A day without electric.

On Saturday morning we woke to discover we had no electric. That meant we couldn't even have a decent cup of coffee. We managed to have a lukewarm one from my jug I filled Friday afternoon that keeps water hot up to 8 hours.
Tony nipped downstairs to Margaret's to see if she had any power, she did not. However, Lynn at number 3 did.
Tony rang the National Power grid to ask if they knew why we had no power. The person on the phone said they were not aware of the problem but they would look into it.
Not long after a man rang back to ask a few questions then told us that somebody would be out within the next 2 hours or so to have a look.
I was so in need of a cup of tea but I wasn't going to get one.

You don't realise until you have no electric power how much you need it!
I could not use the computer, the hoover, the kettle, no heating, no food except cold, so no porridge for breakfast. I just stayed on the bed and did jigsaws on my iPad mini. At least until the battery ran out, then I couldn't do that anymore.

I decided the only thing to do then was to read. I am reading Linwood Barclay at the moment, I have just started one called "Trust Your Eyes" It is about a map-obsessed man who believes he must store the details of the city in his head, He goes on a virtual tour of the world then one day he sees a woman being murdered. When he tells his brother, his brother does not really believe him.
Linwood Barclay keeps you guessing to the last page I have already read four of his books and I have enjoyed every one so far.

Lynsey was thinking of us having no electric and went to Halfords and bought us a small gas stove. I could finally have a cup of coffee, this was at about 3 pm. I was so glad she had spent the time to go and buy it and bring it to us. At least she cares, she does love me really even if she won't let me give her a hug.
The electric was restored not long after Lynsey came I think it was about 4:15 pm. Tony began to clear up the kitchen and to prepare things for tonight's dinner.  I tidied up in the bedroom put my iPad on to charge and came into the office to use the computer. For some reason, the computer would not let me write a blog so this is going to be an extra long one.
 Yesterday afternoon I discovered a very small piece of tooth in my mouth, so small I didn't even know where it had come from. While eating my dinner, I found out! One of my teeth just suddenly crumbled all that is left is the back of it. I wouldn't mind but I only went to the dentist last week and got a clean bill of health. The dentist told me my hygiene was excellent and nothing needed doing. Huh, now I have to go back.

The garden life is thriving, the squirrels are calling everyday. There are always three or four about now because it is mating time. It amuses me to see one squirrel come down and wipe himself all over the fence, then a few minutes later another one will appear smell the fence then wipe itself all over the top to wipe out the scent of the last one. Then when the female appears it's time for a game of chase round the garden and round the tree. It makes me think of "The Benny Hill Show" and the music that played when they had the chases on there.

Squirrel has a sniff at the fence

Then he wipes himself all over the fence to scent mark.

 Has a sniff to make sure it's done right.

Then off he goes to eat some food.

Peanuts, Black sunflower seeds and suet. All his favourites.

Then he sees something he wants more...

Over on the shed windowsill, Hazelnuts...

Squirrel even liked the vegetable crisps.

This morning we called in at Mums to drop off a date and walnut loaf I had baked on Sunday for her, and to pick up a dog lead to take to Lynsey's for her cat Biscuit. Yes that's what I said her cat Biscuit.

While at Mums we attempted to take some photo's of her dog Oliver. The hard part of that is Oliver never keeps still long enough for you to catch him. Tony got better ones than I did so the following pictures are Tony's.

Oliver waiting for his ball throwing.

Oliver sitting to attention.

Please throw the ball for me.

Oliver is a very small dog but he has no trouble letting you know what he wants.

There is just one other picture I am going to put on (you will probably be glad, you must be getting bored by now).

We saw this while out driving and it amused us both.

The van itself wasn't what amused us but the right side underneath the word out...

It just made us chuckle!

Until the next time...

Hospital blunders and Handsome cats.

Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield never fails to amaze me.
Lynsey had an appointment there with the neurology clinic to see an epilepsy specialist a couple of weeks or so ago. She never received her appointment letter because it was sent to her old address in Hull. She found out about the appointment when she received a text reminding her of the appointment.
Today Lynsey received a letter from Pinderfields Hospital informing the family doctor the outcome of her recent visit. This was a copy of the letter the hospital had sent to her GP, in Hull, who she was with when she lived in Hull. This was after Lynsey had told them about not getting the letter because they had sent it to her old address in Hull, repeating her new address in Wakefield several times to make sure the hospital had the correct address. The hospital assured her they had, so why did it still go to Hull and not Wakefield???

The weather is not improving at all, it is still very cold, which makes me very cranky and makes me want to stay indoors. We have been out a couple of times when we had to just to go shopping or to put food out for the birds and squirrels, however, we have not stayed out for longer than necessary.

I had to go out today to buy a new printer, the one I had was playing up. It would print a few pages then it would refuse to load the paper. I would try for a few minutes before I could get the stupid thing to load more. I was beginning to get so annoyed with it, I was threatening to throw it through the window. Tony and I decided it would be better for all concerned if I invested in a new one. Currys had a sale on so we had a look there. I found one that I am very happy with. It was reasonably priced, took up less room on my desk and is more economical. It does not take cartridges the ink is in tanks which you refill from bottles. It said on the advert it comes complete with 2years supply of ink. Well! we shall see.

Lynsey's cats are still taking up most of her time, she treats them like children. Biscuit has grown into a very handsome cat, he gives Pepper a hard time trying to get him to play when all Pepper wants to do is sleep. Pepper finds some interesting hiding places so Biscuit has to make do playing with his toy rat instead.

Pepper hiding from Biscuit.

Biscuit taking it out on the rat.

A very handsome cat.

Pepper posing for the camera.

The squirrels are not visiting much the last few days, I think the cold weather is keeping them away. Although I did see one stuck to the side of the tree earlier in the week.

Trying not to be seen.

I got the impression he was camouflaging himself so the cat wouldn't spot him.

Until the next time... 

Singing in the new year.

The birds were singing in the new year in the garden today.
The Robin was leading, the Dunnocks close behind, followed by Blackbirds and a variety of Tit's. Even a little Wren was joining in. It was quite a band they had going. However the loudest of them all today were the Starlings. They were all over the garden, in bushes, trees on the shed roof, the flat roof and the school roof. Starling voices could be heard everywhere. They warbled at the top of their voices drowning out the rest of the birds.

Singing Starlings

The Starlings that were not singing were squabbling over food. They were fighting over peanut butter and suet, the fights became very heated at times.

Starlings fighting over food.

The Squirrels had a treat when they discovered the nutboxes filled with chestnuts and hazelnuts instead of the usual monkey nuts. I wonder how many sweet chestnut trees they have planted around the estate today?

 Squirrel finding a surprise in the nutbox

Squirrel rushing off to bury the surprise

I stayed in the shed as long as possible but the cold weather won in the end, I had to return to the flat before I really wanted to. The light was fading too so I really could not have stayed much longer. 

Tony had a hot water bottle ready for me by the time I got back upstairs,( he is good to me).

Well that's it the new year has started what it will hold is any ones guess, will we ever leave the EU? Will this be another bad year for celeb deaths? Who will press the button first, Korea, Russia or Donald Trump?

 Maybe it will be a good year full of peace and harmony!

Yes I know I've lost the plot again.

Until the next time....