Eureka

All the door fixtures and fittings have been removed and any surface defects rectified ready for painting.

We have agreed to do the painting in tandem, Me painting the door recesses with a brush while Lynne does the flat surfaces with a roller. The large cupboard doors were re-rollered yesterday and look impressive. All should be completed today, even allowing for me watching Arsenal v Middlesborough in the FA cup on TV later.

Arsenal, with their 2nd eleven ,beat Middlesbough 2.  0 fairly easily.  I am predicting an Arsenal versus Liverpool or Manchester Utd FA cup final this year , but obviously subject to the next round draw and results thereafter. Exciting stuff, eh?

Waiting for God on Valentine's Day.

After another long delay I finally have the correct paint to yet again attempt to complete the kitchen refurbishment. The whole kitchen took a week, whilst 2 doors and 2 cupboard doors have taken an additional 6 weeks purely due to supply problems. Enough said.

Meanwhile Lynne already has plans  for installation of a large storage cupboard above the staircase, boxing in of the boiler and electrical improvements to upstairs, I presume for next winter ? ( funds and health permitting ) . With shrubs, trees and other plants showing signs of bursting into early life, the end of on-land imprisonment beckons ever stronger.  I cannot adequately describe the magnetism of the waterways and the frustration of being marooned on land relying on public transport and footfall.

One ray of light, having successfully completed this cruising season I should be able to regain my driving license and therefor my freedom , subject to the relevant medical permissions and my continued improving health. Talking of which my right hip has been causing problems lately, which in turn does my mental state no good at all as it affects my present and ,possibly, future mobility.

Debris disposal

Chilly, overcast morning so I completed removal of next door's garden refuse, with Lynne's help. The council are threatening to save money by severely reducing opening days and times of the municipal tips, which obviously is worrying for the staff there. We have offered to campaign on their behalf  so watch out for me on a soap box in Leicester Town Centre sometime soon. As the lesser employee's always eventually discover, their jobs are the first to go, even though sacrificing a few of them almost always makes less savings  than losing one of the "fat cat" bosses.  

Belbour brewery & Bouverie Bison farm.

Derek and Sue were recommended to eat at the above mini-brewery/restaurant before a guided tour of the brewery and opted to share the adventure with us, and very good it was too, with copious amounts of beer. I opted for a light meal, which turned out to be enormous  but delicious. The brewery tour was very educational and we took the opportunity to leave with several bottles from across the production range. I am not a great beer expert or drinker but I thought their whole range was refreshing and tasty. From the brewery we managed to stagger down the road to the Bison and deer farm, which was interesting, but we resisted the urge to buy buffalo steaks, venison steaks and a wide variety of sausages.  We learnt that Buffalo can run at 38 mph, but had no need to test this statement, luckily because my huge lunch would have put me at a distinct disadvantage.

Both venues are near Melton Mowbrey.

The day was misty, grey and overcast.

Bittern update and a thriller mystery.

You may recall my excitement at spotting a Bittern at the Tixall Wide on the Staff and Worcs canal last September, the excitement due to their rarity. In fact Bitterns are close to extinction in England.            A programme called "Countryfile" is on the BBC every Sunday night and this week it was filmed on the reed beds of Tixall Wide, apparently now home to 3 Bitterns, none of which they were able to spot, photograph or film. 

A promising return from extinction ?

 I managed to get a photo, but had to "borrow" it from the Countryfile photography competition, merely for educational purposes, you understand.

An overcast nondescript day with excitement provided by ( not the dustman ) but Lynne's ex who is currently in St. Georges hospital  recovering from a serious stabbing which pierced his lung. Attempted murder or attempted suicide ? Drink was apparently involved and the Police are seeking to solve the mystery.  

Where's you bin?

Another sunny "warm" morning ( for the time of year ) in which I was tempted into next door's garden once again. The lack of space for debris disposal restricts my working speed, unless Lynne is prepared to let me load the car with my prunings and then drive to and from the municipal dump  a couple of miles  away  ( the recommended way ) but in the meantime I cut the prunings into ultra-small small pieces and pack them into our, and our neighbours, land-fill bins for collection by our refuse collectors once a fortnight.   ( the not recommended way ). So far, so good as no council official has knocked on our doors, although bin collection day now has an edge of excitement it has to be said. Fortunately we gave the refuse guys a good Xmas box.

Back to the garden

Not mine, but my neighbours. She has given me total freedom to reduce a large holly in size. It causes no problem at present but will very soon if ignored.

Three or four hours later the holly resembles a Wild West cactus but will be back as nature intended in due course. I was tempted to say when the warmer spring weather arrives but it seems to have already put in an appearance, warm sunshine without the  seasonal cold breeze. The only hazard to working in our neighbour's garden is copious cat pooh. They have a very large, fluffy cat, apparently an ex-stray who took up residence (in the garden only) some years ago, but I am sure Phoebe must have contributed to the cat poo collection in her time, therein lies the irony.