Archive for the ‘Leisure’ Category
Posted by Shirley Anne on January 25, 2012
Image by -DjD- via Flickr
Continuing about my work and how long I will carry on doing it I find myself even more in demand and thereby reluctant to stop altogether. Many people close to me tell me that I am too obliging but when I get requests such as complete loss of power I find I want to help. This was the case on Saturday. Now Saturdays are my sabbath days of rest but when an emergency situation arises and I have been asked to help out then that is what I will do. My philosophy and the teaching is that the sabbath was made for mankind and not mankind for the sabbath. I was about to enjoy my Saturday afternoon watching television (I was watching the Masters Snooker semi-finals, something I like to watch) when I received a call from a lady whom I’ve worked for many times and she asked if I could help her as her food freezer wasn’t working. Now I do not repair fridges and freezers when once I did years ago but then my employer supplied the necessary equipment for that sort of work. I talked her through the possible reasons for the problem which was most probably a loss of power but she maintained that she hadn’t a clue how to go about that. I arrived at her house fifteen minutes later. Now this lady is currently having her downstairs floors levelled which means all the floorboards being removed and new floor joists installed, quite a big job and she has to live upstairs whilst the work is carried out. That being the case it was most likely that her builder had accidentally switched off her freezer whilst raising the kitchen floor. It took me ten seconds to find the problem. It had been switched off at source! Whilst she is having this work done the builders are also doing some work on the roof and have erected scaffolding at the front of the house. When I arrived I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that scaffolding leaning over by as much as 40 degrees from the vertical having been blown over in the high winds we had been experiencing the night before. It was only a supporting stay which had become embedded in the soil preventing it falling over completely. We telephoned the builder several times but could not get a reply. I had to leave and return home. No sooner I got home I received another call from another lady whom I’ve worked for in the past. She asked if I could go to her daughter’s house as all her electrical circuits were not working. By this time it was late afternoon and already dark. When I arrived about twenty minutes later I discovered a genuine fault. The RCD unit had tripped but wouldn’t reset, thus disconnecting all of the supply. Switching off all circuit breakers didn’t solve the problem so that meant I also had to disconnect the circuits neutral cables too. Still the RCD would not reset which meant that it was faulty and would need replacing. However it was an old type unit and would be better to replace the whole board with a modern version that is easy to repair should anything go wrong. Of course I do not carry such things in my vehicle, no electrician does and as it was too late to purchase one and too late to do the work I had to effect a temporary repair. I by-passed the RCD unit so they could have power over the weekend until I could return on Monday to fit a new board. So that was my Saturday in tatters! I actually had scheduled work to do on Sunday morning, only small jobs this time and only because my clients could not accommodate me during the week. Normally I wouldn’t work on a Sunday as I don’t do on a Saturday. At least I was back home within two hours and had the rest of the day to myself. I did return to replace the distribution board on Monday morning, an up-to date version of the old one which enables the lighting circuits to be isolated from the RCD controlling the power circuits so if it trips the lights won’t be affected. I also discovered a fault in the washing machine which was probably the reason the old RCD kept tripping and eventually giving up altogether. I was told that several times in the past it had caused the RCD to trip. Some people never learn. Her failure to get the washing machine repaired caused her having to pay for a new power board to be fitted and she still has to do something with the washing machine.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Leisure, Lifestyle, People, Work | Tagged: Circuit breaker, Residual-current device, Work | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on January 22, 2012
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On Wednesday, after some morning’s work, E and I decided to dine out at one of our favourite places some 12 miles out-of-town. I had been working outside in that fine drizzle type of rain, not enough to prevent the work being done but enough to make me feel a little irritated. By the time I had returned home the weather hadn’t changed so we were reluctant to chop up any more of the trees we had felled on Monday and Tuesday. There is no urgency to do that as we have two more weeks before the green waste bins are next emptied. When we arrived at our destination we found the car park practically empty and consequently there were plenty of empty tables inside. Of course we usually dine mid-afternoon and therefore expect fewer diners. We were pleasantly surprised to find an empty table next to the fireplace. This fireplace stands in the centre of one of the rooms and is open on two sides. A young couple occupied the table on one side so we took the table on the other side. It was so nice to be able to sit by a log fire for a change although anywhere in the dining rooms is pleasantly warm. I had a bottle of red wine which I didn’t drink completely, in fact I took it home still half full when we left. We both had a cola drink too. I chose sea bass for my main course and E chose a gammon steak. Neither of us had a starter but we chose something from the dessert menu later. When we had finished eating E had a coffee and I finished the glass of wine I had left. I wasn’t feeling well for some reason and I went to the toilet. On my return my brief uneasiness had disappeared. E mentioned that it could have been the heat from the fire which caused me to feel strange but I have my doubts about that because I remained sitting next to it without any further problems. Whilst out I received a couple of calls requesting my services. That work will more than pay for our lunch by the cosy fireside.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Food, Leisure, Lifestyle | Tagged: Dining room, Drink, Fireplace, Food, Leisure, Lifestyle | 5 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on January 8, 2012
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I had the day to myself on Friday as I was released from my jury service until Monday. Not wanting to let the opportunity pass by to enjoy myself for the day I invited E out for an extended lunch, well they are always extended when I dine out. I love the experience of wining and dining out and generally socialising and it is nice to do that with friends and family but it is nicest when in the company with someone very special. In my case that would be my ex partner E whom I love dearly. I take the opportunity to dine out with her as often as I can so that not only do I get to enjoy myself but that she can enjoy life more than she usually does. As is the case I often ask her if she is happy so that I can help her to be happy as much as I can. She is hard to reach sometimes but I persevere for I don’t want her to feel unhappy if I can do something to change that. I wonder sometimes what makes her tick, what it is she wants out of life because I feel she is missing out on things when she should be getting the most out of life. I know she enjoys her outings with me but she is often reluctant to show that. So it was that we both went to one of our favourite haunts in the next town on Friday and had a carvery lunch with dessert and drinks. I polished off a full bottle of red wine and later had a liqueur coffee with a cream topping, similar to the picture on the right. We both had soft drinks too, she was drinking Pepsi-Cola and I was drinking the diet version in-between my sips of wine. I like the taste of the cola following the wine and sometimes I mix the two in the same glass when I am tired of drinking the wine neat, which isn’t often (LOL). We arrived at the restaurant/pub at around 1.30 and we left just before 5.00 stopping off at the supermarket for some rum, whisky and cream. I wanted to enjoy another glass or two of a liqueur coffee! I am off to work on Saturday morning which will be yesterday by the time you read this so I will not be able to have a drink, if I want one, until late in the day. I probably won’t indulge as I value having a healthy liver which needs a break now and then! I might have a drink today, Sunday but then nothing until the end of the week when I have finished my jury service. Mind you, I may get on a case that lasts longer than this coming week but in any event I will enjoy a drink or two at the weekend. I might even surprise the staff at my local pub by paying them the first visit for over six weeks. I love life and I love people who are prepared to enjoy it with me. Life is too short not to enjoy it.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Drink, Enjoyment, Food, Happiness, Leisure, Life, Lifestyle, Philosophy, Values, Wisdom | Tagged: Alcoholic beverage, Drink, Food, Friday, Leisure, Life, Lifestyle, Monday, Pepsi, Philosophy, Saturday, Soft drink, Wine | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on November 9, 2011
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For those who may not know I don’t work on Saturday unless it is for emergency purposes. I also take Sunday off as a break from work much the same as most people I think. Last Friday evening I wasn’t particularly tired when I eventually went to bed around midnight and so as I usually do in such circumstances, I watched some television. That usually helps and this time was no different. Even so I didn’t get to sleep for a couple of hours and consequently I woke late in the morning. No problem with that as I had no plans to do anything except have a session on my treadmill when I did get up. Saturday morning then, I got up around 9.30 and began to get ready for a ‘run’ but my toilet requirements kept me from doing so straight away! Now it was around 10.00 and I began to go downstairs when the phone rang. Someone wanted me to do a job and it seemed urgent when I listened to the message later but in fact it wasn’t urgent and in any case I would not have been able to accommodate the caller as it wasn’t in my field of work. I did my half-hour on the treadmill and after cooling off a little I bathed and went back to my bedroom to dress. Just as I was beginning to dress the phone rang again. Someone else wanted me to do a job but I explained that I wasn’t available on Saturday but could do it another day. He called again later to confirm that I could do the job on Monday afternoon (I had two other jobs in the morning). Again it wasn’t really an urgent job. It was about noon when I eventually came downstairs and no sooner that I got there the phone rang again. Yet another job which wasn’t urgent but I was asked if I could do it there and then. I turned down the offer! What is it with people? I am a very obliging person and I think it is rather selfish of people to expect me to work on a weekend just to suit their requirements. Most of the time the requests are for work that can be done during the normal working week so I expect people to call me at those times and not pester me at the weekend. I don’t mind receiving requests at the weekend for work to be done during the week and I don’t mind working during a weekend if it is a real emergency but I need a break too! Emergencies are rare though but it seems that one faulty switch or one faulty power point is an emergency to some people!
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Leisure, Work | Tagged: Friday, Leisure, Saturday, Sunday, Work, Workweek and weekend | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on October 22, 2011
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Well the weeks work is over and I have no plans for the weekend. I’ll probably visit the pub at some point. I think there will be things to do at home though, like checking the central heating which needs attention, venting off air from the radiators, setting the controls and adjusting thermostats and such. The garden is looking good but there is some tidying up to do, leaves and broken twigs lying about need clearing away. At this time of year most of the work in the garden is simply tidying and bringing in any crops that are still growing. I removed the remainder of the apples from the trees before they began to drop off by themselves rendering them bruised if they fell on a the hard surface below. Both trees are planted between a path and the concrete standing where the greenhouses are. The path was placed there earlier in the year where there was only grass so we have to watch for apples that fall before we can pick them. Come to think of it, I don’t need to plan anything do I?
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Leisure | Tagged: Apple, Central heating, Fruit, Garden, Greenhouse, Home, Thermostat | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on October 16, 2011
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I have just read one of my daily ‘words’ from Scripture the essence of which tell me that even though I may strive to be perfect in every way I know that I shall never attain perfection for as long as I live. The reading points out that I should be telling myself daily that I know I am not perfect but that I am better than I was before. A good philosophy to be sure. There are areas in my life though where I struggle to get better for I will forget the promises I make to myself and over-indulge. On Friday I spent the afternoon, late afternoon that is, at the pub. I sat there for a couple of hours watching people come and go whilst I was reading a newspaper and having a drink. Eventually the pub filled to capacity but I remained seated and alone by choice. Later I began to mingle and before long found myself in the company of friends. Drifting along with the conversations, meeting new people and generally having a good time robbed me of my sensibility and I ended up shall we say, slightly inebriated! Horror of horrors I hear you say but it is all so easy to forget one’s promises not to get drunk when one has had too much to drink and therein lies the danger. Switching to soft drinks is the better solution and one that I should endeavour to embrace more often. Let’s hope I eventually learn my lesson and be a little more responsible in future. I arrived home in the early hours after the fifteen minute walk from the pub and was so hungry I rustled up a meal. Still not tired after my escapade I took to surfing the Web and posted comments on other folks blogs. I was beginning to doze off when I made my way upstairs at five in the morning! I remember looking at the clock at five-thirty and then fell asleep, in the correct attire for the occasion I might add and not in my normal clothes! I awoke at ten fully refreshed and most definitely not with a hang-over. I drink far too much water after drinking alcohol to end up with a splitting morning-after headache. Dehydration or lack of it is something I have under complete control. It only remains for me to keep myself under control when out enjoying myself.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Behaviour, Drink, Enjoyment, Friendship, Happiness, Leisure, Lifestyle, Philosophy, Temptation | Tagged: Alcohol, Behaviour, Drink, Friday, Friendship, Leisure, Philosophy | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on October 12, 2011
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I went to the pub on Sunday evening, more of a rarity than a regular habit these days although at once or sometimes twice weekly isn’t exactly rare. I could have gone during the afternoon but I know what the place is like at that time. It would have been packed to the seams and had it not been raining most would have sat outside because the weather was quite warm. There is a very large ‘smoking area’ outside which is usually packed with those who still cannot give up the habit. Usually, if it is a nice day but not hot and sunny, I sometimes like to sit outside. I prefer sitting indoors though, especially if it is too hot outside. As I went there at eight o’clock there were only a few people there. One group sitting close to the door all know me and although I said hello I was more or less ignored. I sat at the bar and was greeted by the staff and the manager who chatted with me on and off all the evening. I entered into a conversation with a couple of men at the bar and later two guys came in and stood at the bar close to where I was sitting. They engaged me in conversation too. It turns out that the younger of the two had been a professional footballer and played for Wolverhampton until he retired from the game at 36 some 15 years ago. It isn’t unusual for professional footballers to appear in the pub as there are quite a few living in the vicinity and quite famous ones too. I won’t mention any names of course but many of them play in the Premiership. The only women in the pub left after an hour of my being there and I was the only female customer left. The remainder of the punters were men, about fifteen of them! I had gone there with the hope of seeing a couple of friends but it appears that everyone had spent the afternoon there and were gone before I arrived so in that respect it was a waste of time. I did enjoy myself though, albeit mostly in my own company. I left just before the pub closed and returned home. The pub is a very welcoming place and regulars, including myself, are greeted by name on arrival and bid farewell by name when leaving too. Sometimes though I think my trips to the pub are a waste of time but it is better than sitting at home with no-one to talk to.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Drink, Leisure, People | Tagged: Bar (establishment), Landlord, Leisure, People, Restaurants and Bars, Sunday, Wolverhampton | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 26, 2011
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I had very little or nothing to do last week except keeping medical appointments and visiting the pub once. A very mundane week indeed. Today I have a dental appointment in the morning and an appointment with the nurse in the evening. I am having a tooth capped and later having a ‘flu jab. Last Monday I had almost the same treatment, dental work and pneumonia jab. I wonder what is in store for next Monday? I found that I have been a lot more active on the treadmill though, a promise I made to myself after neglecting the machine and getting little exercise over the last couple of weeks. No work meant no pay of course but I am not worried about that, it’s more the boredom. I found I was playing my guitar more often too even though I usually tinker about on it for an hour or so every day anyway and I managed to pen two more songs. Not that I try to write songs, they just come into my head, a talent, no a gift that I didn’t imagine I would ever get. So last week wasn’t all a waste of time. It was last week that I sadly learned about someones death, a fellow (wrong word) blogger and Tgirl. Although I didn’t know her on a personal level it is still a bit upsetting to her of her demise. In some respects I welcome death especially if someone is suffering with an incurable illness as she was but as a Christian I think she is in a better place now anyway. Nevertheless, life is a precious gift from God and must be respected by living it in the right way. So I am kind of hoping that this week will be filled with good things, less boring things and more productive things too. I will only get to know at the end of it though won’t I?
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Activity, Leisure, Life, Occupation | Tagged: Activity, Dentist, Dentistry, Health, Healthcare, Influenza, Influenza vaccine, Leisure, Tooth | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 19, 2011
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Well Saturday morning I had a good lie in bed for a change but somebody telephoned asking if I could do a job for them. It was an urgent job but as I was still in bed and didn’t feel like doing any work I declined. I had it in mind to go to the pub in the afternoon but later, when I was up and about I decided against going there too soon. Here in the UK it is the football (soccer) season and many pubs play live games on their television, my local being no exception. This means a pub packed with football fanatics all getting drunk. O-oh no way Hosea! I have been to these events before but not often and they are not the sort of events to go and see when you want a quiet drink with friends. I decided to go a little later but even when I went at eight in the evening there were still many guys milling about, most of them drunk. I sat with three friends for ten minutes but they left and I was alone for a half hour. Two more friends came in and we sat together in a quieter spot. Soon we had the pub to ourselves with only a few regular customers to keep us company. We had a great time laughing and drinking and late in the evening my two friends left but asked me to join them again on Sunday afternoon for an hour or so. I told them that it was unlikely that I would be there but they continued to ask. Well Sunday afternoons at the pub are similar affairs to Saturdays because they have the football on-screen again until early evening. When the weather is fine, as it was on both days, many more local people are often seen in the seating area outside, so much so that one can hardly find anywhere to sit. I didn’t go to the pub at all on Sunday as I thought I wouldn’t, well I just couldn’t be bothered! In fact I did almost nothing at all on Sunday but when I was sitting quietly watching some television in the evening I decided to pick up my guitar for the third time that day because a song suddenly popped into my thoughts and I wanted to play it a few times and get it down on paper. It took me ten minutes to produce. This is the way all my songs and poems come to me, on the spur of the moment and usually almost in one go. I have no idea why that is. It is another Christian song which I will add to my collection. So that about sums up my weekend, restful, boring at times, fun at times and productive at times.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Activity, Friendship, Fun, Leisure, Lifestyle, Music | Tagged: Activity, Bar (establishment), Friendship, Fun, Leisure, Pubs, Television | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 10, 2011
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So I spent Wednesday afternoon/early evening down at my local pub. After visiting the place about two weeks ago after a long absence and promising that I would go more often I have returned there twice since. My workload is very low just now and I was feeling so bored sitting home alone I decided to do two things. One, was to go for a walk and two, was to go to the pub. I did both. The weather at home has been rather a wet and windy affair so walking too far was out of the question, especially as I was wearing (small) heels and wasn’t dressed for taking on the elements. Fortunately the streets afforded quite a bit of shelter from the wind until I walked westward but even then it wasn’t too bad. At least the rain held off until I was back indoors, that is inside the pub! On arrival I found but a few patrons inside so I grabbed the local newspaper and sat down with my drink on a lovely leather sofa near to a window (I need daylight or bright artificial lighting to read comfortably) so that I wasn’t straining to see the script. My eyesight is quite excellent and I don’t need glasses as an aid, just good lighting. After an hour I began to feel hungry so I looked at the menu. For a small establishment they have quite an extensive choice of meals and snacks. I chose a smoked salmon sandwich with a salad as I wasn’t hungry enough to eat a large meal. It was delicious and enough to satisfy me for a few hours. By the time I had finished eating many more folk started to arrive and all but a few (those I don’t know) greeted me. I don’t know about you but I love ‘people watching‘ and I was quite contented to just sit there across the room watching them come and go. Finally though some wanted a little more contact with me and came over for a chat. By early evening I was up and about chatting with people myself. I am a very gregarious and sociable person and I find chatting with people so easy. Of course I had to watch my alcohol intake as I can get carried away sometimes by overdoing things. It was getting late and I decided that I must return home so I said my farewells and off I went for the ten minute walk to my house. I got home just after eight-thirty and found I had mail and a parcel containing the new shoes I had ordered a few days ago. I tried the shoes and they are a perfect fit but I doubt I shall be walking to the pub in them as the heels are just over four inches! I shall take a cab if I wear them out.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Drink, Enjoyment, Exercise, Food, Friendship, Leisure, Lifestyle, People, Rest and relaxation | Tagged: Bar (establishment), Drink, Entertainment, Food, Friendship, Leisure, Lighting, Newspaper, People, Rest and relaxation | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 3, 2011
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I’ve had a reasonably busy week this week, not too much to do but just enough. I have had plenty of time to myself to do with as I please but although there is plenty for me to do, I have not been in the mood. E and I have had a disagreement and have not spoken for some time. I am a little upset at her continued attitude which makes me reluctant to do anything at this moment. It has been this way for her for a very long time and each time I give in to her in the end but I have reached a point now whereby this time I am just not inclined to bother and am fed up with it all. Enough of my problems.
I had an afternoon free on Thursday so I decided to go down to the pub for a few hours and get talking to people. Apart from my visit there last Friday I have only been to the pub four times this year so it’s not as if I am making a habit of it, although I do plan to go there more often. Over the last eighteen months I have not been inclined to visit the pub for two reasons, I have been too busy at home working and I have not felt up to it. When I went there with my friend on Friday last week I was greeted by so many folk all asking about my well-being and my lack of presence there. On Thursday there was hardly anyone there when I walked through the door about three-thirty and it stayed pretty much that way for the next hour when people started arriving by and by. Soon I had all the people I wanted to chat with and found myself the recipient of free drinks but I couldn’t let that continue and insisted on paying my way too. I glanced toward a table where two women and one man had just sat down and one of the women called to me by name. I vaguely remembered her face but couldn’t remember her name, which is usual for me. I went to the table and humbly mentioned that I couldn’t remember her name or where we had met but she told me that we met a year or so back when I helped her operate the music player to choose some songs. She also reminded me that I had done some electrical work for her mom and I asked her why I hadn’t done the same for her. This is when she told me that she and her husband, together with her friend and her husband where all living on the south coast of Spain. Her husband and her friend were at the table. I said, with tongue in cheek, that I was open to working in Spain, half expecting her to ask me to do just that! We all chatted for a while but it was her friend who dominated the conversation. Her friend was called Liz or Elizabeth and she and I chatted for ages whilst the other two became engaged with other people close-by. We hit it off together as they say and I found her a very pleasant and interesting person. We made each other laugh, chatting about women’s things mainly. I discovered that they were all staying in temporary accomodation close by to where I live, in fact a mere couple of hundred metres away! They will be returning to Spain in a week or so but I may get to see them before they depart. I love meeting people and getting to know them. I never disclose my past to people but when others I know visit the same pub and know about that part of my life, it can sometimes be awkward if they break a confidence. Of course if folk do find out this way, they make no fuss about it and I find they are drawn closer to me for that. Being a transsexual woman, though I don’t refer to myself as such, I am simply a woman, it is a nice feeling to be so readily accepted by people when I visit my pub.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Community, Leisure, People, Transsexual | Tagged: Bar (establishment), Drink, Friendship, People, Spain, Transsexual | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on August 2, 2011
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Yesterday, the first day of August was more like the Mondays I used to know, work, work and even more work……then I went home! Probably a flash in the pan because of late I haven’t had much professional work to speak of. I have taken a short break from working at home even though there’s plenty there to do so there’s only my electrical work, if I get any, to keep me occupied. So it looks like I’ll be taking a breather for a few days. We’ll see. These days I can pretty much do as I like which is nice having worked all my life with no breaks. It is good to be able to relax but I’m the kind of person that usually finds relaxing for too long a bit of a burden. I am at my best in two situations, one is when I am the social animal and the other is when I am working. It is August and soon enough colder weather will again take over. I need to enjoy the sunshine and get out more too. Holidays? Mmmm……..not sure about holidays, I can take them or leave them. Over the years I have visited many places in the world, seen many sights and done quite a few things but now the interest isn’t really there. I suppose this sort of thing happens for some of us as we get older, we get bored travelling all over the place and just want to relax at home, or not too far away from home. For now a breather is enough.
PS The full caption to the above picture should read……
Posted in Leisure, Life, Lifestyle, Philosophy, Rest and relaxation | Tagged: Leisure, Rest and relaxation | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on July 27, 2011
Well yesterday I wanted to purchase some materials for the garage so after breakfast and a short session with my computer I asked E if she would like to accompany me, which she did but first I had to wait for her to get dressed! She always has her breakfast before getting dressed whereas I am the opposite, I get dressed first! In the meantime I went out to the garage and measured what I would need in the way of timber on which to fix the metal guides for the roller door. Soon E was back downstairs and ready to go so off we went, first to the timber depot and then on to the electrical supplier to buy a fluorescent light fitting for the garage before returning home. It was still only 11.30 and the weather had changed for the better, bright blue sky and warm sunshine which remained so for the rest of the day. I said to E that it was such a nice day, too nice to be working and would she dine out with me instead. Before we could do anything else I wanted to move out all the plywood sheeting we had stored in the new garage and place it in the old garage instead. E wanted to hang out some washing too but she stopped with me for a short while so that we could move some of the plywood. Most of these sheets are 8′ x 4′ and some thicker than others. There were also some smaller display boards measuring about 5′ square in plywood too, quite a lot to shift when one of us is having difficulty in simply walking about most of the time. I refer to E who unfortunately cannot help me as much as she would like to these days but any help is better than none. We struggled but eventually managed to move most of it before E had to go and hang out the washing. I moved the last few pieces by myself all but one seven-ply 8′ x 4′ sheet which looks almost new and will be just suitable to lay on the floor in the proposed new wet-room before we lay the floor tiles. Although the present floor is very solid it is simply floorboards nailed to joists and unsuitable as it is for the direct laying of floor tiles. That will now save us having to buy plywood for the floor. When we began clearing out the garage we discovered more large logs which we have been giving to our next-door neighbours as they have a wood-burning fire which they use in the colder months of the year. These logs are what remained of our tree-felling activities late last year. Well we found a couple more and they came to collect them. They were admiring our recent work in the garage and asked who had done it all. When we told them that we had done it ourselves they were very impressed, probably thinking we were not capable! So E and I went indoors, got changed and off we went to have our meal, this time at a carvery about eight miles away. Today however I shall be working in the garage doing mostly electrical work which I hope I shall finish completely at some point in the day, unless of course I get a call to do work for someone else! Yesterday was simply too nice a day to waste on working. When we got back home I took my guitar out onto the patio and sat playing some songs for a while in the warm sunshine. You see, I can relax when I’ve a mind too!
Shirley Anne
Posted in Enjoyment, Entertainment, Leisure, Lifestyle, Rest and relaxation | Tagged: Lifestyle, Rest and relaxation | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on July 21, 2011
I got out of bed fairly early yesterday and was out working in the garage by 9.30. I began by fitting a lock on the second door and then cut and fitted most of the architrave and skirting board to the new partition wall. Whilst I was doing that I had a visit from my eldest son and his wife who had dropped by to see us both. We chatted some and I asked what they had planned for the day. They had nothing planned but I had planned dining out with E as we hadn’t dined out for a while. I asked if they would like to join us at my expense and they said they would like that but Lyndsay had a routine appointment with her doctor to attend first. We agreed to meet at their house later and then go on to our chosen venue. We had a great afternoon wining, dining and generally having a ball before following them into a supermarket whilst they did their weekly shop and then on to their house for a spell before driving back home later. Today I have two small jobs to do so I guess I won’t be doing any more work in the garage for the day. No problem, it is nice to have a break now and then.
I have been seriously considering officially retiring from my electrical work lately but every now and then I get calls for the odd electrical job which is fine but it is making retiring all the more difficult to achieve! Perhaps just winding down is the better option but the taxman will still require his cut! The way things are going though the tax man will be owing me money!
Shirley Anne
Posted in Leisure, Lifestyle | Tagged: Life, Lifestyle | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on July 4, 2011
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I got up very early on Sunday morning with another view to do some work in the garage once more. I get these urges to do things but as I mentioned in my last post I also promised myself that I would only work for a couple of hours and take a break for the remainder of the day. Again I was dressed and downstairs by eight o’clock, had my breakfast and went straight out to my van and donned a pair of overalls and boots. Really looking the part (lol) I proceeded to carry on where I had left off the day before. I spent four hours finishing off the woodwork and giving it all an undercoat of paint both inside and out. True to my word I packed everything away at one o’clock and prepared some salad and fruit to go with the steaks E was going to cook on the barbecue once I’d help her get it out and on to the patio. There was only the two of us this weekend, ten less than came last week but of course we hadn’t planned on entertaining this week! The weather has been glorious and it would be a shame not to enjoy it whilst we can. For two people who actually like working at home doing different things we find it difficult to just sit and relax sometimes. We took time over our lunch and sat chatting for a while but I could tell E was biting at the bit, eager to start doing something once more. I insisted that she stay put and take time out and relax. She had been busy in the morning but doing different things than I had been doing so she deserved a break. She saw sense and sat a while longer in the heat of the sun. I kept out of the sun as much as possible and stayed in the shadow of the awning. I had caught too much sun last time and my chest was sore for days so I wasn’t about to do that again! Sitting there looking at the barbecue E couldn’t resist giving it a clean. She went indoors and came out with a hot bucket of soapy water and a cloth and proceeded to clean away the dirt and grease. It wasn’t long after we had put the barbecue back in storage (we keep it in the old garage, there’s plenty of space in there) when we had a visit from our eldest son and his wife who, when they realised we’d had a barbecue bemoaned the fact that we hadn’t invited them. They were and are always welcome but they came rather late and we hadn’t told them we were having a barbecue, we didn’t know ourselves until we suggested having one on the spur of the moment. They didn’t stay long, about an hour, and then they had to get home. I didn’t do any more work but E continued to potter about in the garden for a couple of hours. I stayed indoors and played my guitar for a while and did other things after my evening meal. Today, if I am not working as an electrician, I plan to go out with E and buy in some things we need to complete various jobs around the garage. And so………..life goes on.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Leisure, Lifestyle | Tagged: Barbecue, Garage, Home and Garden, Leisure | Leave a Comment »
