Made A Start On The Digging.

MY PENNINE WAY PICTURE FOR TODAY
The old road said to date back to Roman times at the top of which is the Aiggin stone.

MY WORK
196
08/01/2009 08:30
08/01/2009 08:55
00:25
Misc
Attending to the sheep

1) Took across some hay.
2) Put out some minerals.
3) Checked and counted the sheep.
-
197
08/01/2009 08:55
08/01/2009 09:40
00:45
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
Checking round.
-
198
08/01/2009 09:40
08/01/2009 10:35
00:55
Walled Garden
Digging
Made a start on digging over the veg garden.
-
199
08/01/2009 10:35
08/01/2009 11:00
00:25
Home
Break for tea.
1 mug of tea.
-
200
08/01/2009 11:00
08/01/2009 11:25
00:25
Pumpend
Fetching plants back.
Had to collect some Hyacinths to bring on in the greenhouse.
-
201
08/01/2009 11:25
08/01/2009 13:00
01:35
Walled Garden
Clearing up
Continued my tipy up around the summer house.
-
202
08/01/2009 13:00
08/01/2009 14:00
01:00
Home
Break for lunch
1 mug of tea, 4 black currant jam sandwiches and 4 pieces of malt loaf.
-
203
08/01/2009 14:00
08/01/2009 14:30
00:30
Walled Garden
Digging
Did half an hours digging in the veg garden.
-
204
08/01/2009 14:30
08/01/2009 15:05
00:35
Main Garden
Planting
Planted the Pansies in the stone trough by the Japanese garden
-
205
08/01/2009 15:05
08/01/2009 16:25
01:20
Walled Garden
Clearing up
Finished of clear up by the summer house steps.
-
206
08/01/2009 16:25
08/01/2009 16:50
00:25
Potting Shed
Clean and put away the tools
-
207
08/01/2009 16:50
08/01/2009 16:55
00:05
Hall
See to the bins
Put out 3 recycle tubs ready for collection tomorrow. They never collected the rubbish today so I couldn't put the bins back.

Aiggin Stone.

MY PICTURE FROM THE PENNINE WAY

This is the Aiggin Stone and marks the summit of the old road which I will show you tomorrow.

TODAYS WEATHER READINGS
Temp Low: -1C
Temp High: +4C
Feels Like: -1 to +4C
Percipitation: 1 mm
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind Direction: W
UV Index: Low
Weather: Cloudy and a bit warmer than yesterday.

MY WORK BOOK
185
07/01/2009 08:30
07/01/2009 08:55
00:25
Misc
Attending to the sheep
1) Took across some hay.
2) Broke the ice on the water trough.
3) checked and counted the sheep.
-
186
07/01/2009 08:55
07/01/2009 09:25
00:30
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
Did some watering and potted up a plant that had fallen prey to vine weevil.
-
187
07/01/2009 09:25
07/01/2009 10:15
00:50
Main Garden
Cutting back
Cutting back some more ivy from the low wall by the summer house.
-
188
07/01/2009 10:15
07/01/2009 10:30
00:15
Home
Ordering seeds
Checked over the order before handing in to the office.
-
189
07/01/2009 10:30
07/01/2009 11:00
00:30
Home
Break for tea.
1 mug of tea.
-
190
07/01/2009 11:00
07/01/2009 12:50
01:50
Main Garden
Clearing up
Clearing up and carting away all the ivy that was trimmed from the walls
-
191
07/01/2009 12:50
07/01/2009 13:35
00:45
Home
Break for lunch
1 mug of tea, 4 cheese sandwiches and 4 pieces of Malt loaf.
-
192
07/01/2009 13:35
07/01/2009 14:40
01:05
Misc
Fetch some hay
Fetched 5 bales of hay and 1 propane cylinder for the greenhouse heater.
-
193
07/01/2009 14:40
07/01/2009 16:05
01:25
Walled Garden
Clearing up
Clearing up and carting away the rubbish cut from the walls by the summer house.
-
194
07/01/2009 16:05
07/01/2009 16:25
00:20
Potting Shed
Clean and put away the tools
-
195
07/01/2009 16:25
07/01/2009 16:50
00:25
Hall
See to the bins
Put out 3 black bins from the hall, 1 from Franks and 1 from Pumpend.

COMMENTS FROM THE POTTING SHED
Sara Ha ha - don't worry, Tippy is very forgiving. The motorway that the bridge spans was created in the late 1960s after the route of the Pennine Way was approved so the bridge had to be build especially to accommodate the trail.

The Weaver of Grass You're right about the sun, the picture was taken yesterday which was a nice sunny day unlike today which has been grey, damp and cold. Yes I did have a sweet lunch didnt I, I needed the energy to keep me warm!

We Had The Air Con Running Too.

MY PICTURE FROM THE PENNINE WAY

The foot bridge over the M62 motorway.

TODAYS WEATHER READINGS
Temp Low: -2C
Temp High: 0C
Feels Like: -6 to +1C
Percipitation: 0mm
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind Direction: NW

UV Index: Low
Weather: Cold with some sun.

MY WORK BOOK
175
06/01/2009 08:25
06/01/2009 08:55
00:30
Misc
Attending to the sheep
1) Took across some hay.
2) Checked and counted the sheep.
3) Put out some minerals. 4) Broke the ice one the water trough. (Note 1).
-
176
06/01/2009 08:55
06/01/2009 09:10
00:15
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
Checked round.
-
177
06/01/2009 09:10
06/01/2009 09:35
00:25
Potting Shed
Potting up
Potted up the Monterey Pine, this is a special favourite of the bosses so he keeps having me repot it even though it doens't always need it, I think he is going to plant it out somewhere soon.
-
178
06/01/2009 09:35
06/01/2009 10:15
00:40
Main Garden
Cutting back
Removing a branch that was rubbing on summer house roof.
-
179
06/01/2009 10:15
06/01/2009 10:50
00:35
Misc
Have a bonefire
Burning boxes from the hall.
-
180
06/01/2009 10:50
06/01/2009 11:35
00:45
Public Gardens
Sweeping
Sweeping the back passages.
-
181
06/01/2009 11:35
06/01/2009 12:45
01:10
Walled Garden
Pruning
Pruning the Wisteria on the summer house wall.
-
182
06/01/2009 12:45
06/01/2009 13:40
00:55
Home
Break for lunch
1 mug of tea, 4 honey sandwiches, and 4 pieces of malt loaf.
-
183
06/01/2009 13:40
06/01/2009 16:40
03:00
Walled Garden
Cutting back
Cutting back some ivy on the wall between the summer house and the iron gates,
-
184
06/01/2009 16:40
06/01/2009 16:55
00:15
Potting Shed
Clean and put away the tools


NOTES

1) The water trough where I break the ice.

COMMENTS FROM THE POTTING SHED
Sara Tippy is a girl actually Sara. I have made out my order for veg seed, I like to get stuff ordered in plenty of time.

Jeanette Happy New Year to you too. I took a picture of the water trough for you this morning just in case you needed a quick dip to cool you off! The plants are for a trough in front of the house but not the two by the front door, I already have them planted. Ha ha - we had the air con running all day here too Jeanette!!

Back To Work

MY PICTURE OF THE DAY
Tippy watching lambs.

TODAYS WEATHER READINGS
Temp Low: -6C
Temp High: +1C
Feels Like: -7 to -6C
Wind Speed: 38 mph
Percipitation: 1 mm
Wind Direction: NE
UV Index: Low
Weather: Snow flurries, clouds and sun.


MY WORK BOOK
151
01/01/2009 10:00
01/01/2009 10:30
00:30
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
-
152
01/01/2009 10:30
01/01/2009 10:55
00:25
Misc
Attending to the sheep
1) Took across some hay. 2) Checked and counted the sheep. 3) Broke the ice on the water trough.
-
153
01/01/2009 16:00
01/01/2009 16:15
00:15
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
Checking the heaters
-
154
02/01/2009 10:00
04/01/2009 10:45
48:45
Hall
Take in logs.
-
155
02/01/2009 10:45
02/01/2009 11:10
00:25
Misc
Attending to the sheep
1) Take across some hay.
2) Broke the ice on the water trough.
-
156
02/01/2009 16:15
02/01/2009 16:30
00:15
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
Checking the heaters.
-
157
03/01/2009 10:05
03/01/2009 10:25
00:20
Misc
Attending to the sheep
1) Took across some hay.
2) Checked and counted the sheep.
3) Broke the ice on the water trough.
-
158
03/01/2009 10:25
03/01/2009 10:45
00:20
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
-
159
03/01/2009 16:45
03/01/2009 16:55
00:10
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
Checking the heaters.
-
160
04/01/2009 10:15
04/01/2009 10:40
00:25
Misc
Attending to the sheep
1) Took across some hay.
2) Checked and counted the sheep.
3) Broke the ice on the water trough.
4) Put out some minerals.
-
161
04/01/2009 10:40
04/01/2009 11:00
00:20
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
-
162
04/01/2009 16:00
04/01/2009 16:10
00:10
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
Checking the heaters.
-
163
05/01/2009 08:20
05/01/2009 08:30
00:10
Home
Calendar
Organizing some work.
-
164
05/01/2009 08:30
05/01/2009 08:55
00:25
Misc
Attending to the sheep
1) Took across some hay.
2) Checked and counted the sheep.
3) Broke the ice on the water trough.
-
165
05/01/2009 08:55
05/01/2009 09:45
00:50
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
1) Did some watering.
2) Took off some dead leaves.
-
166
05/01/2009 09:45
05/01/2009 10:50
01:05
Hall
Take in logs.
Took in 9 baskets of logs and 1 bucket of coal.
-
167
05/01/2009 10:50
05/01/2009 10:55
00:05
Hall
Take out the Christmas tree
Took out the tree and put the log down the cellar.
-
168
05/01/2009 10:55
05/01/2009 11:10
00:15
Home
Break for tea.
1 mug of tea.
-
169
05/01/2009 11:10
05/01/2009 12:15
01:05
Misc
Go to the garden centre
Bought a big plant pot 30 pansy plants.
-
170
05/01/2009 12:15
05/01/2009 13:00
00:45
Home
Break for lunch
1 mug of tea, 3 cheese and pickle sandwiches and 3 pancakes.
-
171
05/01/2009 13:00
05/01/2009 16:10
03:10
Main Garden
Cutting back
Removed a Hebe from the Japanese garden and cut back Cotoneaster from the rock garden path.
-
172
05/01/2009 16:10
05/01/2009 16:30
00:20
Potting Shed
Clean and put away the tools
-
173
05/01/2009 16:30
05/01/2009 16:40
00:10
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
Checking the heaters.
-
174
05/01/2009 18:06
05/01/2009 18:53
00:47
Home
Ordering seeds
Finished off the veg seed order.


NOTES
1) I've included some work from the beginning of the new year in my work book. Even though I was on holiday from Christmas Eve I still looked after the sheep and greenhouses every day and filled the log baskets when needed so in all I worked over 10 hours during my holidays which seems a bit stupid when its all added up.

COMMENTS FROM THE POTTING SHED
The Weaver of Grass Thanks for your New Year wishes, I will be happy if all my seeds grow even just a little bit.

salina Little seems the same anymore, I think people just forgot how to be nice and have a good time without spending loads of money.

Sara You're right there, he knows exactly what to do to get what he wants and he knows just whats going down which I'm sure your dogs do most of the time, they haven't lived with humans all these years without learning a thing or two.

Lois I don't think its so unhealthy to have blogging friends, I just see it as another way to have friends that you wouldn't have otherwise. Its not like you have blogging friends instead of other friends. In some neighbourhoods people just aren't friendly or at least they aren't the sort of people suit your personality. Its a bit like that here which is why we travelled 50 miles to the party we attended, they're our kind of people.

Jim I'm not really sure why as I've never really made a special effort training him not to take things that don't belong him but he just doesn't do it. Even if one of the other dogs leaves its food it will sit there on the floor all day and Tom won't touch it unless someone says he can have it.

Red Clover Happy New Year to you too. I don't know if you can see from the picture but the red stars on my mum's hat light up.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I hope you all enjoyed your New Years Eve celebrations if any were had. I know for some people it passes just as any other night does and there is nothing wrong with that because basically thats really all that happens other than the year changes as well.

We had a good night with some friends from back home. We traveled down after Vicki finished work and returned after the party. It was my kind of party, the food was good, the drink plentiful and the entertainment was in the old style where of if you had a talent you got up and used it to entertain. Unfortunately my talents are not such that I'm able to play or sing or tell jokes, I think the talent God gave me was a tolerance to listen to older people talk about their flu jabs and the last ten years weather stastics etc. and in that respect I was put to quite often. It was good to meet old friend and make some new ones. Below is a picture I took of three of the guys partaking in one of the many musical interludes.

I just have a couple more pics to show you from Christmas, Christmas Eve to be precise. This next picture is of Tom, you've all seen him with his happy smiling face well I show you this picture because its a different face, his serious face, this is Tommy's 'back off' face, his ears are down, his mouth close and has a staring eyes. This is the look he saves for you when he doesn't want to get off the bed or be left behind when you're going on a trip etc.

...and this is what he is telling everyone to keep away from.

In the blue bag nearest to him are all the doggy presents and as every dog owner knows you can't fool a dog by wrapping a present in paper. They know exactly which ones are chocs, biscuits or doggy treats. Well we brought this bag down and place it next to the tree before going to bed on Christmas Eve and Tom immediately went in to guard dog mode and wouldn't let anyone near it which I thought was quite funny and pretty smart too.

Making Christmas Special.

Seen as how I'm not at work this week I wasn't going to blog awhile but it was brought to my attention last night that some people turn on their computers just to see what I wrote about and its disappointing when there is nothing.

So, why haven't you done any bloggin'?

'Bob' I've not been at work so there isn't much to say.

What have you been doing then?

'Bob' eer... well nothing, I'm on holiday.

So this post is to avoid further disappointment and to say thanks to SOME of the people who made my Christmas special.

Some people worked very hard to make Christmas special for me, below is one of them.

Mums always make Christmas special - here is mine

Enjoying the rewards of their labours - time to eat the Christmas pudding, well, thats if we can leave the wine alone!

Then of course there were those that just opened presents, played with them, eat too much and then fell asleep in front of the fire - tut tut, shame on them!

Have a Happy New Year,
Bob.

Present Opening.

Here are a few pictures from our Christmas day, this is present opening time, as you will see we were blessed with many gifts.

This is Vicki opening her Digital picture frame.

Tom opening his squeaky toy.

Tippy opening her cudly toy.
Fallon opening one of her books.
Mum and dad opening a hamper.

Away For The Weekend.

Hello everyone, Bob and Tom are away for the weekend so I won't be posting anything for a couple of days. We are going to visit my parents, also tomorrow we are going hiking in the hills so lets hope the weather is nice. Not sure what we will be doing on Sunday but I will tell you when we get back. Bob.

Pics From Day 1.

Here are the first lot of pictures from my Pennine Way walk for you to look at. Here is me ready for the off, it was definately a woolly hat day on the moors that day.The first point of interest for me was the foot bridge over the M62. This bridge was built especially to carry the Pennine Way walkers over the motorway.
Below is an old packhorse road close to Blackstone Edge. Its said by some to be a Roman road due to the finding of Roman artifacts in the area, others say that the road you now see overlays the actual road used by the Romans. Whichever the case may be I can tell you its one of the better sections of the Pennine Way to walk on.

Below is a picture of Stoodley Pike, a monument which stands over one hundred feet in height above Todmorden in West Yorkshire. It was completed in 1856 at the end of the Crimean War. There was an earlier structure on or near this site to commemorate the deteat of Napolean however this earlier pike collapsed following a lightening strike and wear and tear from the elements which can be quite brutal in such an exposed position. On a clear day the pike can be seen for miles around, I arrived in heavy rain and mist so it didn't become visible until I was just a few hundred yards away. You can climb the spiral staircase inside to the viewing balcony which I did just because it had to be done and not for the reward of the view as there was no view for me.

Below is looking back across the Calder Valley to Stoodley Pike. The day was now clear and bright.

This is my pitch for the night at Highgate Farm, Colden. There is no charge for camping here and there is also a farm shop by the name of 'Aladin's Cave' in which you can buy whatever you need for your dinner and much more besides, you can even treat yourself to a beer as I did. This was the best pitch I had along all of the way. Which just goes to prove that the best things in life are free.

Day 14.

Day fourteen, my last day on the way started at 6:30 am, that was when I woke but I lay dozing for a while, it was hard to get myself moving, but I knew it was better to get going because then at least I would be warm. I just had chocolate biscuits for my breakfast this morning as I had no stove nor anything to cook but the biscuits were good enough. I started at 8:30 with a climb, on reaching the top of the hill I looked back to see who I assumed were my two friends from the B&B at Bellingham. They were a way back so I pressed on. There was quite a good path of stone paving which was a blessing. I had to try and be at Kirk Yetholm for 6 that evening so it just meant me maintaining a pace of 2 MPH which was easy enough to do so I wasn't under any pressure, I actually got a way in front of myself and was looking for a place to rest up a while. The trouble was when you stopped the wind was that cold you froze within a few minutes. I thought I found a good place and was about to settle down when I noticed a darkness approaching. I knew by now what this meant so I decided to move on quickly in the hope that I could reach the other mountain refuge hut I could just make out in the distance, and so rest up there a while. I didn't even make it half way before the heavens opened. It came on so fast and violent that my legs were soaked just in the time it took to get my waterproofs out and put on my coat, even so I still put on my waterproof trousers and rushed off down the hill from Auchope Cairn as fast as I could. It wasn't hard to gain speed as it was a steep slippery slope, the hard part was to try and not get too much speed up, or slip on my back. The rain was still coming down in buckets full as I burst through the door in to the hut. Inside there was one guy, he must have thought the devil was after me by the way I burst through the door. The guy turned out to be a volunteer ranger and it was good talking to him about various things. The peace was shattered when in walked four snot gobbler's from Surrey who were staying in their second home that they owned in the area - need I say more? The conversation now took a down turn, it seems they found it frightfully common to have a fish and chip van doing business within view of their holiday home, there then followed five minutes of debate as to who was going to have the last trout sandwich from their lunch box. I was glad to see the two lads who had been following me for the past couple of days come through the door, now at least the common people equalled the toffs and I no longer had to listen to their stupid plans to exclude poor people from area's of the Lake District by charging extortionate toll fees on certain roads that access popular beauty spots. Why do these sort think they have a god given right to have all the nice places to themselves? Especially when its people like them and their greedy ways that have turned the ugly places in to what they are today. Anyway the rain eventually stopped and they all cleared off, me and the ranger were the last to leave after exchanging views on what we'd just been witness too. The rest of the day was dry and I arrived in Kirk Yetholm at six as planned, Vicki and Tommy met me just out of the village and we all walked in together. I got changed and we went in to the Border Hotel for a drink and a meal which I think was much deserved. It had been a long hard two weeks of constantly pushing myself further and further, if you were to ask me whether I would like to start over again tomorrow then my answer would be no. If you were to ask if I enjoyed it, then yes for sure, it was a great adventure to a place everyone should visit but few ever do. I believe its why people go walkabout and the reason for Jesus spending time in the wilderness.