Snow

Yesterday we had an awful lot of heavy rain in showers so this morning it dawned with a sharp frost, the first of the Winter and although it was cloudy to the East on the western side it was blue sky. Then it came cloudy and soon after 8.00.am. it started to snow, the weather forecaster had informed that Scarborough had a few centimeters of snow so I did expect some. The trouble was that we had continuous snow for well over 2 and 1/2 hours and of course with the temperature being so low it settled. Around 10.30.am. it stopped and for a very short period of time we did see a little sun. Now it has been snowing once more for about 30 minutes, the good thing is that the temperature has risen to just above freezing point. The forecast is for it to gradually get warmer so that tomorrow it will be more rain and sleet rather than snow. Just as well for I have to travel to the Surgery for my quarterly appointment for a blood test.
 Now to a little more about the Old Gentleman who was in Lincoln Hospital at the same time as me. He told me he had been lucky all his life starting when he bet on a horse in the Lincoln Handicap, the opening of the Flat Season. It was run for many years at Carholme in Lincoln. He told me somebody had told him many months before to put some money on Over Coat ante post. I immediately told him that I knew Over Coat had won and told him what my father had related to me many years ago when he took me to the St. Leger in Doncaster and we saw Prince Monolulu with his coloured plumes on his head shouting "I gotta horse." My father saw this small man go to Prince Monolulu and ask him for a tip for the Lincoln Handicap for he had lost almost all of his money. He put his arm on the man's shoulder and told him to not forget his overcoat. As my Father heard him say this he decided to have a small bet. He told me that with the winnings he had more than broke even on the day.
 My Father only used to go to the Lincoln Handicap but when it was moved to Doncaster he then went to the St. Leger meeting. This was the one and only time he took me for I told him that it was not for me.
 Mr. L then told me he had won enough money to start a Taxi Business but as his win came I think in 1936 he no sooner started his Taxi Business when the War broke out. He told me once again he was lucky for when he was called up there were about 10 men and the Officer in charge picked him out and told him that he would be immediately promoted to Corporal and would be in charge of the other men there. He then told me he finished up as a Sergeant. He then told me that he started his Taxi Firm and made a success of it making enough money to buy a house in a respectable area in Lincoln.
 As he was 91 he soon came tired and told me that next time he would tell me of all the cars he had owned but unfortunately this didn't happen for the next day the Staff Nurse told me he was going to order a Taxi to take me home, this was a Sunday, in fact Mothering Sunday for the guy who took me home informed me that he was offered the Taxi for the day because the Owner was taking his Wife outy for the day. He added that if it wasn't for the journey that I had it would have been a wash out. More soon.

Forgetful

I completely forgot to post anything for the last few days, not that much has been happening.
 Saturday as I was having my dinner(mid day meal) the doorbell rang, it was the lad from next door, he had been to Skegness to do a little shopping and to see his pal but as he couldn't find him he decide to catch the early bus home. As his carers were going to a Pigeon either a club or a show he wasn't sure but he didn't fancy going.
 Anyway I had a full description of where he went, even to him telling me he went to the toilet but his legs ached so he came back. I did ask him if he wanted anything to eat or drink but he told me he had his dinner early I think it was a tuna and sweetcorn sandwich from I also think from Home Bargains. He also had some Zero Coke that he told me he had bought it from Poundland also some sweets which he had eaten. I then told him that after my dinner which I had almost finished I would make him some pudding. I try to give him some responsibility so after mixing the custard with the cold milk I told him to light the cooker top gas ring and start to stir. I then cut some cake and put it in the microwave whilst he kept stirring soon he told me it was beginning to thicken up so I took the hot cake out of the microwave and poured the thickened custard to make a hot pudding which he told me was nice.
 He wants to get back to play on his XBox but as they had not got back he decided to go on the computer playing  a game while I tried to watch the qualifying of the Dubai Grand Prix. Eventually they arrived back and he was soon back at home. Before he left he told me that he was in the spare room as they were decorating his room, this meant that he large T.V. was not in his temporary room but he added that his XBox was there so he was happy.
 I don't know if I did mention this but when I was in Hospital come 14 or so years ago I was left with an old Man that admitted, I was getting over from having my Gallbladder removed he told me he was 91 years old and proceeded to tell me of his life which I will relate more soon.
 My mate is calling tomorrow, the first time in several weeks so it will be nice to see him and show him some of the alterations that have happened. More soon.

Power cut

We had a power cut on Sunday evening just after 6.00.pm. I was out in the Kitchen/Diner when I was plunged into darkness. I was left groping about for some time but eventually found a solar light that my mate had suggested I purchase, the trouble was that when I came to turn it on I couldn't find the button to press. So off I went with this in my hand to try to feel for a lantern battery torch. After knocking down several items I did find the torch, turned it on and then found the small button to turn the light on. It certainly showed enough light for me to see but as I had tried it out in the late Summer as it became dusk, I was surprised just how long it lasted. I did, however have it on maximum power so this time I managed to get a candle and lit that turning off all other lights. I as you know have a solar Roberts Radio so tuned in to Radio Lincolnshire to see if there was any information about the power cut. Unfortunately it was a music programme playing very old music. After that the announcer informed us that for the next 2 hours it was music all the way. So that was that for the information or lack of it. I then tuned to Radio 4 but only after 10 minutes or so the power came on. It had been off for something like 45 minutes.
 Yesterday morning I went to have my hair cut, as it was a dreadful day with rain and drizzle I half expected the Barbers to be closed but as I approached I could see there was lights on. When I entered I saw there were 4 gentlemen in ahead of me which surprised me especially as it was just after 9.00.am. It opens at 9.00.am. More came in after I had arrived, anyway the next man to sit in the chair was an old Man, he had trouble walking, the hairdresser told him that she was going to get the coffee for him first but she was using her own mug. She made the coffee with a Nescafe machine added the sugar for him and gave it to him asking him if it was alright. His reply was beautiful. He went on drinking whist she cut his hair. He was quite talkative and she asked him how he was getting on at the Day Centre, he obviously goes there to meet other people. He then told her it was good and he had met someone he had not seen for years. He mentioned his name but then added that the guy wanted to die because he had lost his Wife. Eventually he left and when it was my turn the Hairdresser told me about the Man. His Wife bought him down and asked her to make him a coffee, she added that before she opened the Shop she did cut a few men's hair at their home and he was one of those that she cut adding he was also suffering from Alzheimer's plus Dementia but if he was it certainly didn't show. Then came a surprise for I asked her if the coffee was free. She told me that it was but you would have to use the cups provided. I also noticed a bowl of sweets which I presume was also free. Needless to say none in the shop had a drink.
 I must add this, most of the Men there knew each other and the Hairdresser also knew them too. To be honest I did inform her that for the first time in years I had found a Hairdresser that cut my hair just as I like it. She charges I think for OAPs £4.50 or less I gave her the usual £5 because I think it is well worth it. I still can't get over the free coffee and that is a Nescafe machine. I have never heard of another Barber's Shop offering free drinks. More soon.

History

Firstly I must tell you this.
 I had an e-mail from Argos and it had a Black Friday special. It was for an Air Fryer from Phillips costing £79.99p The recommended retail price is £179 I do have one and the Diabetic Nurse told me that she had one and it was very good. I am thrilled to bits with mine.
 Now to the history. As many would know that after the war the Country was in a dreadful state with it being up to the hilt in debt. What a lot wouldn't know that demobilization of the Armed Forces did not happen straight away and it would be a couple of years before the last of the personnel managed to get demobbed.
 To add  to this we had the worst Winter in many years in 1947 and of course this Country had to pay the USA what it owed for the lend lease and it was not until the late 90s that we managed to finally repay what we owed.
 This is what the Country was like, a lot of repair work and no tools to speak of. In fact the big freeze of 1947 saw many Council workmen using pick axes to break the ice on the main A1. I saw this for myself. We had no reserves of salt and grit to use on the roads. In fact it was 1947 the Government raised the school leaving age from 14 years to 15 years. As my Sister was born in April 1933 she was born 3 days too late.This was for anyone born after March 31st. 1933 so she had to stay on much to the dismay of my Mother and my Sister. What most people would not realise that in Lincolnshire being a rural County people who did not either go to a Grammar School or Secondary School had the chance to put their name down to be allowed to go potato picking for 2 weeks in late September or early October, whenever the potato harvest was ready. This was in 1946.
 Luckily enough my Sister was one of the children chosen so for 2 weeks together with her selected schoolmates went to a farm only a few miles away from the school. I think they were collected and bought back by the local Farmer. As for my Sister she thoroughly enjoyed it. This happened the following year too. I don't know if it was carried on after that because my Sister left school in the Summer of 1948. More soon.

Family.

As I hadn't heard from my Sister for a little while I decide to give her another call. I got my Brother-in-Law who gave me a detailed report as to his Son, incidentally who I don't care for at all.
 He had as I know it had trouble with his breathing but as he was, to me obese I thought it was his weight. This turned out to be not the case as the medical staff at Leicester Infirmary informed him the he had to have a by pass. So he of course had to wait, anyway when I rung up last time he had just had the operation. My Brother-in-Law gave me an update. When they opened him up they found a tumor but it was in the early stages and he didn't know if he had to have any radiation. This was according to him.
 My Sister rang me up yesterday morning early and filled me in with further details but then told me that he Daughter had finally decided to move and that she had been busy so she had not contacted me before. It turned out that she, together with har Partner and 3 children the eldest being 10 was on the move that very day. The destination being Cornwall some 6 or 7 hours journey and that is if there are no holdups. Naturally my Sister is upset but as I told her my Mother told me ages before she died that the kids lead their own life and don't take their Parents into consideration. She was hoping that my Sister would look after her but that didn't happen.
 My Sister has done a lot for her Daughter who is not 100% fit, she does an awful lot of washing for her and most week ends she has at least one of the children to look after so she will miss her for that if nothing else.
 I did tell her that she must look for something else to do suggesting that she could go to Car Boots with my eldest Sister who she goes shopping with to Lincoln and Newark.
 This also means that I will not be able to take the Christmas cards to my Sister's to be picked up so I asked her for the new address where she is moving to. I think it is Helston in Cornwall.
 I then told her that I intend to call and see my Sister's in early December. More soon.

Supermarket

This morning I decided to travel to Skegness to go to the new shopping precinct that included ALDI and B&M.
 I entered ALDI and of course everything was new to me and quite different to Louth. Firstly the car park bays are a lot smaller than Louth and secondly the layout was not the same but I managed to find  the first thing I was looking for and that was the meat section. I immediately noticed that since I had called at LOuth ALDI in late July most things had increased. I looked at the Sirloin Steaks up from 3.07p to 3.29p.
 I had to ask where the coffee was and informed that it was opposite the flours. I once again noticed a difference in price from July  an increase of some 5%. I went to look for frozen Cod and once more an increase of about 7% but I did buy all those items mentioned. Then it was off to B&M.
 I entered the store and found it very large indeed and of course I had no idea as to where anything was so I wandered about and saw some pillows venturing a little further I saw something that I was after, Duvets and I had gone Online to price 18 togs Duvets but only a couple of Company's bothered to sell them and at a huge price. These were 15 togs at £14.99p so I bought one and saw an assistant asking her where the cleaning materials were and she pointed to an aisle but to be honest it was not really what I wanted but I did purchase something but with the Duvet it was all I could carry so off I went back to the car and travelled back home.
 The first thing I did was to take off the existing Duvet and cover from my bed and put the new Duvet with a new cover to replace the old one storing the old one for when it gets warmer.
 I only hope that it will be warmer in bed tonight. More soon.

Double Wammy

Yesterday late afternoon I ran out of the first 2 bottles of LPG so this morning I rung up to order 2 more. I already knew there was a price increase and when she told me how much I was a little disappointed but she told me that I had a good deal as some customers were being charged at least £5 more a bottle. She then added that from the next delivery there was going to be a delivery charge. She explained that this was because of the diesel costs had increased and labour costs too had increased. So what that means is that I will wait until I am on the last bottle of LPG then I will order 3 instead of just 2. Not that it stopped there.
 Later this morning I saw the Postman friend and we passed pleasantries asking me where I was yesterday for I had ordered some Winter tree wash and as I was not in he had left it in the dustbin at the side. I told him I was in the polytunnel doing a few jobs there. He gave me my mail which included junk mail but one important letter was my renewal for my Motor Insurance.
 I had already been Online checking up the premium and an increase of approaching 20% was given by most providers.
 When I checked the price offered for the next 12 months I was very disappointed for the increase was over 30%. I decided to go Online and ring Direct Line, they came up with the best offer including a no claims protection  about £60 less than my current Insurer and that was without any protection. Had I decide to go without no claims protection the savings would have been over 30%.
 Anyway I rung them up to inform them that I would not be renewing my Motor Insurance and added that I was not happy for I had been with them for several years and loyalty meant nothing for they had increased my premium by more than 30%. The guy on the other end then informed me that he would do his calculations to see if he could reduce the premium. He eventually came back with an offer which reduced the cost by just over £30  but it was still more than I have been quoted and also he let me know it didn't include the no claims protection.
 He realised that I was not going to continue paying with the Company, he apologised for the hike in price, told me that within a week or so I would get confirmation of  my decision not to renew my policy with them, so that is that. More soon.

Time flies

I think I mentioned that the other week the lad next door went with me to the Garden Centre, there we met a Lady who was looking at fruit trees and asked if I thought they would have an Apricot tree which was mentioned on Gardener's World, I of course told her that it was almost certain they would have none in stock.
 As Gardener's World was repeated the following morning I took particular notice of the tree mentioned by Monty Don. It was called Compacta so I then decided to go Online to search for this Apricot tree. It was not surprising to read that there had been a huge increase in demand for the tree that all the stockists that had advertised the tree had sold out and several orders had been taken for next years stock.
 I decided to investigate further and checked many sites, most had already the sold out sign but I did find one site that said nothing about the Apricot Compacta and a different site that gave no indication of any trees of that name.Anyway I did e-mail both sites requesting information about the said tree. I did get an immediate reply from one site informing me that they had already sold out but if I wished I could forward my name to be put on the waiting list for next year and it would be on as a first come first served basis. I did not forward my name.
 The following morning I did receive an e-mail from the second site informing me that they had a few for sale in 12 ltr. pots. I immediately replied saying that I would love one and gave them my name and address. A quick response was given with the price excluding delivery asking if I wished to proceed. I then confirmed that I did and asked her how could I pay either by debit card or Paypal. Almost immediately came the response requesting me to forward my telephone number so that the Lady who I was dealing with could contact me so this I did.
 Within minutes she contacted me and I gave her my card details and then she told me that it would be dispatched on Monday this week arriving the next day.
 Tuesday I was making my bread rolls when the phone rang, it was the delivery man informing me that he had broken down but hoped to be with me later that day. Soon after the phone rang again, he was full of apologies because he could not get to me this day but promised the next day he would be with me. I thanked him but wondered if my bread rolls would be alright because any delay on bread making is not good but as you can see they turned out very good.

The next morning around 11.00.am. there was a knock on the door plus the door bell ringing, it was the delivery man who shook my hand and again apologised for the delay, I told him not to worry as everything would be fine. The tree was the best I have ever had for being protected and it had in large letters, Live Trees in Transport. I then removed the packaging and stood the plant outside and gave it a drink of water, not that it really needed it  and yesterday morning I decided to put it in the garden although it is a compact tree quite capable of standing on a Patio. After planting the tree I sent the Lady who had dealt with me an e-mail giving her the latest information, also stating the the tree was looking very good. Naturally I had a swift response from her which I had expected.

I went Online to look for some old fashioned Tar Oil Wash which has now been banned, I presume by the E.U. but there is an alternative, whether it is as effective I just don't know. It is commonly called Winter Tree Wash, it is supposed to kill the wintering bugs and their eggs off fruit trees and fruit bushes. I did check the local shop which sells a lot of gardening equipment amongst other things but on the search box it informed  me that there was no such match so I went the search Online and of course found one with free delivery at about the same price as the shops were advertising so I have ordered a bottle. So that is one of the next jobs I will have to do but it is not important to get it done, I have until the end of February next year to complete the process.

By the way, I have managed due to the mild October to eat my runner beans into November, today being the last day but tomorrow I will have the last climbing french beans together with the last few runner beans. So from now on it will be winter vegetables such as cabbage, carrots and leeks. More soon.