I didn't mention it yesterday but something unpleasant happened.
I had just dished up my main meal, pork chop with apple sauce, potatoes, runner beans and marrow, when the phone rang. I thought sod it, had I started to eat I would have ignored it but as I had just dished up I decided to answer it. A voice on the other end asked to speak to me, I told the man I was the person. He then asked me some security questions which I answered correctly. I then told him to stop for a minute as I was going to put my meal in the oven.
Then the questioning started. Well first he asked me if I had ordered a ticket for the cinema. I told him I had not. He then told me that he thought my credit card had been compromised. I was amazed and told him so. I informed him that I had not used my card for about 3 months, and then I only occasionally use it. He then asked me several questions regarding purchases, to be honest I could not remember most of them. One was about a sports shop in USA another was a grocery store in China and the final one was for another cinema ticket in I think London. I told him that I had authorised no transactions of that nature. He then informed me that they would be contacting the police. He went on to say, they expected some sort of fraud was attempted as they noticed I did not use my card too often. He also told me that I was not liable for any expense and that the only product that had been authorised was the first cinema ticket. All the rest had been declined. He then asked me to destroy the card and a replacement would be sent out in about 3 weeks.
What disappoints me is this. I am careful with any invoice and old ones are put through a cross shredder, I always take my name and address off any mail and shred them. I try to leave nothing that is of use to anybody. I mentioned that I tried to be careful to the man from the credit card company. He just informed me that they were getting more and more professional at this sort of thing. Oh well, have a nice week end. More soon.
Friday, 15 October 2010
Thursday, 14 October 2010
Poor weather
Over the last few days the weather has been dull and cool. Living on the east coast it is also breezy. I was therefore surprised when I took a cloer look at my tomatoes, primarily in the polytunnel. I think I mentioned it but I had a tomato grow in the corner of my polytunnel, I do not know how it got there but decided to let it grow. I did not stake it up or bother with it until it started to show signs of flowering. I then watered it regular. It certainly had lots of tomatoes on it and today, I picked over 1 kg off the plant. All ripe and there are plenty of green ones on so if the weather stays good, more will be picked. Unfortunately for me, they are not the type as I have dentures and the seeds get under my plate. I grow plum tomatoes, they have very few seeds inside them. Generally they are grown for making pasta sauce.
I grow a few cherry tomatoes and I knew that I had several ready so I decided to take a few round to my neighbour. She was pleased and insisted I had another lot of eggs. I then asked her if the pigeon racing season was over. She confirmed that it was over and that her partner had arranged for somebody to dispose of a lot of birds. I only suggested that perhaps they could put them in an auction. I just thought what a waste.
I am still getting the odd runner bean and I mean odd. Today I picked 4, there are a few more on and weather permitting will get another feed or two. I also went tonight to pick a few beetroot, I have done well with them but the late setting was not really a success. Still I have had a taste. More soon.
I grow a few cherry tomatoes and I knew that I had several ready so I decided to take a few round to my neighbour. She was pleased and insisted I had another lot of eggs. I then asked her if the pigeon racing season was over. She confirmed that it was over and that her partner had arranged for somebody to dispose of a lot of birds. I only suggested that perhaps they could put them in an auction. I just thought what a waste.
I am still getting the odd runner bean and I mean odd. Today I picked 4, there are a few more on and weather permitting will get another feed or two. I also went tonight to pick a few beetroot, I have done well with them but the late setting was not really a success. Still I have had a taste. More soon.
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
Short of steam
This is really for a guy who is interested in Railways.
As anyone who has read my blog knows that I used to work on the British Railways, and to be honest a very very happy time of my life.
These two stories are completely true. I am not hiding anything at all but being short of steam was a stigma on one's ability.
I was with a regular driver who was a great guy, we had been rostered together for several months on what was called the iron stone run. We used to go about 5 miles up the main line and pick up our goods train. This consisted of 27 27ton wagons. This was the maximum load as it was a loose coupling(no brakes on the wagons) and stopping was the reason for the restriction of the load. Well we used to go along the main line till we got to a branch line to Boston, Louth and then Immingham. We never went there though. We used to go about half way and then change over, we would have about 50 empty wagons and the Immingham crew would then take the iron ore to Appleby Froddingham. Well this night we had gone to Louth and then waited for ages for the men with the empties to arrive. When they did, we saw what engine number it was so we knew we were in for a tricky journey home. The men got off as soon as they could and off they went. I looked in the firebox, said to my mate Billy." F**k me Billy we are in trouble, just look at the state of this fire." He took one look and then said to me. "Can you get us to the next signalbox." I assured him that if he took it steady I would make sure we would get there. He stopped at the signalbox and went to see the signalman and asked him to get in touch with control. They were the men who were supposed to make sure all went smoothly. Eventually he came back, while he was gone I did a little cleaning of the clinkers in the firebox. He got on the footplate and said to me."Well that's told them. I told them the state of the firebox and that it was impossible to continue without doing some cleaning of the firebox. Control asked me what number the Loco was and if it was 63923. I told him guess again and you are wrong." I laughed and he could see I had been busy. He asked me if I could get to Boston. I said I could but then must clean the fire a lot more. He told me that he had informed Control that this was going to be my objective. Well we eventually arrived at Boston. While my Driver was getting water into the tank, I was cleaning out the fire. Eventually we started out and limped home to Grantham. Nothing was ever mentioned about the incident ever.
The second time was different. We had a job where we signed on at 5.00m and prepared the steam engine, then went with 5 coaches to Newark as empty coaching stock. only to start back to Grantham as the Parly leaving Newark at 7.30am. Well when I looked at the fire, it was almost out, we had next to no steam, my driver, who was not my regular driver went mad. I told him not to worry, I would manage as I had been a fireman then for about 7 years. We eventually got to Newark and I will admit we were struggling for steam but I knew that I had just about got it all under control. Roger, the Driver looked at me looked in the firebox and told me to put a lot more coal on. I told him no, leave it to me and all will be O K. He then went stupid and ordered me to put more coal on. I looked at him and just said. " On your head be it, you have now completely f****d the fire up. We will now not get to Grantham without being short of steam and I hope you are satisfied. I hold you completely responsible for this," Needless to say we stopped about 5 miles short of Grantham. When we arrived at Grantham. another engine backed on , this was the normal way. The train then proceeded to London. We went into the loco. My driver immediately went to the loco foreman's office. The foreman came out to see me. I then told him everything that had happened. He just said to me."O.K I will say it is a lot of bad coal." Again nothing was ever said about it.
Footnote though, I was informed a few weeks later, the tannoy system went into overdrive that morning we were late. The annoucer informed all the passengers who were waiting that there would be a delay as the engine was short of steam. Such is life.
Finally the days of steam, when we went to King's Cross or York to that matter. the train always had 13 coaches on. Now with the advent of electric. 10 coaches are the norm . Is this progress?
Yes times are quicker now but there have been several improvements in tracks too. We had the fastest train from London. It was the White Rose. King's Cross to Grantham 105 miles in 100 minutes. Most were 105 minutes maximum and going through Peterborough was a speed limit if 20mph. Oh well more another day.
As anyone who has read my blog knows that I used to work on the British Railways, and to be honest a very very happy time of my life.
These two stories are completely true. I am not hiding anything at all but being short of steam was a stigma on one's ability.
I was with a regular driver who was a great guy, we had been rostered together for several months on what was called the iron stone run. We used to go about 5 miles up the main line and pick up our goods train. This consisted of 27 27ton wagons. This was the maximum load as it was a loose coupling(no brakes on the wagons) and stopping was the reason for the restriction of the load. Well we used to go along the main line till we got to a branch line to Boston, Louth and then Immingham. We never went there though. We used to go about half way and then change over, we would have about 50 empty wagons and the Immingham crew would then take the iron ore to Appleby Froddingham. Well this night we had gone to Louth and then waited for ages for the men with the empties to arrive. When they did, we saw what engine number it was so we knew we were in for a tricky journey home. The men got off as soon as they could and off they went. I looked in the firebox, said to my mate Billy." F**k me Billy we are in trouble, just look at the state of this fire." He took one look and then said to me. "Can you get us to the next signalbox." I assured him that if he took it steady I would make sure we would get there. He stopped at the signalbox and went to see the signalman and asked him to get in touch with control. They were the men who were supposed to make sure all went smoothly. Eventually he came back, while he was gone I did a little cleaning of the clinkers in the firebox. He got on the footplate and said to me."Well that's told them. I told them the state of the firebox and that it was impossible to continue without doing some cleaning of the firebox. Control asked me what number the Loco was and if it was 63923. I told him guess again and you are wrong." I laughed and he could see I had been busy. He asked me if I could get to Boston. I said I could but then must clean the fire a lot more. He told me that he had informed Control that this was going to be my objective. Well we eventually arrived at Boston. While my Driver was getting water into the tank, I was cleaning out the fire. Eventually we started out and limped home to Grantham. Nothing was ever mentioned about the incident ever.
The second time was different. We had a job where we signed on at 5.00m and prepared the steam engine, then went with 5 coaches to Newark as empty coaching stock. only to start back to Grantham as the Parly leaving Newark at 7.30am. Well when I looked at the fire, it was almost out, we had next to no steam, my driver, who was not my regular driver went mad. I told him not to worry, I would manage as I had been a fireman then for about 7 years. We eventually got to Newark and I will admit we were struggling for steam but I knew that I had just about got it all under control. Roger, the Driver looked at me looked in the firebox and told me to put a lot more coal on. I told him no, leave it to me and all will be O K. He then went stupid and ordered me to put more coal on. I looked at him and just said. " On your head be it, you have now completely f****d the fire up. We will now not get to Grantham without being short of steam and I hope you are satisfied. I hold you completely responsible for this," Needless to say we stopped about 5 miles short of Grantham. When we arrived at Grantham. another engine backed on , this was the normal way. The train then proceeded to London. We went into the loco. My driver immediately went to the loco foreman's office. The foreman came out to see me. I then told him everything that had happened. He just said to me."O.K I will say it is a lot of bad coal." Again nothing was ever said about it.
Footnote though, I was informed a few weeks later, the tannoy system went into overdrive that morning we were late. The annoucer informed all the passengers who were waiting that there would be a delay as the engine was short of steam. Such is life.
Finally the days of steam, when we went to King's Cross or York to that matter. the train always had 13 coaches on. Now with the advent of electric. 10 coaches are the norm . Is this progress?
Yes times are quicker now but there have been several improvements in tracks too. We had the fastest train from London. It was the White Rose. King's Cross to Grantham 105 miles in 100 minutes. Most were 105 minutes maximum and going through Peterborough was a speed limit if 20mph. Oh well more another day.
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Driving
As mentioned in my last blog, I now tell all how I got my driving licence.
All who live in the U.K. and are over 70 will know that everyone had to do National Service as soon as they reached 18 years of age. I say everyone, not quite correct as firstly a deferment could be arranged for apprentices until they had qualified so they went into the forces at 20. 5 years was the norm for plumbers, electricians joiners etc. So they were aged 20 when they did their N.S. There was also what is called a reserved occupation. This was in general Miners, who worked on the coal pits and Railwaymen which I was one. Unfortunately for me there was a special dispensation that meant all railway lads who attained 18 had to go into the forces for 2 years. Just my luck, about 8 months later, war was declared on Egypt over the Suez Canal and all recruitment from the Railway was halted, never to be reintroduced again. However about 4 years later conscription was abolished.
Now to me and the forces. I had to go for an induction, was asked what service I wished to serve. I wished the RAF. I was given the Army, asked for a home or overseas posting, I requested a home posting. Finished up in Hong Kong. Asked also what profession I would like to persue, I replied the railway in the Armed Services. I was sent to do Field Engineering. What that was I had no idea.
Well I was sent a rail warrant to appear at Worcester on I think 13th October. I duly arrived, it was nice there but it was just a holding depot, after 14 days I was sent with lots of other lads to Aldershot. A proper garrison town. We would be there for 13 weeks basic training and we would be taught how to drive a lorry. A so called 3 ton lorry. I think it was commonly known as a Bedford bull nose. We were allotted an NCO each and had to be taught from scratch. I had never sat in front of a car let alone a lorry. It was strange to me and to be honest hated almost every minute of it.
First I spent a lesson being taught where everything was and how it worked. I must tell you drvers now that the old lorries had to be what was called double de-clutched. That was after you put it in gear and started moving, when you wanted to change gear, up or down you first had to dip the clutch put the gear lever in neutral again dip the clutch and select the gear you needed then engaged gear and lift the clutch. You must not attempt to change down from 2nd to first gear as it was not possible to do so. It may sound hard but it isn't really and one soon got used to it.
There were 4 routes and we had to pass each route before we could progress to the next route.
Route 1 consisted of getting in the lorry, starting it getting it in gear and then get it moving changing up to second gear but no higher. This was done on an oval shaped piece of ground about the size of a football pitch, there were several oil drums making sure that you kept to a reasonably straight line.
When your tutor was satisfied, you moved on to route 2. This was in general going through sort of scrub land with several tracks, you did however go on a piece of public road for about 50 metres. This route was to teach us how to use the gears, how to steer and how to miss pot holes. I make it sound easy but we only had about a 2 hour session at most.
Eventually I progressed to route 3, this was through the local villages, yes there were country roads but the traffic was very sparse. Unfortunately my tutor was taken ill and so for a few days just did nothing at all. I eventually was seconded to another NCO. this was not a lot better as his vehicle kept breaking down. I never progressed from route 3.
Route 4 was going along the main A road into Reading driving through the main thoroughfare.
Once you had passed that you was given a proper driving test by civillian Driving Examiner who passed you if he thought you was a competent driver.
Well I did not know this, but those who did not pass route 3 was deemed to have failed the course. I do not know what should have happened to me but somebody must have noticed that I had lost so much time being taught by no fault of mine that they decided to leave me where I was.
I was duly sent home on Embarkation leave, went to Barton Stacy and then to Southampton, where I went on thr troopship Empire Fowey, which was incidentally a German luxury liner, confiscated duting the war and converted to a troopship. We were on our way to Hong Kong. I guess we were fortunate that our new C.O. was also travellig on the same ship, he arranged for us R.Es (Royal Engineers) to go upon the bridge where the Captain informed us that this was indeed a most modern ship and it did not have a wheel but just buttons. He pressed on and we went to port, then another and to starboard.
Enough of this though. We eventually arrived in Hong Kong, finised up on the mainland and off to the New Territories. We were about 40km from Kowloon the mainland capital.
Well after getting settled in I was given a driver to go with. He was a great lad from Manchester, he taught me lots. We now had a Bedford QL. These had a gear lever to the left and rear of you, so you could not look to see where the gear stick was you had to feel for it. After a while all was O K. I was with him for about 3 months and his time came for him to go home to England as his 2 years N.S. was about up. I was then given a tipper lorry. I was not allowed to drive but given a supervisor he drove I think you would call it a catterpillar He admitted that he was useless at driving lorries. He would be at home on a grader and things like that.
I was just lucky, one night in late autumn after heavy rains a road had been partially washed away, well to be more precise, much of the infestructure. I was immediately summoned and told that I had to go with my tipper to help out and that my supervisor would accompany me.
Off we went to somewhere I would never find again but we were there for about 5 days. All I did was drive to a quarry, have my tipper filled up with rubble drive down to where the rubble needed tipping, reverse, tip and go back and repeat the operation. I must have done the trip, at least 30 times when this officer said to my supervisor. "I will go with him this time." I just though he wanted to see what we were doing. Anyway I went down as usual and did my normal thing, when I got back, my supervisor was waiting and the officer just said to him "You can go back now I am giving him a licence." He just turned to me and said "Keep well into the side" He then left and that believe it or not was how I got my driving licence.
All I had to do was get a clerk who worked in the admin offices to give me a form stating that I was a qualified driver, I then could send to the Ministry of Transport and apply for a full British Driving Licence. This I did a couple of years later. To be honest I was not really capable of driving for quite some time. Driving a large lorry to a small car was totally different.
Well so now you know how I managed to get my driving licence. It is the truth. More soon.
All who live in the U.K. and are over 70 will know that everyone had to do National Service as soon as they reached 18 years of age. I say everyone, not quite correct as firstly a deferment could be arranged for apprentices until they had qualified so they went into the forces at 20. 5 years was the norm for plumbers, electricians joiners etc. So they were aged 20 when they did their N.S. There was also what is called a reserved occupation. This was in general Miners, who worked on the coal pits and Railwaymen which I was one. Unfortunately for me there was a special dispensation that meant all railway lads who attained 18 had to go into the forces for 2 years. Just my luck, about 8 months later, war was declared on Egypt over the Suez Canal and all recruitment from the Railway was halted, never to be reintroduced again. However about 4 years later conscription was abolished.
Now to me and the forces. I had to go for an induction, was asked what service I wished to serve. I wished the RAF. I was given the Army, asked for a home or overseas posting, I requested a home posting. Finished up in Hong Kong. Asked also what profession I would like to persue, I replied the railway in the Armed Services. I was sent to do Field Engineering. What that was I had no idea.
Well I was sent a rail warrant to appear at Worcester on I think 13th October. I duly arrived, it was nice there but it was just a holding depot, after 14 days I was sent with lots of other lads to Aldershot. A proper garrison town. We would be there for 13 weeks basic training and we would be taught how to drive a lorry. A so called 3 ton lorry. I think it was commonly known as a Bedford bull nose. We were allotted an NCO each and had to be taught from scratch. I had never sat in front of a car let alone a lorry. It was strange to me and to be honest hated almost every minute of it.
First I spent a lesson being taught where everything was and how it worked. I must tell you drvers now that the old lorries had to be what was called double de-clutched. That was after you put it in gear and started moving, when you wanted to change gear, up or down you first had to dip the clutch put the gear lever in neutral again dip the clutch and select the gear you needed then engaged gear and lift the clutch. You must not attempt to change down from 2nd to first gear as it was not possible to do so. It may sound hard but it isn't really and one soon got used to it.
There were 4 routes and we had to pass each route before we could progress to the next route.
Route 1 consisted of getting in the lorry, starting it getting it in gear and then get it moving changing up to second gear but no higher. This was done on an oval shaped piece of ground about the size of a football pitch, there were several oil drums making sure that you kept to a reasonably straight line.
When your tutor was satisfied, you moved on to route 2. This was in general going through sort of scrub land with several tracks, you did however go on a piece of public road for about 50 metres. This route was to teach us how to use the gears, how to steer and how to miss pot holes. I make it sound easy but we only had about a 2 hour session at most.
Eventually I progressed to route 3, this was through the local villages, yes there were country roads but the traffic was very sparse. Unfortunately my tutor was taken ill and so for a few days just did nothing at all. I eventually was seconded to another NCO. this was not a lot better as his vehicle kept breaking down. I never progressed from route 3.
Route 4 was going along the main A road into Reading driving through the main thoroughfare.
Once you had passed that you was given a proper driving test by civillian Driving Examiner who passed you if he thought you was a competent driver.
Well I did not know this, but those who did not pass route 3 was deemed to have failed the course. I do not know what should have happened to me but somebody must have noticed that I had lost so much time being taught by no fault of mine that they decided to leave me where I was.
I was duly sent home on Embarkation leave, went to Barton Stacy and then to Southampton, where I went on thr troopship Empire Fowey, which was incidentally a German luxury liner, confiscated duting the war and converted to a troopship. We were on our way to Hong Kong. I guess we were fortunate that our new C.O. was also travellig on the same ship, he arranged for us R.Es (Royal Engineers) to go upon the bridge where the Captain informed us that this was indeed a most modern ship and it did not have a wheel but just buttons. He pressed on and we went to port, then another and to starboard.
Enough of this though. We eventually arrived in Hong Kong, finised up on the mainland and off to the New Territories. We were about 40km from Kowloon the mainland capital.
Well after getting settled in I was given a driver to go with. He was a great lad from Manchester, he taught me lots. We now had a Bedford QL. These had a gear lever to the left and rear of you, so you could not look to see where the gear stick was you had to feel for it. After a while all was O K. I was with him for about 3 months and his time came for him to go home to England as his 2 years N.S. was about up. I was then given a tipper lorry. I was not allowed to drive but given a supervisor he drove I think you would call it a catterpillar He admitted that he was useless at driving lorries. He would be at home on a grader and things like that.
I was just lucky, one night in late autumn after heavy rains a road had been partially washed away, well to be more precise, much of the infestructure. I was immediately summoned and told that I had to go with my tipper to help out and that my supervisor would accompany me.
Off we went to somewhere I would never find again but we were there for about 5 days. All I did was drive to a quarry, have my tipper filled up with rubble drive down to where the rubble needed tipping, reverse, tip and go back and repeat the operation. I must have done the trip, at least 30 times when this officer said to my supervisor. "I will go with him this time." I just though he wanted to see what we were doing. Anyway I went down as usual and did my normal thing, when I got back, my supervisor was waiting and the officer just said to him "You can go back now I am giving him a licence." He just turned to me and said "Keep well into the side" He then left and that believe it or not was how I got my driving licence.
All I had to do was get a clerk who worked in the admin offices to give me a form stating that I was a qualified driver, I then could send to the Ministry of Transport and apply for a full British Driving Licence. This I did a couple of years later. To be honest I was not really capable of driving for quite some time. Driving a large lorry to a small car was totally different.
Well so now you know how I managed to get my driving licence. It is the truth. More soon.
Monday, 11 October 2010
Footnote.
I forgot to mention it. As I have mentioned it before, I have been cleaning my driveway which is block paved. I have a tool that has a sortof wire brush, just wide enough to go between the gaps of the block paving. Well I guess I have worked too hard, I wondered what was wrong when the moss and weeds were not being removed. I looked at this tool and I had worn the wire bristles down to nothing at all. I will, if I remember take a photo to show the brittleless tool. Eventually must get another one as I have about 10% of my driveway to finish.
Something different
Today I will tell you something different. As all will know, well those who read my blog, if there are any regular readers, I usde to have my own business. The last of these was quite different to my other one. This was more relaxing, the only drawback was that being 7 days a week in the summer months it was also a long day. I was well over 55 when I started. I used to get up at the kiosk about 8.30am.It took the best part of 30 minutes to get there from home, I used to leave anywhere from 5.30pm to about 6.30pm. So by the time I got home, the day was over and ir was soon to think about sleep.
I certainly enjoyed working up there though. On more than one occasion, I would get up at about 5.00am have a shower and something to eat then go into the garden and look after my vegetables, flowers and get rid of the weeds. Sometimes I would get carried away and forget the time so would have to move sharply to get opened. I would sometimes forget to shave. If anybody asked me I just said it was designer stubble.
I guess that the last year I was there I realised that it was time to move on. I had 2 such occasions that made my mind up for me. The first was when a few young boys came up to me and asked me if I had any skittles. I looked at them and thought for a moment then suggested that surely they could make some skittles to have some sort of game. They were all about 10 and very nice, pointing out that skittles were a sort of sweet. I laughed and thanked them so much for informing me.
The second was different. This woman came into the kiosk and asked me if I had any fishing nets. I replied that indeed I had they were 75 pence each and if they did not serve their purpose then her money would be returned. The woman looked a little peeved and told me that the shop down the road was selling them for 49 pence. I naturally informed her that it looked as if she would have to go back to the shop down the road. The reply was not what I expected. Her actual reply was this. "Well he says they are 49 pence each but he hasn't got any left. I immediately replied "Well my dear if I had none left mine would have been 40 pence each." Anyway she eventually bought a fishing net for her grandchild. I thought it was not good of me to say a remark to her like that, although at the time I was quite pleased that I thought of a retort like that. I think tomorrow I will talk about how I got my driving licence.
I certainly enjoyed working up there though. On more than one occasion, I would get up at about 5.00am have a shower and something to eat then go into the garden and look after my vegetables, flowers and get rid of the weeds. Sometimes I would get carried away and forget the time so would have to move sharply to get opened. I would sometimes forget to shave. If anybody asked me I just said it was designer stubble.
I guess that the last year I was there I realised that it was time to move on. I had 2 such occasions that made my mind up for me. The first was when a few young boys came up to me and asked me if I had any skittles. I looked at them and thought for a moment then suggested that surely they could make some skittles to have some sort of game. They were all about 10 and very nice, pointing out that skittles were a sort of sweet. I laughed and thanked them so much for informing me.
The second was different. This woman came into the kiosk and asked me if I had any fishing nets. I replied that indeed I had they were 75 pence each and if they did not serve their purpose then her money would be returned. The woman looked a little peeved and told me that the shop down the road was selling them for 49 pence. I naturally informed her that it looked as if she would have to go back to the shop down the road. The reply was not what I expected. Her actual reply was this. "Well he says they are 49 pence each but he hasn't got any left. I immediately replied "Well my dear if I had none left mine would have been 40 pence each." Anyway she eventually bought a fishing net for her grandchild. I thought it was not good of me to say a remark to her like that, although at the time I was quite pleased that I thought of a retort like that. I think tomorrow I will talk about how I got my driving licence.
Thursday, 7 October 2010
Lovely day
Today has been one of the nicest days in ages, warm and sunny, the temperature around 21c much higher than the average for early October. Unfortunately I did not have much time to enjoy the weather. First my friend came and eventually sorted the flue on the gas fire. Well we think we have cured it. This took us about 2 hours. I think I mentioned it but if not, well here it is again. A couple of days ago my clock which is battery operated started to lose time. I naturally thought it was the battery that was getting low. I changed it but the same thing happened. I then changed the battery for a third time, just in case it was a faulty battery. No joy at all. In fact the clock just stopped altogether. My friend took a look and thought the internal mechanism had ceased to function, but thought a replacement interior could be bought. I hope so as it was bought by my 2 sisters as a house warming over 17 years ago. I have looked after it with loving care ever since. My friend remarked how pristine it looked.
This morning I turned my radio on. God almighty what a noise. I always have a daily news programme on, this was on full volume and nothing like my news channel. I tried in vain to change the channel but to no avail. It is a digital radio with several pre set channels. This has happened before but not to the extent that it was impossible to alter the channel at all. I bought it about 4 years ago from Lydl, it is a smart looking radio. I hope that something can be done. We live in hopes. It will be at least 14 days before I will know.
After an early lunch my friend left because he knew I had an appointment to have my flu jab. It was at 2.17pm in the local village about 10 minutes away. I duly arrived at the new venue. We have never been there before, and I was about 10 minutes early. I saw first a woman who I see regular at the surgery, she had a few words with me and informed me that the flu jab included swine flu too. Then I registered with a young woman and was then greeted by another woman who told me to see the nurse who was waiting. I of course knew her well, again we had a few words and I told her this was the best organised flu jab I had ever been on. She was pleased. After the jab I asked her where to go. I was surprised when she told me to go into the next room where tea and coffee was being served. I didn't believe her for one minute but to my surprise several people were in fact drinking and there was a large plate of assorted biscuits. I did not stay though but went out straight away. By the time I was in my car starting to go back home the time was just 2.17. The time I should have had my jab. I found it almost unbelievable as each year until this year the queues would be about 40 deep and out in the open and the time between arriving and having the flu jab would be in excess of 30 minutes. I used to call it a cattle market. This was brilliant. I hope that next year will be equally as good.
As the weather was so nice, prior to going for my flu jab I decided to put my washing machine on thinking that when I got home, it would be ready to peg out. I actually had to wait for about 30 minutes, they did not dry completely but enough to iron my tea towel and a few odds and ends. I changed my bed too hoping that the weather would be good tomorrow. Unfortunately this is not so, but Saturday and Sunday is promising so I will wait. That is enough of rubbish from me for now. More soon.
This morning I turned my radio on. God almighty what a noise. I always have a daily news programme on, this was on full volume and nothing like my news channel. I tried in vain to change the channel but to no avail. It is a digital radio with several pre set channels. This has happened before but not to the extent that it was impossible to alter the channel at all. I bought it about 4 years ago from Lydl, it is a smart looking radio. I hope that something can be done. We live in hopes. It will be at least 14 days before I will know.
After an early lunch my friend left because he knew I had an appointment to have my flu jab. It was at 2.17pm in the local village about 10 minutes away. I duly arrived at the new venue. We have never been there before, and I was about 10 minutes early. I saw first a woman who I see regular at the surgery, she had a few words with me and informed me that the flu jab included swine flu too. Then I registered with a young woman and was then greeted by another woman who told me to see the nurse who was waiting. I of course knew her well, again we had a few words and I told her this was the best organised flu jab I had ever been on. She was pleased. After the jab I asked her where to go. I was surprised when she told me to go into the next room where tea and coffee was being served. I didn't believe her for one minute but to my surprise several people were in fact drinking and there was a large plate of assorted biscuits. I did not stay though but went out straight away. By the time I was in my car starting to go back home the time was just 2.17. The time I should have had my jab. I found it almost unbelievable as each year until this year the queues would be about 40 deep and out in the open and the time between arriving and having the flu jab would be in excess of 30 minutes. I used to call it a cattle market. This was brilliant. I hope that next year will be equally as good.
As the weather was so nice, prior to going for my flu jab I decided to put my washing machine on thinking that when I got home, it would be ready to peg out. I actually had to wait for about 30 minutes, they did not dry completely but enough to iron my tea towel and a few odds and ends. I changed my bed too hoping that the weather would be good tomorrow. Unfortunately this is not so, but Saturday and Sunday is promising so I will wait. That is enough of rubbish from me for now. More soon.
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