Billy Young's Blog, page 21
May 4, 2012
4th May 2012
I put my plants into my tubs as we had some good weather. Unfortunately it is to be quite frosty tonight. Luckily I haven’t put the tomatoes or peppers in the containers for them yet so was able to bring them indoors. The other plants will need to survive as best as they can. I also got given some carrots from a work friend, Norman. He gives me a lift to work everyday so he had them in the boot of his car. They were left over from his garden so he thought I could use them. It was good fortune for me as my lettuce was ravished by a cat or bird. Which ever it was it left none so I had an empty tub. He also gave me seeds he didn’t want anymore so Magz wants me to grow some sweetcorn. It means another grow-bag will be needed but maybe I can grow some more lettuce. Finally I have noticed the beetroot and potatoes are coming up. I had given up on them thinking they had been hit with the frost a few weeks back. It goes to show things take there own time.
It’s a long weekend so I have Monday off. Magz has got the orders in for the grass to be cut. I must admit I was planning on it last week. As you can tell it never happened though it is to be a nice day tomorrow but colder than it has been this week. Still a bit of time in the garden after being stuck in a factory all week sounds good.
It’s a long weekend so I have Monday off. Magz has got the orders in for the grass to be cut. I must admit I was planning on it last week. As you can tell it never happened though it is to be a nice day tomorrow but colder than it has been this week. Still a bit of time in the garden after being stuck in a factory all week sounds good.
April 27, 2012
27th April 2012
Another small mistake on the retort this week, I didn’t leave one of the boilers venting long enough. I was short by only three minutes. I should have vented for ten but in my haste to do the job I made the error. It means that the cans that were in to cook had to be put on hold for two weeks and then tested to make sure they are fine to send out on order. The cooking time after venting was run for the full time so they will probably be okay. It does show though that less haste is always best unfortunately it is a lesson that I have always had a problem with learning. Too eager that is my trouble.
I had to take down my blog on my website this week after weeks of being inundated with loads of spam posts in the comments section. Each night it has been taking longer to delete them till finally it began causing the site to crash. In the end I was forced to give up the battle though I may set my blog back up on the site in the future at some point. For the time being GoodReads.com will be the only place where I past this blog. I hope that anyone who read this blog on my site will find their way to reading it on Goodreads.
I’m also planning to add some of my poetry to my site. That might be something for me to do this weekend if I find the time. I have a few poems to work on this Saturday and Sunday that I did this week. If fact over the past couple of weeks I have found that I have been writing more than usual though not any of the stories that fill my head screaming to get out. I have been enjoying verse though as I always have. I may not be that great at it but that really isn’t the point of it. It is about expressing the imagery or idea that you have in mind. At least that is my take on it.
I had to take down my blog on my website this week after weeks of being inundated with loads of spam posts in the comments section. Each night it has been taking longer to delete them till finally it began causing the site to crash. In the end I was forced to give up the battle though I may set my blog back up on the site in the future at some point. For the time being GoodReads.com will be the only place where I past this blog. I hope that anyone who read this blog on my site will find their way to reading it on Goodreads.
I’m also planning to add some of my poetry to my site. That might be something for me to do this weekend if I find the time. I have a few poems to work on this Saturday and Sunday that I did this week. If fact over the past couple of weeks I have found that I have been writing more than usual though not any of the stories that fill my head screaming to get out. I have been enjoying verse though as I always have. I may not be that great at it but that really isn’t the point of it. It is about expressing the imagery or idea that you have in mind. At least that is my take on it.
April 20, 2012
20th April 2012
After my weeks holiday it has been a surprising good week at work. I think it helped that I was learning the retort (basically a giant pressure cooker). Even though has been some weeks since I last was training on it I’m now getting the hang off the basics. I still have to be taught the main control panel, how to set the program for cooking times and that sort of thing. Still you don’t learn new things in one go so the slow steady pace is best. I have taken some notes on the control panel lay out and am writing down little bits on the different buttons as I’m told what they are. It helps set it more firmly in my mind as well as comes in useful so I can check if I do forget what they do.
On Wednesday I took a bit of a ribbing when one of the retorts broke down. As you can imagine everyone was asking what I’d done. It was a good laugh. Of course it was nothing to do with me really. Rather one of the safety valves started to release the steam pressure as the boiler reached the correct setting. The engineers took most of yesterday morning to fix it as it had been late in the day on Wednesday when we began having problems. It still caused a little log jam for a time it took to get it back up and running though nothing that slowed production. In the end Jim, the man training me, got everything back running as if nothing had went wrong. Well he has years of experience so it was nothing new to him. Just watching him you pick things up, you can’t help yourself.
It is also good to have the experience there behind you when you do mess up even if it is minor. Yes I made a mess of putting in one of the taco-graphs that record the temperature inside the retorts. When putting it in I didn’t move the arm out of the way so the taco got a red score of ink across it. Jim then showed me how to set the arm using the control panel before putting the graph in. In fact I messed it up twice now which I’ll need to be more careful with in future. The second time I didn’t make sure all the taco-graphs were set to the correct time. Of course they were quickly potted by Jim and put to right with a patient wisdom rather than a telling off. So all was well in the end.
On Wednesday I took a bit of a ribbing when one of the retorts broke down. As you can imagine everyone was asking what I’d done. It was a good laugh. Of course it was nothing to do with me really. Rather one of the safety valves started to release the steam pressure as the boiler reached the correct setting. The engineers took most of yesterday morning to fix it as it had been late in the day on Wednesday when we began having problems. It still caused a little log jam for a time it took to get it back up and running though nothing that slowed production. In the end Jim, the man training me, got everything back running as if nothing had went wrong. Well he has years of experience so it was nothing new to him. Just watching him you pick things up, you can’t help yourself.
It is also good to have the experience there behind you when you do mess up even if it is minor. Yes I made a mess of putting in one of the taco-graphs that record the temperature inside the retorts. When putting it in I didn’t move the arm out of the way so the taco got a red score of ink across it. Jim then showed me how to set the arm using the control panel before putting the graph in. In fact I messed it up twice now which I’ll need to be more careful with in future. The second time I didn’t make sure all the taco-graphs were set to the correct time. Of course they were quickly potted by Jim and put to right with a patient wisdom rather than a telling off. So all was well in the end.
April 13, 2012
13th April 2012
The garden is slowly coming to life again after what seems like a long winter. My seedlings are germinating nicely and the plants I bought this week are doing well. I got some tomatoes as well as bell peppers, both of which are showing buds already. I also got some thyme today. Yes I tried growing it last year but it came to nought so I’m attempting to grow it again. While for the first time I am growing some pumpkins plus runner beans. Magz still wants me to get the cauliflower going again though I’m delaying planting that till later in the month to see if I have enough tubs left for it. She suggested that I get some more grow bags for it. The thing being is space though in the garden. As you know I don’t have a large back garden so I have to plan things carefully so I don’t end up taking over part of the drying green. Magz wouldn’t be too pleased to lose any of her grass, mind I don’t think it would look to good either.
As I said last week I stripped the bathroom. As expected much of the plaster from the walls came away with the paper meaning we will need the council to give it a fresh skim. The great thing was the inspector came out mid week which was a surprise it being so quick. I had expected to wait at least a few weeks for him to visit to assess what needed done. I was glad to be wrong on that front. Let us hope the work is done as fast. Magz has already started looking at new tiles for it and I am already wondering where I’ll get the funds from for it. The ones she likes aren’t cheap costing in the twenty pound a pack. I haven’t even worked out how many packs might we’ll need. I’m sure it’s more than my slender budget will feel comfortable with. Mind there is no rush as we are supposed to be getting a new bathroom suite this year though I don’t know when that will be, just that it will be this year until it is put of by the council till next year. Well it will give me time to get the finances to give Magz the tiles she wants.
As I said last week I stripped the bathroom. As expected much of the plaster from the walls came away with the paper meaning we will need the council to give it a fresh skim. The great thing was the inspector came out mid week which was a surprise it being so quick. I had expected to wait at least a few weeks for him to visit to assess what needed done. I was glad to be wrong on that front. Let us hope the work is done as fast. Magz has already started looking at new tiles for it and I am already wondering where I’ll get the funds from for it. The ones she likes aren’t cheap costing in the twenty pound a pack. I haven’t even worked out how many packs might we’ll need. I’m sure it’s more than my slender budget will feel comfortable with. Mind there is no rush as we are supposed to be getting a new bathroom suite this year though I don’t know when that will be, just that it will be this year until it is put of by the council till next year. Well it will give me time to get the finances to give Magz the tiles she wants.
April 6, 2012
6th April 2012
I’m on holiday over the next week from work as I mentioned last week. Magz has already given her orders. She wants me to strip the wallpaper and tiles from the bathroom. It isn’t a big job as the room is on the small side so it shouldn’t take too long to do. I’ll start that tomorrow then it will be out of the way leaving me plenty of time to see to my garden. Once the bathroom is stripped we’ll need to wait on the council to get it replastered as I know that much of it will be lost. This is mainly down to the age of the house and the fact much of it is already blown. Only the paper is holding it up. Where the paper has started to come away so has the plaster beneath, which is a sign of how badly it has deteriorated over its life. We are also supposed to be getting a new bathroom suite this year at some point though with our council that could stretch to sometime in the next decade. Well maybe not quite that long but you get the idea. I think most local authorities are the same when it comes down to that sort of thing. They’re good at making promises but when it comes to the work it seems to take for ever for them to get round to doing it as is the case with all the jobs they have been promising us for the past few years. I must admit though they have been round to redo the cavity wall insulation in the past couple of weeks. They drilled the holes, sucked out all the old stuff and then left. That was two weeks ago and they said they’d be back the following week. We are still waiting. If that were a private firm working under contract I don’t think they would be in business for long. Complaining to the council only seems to make them take even longer getting the work done. It is almost like they have a list of moaners that are made to wait which I must be at the top of, hehehe.
March 30, 2012
30th March 2012
After last weeks misadventure concerning Calum this week has been much more peaceful, though it has been the usual hard graft at work. It has been very warm for this time of year so it has given me some gardening time, mainly weeding and tidying up after the winter storms. I was pleased to see that my strawberries have spread out around my fruit trees. Magz is looking forwards to a bumper crop this year. I also planted out some potatoes in my bags as well as peas into one of the tubs. I know there is always the danger of frost for a few months yet but I’ll keep my fingers cross it won’t be too severe. I have coriander and two types of basil on the go indoor for now which I shall wait for a few weeks till they are better established before slowly taking them out doors during the day to acclimatise them before putting them out permanently. I go on holiday from work next Thursday for a week so I can use that time to go to the garden centre to get tomatoes and more veg for my pots. Some extra compost would be a good idea as well.
I’m looking forwards to the break from work. It will give me the time to recharge the old battery as the saying goes. It may even give me the chance to get my head out of the clouds and start another book. You know the one that has been sitting in the back of that dark corner where I dumped it last year. I really do have to let it out or it may keep popping up in my dreams demanding to be written, hehehe. Well I can only hope. This weekend though I keep it where it is and do some more gaming after some battles with the weeds.
I’m looking forwards to the break from work. It will give me the time to recharge the old battery as the saying goes. It may even give me the chance to get my head out of the clouds and start another book. You know the one that has been sitting in the back of that dark corner where I dumped it last year. I really do have to let it out or it may keep popping up in my dreams demanding to be written, hehehe. Well I can only hope. This weekend though I keep it where it is and do some more gaming after some battles with the weeds.
March 23, 2012
23rd March 2012
It has been a very testing week. Calum, my son, was arrested this week on fire-arms charges. He’s been having trouble with the head teacher at his school and the head found out Calum had weapons he had bought from the web. One of these weapons was a stun gun. Calum realised that it would be best to get rid of the weapons so took them to the police station to hand them in. Unfortunately the police then arrest my son, charging him with importing fire-arms as that is what stun guns are classified here in Scotland. It is a crime that carries a minimum sentence of five years.
As you can imagine Magz and myself were in a panic over all of this, especially when he was held overnight to go to court the next day, Wednesday. Luckily Calum got himself a great lawyer that spoke to the procurator fiscal pointing out that he has never been in trouble before and that he was trying to act in a responsible manor by handing them in. It worked because Calum was released on liberty and the charges not being pressed provided he goes on some courses which we will find out more about once the procurator fiscals office sends us a letter.
Of course he will also have to watch his step and there is always a possibility that this could come back to haunt us. But for the moment he is free which is the main thing. I wasn’t happy that he bought these things though I think now he regrets it himself. I don’t think he’ll make the same mistake.
The Big Man up there was certainly watching over him. That I thank him for as I don’t think it would have turned out so well if he hadn’t. I pray he continues to do so.
As for the head teacher he had called the police so it was luck that Calum beat him to it. We have also been hearing that he has been saying things about Calum that isn’t true, like he had more than one stun gun as well as that he is extremely dangerous and everyone should avoid him. He also put my son on permanent study leave as he doesn’t want him in school.
I would have seen this sort of thing if Calum was constantly in trouble but he isn’t. In fact over the past two years that he has stayed on to get his highers, so he can go to college, he has helped at lots of functions for the school which he got his face in the local paper. As well as that he help out sorting the school computers when there were problems with them. So why is this new head teacher so set against him is a mystery to me. Hopefully he finds some peace and sorts his head out and lets my son continue the last few months of school so he can get into college.
As you can imagine Magz and myself were in a panic over all of this, especially when he was held overnight to go to court the next day, Wednesday. Luckily Calum got himself a great lawyer that spoke to the procurator fiscal pointing out that he has never been in trouble before and that he was trying to act in a responsible manor by handing them in. It worked because Calum was released on liberty and the charges not being pressed provided he goes on some courses which we will find out more about once the procurator fiscals office sends us a letter.
Of course he will also have to watch his step and there is always a possibility that this could come back to haunt us. But for the moment he is free which is the main thing. I wasn’t happy that he bought these things though I think now he regrets it himself. I don’t think he’ll make the same mistake.
The Big Man up there was certainly watching over him. That I thank him for as I don’t think it would have turned out so well if he hadn’t. I pray he continues to do so.
As for the head teacher he had called the police so it was luck that Calum beat him to it. We have also been hearing that he has been saying things about Calum that isn’t true, like he had more than one stun gun as well as that he is extremely dangerous and everyone should avoid him. He also put my son on permanent study leave as he doesn’t want him in school.
I would have seen this sort of thing if Calum was constantly in trouble but he isn’t. In fact over the past two years that he has stayed on to get his highers, so he can go to college, he has helped at lots of functions for the school which he got his face in the local paper. As well as that he help out sorting the school computers when there were problems with them. So why is this new head teacher so set against him is a mystery to me. Hopefully he finds some peace and sorts his head out and lets my son continue the last few months of school so he can get into college.
March 16, 2012
16th March 2012
Looking forwards to getting back into my game this weekend after a long, stressful week at work. The dicer was acting up a lot putting us behind in the work needing done for an order that came in. As you can guess this didn’t please those in charge and so the heaped the pressure on us. The rowdy humour of factory workers saw us through but I was glad when home time came today knowing I would have time to indulge myself over the weekend in some gaming.
I’ll also be out in the garden over the weekend. I’ve begun planting seeds indoors to avoid the colder nights. So far I have some peas planted as well as coriander, and two types of basil. Not a lot I know though it is a start. In the coming weeks I’ll have to go to B&Q, the garden centre, to get more seeds or seedlings for the tubs as well as seed potatoes for my bags. My fruit trees and bushes are beginning to show renewed life as are the strawberries that grow around them though I haven’t seen any stirrings of life from the rhubarb, maybe I see something this weekend when I’m out there doing some weeding. Funny how their always the first thing, along with the grass to shot up.
All this and the last of the Six Nations Rugby to watch. I’m hoping Scotland will do us proud against Italy to prevent us from gaining the Wooden Spoon. The team has been playing well but sadly without the desired results. Without them though we are left facing the booby prize of the competition.
I’ll also be out in the garden over the weekend. I’ve begun planting seeds indoors to avoid the colder nights. So far I have some peas planted as well as coriander, and two types of basil. Not a lot I know though it is a start. In the coming weeks I’ll have to go to B&Q, the garden centre, to get more seeds or seedlings for the tubs as well as seed potatoes for my bags. My fruit trees and bushes are beginning to show renewed life as are the strawberries that grow around them though I haven’t seen any stirrings of life from the rhubarb, maybe I see something this weekend when I’m out there doing some weeding. Funny how their always the first thing, along with the grass to shot up.
All this and the last of the Six Nations Rugby to watch. I’m hoping Scotland will do us proud against Italy to prevent us from gaining the Wooden Spoon. The team has been playing well but sadly without the desired results. Without them though we are left facing the booby prize of the competition.
March 9, 2012
9th March 2012
My poem came last in the competition at Absolute Write. Well someone has to come at the end I suppose but it was a little disappointing all the same. I did get a private message from one of the other poets saying they enjoyed it so that was a good pick me up. I had hoped it would do better though. I already posted it in my writing section of GoodReads.com and will add it at the end of this post so you can check it out. Let me know what you thing.
I’m looking forward to getting into my game this weekend as I’ve moved onto the third act in it which has opened up a new area for me to explore. Some of it I’ve already begun to nose around to get my bearings though there is still more to see. Though I have to watch the in game time as I have to be at a party to gather information as part of the story line. That is something that can easily lost, game time that is, when you explore a new area. It all adds to the fun.
Magz loved her present. It was a little gold locket and when she opened it up there was a little eighteen hanging inside. I hadn’t opened it in the shop so was rather surprised it was there. Magz though was excited by it as we’ve been together eighteen years. Lucky for me or was the Big Man upstairs looking out for me? I like to think the latter. So it was even more special to her. So thanks up there.
Well here’s the poem and please let me know what you think.
24/7 Fun?
Late at night
the buzzing cell
cried to be ignored
till days light exposed the snake’s bite.
The webs vastness made small
as spectres haunted through fb
spreading lies too easily believed;
coded threats by anom.
Mum’s wisdom to ignore
“sticks and stones,”
the thoughts behind
hidden in babble.
Dad’s “always fight back
don’t lie down,”
opened a gulf between,
now I see the anger
wasn’t for me.
My friends’
stood aside
watching the pain
offering little but words unheard,
hands unseen.
With every retreat
the distances grew
till loneliness consumed,
smothered in darkness
I could be no more.
Only in the last moments
the crystal light of family,
remembered joy in friends’,
did I see.
So I left
loved ones weeping
asking why,
yet never knowing;
filled with my regrets.
All for someone else’s
fun.
I’m looking forward to getting into my game this weekend as I’ve moved onto the third act in it which has opened up a new area for me to explore. Some of it I’ve already begun to nose around to get my bearings though there is still more to see. Though I have to watch the in game time as I have to be at a party to gather information as part of the story line. That is something that can easily lost, game time that is, when you explore a new area. It all adds to the fun.
Magz loved her present. It was a little gold locket and when she opened it up there was a little eighteen hanging inside. I hadn’t opened it in the shop so was rather surprised it was there. Magz though was excited by it as we’ve been together eighteen years. Lucky for me or was the Big Man upstairs looking out for me? I like to think the latter. So it was even more special to her. So thanks up there.
Well here’s the poem and please let me know what you think.
24/7 Fun?
Late at night
the buzzing cell
cried to be ignored
till days light exposed the snake’s bite.
The webs vastness made small
as spectres haunted through fb
spreading lies too easily believed;
coded threats by anom.
Mum’s wisdom to ignore
“sticks and stones,”
the thoughts behind
hidden in babble.
Dad’s “always fight back
don’t lie down,”
opened a gulf between,
now I see the anger
wasn’t for me.
My friends’
stood aside
watching the pain
offering little but words unheard,
hands unseen.
With every retreat
the distances grew
till loneliness consumed,
smothered in darkness
I could be no more.
Only in the last moments
the crystal light of family,
remembered joy in friends’,
did I see.
So I left
loved ones weeping
asking why,
yet never knowing;
filled with my regrets.
All for someone else’s
fun.
March 2, 2012
2nd March 2012
It has been a reasonable week at work this week. I’m being taught how to work the retort, that’s the large pressure cookers or boilers that the cans get cooked in. You have to keep an eye on the pressure gauges and that sort of thing. There is a lot to learn so it will take time but already I’m getting to grips with loading as well as unloading using the crane hoist. I’m taking notes in a note book that Allen gave me. Of course this has sparked off one or two rumours which I’m not taking much notice of at the moment as nothing official has been said to me.
The votes for the poetry competition are now being counted. I was more confident about my poem before the end of voting on Wednesday. Strangely now I just hope to have not finished last. It’s funny how confidence can wane when the end is in sight sometimes. Regardless of the result the fun was in the taking part and I’m sure the winner will be a deserving recipient of the accolade of taking first prize.
It’s Magz’s birthday this weekend. Yes it was Tammy’s just last week. As you know though I got her present weeks ago, in fact before Valentines as well as the card. I like to get things like that sorted so as not to be rushing around last thing. I find it makes life so much simpler and there is less chance of you forgetting, which is a risk with how quickly these kind of events have of seeking up on you. Maybe that is just me as that thinks the years seem to be getting shorter, hehehe.
The votes for the poetry competition are now being counted. I was more confident about my poem before the end of voting on Wednesday. Strangely now I just hope to have not finished last. It’s funny how confidence can wane when the end is in sight sometimes. Regardless of the result the fun was in the taking part and I’m sure the winner will be a deserving recipient of the accolade of taking first prize.
It’s Magz’s birthday this weekend. Yes it was Tammy’s just last week. As you know though I got her present weeks ago, in fact before Valentines as well as the card. I like to get things like that sorted so as not to be rushing around last thing. I find it makes life so much simpler and there is less chance of you forgetting, which is a risk with how quickly these kind of events have of seeking up on you. Maybe that is just me as that thinks the years seem to be getting shorter, hehehe.
