I've no idea what day it is

 

Its that time of the year when you are sill on holiday but have no idea what the day is!

Since Friday I have been convinced every day was Saturday! That may/may not  have had something to do with early morning martinis, but hell, what ever day it is, I'm on Christmas holidays and don't have to be anywhere.

I do however still have a lot of sorting out upstairs ready for starting my new job on 4th January ( saying that instead of week tomorrow, makes it seem longer away).

Christmas has been lovely for me, lots of sleep and recharging of batteries. Its also been a good time for reflection and decision.

Things have happened this year that have helped me see a clearer way for 2022. 

and cricket, well lets just give the Aussies the Ashes, we are playing so badly that we are actually a joke. When will the ECB realise that their money pit of a made up game is not helping our players, it may well be lining their pockets but its not helping our imagine as a test team.

I cannot even be bothered to  listen through the night, this is not like me at all. The disappointment of hearing the openers out quicker than their last cup of tea got cold is not inspiring.

So now I am off to look for new curtains for my office ( online obviously as I don't intend  to get dressed again today), and get things on FB market place and eBay. The whole clearout begins ( again).

Have a great day 

Busy few days

Its been a very busy few days, finishing work and then off to catch up with friends, first stop York for a lovely couple of days with TLML & TLDL. Perfect start to my holidays, I then headed up to Matfen yesterday a beautiful village north of Newcastle to see friends Julie, Peter and Eric ( a very famous Border Terrier).

From there it was down to stay overnight at Newcastle Airport and a catch up with James Bond, where we discussed top secret things and generally had a laugh.

Today it is a quick trip to nearby garden centre before heading back south and meeting up for lunch with friends in Darlington. Then home, to put up the tree and tidy the house ready for visitors on Thursday  and Friday. I tell you I am looking forward to my 5am traditional martini on Christmas morning and 4 days of doing as little as possible.

In cricket news, as I am sure you all know, England are 2 -0 down in the Ashes, Joe keeps being trundled out to explain, and sadly the old ' we need to learn from our mistakes' speech is wearing thin, because they don't!.

And my beloved Yorkshire, well when you see an advert for a new coach for them on Face book, you know that it has hit rock bottom.

And now I am going to head off and have a lovely leisurely breakfast before I head off back to Co Durham.

If I don't make it back here before Christmas day, I wish you all, a happy and peaceful time, if Boris doesn't spoil it!

That's it folks

 

So today is the end of an era ( another era) for me, as I finish work at the saltmines and prepare to work from home in the new year.

It is going to be slightly sad as I say goodbye to some great colleagues.

Its time for me to move on and start a new chapter.

Crickety news, I have once again been tuned in since 4am, Australia are in charge and it seems even with Jimmy and Broady we aren't playing our best.

Labuschagne  made his hundred and there was some drama after, but eventually fell at 103.

Stokes had a couple of good overs.

The commentary on 5 live is dire to say the least, I always suspected that Steve Finn was a bit boring,, and he is. Listening to him discussing his jeans, his cat, and playing on his play station, well enough said. I know quite a lot about his relationship with Captain Morgan and all his 'witty' tales nearly sent me back to sleep.

Please lets get some characters who are really passionate about cricket and not so bothered about talking about themselves.

In other news.

I will update you on the lovely homeless gentleman next week when I hope to have some good news. 

Last night I made him a flask of hot chocolate and shared my corned beef hash with him.

I would like to thank everyone for their comments about this yesterday, I have done what I think is the right thing to do to help in some small way and am sure that you would have done the same.

I am pleased to say that he is getting a lot of help through the local charity /food bank.

Well time to put my best foot forward.

Have a great Friday, a lovely weekend and I will be back at some point next week.

Penultimate day at the salt mines

 

Well its Thursday and it is the penultimate day in the salt mines. 

I am going out for a spot of lunch and a Coca Cola with my little gang when we finish tomorrow ( half day Friday). I just have to get through this day.

Its been a strange week, on Monday  I discovered a homeless man was living in the abandoned garages near to me, I spotted him  crawling through a gap to get in. I decided to try to speak to him. 

Long story short due to covid and all that it entailed, he lost his job and his home and has been living rough since the summer. Storm Arwen put paid to his tent and most of his belongings and he had been trying to find some where dry to sleep

I gave him a sleeping bag and a  Z bed mattress that was in the shed , along with a flask of soup and coffee. I've left him a flask of coffee each morning, he has given me these  back in the evening. I gave him details of the food bank round the corner who also help out in exceptional circumstances.

Last night he told me that he had been able to get a shower through one of the volunteers and they were helping him to get  somewhere to stay over Xmas. He'd been given help with the council, and forms to help  getting some  benefits so I hope that he can have a new start in the new year.

I've made him some sandwiches and soup today so will drop it off as I leave for the office.

 Circumstances can make lives very difficult and he did say that he did not know where to go and who to turn to, as the pandemic had made it very difficult. 

It doesn't cost anything to try to help.

I also found out that a very old ex ( we are still very good friends) lost his Mum the other day, that was sad news, as she was a wonderful lady. There is never a good time to lose a loved one, but I always find this time of year very sad.

Cricket is back and Mark Wood is crocked apparently, he is becoming the 'Steve Finn' of the England team, the permanent tourist. And of course we will win because Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson are in the team.

Pat Cummins got pinged by the Australian track and trace, meaning that he is out for a week.  Upside Michael Neser is in the team.

And Steve Smith captaining????!!!!!

Current score is 'Straya 45/1

And with that I am off  to work.

Have a cracking Thursday 

My last week

 

So the sun is about to rise on my last week at the saltmines.

Am I sad?

Well I am sad to leave my little gang, but not sad to be leaving behind the the shabby bunch that call themselves the directors.

I have a lot to do this week ( obviously)as my desk was piled up on Friday with things for me to complete.

Come Friday, its bye bye and on I go.

In crickety news, lets start with England, who lost the first Ashes test. Lots of ' where was Jimmy'? For the love of dogs! no one man could change the s**t show that was the England performance.

Move on and try harder this week!

Yorkshire...........well I don't think I would be the Director of Cricket for all the champagne in France, trying to put together a new coaching team, gain the trust of players who have had their hearts ripped out and trodden on. Building a county pretty much from scratch!.

I doubt we will hear anything until the new year ( and obviously there will be news today just to prove  me wrong).

And now time to head out of the door.

Have a great Monday.

Just think in 2 weeks time Christmas will have been and gone,

Here we go

 Here we are at Wednesday and I have had TMS on all night, current score England 147 all out, and now its raining!

Pat Cummins put on some show in his debut match as Captain!

Well I handed in my notice on Monday as I was offered a great chance with a Life Science company.

I was and still am absolutely buzzing about this, and true to form, yesterday I was offered another job that I had interviewed for, this was also a fabulous opportunity.

Just like flipping buses, don't see one for 4.5 years and then 4 come along!

As for current work, best statement yet.

Richard Tator 'I'm not sure this is a good move for you;

Me, ' You don't even know who, what or where I am going'

RT, 'Yes well I'm still not sure'

Obviously the reality that he will have to do his own work now is hitting home.

Its  going to be a new year, new start, just what we always promise ourselves.

I now have to turn the dressing room /3rd bedroom into an office, but hey I don't have too far to go to travel in the mornings.

Have a cracking day, its half way to the weekend already.

Another week

 

Here we go! only one more Monday after today before we break up for Christmas.

Obviously I'm not counting!

So since Friday morning there has been a lot going on, Yorkshire now have no coaching staff, I did see a rumour that they are looking to put Darren Gough in as Director of Cricket,  so it'll ballroom dancing lesson for the lads and hopefully no hook ups with Essex girls. And that's probably the best I can say. If this is the decision. there does appear to be some kind of serious toadying going on!

my heart is not just broken but beginning to be torn into little pieces.

I have returned to normal ( sort of) after my booster, and as such was able to go  to the 'Christmas do' in Northallerton with TLML. we put away some food let me tell you, and it was absolutely spot on. I would tell you where we went, but  because its so good I'm keeping it a secret.

Yesterday, would have been my Dads birthday, so after going to see my poorly sister, I went to see Dad, I took a flask of coffee and a choux bun ( his favourite). Sitting in the rain having a drink and eating my bun, good for the heart and the soul.

Back home to use up odd apples and pears and make the last batch of chutney for the year. and pack up some Xmas hampers.

And before I knew it, here we are Monday again.

Who knows what this week will bring.

One thing is for sure, brighter days are on there way.

Have a great day, don't work too hard.

Friday again

A week gone by and its been full on busy. 

Beginning of the week, I was trying to sort out my ear infection ( caused by ear not popping after coming home from Iceland).

Wednesday I went to get my booster, and true to form, yesterday I was in a very sorry state, nauseous,  freezing cold, blinding headache and very tired, very much flu symptoms. Could hardly put one foot in front of the other. I've had the flu twice in my life and I this was very like it. Even my fingers hurt!

We had snow too so that didn't help at all.

This morning I feel sort of OK, a bit headachy and tired, and I am about to toss a coin to see if I go to work or not.

Last weekend I had Micky Bell come to stay , despite storm Arwen and all the carnage that went with it we had a fun time.

This weekend ( and I have to be better for tomorrow) I am off to N Yorkshire to meet up with TLML, its our Christmas 'do'!!!!

I will be popping up next week briefly as we head into the final weeks before holibobs. I have quite a lot on at work so it means that I will be leaving  home at the stupid o'clock that I would normally write the blog.

I am arranging to meet up with James Bond before the big day which will be brilliant. Fingers crossed that we can sort it.

Tonight is cocktail hour, it might be a half hearted affair, depending on how I feel.

And with that I've tossed the coin and lost so I am off out the door in the freezing cold and dark.

I wish you a bon weekend.