30/11/15

Today was only half a day.  Well perhaps a little more than a half, six am until one pm.  I had Carlton store and three drops I was back in the yard by one pm and our TC didn't have anything to do other than load for the morning.  It was raining hard and I was wet, not fun to be hanging around the yard.  Since I had an odd half day holiday I thought it best to use it up and keep dry.  So with our TC's agreement I clocked out and went home.  At least I was dry for the afternoon and had much better coffee to drink than I would otherwise have had.  See you tomorrow.

26/11/15

A busy and a long day, but a day with no rain.  Great!  Firstly a full load, half for Carlton store and half for a wild bird seed producer in Gilberdyke.  Oh, I nearly forgot, four five litres of Deosan de scaler to a farm near Newport.  It doesn't sound much but it took time.  The second load was only a part load but it included three farm drops.  Followed by a collection from Penistone.  I decided that since the last drop could be left on the truck and dropped after the collection.  The positions of the drops and the collection suggested that this would be the easiest and quickest way.  Believe it or not, everything worked out.  I was back in the yard just after six with everything completed.  All in all a good days work with no time wasted.  See you tomorrow.

25/11/15

The most spectacular thing about today was the sunrise, very spectacular.  The work for the day wasn't so spectacular but it wasn't bad either.  A full load to the Gate Helmsley store, followed by a load for Carlton store and area.  All went well and we were back in the yard by half past four.  Just in time to get half our first load for the morning loaded.  See you tomorrow.

Sunrise this morning.  I'm sorry to say the picture doesn't do justice to the sky this morning. But I did try.

Sunset today taken while travelling along the A1079 towards Dunnington.  And, before you ask, I wasn't driving.

23/11/15

Not a very exciting day. Carlton store and two drops followed by a collection from Saxilby. All went well and it didn't rain. No rain is always a bonus at this time of year. I was back in the yard by four thirty but I didn't get unloaded.  I ran out of driving hours whilst on the A15, not a nice place to stop but needs must. See you tomorrow.

20/11/15

Friday wasn't a bad day for a Friday.  It didn't rain, well not too much, perhaps not much more than you're average wet November day.  But the work went well.  First load was a nearly full load for Helmsley store, I was in with the curtains open by ten to eight and back in the yard by nine.  The second load was a bit of a runabout but nothing out of the ordinary.  Carlton store and four farm drops.  The only problem was that I ran out of driving hours about five miles from base and had to stop for a half hour break.  Other than that the day went well and I didn't get wet, there's a novelty.  I didn't even take the trouble to take a quick look at the tickets for Monday.  Monday will happen in its own good time, as it always does and no doubt I'll live through it as usual.  See you Monday.

19/11/15

Thursday and done.  Not a bad day, not bad at all. No rain, or at least no rain to speak of.  First load was a nearly full load to Carlton store and nothing more even though I had space left.  But looking at one of the drops there was no way it would have gone on, another five pallets of sheep handling system.  I was back in the yard by nine thirty with plenty of time to get the second load out.  The second load compromised three farm drops all easy enough.  Lastly a collection from Friendship Estates again easy enough.  Back in the yard by four thirty and unloaded by five, ready to load for tomorrow.  Helmsley store first.  See you tomorrow,.

18/11/15

Today we have had bright sunshine, heavy grey cloud and torrential rain.  Repeatedly. About every half hour.  I do love the British climate.  But otherwise the day has gone well.  A full load to the Gate Helmsley store followed by a tonne to Carlton store, four farm drops and one household drop.  Wild bird seed.  The latter was a good drop all in all, I got a cup of coffee some warm home made sausage rolls and a slice of home made lemon drizzle cake.  Its not every day a driver gets treated like that.  Thanks Mum.  Funny how I seem to manage to get there at lunch time isn't it.  Tomorrow promises sunshine but I think the forecaster is probably lying or at least bending the truth. See you tomorrow.

17/11/15

Today has not been busy, in fact it has been the opposite.  This is not unusual for the time of year though, it all depends on the grass growth.  When the grass growth slows the stock gets brought inside for the winter and we get busy again.  Trouble is I find it boring, I'd much rather be busy, time appears to pass faster.  But that's the trouble with agriculture and its allied industries, it's always seasonal and always will be.  Tomorrow doesn't look busy either but that's for tomorrow.  See you then.

16/11/15

Monday. Again!  It's not that I hate Mondays its that I hate this time of year.  The sooner we get to new year and the light starts increasing the better, everything seems more hopeful then and I start looking for the first snowdrops.  The scenery, at the moment, holds little pleasure.  All greenery is fading the leaves are mostly gone and their loss seems to leach all hope and anticipation from the dying year.  On the good side I am seeing small flocks of green plover and the flashes of black and white as they turn and weave over the empty fields does give some pleasure.  I haven't seen any fieldfares or redwings yet and this is a surprise as they are usually present in small numbers by this time of year.  I picked the last of this years apples from my fledgling orchard on Sunday and when everything is properly dormant I will start ruining the young apple and pear trees. On the work front today hasn't been particularly busy or arduous.  A drop at Carlton store followed by four farm drops, all easily accomplished with no problems.  I was back in the yard in good time and managed to get loaded for tomorrow, thereby earning an extra half hour in bed in the morning.  A driver has to take every advantage he can.  See you tomorrow.

13/11/15

Friday the 13th.  Do I mind a Friday the 13th, never. But!  First load, a full load to the Kirkbymoorside store but before that I had time too wash my truck.  It was looking a little grubby, country lanes get a little the worse for wear at this time of year and it shows.  I was unloaded in good time and back for my next load.  The second load was only three drops, and non of them large but they were spread over the extremes of my normal area and on top of that I had a collection from Penistone.  It didn't fit into a neat circle no matter which way I looked at it and on top of that I had to be in Penistone by lunch time.  Luckily my last two drops were small enough to stay on the truck while I completed my collection.  To add to my troubles I was contacted by my bank to inform me that they had noticed some suspicious transactions on my credit card.  Great!  But they had noticed quickly and informed me in good time.  Thanks to the wonders of modern technology I was able to check the transactions from my phone.  True enough there were four transactions that were nothing to do with me.  I am careful and my card has never left my possession or my sight.  My virus protection software is up to date and my online transactions are rarely with other than two companies, both reputable and largely honest.  In all I am not careless with my details and have never given them to anyone other than for the express purpose of a transaction.  So how the details were compromised I have no idea and neither did the bank when I contacted them.  But the damage was halted quickly and a new card has been sent out.  Well done the team at my bank for spotting it quickly.  After that little bit of excitement the day went well enough though I had to contact our TC and ask him to clear it with the collection at Penistone for me to be in my one pm. This was okay so I completed the work for the day and was back at base by just after five pm.  Not too bad for a very wet Friday the thirteenth all things considered. If you're wondering if I'm now more worried about Friday the thirteenth the answer is simple.  No of course not it is a Friday after all, the start of the weekend. See you Monday.  

12/11/25

Not a bad day today, first a full load to Easingwold store followed by a part load for Carlton store and two farm drops.  I called the first customer before starting out from Carlton store only to be told that he knew nothing of the order. He asked me to leave the goods at Carlton store until he had spoken to his daughter. I hope I haven't started a family argument. I had my compulsory break while waiting for the last customer to arrive to unload the timber. Lastly I had a collection from Cherry Tree Mill at Pollington. I went prepared, food, a drink and a book. This collection can be the drivers equivalent of the long stand. Today wasn't too bad, about an hour, but even with the potential wait I like this collection. The pictures below was taken whilst waiting at Pollington. I have never liked or seen the point in Poplar trees. For me they do nothing for the scenery. Just a random thought. See you tomorrow.

11/11/15

Today hasn't been particularly busy, the first load was only two drops in my usual area. The load didn't amount to a tonne. But itches still after eleven when I got back to the yard. My second load was one stable drop ( nicer people than Mondays) one farm drop and around five tonnes for the Kirkbymoorside store. I was back in time to load nearly all my first load for tomorrow. See you then.

09/11/15

I have just had the misfortune to make a delivery to an equestrian centre in Swanland. There I met an operator of a forklift whose general lack of manners served to confirm my already low opinion of the English horse fraternity. But since I am at work I managed to be civil to the rude young man. Apart from that the day is going well. I have just run out of driving time, but at least I have a reasonable view over the Yorkshire Wolds, looking towards North Newbald. The day is overcast and windy but it is dry at the moment. The wind turbine in the picture looks to be having a productive day. Once my compulsory break is over I'm on my way back to base having completed my drops and collection. See you tomorrow

06/11/15

Friday, well yes it was Friday and what fun.  Friday started badly and slowly improved.  Firstly, and thankfully, it turned out to be more convenient for one of my colleagues to take my Halifax drop, first improvement.  If there's one day I like to get back on time it's Friday, most of the rest of the week I don't care and I don't grumble too much if I'm needed on Saturday but I do like to finish by five on Friday.  It didn't look good! The next problem came to light when we noticed the approximate weight on the bottom of my first drop to go on; ten tonnes one hundred and fifty kilos, my weight limit.  The customer had also ordered two twenty two kilo cattle licks and the loader refused until I weighed off the timber.  Luckily my gross weight was only fourteen tonnes and six hundred kilos so I was able to load the two licks and all of the sundries for Carlton store.  That saved me doubling back on my next load, even better.  But given all the delays it was half past twelve by the time I got back to base and I was due another half hour break which I took whilst I was being loaded.  So far so good.  The next load only compromised two drops but they were at the opposite end of my area and one is a new drop to me, that's all I needed for a dismal Friday afternoon in November.  However I called the new customer when I stopped for the first set of traffic lights in Malton.  What a pity, he couldn't take delivery.  My day just got brighter, only one drop to do in North Newbald and I know the drop well.  But even given all that luck it was still just after five when I finally got back into the yard but my consolation was that I hadn't had to go to Halifax and Swanland.  It would have been another half past six finish or possibly even later.  Even a humble driver has to  have a bit of luck occasionally.
See you Monday.

05/11/15

What a miserable day it's just turned into.  My driving time is up and I have to have a half hour break and I end up here. But to be truthful the day has only just turned wet. It's a change from fog I suppose. I have two drops left to do, the first is forty two bales of wood shavings and I often do it without help. My near future could be very wet, what fun. If I'm lucky I might be back in the yard by six. In a perfect world I would leave the UK at the beginning of November for somewhere with more daylight and come back at the end of February. But it isn't a perfect world so I'm here for the duration. See you tomorrow.

03/11/15

Another typical November day, though not quite as foggy as yesterday. First a full load to Helmsley store, easy enough. The second load was a days work in itself, and a full one. Our TC didn't seem to believe me when I said half past six finish at the earliest. As it turned out I finished just before but I had been to late for my collection and missed out the last drop. I wasn't within ten miles of the last drop at any time of the day and it was only sixteen trays of cat food. I did consult our TC on the subject before setting out so he won't be surprised. I don't mind the late finish but with me on overtime I'm sure it would run the sale into loss and there is usually at least a tray left when I deliver so I doubt the cats will go hungry. Perhaps they can catch an extra mouse. The pictures are intended as an illustration of a November day and have no other significance. See you tomorrow.

02/11/15

The day was everything that optimises a November day in this part of the world. Damp, foggy and dull. I think days like that are intended to help us appreciate the good ones. As far as my work for the day; there was nothing out of the ordinary for the time of year. The driving was a bit slow due to the limited visibility but it wasn't dangerous. I have no pictures, sorry,  I'm going to have to make a conscious effort to take more. On the good side I did solve the ridiculous problem of activating my replacement simply. I had to call them and explain the problem in simple words. They eventually put me through to their technical team who understood and corrected the problem. See you tomorrow.

Sunday Frustration

T Mobile and/or EE must be one of the most stupid companies I have ever had the misfortune to deal with.  I ordered a new sim as my new phone needs a different size.  When I finally received the correct sim after two attempts I need to activate it.  No problem, follow the instructions on their web site.  The trouble is that the idiots send a pin to your phone when you fill in the details.  Great!  They have sent a pin to my phone but I cant receive it because my sim isn't activated so I can't activate my sim.  Barring NATWEST bank they must be the most stupid company in existence.  They were definitely at the back of the queue when brains were handed out.  Idiots!  Back to work tomorrow, see you then.