What a performance

I have been having difficulty in accessing my blog for quite some time but today it just wouldn't allow me to use it. I had to find my blog via Google.
 I have just had a phone call from Calor, tomorrow they were supposed to arrive and move my Bulk Tank. This will now not happen as there has been some sort of panic so it will be next Thursday, hopefully.
 I had received the components etc. for the re-siting, this included yesterday some base, this morning a compacter and this afternoon cement, ballast, sand and something else. The common name for the compacter is a whacker plate. I suppose it will be incorrectly spelled but anyone who knows a little say of block paving will know exactly what I mean.
 The photos, incidentally which are of poor quality, are of a few of my place mats. It was my American friend on his blog that bought it back to me. He mentioned Green Shield stamps. All of us of a certain age remember those.
 The place mats were not part of this system. Again those of a certain age will recall that Petrol Stations would offer you certain things if you bought fuel from them. Generally it was glasses which were of mediocre quality.
 I used to go to a Garage selling fuel. Incidentally it was  Regent which was a popular chain in the early 60s. Anyway this offer came about with every 4 gallons of fuel(nearly all were petrol engines) you had a token and after collecting 4 tokens one could purchase  1 place mat for a cost I think of either 1/- or 2/-. I think it was the latter. They were well made, you can't tell by the poor quality of my photos just how good they originally were but the top is made of tin and very substantial. As was the norm, the promotions would only last for a short time and usually it was impossible to collect the set.
 I don't know why but I got on very well with the owner and he did warn me that shortly the offer was being withdrawn. By that time I had managed to collect 5 but one was a duplicate. Generally you would not have the choice of place mat, one was just given to you. I mentioned this to the owner and surprisingly he took me to where he had these mats and showed me the complete set offering to swap the duplicate one for the most difficult one to obtain. There was always one item that was difficult to get no matter what you collected, that was of course if you were trying to get a complete set. He told me that the promoters did this on purpose just to get you to purchase more fuel.
 What he did tell me was that he would save the one I had not got just to make sure I would get the set. In fact I managed to collect 7 altogether. One spare. This would be around 1963.
 When my late Mother saw them she more or less commandeered them for herself, not that she used them much at all but it was because they really did look quality back in those days.
 Anyway she looked after most of them for well over 40 years, unfortunately one of them got damaged and since I have been here, I have used a few of them myself.
 The photos I have taken are some of the better ones I have, you must bear in mind that they over 50 years old but I still like them. I have 3 which are still quite good.
In the early 70s I purchased a new Van from a Garage and they went me a calendar with pictures of old care. I have taken a few photos of them. I hope to post them soon. To be honest, I think the first photo is one of those on the Calendar. Must get my act together. More soon.

2014

The start of another year, my 77th. I find it hard to believe that I will be 77 this year. I still think of myself as being young but my body thinks differently.
 Christmas as always these last few years was quiet. The same can not be said about the last couple of days though.
 New Year's Eve my Sister, who with her Husband came to see me. Each year they go to Skegness to celebrate new year. Together with her Husband's relatives they have a few days catching up with all the news.
It was nice to see them but they didn't stay too long as they were late arriving. It turned out that a light lunch was arranged for all there and it started late. The evening meal was early hence the stay was shorter than they had proposed. I did manage to pick a few carrots for them and they left as it was getting dark. Not that it has been  a bright few days what with severe gales and heavy rain I was pleased to see out 2013.
This morning I went out to put some stuff in the recycle bin and noticed that next door had theirs out ready to be emptied. I didn't think it was time for that so I went Online and checked. They were correct so I went to put mine out. I heard the lady next door putting theirs out too so I went to have a word.
 I told her that I had thought they had been away for the New Year as I had heard no noise at all. She told me that they had been in but the weather had been so poor that they had stayed indoors all the time. She then told me they had turkey for Christmas lunch and it had cost £45. I was amazed at the cost. She then told me that next year they all planned to go out for Christmas Day lunch and each of them was going to save £5  a month. This she told me would be more than enough because she had priced some of the Restaurants and the average price was £50 but the one she had an eye on was even cheaper this year.
 It was then that she told me that if I wished I could also go with them and spend Christmas with them. I thanked her very much but told her that I doubted  whether I would go. About 20 minutes later the doorbell rang and it was her with 3 eggs just laid. I was surprised and pleased too because I had no eggs at all. Mind you, I do not eat many eggs. She also knows this, hence the 3 only eggs.
 Earlier my Italian friend had phoned me asking if I would be in later, I of course told him I would. It would be around 11.00am. when he called. It was nice to see him but he had some disappointing news of his Wife. She, once more was in Hospital, she suffers from a mental condition. She has been in Hospital since before Christmas so it has been a poor Christmas for him.
 He came in his new car, well not exactly brand new but fairly new. It is a Peugeot 207 I do believe it is the first time he has had a car other than a Fiat. I told him it was the best car he has had and that I had that same model a few years ago and it was a nice car. He told me that it was a 1400cc. I told him that the one I had was a 166 Thp G.T. However now all I am interested in is an economic car.
 We talked for about an hour then it was time for him to leave.
 I decide to take a few carrots to next door. When I walked round, the two handicapped residents were there cleaning the car. They told me all about what they had for Christmas, they kept me talking for about 20 minutes, they were still excited about Christmas even though it has now been over a week since it began. Still it was nice to see them happy. I did manage to get her the carrots, she was pleased to receive them and told me they would have them tomorrow. More soon.

Christmas

 On Saturday I was in the garden when I heard a voice saying to me "Good Morning." It certainly wasn't a voice I recognised and the sun was also in my eyes. I walked closer to the voice and there was a man with some equipment for catching rabbits. My neighbour had told me ages ago that a man called regular to catch rabbits and pigeons. I was pleased because the rabbits eat much of my stuff that is not protected. This was the fist time I had seen him.
 Anyway the man had a large rabbit that he had caught. As it was windy, he told me that it wasn't good for catching rabbits as the nets kept blowing so the rabbits could get away.
 He told me he used ferrets that he and his wife bred them personally so they were very tame. With that he opened his box and pulled a lovely looking almost pure white ferret. It certainly did look fantastic. We talked for about 30 minutes, I was pleased it wasn't cold but also found him very interesting.
 Now so far my Sky box has been acting normal, thank goodness  so let us hope all is now well once more.
 On January 6th. I have a delivery of materials for the moving of my bulk LPG tank. The following day they will come and move the tank to it's new position, well that is what the lady on the phone told me. I suppose they will be delivering some pre cast concrete blocks the day before.
 I did ask the lady if there would be a minimum of delay after the siting of the tank as I would be dangerously low on LPG. She then told me that in general they did make sure that there was sufficient in and would make sure with an emergency amount that they carried with them. With this I was assured as I can't stand being cold.
 Christmas is once again here. Today I went out and bought a stick of brussel sprouts and a swede from the warehouse shop. Wished the man who I know the Season's Greetings. Then off to the Co-p and bought 3x4pints of skimmed milk together with 3 slices of cooked ham. This is all I will be getting for Christmas. I hope to make a trifle made with sugar free jelly some bananas in the jelly before it is set. It will be topped up with custard, made with skimmed milk and unsweetened of course. So much for a Christmas blow out.
 Season's Greetings to anyone who cares to read this.
 Let us hope that 2014 is a prosperous year for all. More not quite so soon.

Door trouble

Having had trouble with my door which was fitted at the end of March, today I had a phone call from a female Rep. stating that she would be calling to see me. Although she was later than she told me she did appear. I did show her the door which she took photos and then told me that it would probably be next year before the repair would be done. She then asked if I would like a quote for another window replacement as I was an existing customer. I pointed to one small window and what she told me surprised me. She told me that the minimum cost would be £500 as this was Company policy. She also told me that someone would be contacting me this afternoon with regard to the repair as it was serious. Needless to say, nobody contacted me.
 I have had trouble with my Sky box and called the service man out a couple of times. He told me that the next time he would change the box but I would lose all I had on  my hard disc.
 I had cause to call him out once again and deleted all I had on my hard disc. He came but did NOT change my box but updated it, I was disappointed  but if it works I suppose I won't mind. I am, of course keeping my fingers crossed as it was intermittent random faults, nothing that you could put your finger on. More soon.

Bits and bobs

As most will know, last week was a bad week for the East Coast. I was not involved at all in the flooding but the winds were very strong. Not as much damage though as the night when only the edge of the Coast had severe gales that blew the fence down on next door's property.
 I went to the Town to have my haircut and didn't notice anything out the ordinary. The winds were from a westerly direction so the prospect of sand blowing off the beach was nil.
  I didn't go anywhere else to see if the sea had done any damage so I just left it at that.
 Today the Lady from next door, the one with the chickens, came to tell me that if I wished to see the trophy's they had won this year I was welcome to go round as they were going to wrap them up because they take a lot of cleaning as they are silver. Well I think silver plated.
 I was surprised because they had 4 trophy's and one was HUGE. It was a similar size to the F.A Cup.  They also had a plate with the photo of the winning pigeon and a plaque also.
 I got round to asking him if there had been any damage done last week with the weather. He told me that they had been warned several times by the Floodline Agency but thank goodness all they had was spray coming over the top and although there was some water on the roads, nobody was flooded.
 Once again the conversation got round to pigeons and they told me that they had a few more trophy's to collect. This was going to be some time in the New Year. I suggested that it would be early when the weather ws not good. He agreed with me as he thought it was either January or early February.
 The new 12kg washing machine was on the go. Nice and quiet. they are both pleased with the machine as it saves washing several times less in a week.
 By the way, I received notification that Planning Permission had been sought to build the extension on the rear of their property. Retrospect as it happens. I told her I would not be contacting them as it didn't affect me at all. More soon.

Weather

I went to Grantham to see my Sisters, I noticed as I left the area that the cost of Diesel was 1 42.9p a litre. Anyway I went to Morrison's and managed to get a herring but there was no fresh yeast available. I asked one of the assistants and he went to enquire but soon came back informing me there was none. I told him I would go to the Bakery department to see if they would sell me any. He was not confident I would succeed. I went anyway and was surprised at the reception I received. Not only would the lady supply me but bought a large piece of yeast ans asked me how much I needed. She then proceeded to place the knife at different places on the block and when I said that was fine and she cut the piece off then went to wrap it and price it too. 42p. it cost me so I was thrilled to bits. I then went to fill up at the local ASDA Supermarket there the cost of diesel was 1 33.7p a litre. As I have always done, I converted it to gallons as I was bought up with pints and gallons. Over 40p a gallon more at the local filling station here. How can this be justified? The cost of living in  the Countryside.
 Yesterday I had to go to my Bank in Mablethorpe, it was just a little breezy but the weather was going to get much worse. I was back at home well before 11.00am. Not too long after the winds rose just as the weathermen said. Coastal flooding was forecast for later in the day, well early evening to be more precise. I decided to listen to the Local Radio Station, something I rarely do. From around 6.30pm. there were signs of what was to come. From around 7.00pm. the reports were of several road closures due to Coastal Flooding. One road in particular was the road into Mablethorpe, mind you nothing like the dreadful reports from Boston where the seas had breached some of the sea defences.
 I guess we were lucky here although I am about 2 miles from the sea but the coastal road was closed for a time. I would expect the local Golf Course would have been affected, but what is that compared to the plight of those people in Boston.
 Thank goodness the winds relented so the expected 2nd. flooding on the next high tide did not happen. Still there is much cleaning up to be done. More soon.

Apples

I rung my Sister up on Saturday letting her know I would be over this week and she should get the Christmas cards ready to save postage.
 I mentioned to her that I had the odd Bramley apple with a few spots in them. You can't tell it. Only when you start to peel the apple do you notice. I told her that I add the odd blackberry to the apples and that hides the brown bits.
 She then told me that she too had the odd one start to go and so peeled and cored the rest and froze them down. What she then told me made me wonder if it was the unseasonally weather we have had this year to cause this to happen.
 She goes to the Market each Saturday and there is a veg. man and she asked him if he had any Bramley cooking apples. He told her he would not be getting any more as the apples had brown spots in them. If he has had problems, it is no little wonder I too have had a few apples. It seems as if they wont keep much at all this winter. By the way, I have had several in my fridge in the salad tray but even the odd one of those has gone.
 I went to have my 3 monthly Blood Test and also my B.P. This was very high so I must go and have it checked again in a months time. Bother!!
 Finally for now, at least I did get my refund from my Internet Provider for the 3 months over charging so that is good. Mind you I still have heard nothing from the installer of  my door. I did ring up the SKY team as my Sky Box is still playing up. Had to laugh for last night tried to turn the T.V. off and found it would switch on again. Managed it eventually. Will wait and see what he has to say about that. More soon.