Flying Scotsman

It has all been about The Flying Scotsman today. Had I been living in Grantham, even I might have gone to see it pass through the main line Station.
 The first time I saw it was in 1952, it was based at Grantham and was in the old Garter Blue livery but it wasn't long before it was whisked off to Doncaster Plant for a complete overhaul.  The base at that time was 35B but by the time I was back from my National Service it had altered to 34F. All steam engines went to have an overhaul about every 2 years.
 What was unusual about the name was that it was one of about 80 A3 steam engines and every other A3 had been named after well known race horses of that era, that was in the late 20s.
 Flying Scotsman was on show at some Empire Show around 1923 in Wembley as of that time without a name. Someone suggested that it be named after the London, King's Cross to Edinburgh train which was called The Flying Scotsman. It left each weekday morning at 10.00am. The only stopping places were Grantham, Newcastle and Edinburgh. The main reason for stopping at Grantham was to change steam engines, likewise at Newcastle. It was nice to see it passing through Grantham today on the T.V.
 I have just about finished my potatoes that I had collected and saved in the Autumn, my mate bought me half a bag from Morrison's and I expect to be using them some time next week.
 My daffodils are now in bud, well some of them anyway so I guess we are about 2 weeks ahead in this area.
 I am just about recovered from my bout of sickness, as one gets older it seems to take a lot longer to shake off these bugs. Let us hope we do not get another for a long time. More soon.

Nasty bug

On Friday I was busy doing a few things such as hoovering, cleaning the car and unusual for me getting the pastry ready for Saturday for the young man from next door. He wanted Steak pie.
 Just as well I did for in the evening I began to feel unwell, so much so that  I went to bed early, not that it made any difference. I really felt unwell. Things came to a head early Saturday morning, at 4.50am. to be precise I felt as though I ws going to be sick. Unfortunately for me, things happened so quickly and although I managed to get to my sink with my vomit it was the other end that I couldn't control. The mess was huge and to cap it all I had cramp in both of my shins and moving was not easy.
 It took me about a hour to clean up but eventually went back to bed only to stay awake and feel under the weather.
 I got up soon after 7.30am. but once more was sick and this time managed to get to the toilet in time. I couldn't disappoint the lad from next door so I did a little at a time. It took me ages to do the simplest of tasks but eventually had all prepared for when he arrived.
 I told him I was not too good, he then told me that his Carer and her Husband had the same bug and had been sick. I told him he was in charge of the drinks, this he felt important which he was.
 I managed to cook dinner which I had next to nothing but he enjoyed it. He offered to do the pots for me but I told him that he would do the drinks.
 I sat on the settee whilst he bought the coffee in, we watched T.V. but I was not a good host. Around 3.00pm. he went home and to be honest I was thankful of that.
 Sunday was not a good day either but I felt that I was showing a little improvement. Yesterday I felt a little better but was going to bed around 9.30pm. Anyway I went to catch the lad coming home from work to give him some things  but as soon as I saw him I could tell he was not well. As the Carer was picking up her Granddaughter I immediately told him to go into the T.V. room and sit on the settee. I asked if he wished a coffee he said he would like one but he had stomach ache. I rested and soon told me he felt better. Anyway after a while he went home as the Carer was back.
 This morning I called to see if he was O.K but his Carer informed me he had been sick, all she had given him was some toast and water. I popped in to see him and he was feeling much better. As I told his Carer the older one was the longer it seemed to take to shake off these bugs.
 It just shows how I have been. When I turned on my computer I saw a warning that I was prone to an attack as I hadn't updated my security for the last 3 days so I have managed to update all so once more I am secure. Let us hope I am soon back to some sort of normality. More soon, I hope.

New light

 

 

My mate called yesterday and with the weather staying fine for the morning fitted the replacement night light. As you can see it is well fitted and nice and neat. He asked me if I wished to have it fixed to the PVC but I said no. He then reminded me that it must be about 10 years since we dismantled the old guttering etc. and fitted this white PVC. He did 90% of the work, I was just his labourer. He did everything right even to taking the wooden fascia and replacing it with the proper PVC. He told me that most fitters of the complete PVC including the guttering and down pipes fitted the plastic on to the existing wood.
 I took these photos, not very good I might add to show that they are just as good as they were the day we fitted the whole system. I clean them once a year and I am very happy because he made a great job.
 I was watching TV this afternoon when the door bell rang. It was the young man from next door. He noticed the light fitting, he also came to say he would be round early on Saturday. He then told me he had run out of coffee so naturally I gave him half a jar. He picked the dish which he wanted his Blackberry and Apple crumble, so at least that is sorted. He told me he was looking forward to having his Steak Pie plus his pudding. More soon.

Bank Manager

I was daydreaming when this came to me.
  It was of course many years ago, I guess over 40 years. I used to employ a few youngsters when I was in catering. This young lad was a pleasant fella and one day I asked him what his Father did for a living. He just said he worked in the Bank. I never gave it another thought.
 It must have been a couple of years later I had cause to make an appointment to see the bank Manager. When I walked into his office he shook my hand and asked me to call him by his Christian name. I, of course told him to call me by my Christian name. He then told me that his Son had worked for me for a couple of seasons and had enjoyed it a lot. I then realised who he was talking about and related the message that his Son had only told me that his Father had worked in a Bank.
 For the first and only time I might add. I was offered and accepted a glass of sherry which went down very well.
 I still find it hard that the lad didn't tell me he was a Bank Manager. By the way I am still at the same Bank although it has moved and of course amalgamated.
 Yesterday I finished the last of my tomatoes grown  last year. They were very nice, I am well pleased that they lasted so log. It is definitely the longest they have lasted. I always aim to have my last taste of tomatoes that I have grown in January.
 This week I have a couple of guests. On Wednesday my mate will call, hopefully to fit another security light depending on the weather. On Saturday the young man from next door will have his steak pie and blackberry and apple crumble.
 With the weather turning colder and also wet and windy, I hope the weather will relent a little on Wednesday. We will see. More soon.

Other things

I have had other things on my mind lately so have not concentrated on my blog at all. This is an ongoing thing so will try to write a little as and when I can.
 I did a little cleaning of my block paving in the front of my home and noticed that the daffodils are just coming into bud, I guess they will be in flower within the next week meaning that mine over here are about 2 weeks ahead of the normal flowering time.

I have just been outside to take a couple of photos of my snowdrops and as you can see, they are coming into flower about the  normal time of year for flowering. The ground though is very wet and the young man from next door asked when we would start gardening once more. I suggested to him that to begin with, he could set a few shallots in his little garden in March but I hoped to transplant those broad beans that have germinated into my garden in about 2 weeks time. He also asked me when he could come for a meal again. I suggested that it would be about February 20th. He has already asked if he could have steak pie followed by blackberry and apple crumble as it looks as if that date is now fixed although he will have to confirm this with his carer just in case she has something else planned. More soon.

Call from Surgery

Yesterday I had a call from the surgery, I sighed when the receptionist told me this. I told her that I stayed away from those sort of places. She told me did the same. I then reminded her that she worked there. She then informed me that I was due for a blood test. I told her that it was not due until March. She insisted that it was due now so I asked her to explain. It then transpired that this blood test was for my Diabetes and not for the Hospital. I then suggested that to save money I could have 1 blood test in early March. Surprisingly enough she agreed. I then told her that I would go down in Late February to make an appointment for early March. I was surprised when she told me she could book a blood test now for early March. This was done and so I go to the local Surgery in early March.
 Today the man came to take my car for a partial service and MOT. He told me he would come back early so that we could talk of steam engines. We had a wide range of topics so much so that he left just before 6.00pm. but I really enjoyed it.
 Now to my garden. I have just about eaten my carrots, I have eaten my apples but mustn't grumble as it was the end of January before I ran out. I had the last of the leeks today but do have a few cabbages left. On a happier note, at last the broad beans are beginning to show some sort of life. At least half of them are growing but it will be some time before I set them out in the garden.
 By the way, on Sunday I will be going to see where the Man who does the servicing of the car. He lives near Skegness.  More soon.

Scooter

Yesterday as it was nice and mild I went out to do a little cleaning of my driveway. It was while I was cleaning the bus that the lad from next door brings him home stopped outside mine so he came in to see me. I asked him if his Carere was home and he told me she was not so we went out to see if we had any Alpine strawberries left in the polytunnel. To my surprise there were about 4 so I gave him them to eat. We then went back inside and I showed him the tomato plants that we sown about 3 weeks ago. I had potted them on as they had grown leggy but he was impressed with how they were looking. He then suggested that we go and look at the Pear tree that I had planted, he also wished me to see his garden which the plants had taken well. He then took me to see the chickens, there is just 4 left and I told him that if I had known I would have taken some of my bird seed to spoil them. We walked round the front and he noticed that his Carer had returned. Before I left he did tell me that he might bring his scooter for me to take photos of which he did this afternoon. He wanted me to take a couple of photos of him riding it. Unfortunately he hasn't been able to use it since he bought it so he thoroughly enjoyed his play on my drive. No doubt he will be round before too long to see the photos I have taken. More soon.