Making a start ... again

 The day has finally arrived when I actually managed to continue installing the security bars on the outbuilding windows.

I first started this little job back in September 2024. Actually, scratch that. The windows bars were originally commissioned and delivered back in 2021. They then sat in the car port untouched until last year, when I installed the first set.

I was enthused by this initial installation and soon made a start on the next set of bars. It was at that point that I realised that I would need to install spacers and use much longer screws to enable the bars to be fitted. The reason being that the central decorative bar protrudes back a little, and interferes with the central glazing bar of the windows. The spacers set the security bars 25mm from the frame and give enough room for the decorative central bar.

I therefore needed suitable material for the spacers. I quickly settled on roofing laths. They are the perfect size and are pressure treated ... ideal for the timber clad outbuildings. Unfortunately they are four meters long and I estimated that I needed over seventy meters of laths.*

This meant that I would need to have them delivered and the onset of Winter meant that installing the bars got put on the back burner ... I really do not like working outside in the cold!

Anyway, the weather has improved. I got my shit together and ordered various items of timber, and today I finally had enough time to continue the job.

There was a fair bit of measuring and head scratching to ensure that the bars would be perfectly positioned around the window, and that the timber spacers fitted perfectly. It took about ninety minutes to get the first set of bars installed ... and I am bloody delighted.

They look brilliant AND provide a deterrent to any ne'er-do-well who thinks the outbuildings might yield easy pickings.

By the end of the day I had installed two sets of bars and was ready for a lazy night on the sofa. That wasn't to be, as we had tickets to see Henning Wehn at The Regal in Evesham. It was a very funny evening and Wehn made the ball-ache of parking in Evesham worthwhile.

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* This may be a slight miscalculation as I seem to have a lot of laths. The alternative scenario is that I may have included enough laths to make a section of trellis ... and forgotten about that mini project.

I'll get to it eventually

 I really do have plans for this week, but life just keeps getting in the way.

What I'd like to be doing is installing the security bars on the windows of the outbuildings, but this project keeps getting put off.*

This morning we were out of the house early as I needed to pop in to the local surgery for a blood test. We then headed in to Worcester as 30% has another consultation with an NHS Neurologist. After another review of 30%'s medical history they are still uncertain what the problem might be, but tests and scans have been scheduled and medication prescribed too.

I suppose we need to be relatively reassured that none of the medics are hitting panic buttons, and to let matters run their course.

The remainder of the morning was taken up with a trip to Bromsgrove to pick up some Layers Pellets and a couple of slabs of shotgun cartridges ... I'm shooting at the weekend.

The afternoon saw nothing other than a wander around the lanes with the dogs. 

Then it was a quick rest before this evening's Tai Chi class. The lesson was the usual mix of concentration and misplaced feet. There are moments when I feel that I am making headway and then it all goes to pot.

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* Actually I'm not sure that I would "like" to be installing the security bars. It is just that they have sat in the car port for about three years and they really need putting up. The more I think about this job the more I realise that it is quite complicated, especially if I am to get them installed to my satisfaction.

Another quiet day

 All Fools Day was far from busy.

I managed a brisk walk around the Three Mile with the idiots* in the morning and mowed the lawns at the front of the house in the afternoon.

That was about it. I did have a slight urge to start installing the security bars on the outbuildings, but there is a bloody cold wind, despite the clear skies and sunshine ...  that can wait until later in the week.

I also realised that I need some cartridges for clay shooting on Saturday.  It's been a good while since I last bought any and they are now very expensive. It looks like I'll be heading out to the gun shop tomorrow.

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* A collective and affectionate term for the dogs. If you saw them leaping around with excitement as I put on my walking boots you would understand how they have earned this appellation.

Stuff

Did my day really start with a walk around the Three Miler with the dogs?

No, not really. My day started at about seven o'clock. I threw on some clothes, filled a watering can with water and headed up to the orchard with the chicken feeder. It is a matter of a few minutes work to ensure that they have food and water. Then I open up their pop hole to give them access to the run. The nest boxes are checked for eggs, and then I return to the house for the first coffee of the day.

That is how my day generally starts.

The coffee is accompanied by a perusal of a couple of news websites, and then perhaps a read before 30% rises and we take breakfast shortly afterwards.

I was back from my walk well before lunch. The day was warm, sunny and the air was still. I had time and perfect weather for a hive inspection.

I grabbed my smoker and a few essentials and headed up to the hive in the orchard.  There were a lot of bees milling around the entrance and I hoped that I hadn't left it too long since the first inspection three weeks ago.  

What I didn't want to find was a colony preparing to swarm. This would be indicated by the presence of Queen cells within the colony and would necessitate a split or shook swarm to manage the situation.

Fortunately the colony is doing really well, but there were no signs of swarming. They had plenty of stores, were bringing in both nectar and pollen and had five frames of brood and eggs at the centre of the hive.

I put a queen excluder on the top of the brood box and put a super above that. The bees now have plenty of space in the hive and will, hopefully start to store nectar up in the super.

The afternoon saw a trip to see a consultant with 30%. I found the visit relatively reassuring and really hope that 30% did too. The next step is for her to have some MRI scans, which will hopefully pinpoint the problem and lead to a treatment plan,

Once back at home, I pulled the lawn mower from the shed and mowed the lawns at the back of the house. I had my phone in my pocket and was amazed to see that I had completed four thousand steps just wandering around the lawns.

It seems that during the month of March I have managed to walk over eighty miles ... no wonder my feet hurt!

Somewhat jet lagged

After only five hours sleep, I was somewhat jaded when I woke and started the day. Fortunately I had been yesterday's designated driver, and had therefore avoided compounding tiredness with a hangover.

After an understandably gentle start to the day I headed out and deglazed the side of the greenhouse. By early afternoon I had managed to replace the damaged panels, assisted periodically by 30%.

I then needed to retire to the sofa for a short siesta.*

After about three quarters of an hour I hauled my sorry arse off the couch and headed out around the Three Miler with Hobson. I think we both felt better for a walk. He certainly seemed to enjoy it.

The day ended with another shared meal. This evening we were joined by Bubbles and Bobbyn for a Chinese meal, courtesy of China Twon.  It was lovely to catch up with them and they were the perfect guests, leaving at a very civilised half past nine.**

Considering how little sleep I had, I am bloody amazed how much I managed to get done today.

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* Well earned, I thought.

** Any later and we would have probably fallen asleep in front of them.

A Late One

Saturday started with an early walk around the lanes with the dogs.

We would be out for a good few hours in the middle of the day, so it seemed only fair to get them exercised and emptied before we went out.

The midday event was a combined Mother's Day/Birthday party hosted by 30%'s brother. I've noted down my views on these get-togethers before, so I'll avoid repeating myself today. It went as well as any nine year old's birthday can go and the cloud did have a silver lining ... The ELF's obnoxious brother* was unable to attend, so that was an unpleasant encounter avoided.

We managed to escape around half past three and headed home. 

We had a few hours to potter before heading out again. This evening we had been invited for dinner with Gizzy and Jules in Tewkesbury. Rosie and Jim were invited too, and we picked them up on our way.

It was a splendid evening filled with laughter, fine food, much leg pulling and catching up with each others' news. 

We eventually got home at about one in the morning and realised that the clocks went forward tonight ... Oh bugger, we are going to be very tired tomorrow!

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* Thick, and I mean REALLY THICK, absolutely no sense of humour and constantly preening and posing ... an absolute fucking tool!

The greenhouse refurbishment continues

Friday was very similar to Thursday.

I started the day with some admin while I waited for the weather to warm a little.  My credit card bill got paid and it seems that I am due a small tax rebate, so that got claimed too.

By mid morning it was pleasant enough outside, windy, but sunny.

I continued with the greenhouse refurbishment and replaced the panels in the back corner. I did consider replacing the broken panels on the long side of the greenhouse today, but realised that I was going to have to remove the glazing from the whole side to accomplish that ... that can wait for another day.

The afternoon saw a snooze on the sofa, a walk with Hobson and a delivery from the Builder's Merchant. I now have roofing laths, a sheet of 18mm ply and four 2 x 4s ... that'll keep me busy for a few days.

I've also noticed that the lawns need mowing too.

I found the day satisfying, some might not

I wouldn't be surprised if the casual reader thought my day was incredibly tedious, but I was actually quite pleased with today's achievements.

It was a chilly start, so I spent the first half hour in the freezer room getting the new freezer levelled, before switching it on.  I then dragged its box up to the orchard and had a brief, but splendid, bonfire.

Next I manhandled a mattress down the stairs and on to the drive. This was in anticipation of a new one being delivered later in the day.

By this time the sun's rays had reached the greenhouse and I continued with my refurbishment. This basically involved removing most of the front of the greenhouse, a section at a time. The issue with replacing the bottom panes/panels is that the three panes above them need to be removed first!

Anyway, the job went reasonably smoothly and a stroke of genius, a spray bottle filled with soapy water, made refitting the panes a whole lot easier.

I finished the front of the greenhouse shortly after lunch and it looks much better. I still have a panel at the rear and the bottom panes of one entire side to do, but that can wait until later in the week.

The afternoon included a walk around the Three Miler with Hobson before I settled for a less strenuous afternoon.

The mattress eventually turned up, and it's box gave me an excuse for yet another brief bonfire in the orchard.

Repair & Restoration

One of yesterday's little jobs was to tidy the outhouse at the South East end of the cottage.  This is referred to, in these parts, as the freezer room for rather obvious reasons.

During the clear out/tidy up I retrieved a rather nice brass reading lamp that had stopped working many years ago. I took it in to the workshop and discovered that it was a simple blown fuse. We now have a rather nice working lamp that is covered with a decades worth of grime, at least!

Our new freezer was delivered this morning* and had to stand for twenty four hours before being switched on. This left me plenty of time this morning to grab the Brasso and clean up the filthy, tarnished lamp. It does look rather splendid now, and we just need a new shade and bulb to finish off the job.

There was a second delivery this morning. The polycarbonate, greenhouse glazing panels have arrived.** And, as the morning warmed up I headed out in to the workshop, grabbed a pair of sawhorses and a few tools and headed over to the greenhouse.

Stage one of my greenhouse restoration was to replace the panels at the bottom of the pair of sliding doors.  I soon had the first door slid out of its track and resting on the pair of sawhorses. Replacing the fibre board panel was actually quite straightforward and I had finished both doors shortly after lunch.

The afternoon saw a brisk walk around the Three Miler with the dogs and I was looking forward to a lazy evening when my phone beeped at me ... Shit! I'd forgotten that I had a Tai Chi class this evening.

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* I was delighted to see that the delivery van was decorated with the obligatory cock and balls scrawled in the grime on the rear door.

** We have a rather nice Robinson Greenhouse in the garden, but after many years it needs a little attention to keep it at its best.  The ground level "panes" are not glass, but panels of a cement fibre board. These have deteriorated over the years and are now brittle and crumbling. What used to be a weather and rodent proof greenhouse now has gaping holes where the fibre board has fallen apart.  I have purchased some 4mm polycarbonate glazing panels and these will be used to fabricate the replacement panels.

Supplies

It seems that Spring has arrived. 

It's amazing how a little warmth, blue skies and longer days encourage one to get busy after a Winter of inactivity.

I am already looking at starting, and in some cases continuing, projects now I can get outside without fear of hypothermia.

This morning we headed in to Redditch for supplies to get a couple of projects moving. 

The first stop was Lidl for groceries and then we headed over to the Builders Merchant just down the road. I needed some roofing laths to continue the installation of the security bars that I started back in September last year. I also ordered a sheet of 18mm ply and a few lengths of 2" x 4". The ply and two by fours will be used to make a potting bench ... this is part of a much bigger plan to tidy up one of the greenhouses and organise the shed ... watch this space.

On the way back home we popped in to an electrical appliance retailer and ordered a new upright freezer. 30% has been keen on a new one for a while. I'm not sure why, but it may be due to the fact that I will be attending a butchery course in the near future. The course covers the butchery of half a pig and we get to keep the course work.

The afternoon saw me take a walk around the Three Miler and get some Torx head screws ordered for the aforementioned security bars.

I also received notification that the polycarbonate glazing sheets for the greenhouse will be arriving tomorrow.

It looks like I am going to be busy.

A quiet day

 The plan for Monday was to do as little as possible.

I felt that I had deserved this after a busy few days selling cars and hosting friends for the weekend.

Apparently this is what a quiet day looks like ... The morning's task was to shift the proceeds from the Defender sale in to various investment and savings accounts.  It took longer than expected, as I do like to check each account to ensure that each transfer has actually been received. They were.

The afternoon saw a brisk walk around the Three Miler with the dogs, and then I wandered up the orchard.

I did think about inspecting my bees, but graciously took on the job of cleaning out the chicken coop. This is normally 30%'s job, as she steadfastly refuses to get up and let them out each morning.

If I've got to get out of bed earlier and earlier as the day length increases, there is no bloody way I am going to clean out the little sods as well!

Here endeth a "quiet day"

It's been a busy few days ...

My aim is to make a Journal entry every day. Some months I achieve this, but I'm not doing very well in March, am I?

My excuse for a lack of input can be discerned from the following paragraphs.  I wouldn't be surprised if you thought these were mediocre, at best, when presented as an excuse for not keeping The Journal up-to-date.

Thursday, 20 March 2025

First job of the day was to sort through the Defender's documentation and provide the interested party with details of its service history. 

An email was sent out into the ether and I headed out around the Three Miler with the dogs.  About half way around my phone rang. It was the interested party. A short conversation followed where I discerned that a) he hadn't checked his spam folder, b) he lived down in Hampshire and c) he seemed very interested.

He said he'd like to see whether he could get up to see the Defender on Friday and committed to calling me later in the day to confirm when he could come and view the car.

The day trundled on and the afternoon saw me meet up with Buzzer for a ride out on our bikes. Our route took had us skirting the outskirts of Evesham and Pershore, before heading out towards Upton-upon-Severn. From Upton we took the A38 towards Tewkesbury, before heading back towards Evesham on the A46.

We peeled off the A46 and headed down the B4077, stopping at Toddington for a coffee. After a break and a chat, we headed up to Stow-on-the-Wold. From Stow we headed out to Morton-in-Marsh. I have to report that the North Cotswolds looked absolutely glorious in the warm Spring sunshine. Rolling hills, honey coloured stone villages, sheep filled pastures. It really is a fine part of the world.

From Moreton we headed back towards Evesham via Bourton-on-the-Hill and Broadway. It was then a short run towards Dunnington, where we parted company and headed towards our respective homes.

30% and I were having an early evening meal, as we were out tonight attending the Comedy Club at Redditch's Palace Theatre.

As I sat down and attempted to take the first forkful, my phone rang. It was the interested party, who advised that he would like to come over tomorrow afternoon to view the Land Rover ... Bloody Hell, I might actually have a buyer!

Friday, 21 March 2025

Friday was slightly less frenetic, but there was a certain sense of anticipation following yesterday's conversations about the Defender.

I walked the dogs in the morning and the chap arrived to see the car shortly after lunch.

After a very brief viewing and a short run around the lanes he decided that he'd like to make an offer. 

His offer was great, but I'm old enough to know that the first offer is just that ... an opening move. I therefore upped his offer by two hundred and fifty quid and stuck out my hand. He paused and then shook my hand. The deal was done.

He advised that he'd like to collect the car on Saturday and I offered to collect him from Evesham station ... after all he had just paid top money for a sixteen year old Land Rover!

We were out again this evening. This time it was to see the Pissed Up Panto, again at The Palace in Redditch.

I saw an adult panto a couple of years ago in Monmouth and thoroughly enjoyed it, but unfortunately I can't say the same about this one. The were a couple of scenes that were reasonably funny, but a lot of it went on far too long, and substituted expletives and on-stage drinking for a well crafted comedy script ... 4/10.

What I should mention was that Thursday's comedy club event was great and we are already thinking about attending the next one in May. 

I should also mention that TP welcomed us back from the Theatre. He will be spending the weekend with us

Saturday, 22 March 2025

Obviously my first mission was to head over to Evesham and pick up the interested party buyer. 

We chatted as we headed towards home and I ascertained that he was a lovely chap with a very well paid job in Finance and Carbon offsets. He definitely fell in to the more money than sense category of car buyer.  

After checking that my bank balance looked far more healthy, I waved the new owner off and wandered back to the house.

There was, however, no opportunity for resting upon laurels of any sort.

We collectively spent the next few hours tidying the house in preparation for what could be loosely described as a college reunion.

30% and I attended that fine educational establishment known in the 1980's as Wolverhampton Polytechnic.  Our circle of poly friends included C & M, and we are incredibly lucky to have maintained the friendship and now also include their long suffering wives. 

C&S rolled up in the early afternoon and, after a cuppa and a chat, I headed out with Hobson, C and S for a wander around the Three Miler.

As we arrived back home it was apparent that M&M had arrived and we all settled for tea and cake and a lot of chat and laughter.

The day continued in that vein with champagne, wine and dinner making an appearance in the evening. We all eventually retired at some point after midnight, having revelled in an evening of 80's vinyl and a very funny game of Cards Against Humanity.

Sunday, 23 March 2025

It will be no surprise that Sunday was definitely a day of rest.

The gang departed after many cups of tea and brunch featuring scrambled eggs, toast, croissants and yet more tea.

The afternoon included a snooze on the sofa and I can report that the drive does look not quite right now the Defender has gone.

A possible buyer?

The day started with a short walk down the lane with the dogs. 

It would have been longer, but I bumped in to John; a rugby player, turned school teacher, turned watercolour artist. He's a fascinating chap and an entertaining conversationalist, so I did an about turn and wandered back to wards home chatting with John.

I then headed in to Alcester to pick up some silicon sealant remover. This relates to one of those little jobs that I have been successfully avoiding for months ... I need to re-seal the shower screen.

30% disappeared out for an extended lunch with Jules, so home alone, I pulled the lawn mower form the shed and mowed the verges at the front and the small area of lawn by the garage.

This effort resulted in a massive hypo, and lunch, followed by a long snooze, was required as a restorative measure.

In the afternoon I completed a circuit of the Three Miler with Hobson before a period of pottering.*

As the afternoon turned to evening I headed down to the lane for Wednesday's Tai Chi session. 30% bailed due to her painful knee, so I was alone attempting the complexities of the Infinite, Stage 4 ... the footwork had me literally tripping over myself at certain points.

So that would be it for Thursday, apart from the fact that we have finally had some interest in the Defender. A message has been received asking for MOT and Service History details.

It looks like I'll have a bit of auto admin to perform tomorrow morning.

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* Any activity that makes me look far busier than I actually am. I can look incredibly busy with a book in my hand!

Catching up ... again!

I've been a bit busier than normal and have got a little behind with The Journal.  This is an attempt to get back up-to-date.

Thursday, 13 March 2025 

The main achievement for Thursday was to finally get the Defender advertised on the Autotrader website. Since I am documenting this nearly a week later, I think it fair to say that I have been deafened by the silence from my phone. I'll give it another week before I consider dropping the price a little ... I was being rather ambitious.

My exercise regimen continues and I managed to complete  a couple of walks today; a short one with all three dogs and then a circuit of the Three Miler with Hobson

The day was rounded off with a trip in to Birmingham to see Now that's what I call a musical at the Alexandra Theatre.

The show was based around pop classics from the early eighties and used a piss poor High School Reunion narrative in an attempt to link them together. It was well performed, but the plot was clumsily constructed.  We had a pleasant enough evening, but I wouldn't recommend it ... watch the original song videos on YouTube instead.

Friday, 14 March 2025

The day started with a trip to B&Q, where I picked up a few essentials for some upcoming electrical work.

Later in the morning I accompanied 30% down to the local surgery.  She has been experiencing some hip and knee pain, which are not improving and it was definitely time to get some professional attention.

The GP was amazingly candid in his approach and freely admitted that he hadn't got a clue. He did however agree that further investigations were needed. He made the necessary referrals and even suggested that a private consultation  would be worthwhile to move things along at pace.

The afternoon saw a further circuit of the Three Miler and then I spent some time in the workshop gathering tools, cables and fittings that will be needed tomorrow.

Saturday, 15 March 2025

I do like a little bit of electrical work and Saturday morning saw me scrabbling around in the roof space of the cottage.

My goal was to replace the tatty spotlights in the bathroom, with something a little more current. The old spots were rusty and their cabling had suffered from rodent damage, so were definitely overdue for replacement.

It wasn't a huge job, but it took a good chunk of the morning to create a simple wiring loom, locate an earth wire and get the light fittings connected and tested.

The afternoon saw me complete another three mile circuit with Hobson and then clean the bathroom ceiling in preparation for painting.

Sunday, 16 March 2025

Sunday's sole achievement was to get two coats of emulsion on the bathroom ceiling.

I don't mind painting but this job was not fun. The room is barely big enough to swing the proverbial cat and is cluttered with immovable sanitary ware.

I therefore spent most of the day wriggling around and climbing over shower screens, lavatory pedestals and basins whilst trying to avoid stray splashes of paint.

We have both agreed that the next room to be decorated will be free of furniture and I might actually be able to get an unobstructed run with the paint roller!

Monday, 17 March 2025

Monday saw me snap the new bathroom lights back in to their cut outs and I was finally able to see the full effect of my efforts.

I'm pleased with the job and it has, sort of, encouraged me consider further decorating ... note that I said "consider" rather than "commit to"!

I also managed a couple of walks with the dogs and we also popped in for afternoon tea with Mummy Sheila.

Tuesday, 18 March 2025

I've been looking at the state of the lawns for a few weeks and have noticed that many of the villagers have already completed their first and, even, second cuts of the year.

Well, today I finally pulled the mower from the shed and completed the first cut of 2025.

They look much tidier and make the place look a little more presentable ... just in time for our upcoming weekend guests.