Some More

These photos are what I took of the roads over the last couple of days. The top two, I hope are the first half and the seond two are of the remainder. The foreground is the layby. The next door neighbour was complaining to me that he thought they should do that also. I told him that the amount of traffic that used the layby was almost nil compared to the road. Anyway, when I went to fetch my garden watse bin in after it had been emptied. I saw a workman and asked him a few quesiions. He told me that there was going to be a top surface put on that at 40mm. He also told me that there would be a large contraption which stretched almost the width of the road and that would put some chippings down. He also told me that it was being done to the standards of the Motorways. Also they would be back the week after the Jubilee week but did not know just how long it would be before they had completed their work.

We had some rain today and to be honest for a period of time it was very haevy. So much so that my Satellite was not transmitting any signal to most of my channels. I think it was rain stopped play with the workmen as they didn't seem to be doing anything during the heavy rain only sitting in their cabs.

At least we have just over a week free from disruption. I have made an appointment to have my eyes tested. I have to go every tear. I will see my Sister at the same time. Also I will try tomorrow to go to the Vauxhall Dealership and see if I can book the car in for the safety recall. More soon.

Updates.

Rang my mate up last night just to see if he was O.K. Mind you he does have a girlfriend. I personally wouldn't give her te time of day but he seems to accept her. I asked him also how old his Mum was. He told me what I had guessed. she was 86 and would have been 87 in October.This morning I went out to get my Pension, also to make an appointment for a blood test and get my haircut. I went to the diversion and asked the man there if it was possible to carry on the main road toSutton.He told me that there would be no problem, I just had to be a little careful as there were cones in some places. I decided to ask him what was going on. Surprisingly enough he told me all I wished to know. On Thursday this week work will stop and although they wanted to recommence next Wednesday the Council had forbidden them to do anymore work until the following Monday 11th. June. I asked him then just how long would this be for nd he told me that unfortunately he didn't have any answers. He then went into some detail finishing up with the white lines had to be repainted so it could be some time.  Anyway I went to Sutton without any trouble. With this being easy I decided to return the same way home. I was surprised when some other motorist at a junction decided to follow me. When I reached where the workmen were, there was a different guy on duty. He asked me where I was going and I informed him that I only lived a 100 yards or so from where I was. He then told me that this was no problem and he asked the man who was in charge of the diversions to let me through. All he asked me to do was put my hazard warning lights on. The guy behind me had no such luck. What happened I do not know but he didn't follow me. I went about 30 yards and had to wait for a minute before they made way for me and I arrived safely home.
 This afternoon they were scraping the road outside my place. Not just mine but about 50 yards. I just wondered what was going to happen next.
 This evening I had my answer. Pushed through my letterbox was a note informing me that if I wished to get my car out, it must be done before 9.30am as they were going to do replaning and resurfacing. Parts of the planing would be going to depths of 170mm. As it happens, I will not, hopefully be needing to go out until Friday.
 As for getting my Blood Test and B.P. I knew the receptionist well and when she knew it was for Hospital, she told me she would have to ring up and unblock the system. Obviously there are too many people wanting Blood Tests for the available slots. I could not get a slot until June 13th. More soon.                              

Sad News

On Friday my mate rung me up with the sad news that his Mother had died. To be honest, I was  surprised that she had lingered on for so long. I would guess she weighed no more than 5 stone but she was a very small woman and would think in her heyday would have only weighed less than 8 stone.
 As mentioned in my blog, I used to think of things to remind her of the years gone by. It gave me pleasure to see her smile and she would remember what I had told her. I guess that she would be in her late 80s. If I find out I will of course write it on my blog.
 Now with the weather being so warm these last few days, the May blossom(Hawthorn blossom) has started to flower, not in full bloom yet but plenty of flowers.

 In my greenhouse and polytunnel, things have started to grow. My peas are coming on nicely and already I have had 3 meals of strawberries but the kingpin is a cauliflower. It is great. Mind you, the other ones have been nowhere as good as this one. Heaven alone knows what has happened to my photos of the strawberries. To be honest I thought I had sent my American friend one of the strawberries but sadly not.
 To be candid, I have spent several minutes trying to upload these then  get them on my blog. Google has a lot to answer for me. I hope they will read some of the comments I have made. Shame on them. More soon.

The very latest

This morning I saw some of the contractors preparing the road. They were removing the cats eyes. In a while there was a lorry draw up at the side of my home. I decided to go out and see just what was happening. I first of all asked him if everything was going according to schedule. He told me that it was just about on course. He then said to me that the traffic went by very fast. I concurred saying that it was supposed to be a 40mph. speed limit. I did remind him though that where the 30 mph stsrted the z bend meant that vehicles did have to slow down a lot. I guessed he was in charge of the singnage as in his lorry were plenty of signs. It rather confirmed this when he made the comment that folks were using the Jolly Common short cut. He told me that he kept telling them that the road was not suitable as it is just wide enough for one vehicle. I then told him that the Sea Lane road was also not good which he readily agreed. He then asked me if the A52 went through Grantham. I told him that it came from Derby and it was the main route to Skegness via Grantham. I also told him that the A52 ended at the traffic light s on Victoria Road opposite the Book in Hand Public House.
 I asked him if he was local. He told me he was not but came from Doncaster. Well not Doncaster really but Selby but he told me most had never heard of selby. I immediately infirmed him that I knew where Selby was and it was about 10 miles from York. As a Fireman on British Rail we had plenty of jobs to York and sometimes we did stop at Selby. He seemed impressed.
 Anyway I asked him what was going to happen next week and if the road to Skegness would be open next Friday. He assured me that the road would be open because the Council had refused permission for them to work after Thursday next week due to the Bank Holiday. He told me it was because of the caravans being towed. He told me that they wished to perhaps go back on Wednesday after the Bank Holiday but he thought that also would not be possible. I then asked him if the back road to Alford would be open. He told me that they hoped it would.
 What he told me then was what had been rumoured for a while. He told me that as far as he coul see most of the repairswere where the Olympic Torch was being carried. I did tell him that I thought no Torch was passing here but was not sure. I thought it was going to Thurlby. He did tell me that the Torch was going through Mumby. We will wait and see, it is going through Mumby though. More soon.

Better

The weather has been better these last couple of days, yes it has been dull at times but the sun has also shone so I am not complaining especially as it hasd been much warmer.
 I managed to get to Sutton to get my Pension and my weekly gear. I noticed that on my travels to the diversion the road had several markings. I guessed that this meant that the A52 is NOT being resurfaced but is only goig to be patched up. Fancy, closing the road for nearly 3 weeks just to do several patches. If this is so, I will be writing to the Highways Department and tell them just what I think.
 Mind you this is nothing compared to my mate in Skegness. I guess that the winter population is approaching 20.000 and in the summer months up to 200.000. My mate has informed me that the Post Office in the Co-op in the Hildreds Centre has given notice that the Post Office will close by December 31st. 2012 at the latest. There is just one other Post Office and that is on Burgh Road. My mate has informed me that the shop is increasing it's capacity to cope with the increase of business.  I just can't believe it. I told my mate that with the demise of the Post Office the shops in Hildreds would almost certainly see their income fall as people would normally get their money and generally spend a little in the nearby shops. we will have to wait and see.
 I have taken a couple of photos of the peas and strawberries in my polytunnel. I hope to post them tomorrow. More soon.

Reprieve

Today we have had a sunny day, it was sunny all day fromfirst light until now which is after 6.00pm.
 I had every intention of doing my washing tomorrow but then at lunchtime the weather man came on and informed us that tomorrow and tghursday would be mainly cloudy on or near to the East Coast. Oh well I thought, I will do my washing immediately then. Without delay I collected all that wanted washing and put the machine on. The cycle takes about 1 hour to complete. I managed to get the clothes pegged out by 3.00pm and some of it was dry within the hour. All was dry and bought in by 5.30pm. My old Railway overalls being the last to dry.
 I was surprised to notice that I had three strawberries in my polytunnel. Although not completely ripe, I tasted one and it was nice and sweet.
 The tomatoes enjoyed the warm weather today and thank goodness, I have at last another 2 courgettes just showing. With the cold weather they have taken ages. Mind you, they have made a showing, more than can be said about my carrots. Still no showing yat.
 It also has been slow going with my Asparagus, today with the sun and warmer weather I did pick 6 spears. All I have been picking is the odd one. I have promised the neighbour with the chickens some Asparagus and I hope within the next few days to hjave a picking for her. I will be getting a few more eggs off her on Thursday. Let us hope I can give hera few spears of Asparagus.
 Regarding the road closure, I have been told that it is possible to get to the next Town so tomorrow, I will try to get into Sutton and get my State Pension, my T.V paper and some skimmed milk.
By the way, I have produced more solar power todat than the last 3 days put together. Don't suppose I will do 1/2 as much over the next 2 days. Such is life. More soon.

More dull weather

My best Pal called to see me the other day. He told me he was changing his Caravan from a 2 Berth to a 3 Berth. The reason he gave me was that 2 Berth was not really big enough for him to have a shower in comfort. He told me he used to go to the local shower on the Camp Site but it was too cold  for him. I certainly I would readily agree with him as it has been so cold and windy as well as being so dull. These last 3 days we have not seen any sun whatsoever. My Pal told me that he had kept a diary for most of his life and this year, apart from March has beeh one of the dullest and coolest for many years. I must admit that the Hawthorn trees which the blossom is commonly known as May blossom is not in flower yet and it is coming to the end of May. If it suddenly gets sunny and warm, things will catch up though.
  The next door neighbour has just come back from a holiday in Cyprus. She complained of the cold and very windy weather. North easterly off the sea so it is cold. She told me that she managed to get to the local town but there was quite a detour.
 The Postman also saw me and told me that he had to turn round and go a long way to get to the village. I suppose we will have to get used to this until the end of May. I may try tomorrow to go for some food, drink and my Pension. More soon.