Well it seems like that sometimes.........and I get stick from my regular readers for not posting too often. This is as much due to my routine lifestyle than anything else. I don't want to write about golf, DIY, life in Scouseland and family all the time, unless something out of the ordinary happens.
So,is no hot water, a ruptured tap spout and number two daughter locked out of her house on her birthday routine? It's a good question, and , yes, it probably is routine as we have at least one major crisis just before Christmas.
In the past we have had the cooker pack up on Christams Eve and only got it fixed because the company, Stoves, is a Scouser outfit, the swimming pool has broken on more than one occasion just before Christmas and the central heating boiler has also given up the ghost at this time of year.
So, at least a bit of variety. Our ever so helpful plumber, Keith sorted the hot water on Tuesday, and the spare part for the tap arrived about an hour after he had left. It was only the 'simple' task of undoing a grub screw and taking off the old spout, but could I do it? Not a chance. Keith was back the next day after his works night out and he could not do it either, until I had a brainwave and delved into my car boot sale box to pull out one of a number of hobby screwdriver kits. In amongst the sockets, cross thread and posidrive attachments was a T9 fitting that went into the grub screw a treat. Once removed it was evident that the screw was also ruptured which explained why it was so difficult to remove. Anyway, job done.
So all that was left was last nights drama at number two daughter house. She was off out partying and had left her keys in the inside door lock. So my trusty bent and twisted coat hanger, or ouja douja as number one grandaughter calls it, was forced into action and after half an hour or so the key was flicked out and access to the house restored. Number two daughter return later totally oblivious to the problem and resulting panic.
Only concern was that no neighbours or passing dog walkers called the police to advise of this dodgy looking character trying to gain entry to a house, through the letterbox.
Hey ho, maybe all the expletive's warned them off..........happy ho ho ho to all my readers, look out for the family Christmas stories to follow....with 18 for lunch, there are bound to be some!
Thursday, 24 December 2015
Tuesday, 3 November 2015
Barry Bucknell
I am taking advantage of the mild weather to put the house to sleep for the Winter. It does not Winter well, so it needs a fair bit of TLC.
The first problem was that the dehumidifier in the basement packed up so that gives us a condensation problem. The manufacturers have to send engineers from their base in the Isle of Wright to fix it each time. They charge £100 just to visit, so each all-out is ridiculous. Why they don't have regional reps I don't know! Anyway that's sorted now.
Next challenge is the roof. I have been waiting since July to get some tiles replaced by the insurance company. The scaffolder arrived today but decided he had under quoted so is back to the drawing board. Its a £100 job which needs £4000 of scaffolding. Ridiculous.
I was hoping to get my soffits replaced and eaves painted at the same time but that's not going to happen now.
So what have I done? Well, the rockery is finished,the first leaves are collected and an annoying tree has been lopped. I've done a tip run, and cleared the drain.
So now it's boundary walls and fences, final grass cutting and pruning outside. Damp sorting, some painting and junk shifting inside.
We have another Airbnb visitor tomorrow, and then SWMBO is off to Tanzania. When she gets back it will be into Christmas festivities......roll on March when the heating can go off!
The first problem was that the dehumidifier in the basement packed up so that gives us a condensation problem. The manufacturers have to send engineers from their base in the Isle of Wright to fix it each time. They charge £100 just to visit, so each all-out is ridiculous. Why they don't have regional reps I don't know! Anyway that's sorted now.
Next challenge is the roof. I have been waiting since July to get some tiles replaced by the insurance company. The scaffolder arrived today but decided he had under quoted so is back to the drawing board. Its a £100 job which needs £4000 of scaffolding. Ridiculous.
I was hoping to get my soffits replaced and eaves painted at the same time but that's not going to happen now.
So what have I done? Well, the rockery is finished,the first leaves are collected and an annoying tree has been lopped. I've done a tip run, and cleared the drain.
So now it's boundary walls and fences, final grass cutting and pruning outside. Damp sorting, some painting and junk shifting inside.
We have another Airbnb visitor tomorrow, and then SWMBO is off to Tanzania. When she gets back it will be into Christmas festivities......roll on March when the heating can go off!
Thursday, 29 October 2015
Flat caps and farmers
It was always on the cards that I would be on the Tele last weekend. I had a front row ticket for the Australia v Argentina game between the halfway line and the 22, right opposite the cameras.
There was a false start when I featured on the big screen right after the anthems. That did not make the live coverage though as ITV cut to the adverts, as they do.
Did not have long to wait though as an Argentina line-up five minutes into the game allowed me a chance to doff my cap to my adoring fan base. Job done.
The whole weekend had gone well. We watched the SA v NZ game in a bar in Charing Cross and were glad we were not there when the weather closed in. We were joined briefly by a group dressed as animals who were out for a significant birthday. They had trotted out to Covent Garden by half-time and after the match we joined them.
We had supper in Joe Allen's in Exeter Street. No celebs, but a very fine evening which we finished off in the Farmers Club in Whitehall.
On Sunday (but not after supper!) farmer Simon used a contact to get us a plum table in the Bluebird Cafe on the Kings Road. I can't remember the last time I was on the lash in that area of the capital. One pub I used is now a burger joint, and the Click and Whichity's have both long since shut down.
The Bluebird was swish and we would not have been surprised if Jose Mourinho or a few of his players had been in there...but then they could have been as we would not have recognised them!!
So back to Scouse on the Monday and now geared up for the final. We have embraced the tournament. Tickets were expensive, the fanzone in Trafalgar Square was a bit of an embarrassment, as were the host nation, but the times with rugby mates are always priceless, so look out Japan in 2019, make sure you have enough mobility scooters!!
There was a false start when I featured on the big screen right after the anthems. That did not make the live coverage though as ITV cut to the adverts, as they do.
Did not have long to wait though as an Argentina line-up five minutes into the game allowed me a chance to doff my cap to my adoring fan base. Job done.
The whole weekend had gone well. We watched the SA v NZ game in a bar in Charing Cross and were glad we were not there when the weather closed in. We were joined briefly by a group dressed as animals who were out for a significant birthday. They had trotted out to Covent Garden by half-time and after the match we joined them.
We had supper in Joe Allen's in Exeter Street. No celebs, but a very fine evening which we finished off in the Farmers Club in Whitehall.
On Sunday (but not after supper!) farmer Simon used a contact to get us a plum table in the Bluebird Cafe on the Kings Road. I can't remember the last time I was on the lash in that area of the capital. One pub I used is now a burger joint, and the Click and Whichity's have both long since shut down.
The Bluebird was swish and we would not have been surprised if Jose Mourinho or a few of his players had been in there...but then they could have been as we would not have recognised them!!
So back to Scouse on the Monday and now geared up for the final. We have embraced the tournament. Tickets were expensive, the fanzone in Trafalgar Square was a bit of an embarrassment, as were the host nation, but the times with rugby mates are always priceless, so look out Japan in 2019, make sure you have enough mobility scooters!!
Tuesday, 20 October 2015
Molly Malone
We took in the quarter final games at the rugby world cup in various bars in Dublin. We had planned it months ago, so brother-in-laws David being Welsh, and I always sensed one of us might be enjoying the craic more than the rugby. That will have been me then.
So it was Guinness, watch a game, major food then watch another game with more Guinness. Sunday was brunch watch two games with Guinness, then a major steak restaurant, nightcap and bed. All in all a very full on 48 hours.
Three of the games were classic, with the other being NewZealand finding some form to seriously stuff France. The locals were a bit shell shocked as the Argues blew them away, a result I had predicted days earlier.
The bars were not as lively as I had expected, but the semi-final weekend should be a cracker. Come on the winners.
So it was Guinness, watch a game, major food then watch another game with more Guinness. Sunday was brunch watch two games with Guinness, then a major steak restaurant, nightcap and bed. All in all a very full on 48 hours.
Three of the games were classic, with the other being NewZealand finding some form to seriously stuff France. The locals were a bit shell shocked as the Argues blew them away, a result I had predicted days earlier.
The bars were not as lively as I had expected, but the semi-final weekend should be a cracker. Come on the winners.
Thursday, 8 October 2015
Chance to Shine
It was back to London yesterday to take part in the awards ceremony for the cricket charity , Chance to Shine. The charity was founded ten years ago by Mark Nicholas, the Channel 5 cricket presenter and Mervyn King, the then governor of the Bank of England. It's aim is to reintroduce cricket into state schools and local neighbourhood's through the Quik Cricket format and street cricket initiative's.
We were going because number two son, Kieran, was nominated for the Volunteer of the Year award.
He was not given the news until a few days ago, so there was a hectic rush for train tickets and you can imagine the situation there....£100 plus for a single even with our old gits rail cards, so some lateral thinking had to be applied.
Using Martin Lewis and his split ticket web site we managed to get three returns for just under £120 although it did mean driving to Crewe. That bit was fun as there was an early accident on the M56 so the sat nav took us all over the show. The long term car park at Crewe was full so we eventually got on the platform with four minutes to spare. The return journey was no less stressed as I had a blonde/senior moment and threw away the return tickets rather than the outbound bits. Luckily no tickets were inspected on the homeward bound section so all was sorted.
As for the event itself, Nomura International, hosted it in their Upper Thames Street offices and it was an excellent bash, made all the better when Kieran was announced as winner of his category. He was really pleased as were we as proud parents, although he seemed more interested in chatting to the fit England Ladies cricketers who were there, than with us!!
He won the award for his efforts introducing girl's cricket into Prenton High School, and for coaching the ladies section at Oxton Cricket Club. The fact he was not a PE teacher as many award winners were also counted in his favour.
His new school in Neston do not have a team so that will be his next task once he has sorted out the History department. That should keep him busy!!
We were going because number two son, Kieran, was nominated for the Volunteer of the Year award.
He was not given the news until a few days ago, so there was a hectic rush for train tickets and you can imagine the situation there....£100 plus for a single even with our old gits rail cards, so some lateral thinking had to be applied.
Using Martin Lewis and his split ticket web site we managed to get three returns for just under £120 although it did mean driving to Crewe. That bit was fun as there was an early accident on the M56 so the sat nav took us all over the show. The long term car park at Crewe was full so we eventually got on the platform with four minutes to spare. The return journey was no less stressed as I had a blonde/senior moment and threw away the return tickets rather than the outbound bits. Luckily no tickets were inspected on the homeward bound section so all was sorted.
As for the event itself, Nomura International, hosted it in their Upper Thames Street offices and it was an excellent bash, made all the better when Kieran was announced as winner of his category. He was really pleased as were we as proud parents, although he seemed more interested in chatting to the fit England Ladies cricketers who were there, than with us!!
He won the award for his efforts introducing girl's cricket into Prenton High School, and for coaching the ladies section at Oxton Cricket Club. The fact he was not a PE teacher as many award winners were also counted in his favour.
His new school in Neston do not have a team so that will be his next task once he has sorted out the History department. That should keep him busy!!
Tuesday, 6 October 2015
Running for the bus
It was a busy weekend just gone as we attended a wedding in London. It clashed with England v Australia in the rugby world cup, but the way the tournament has mapped out for England I dealt no disappointment missing it.
The wedding was at the Brooklands motor and air museum and as part of the deal we got to ride on part of the banked circuit which still survives. It was quite an experience!
We also took a ride on an open backed London bus which pre-dated the Routemaster. That took us past Mercedes World where the Irish rugby team were having great fun on the skid pan.
The wedding was for my cousin Mikes daughter Elizabeth and her husband Nathan. It went off very well with the venue doing an excellent job.
We will next be off to Dublin for the quarter finals weekend I wonder who will get my ticket for the second semi-final?
The wedding was at the Brooklands motor and air museum and as part of the deal we got to ride on part of the banked circuit which still survives. It was quite an experience!
We also took a ride on an open backed London bus which pre-dated the Routemaster. That took us past Mercedes World where the Irish rugby team were having great fun on the skid pan.
The wedding was for my cousin Mikes daughter Elizabeth and her husband Nathan. It went off very well with the venue doing an excellent job.
We will next be off to Dublin for the quarter finals weekend I wonder who will get my ticket for the second semi-final?
Tuesday, 29 September 2015
Full English
Interesting how to take that by-line. It is related to the fact we had our first paying guests in our new venture as an Airbnb registered bed and breakfast establishment. We had three guests over the Saturday night who had come from Leeds and London to enjoy the entertainment on offer in Liverpool.
Paul, who booked us, was an Irish lad who worked as a band manager in the music business so they all trotted off to the Liverpool Psychedelic festival in the Baltic triangle. He was spotting for new talent and they cruised in about 3am. We 'forced a full English. down him at apout 11:00 and they were gone by midday. Paul recommended I listen to two bands, Wooden Shjips and Moon Duo, so that's on my list to do.
They gave us a good rating so we are now up and running and looking forward to the next customers. None booked in just yet though.
As we trawled through the competition we found out that our close neighbours also do Airbnb at about the same price, but, with only one room to our three, we look to be the best for groups. We shall see.
Full English could also link to the dismal rugby later on the Saturday evening. I was physically drained even before the game, and dozed off so missed the first half ( never thought about ITV +1) but watching the second half I struggled to understand how England were in the lead. There was always only one winner in the second half and memories of Wembley and Scott Gibbs all came back to haunt me.
Anyway after Wales lose to Fiji and England destroy Australia the status quo will be restored. Hang on though, I think I am still asleep and dreaming!!!
Paul, who booked us, was an Irish lad who worked as a band manager in the music business so they all trotted off to the Liverpool Psychedelic festival in the Baltic triangle. He was spotting for new talent and they cruised in about 3am. We 'forced a full English. down him at apout 11:00 and they were gone by midday. Paul recommended I listen to two bands, Wooden Shjips and Moon Duo, so that's on my list to do.
They gave us a good rating so we are now up and running and looking forward to the next customers. None booked in just yet though.
As we trawled through the competition we found out that our close neighbours also do Airbnb at about the same price, but, with only one room to our three, we look to be the best for groups. We shall see.
Full English could also link to the dismal rugby later on the Saturday evening. I was physically drained even before the game, and dozed off so missed the first half ( never thought about ITV +1) but watching the second half I struggled to understand how England were in the lead. There was always only one winner in the second half and memories of Wembley and Scott Gibbs all came back to haunt me.
Anyway after Wales lose to Fiji and England destroy Australia the status quo will be restored. Hang on though, I think I am still asleep and dreaming!!!
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