Feb 1/2/12.

Clear sky, sunshine but bitterly cold.

Yesterday and todays visiter.

Today the Heron perched a little bit longer, long enough for me to take a photo.

Yesterday by the time I got my camera it decided to leave and be on it's way.
I just hope it does not return and snack on my pond fish.

Five days of ground frost.

We have had a pretty mild winter so far with the exception of the last five days, the nighttime temperatures have dropped to 18'F the daytime temps being 30/32'F.

Ground frost. Ice from the dog and cats drinking bowl.

2012.

Twenty twelve, hopefully it will be another good year for each and everyone.

Today is the sadest of days.

The day all dog lovers dread. This was our Blue last summer, from then until today he slowly went down hill. He never showed any signs of pain until last night, this morning the kindest thing we could have done and did, was to have him put to sleep. We will miss him and I expect the tears will stop, but not for a while. So long Blue you was a great dog always willing, never sick!

Just thinking.

If I had wings I would not be sat on the fence looking over the Don on a cold and damp day like today, I would fly South for the WINTER!!!!!

1st December new car.

Our Stuarts new car, he's back on the road again. After the accident he had a courtesy car for a fortnight, then he borrowed mine until today. In fact it's me that's been off the road not him!

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.