2010 Here we are again , the start of a new decade, and more spare time than I could shake a stick at. We have decided to upgrade the garden fencing and have new neighbours as wel at no 9, nice family , Nicky, Bradley , Kelly and Dad Chris with Mother-in-law Pat. Her at No.10 has decided she wants No.9 to erect any new fence on their side, we are going to move a bit of ours 'cos No.10 has a tree part in our garden now. All is well, we pay Nicky & Chris 50& of our party fence. No.10 wants to buy the panels, we to fit the psts and labour etc. Panels supplied are too small when fitted, I remove them and hand them back. We now build a 6ft 3" fence out of featherboard to match No.9's fence. All happy except No.10, she gets her solicitro to write, I tell her to "piss off" as I have photo evidenhce she removed the boundary marker. Ah, well...not an easy year after all.
2011 Carole has now been made redunsant, and we are lucky to have the cottages rent as income as that and job seekers allowance is all we have until my pension arrives in 2013. We have savings, and Carole's redundancy money, so we'll survive. This year is the time to upgrade the garden with new shed, garden shed, summer house and some work around the house. Looking rather good now, we are pleased with our efforts, and No.10 can't see us anymore from her workroom etc. Life is blissful again. We need a new oil tank this year as the bottom of our old 5 year old one is falling apart and is about to flood us out with a 1000 ltrs of oil. We borrow 240ltr waste bins from Derek & June at No.12, cans from Roger and Andrew and we now have 4 green 80 ltr dustbins full of oil as well in the back garden. Let's hope none leak. New concrete base, plastic tank fitted by yours truly, job done..yet again ! Bad news, Ian Yelling has at last succumbed to his cancer after nearly five years. A release , but a great loss to the families.
2012 More work in the front garden this time, Paul at No.7 has decided to have flint gravel on his drive, we have had our 165 ft leylandi and Berbis hedges removed out the front and Paul has said i can have the gravel as long as I put down his new drive (and move the old gravel first.) Sounds fair, so job done..No.9 are happy as bare earth where old hedges were is now covered in creamy gravel. Time to scalp the lawns and get rid of the Ants nests al last (hopefully}. On the family front more sad news as Rach's Grandad Les Yelling has died of dementia related illness. His wife Sylvia is taken into care at High Littleton as well suffering with some kind of motor nuron disease. Can it get any worse I ask myself. Old age does not come alone.
2013 Carole's mum Doris has been taken ill in April , it turns out she has had a stroke and has memory loss and has difficulty coping. We eventually get power of attorney for her finances, and she moves to residential care at "Greystones" in Bear Falt Bath.. She loves it, and they keep her busy with lots of chores. She now has problems knowing who her relatives are. July 24th , a date I shall always remember, so will Carole. This the day i woke up on my stomach (most unusual), sort of slid along the wall to the Bathroom (drunkenly), got to the toilet obviously very unwell. I sat on the toilet holding the left side of my head and I said to Carole, "You aren't going to like what's going to happen next." I went down on my right side like a sack of shit.
My vision disappeared into a small triangular window shape, all I could hear was a buzzing, all I could feel was sweat everywhere. Time stod still, 'cos the next thing I know is a ambulance driver with a wheel chair is asking me if I can get up into his carriage. Without a stitch on, and a blanket wrapped round me I am bundled off to the RUH. I've suffered a half body stroke, nightmare. But I'm still alive and kicking (well with one leg Ha Ha !) I spent amonth in bed before I could get up the strength to walk again with a tripod. Aftercare with a speech therapist, nurse, physio therapist etc. A holiday (in a chalet near the woods) was booked for a well earned holiday for a week in September this year. little did we know at the time we would end up buying it !.
2014 The bungalow in Timsbury is up for sale, we have been assured by the agents a buyer is ready to move a.s.a.p....liar !! It actually took three months longer than planned because of planning problem at their end. Nightmare !!..could only happen to us !. We have decided to move to Dorchester into a chalet which we are going to convert into a more spacious home. Andrew Jackson, the owner, on the surface appears to be a genuine sort of guy. We find out differntly to our cost. (£3,000 rip off.) Luckily we stopped any more payments until documents are signed and exchanged. His son Jamie has given us quotes for the new extension, sun room, decking, re-roof etc. It will cost some £62,000 with the new bathroom and kitchen bits and the new bedroom furniture etc. Got to be done, unfortunatley I can't do it anymore myself. Pain in the ass !!. Sad news 08/08/2014 was the day Doris died after a second stroke, this time there was no way she would recover. Cremation at West Wilts Cemetry. End of an era for all the family.
2015 Our second year in Dorchester sees us ready to rewire the new kitchen and tidy up the outside of the chalet walls etc. Our philosophy is: "Rome wasn't built in a day", so we are not going to rush it, especially as my body is slowly healing the motor neuron path to my damaged bits. I can do a lot more for myself now, no more £1,000 per day builders for a bit thanbk goodness !. Carole has found a new friend called Sue Roberts who is a local character and fun to be with. We have now been sold (as a park ) to John Romans who has 12 other residetial parks. We expect to see changes, hopefully for the better, as the previous owner was a bit of an amateur at any improvements, an ex-solicitor cowboy indeed !. It was a very mild, (buit very wet) December to end the year. We finished off the new gust room and beds ready for my sister Rosenary to use when she made the train journey from Keynsham to visit us. My niece Bernice has been in touchm and hopefully will visit us in the new year wth her mother, should be fun !!!.
2016
The year started well... with sunshine at last, still very mild out, allowing us top do some outdoor chores for a change. Andrew has bought a Villa in Mazarrion, Murcia, Spain with our help, so we now have another property in the family stable. The workshop is coming on, more bits from Dave Reeves for the Emco miller machine, a motor and mounting plate to fit and wire up.....my man cave (shed) is looking very professional again....All solar powered as well as it was in Timsbury, Solar panels will have to wait for better weather before fitting the bulk of them and maybe the Wind Turbine. September has seen another new car, a Honda HRV diesel with a bit more height and leg room. Goes quite well and Carole likes it, so I guess we'll keep it for a bit!. A blast from the past ! ..Phil Parsons hasbeen in touch after all these years (1975), he met Malcolm James at Nick Allens mothers funeral. A year for blasts from times 70s etc. Malcolm has issueswith health and money due to complications with his business and his Son Steve. I'll try and help if I can sort out his mountains of documents. Nice to visit Phil in Bathampton with his wife Wendy. They have no children, but do have "Roly" the Cat and land issues with the neighbours etc. What joy !
2017
Well this year sees no changes to the park yet, (apart from neglect). We have dumpers using our large bins for industrial waste. Manager not interested. He doesn't do a lot , no hedge cutting, but will, begrudgingly get the lawn mower out if pushed. No planning approval given yet. Been busy sorting out Malcolm and Phils' problems since Christmas. Very stressfull for me to be using my grey matter again. Kids are making good use of the Villa in Spain taking family and friendswith them. They boughta people carrier to leave in Spain after driving it from England. Have now had to breal contact with Malcolm after sorting out his problems with Bath Council , and he failing to act with the fraud squad.
2018 The year that I became 70 years old - Wow !
Now we know this new book is working correcttly, I shall be able to keep you informed and up to date. Year started off with Morngate Park being renamed "Hardy Country Park", a bit pretencious but having changed the appearence so much by demolishing 23 trees, removing all the caravans.
Further radical clearence of the land was to follow. Massive earthworks and leveling of the 4 acres of what was the old holiday park area, all the recreational equipment was gone and outdoor picnic areas were levelled. The gentle sloping site was gradually transformed into three terraces.. New roads are under construction... Andrew Jacksons' father would be turning in his grave to see this happening to this once natuaral looking wildlife park.
The builders are here with the H & S fencing panels.
Well, it is different.. 18th February it started. Noise, mess from 7.30 am. until 4.00 pm. A shock to the system to start with, but we soon adapt to the mess and routine. "Eggs & Omlette" come to mind at this time. People are getting used to being approached by Mr. Romans and his staff to move, sell their homes at "knock down" prices to satisfy the need for "cleansing " of the site. The intention is to "re-landscape" 4 acres of the park. Carole and I are trying to keep our heads down as little changes immediatly around our pitch take place. 'Wishing Well' has gone, so have trees in next doors garden .. Disruption to the Wildlife is constant.. Our Wild Haven has been changed beyond belief .. Waht next, I ask myself .... Mmmmmmnnn !
Christmas 2018 Was spent in Midsomer Norton with the family. We were joined by the extended family and used the new outdoor garden room Andrew had built. Great time, great food, and nice to see the Grandaughters again.. 'The old Home Town looks the same, as I step ...
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2019 71 years on the clock .. still ticking ...
March .. Family came to visit, we went to the 'Spy Glass' resteraunt in Weymouth for a meal, outside in the garden was warm.. Views across the Bay made it special. Work on our 'Hardy Park' was coming on a pace, workmen were being fed with biscuits and watered with tea on a regular basis ..Just like a mobile cafe around our bins ! .. Some great character !
8th June -Birthday Girl! 18, doesn't seem possible, Chloe is an adult ! .. She might not think so, but she is bright and intelligent. Going to Uni (Hopefully Plymouth) A wrench from home, her first foot on the ladder of independence. Party was in Chewton Mendip Hotel, family & friends affair, arranged as a surprise, she thought it was only a family meal. .. WRONG !.
Brexit .. 2019 was a year dominated by the UK leaving the EU, all we had in the News every day, it became both boring and frustrating to see the Media storm and posturing to get the best angle, the most outrageous story possible. Thank goodness for some break from this. We had after all Voted to leave, everyone wanted it done. 48th Wedding anniversary rounded off the Autumn quite nicely. Ah well, soon be Christmas and the Snow !
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