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.