The Last Edition

Sunday 16 June - Fathers Day

Sorry there was no blog covering last week.  To be honest there really wasn't a great deal going on worth writing about.  Hopefully this week will be better.

Lovely to hear you on the phone this evening and it was nice that Hannah was home too so you could have a chat and it was good that you remembered that it was Fathers Day too.  I received some nice presents which included a couple of books and some sloppy Joe t shirts for loafing around in and a huge Toblerone.  Mum cooked a nice roast for lunch.  In the afternoon we watched the film "The Life of PI" but took a break in the middle while Mum prepared pudding and that was when you rang.  I dropped Han back to the flat at about 9pm and so it was a really nice day.

Veg patch just planted

Monday 17 June

Louisa went home sick this morning.  Busy day in the shop but takings weren't good.

Huge thunderstorm this evening, thunder, lightening, we haven't had one of them for some time.

Tuesday 18 June

Busy day in the shop but takings were very low.

Wendy and Andrew popped in to say hello this evening.  Wendy hasn't been very well of late.  They did tell us what the problem is but I can't remember the names as they were long medical things.  It was nice to see them both but Wendy wasn't looking too well at all.  Here's hoping she gets better soon.

I think I might have solved the problem of Grandad's bungalow.  Its quite a long story but I will know more next week and will give you the full update on your return.

The Veg Patch one month on!

Wednesday 19 June

Choked on a piece of apple on the way to the car this evening.  A piece of apple went down the wrong way and although I tried to cough it up it wouldn't budge, then for a few seconds I couldn't breath but luckily Nev was on hand and realised what was happening and slapped me on the back which solved the problem.  Phew!  Scary!

Wednesday 26 June

Yeah, I know, sorry, a week has passed and I've not updated the blog.  

Sorry to read of the death of Elisban.  He sounds like a great man, would love to have met him.

I'm guessing that you have now left the lodge and are about to do the touristy thing.  Remember, be aware of what is happening around you, look after your stuff and most of all stay safe.

Can't wait to see you on 17th July.

So I guess this is the last edition of Trull Times.  I hope it has in some way kept you up to date with life here since you've been away and I hope it hasn't been too boring a read.

See Yah soon, lots of love from Me, Mum and Hannah.

First week of June

Monday 3 Jun

Back to work.

Tuesday 4 Jun

Nev being attacked by an afternoon weary

Won £5.00 with an on-line scratch card.  This big win better materialise soon or you'll be gone from Peru before we can get there.
Han is on holiday and spent the afternoon and evening here at home.  When I got home they were both getting some "Shed" time!
Went with Nev to Cardiff airport to collect Sol and Rosie after their holiday in Turkey.  Left about 10:15, dropped Han back at the flat on the way.  Their flight was on time and we got back home at about 01:30.  Way past my bed time on a school night.

Wednesday 5 Jun

Felt like a long day cos I was a bit tired after the late night.

Thursday 6 Jun

With Nev's help we delivered a sofa and two chairs from the flat above the shop (the tenants didn't want them any more) to Han's flat.  The chairs are in one piece but I shall have to pop down at some stage and reassemble the sofa, and as Mum reminds me put up the curtain pole!

Friday 7 Jun

They've closed East St in town, from the roundabout by Lloyds right through to junction where Bliss is/was (Bliss has closed) to carry out repairs to the water pipes.  We expected all kinds of traffic problems but amazingly there is less traffic problems than before!  You can still walk down the road but you can't drive.

Saturday 8 Jun

To the Snell's this evening to celebrate Wendy's 50th Birthday.  Becky and Jordan and Kat and Sam were there too, as well as Nev and Hon and Andy Brown.  A very pleasant evening with Andrew operating the BBQ like a professional.

Sunday 9 Jun

Spent most of the day in the garden, mowing the lawn, emptying the compost bins and resetting them ready to go again.  Had a relaxing couple of hours just sat in the sun listening to the radio.  Chilled!  The Gran Cru (Belgian beer) is ready for drinking - happy days.

Spring Bank Holiday Edition

Monday 27 May

Spring Bank Holiday.  As tradition would have it, the weather was pretty awful so we didn't go anywhere and even if we did we would have been stuck in a traffic jam somewhere.  But I did manage to get the latest batch of Belgian (the Diablo) bottled which should be ready for drinking about mid July.

I've paid your share of the rent and deposit for the house in Bristol so at least that is one less thing to worry about.  There should be a copy of the email I sent confirming payment on its way to you.

Apart from these few thing a lazy day chillaxing!

Tuesday 28 May

Back to work. Weather awful.

Wednesday 29 May

Won the Euromillions in last night's draw.  Well £2.60 of them!  There is a lucky Brit somewhere who is over £81 million better off this morning!
Hannah got a lift home with me from work and I dropped her back to the flat at about 10:30pm.

Thursday 30 May

Mum went out for a meal with the ladies this evening leaving me to snooze in front of the TV - channel Dave all evening!

Friday 31 May

Normal sort of Friday.

Saturday 1 Jun

A day off for me as this is the only Saturday in June that Doris can work (or so she says).  Had a great day in the garden pottering around doing all the little jobs I've been meaning to do for ages.  Even had time for a chill in the shed with a beer!

Sunday 2 Jun

Chill day.

The Run up to Bank Holiday

Sunday 19 May.

Lazy day.  Hannah came round for Sunday dinner.  We had roast lamb and mint sauce and all the trimmings. Yum Yum.

Monday 20 May

The expected panic to finish the "Big Job" didn't materialise, there are only four tops left to do and those tops will be delivered tomorrow - job done - pressure off!

Tuesday 21 May

Mum and I popped over to the chip lane postal sorting centre to collect a "signed for" package which they tried to deliver at home whilst we were all at work.

Squeezed in the last of the celariac plants into the new veg patch.

Wednesday 22 May

Had to buy myself a new pair of trainers.  The others were OK but at some stage today I had stepped into some dog poo, but even after scrubbing them the smell just wouldn't go away so I had to bin them.

The Letting agency for 17 Ashgrove Road has been onto me asking for the first month's rent and the deposit, so I will arrange to get that paid for you.  It seems you have a move in date of 3rd July.

Thursday 23 May

Sabrina has today and Friday off and it is a Bank Holiday on Monday, so she has 5 days off altogether.  She is going to London to watch  Eric Clapton in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

Friday 24 May

The temperature plummeted today, so much that I put the heater on in the shop and at home when I got there.  Brrrrrrrrrr.

Saturday 25 May

Spent the evening with the Snells and the other Browns at the Fish's place.  Lots to eat and drink and lots of laughs.  I think we got home at about 2.30am.

Sunday 26 May

Popped over to Poole to see Granddad.  He was looking in better shape than the last time I saw him but it seems his short term memory is getting worse.  He still thinks he has only been in the home no more than a couple of days (its actually been a couple of years).  Its really quite a shame.

It was a lovely day with the sun shining all the way there and all the way back so when I got home I did a bit of pottering around the garden while Mum cooked a Sunday Roast.  Hannah was supposed to come over but didn't so we had extras to eat.

40 Commando March Through Taunton Edition

Sunday 12 May

Lazy Day.

Monday 13 May

The first of the courgette seedlings has shown through the soil.

Tuesday 14 May

Sold my shares in Lok n Store making a small profit and bought shares in Marstons.

Wednesday 15 May

It was a pleasant evening so I took the opportunity to cut the grass at the back of the house.

Thursday 16 May

  40 Commando Royal Marines marched through the streets of Taunton this morning.  A welcome home parade for the lads as they have just returned from another tour of duty in Afghanistan.  Loads of people came out to cheer them.  They marched past the shop and I got a few photos from the window but as you can see I was in the wrong position!  You can See Reuben in the bottom left wearing the orange and green.

Friday 17 May

Restocked the wine supply with some more bottles from around the world.

Saturday 18 May

A huge effort by everyone this week has meant that we have broken the back of the big job.  Nev and Louisa printed about 60 of the 105 today.  We still have some cutting and picking to do but we all feel the pressure is off.

Started painting wood preservative onto Mum's swing seat by the shed.

Early May Bank Holiday Edition

Sunday 5 May

Managed to get the rest of the shed painted with wood preservative.  Did some more preparation on the new veg patch.  Hannah is coming over tomorrow after work so we are having "Sunday" lunch then.  Home-made meat balls in a tomato sauce over farfalle pasta for tea.  Sampled a cheeky little Rioja, very nice.

Monday 6 May

No work today - its Bank Holiday.
Spent the morning planting the new veg patch with leeks and celariac, calendula and nasturtians.  Now its the battle against the birds and the slugs and snails to contend with not to mention the cats who seem to think I have just dug them a toilet!
Hannah came home after work and so we had lunch at about 3pm after which Han and Mum spent the rest of the afternoon in the shed.  Was a very nice day and I don't want to say this too loud but it was sunny too! with the temperature at about 20C!  Hush now, don't want to ruin it!

Tuesday 7 May

Back to work.
Won £2.00 on an on-line scratch card.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Have been starting work early and finishing late to catch up with this Crispin School leavers hoods.  Each one takes 45mins to cut and another 20 mins to pick and we have 105 to do!

Saturday 11 May

It was supposed to be my Saturday off but went in anyway to do more Crispins.

Han and Mum popped in but hardly had a chance to speak, just after they arrived we had a busy half hour - typical.

The Belgian Beer Glass Edition

Sunday 28 Apr

After my normal paperwork chores I decided to cut the grass back and front.  Then I painted wood preservative on the window frames of the shed.  I was going to see if I could do one side but it looked like we might get some of the wet stuff so I decided not to risk it.

Planted the courgette seeds. As it was reasonably pleasant in the garden, even with the impending wet stuff, I made a start of tidying the left hand side as you look from the house.  I'm in two minds whether to make a pond or to plant more veggies.  I've made a start of turning the soil over.
Haven't heard from Hannah, unless Mum has, she went to Plymouth again this weekend.

Monday 29 Apr

Start of another very busy week in the shop.  Doris phoned in sick!  Over the weekend she had been to Birmingham to see Beyonce.  Make of that what you will.  Reuben won't be in this week because of Exams,  mum has stepped in to do a few extra hours to help out.
My order of four Belgian beer glasses arrived today, got them on e-bay.  I'm very pleased with them.

Did some more digging in the garden before tea.

The Belgian Beer Glasses

Tuesday 30 Apr

Did some more digging in the garden this evening, nearly finished now, I'd forgotten how tiring digging soil is.

Had a relaxing half hour sat in the shed with a beer listening to the funny programme on the radio. 

Checked out a bottle of Nelson's revenge.  Its good but needs another week or so before it will be properly ready.

Bottled the next batch of Gran Cru.  A long wait of six weeks before this one will be ready.

Wednesday 1 May

I can't believe we are in May already.

Worked an extra hour in the shop this evening.  Have you ever had that feeling that you are being swamped with work and not sure that there is enough time to get it done by the deadline?

Doctor Dad got called out to Mambos this afternoon, where Hannah was suffering a nose bleed and couldn't get it to stop.  Apparently it all started with a sneeze!  She invites me to a pub and then doesn't even get me a drink!!!?
Sold my shares in Kingfisher to make a small profit of £16.00 which represents 5.5% interest on my original investment after costs.Not a bad return over 5 months when you can only get about 2% over a year in the banks!

Thursday 2 May

Worked late again this evening but I think we have now broken the back of this load.  least I hope so.

We have a wine merchants opened opposite our shop, so I popped in today to get some supplies for the Bank Holiday.  Wines from all around the world at a reasonable price.  The last I got form Phillipe were really nice.

It doesn't look very impressive right now but
wait til its producing its crop

We no longer have to pay the council a stupid amount per day to park the car.  Reuben's Girlfriend's Mum has rented us a parking space in town for half as much as were paying to park at the Brewhouse.

Friday 3 May

Won £5.00 on an on-line scratch card.
After work sat in the shed with a glass of wine, browsing the gardening book and chilling out until Mum called me in for tea.

Saturday 4 May

Worked on for an hour in the shop.

Sampled a bottle of the Sicilian wine purchased from Phillipe on Thursday.  Not bad but not a favourite.  Minted lamb chops with roasted Mediterranean vegetables (with a chilli from our home grown chilli plant but only in mine) and sautéed potatoes for tea.  Yep, another series of Master Chef has just finished!