Moving on.

Our Steven got the keys to his first house on the 20th October, and we have gutted it. It was OK for the family that lived there before but he wants to make his own mark on it, so we have stripped all the rooms of the wallpaper and most of the paintwork; the ceilings were covered with polystyrene tiles they were the first things that came down.

To be honest I have not had a day off since the 20th. Thursday we have an electrician coming to put some extra sockets in, so I will be free to do as I please. I am a plumber, bricklayer, painter and decorator, plasterer, general labourer and Project manager with not one certificate to prove it.

When I was a young man I could not afford to pay for anyone to do the work, so I trained myself to do it.

I’m loving it it’s took me back 20 odd years, with one main difference; what used to just ache now hurts with a vengeance.

Next year I think I will have knees done if I can buck up the courage!

9.30AM Phone call.

Mum, I've had a crash! "are you alright?" " yes" "What's happened, where are you, is anyone else involved?" "No! I've had a blow out, gone through the hedge and finished up in a field on the way to Brampton!" " We're on our way".
When we got there I could not believe my eyes, how the car had not rolled over I don't know, the field is at least four feet lower than the road.
Our Stuart is one very lucky man. Lucky there wasn't anything coming the other road and lucky it was a Hawthorn bush and not a tree in his path.