresh sirloins I will definitely go to Morrison's for some. On the way back home I went to the Garden Centre for some compost. I had arranged it that the young man from next door would call round and help me with lifting the compost into the greenhouse and polytunnel. He would then stop for his dinner.
 After going to Grantham I am always tired, I presume that it is because I get up around 7.00am. and when I get back home I have to then get something to eat so Friday I took it easy so that I could prepare for Saturday. More soon.

Beans and pumpkin

In the 1970s we had for about 3 years a family come to see us in September. The couple in their late 50s had a couple of Sons, unfortunately both had learning difficulties and were difficult to control. The Mother couldn't control them at all but her Husband could.
 The first year he came to the counter and gave my Mother a bunch of runner beans and told her they had won first prize at their local Allotment show in Newark.
  The second year once again in September they came and again bought my Mother a bunch of runner beans. This time he told her a tale. He said that he had won the best in show with his runner beans ever since he had entered the competition so about 5 years ago he decided to donate a cup for the best runner beans in the show but insisted that the winner of the runner beans could not also win the best in show. He then said to my Mother that the cup had been on his piano ever since he donated it.
 We saw them just one more year and guessed that the lads had become too unruly that they had to be sent to a special home.
 In October around that time a man in working gear walked into our place with a Hessian sack, out he pulled a pumpkin. He told us that he had a good year with so many pumpkins that he had decided to give away to each restaurant and cafe a pumpkin and he wanted nothing for it. He told us he wasn't stopping and off he went. Incidentally we never saw him again.
 Well my Mother asked me what I was going to do with the pumpkin and I told her we would put it on for the lunch together with potatoes and garden peas(frozen). As we both had never had a pumpkin before I sliced it in half. The inside was full of seeds. If anyone has had a marrow, although it is totally a different shape the interior is similar. I scooped the seeds out of one half, peeled the skin off to leave the fleshy part. My Mother looked on and asked me how I was going to prepare and cook it. I told her I would cook it like a swede, dice and season it and when cooked mash it up.
 To be honest it turned out much better than I expected, had it failed I had a back up. As it was October we only had a dozen or so customers and they were mostly representatives (reps) selling goods and they used to meet in mine and discuss how things were going.
 All ate it up but only 1 asked what the vegetable was. When we informed him that it was pumpkin he said he had no idea but enjoyed it. I never had another pumpkin, to be honest you hardly ever saw a pumpkin in those days. Halloween was not celebrated at all. It was Bonfire Night with fireworks on November 5th. the night before it was Mischievous Night.
 What made me mention this was that my American friend told me what they had for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately I couldn't wish him a Happy Thanksgiving as my computer was broke. He gave me a short list of what he had. Amongst the items was a pumpkin pie so I asked him if it was the same as our pumpkin. He assured me that it was a vegetable and then told me how it was made.

 First was a can of puréed pumpkin, incidentally I have never seen any puréed pumpkin, if any one who reads this has please let me know. He went on to say that it was put in a pastry base similar to our cheesecake. With the pumpkin  purée was added sugar salt cinnamon cloves and evaporated milk. It is then refrigerated and served with sweetened heavy cream. 

 His photo of a portion of pumpkin pie was brilliant, nothing like my attempts to take photos. He He He but I keep persevering. 

  Now days in October pumpkins are so plentiful, not I think as a vegetable but as an adornment for Halloween More soon.

Old times

When I went to see the computer man I also went to the local Supermarket which is privately owned. I know the ladies well who work there and they were talking about having a Christmas meal. I naturally asked them where they were going to have the meal. In unison a couple stated that they would eat their meal where they worked  as that is what they do each year.
 When I got home I started to laugh for it bought back to me when I was working on the Railway as a Fireman. We had a few jobs that meant we signed on then picked up the goods Guard and went tender first(reverse) about 4 miles to a place called High Dyke. This was where the iron ore was bought to from a branch line. The Guard would check to see the train was ready and then we waited for a slot between fast moving trains as the goods train was the most of slow trains. It only carried 27 wagons each weighing 27 tons. It was the maximum allowed as they were loose coupled and stopping the heavy train was not easy.
  Sometimes it would be 2 hours or so before we got back to where we had started and then we had many miles to go. It was called a change over train. We left to go towards Immingham and the Immingham group of men would have 50 or so empty wagons. We were supposed to meet half way and do a change over, the Immingham set taking their iron ore off to Scunthorpe and we would take the empty wagons to High Dyke.
 It was an easy job but what reminded me was on many occasions we had to have our snap, for that was what the food was commonly known as. If we stopped at a Signal Box when the signal was at red I used to go and get a mashing for without fail every Signalman had the kettle of boiling water. This was in the early 60s and here we are over 50 years later when the ladies were doing the same sort of thing, eating whilst working.
 The weather has not been good, we certainly can't grumble though for people living in the Cumbria area have had a really rough time of it. The heavy rains accompanied by gale force winds followed by severe flooding.
 Last week I went to Grantham to see my Sisters. I find it increasingly difficult for me. I get home and feel absolutely shattered and it takes me a day to get over it. More soon.

Some more

While the computer man was here he also told me something of his life. He first told me that he had been a professional musician and had his own dance band but over the years he said that he was fed up with being away from home for so long that he finally decided to quit. I thought but didn't say anything but wondered if it wasn't his wife that suggested it to him. He did say that he was missing the children growing up. He told me that he started to renovate old furniture but decided after a while it wasn't for him. He did say that he had done all the accounts for his band and also he was treasurer of a consortium of musicians so he had an idea of computer work.
 He said that he was at a Computer show in I think Peterborough and saw a lovely computer but it was marked up at £1300. This was in the mid 90s. His Wife asked him if he would like it and once he said yes she got it for him. He reminded me that the hard drive was just 250 megabits but then I told him that the download speed was just 56 kbs.
 He then studdied the workings of the computer daily working until 4.00 am to 5.00.am. daily until he finally had confidence to advertise that he could repair computers.
 He told me that working from home was great, soon after his Son went to College but he didn't enjoy it and asked him if he could help him. So he decided to get a shop and this is how he really started.
 It was a pleasure meeting him.
  Now a little about what has gone on in my garden.
 Last week I finished the last marrow which lasted me until the last week in November, well pleased with that. After the first frosts this winter it left my tomatoes looking poor. The plum tomatoes have more or less gone and I have pulled all up except one. The cherry tomatoes have a few on but whether they will grow enough for me to ripen them inside I very much doubt it but I do have a dozen or so ripening inside already.
 On a less positive note my eating apples have not fared well. I should think I have had to oust about 24 apples so far. I only hope that this was due to the mild and generally muggy early November, only time t
will tell. Even if most of them have to be slung away I will have had more to eat than last year. More soon.

A new computer

Let us hope that this computer will last for quite a while and that my problems are a thing of the past.
 I went to the computer shop originally to ask him if I had selected a computer that was suitable, he told me that he had one, more or less the same specifications for a little less in price. I asked him if he would install it for me with the same sort of additions that he had put on the old one with the inclusion of a strong anti virus system. He asked me when I would be thinking of having it installed. I told him as soon as possible so he toldme that he would be at mine the next day.
Saturday arrived and I did my washing as the forecast was decent and the sun was shining. Around 10.00 am. the clouds rolled in and I went to put a jumper on the central heating radiator when I noticed that the man was pulling in on my drive so I opened the door for him.
  Anyway he bought the new computer in and asked if I could take the plug out of the socket which I did. He had suffered form Polio as a young child.
 A little while later my mate rang up to see if I had any news. The computer man had just told me that he was having difficulty connecting  to the Ethernet but I needn't worry as he would get connected. While my mate was on he informed me he was now connected to the Internet. I gave my mate the news and he rung off.
 the man then started to install many programmes and told me that because I had a slow internet connection it was going to take some time.
 After an hour or so he told me that we had to wait patiently as my connection speed was not good. 1.9 megabits.
  He started to talk about his life and how he came into computing. He had started out as a professional musician and had his own band. He then went on that he had met quite a few celebrities and in general they were very nice people. He told me of a guy who had been on T.V. the Comedians and that he was also a good singer. He said that his band used to accompany him when he sang but he always started off with jokes and his theme was the same, it was about his young days at home.
 I then told him that I had done my washing that morning and I had started to dry the clothes on my radiators.
  I then stated to him the wash day was all day, not exactly true but it took many hours. I thought he would know a little more about how it was because he is not young, I guess  20 years or so  younger than me. Anyway I went on to tell him that Monday was always washing day. It didn't matter what the weather was it was so. I told him that my Father used to light the gas copper up at 7.00 am when he was about to leave for work. The working week had just been reduced from 48 hours to 44. 1 hour was spent for lunch and 15 minutes was taken for tea morning and afternoon so one was at work for 9 hours 30 minutes as it wasn't convenient for him to come home at lunch(dinner) he had his warmed up later when he got home around 5.30 pm.
  My Mother would get up and made sure us kids were up. As Sunday was bath day we had clean underwear and clothes to wear. It was our job to take the bottom sheet off the bed together with the pillow case and take them down stairs. The common practice was then my Mother would put the top sheet onto the bottom and have a clean sheet and pillow case to make the bed up.
 I tiod him that it was common for everyone to wear their clothes for a week, hence there was always a shirt which were without fitted collars. They had detatchable collars which fitted with a stud at the back of the neck. When one bought a shirt quite often there would be 2 detachable collars with the shirt.
 My Mother would sort out the whites from the coloureds. Whites were in general, white shirts, bedding, pyjamas, towels, tea towels and those sorts of things. They were put into the copper with a good helping of Persil, bought to boil and left to boil for about 20 minutes. While that was boiling it was our job to half fill the dolly tub, a big tub to put the boiled clothes in to rinse. Needless to say the water we put in the dolly was cold. It was then that the dolly peg was used. I was used to rinse the boiled whites, it was hard work and after that it was to mangle the wet clothes. I wish I had a £1 for every time I trapped my Mother's hand for going to fast turning the mangle handle.
 After this was done, it was pegging out the washing. While that was going on we had to empty the copper and refill it so that the fresh water would be quite hot. The dolly tub was also emptied and the clean hot water was poured into the dolly tub. Then in went the coloureds and in went the soap powder. Rinso this time. It was always Persil for whites and Rinso for coloureds. It was like that for years. It was then time to work like mad with the dolly peg to make sure that the movement was good enough to clean the coloureds.
 The last job which generally happened around 2.00 pm. was to swill and clean the back yard with  the water so that everything was as clean as possible.
 I was surprised that he didn't know too much about this so that is why I am writing this down, just in case some youngish person reads my blog. This is exactly how it was and almost all of us working class youngsters went through this episode each week. When we was on holiday we had, naturally to help my Mother as it must have been hard work for her, especially as there were 4 of us children. More soon.

Geese

A little over a week ago I was out in the garden when I first heard then saw a flock of geese heading south.  Some time later another flock flew by just as the neighbour next door was hanging out her washing. I told her that this was a sign of wild weather to come. She asked me how I came to that decision, I then told her that many years ago my late Mother had told me this tale and nearly every time a few days later the weather turned nasty.
 This happened to be true as a couple of days later we had severe storms, not that it affected us too much but on Friday night into Saturday morning it was dreadful. I noticed that there was damage to next door's fencing panels, one which seems to be non repairable. While the guy was here repairing my computer we had the first snow for well over a year. Last year was the mildest I have ever known with no snow at all. It came down heavy for a while, so much so that he asked me if he would be able to get back home. I assured him that it would have stopped by the time he came to leave.
 Mentioning my Mother also brings to mind this true story.
 We were poor and my Mother always used to say. "I don't care who hears this but nobody was more hard up than me".  Mind you when I mentioned it to folks  in front of her many years later she would request me to be quiet.
 This is one of her stories. She said they had to save everything they could and a treat was to go to the local Fish Shop and ask if they had any yesterday's fish they had not sold. Sometimes they would and if this was so she would buy a piece of yesterdays fried fish for a penny. She  would then heat it up in the oven and she told me it was beautiful.
 I decided to try this. I don't know if I mentioned this but the young lass who serves me in the local Newsagents told me she works in the fish shop on a Saturday. Anyway I decided to go and get a piece of Cod, no chips as I am getting like my late Father about 4 chips would suffice. Anyway when I did get the fish it was far too large for me so last Friday I went to the fish shop and ordered a Cod. I would have gone on Saturday but the man was due to repair my computer and it's sod's law that if one goes out one misses a call.
 Well I cut the fish into 2/3 1/3 pieces and ate the first large portion. I then left the other on a tray.
 Saturday morning I prepared my dinner with potatoes and vegetables with the fish being the substitute for my meat.
 I put the fish in a hottish oven for about 15 minutes while I cooked the vegetables. The outcome was that it was not bad at all and I could understand why my Mother enjoyed it so much.
  Finally for now, I went to call on the repair man in Mablethorpe for I wished to ask his advice but unfortunately he was not ope, it was quite early around 9.45am. and it was dull and rainy, so I will call again on Thursday or friday after having my haircut.
 I must admit that most shops seem to have an open time of 10.00am. and that is during the Summer months too. More soon.

Up and running again

Over a week ago I had severe troubles with my computer. Over the weekend I tried and eventually found a couple of people who would repair the computer by visiting the home.
 So last Monday I contacted a shop in Alford and he told me that he would come out but it would be after 5.00pm. Naturally I switched all the lights I could so that he could find me easily. 5.00pm came and went so did 6.00pm. I then guessed correctly that he would not be calling.
 I rung him up the next morning to inform him  not to bother, he was naturally apologetic but I reminded him that he could have given me a phone call.
 On Tuesday I went into Mablethorpe to do some shopping and I knew there was a Computer Shop on the main street. Naturally I turned the wrong way and walked to the North end of the road, turning round and walked another 1/2 mile or so. I began to wonder if I had missed it when I did see the place. In I went only to be seen by a Lady. It turned out it was the Owner's Sister and told me that unfortunately her Brother was going to a funeral but she would give him my telephone number and would contact me as soon as he could.
 To be honest I had a most pleasant time chatting away to her, she too was pleased of the company for the weather was dank and dreary so there were no people around. I stayed there about 30 minutes and only left because I was feeling cold.
 True to her words her Brother contacted me and informed me that hopefully he would call to see me on Wednesday but also warned me that if it was not that day it would be on Saturday. Unfortunately this happened so Saturday it would be.
 My mate rung me up on Saturday late morning to see if I had things sorted but I told him that up to now nobody had contacted me so I was going to have an early dinner and wait.
 Just after 1.00pm. I had the call I was waiting for saying that he would be at mine in about 15 minutes. I waited for a few minutes then turned on the computer.
 He arrived when he told me he would, we shook hands then I showed him the troublesome computer and he started.
 This was the sort of things he said. " We'll try this, it doesn't lie that, we will try this then. Still the same. Oh! I've never seen that before. We'll try something different then." This conversation to himself went on for a while then he started to gain some access to the computer.
 An hour or so into his work he suddenly started by saying, "Look at this? 3.5 gigabytes of junk files. That is 3500 megabits of rubbish on your computer. We'll get rid of this lot for a start". This took about 5 minutes but he did that. I noticed that he was gradually getting some things back to work. He did tell me that he suspected that I had quite a few viruses. Needless to say he was correct.
 He was a man around 60 years of age and wasn't a whizz kid and typed in reasonably slowly so that I could follow some of his actions.
 He tried Ccleaner but it still wouldn't perform so he delved further. Of course he had some programmes that he had on his dongle but also knew just what to type. He did tell me he had a great programme that allowed him to see ALL activities I have had on this computer. He even told me that Windows 8 was still on the machine but was not using any space really.
 I did ask him if he could install Real Player Real Times for me, he asked me why I wanted that for he knew a much better player of videos and music than that. He installed the one he recommended for me and it works great.
 Eventually he managed to get everything back to hopefully where it was originally and he left just before 4.30pm. Well over 3 hours of continual work. He did explain to me that if I had a better Internet connection than the 1.9megabits he would have been finished sooner.
 However I was delighted that I am back in the living of Computer usage. More soon.

Cauliflower

My mate called yesterday and I sent him an e-mail asking if he could bring a cauliflower at a reasonable price because when I went to buy a cauliflower at my usual place they had none.
 True to form he bought a lovely looking cauliflower, large too, he also bought back my watch which he had picked up originally from Argos , the metal strap being too large and he had tried to adjust it but didn't have the tools to do the job.
 Well he bought it back, I don't know what he thinks but the first thing was I couldn't  open the box that it was in, he mentioned that I had trouble opening it before, next came the watch. I couldn't open the strap to see if it had been adjusted right. He had to also show me that. I'm definitely getting a little senile I am sure of it. The strap though had been adjusted perfectly.
 That was the limit of our successes for I had mentioned to him that my videos were showing about 1/3 of the screen size. I had informed him that prior to getting Windows 10 the picture used to fill the screen. I am not a film buff but as I said to him there was no way that one could watch a film with that size of picture.
 He spent about 2 hours trying to figure what was wrong. He tried to get into Windows Media Player but couldn't but what it showed was the videos there but when he tried to play them it said something like it couldn't play them because they were a different format. With Real Payer Real Times it played them alright but only with a small screen size so he went online and downloaded the latest version but to no avail.
 To be honest had I known what problems I would have I would never install Windows 10. It seems as if it doesn't support anything but Windows 10 and Windows 8 was the last one before10.
  The upshot was that we had dinner a little later than usual and the crackling on the leg of pork was a little too crispy. Still he enjoyed it also the cauliflower which was very nice.
 Out of respect for he knows who I will not post the latest photo of the meal.
 Incidentally since he has tried several things the computer is going slower than ever. I couldn't access my mail for it kept informing me that  I  was timed out. This morning is a little better but still very very slow. Heaven alone knows what he would think about it as he was fed up with the slow speed of my Internet. Let us hope it will gradually improve to my usual 1.9 megabits maximum. More soon.

Gales

The other day the young man from next door came to see this picture of my mates dinner plate. He couldn't believe just how much was on his plate. I must admit that both him and me don't eat a large meal. In fact I have never eaten a large meal

. I honestly think I am in a minority.
 I will tell a tale now. I worked on the railway and NEVER had Christmas Day off. The first year my Parents had a turkey and reluctantly let my Brother-in-Law do the carving. After he gave everyone all they required, he then asked if anyone would like any more and when all said they had enough, he then took the remainder of the carcass and proceeded to demolish it all. I think it was about a 10lb.  From then on the Christmas Day dinner was put on hold until I came home to carve. Well that is the picture. My mate thoroughly enjoyed the meal.

These photos are just to show how many leaves have fallen on my garden from next door's tree. As you can see the majority have now fallen but it is a bit of a disappointment that the wind seems to blow from the south west whenever the leaves are ready to fall. With my orchard being gravelled it is not easy to rake up the leaves. I suppose I should get one of those modern leave blowers. I heard a noise as I was taking some recyclable material and as I was wondering what it was I saw the lady blowing some leaves then sucking others. The big trouble with me should I think of purchasing one is the length of cable. I must be well over 25 yards from the nearest point to the front edge of my orchard. More soon.

Cricket and pineapple

A couple of days ago I was watching on Eurosport a one day International cricket match between Sri Lanka and the West Indies and the commentator informed us viewers that the match was coming from Colombo. I immediately thought I have been there, not for many many years and the Country was then called Ceylon. This was back in 1956.
 I had been called up to do my National Service in October 1955, did my basic training then was posted out to Hong Kong. So off we fellow N.S men went. We left Southampton in early March 1956, it was snowing went we left. The first port of call was Port Suez. We stopped there to pick up water, then traveled through the Suez Canal to Aden, where we stopped I think for provisions. Then it was through the Red Sea and into the Indian Ocean.
 After a few days I began to feel a little unwell but decided to carry on as usual. A few days later we reached Ceylon and for the first time was allowed to disembark for a few hours.
 By now I was feeling poorly but my friends coaxed me to go ashore as it might make me feel better. Unfortunately it didn't and I guess I held them back a little but we did go for a walk through a park with well kept gardens.
 Soon after boarding the ship my pals took me to see the M.O. He immediately admitted me to the Hospital on board ship. I was put on a course of penicillin which in those days was administered by injection in the rear which after administration left you feeling uncomfortable because it left a sort of bruise reaction. These I had 3 times a day for a week but after 3 or 4 days felt a lot better.
 While I was in Hospital  the next port of call was Singapore, quite a few had been posted to Singapore so they disembarked but also those who wished to go ashore for about 2 hours were free to do so.  Unfortunately for me I was not allowed as I was still in Hospital but my pals went ashore.
  They must have thought about me for when they called in to see me they produced about 4 pineapples. They said they were dirt cheap and they were also plentiful
 Now remember this was 1956 and exotic fruit, as we called it was almost non existent. We had tasted pineapples but in tins only and in general tinned fruit are nothing like fresh fruit but these pineapples tasted almost the same as tinned fruit.
 What I remember most was that I shared them with the other lads in Hospital, I think there were 5 altogether. We all suffered the same sort of reaction. What we found was that our lips felt as though they were chapped. I guess that was due to the acidity nature of fresh pineapples. Mind you, they were nice but I have never eaten a fresh pineapple since.
 Soon after I was discharged and about 5 days later reached Hong Kong my home for the next 17 months. More soon.

Leaves and more leaves

On Friday and Saturday the windy weather meant that I was picking up many leaves and soon found that I had collected a bin liner full.
  Sunday turned out to be a very warm day for the beginning of November so I decided to dig a trench where I have my runner beans and place the leaves  in and cover them up. Sounded easy but I am getting old and found it very hard to complete the task. eventually I made it but it makes me wonder if I will be able to do the same work next year.
 I ate the last runner beans on the last day of October, not bad since I started to eat them in late June. Now I have a few leeks, my carrots and some cabbage so this means I will be buying some vegetables during the late winter into Spring, this is normal for me as I don't freeze my vegetables, well only broad beans as the other vegetables don't freeze well.
 By the looks of it, I will be picking the odd tomato for another 2 or 3 weeks. Will be well satisfied if this is so.
 Like a fool, I bought another Victoria plum tree and another gooseberry bush, recent years have not been productive with the gooseberries.
 Today has been different again to yesterday very foggy and a lot cooler. I had my first delivery of the winter of LPG. The local supplier has been taken over by Calor, I don't suppose that the price will fall even if all other fuels have dropped in price. More soon.

Visitors

The last couple of days I had visitors and to be honest I was too tired to write on my blog.
 prior to that the young man from next door told me a few days earlier that he was busy for the next week, including going to see his Mother who was on holiday in Mablethorpe and that was on Tuesday. With that news I decided to get on with the work in the garden. I managed to take the top completely off the fruit cage, I took up the runner beans leaving just one on so that the seeds would ripen. I took the broad beans and peas out of the polytunnel. tidied up in there and in general had a good clean up.
 These last few days have been taken up, when not entertaining my friends, collecting the fallen leaves from the trees. I now have a bin bag almost full to the top and expect to pick up some more.
 The other day I went online and ordered a gooseberry bush and a Victoria plum tree. They arrived this lunchtime and after eating I planted them. I had dug the holes a couple of days earlier so the preparation had been done.

This is I am certain the last cucumber from the plant my mate gave me, it actually was 16.5" long. Funnily enough I am not too fond of cucumbers and have the occasional one in the summer months. I never buy a cucumber. The neighbours have the benefit of  the produce but I still like growing them all the same.                    

Recently the weather, although being mild has taken a turn for we have had plenty of rain lately. I suppose we must be grateful that it isn't the white stuff. Roll on Spring next year. More soon.             

Autumn clean up.

Yesterday afternoon I was out the front doing a little to my driveway when I heard my name called. It was the lady next door who looks after the young lad. She asked me to tell him that she had to go out. I told her I would also I had a plant for his little garden. It is a geum that I have split up because it has grown quite large.
  I didn't have to wait long and when I saw him I gestured for him to come to me. I gave him the message and told him to wait there whilst I gave him the plant. I asked him if he had the trowel and he told me he had not so I went to get mine, at the same time I picked the last raspberries and blackberries which he quickly devoured.
 We went round and I planted the geum, he showed me the greenhouse, I had sprayed the surrounds with glyphosate and it had done the trick.
  He then told me that there were no eggs and as soon as there were he would bring me a couple round. Mind you I don't know when that will be because he told me that on Saturday they all were going out and next Tuesday, his rest day, his Mum is going to Mablethorpe and he would go to see her. Then soon after he was going to go to Lincoln for his Sister's engagement or Wedding. I couldn't remember which.
 So this morning I decided to get some work done, some that I had been saving for him to assist me.
 I first picked the remaining runner beans  and dug up several plants, leaving about 3 so that the runner beans I had missed the seeds would ripen so that I could plant them next year.
It was cold and my hands were frozen, I checked the temperature and it was just 7c. no wonder my hands were cold.
 A little later I started to take the top off the fruit cage, The first thing was to undo the sides and unhook the edge facing the boundary. That was easy enough and after a cuppa I decided to move the netting to the other side. I had to negotiate it over the fruit trees but I managed it O.K.
  After my dinner(lunch to the posh)I thought I would remove the netting completely as it was not quite large enough so I had to add a little so that it covered the complete length. It is 18 paces long so quite a long way to cover completely. I have checked another length of netting and that is more than adequate to do the job next year.
 It surprised me just how easy it was and it only took about 20 minutes to take it and wrap it up. Now it is in a bird seed bag and ready for next year to cover up the apples. More soon.

I.m losing it

I was well pleased with what I picked out of the greenhouse the other day. The cucumber is well over 15" long and I do have another large one on the plant. The tomatoes are not what I can call as in I guess April I went to the local Supermarket and they had, on offer a vine tomato which came from Holland. It was my late Mother who told me years ago that tomatoes from Holland early in the year were better than any other tomato. This I found to be true. Anyway I ate the first one which was very tasty so I decided to save a couple of seeds. These I planted in May and although they were well behind my own tomatoes one plant in particular looked good.
 As you can see, the tomatoes are a little larger than gardener's Delight and just about as sweet. I must say the other plant hasn't produced much. I guess they were set just a little late.
 Now to me, I don't know if I mentioned it but a couple of weeks ago after having my regular blood test I went to the local Newsagents to pick up my weekly T.V. paper. I was about to leave when someone called out my name. It was an old colleague who I met playing golf. In fact I was drawn with him the first competition I entered. We always got on well together, we both being more or less the same age, incidentally he had been a member of the Golf Club for well over 40 years. We got talking about the old times and he told me that he has tried to play but he couldn't swing. I knew he was not 100% as I had seen him at the Hospital while I was queuing up to make a further appointment in the Outpatients department. I felt someone touch my hand and it was him. Although he was not there for himself, he had bought someone for an appointment he told me that his condition was not good and there was nothing they could do for him and pointed to his groin. I surmised that he had prostate cancer area.
 He did tell me that he had been given some good news from his Consultant as he was informed his condition had not progressed. I told him this was great news.
 He then gave me the latest news including some old golfers passing away. He was explaining that he used to see my old golfing partner who I played competitions with, only because my best Pal didn't want to play. Anyway he told me that he used to see him playing with his mate but since his mate had gone he hadn't seen him lately. I, like an idiot asked him where his mate had gone to? He replied he had died about 5 months ago. He then went on to say he had just birdied the 10th. He carried on saying that he had just got his ball out of the bunker and as he tried to get out staggered and collapsed. He told me the paramedics could do nothing for him. I suggested it was a heart attack but he told me it was a like a stroke.
  I did tell him that it was a nice way to go, playing the game he loved and no lingering pain at all.
 I wonder what he thought when I asked him where he had gone to?
 Now to my mate, we were talking over the phone when he told me he had been to Aldi in Boston, Lidl in Skegness is closed for enlargement. He told me ha had bought some bread flour as Morrison's in Skegness had Allinson's strong flour but it was expensive. He then said that Morrison'shad dropped their own flour. Once more like a fool I asked him what they had dropped it to? He then remarked that they had discontinued the line.
 Soon after finishing the conversation I sat down and howled with laughter just thinking what folks would make of my simple thoughts and remarks. Nothing I can do about it I suppose. More soon.

I have failures

Mind you this is not one of them. This is all that is left of the bonfire I had. I was very pleased the way it got rid of all of the rubbish.
                                      
These are, believe it or not broad beans, to say I was a little disappointed would be an understatement. All I can think of is that I set them a little too late in the year. To be positive though I did have a couple of meals off them.

      

This is the biggest failure because I thought I had set them in good time to have a taste of peas in October but no such luck. As you can see they look poor. I didn't even take any photos of my runner beans. To be honest I thought I had set them a couple of weeks later than I should have done and certainly there will be nothing as there are no flowers on the beans at all. Still I will hopefully learn from my errors. Whether I will I am not sure as now things seem to go in one ear and out of the other.                                                             

I have had trouble once again with my blog, well not exactly with the blog but the way I get into it. I thought I had won the battle by saving it on Chrome in my favourites  but it was not so. After failing to upload my photos I then went on to Chrome and typed my blog, incidentally I noticed that it has saved it so from now it should be easier. I do have to enter my e-mail and  password but once that has happened all is well. Can't wait to see my mate to see if he has an easier way to access my blog and post photos. More soon.

Success

Yesterday I spent ages trying to upload photos to my blog without any joy. I tried everything including what me mate had shown me. Anyway I was baffled. It was just like what he had encountered when we first tried to post pictures. He spent about 2 hours trying to find things on this new Windows 10. In the finish I asked him to go to google and ask how to upload photos. IT informed that you must use Google Chrome so we did and joy of joys it worked.
I must admit that I use a shortcut on my desk top and naturally thought with having Chrome now as my search engine that would suffice.
 Anyway I decided to pack it in around 8.00 pm. having spent a few hours trying to fathom out how to upload photos.
 This morning I went for my pension and after did my shopping, it was when I returned and was putting my shopping away I thought about how I had accessed my blog. After doing my chores I went online once more and through Google Chrome I gained access to my blog and as you can see I have been successful.
 The photos don't mean a lot but it shows the progress of my rubbish to be burned and how it burnt nicely. In fact I do have a last photo which I will post which shows the ashes or what is left of them. More soon.

Don't hol your breath

Well at least with the help, well with all of his expertise of my mate we have managed to post some pictures.
 The first shows a few cooking apples Bramley in fact and I am pleased with how they turned out and hopefully they will keep until the Spring next year. Of course I will keep all informed.
 The next two show just how my next door neighbour has done with the fences, incidentally he has made the panels himself. The young lad from next door is impressed as it makes us more private.
 The last photo shows some of my hazel nuts which I gathered from mt tree. They don't keep that long but as young Tim loves them, they won't last that long.
 This morning I went to collect my domestic waste bin and noticed that there had been a small spillage so a little later I went to swill and clean the bin. I heard a call and it was from the lad next door he asked if I would help him and I did help him for about 20 minutes then went back to wait for my mate.
 It was nice to see him but we had a sort of mediocre day with very little progress being made. He wasn't happy with the pictures situation but we found out what to do when I suggested we go to google and ask. There we found someone else had the same trouble we had and informed us that we must use google chrome.
 It is not straight forward as I have to use my SD card  and copy and paste. Whether I remember all I have to do, only time will tell.
 Incidentally I presume it will not be too long before he is here again as we forgot to make sure he took a marrow back, I also had the dripping ready too, still I put the marrow in the garage for him.
 Soon after he left the lad from next door came to see me, we immediately went to the polytunnel and picked a ripe strawberry, it looked really nice. I wish now I had taken a photo of it. Tim also picked quite a few alpine strawberries which he soon devoured. Off then we went to look at his runner beans which are doing far better than mine but the recent rain has given me some hope that I may get a few more meals off them. Off we went into the greenhouse where I picked a few plum tomatoes for him then to the fruit cage to look at his runner beans and then I told him to check the blackberries which he said were juicy, I found him a few raspberries which he said went down well.
 I took him to show what I had done and how large the bonfire would be. Then back inside. I asked him if he would like a few hazel nuts, sill of me really as he never says no. Anyway I cracked him about 2 dozen nuts which he peeled and put them in a bag. I gave him a few eating apples which he told me would go into his lunch box tomorrow. I also put his plum tomatoes in a bag and off he went home saying he would call tomorrow to get more runner beans If all goes well he will get enough beans with what has already been picked to have a meal for them at the week end. More soon.

Pigeon compost

Friday afternoon the door bell rang, it was the young Man from next door letting me know that he was home once more. He told me that he enjoyed his holiday and that he had his own bedroom with plenty of coffee as the room service kept him topped up.
 Saturday he came round with a couple of barrow loads of pigeon manure. I showed him where to put it whilst I get the raised beds emptied of what produce is left. Once it is clear I will sprinkle it and dig it in. Leaving it to winter so that next year hopefully it will be well rotted.
 On Sunday, I wondered if the lad would call but he didn't. I had not waited just in case he came but went out and with the weather being so dry for a couple of weeks I decided to take the netting off the fruit trees. The size is considerable I guess 40feet long and about 9 feet wide but with it being nice and dry it was not as difficult as I had expected.
 I did pick most of the eating apples off the Sunset tree and gave the Guy next door about 50 apples, although a little small they are tasty. I picked the remainder of the cooking apples where I put some in the fridge and the remainder in the garage with all the other eating apples. I have at least 200 eating apples, mind you a lot will not keep until March next year but at least they look much healthier than the ones last year, none of which kept.
 Tomorrow my Mate will be here, let us hope that he can sort out Windows10 for me. The main thing is getting my photos from my camera to my computer then from my computer to my blog.
 Tomorrow is once again forecast to be wet so he will have plenty of time to play on the computer, not that I have any jobs for him to do. More soon.

No photos

Yesterday I picked up a few more eating apples and noticed that the odd Bramley had fallen so I decided to pick a few up. Some were quite large although not as many as in years gone by but at least they seem to be healthy, certainly much better than in previous years.
 My Best Pal rung up this morning saying he would call if convenient so off I went once more to pick a few more eating apples for the two of them. I don't know if I mentioned this but his Daughter bred a lavender and last winter with the weather being so wet, all of their plants died. Luckily enough I had a couple that had just survived but to be honest they looked very poor. I managed to get a few cuttings off them and sow them and I honestly think some will survive.
 Oh dear, I have just has a short power cut which turned off everything, what makes it worse is that I was writing this blog. It took quite a while for it to go back to my original page. The Television was also affected and it takes about 5 minutes for it to work again.
 I gave my Pal a few Bramley apples with the eating apples plus some Scabious plants which the bees and goldfinch love.
 My next door neighbour has done another fence panel making it 5 in all and to be candid, they look very nice. I am sure that it will be sufficient for now.
 The young Man from next door is on holiday at the South East coast so has missed my Pal. He has asked me several times when he would be calling. When I eventually told him that it would probably be the end of September, he seemed to be a little disappointed but I did tell him that he would probably be here again in October. More soon.

At last

AT last I have Windows 10, how long I keep it is a matter of conjection as I have found many things I just can't do which I could on Windows 8.1
 I fist tried to download some photos which I could not do so I took my SD card out and entered it in the computer. I managed to get them on my computer but the big problem was that when I put my SD card back into my camera a message came up that I could not use the card.
 Oh well! I thought at least I had the phots on my computer but when I tried to upload them on to this blog, it did the normal things and when I pushed the add button nothing happened and I tried to close the programme, also delete the programme and the only way I could get out of the mess was to go back to my blog.
 I found that I had started my blog but there was no photos on at all. I tried this twice so I will wait to see if my mate can sort it out. IF not I shall revert back to Windows 8.1
 Mind you it was not easy getting Windows 10 on my computer. I know that I have a slow download speed but I started on Friday evening and stopped the preparing to download after a couple of hours.
 Saturday morning I turned on and it continued. It was 11.07 when it finished preparing so started to download. It eventually finished downloading some time after 7 20pm. I was asked if I wished to continue or schedule a time to continue so I did this.
 First thing Saturday it started to install Windows 10 and eventually this was completed soon after Noon. It took me several hours to find out where things were but this has disappointed me. First my SD card is now I presume corrupt and although my photos are on my computer I can not manage to upload them to my blog. The photos were of the next door neighbours fitting of a few fencing panels. I will have to see what happens next.
 Mr. K.E. I think you are 100% correct with your comment. Let us hope I can still write the odd notes here. More perhaps.

I was right

I saw the lad from next door yesterday and he confirmed that I would not be looking after the chickens next week. Incidentally the Lady of the home who is the carer called to give me some fresh yeast and she confirmed that her Son would be staying there while they were away on holiday.
 Yesterday morning the doorbell rang, I went to open the interior door when I noticed a vehicle on my drive. I was a little surprised as I have my gates closed but I went to the main front door and was pleasantly surprised to see Calor's Service Engineer Lee waiting to come in and service my Central Heating boiler. I told him he was lucky to catch me in because Calor had not given me a date of when the engineer would be calling. I told him what had happened and I also requested a free installation of a Carbon Monoxide alarm. Anyway I didn't have to move much and he is so nice and obliging and he got on with his work.
 He had asked me originally to inform the receptionist to instruct the engineer to bring with him a full Worcester service kit. I reminded him about it but he then told me he had been to Worcester on an update course and it wasn't necessary until the pressure on something dropped. He checked mine and it was fine. He did tell me that the 2 most popular installations were Glow Worm and Worcester, Glow Worm being a little cheaper so more popular, however he told me that they had increased the price so that there was next to no difference in costs and he recommends Worcester. He then told me why he did this, it was because he had NEVER had a Worcester boiler fail so far and had never had to go to repair one but he had to go a few times to Glow Worm. I asked him if he had a C.O. alarm and he told me he had. When he finished the service he went to his van and told me that I had the last one it is a good make Honeywell. He then told me where it should be fitted so I just told him to fit it where he liked. It looks perfect and it was free, mind you the service costs are enough. It took him about 90 minutes to complete his work. He had a call and I suggested that it would be another call out, he concurred and told me it was a long way away. He said he had to go to Grantham next. I just said it was 60 miles, well to be precise 58. He then entered it on his hand held and showed me it said 58.1 miles. He was impressed.
 Finally for now, I am beginning to download Windows 10 with the knowledge that my mate will be calling in the not too distant future so if all is not good he will probably uninstall it for me. more soon.
Latest. 7% of Windows 10 downloaded.

Marrow

 

Yesterday I had to go to the Dentist for my 6 monthly check, all was satisfactory but I did notice that the price had increased a little. I was a little early and sat next to an old guy and I just said good morning to him. After about 3 minutes he told me he was 74 and always had butterflies in his stomach when he came to a dentist. I started to tell him that this place was great when I was called in. By the time I left it was just about time for my appointment so I can't knock the system there.
 It turned out to be a dull rain at times day so I didn't do a lot but the young man from next door came and asked me if I would go round for a drink. So off we went but he told me that I would have to take my shoes off as she had just had a solid oak floor laid.
 I stayed for an hour or so and when the other 2 came in it was not good for me. They had for about a week or more an additional guy who was not great. All he wanted to do was watch the washing machine working. He would stand there for ages. Young Tim tried to show mw more of his Farm Simulator but with those 2 extra people around it was hard going. Eventually I made my excuses and before I left asked if they would like a little salad gear, with the answer being positive I reminded Tim to come round today to help me pick the produce. He did tell me something though, I may have lost my chicken duty as her Son, according to Tim will look after the chickens while they are away on holiday. My guess is that she will ask him to sleep there because she thought there was an intruder a couple of weeks ago and the Police were called. Anyway we will wait and see.
 This morning turned out to be sunny so I went and checked my produce, to my surprise I noticed the marrow which is pictured. I was so disappointed with the germination of the marrow and courgette plants that I had given up on having a marrow at all. This turned out to be a beauty, weighing in at almost 7 lb.
 The other photo is of the hedge which has been substantially reduced in size. Originally it was not to be but the guy had informed me as to what was happening and his plan was to dig down so far so that he could then fit the kick boards and cement in concrete post and then slide fence panels in. However when he tried to dig down deep enough he hit the roots of the shrubs so told me that he would have to remove them. together we reduced the size of the shrubs down to a size where he hopes his Step-Son will dig out the roots. He did tell me that after today he would not be doing anymore work until Monday next week at the earliest. I did tell him that it wouldn't bother me at all. To be honest I will be happy to see the back of the shrubs as I have to keep trimming them my side for they don't just grow one side. He did say that eventually he will get the complete side done. Heaven knows when that will be. More soon.

Fruit & Veg

 

  

Yesterday morning I went into the garden after heavy overnight rain and strong winds. Much to my surprise I noticed quite a number of apples had fallen off my Sunset eating apple tree so I thought I would see if they were ripe enough to pick. You do this by lifting the apple upwards against the way they hang and if they come off in your hand then they are ready. This happened to be so. I then decided to get a bucket and start to pick some apples. The photos show how many I picked and how many are still on the tree. I must admit though that they are a little on the small side but after the last 2 years I am happy. I did manage to pick over 200 apples. I then went into the garage and put them on racks to hopefully store them for later in the winter. I didn't realise just how tired I felt and was too tired to write on my

 blog so today I have made a big effort to rectify that.                                 

With the weather turning cooler, incidentally yesterday morning was very cool, I decided to check on my marrow and courgettes. I do have 1 marrow on my plant but have managed 2 courgettes, this one is by far the best. The colour is what I would expect, the other courgette is more of a yellow plant, one would expect the looks to think that they were old. This marrow, for that is what I will call it weighed just 5lb. most welcome indeed.

I showed the young man his photo which I posted on my blog, he was impressed and said it was a very good photo. A lot of luck in my case.

 I am still getting a few runner beans but I think it will be an early Autumn this year.  More soon                                                                           

Not a lot

 

The first photo shows the young man with his onion, also in his right hand is a cucumber which I gave to the Postman today, more on that in a minute.
 The second photo is of a cucumber which my mate must have all the credit due to him as he did save the seeds from a cucumber I gave him last year. Although they were a decent size, nothing like the ones that have been produced this year. My mate had one 20" long and the one photographed is around 18" long. I think we were both surprised at the size and length of these cucumbers.
 Now more about the cucumber I gave to the Postman.
 I saw him going to deliver mail to next door so I went to my fridge and got out the cucumber that had been there. I thought I would let him have it to see if he liked the taste as he had asked me if my mate would give him a plant next year. While we were talking a small van pulled up and this middle aged gentleman got out and asked the Postman where he could get something to which the Postman told him he had passed the place where he should have turned off. Now what happened next is something I didn't hear or notice. All of a sudden the van man let out an expletive and I saw him pick something up from the roadside. He then said. "Look at that lorry, he has just knocked off my wing mirror". The Postman told him that he thought he had heard a noise and suggested that he go after the lorry and confront the driver. If anyone had asked me what had happened I could not help them at all. I may has well been blind and deaf as I didn't even notice what sort of vehicle knocked off his wing mirror to be  honest I didn't notice any vehicle and as for the noise I heard nothing.
 Finally as we parted the Postman said to me that we had saw and heard nothing at all. Perfectly true in my case.
 I wonder whether I'm going a little senile? I definitely live in a world of my own.
 Finally for now, the weather lately has been dull, wet, windy and cool. Not good for my runner beans, but I must not grumble as they have served me well, they did produce enough for me to make some runner bean chutney the other day which I gave a jar to the young man and his carer. More soon.

Chain saw

The other day I looked out of my window and noticed that some more of the hedge at the rear of the garden had been cot down. I had asked my neighbour who had a chain saw if he could cut a couple of thick branches down for me. Not only did he cut them down he also cut a few more down. Unfortunately the neighbour the other side complained so we decided to stop.
 The next morning the neighbours Son came to complain but after we discussed it for a while he left reasonably happy but requested that I do not have any more branches removed. I did remind him that he was now responsible for the upkeep of the ditch which I think is called a watercourse on the title deeds.
 This morning I saw the neighbour who started it all, I just bid him good morning. He was different again and when I explained all he told me that he had sorted it all with his Son and that all was fine. I did inform him that as I had originally planted the Hawthorn trees as small saplings, I felt somewhat responsible for any blockage that may occur because of the amount of falling leaves in the Autumn. I did tell him though that nobody but I had done anything to keep the ditch clear, it was now up to them to make sure that it was kept free. He agreed with me and we parted as we usually do with a friendly retort to each other.

 

These 2 photos show the difference between what was done before the chain saw activity and after. He also wants to cut some of his trees down but informs me that until he has a bonfire he will not have sufficient room to put the branches on top of the huge pile ready to burn. More soon. 

New ISP.

Yesterday I had a man from my new ISP contact me early and again late in the day. At one stage he asked me to turn on my computer. When I turned  it on the pop up invited me to install Windows 10 so I just mentioned it to him and then he told me that he had installed Windows 10 but had gone back to Windows 8. I was somewhat bemused until he gave me the reason why he had gone back to his original Windows. He told me that he had several games on Windows 8 and they were not compatible with Windows 10 and that was the reason why he had done it. He then informed me that one had a month to decide if Windows 10 was for you. After the 30 days if you hadn't gone back to your old Windows then you had to keep Windows 10.
 As for me and the new ISP  although things are not 100% I told him that we would keep the issue open and if ever I decided to open it then I could. He was so helpful, first telling me that he was going on Holiday as soon as we finished conversing and secondly giving me his full name and his personal e-mail address. I certainly can't fault them at all.

 

 

 

The photos above show just how much my young assistant and I cut down on Saturday. He was a great help but stamina wise he kept saying he wanted to rest a minute. I did though very much appreciate his help and we both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The weather was kind to us, far better than this week. On Sunday it was reasonable till late but Monday was a complete washout. Now it has turned much colder with heavy rain forecast later and to be honest it looks as if the forecast will be correct. More soon.