30/12/15

Nearly at the end of 2015, here in the UK it's windy and very wet.  Not at all  the sort of weather that makes this time of year a pleasure.  Not that I want snow but a few good hard frosts would be nice.  Not only does it give pleasant working conditions but it is good for the countryside.  The weather we are getting at the moment is not only unseasonal but it isn't killing off any of the bugs and fungi that are usually reduced by the cold.  Also my grass is still growing and its far too wet to cut it so the orchard looks a mess and I can't get on with the hedge cutting that needs finishing before I replant.  All in all its very frustrating.  But enough of my domestic problems.  On the good side our daughter has recently received her doctorate, she is now a fully qualified educational psychologist, we are both very proud.  But back to work.  Driving round my usual area today I can't help but notice the flooding, especially since one of the roads that I would have used was closed due to the inundation of water.  My work today was simple enough, only two drops and all soon accomplished with no problems.  Since we aren't busy I'm having tomorrow off as I still have holidays to use up.  See you in the new year.  Hope you all have a great one, best wishes for 2016.

28/12/15

The older I get, the more I learn
The greater my awareness of my own ignorance.

On that note it's back to work tomorrow.  What fun, but all good things come to an end.  For the last few days we have celebrated the festive season.  Our children and their partners were with us and we have had a peaceful enjoyable Christmas. And I hope all of you have had the same. A belated happy Christmas to you all.
See you tomorrow.

16/12/15

The water in the background isn't supposed to be there. I. Wasn't close enough to get a good picture. It was taken at Stillingfleet. My first drop of my first load. It's s two load day today. First load only two drops, but they were well spread. The second load was Carlton store and three drops. It doesn't sound much but it took until after six pm and I wasn't hanging around. It would have been quicker but for a faulty set of traffic lights. I hate the wireless lights they use now, they seem to spend more time faulty than working. It's time they were banned before they kill someone.  Bring back wired lights. I'm off tomorrow, going to my daughters graduation, a doctorate in educational psychology. We're very proud of her achievement. See you Friday.

15/12/15

The best thing about today was that it finally finished.

14/12/15

Another miserable December day, grey, overcast and in all ways dreary.  But after the 22nd of this month things start to get better.  Slowly, very slowly the daylight will increase and things will start to look more hopeful.  Yes I know I'm grumbling but, as I've said before I don't like this time of year.  But I am looking forward to spring.  Today has been a little like the weather but not as bad.  Carlton store and two farm drops then back to base and a full load for Malton store.  Back at base I started to load for tomorrow but finally gave up as every order we attempted to make up was short of  something to complete the order.  Perhaps it will go better tomorrow, but then again perhaps not.  Tomorrow will tell.  See you tomorrow.

11/12/15

Waiting to load. At least I'm next in the queue.  More later. 

Because of the European working time directive I am now sitting in a miserable lay-by near Shiptonthorpe waiting out a half hour. And I still have two and a quarter hours driving time left. It's grey overhead and starting to rain. Thank goodness it's Friday 

10/12/15

Another long day with little of note. The weather was poor but not bad. I didn't get wet, which is always a plus. And I got all my work completed. So I suppose the day was a success, it just wasn't enjoyable. See you tomorrow

09/12/15

Another long day but not as tedious as yesterday. One load with no collection. But the delivery area was spread from the outskirts of York to Brigg and included two in the lost world of Fishlake. For those who are wondering, there is no lake. At the moment there are several floods and a few small ponds. As to fish, possibly there are some. But no matter the spread of the drops all was completed by half past four. See you tomorrow.

08/12/15

Other than it being a long and tedious day with miserable weather I have nothing to say about the day.

04/12/15

Friday again, don't they come round quickly whey you're busy.  I'm not joking they really are coming round quickly at the moment.  Work is just starting to get busy again, we usually have a slack period around now.  The exact time of this varies with the weather.  Warm dry weather keeps the grass growing and the stock in the fields for longer so our customers, farmers in the main, don't need the extra feed and they haven't started serious fence repairs etc.  But as always the stock comes in and we get busy and remain that way until turn out in spring, which is also governed by the weather and the supply of silage etc.  Today started with a full load for our Kirkbymoorside store and was followed by a load for Carlton store and four farm deliveries then a collection from Walden Stubbs.  This would of been easy enough but it wasn't possible to complete the work in a nice tight circle and I had to have rid of all but one drop before I went for the collection as I wouldn't of had room for the goods.  To add to all this I was up against time limits, the place where I was collecting from closes at four pm on Friday.  Great!  And into all this I had to fit my break from driving after four and a half hours bearing in mind that I didn't want to have another enforced break before finishing.  Crap! that's the only way to describe it.  I managed it just with my time limit warning flashing as I returned to the yard at six pm.  It all worked, amazing.  Sorry I don't have any good pictures today, I didn't have time to take any.  See you Monday.

02/12/15

Carlton store and four drops.  One and a half tonnes to the first drop and the next four drops fitted on one pallet and weighed less than half a tonne.  But that's life some times all this fun was followed by a collection from Britons at Fulford, York.  Don't mind York but I don't like driving in cities, not fun, I'm much happier in farm yards.  Back in the yard in good time and managed to get loaded for my first load tomorrow.  See you tomorrow.

01/12/15

What a dismal start to the day, grey overcast and raining, not a nice day, a hat day.  I don't like water running down my neck so a wide brimmed hat is essential.  It may make me look like an idiot but it keeps water out of my neck so I don't care.  First load was a full load to Kirkbymoorside store.  It was a real jigsaw of a load but it all arrived safely enough.  The second load was for my usual run, Carlton store and two farm drops.  Easy enough but the second drop was silly.  Fifteen miles out of my way to drop off a high viz vest.  I'm sure posting it would have been more economical.  But no I got sent with an eighteen tonne truck.  Sensible!  No, I think not!  Lastly I had a collection from Howden Dyke, six tonnes of bagged product.  I was back in the yard for half past four but I didn't get unloaded.  Well I've got to save some excitement for tomorrow.  See you then.

The picture below doesn't do justice too the miserable day.  It makes it look reasonably pleasant and it wasn't.  December should involve frost and snow, or, at the very least, cold.