To continue

Before I go any further I must apologise for the poor quality of this photo. I had a printer,scanner copier but when my Windows XP Home Edition hard drive froze. I then went to the next generation. That was Vista. Now nothing works with Vista that worked on XP. It is the same if I upgraded to Severn. Again nothing that works on Vista will work on Severn.. What a rip off. That is microsoft for you. Anyway I had to take this photo by using my camera, hence it is only fair. If you expand it though, perhaps you will realise just how prestigious her Father was. To manage that huge place. She wanted for nothing was waited on hand and foot. There were servants galore and the mode of transport was pony and trap so there were plenty looking after the horses. I can't remember if I said this but showing is her parents Arthur her brother and herself with the dog. She did tell me what it was called but I forget. As you will notice it was taken in 1897 the Queens Diamond Jubilee. 60 years on the throne. I guess Arthur would be about 11 and she would be about 4. When her father died suddenly, they were more or less turfed out and had to find something to do. From what I found, her Mother with her started a Cake shop. How successful it was I do not know. I can only say this, she mentioned that her Mother told her never to marry a man much older than her because she would be left alone for so long. I guess that is what happened to her Mother. Through other people I was told that her Mother suffered from ulcerated legs. This unfortunately also happened to her. The nurse would come daily to change the bandages on her legs. They would be soaked. It was about this time that she never went upstairs again. In fact for months she just used to sleep in her chair. It was similar to a carver chair that used to be sold as a dining set. This however was very ornate. Unfortunately, she gradually became incontinent, the smell was not good. She would hold a wet cushion that she had been sitting on, in front of the gas fire. I don't think I have to say more. Gradually over the weeks she became worse. I went over just the same as if nothing was out of the ordinary. The district nurses became involved. There was a Sister who I became friendly with. I called her Joan, she also called me by my christian name but said to me that if any of the nurses were around, would I please call her Sister. This particular morning she came across as usual. We generally discussed how things were going on. This day she informed me that she had just got the DSO. Innocently I told her that it couldn't have happened to a nicer woman. Upon that she laughed and then told me what DSO stood for. Unfortunately the old lady had completely soiled herself and Joan was there alone so had to clean her up. The DSO stood for distinguished shit order. I burst out laughing, she too laughed we then had a cuppa and a cake. I was keeping her Nephew and Niece informed as to how things were going. I told them that if they wanted to see her they had better get over soon. They told me that it was not possible to get over for a while. A couple of days later, Joan came over to see me. I told Joan, that in my opinion she was not long for this earth. Joan had previously told me that people who are on their own and are under the district nurse. A woman was asked to sit with her until she passed away. Anyway Joan told me that she did not think it would happen tonight and left. Later in the afternoon she came back and said to me that on second thoughts, she would arrange for someone to stay there just in case. When I got up the next morning about 7.30am there was a note on the door saying that she had died at 5.05am. I immediately went over to get the budgie. I asked her every day if it had been fed, she always said yes. Well I fed it and I don't think it stopped eating for about 15 minutes. The bird was being looked after by another woman. Later that morning the woman who had stayed there came to see if I had got the message. She told me something that made me wonder. She said that the bird was chirping all night until the moment she died, then the bird was silent. Well I notified her Nephew and Niece, true to form as she told me, within the hour they were at her home. In the meantime they asked me if I could arrange for the undertaker to fetch the body and take it to the Chapel of Rest. That was the end of her life.

Not however without telling you this. Before I say more about these things. You will notice I put a mug there to give you some idea as to how large they are. I should have done that with the ornament. The Bulldog Breed. That by the way stood about 7" high.

Now to those pieces of glass. It is almost certain that all who read this blog and all who will ever read this would have no idea as to what they are. I certainly didn't. I think it was because I had a restaurant that she gave me them. She presented them to me as if they were very expensive items. Of course to her, they were important. She told me many times that they had Commercial Travellers stay at the hotel. This was their evening sweet. She told me that those two items were a jelly and custard mould. Fro what I could gather, the jelly was in the one without the handle and the custard was in the one with a handle so that the custard could be poured over the jelly once it was out in a dish. I just thought, how small the jelly and custard was.

Oh well I hope I have not bored you to tears. More soon.

More about the object

Now, before I go into detail I think I had better explain just how I got to know the person who owned it. As those who have read all of my blogs, I was in business at the seaside from 1969. The owner for the premises told me to look after the old couple over the road because he would go and sit on the promenade and anyone who asked him where to get a decent meal, he would then give them my premises name and direction. The way I was to look after them was to get their bread from my baker. This I did. It didn't do any good though because unfortunately the man didn't live a lot longer. I still went over though to take her the bread. I guess she was then about 75. Over the next few years she grew weaker, first she had an estrogen deficiency and developed a so called dowagers hump. I forgot to tell you, she lived in a house that was 4 bed roomed, had no bathroom, no electricity, had only gas down stairs and candle for upstairs. The owner of the property wished to install electricity but she kindly refused. She had no close relatives only a Nephew and Niece, they both lived at Grimsby some 35 miles away. They did 'nt call on her very often, however as she got older they did call a little more frequently. She used to hate them coming because she did a posh tea for them. You will understand more as I tell you more about her. the only time I ever heard a swear word was once when they had been and eaten all before them. She called him a greedy bugger. I just laughed. She told me that when she was gone they would be here like vultures. She was right of course. She had no money and no property, she did however have some nice things. She once took me into her front room and showed me a 24 piece tea service which she called a blackberry design. It certainly looked nice. Now a little more about her, as she got older, I found myself going over to see that the coal was in, that the gas mantle was lit, by now she couldn't reach the handle to turn it on. I remedied that by tying string so that she at least could reach to turn on the gas mantle. Then one day she told me that she was going to have a gas fire fitted, this she said would allow her to be able to control her heat herself. She really lived in a very spartan place. Incidentally there was no hot water, in fact only 1 tap. This was in the scullery. I would go and sit with her, she would then reminisce, she sent me upstairs,which I was highly honoured as she never allowed anyone up there. She told me where to go and what to get. On one occasion it was an album. There were plenty of photos, as she turned each page she would sometimes tell me who they were. I noticed a man in uniform and asked her who it was. She told me that it was her intended husband. He was a butchers Son. He had wanted to marry her before he went back to the front, however his father informed him that the war was drawing to a close and if he waited, he would pay for everything when the war was over. Unfortunately, he never returned. Another album was filled with postcards. There were well over 100 she told me that her Brother Arthur sent her a postcard every time he went anywhere. he told me that he was her elder brother but was a sickly child and never really improved. He did eventually die of Consumption(Tuberculosis). She asked me if I had noticed the fox head on a wooden plinth in the hall. I told her I had. She told me that this was given to Arthur on his first kill. Normally they were bloodied. I think that is how the original quote arose. they are now bloodied in.That is the brush was cut off the fox and then smeared across each cheek of the newest member but because he was sickly, they gave him the head instead. It was dated 1901. I guess Arthur would be about 13 then. By the way, tomorrow I will put on my blog a picture of where she was born. The White Heart Hotel. Spilsby. The photo was taken, I think in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria 60 years on the throne. Standing outside was her Father, Mother Arthur, herself and her pet dog which I forget what it was called. By the way, this was a photo I found upstairs in her bedroom. She gave it to me. As she got older and weaker, she would tell me more of her life. She was born around 1983 in Spilsby. She led a privileged life. Her Father was the Manager of the White Heart Hotel. She never had to do a thing for many years as everything was done for her. Suddenly around 1920 everything stopped. Her father suddenly died and as everybody knows as soon as the man dies, the woman had to vacate any licensed premises. So that was the end of her grand life. Now to the I don't know what to call it. It was always either on the table but when the table was set, it was on the sideboard. One day I asked her about it, she just said it was her bulldog breed. Now to how I got it. The niece who was reasonable would often come and have 5 minutes with me. I once told her that she had a profile of a woman hanging on the wall. I just told her I did not like it at all. Well when she died, she came over to see me, gave me the key so that I could let any authorised person in. She then told me that she had taken the profile of that woman down, also that horrible monkey figure and put them both in the dustbin. I didn't say anything but was disappointed that the bulldog breed had gone. Well as I had a key, sometime later I went over and to my surprise, she had disposed of both objects in the dustbin but like most methodical women had firstly wrapped them up in newspaper. I retrieved the bulldog, noticed that the top came off. I have thought about it often and I am satisfied that I think this was a promotion for the display and selling of cigars in the White Heart. It must be remembered that this was a very quality place in the late 1800s. I will continue to tell just a little more tomorrow.

Something different

I first thought of this when I went on to my American friend's blog. I will come back to these tomorrow and tell you all about how I got it and what I think it was used for. I know that it is not valuable at all but I gusee nobody will have seen anything like it before. Some might say, thank god. he he.

These are obviously the latest photos of my flowers in my garden. I thought they looked appealing and it shows that spring is just about here. Fruit blossom will be on my trees very soon. The first blossom will be, I think on my plum trees. So until tomorrow.

A Phone call

I could not get online yesterday because of my young friend, well he is over 50, rang me. He used to work for me years ago and now lives in Devon. I have NO problems at all compared to him.
He told me in late November that he was moving to a 4 bedroomed house as his 2 daughters were needing more space. He hoped that the move would be in early December as they were going to USA again in December over Christmas and New Year.
Well just before they went on holiday, the home was ready, well supposed to be but gave instructions and expected all to be well when he got back. No such luck. To start, there was no cooker, and the electrics were not connected. He found an electrician on site and managed to get him but he charged him £5 for every connection he made. He did however have now full power. He contacted the builder and demanded the cooker, one came a couple of days later but was smaller and not of the quality it was supposed to be. The kitchen units were fitted badly, no carpets and the wardrobes in each bedroom were there but had not been assembled and fitted. He told me that they are just about settled but it is 3 months since they had moved in, mind you the solicitors are involved so heaven alone knows what will happen.
Now to me. Yesterday I went to THURLBY Motors to have my windscreen inspected. The man there was one of the rudest men I have met in ages. Tact was not in his vocabulary. He just looked and said in a condesending tone that it was definitely a stone chipping that caused the damage. I told him that it had been 2 weeks since I first reported this. He reluctantly admitted that he had become involved too late. He asked his colleague if the photos that Alison took, who incidentally was not there, the reply was I think not I think they have gone. I told him that I had taken photos. He then said he was going to take another photo. I said that it was getting worse. He informed me that naturally it would get worse, when frost gets on the windscreen it will help it deteriorate. I immedately told him that my car was always in the garage unless it was being used. He then got on about Autoglass. He told me that they should have repaired the windscreen as I wanted to pay. I wanted to pay? I was amazed at that statement. He added that Autoglass should have done the job as they were getting paid to do the work. To be honest, I think principle is another word that is alien to him. He took a photo which to be honest looks entirely different to the ones I took. I will try to show the photos on my next blog. It was a decent photo though as he took the car under cover in I think it was the repair shop.
He told me that he was going to get on to utoglass and if they wished to take it up further with Vauxhall he could because they were far bigger than Autoglass. I couldn't believe what I had just heard. It reminded me of when I was very young, two boys would fight and argue, the losing boy would then say. I will get my dad to beat up your dad because he is bigger than you.
Anyway I decided I had heard enough so I just left.
His colleague whose mane was Jo rang me up about an hour later and asked if Autoglass had been in touch with me. I said no which seemed to take her aback and she said she would ring me back later. She didn't but this Mr. Tim Broughton did. He shouted to me"Has Autoglass called you yet? I have given them what for." I told him that they had just contaced me and I did not like his attitude and neither did the manager of Autoglass. He then started to act a little more reasonable but the damage has been done. I will be reporting the whole incident to Vauxhall.
The manager told me that he would send a man down today, which he did and fit a new windscreen in. Unfortunately it wasn't the one who cmae before because I wanted to ask if there had been a deterioration in the windscreen.
Mind you, I have always been told that if you can't make friends don't make enemies.
But on a serious note. Surely Thurlby Motors, which is a dealership, would never want to alienate a customer, but in my caes, they certainly have. I will NEVER spend a penny there ever. Had they been polite and helped me as I think I shoud have had help, I would have had all my servicing done there. So now it has to date cost me £75 but they will have lost at least £200 of servicing, that is annually.
When the guy took the windscreen off he pointed a few things to me and advised me to photograph them, which I did. He told me that an examination of the windscreen will take place at Grimsby. Whether anything becomes of this I do not know. All I am really interested in is contacting Vauxhall headquarters, because I honestly believe that they have no idea as to what has happened. I can assure you though they will.
Now I wish to hopefully get on with my new windscreen in the car. Wouldn't it be fun if the same thing happened again? Mind you, the man who fitted it told me that this one should be O.K. More soon but not of windscreens though.

Short and sweet

Today I decided not to wait in as I have done for the last couple of days so I went to have my haircut. there was only 2 others in waiting so I did not have to wait too long.
I noticed his opening times and costs. I was fortunate as I nearly waited until this afternoon to go and have my haircut. Just as well as he closes at noon every Wednesday. The costs are £5.50 for adults, £5.00 for children under 12 and £4.00 for pensioners over 65. The price for everyone on Saturday is £5.50. Naturally I paid the £4.00. He told me that he was going to Lincoln this afternoon to buy some more hair cutters. I told him to shop around there for petrol as fuel(diesel had just increased to 1.46.9p per litre.
I came back and had my dinner. then went and did a little in the garden.
I did not mention it but the other day, I had a delivery of young trees. I planted them in pots so tomorrow, when my friend comes we will plant them in the front garden.
Late on this afternoon, I had a phone call. Yes it was from Alison about my windscreen. She told me that someone would be there tomorrow to inspect my windscreen damage to assess whether it is a stress fracture. So at least we are getting somewhere. I hope to have more positive news soon.

More windscreen news

Well to be honest, not a lot more news really about my windscreen (windshield) for a special friend.
This morning I went to the local Vauxhall Dealer to see just what has happened. I had to wait for Alison to appear at her place of work for a minute or so, but when she arrived she smiled, I asked her if there was anything positive to report and she told me there was nothing, she then told me that she had not been there since Wednesday so nothing had been done. She promised me that today she would chase up everything and that she was on my side. That made me feel a little better. She promised me that she would ring me back later today with any news.
I waited in all afternoon, what a pity as it was a lovely day, definitely the best day of the year so far.
At 5.00pm. I gave up hope and to be honest was somewhat disappointed, about 5.10pm. the phone rang. It was Alison, firstly she apologised for being so late ringing me but she had spent most of the afternoon trying to get hold of a Regional Manager but all she kept getting was the answer machine. There was one piece of positive news though. She had contacted Autoglass and they had sent her an e-mail confirming what I had told her. One of her colleagues told her that this was a positive sign. She told me that the Regional Manager may wish to see the damage to the windscreen. I told her that was not a problem.
So now all I have to do is wait, hopefully tomorrow I may have news. She did tell me though that the place where she works do not fit windscreens.
On a lighter note. I asked her what time she finished work. She said that she worked from 8.00am to 6.00pm every day. I then reminded her that the other day, there was a small flat tin with about £2.00 of loose change and I suggested that this was to help pay for my windscreen replacement. Immediately she came back with the retort that it was her wages. I just laughed. I said to her this afternoon that if the money which was in the tin was her wages, she sure was paid a pittance. Let,s hope for more news tomorrow.

Windscreen News

Now to update on my windscreen.
When I found the windscreen was cracking before my eyes, as soon as i got home I rung the help line, eventually was put through to Autoglass. Once I explained what had happened they suggested I go to Grimsby for them to inspect the damage. I informed them that it was too far. They then asked if a Vauxhall garage was nearby. I told them there was, so they suggested I visit them to see what they would do. The young lass took a photo of the windscreen. So I left and waited.
About 4 days later which included a week end I went back only to be told that the Company told me that it was NOT a stress fracture but stone damage. This didn't surprise me at all although I was convinced it was a stress fracture.
I went home and rung my insurer up. I was told that after the questions I would have to pay the £75 excess charge. I agreed so after questions about the style of windscreen I then paid by debit card and was told that Autoglass would be contacting me. This was on Monday
Within 20 minutes the phone rang and a guy introduced himself as Andy. He asked me a few questions about the windscreen then asked me if the damage was caused by a stone. I told him I was sure this was not the case. Then he told me something that surprised me. He told me that they would NOT fit a new windscreen if the damage was caused by a stress fracture. Asking me my mileage and I told him 300 miles he then said that they had to give a 3 year warranty on the new windscreen and they were not prepared to risk that because the same thing may happen again in another 300 miles. He would however send a man to fit the windscreen if it was a normal break. He gave me a time for the next day of 4 hours.
Well on Wednesday afternoon the guy came. He told me that he had been told to inspect the damage to see if it was a stone that caused the damage or whether it was stress or a faulty windscreen. It didn't take him long, he said he would not be fitting a windscreen as it was stress related and told me to go back to the garage give them the Autoglass telephone number and they would explain the damage to them.
Off I went back to the garage, went in and explained what had happened. The lass asked me how they knew that the damage was not done by a stone. I just said to her experience, they inspect thousands so should know what is what. I told her that I would call again early next week for a definitive answer. So as far as I was concerned that was that.
Early this morning, Friday, Andy rang me from Autoglass enquiring as to how I got on. I told them that I had heard nothing since I saw them on Wednesday afternoon after the Autoglass man had left. I went immediately to the garage. He then told me that he was surprised that they had not agreed to do the work. He told me that they would make money out of doing the job as it was covered by a 3 year warranty. He then informed me that he had cancelled my contract and that a refund of £75 would be given to me.
I told him that I would keep him up to date as to what was happening and I had also given them their telephone number. He told me that NOBODY had contacted them. I am not surprised. I guess I will go early next week and give an ultimatum. The work is done or I shall go to Trading Standards and seek some sort of compensation for the time I have spent trying to get something done. Oh well that is life I guess most things never run smoothly. Of course I will keep all informed as to what happens next.