Massive

These last few days the runner beans and this marrow have grown. I am now getting plenty of runner beans but my marrows have been somewhat disappointing, not that this photo shows because it is probably the largest marrow I have ever grown. It weighs more than a stone.more than 14lbs and is almost 24" long. What is most disappointing is that I have had a few but unfortunately they came all at once so I left this one on but I could not leave it to grow any longer because it would start to get a little old.
 My tomatoes are also doing well and I have just today I have taken down my shading this will help with the ripening process. I put it up in late May just to keep the temperature at a reasonable heat if not the heat becomes too hot.
 I watered my runner beans the other day and they have responded by giving me an abundance of beans. The carrots in the polytunnel are progressing nicely and the Early Laxton plums have been good although not too plentiful. I have made some jam froze a few and had them  for my dinner and tea for about 3 weeks but now I only have enough left for about a week. Then it will be apples. My Bramley apples are not so good this year and I will only have enough to last me until Christmas. The  James Grieve apples have been large and the Lad loves them, one or two have dropped off but the majority are just about ready. The next ones to ripen will be Sunset, again the odd one has dropped off those that have been attacked but as I have thinned them down more this year, the apples are larger than last year. They are ready in about 3 weeks time. The last ones to ripen will be Braeburn. They will not be ready for at least another month. All in all, it will save me several weeks buying at the Supermarket. To be candid I should be self sufficient until well after Christmas.
 Finally I have decided not to grow any more cucumbers because I am fed up with the amount of cucumbers I have collected. I have had well over 20 fruits off the plant and today I gave next door another cucumber, a couple of days ago I picked one for myself. Just now I have noticed there are another 2 more or less ready and several small ones growing. As I don't eat salads growing cucumbers is not for me so I will give my mate the remaining seeds and next year if I want one all I will do is ask him and I am sure he will give me one. More soon.

!st. Class Service

Today I had to go first to the surgery at 11.10.am. then off to the Dentist at 12.10.am. I decided to get at the surgey early just in case there was a cancellation but when I arrived at reception a Man was there, obviously in some sort of bother because he was there for well over 5 minutes discussing his problems. Eventually anothe receptionist came to the next window and asked if she could help. I told her my name and also told her the Nurse I was booked in to see and then asked if the nurse was running late because I had another appointment in Mablethorpe within the hour and it was about 8 miles away. She then checked and told me that I was next.
 I waited no more than a minute or dso when the Nurse called me in. Immediately she said it was ages since she had last seen me and she was about to come out to see if I was waiting to book in when she had notice that I had arrived. We passed pleasantries and I asked her if she had the day off yesterday as it was   a Bank Holiday, she told me the Surgery was closed so she had a nice walk along the sea front and thoroughly enjoyed her day off. I suggested that she took the blood first which she readily agreed. It didn't take long then she asked me to take my top off for I was having an ECG. She put the sensors on and went back to her computer and asked me to relax. I was told that the ECG and blood test would take 22 minutes but it was completed in less than 10 minutes.
 She showed me the message that the Receptionist had originally written in BOLD letters noting that I had another appointment in Mablethorpe within the hour. The Nurse then informed me that the whole examination had taken less than 10 minutes.
 She informed me that as far as she was concerned all was normal but the Doctor had ordered several tests including B12 Ferritin Kidneys, Heart and some more which I forget. She told me that the Doctor was on holiday at the moment so she would send the results to another Doctor. I let her know that I would prefer to see the Lady Doctor as she was so young and bubbly. With that the Nurse told me that she was jealous of her because she looked so young and slim which indeed she does. Anyway I thanked her but before I left she did book me in to see the Lady Doctor next month then it was on my way.
 As I had been early I decided to get my State Pension, I also called at the local  warehouse more or less to kill time then it was off to the Dentist.
 I couldn't understand why there were so many folks seated where we wait for the assistant to call one in for the appointment with the Dentist. I soon found out however why there were so many folks there. What they were doing was those people with Diabetes were having their eyes examined so most of them had someone with them but it wasn't too long before I was called in.
 It was the final fitting and the Dentist asked me if I was happy with the feel and looks of the dentures and informed me that next time would be the final time and I would be asked to pay for the dentures which I did understand. I did ask her if I could change the inspection from December to March next year as I would have the final fitting in September, she readily agreed and told me to have a word with the receptionist and told me she was looking forward to seeing me soon.
 At reception I asked if I could cancel my December appointment and book another appoitment in March next year. She did that straight away and printed it out for me. So I go in about 2 weeks time to have my new dentures let us hope these are alright. More soon.

Eyes Photographed

Yesterday at the appointed time I arrived at the Surgery car park where the Van is positioned for patients to call. As I walked to the Van I was surprised to see another Lady enter it only holds up to 4 people for they work on a strict basis of time.
 As I entered there were 3 other people there but shortly after one Lady was called in to examination part, she was in there about 5 minutes which is unusually long for it takes about a minute or so to photograph your eyes. She came out saying that the system was not working but I was immediately called in. I first had an eye test then drops were put into the pupils. They are a lot better now for they only sting for a few seconds. I was then told to wait in the waiting area. I heard him talking on his mobile and after about 10 minutes the Lady was called in  and soon after she left saying that the computer was working again.
 Then it was my turn, the Man, incidentally who was very pleasant apologised for the delay and then explained he had replaced some programme and all was now back to normal. I was only in for about 2 minutes maximum and that it was then all over.
 The trouble is that when you have drops put in your eyes it makes your vision sort of out of focus, this lasts for about 3 hours so when I came back home I decided to make some plum jam. I made a fraction over 3lb. and used a little over 1.1/2 lbs. of sugar so all in all it cost me less than 50p a lb. I can't understand why other people don't grow some fruit bushes if it is only an eating apple. They don't grow too large and after a couple of years they will crop fairly well and each year after they get heavier cropping. With my apple trees I will save at least £1.50p each week on the cost of apples and of course they are fresher as you pick them off when they ripen. I should not buy any eating apples until way after Christmas.
 A few days ago I ordered some more bird seed and as they were dispatched a couple of days ago I began to wonder just where the order had gone to. I was lucky for I went outside my front and noticed a guy taking some boxes next door, I couldn't see exactly who the delivery van belonged to as my Lilac trees blocked the view so I went to the edge of my driveway and noticed it was Yodel, the delivery I should have so as the guy got into the van I shouted to him if he had anything for me. He looked and realised that he had delivered to the wrong property. He apologised profusely but I noticed that he had a foreign accent. Anyway I have managed to get my bird seed.
 The lad came round to see if I had a cucumber for them so we went to see if I had one ready, I had one a little small, to be honest it wanted about 2 or 3 days longer. The lad whilst we were looking in the greenhouse told me that on Monday he was having te day off. August Bank Holiday already? Where has the summer months gone? As one gets older the years seem to go by at a gallop. I wonder how many at my age are making their own bread and producing jam. More soon.

More produce

As you can see I have had a glut of marrows, the trouble is that they have all come more or less at the same time. I did mention it earlier that the small marrows were rotting off due to the very damp weather. Now I can see that there is one more on the plants and that will be that so I am a little disappointed but at least I have had several marrows on which I thought I would not get any.

The other photo is of my plums. they are called Early Laxton and are very nice indeed. To be honest I have never seen any other plums of that name. I keep trying to think just where I bought the the young tree, I think it was from Morrison's because they used to sell young trees a few years ago. Mind you this is at least 12 years old and it is severely pruned regular but I have to be careful because with Plum Trees they are only to be summer pruned and if too much they will perish.

 I gave next door some of my larger onions and a marrow, I also picked yet another cucumber which he was impressed at the size, I cutit off the plant and it was still warm when I gave the bundle to him.

Tomorrw I go to the Surgery not in the surgery but there is a Van which is there for Diabetic eye tests. Well not tests as such but they put drops in to make your pupils enlarge, you then have to read just like an eye test and after that they photo your eyes. With the drops it makes your  vision a bit blurred for several hours so I will not be looking forward to the process. Thank goodness it is only once a year that it happens unless they find problems. More soon.

Bird in trouble

I was out in the orchard part of the garden when I wa startled by a fluttering, I looked and noticed a juvenile great tit hanging on my netting which is protecting my apples. It was obviously caught up in the netting. Naturally as soon as I went to get hold of the bird to free it the bird began to flutter.
 I eventually caught and somewhat subdued the bird but found that it had been fluttering and trying to escape that it had really got entangled. I tried without any success but the bird started to get agitated and bit me, it didn't draw blood but it was a sharp nip. I decided to leave the bird and go to get a pair of scissors to cut the netting from the bird. So off I went with the bird dangling and fetched a pair of scissors. naturally the bird once more stated to peck me but ignoring the bird I eventually managed to cut the netting clear altyhough it did take some time. As soon as I had cut the netting I opened my hand and away the bird flew. So hopefully it will be none the worse for the experience.

I picked this marrow this morning for tne neighbour, the lad came round this afternoon to take it round and I also told her that there would be some runner beans for her this week end. The marrow weighed just 5lb. it is plenty big enough as far as I am concerned. Unfortunately my mate who loves marrow will almost certainly not be here this week. I have a fairly large one which I had him in mind. The onions which I have not grown before as sets have done well but I did have a few rot off due to the bad weather we have had.  They weigh just over 1lb. to just under 12onz. To be honest those large onions, and I do have several much larger than the ones I have shown, are a little too large for my liking for I live alone and a large onion of about 24 onz. takes a lot of using. More soon. 

Feet

Today I had an appointment with the Podiatrist in Mablethorpe. I was a little early and the lass was a few minutes late but she was nice and told me her name was Hannah.
 She was thorough and started with checking what sort of pulse I had in both my feet and ankles. She mentioned that it was a strong pulse for my age. Next she checked the sensitivity of my feet. Fist using a thin piece of metal looking although not metal. she did say to me that it was like tickling my feet with a feather. I passed that also then she showed me a double edged piece of wood, one end was blunt and the other end was sharp. She told me I had guessed right then it came to my toenails. She explained that some looked to have  a fungal disease and some were alright but added that as far as she was concerned they were fine but if I asked she would take a sample and send it off for  analysis but I told her that as far as I was concerned my feet didn't cause me a problem and she agreed that to let sleeping dogs lie as she put it. Then she asked me how old I was and when I said I was 80 she was surprised saying that I was a young looking 80. She let me know that she was going to print out a summary and that if I had any problems in the future just let the authorities know and she would see me again but as things stood she didn't wish to see me again. That was good news to me.
 Thses last few days I have produced a few marrows, I have already picked 3 one weighing 6lb with a further 2 more or less ready and a couple will be ready within the week. I am also getting enough runner beans for me to eat twice a day and a few extra for the neighbour.
 Talking of the neighbour, the Guy who moved in about 2 years ago told me that his apples though red were cookers because they were sour. I told him they would be sour for they most certainly not ripe yet. The best way, I told him to check if the fruit was ripe was to cup your hand and gently lift the apple and if the apple came away from the tree it was ready. He seemed surprised but I told him that most of mine would not be ready yet and the Braeburn apple would not be ready until October. He told me he would leave them on the tree to ripen. More soon.

Even more

These last couple of days have been very poor, dull very widy, wet at times and no sun at all, meaning that it was cold. I checked the water gauge this morning which incidentally was fine and saw that over the last 2 days we had just about 1.5".
 Yesterday I had yet another appointment by post I can't remember just how many appointments I have had but I know that I will have at least 2 more appointments within the next 4 weeks. I also have to book a routine Blood test for the Hospital.
 I have picked my first marrow this morning and although it was not large it tasted very nice indeed. I also picked yet another cucumber, I have cut the growth so that I guess I will only get another 4 or so cucumbers.
 Yesterday the lad didn't go to work because of the rain, he caught me as I was going to the recycle bin and had a word, the Carer also was there and invited me for a coffee. I had one there before but I didn't like it I guess it was a  coffee a sort of modern type so I let her know I would come round in about 30 minutes but all I wished was a weak black coffee.
 I duly went round and during the conversation she let me know that she was thinking of installing solar panels but not only on the bungalow but in the land at the side of her bungalow. I did remind her that I had recommended her property was ideally placed. I knew this because the Man who came to survey my place for solar panels told me it was a pity I didn't live next door because it was in a perfect position.
 I informed her that the cost would be many thousands of £s for a large area to be covered but I did not know what the payment was. I did tell her that at today's rate the Feed in Tariff, FIT as it is better known was 4.14p per kwh.If she did not have a smart meter the export tariff would be 5.03p per kwh. This is assuming that one would get 50% which is the norm. It is also guaranteed for 20 years with an annual increase inline with RPI. We will see what happens but she let me know that she had asked a certain man who my mate had to visit him, needless to say he was not impressed. I had asked him to call but he didn't bother. I did tell her that and insisted that she get more than 1 quote. More soon.

Doctor's appointment

Friday morning I had an appointment with a Doctor, when I booked in I didn't think to ask if it was a Male or Female however I didn't have to wait long before I was called in to find a nice young Female Doctor.
She was  very bubbly but efficient, she checked my heart and lungs then had a look at my ankles which have been swelling for some time but after a night's sleep the swelling is reduced. She then informed me that she would request  a blood test together with an ECG and would let me know the outcome when the results came back.
 When I went out to reception the earliest date was August 29th. at 11.10.am. so I let the receptionist that would be alright. It is sods law, for when I got back home I checked my diary only to find that I already had an appointment for that day but at the Denial Surgery but this was an hour later.
 On Monday I had arranged a delivery of LPG so had to wait until it had been delivered, this was because I had informed the lady on the phone that I would pay the driver cash. The delivery came just before Noon and as soon as he had done I went back to the Surgery to ask just how long the appointment would likely to be on the 29th. of August for I had another appointment in Mablethorpe an hour later.
 As usual the receptionist was very helpful and after I let her know of my predicament she actually made a note so that if the Nurse was running late I would be informed as the appointment was for 25 minutes. The journey to Mablethorpe Dental Surgery takes around 20 minutes so time is tight.
 This morning I went to Louth Hospital for an appointment over my Ulcerative Colitis, I saw the same Sister who I saw last year, she is very nice and understands all about the illness I have because her Husband also has the illness. Before I was seen I had to wait in reception and I noticed a Lady similar to my age, perhaps  a few years younger, as she noticed me she smiled so I went over next to her and we began talking. The first topic was the weather as it was raining quite sharp. She began saying the weather had been so wet this year and mentioned she lived at Sandilands only about 3 miles from me. She then went on to say her begonias had suffered from the recent heavy rains then went on to mention the greenhouse saying that her tomatoes were late and very slow to ripen. The only thing sher had plenty of was cucumbers. I then told her that it was the first year I had grown a named variety as my mate had given me a plant prior to me buying the seeds, I told her that they were called Burpless and that I had at least 19 off the one plant. She then told me that she had the same problem and finding those who would want a few cucumbers was limited. Before we had to talk further she was called in so the conversation ended.
 By the time my appointment finished the rain was getting heavier but I still left the area a £1 the richer as the car park machines were out of action.  Anyway I made my way to Aldi and picked up a few item s then made my way home. The rain was extremely heavy and the roads were very wet, I didn't go above 50 mph. maximum and in general it was 40 mph.  Anyway I got home safely and looked out at my garden, needless to say puddles were formed in several areas. I feel sorry for those on Holiday with children as there is little to do to keep them occupied in a Caravan. More soon.

Problems but solved

This morning I received a letter from my Private Pension provider stating that due to a revised Tax code I would be charged Income Tax on my £48+ a month. It stated that if I was sure that an error had occured ring HM. Customs and Revenue. Now I don't know if anyone has had the pleasure of contacting the said Company but to start there are a few questions that last about 5 minutes. After that you are in a queue. I guess I was lucky for it was a wait of about 30 minutes.
 A very nice lass asked me what the problem was but before anything could be done there are several hurdles to jump. Fist was your NI number followed by your full name, then address and age plus the code that the letter had.
 I then explained that my Tax code had been adjusted so she went into my Account and I mentioned that the new code was T14. She immediately informed me that this was incorrect, I concurred because I told her that my income was far below the tax threshold which she readily agreed. She then informed me that the fault was at the Private Pension Provider. I then asked her what I should do. She then advised me to contact them and inform them that the fault lay with them.
 So it was back to my Private Pension Provider but I was on hold for ages and eventually a request was offered for a call back which I accepted. Well over 90 minutes later contact was made. I explained what had happened but the Lady informed me that the Operator who dealt with those problems was in a meeting but she would contact me later.
 As I had to go to the Dentist I let her know that I would not be available from 3.00.pm. until around 4.00.pm. The Dentist was nice as always but booking another appointment is murder. The Dentist told me that she wished to see me next week but the soonest an appointment could be made was the end of August. Anyway I made my way back home.
 No sooner had I got inside the home when the phone rang. It was the Lady who was dealing with my problem but the news was bad for the Man who she spoke to was adamant that the new code was correct. She then told me that the new code was pinged down as all is done electronically. She then suggested that I contact HM Customs and Revenue. I told her I had already got hold of them with difficulty and explained what had happened. Give her credit she then told me she would try once more to contact the Company  but she would try to let me know the outcome.
 About 15 minutes later the phone rang and sure enough it was the Lady again. I immediately let her know that she was very quick. She then let me know she had spoken to another woman who was helpful, not like the man before she let me know. The outcome is that I will get a refund on what has already been charged and as I am well below the Tax threshold I will, as I have done for over 20 years receive my Private Pension in full. I hope this is the end to the matter. More soon.

Appointments!!!

Last Friday I had an appointment with a Nurse which I thought was routine but it certainly was not. I was in the Consulting Room for 40 minutes. The Nurse was obviously not satisfied because she informed me that I would be contacted and new appointments would follow.
 Yesterday morning I was contacted by the Surgery in Mablethorpe and an appointment was made for this Friday at 8.30.am. This I thought was that but no way. My Best Pal rung up about 11.30.am. asking me if I was in this afternoon. Naturally I told him I would so I went out to open the gates. As I arrived back indoors the telephone was ringing once more. It was once again the Surgery in Mablethorpe informing me that I must see a Doctor and would Friday be convenient? I reminded her that I had already an appointment at 8.30.am. but she suggested that if I could get to my local Surgery at 11.50.am on Friday I could have a further appointment. This was arranged and I agreed that I would be there.
 This means that  I have a Dental Appointment on Thursday afternoon, 2 appointments at the two Surgeries on Friday and  next Tuesday I have an appointment at Louth Hospital. I wonder if this is some sort of record?
 I sent the lad an e-mail letting him know that my Best Pal would be here from 2.30.pm. No sooner had my Pal arrived when the door bell rang, it was the lad who came in with a couple of tomatoes for him. He wanted my Pal to see his garden but it started to rain a little so when it ceased we went round. He was proud to show his onions which he had taken the tops off some and put them in an onion bag. I did point out to him that they had not dried sufficiently to be placed in the bag so we took them out and lay them in the greenhouse to dry. He showed my Pal his latest cauliflower which is looking great. His tomatoes look good too but I did notice that he had given my Pal the only 2 ripe tomatoes. At least he was pleased to show his garden to my Pal.
 I had already given my Pal some onions but warned him that they would probably not last that long as I had some rot. I also gave him some rhubarb, a bunch of grapes 1/2 a cucumber some Czar plums enough runner beans for a meal and an apple for his Wife. Needless to say whilst he was here we had a couple of heavy showers but at least it is not cold. More soon.