Hi Mollie and Hicky.

That sounds like a great new laptop for your OH Hicky, for keeping in touch with your lad in Oz.

Sounds like all the internal carpentry stuff is really coming along. Just a pity the weather isn't playing ball to let you get on with the garden.

I never liked Steven Goode when he was in the house, but have to admit he made a good presenter in the task they did.

Hi Mollie, yes Lidl is great for prices, but my local one is too small to stock everything you would need. But I do go occasionally for specific things.

I had spag bol today, and even had a beer for the first time in ages. I'll just have it as an occasional treat though, rather than going back to having it all the time.

Haven't had coffee or tea for ages either, but again, I might try reintroducing those as occasional treats.

They're supposed to make my condition worse, but probably won't do any harm now and again.

Good Afternoon Both.

Went out for brekkie.

Joiner here fitting doors, at least it's staying dry for now, hope it stays like that till doors sorted as all his equipment is outside.

My lad is supposed to popping in this afternoon with his lot.

It's very frustrating having to put all the materials i need on hold.

Need the decking wood, summer house, kitchen shed, blue slate, gazebo, fencing, it goes on and on.

Was very pleased with the winner of strictly, getting 3 x 40 in the final is not known before.

What a future she has before her now, wow, show producers will be round her like flys.

The final of The Apprentice tonight as well.

Hi Hicky.

Hope it stayed dry until you got all your doors back on.

Not really the weather for getting the garden sorted.

Mild here but cloudy and a bit damp.

The supermarket was busy this afternoon. They seemed to have extra staff directing traffic in the carpark.

Don't watch Strictly but heard that Caroline Flack won.

She's been around for years in minor presenting roles, but perhaps she might get a break now as you say.

I guess I'd rather Bianca won The Apprentice, because I think Mark is a bit too arrogant, but I'm not really that bothered.

At least we get to see all the fired ones back for the final task.

Evening Emptybox.

Well it stayed dry for the day, but he only managed to sort 4 doors, the 2 swing doors on the dining area seem to be a challenge, he's never fitted any of these special hinges so needed guidance, it seems it needs a batten to be fitted so the spring sections of the hinge can rotate.

He measured up for a couple more pieces of skirting that needs to go on.

The next 2 doors have glass panels in so you can see if anyone is coming the other way, they will just have finger plates instead of knobs.

All the other doors have knobs as we don't like handles, no internal doors have got locks at the moment either.

Yes, Caroline was really good, of course the other finalists were as well, but Caroline was faultless, never been known before in a final.

I'll watch the Apprentice tonight, not sure who is any good as i've missed so much.

both xx

Emptybox

funny you had guys guiding in the car park at your local supermarket, because we did too.  Really odd it was, I have never seen these guys around town before, so they must of been sent in specially.....they just waved because the car park wasn't even full.  

Glad you had your sphag bol and beer and were ok, hopefully you will be ok with tea/coffee soon now you are getting better.

Hicky

shame you only got 4 doors done, but sounds like a more complicated job with them being special ones. I'd love to see a photo of them when they are all done. By finger plates do you mean you just push them instead of turning a handle? 

Mum on a good day today, and has eaten well...carer dressed her in her Christmas jumper so was all jingly.
Went to Asda for a bit of party food, not that anyone visits us for a party, except mum, and she doesn't eat much, so we will just have to eat it ourselves then...  that is where we saw the car park guys waving. 

time for Apprentice, like you, I am looking forward to seeing the old rejected ones. 

Enjoy the show.

Advent day 21, and one you boys might like.

Evening Mollie.

The other 2 doors are like saloon doors, the ones they have in restaurants, you can walk through with just pushing the door plate from either side and the top panes are glass so you can see through.

I have loaded the camera pictures onto the computer now, they are date related in directories.

October, November 4th, 8, 14, 28, 30 final pics not taken yet, will wait for more jobs finished.

I will try and load the October ones.

November 4th

Installing En-suit and Toilets, showing underfloor pipes, insulation for en-suit, and mess outside.

Bungalow 8th November.

Taken during nthe period Windows being replaced, and Soffits.

Bungalow 14 November

Bungalow 28th November

Bungalow 30th November.

These pictures are showing the errors in the kitchen that had to be redone.

Bungalow, latest December 22nd.

Still a lot of tidying up and jobs to be finished but it's livable.

Hi Hicky.

That's a brilliant transformation.

You've taken a house that was in a fairly bad condition, and turned it into a lovely home that's exactly to the specifications of you and your OH.

Congratulations. I really admire you for that.

Doubt I would have the know-how, imagination or enthusiasm to do that myself.

Hi Mollie.

Thanks for another lovely advent girl.

Yes the extra traffic directors weren't really needed at Sainsburys yesterday either, as I easily found a space, although it was busier than a usual Sunday afternoon. Perhaps it had been fuller earlier in the day?

Glad that your Mum was on better form yesterday.

Just heard that my Brother's central heating has gone wrong, so they might not have heating or hot water, so plans may have to change.

Mind you, his is a modern well insulated house, so I imagine it'll still be warmer than this place, even without any heating.

Very heavy rain overnight, and it's dull and drizzly here today.

Good Afternoon Emptybox.

It has been a challenge.

Nice to see the stages/progress though.

Joiner here fitting swing doors, oh dear, not so easy.

Window man hasn't turned up to fit the new front door yet.

Tiler and Electrician expected tomorrow i think.

Still lots of bits to do though.

Just made sausage sarnies for myself and Joiner.

Swing doors now finished, he's coming tomorrow to fit more skirting.

both xx

Hicky

At last the photos have been posted. Hooray !!  I have been looking forward to seeing these Hicky. So thanks for posting them, will go and enjoy looking at them all now.

Glad the swing doors have been fitted now, they sound a great idea. Hope the tiler, electrician and window man turn up tomorrow.

Emptybox

Oh dear not a good time for your brother's heating/water to conk out. Wonder why? I guess it shouldn't happen in a new house. Maybe he will still be able to get someone out so there is still a couple of days to go before the holiday. Will this put you off going if it remains unfixed? Or is your brother likely to not want to put up with it and so go away to a hotel or something? 

Carer phoned me this morning and said mum was shattered and she was having trouble getting her up. Turns up the police came out last night again because she tried to open the front door again.  I had to ring the Careline several times to work out what happened and when, and slip the odd job man a tenner as he helped police and checked mum was ok later. She was asleep in bed apparently when the police came, and when the odd job man arrived, so she must of heard something and opened the door and gone back to bed. Hope she stays in bed tonight.

Am watching "Wrong Mans" on bbc2 now, it was quite good, the last series. Not much on tv now it is hols, so we will get out the kareoke game soon like we do all Christmases.

Goodnight both, off to enjoy looking at all of Hicky's pics now.

Advent day 22, and I like this piccie.

Hi Mollie.

Seemingly my Brother managed to get someone out to look at his central heating boiler today, so crisis averted hopefully.

Pity you had trouble with your Mum last night, after she had a good day. But seems like the problem was more with the alarm system, than with your Mum as such?

Been watching CH4 all night. Gadget Man, Food Unwrapped, Derek and then Gogglebox to follow.

Evening Both.

Had a busy day here.

Had a Joiner, Tiler, Plumber, Electrician, Garden Center Boss, Front door installer.

A few are back tomorrow, the rest will be back after the Hols if there is more to do.

The Garden Center Boss is the one that has been leveling the garden, he is going to do the fence at the bottom of the garden and will dig the drainage trench as well so i can put the drain pipe in and cover it with the pea stone.

The new front door is fitted, just needs some edge seals done.

The tiler has been finishing the bathroom tiles and is now fitting the 100x200 black tiles as the splash-backs and the grout is going to be white.

Glad your Brother got the heating sorted, hard to get anyone these days, and harder at Christmas.

Oh dear Mollie, Mother does get up to some antics, don't know what the answer is though, she needs full time caring doesn't she, it's not good that she can open security emergency doors though.

both xx

Hicky

I thought your photos were great. What a big project you took on, you did so well organising all that in so short a time. Your new house looks so different now, so lovely to live in too. I am sure you will enjoy working on the garden when the weather warms up, now a lot of the hard work has been done.

Emptybox

I bet your brother is relieved he got someone to fix the heating before the holiday season. Is it tomorrow you are driving to stay with them? How far away is he? I watched Derek too last night, how sweet she called the baby Derek. We are watching part 2 of Wrong Mans now. A good programme.

The car park guys were in asda again, and again it was quieter than a normal Saturday.

goodnight both xxx

Hicky

we posted together.

It has certainly been a busy day yet again at your new home. Sounds like good progress is being made.

Luckily it is only her own internal flat door that mum opened briefly, but she has a Careline door sensor on it to make sure she doesn't leave the flat at night, and it was this that triggered off the Careline. It turned out they didn't have her correct phone number to ring if she was ok, or mine, so they sent the police out. I rang them several times yesterday to make sure they now have all this info so hopefully this will help stop police call outs.

Have you had chance to watch tv tonight? I bet you are exhausted at the end of the day with all this work going on in your home.

Hi guys.

Rainy here today.

That's good that you had all those tradesmen out today Hicky. Hopefully your house is ready for it's first Christmas with you.

Hi Mollie. Perhaps you'll have fewer emergency callouts now the Careline people have the correct contact details.

Going across to my Brother's tomorrow (2 hour drive), so I'll wish both of you a very Happy Christmas, and I'll see you in a few days.

Evening Both.

Fridge and freezer stocked for the holidays.

Yes Mollie, some of the pics show how bad things were, and they had to get worse before they got better.

Almost done, garden needs a lot doing but might have to wait for the weather to pick up after new year.

I went to B&Q today as it's 10% off, got 60 of the joist supports for when i do the decking, wanted t get them before they go up or they run out.

Also a box of clout nails.

The way i can do decking now it's very fast, you live and learn.

Had the window feller here finishing the new front door, it's grey on the outside and white inside, cost over £1k, it's a high security door.

I'll have to get a picture,,need to fit my bell push and set that up, it has twin chime sets and has 52 chimes.

Tiler finished for now, done a good job, will have to get some pics.

He has finished the splash-back, got to refit the sockets now.

The dusk to dawn unit is fitted in the porch so a light in the porch and the hall are on when the light fades.

Havea good time at your Brothers Emptybox.

Hope you both have a very Happy Christmas.

both

Emptybox

hope you have a lovey time at your brother's.

Hicky

good idea to take advantage of your B and Q discount. Your bell sounds great, you can have a new chime each week and it will last you all year.

Are you going to your lad's for lunch tomorrow, or staying home?

I am going to do some peeling for dinner tomorrow now, then play the karoeke game with the family. Daughter is cooking dinner tommorow, my job is to keep mum safely out of the way. We have to pick her up 9am, the carer will get her up and dressed though, which is a great help. Am hoping she is ok to take to Christmas swim in her wheelchair.

Last day of advent calendar, and it is a Christmas Eve one...

Happy Christmas to you both xx

Evening Mollie.

We are eating at my Lads.

we supply and cook the meats and make the gravy.

Just cooked a 2.6kg 3 Rib RibBeef Joint ready for the morning, will cook a Turkey in the morning, we have a massive Pork joint and a Ham to cook, not sure when for.

The fridge and freezer are full to the brim.

Thats a nice advent picture, the last one this year.

You will have a job with Mum tomorrow.

Thats OK having your daughter cooking dinner.

Hope Emptybox has a good time at his Brothers, and the weather holds out for him.

Hicky

sounds no one will be short of food when you visit your lads.

have a great day. xx

Merry Christmas Mollie.

We sure won't be short on the food stakes.

Pity i don't eat as much as i used to.

Have a great day, hop your Mum enjoys Christmas as well, and of course all your family. xx

And Merry Christmas to you Hicky.    

I hope you are having a lovely day and enjoyed visiting your son.

And hope Emptybox is being spoilt whilst staying at his brothers.

We managed to take mum to see the Christmas swim.

The weather was mild and sunny, so I wheeled her their in her wheelchair, whilst OH went to get the rest of the family who we met there.

there was around 1500 swimmers, fancy dress very good.

Some photos here if you get chance to look...

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/n...-2014-record-8345126

I am exhausted now, because I had to keep an eye on mum and try and amuse and distract her so she wouldn't cry too often and upset the rest of the family. 

Daughter made a good job and we all enjoyed dinner.

time for tv now.

have a good evening Hicky.

Watching Corrie now, looking forward to Mrs Brown later.

Hi Mollie.

They all seemed to be enjoying themselves on the beach, must be mad at this time of the year.

Glad you mentioned Mrs Brown, had missed that.

Nearly everything i looked at tonight was a repeat.

Well at least your mum got out, we had a little rain earlier today.

Think it's going to freeze tonight with the sky being clear.

Roll on brekkie, got some nice sausages in.

Good morning Hicky

I bet you enjoyed your sausages for brekkie.

How did your day with your lad go?

I bet the youngsters were excited, weren't they?

Yes it did freeze overnight, very cold this morning and raining.

Yesterday and today, mum's lovely carer started at 7am with her first client, then she came to my mum for 8am. Got her up, washed, dressed and fed, ready for my OH to collect her at 9am, to spend the day with us. What a wonderful job they do, and all on minimum wage. At least they got paid double pay for yesterday and today though. (even so it still means it doesn't pay a lot for working over Christmas!).

Enjoyed watching Mrs Brown, then the Michael Mcintyre Christmas show after last night.  

Today daughter is cooking some nice party snacks, eg sausage rolls, chicken bites, motzareella cheese sticks, and some home back rolls, with left over turkey of course. Followed by lemon merinque pie.

Are you staying at home today or visiting relatives?

We are staying home or other than taking mum home tonight.

Hope Emptybox had a good Christmas at his brothers.

Have a good day. x

Good Afternoon Mollie.

Stayed in today, cooked a piece of beef, just to cut for sandwiches.

Fitted the new door bell push, will have to check what the 52 chimes are.

I was up at 7am, was up a few times in the night as well.

Have refitted the sockets etc on the kitchen tiles, they had been unscrewed for the tiler.

Some needed longer screws.

Just cut some beef and having sandwiches, with mustard and pickled shallots.

Had 4 sausages for brekkie, did them in a cook bag to keep the oven clean.

Recorded Mrs Brown as i had something on.

Hope Emptybox has enjoyed his Christmas break.

Hicky

hope you enjoyed your beef sandwiches. Daughter found a whole cananbaert with onion relish in Co-op reduced from £4 to 99p today so we had that for tea. Daughter  put in the oven, with fresh baked rolls, and some rice pudding with clotted cream, which was also reduced.   Delicious.

Sorry to hear you were up in the night a few times, was it your aches and pains disturbing you to blame? Have you got one of those heat pads you put in the microwave? I find them real good if I have some aches.

Very cold here today, I see some places have had snow, we had a bit of sleet and hail, but mainly rain, with a bit of sun now and again too.

Carers had mum till 3pm for me today....phheeww, what a relief, you won't believe what hard work I have found the last 2 days as I have had her from 9am.

I try and find little things for her to fiddle with to occupy her, and yesterday I asked her to help open one of my gift sets. I took my eye off her for minutes and son just managed to stop her drinking some of the bubble bath. She'd got as far as getting the lid off and putting it up to her lips. Next time I have to have her all day is New Years day as it is bank hol, but tomorrow the carers have her till 1pm, so I can get a few things done in the morning. 

Have a good evening.

Hope Emptybox had a good day. x

Evening Mollie.

The beef sandwiches were great.

That tea sounds good, good price as well.

I wake a few times to go to the loo, but by 5am my leg is hurting so i take a couple of tablets, they don't seem to do much, i take a stronger one later,

But i can't get back to sleep, whichever way i turn i am still in pain, it's probably my knee and hip.

It's the bones that hurt so don't think a heat pad would help.

We had quite a lot of snow but later last night it got warmer and all turned to rain.

It just shows, you can't leave your mother for a minute, that was lucky catching her in time.

2 brass taps arrived today, they are for outside in the spring, if i can get my lad to pipe them up.

I'll have to take a picture of the new front door, it's very thick and heavy and cost a fortune but it's what O/H wanted.

Hi both.

Had a good time at my Brother's, but I didn't over indulge.

Did have some wine and beer in moderation though.

Had a little snow on the way back, but nothing lying.

It was very wet last night, but a nice sunny day today, and quite frosty this morning.

Sounds like you both had nice Christmases.

You must be glad of your daughter's help with the cooking Mollie.

You've a full time job on your hands looking after your Mum. Wonder why she wanted to drink the bubble bath?

This front door sounds like some construction Hicky?

Pity your sleep is still being disrupted by the pain in your leg.

Still got a lot of Xmas telly to catch up on - Downton etc.

Got given the full set of 'Game of Thrones' books, so I've a lot to read as well.

both xx

Hicky

very sorry to hear the pain in you knee/hip is interfering with your sleep.

Looking forward to seeing a photo of your posh new door. Hope your OH is pleased with it now, especially as it was so expensive. 

Emptybox

Welcome back.

That is good you managed to escape the snowy weather some up north had, for your journey home.

Pleased to hear you had a good break. Hope you enjoy reading your book gift. Did you see anything of your nephews whilst you were there?

Went to Tescos today and daughter had a great idea of taking mum round the store with us in the wheelchairs they have instore. She enjoyed that instead of just sitting in the cafe with me waiting whilst daughter and OH did the shopping. Mum is very tiring at home now as we have to watch her all the time, and she tends to get restless, so going shopping wasted a bit of time. Good job the carers had her till 1pm, so I was able to do a bit of washing and take doggie a walk with OH. It was a lovely frosty morning today and carried on being cold but nice and sunny today.

We enjoyed watching "The Hotel" tonight, and Alright on the Night. Going to watch the recording of Top Gear now. Did either of you see Part one last night, where they were driving those old cars in Argentina?

Goodnight both xxx

Hi Mollie.

I saw very little of the nephews really. The older one lives away from home, but he was there for Christmas day, but even then he spent most of it in his room.

I asked for the Game of Thrones books, as I've wanted to get into it. But I was only expecting the first two or three, but I was given all seven books, which was very generous.

I'll have to go and buy the DVDs now, but I'll wait till I'm a couple of books in, I think.

I watched the same telly as you tonight. 'Through the Keyhole' after Alright on the Night.

I've recorded the Top Gear progs, but they're in a long list of things I'll have to catch up with.

Morning Both.

Happy Monday.

Very frosty here again.

Leg was in pain o went to loo, took some tablets, should be ok soon.

Sounds like you Christmas was ok Emptybox, ou did ok out of it anyway, can't read books myself, bad enough watching TV.

Didn't notice through the keyhole was on, missed that.

I recorded the Hotel Mollie, watched Top Gear, yes, in Argentina, it was a good program, they are crazy the lot of them, you must see it.

Will get a picture of the door today if i remember, will get one of the back garden as well, ground too bad to do anything though.

Got more deliveries today, order so much stuff i can't remember whats due.

Ordered colour tops for the house door keys, also door stops for a couple of the doors that have knobs to stop them banging the walls, also some brackets to join my wood sleepers when i get them in the spring.

Some more pictures, the outside ones taken against the light so a bit dark.

both

Emptybox

Good luck for your hospital test tomorrow. Do you have to go to the same hospital where you went to see the consultant last time?

Well that is a nice surprise if you were only expecting a couple of books and you got the whole set. Yes probably best to read a few before you watch the dvd.

I didn't think you would see much of your nephews when you went there.

Hicky

thank you for the lovely piccies again.

Wow that is some fancy front door, it certainly really looks good.

Bet you can't wait for the drier weather to come so you can do some work in your garden. Your kitchen looks very smart too. Handy to have a tv all set up in there too.

Went with OH to hospital and his hearing has nearly completely gone in one ear. They are going to try a normal hearing aid to see if it works, or maybe try a hearing aid that acts like a blue tooth and sends signals from the good ear to the bad ear. Very high tech.

Mum very tiring again today, but at least she was back at the day centre today, which she likes going to, and enjoys the ride on the bus, so that occupies her. We have a call monitor and it picked up a call to the Careline at 5.20am yesterday, I rang them to ask about it and yet again she tried to open the front door but they rang her and spoke to her and she went back to bed. Phheww. So no police call out, or early morning call to me.

Watching Corrie, then 8 out of 10 cats.

Yes Hicky I agree, Top Gear was a great show, and I also agree, they are all bonkers, the lot of them.

You'll enjoy it Emptybox when you see it.

I was surprised what beautiful scenery there was in that area, but I don't have plans to visit there in the immediate future.  

Have a good evening both xx

Evening Mollie.

Yes, front door is pretty special, the inside being white, the glass outside has squares of clear glass area's and the inside glass has the same area's opaque.

Certainly different, special locking mechanism as well.

Of course there's an inside door as well which is also new.

Hope they can help your O/H with his hearing.

Lucky catching your mum on the way out of the house, wonder where she was going.

Hope all goes well at the Docs Emptybox, hope you get sorted.