Yes this is about the guy who my best pal picked up his car from Grantham.
My pal introduced me to him when he bought him in to my place. He seemed a pleasant enough guy and we got on well. In fact so well that he started to come in regular, generally just for a chat. He told me many things. The first thing was that he was hopeless with money. He told me that he had a good job and he recommissioned turbines. He told me that he would earn over £500 a week. I was astounded as this was in the mid 80s. A £100 a week was a great wage. Anyway, he told me that when he had finished his contract he would have some time off and when the money ran out, contact his agent and he would then be given another contract. He told me that he had a good agent. He told me that the worst job he ever had was out in the West Indies. Usually he just gets the turbines working and that is it. This however was different. He didn't know what it was all about. The turbine had not worked for some time and was solid fuel. It was a system that when working was crushing sugar cane and converting it into sugar. Well he went and looked at the job, the owner then told him how the process worked and he would have to train the workmen. He told me that he had never taught anyone in his life before.
He told me he thought about it a long time, studied how it all worked then set out a plan. He was introduced to about 10 workers, he took them to a classroom. Told them exactly how everything worked but it started with the fire. He told me that he used 3 Ts. That was Time Turbulence and Temperature. He explained that first you had to have time to get the fire started, then you had to build up turbulence and when you had this the temperature would rise and steam would be produced. The fuel which was used was spent sugar cane. I think they called it rafatia but don't quote me on that. Anyway he told me that after a week or so, things were working well and he told me he was about to leave as he had finished when the owner contacted him and informed him that there was a problem with the plant. He went to see what was wrong. He tried to think what it could be. Anyway he went to the site only to be greeted by one of the firemen in charge of the boiler. He asked him what was wrong. He then told me that the West Indian told him that the trouble was 4 Ts. He said 4 Ts? Yes came the reply time turbulence temperature and too much ratafia. I started to laugh at this. He rebuked me saying it was not a laughing matter as it meant that he was there for another week. What the fireman had done was just to put far too much spent sugar cane on the fire smothering it so that the fire almost went out. Hence no steam. I will continue with more of him tomorrow.
Thursday, 13 January 2011
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Something different
Yes this is something different to what I said I would write today but the rains in Australia in particular Brisbane has made me want to write just a little about Brisbane.
Anybody who reads this blog will recall that when I was playing golf, I used to play sometimes with a retired Airline Pilot. I did not like him as to me he was arrogant. He would occasionally talk about Brisbane and how he decided to buy a property in Brisbane. Pilots those days retired at 55. He was the sort of man who was never pleased with anything. To give some idea, he once was on about Pilots salaries. I told him that he would have a good pension which was index linked. He snorted that he didn't get anything like the money Pilots were receiving. I told him that surely he didn't expect to get the same as a working Pilot especially as he was having a life of leisure playing golf and having 2 free first class tickets to anywhere in the world each year.
Anyway some time before, he had told me that he and his wife had decided to buy a property in Brisbane with the intention of spending every winter there.
On the odd occasion he was talkative he once told me that the weather was unpredictable in Queensland. He told me that the thunderstorms could be very violent, hail stones as big as golf balls and rain that was torrential. He did tell me that on the odd occasion, some garages would have a special hail dented sale. He said that hail would hit the bonnets and roofs and damage them. He told me that he had bought a flat and that the garage was underneath the flats, therefore parking was underground. He lived in the winter from late November until mid February. At that time it was only possible to leave your pension for a maximum of 3 months then you lost any that was not claimed over three months. He told me shortly before I left the golf club through ill health. He had told the agent in Brisbane to sell the property as his wife, who was nice told him that firstly it was too far to travel to Australia and she wanted to see the grandchildren grow up. He told me that it was their intention to go west. To the USA I think Florida. He also told me, the first winter he had stayed in England for about 14 years that he had forgotten just how low the sun was in the winter.
What made me think of this story was the fact that the garage was underground. I wonder just how many other blocks of flats have garage space under the buildings.
Let us hope that soon the weather will improve as it is dreadful for all affected.
Now tomorrow I will tell you about the man who my best pal drove his car back with me in the snow.
Anybody who reads this blog will recall that when I was playing golf, I used to play sometimes with a retired Airline Pilot. I did not like him as to me he was arrogant. He would occasionally talk about Brisbane and how he decided to buy a property in Brisbane. Pilots those days retired at 55. He was the sort of man who was never pleased with anything. To give some idea, he once was on about Pilots salaries. I told him that he would have a good pension which was index linked. He snorted that he didn't get anything like the money Pilots were receiving. I told him that surely he didn't expect to get the same as a working Pilot especially as he was having a life of leisure playing golf and having 2 free first class tickets to anywhere in the world each year.
Anyway some time before, he had told me that he and his wife had decided to buy a property in Brisbane with the intention of spending every winter there.
On the odd occasion he was talkative he once told me that the weather was unpredictable in Queensland. He told me that the thunderstorms could be very violent, hail stones as big as golf balls and rain that was torrential. He did tell me that on the odd occasion, some garages would have a special hail dented sale. He said that hail would hit the bonnets and roofs and damage them. He told me that he had bought a flat and that the garage was underneath the flats, therefore parking was underground. He lived in the winter from late November until mid February. At that time it was only possible to leave your pension for a maximum of 3 months then you lost any that was not claimed over three months. He told me shortly before I left the golf club through ill health. He had told the agent in Brisbane to sell the property as his wife, who was nice told him that firstly it was too far to travel to Australia and she wanted to see the grandchildren grow up. He told me that it was their intention to go west. To the USA I think Florida. He also told me, the first winter he had stayed in England for about 14 years that he had forgotten just how low the sun was in the winter.
What made me think of this story was the fact that the garage was underground. I wonder just how many other blocks of flats have garage space under the buildings.
Let us hope that soon the weather will improve as it is dreadful for all affected.
Now tomorrow I will tell you about the man who my best pal drove his car back with me in the snow.
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Just a short one
The recent cold weather bought to mind this tale.
My best pal who at that time lived near to me, he knew this guy, who I will tell more of perhaps tomorrow. He had course to go to Grantham Railway Station and asked my friend if he could go and pick his car up. My pal asked me if I could take him, I told him that we would make a day of it, visit my Mother and have dinner too.
Well the day came, it was a clod January day, we travelled to Grantham, I took him to the Railway Station to get the car, I picked my Mother up, we went shopping then went to her house prepared a meal and had it. He knew my Mother well and we had a nice time.
Around 1.30pm, It started to rain, there was a little snow mixed. I said to him we had better get ready to go back. Well we set off and within 10 miles the rain had turned to snow. Another 10 miles and the roads were white all over. I had a Toyota 2 ltr and it was always hard to control in icy conditions.
We managed to get to the edge of the wolds, the snow was several inches deep, I turned round a sharp bend, applied too much accelerator and went into a hedge bottom. Luckily it was an old abandoned bungalow and no damage was done to my car, mid you the hedge looked a little worse for wear. I hadn't gone another 100 yards when approaching the main A16 junction, my pal lost control and hit a bollard. It was one of the modern ones, as soon as you hit them they just collapse. well we were now on the A16 and managed eventually get to my place. As soon as we stopped. my pal told me to get the kettle on. He was certainly shook up by the episode. While we were waiting for the kettle to boil he informed me that Dalby Hill was closed. I asked him how he knew and he told me that he had Radio Lincolnshire on. I grinned and told him that we had sailed up Dalby Hill. I then proceed to tell him where it was.
the following day, he came round and both of us inspected our vehicles. No damage done whatsoever. Mind you he did say he would never again take an undertaking like that in the winter. He also told me that if there was any sign of snow, I must not stay in Grantham a moment longer than necessary. I used to visit my Mother about once a week in the winter. More tomorrow.
Monday, 10 January 2011
Improving weather
With the weather relenting rather than improving, I have begun to think of the coming season. I have always tried to get vegetables in early, that is when they are at the most expensive, hopefully I will be eating a few fresh vegetables out of my poly tunnel and greenhouse. On Saturday, I decided to set 3 dozen broad beans in modules and have them in my sitting room. hopefully they will all germinate. I intentionally set them early mainly because of black fly. Anyone who grows broad beans know that in late April onwards, black fly is a dreadful curse. If I am lucky, in mid June I will be eating broad beans, they will follow asparagus, that may be ready in late April or early May.
Today I went into the greenhouse and did a little preparation of the soil. It wanted watering as the soil was dry. I watered it and decided to sow 8 early potatoes in the soil. I have kept them from last year, they are called Arran Pilot. If all goes well, they should be ready to lift about 13 to 14 weeks after sowing. I will look after them as it is very early. They will be covered in February and early March if frosts are forecast.
By the way, when my Italian friend called last week, I just asked him to put me right on pruning the grape vine. I wish I hadn't asked, I told my friend to come with me so that he would know what to do. We were both none the wiser but I think I already knew what to do.
I think that some of the cauliflowers and cabbage plants survived in the poly tunnel. I will keep all updated. More soon.
Today I went into the greenhouse and did a little preparation of the soil. It wanted watering as the soil was dry. I watered it and decided to sow 8 early potatoes in the soil. I have kept them from last year, they are called Arran Pilot. If all goes well, they should be ready to lift about 13 to 14 weeks after sowing. I will look after them as it is very early. They will be covered in February and early March if frosts are forecast.
By the way, when my Italian friend called last week, I just asked him to put me right on pruning the grape vine. I wish I hadn't asked, I told my friend to come with me so that he would know what to do. We were both none the wiser but I think I already knew what to do.
I think that some of the cauliflowers and cabbage plants survived in the poly tunnel. I will keep all updated. More soon.
Friday, 7 January 2011
Making safe
To be honest, my friend is an excellent DIY man, he can turn his hand to almost anything.
Well he was, as I found out only a seasonal worker to start with. This meant that from the end of October, he was free. We had discussed making the premises safe. I first saw an Officer from the Council. I told him that I would at my expense put a secure breeze block rendered coating round the building. He then told me that fist I would have to apply to the Council for Planning Consent as I was altering the size of the building and secondly informed me that he would then charge me for doing the work. What a wanker I thought. Well I told my friend that all we would do was block the interior if he agreed. He thought that was a great idea. He worked out how many breeze blocks we needed, sand and cement. He went to a local Builders Merchant saw some rods about 1/2" thick, thought they would do for putting up at the windows. They were brilliant. He ordered 550 blocks. Unfortunately for me, the delivery man bought them late afternoon. remember this was November. I innocently said to him. "Just drop them inside and will sort them out". He informed me that all he did was just to drop them off at the nearest point.
Oh dear. 550 breeze blocks to shift and it was already way after 3.45pm. I started to get them inside. Fortunately for me a colleague was passing and we managed to get them inside the building by about 4.30. It was dark though.
My friend organised a cement mixer and the sand to be delivered. I think it was a ton of sand. I had to shovel it in off the grass. I was in my late 50s so I found it hard, but I managed.
My friend then fitted the bars over the windows ready for the blocks to cover the ends.
I told you yesterday that improvements were being done at the car park. It was a private contractor who had the job. Well I told them that when they were ready for a tea break, just come over and a free cuppa would be available. This went on for a few days while my friend was getting the base sorted. Well the owner came one day and saw what we were doing. Told us that he had a load of ties and he would bring them to us. true to his word, the next day he did bring them so now my friend started. I would get the mixer working and my friend would then lay the blocks using the ties to fix them to the building. He worked well and within a few days had the interior completed. There was no rush but we then went again to several Builders Merchants to get a work surface. It had to be so long, he organised everything. He then designed the base and side to make a counter. He bought some fascia to use at the front and wood also. Now the contractor came in handy. We asked if they had a generator. Of course they had. great, so we had power to use tools. To cut a long story short my friend also had the use of a sthill saw. He used that to cut some slabs. It was a grand time but unfortunately cold.
The Council started to mess them about as Councils do. There was a man who was Site Manager. At first he was rather a curt guy but after a few weeks started to loosen up. He would come and tell us all the alterations and stoppages . One was, the work had to be put on hold because of the hibernating badgers.
the final straw was in about March the following year. He finally blew his top. He came in to see us face like thunder. "Do you know the latest thing" he said. "They want us to put some paving slabs on the slope at the entrance to the car park so that the common lizards could sunbathe. I told them, they are called common lizards because they are F*****g common." He then said the official told him that it made no difference because the decision had been made. Also that they had to get a 56lb sack of Johnson's special seed to scatter over the block paving so that grasses would grow.
He was given a date to sow the seed. It was blowing a gale that day and 90% of the seed was just blown out to sea. He just said it was typical Council policy, no sense at all but do it by the book.
My friend then rendered the interior of the property walls and fixed the counter. We used every breeze block so had no waste at all. It looked great and it is still looking good after all this time. I think we did this in 1994/5 I think. To be honest we had a most enjoyable winter doing the work it was a pity it was not warmer. We all got on grat together. More soon.
Well he was, as I found out only a seasonal worker to start with. This meant that from the end of October, he was free. We had discussed making the premises safe. I first saw an Officer from the Council. I told him that I would at my expense put a secure breeze block rendered coating round the building. He then told me that fist I would have to apply to the Council for Planning Consent as I was altering the size of the building and secondly informed me that he would then charge me for doing the work. What a wanker I thought. Well I told my friend that all we would do was block the interior if he agreed. He thought that was a great idea. He worked out how many breeze blocks we needed, sand and cement. He went to a local Builders Merchant saw some rods about 1/2" thick, thought they would do for putting up at the windows. They were brilliant. He ordered 550 blocks. Unfortunately for me, the delivery man bought them late afternoon. remember this was November. I innocently said to him. "Just drop them inside and will sort them out". He informed me that all he did was just to drop them off at the nearest point.
Oh dear. 550 breeze blocks to shift and it was already way after 3.45pm. I started to get them inside. Fortunately for me a colleague was passing and we managed to get them inside the building by about 4.30. It was dark though.
My friend organised a cement mixer and the sand to be delivered. I think it was a ton of sand. I had to shovel it in off the grass. I was in my late 50s so I found it hard, but I managed.
My friend then fitted the bars over the windows ready for the blocks to cover the ends.
I told you yesterday that improvements were being done at the car park. It was a private contractor who had the job. Well I told them that when they were ready for a tea break, just come over and a free cuppa would be available. This went on for a few days while my friend was getting the base sorted. Well the owner came one day and saw what we were doing. Told us that he had a load of ties and he would bring them to us. true to his word, the next day he did bring them so now my friend started. I would get the mixer working and my friend would then lay the blocks using the ties to fix them to the building. He worked well and within a few days had the interior completed. There was no rush but we then went again to several Builders Merchants to get a work surface. It had to be so long, he organised everything. He then designed the base and side to make a counter. He bought some fascia to use at the front and wood also. Now the contractor came in handy. We asked if they had a generator. Of course they had. great, so we had power to use tools. To cut a long story short my friend also had the use of a sthill saw. He used that to cut some slabs. It was a grand time but unfortunately cold.
The Council started to mess them about as Councils do. There was a man who was Site Manager. At first he was rather a curt guy but after a few weeks started to loosen up. He would come and tell us all the alterations and stoppages . One was, the work had to be put on hold because of the hibernating badgers.
the final straw was in about March the following year. He finally blew his top. He came in to see us face like thunder. "Do you know the latest thing" he said. "They want us to put some paving slabs on the slope at the entrance to the car park so that the common lizards could sunbathe. I told them, they are called common lizards because they are F*****g common." He then said the official told him that it made no difference because the decision had been made. Also that they had to get a 56lb sack of Johnson's special seed to scatter over the block paving so that grasses would grow.
He was given a date to sow the seed. It was blowing a gale that day and 90% of the seed was just blown out to sea. He just said it was typical Council policy, no sense at all but do it by the book.
My friend then rendered the interior of the property walls and fixed the counter. We used every breeze block so had no waste at all. It looked great and it is still looking good after all this time. I think we did this in 1994/5 I think. To be honest we had a most enjoyable winter doing the work it was a pity it was not warmer. We all got on grat together. More soon.
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Friend called
It is typical, my friend calls every 2 or 3 weeks. I have another Italian friend who will call occasionally. You can guarantee that he will come to see me the same day as my friend. It was so today. It was nice to see him though.
My Friend comes and brings me things that I ask him to, does any odd jobs that I need doing, stays for dinner and if I have any veg spare I will give him some.
Today was really no different only that we began to talk about work at the Car Park and Kiosk where I had my last business.
It was always getting broken into so when I really got to know him we suggested, well he was far more handy and knew what was required. Incidentally, there was a man who was responsible for authorising repairs to any Council property. A handy man to know. He was one year younger than me and had been working for the Council for just a year. He told me that he had been a site foreman in charge of many contractors. My friend listened to this, as he was thinking about having a new wall round his bungalow, asked him if he knew of anybody who was a bricklayer. He told him that he could do the work for him. Eventually went to see my friend, told him that about 800 bricks would be plenty. My friend ordered 3 pallets about 900 bricks. Well by now the late spring had turned into early summer. My friend would call at Quick Save and bring bits and bobs for me. He then started to talk about the building of the wall, or to be more precise, the lack of building. As the weeks went on, I could tell as soon as I saw him if any progress had been made. He told me that every time he came to do some work, he would ask his mother for some paracetamols as he had a headache. Eventually my friend noticed that the pile of bricks was going down but the wall was not growing at the same rate. He investigated and noticed that each brick that was cut in half, the remainder was discarded, with I might add lots of cement, as he would make a load of mortar up but only lay perhaps a dozen bricks then sling the rest of the mortar away. My friend had then to order another pallet of bricks. I had been warned. It took him about 4 months to do a weks job.
When the repair man found out that I was considering work on the building to make it secure, he told me that he would be willing to help me. When I told my friend, he said no way at all.
Anyway he told me that we would do the work together during the winter months. Incidentally there was going to be improvements going ahead on the Car Park. As it happened this worked out in our favour.
I think tomorrow I will tell you about making the premises safer.
My Friend comes and brings me things that I ask him to, does any odd jobs that I need doing, stays for dinner and if I have any veg spare I will give him some.
Today was really no different only that we began to talk about work at the Car Park and Kiosk where I had my last business.
It was always getting broken into so when I really got to know him we suggested, well he was far more handy and knew what was required. Incidentally, there was a man who was responsible for authorising repairs to any Council property. A handy man to know. He was one year younger than me and had been working for the Council for just a year. He told me that he had been a site foreman in charge of many contractors. My friend listened to this, as he was thinking about having a new wall round his bungalow, asked him if he knew of anybody who was a bricklayer. He told him that he could do the work for him. Eventually went to see my friend, told him that about 800 bricks would be plenty. My friend ordered 3 pallets about 900 bricks. Well by now the late spring had turned into early summer. My friend would call at Quick Save and bring bits and bobs for me. He then started to talk about the building of the wall, or to be more precise, the lack of building. As the weeks went on, I could tell as soon as I saw him if any progress had been made. He told me that every time he came to do some work, he would ask his mother for some paracetamols as he had a headache. Eventually my friend noticed that the pile of bricks was going down but the wall was not growing at the same rate. He investigated and noticed that each brick that was cut in half, the remainder was discarded, with I might add lots of cement, as he would make a load of mortar up but only lay perhaps a dozen bricks then sling the rest of the mortar away. My friend had then to order another pallet of bricks. I had been warned. It took him about 4 months to do a weks job.
When the repair man found out that I was considering work on the building to make it secure, he told me that he would be willing to help me. When I told my friend, he said no way at all.
Anyway he told me that we would do the work together during the winter months. Incidentally there was going to be improvements going ahead on the Car Park. As it happened this worked out in our favour.
I think tomorrow I will tell you about making the premises safer.
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
A New Year
Well 2011 is now upon us all and I wish those who read this blog A Great Year.
Mine has started as it ended really. Dental problems, mind you, I must say this. It happened this afternoon. The phone rang and when I answered I was surprised as it was my Diabetic Nurse. She rung up to see if I was alright. I was taken aback somewhat and asked why the call. She then told me that she had just found my latest blood tests taken in November. I told her it was the end of November. I like to see the same Nurse as she will check my blood pressure. I then informed her that my medication had increased for hypertension but it would be at least another fortnight before I had it checked again. She accepted this, asked a few cursory questions then told me she would keep in touch. I was surprised that she had taken such an interest in my health.
Anyway back to my teeth. I had an appointment early this morning. A couple of things happened that made me smile. The first was when I took a seat, sitting next to me was a man reading a magazine. A few minutes later his wife. I guess appeared and told him that the Dentist had not taken any teeth out and would not, as he was leaving the practice to go back to Oxford. This was where he lived. Her husband's face went dark. He was not amused. She then explained the the Dentist said it was not fair to start a treatment only for another Dentist to finish the treatment off. I could see the logic, he I think did not. Soon after another couple came by, the man had a sort of walking aid they were going to another part of the Medical Centre. I then heard a woman shout to a very young child that he could not go outside to be with Grandad as he was having a Fag. The couple then reappeared. He stopped and immediately she told him he could not stop there, as she approached me she then told him that she could talk and walk at the same time. Giving me a grin, I then said to her "You are a multi tasker then". Answering me she just told me that she had to be. Almost immediately I was called in. I told my Dental Surgeon that I wished for his advice ad my front tooth had broken again. I suggested that it would be best if I had another complete top and lower set of dentures with the 2 spaces filled. He surprised me as he readily agreed with me. He then told me that the system would be as normal. Several fittings of dentures after impressions were made then the final thing was the extraction and new dentures fitted immediately. He then took the first impression. I now go again on the 120th. January. I will keep all informed.
Mine has started as it ended really. Dental problems, mind you, I must say this. It happened this afternoon. The phone rang and when I answered I was surprised as it was my Diabetic Nurse. She rung up to see if I was alright. I was taken aback somewhat and asked why the call. She then told me that she had just found my latest blood tests taken in November. I told her it was the end of November. I like to see the same Nurse as she will check my blood pressure. I then informed her that my medication had increased for hypertension but it would be at least another fortnight before I had it checked again. She accepted this, asked a few cursory questions then told me she would keep in touch. I was surprised that she had taken such an interest in my health.
Anyway back to my teeth. I had an appointment early this morning. A couple of things happened that made me smile. The first was when I took a seat, sitting next to me was a man reading a magazine. A few minutes later his wife. I guess appeared and told him that the Dentist had not taken any teeth out and would not, as he was leaving the practice to go back to Oxford. This was where he lived. Her husband's face went dark. He was not amused. She then explained the the Dentist said it was not fair to start a treatment only for another Dentist to finish the treatment off. I could see the logic, he I think did not. Soon after another couple came by, the man had a sort of walking aid they were going to another part of the Medical Centre. I then heard a woman shout to a very young child that he could not go outside to be with Grandad as he was having a Fag. The couple then reappeared. He stopped and immediately she told him he could not stop there, as she approached me she then told him that she could talk and walk at the same time. Giving me a grin, I then said to her "You are a multi tasker then". Answering me she just told me that she had to be. Almost immediately I was called in. I told my Dental Surgeon that I wished for his advice ad my front tooth had broken again. I suggested that it would be best if I had another complete top and lower set of dentures with the 2 spaces filled. He surprised me as he readily agreed with me. He then told me that the system would be as normal. Several fittings of dentures after impressions were made then the final thing was the extraction and new dentures fitted immediately. He then took the first impression. I now go again on the 120th. January. I will keep all informed.
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