GOFFA FROM THE BLOCK

Good evening. Howz it hanging? I feel like I'm getting a cold, I've got a cough and sore throat.  Not sure where it could have come from, I wash my hands or sanitise at least 3 times an hour all day long.  I've just done a home Covid test and I'm seemingly negative. In truth I would have to look up what to do if I'd tested positive.  I suspect I'd have to go to a test centre for a formal test. I don't even follow the developments on the news that closely but 2 things I have read today are, 1 Middlesbrough is one of the worst places in the country for infections - not good. 2 I think I caught a glance of somebody suggesting if you get a cold it gives you a level of resistance to Covid - good.  Anyway Monday night is the new Thursday so 3 cheers for me! Close to a nil post but a post nonetheless which 9 days in a row. That's enough numbers for one night. 

Evening all. Sunday evening's round again and I'm at Shamila's. Posting a bit earlier than normal, getting my personal contractual obligation out of the way?  Mmm maybe. Like most days I feel I haven't got much to say so I'm just tapping away at the keyboard hoping to stumble upon some inspiration. Shhh, I shouldn't give away my blogging secrets.  Think back in the day I would probably have picked up today's paper and discussed a news topic to ramble on about. It's all about opinions isn't it? Everybody is spouting something off (the irony of that comment is not lost on me by the way) and of course sometimes opinions get confused for facts. For example on Friday I was queuing up outside the chemist masked up, as we all do post Covid and  the woman in front engaged in what I thought was going to be a bit of small talk with me. "Eee, who'd have thought we'd still be doing this 2 years later?" I politely agreed.  "Mind it's de...

I haven't told anybody I'm posting again, I prefer a slow burn but it appears 4 people are now reading my blog. I'm quite happy with that. Mind, I'm pretty sure I could get it up to about 10 or so if I told my 80 odd (rough guess) Facebook friends. It's been pretty mundane stuff so far.  I don't have much inspiration in truth and even the mechanics of writing out seems such a slog. We'll see how it goes. It goes without saying I'll keep posting until I get sick, that's stating the obvious but I've decided that I'm going to call it a day if I don't post 50 times this year. A tall order I'm sure you will agree. It's been a good day I guess.  Boro beat Mansfield 3-2 , I watched the second half. It was mostly excruciating to watch us struggle against a team 2 divisions below but despite what I said last night I was thrilled with our injury time winning goal and all happy  Newcastle got beat by Cambridge  at home.  I'm not even sur...

Unsurprisingly I woke up with a hangover. Had far too much to drink last night, I usually do when I go out with our Russ. Bloody rounds have a lot to answer for. Arranged to go round his house at 11AM this morning. He's renovating the house and he needed me to help him take down the canopy at the front of his house.  Anybody that knows me knows my DIY limitations but I was another pair of hands and probably more to the point I was available. It was big and heavy and  could have been dangerous but we got it down without much bother. And although our Russ took most of the strain and made most of the decisions I like to think I made a few key interventions. It's always a pleasure to help our Russ anyway. Setting the scene for (possible) future posts both me and Russ moved house in the last 18 months and now live about a 15 minutes walk away from each other.  It was more good luck than by design but I'm not complaining. He's semi-retired as well and even if we don't see...

  Strange times..... I seem say/think that a lot nowadays.   I'm on a different computer to normal and had to jump through the usual hoops to even write this post. Went through Google, password/open another computer/put in a code  blah blah blah. Well I'm here so I obviously managed nicely. Anyway, Thursday here we are. Almost done actually but yeah, been a good day. Our Chris came round. Far too cold to go and play golf so we played Snooker (4-3 to me - get in the net!) and we watched the latest Bill and Ted film. If you liked Excellent Adventure and Bogus Journey (which I did) you would get all the jokes and it was pretty good. I did him a bacon sandwich for lunch (ok I had one myself - don't tell Shamila) - bloody gorgeous.   Had a play on my guitar etc. etc.  and then went to the pub with our Russ. 6 pints later (my current limit circa 2022 is 4 - same as it was 2021) I'm feeling well worse for wear. Not sure last time I had 6 pin...

 Well Wednesday didn't pan out how I planned. Shamila gave me a couple of domestic errands to run thing set me back a bit and I was playing catch up for the rest of the day.  I also spent a lot longer at Shamila's parents with the chair lift guy than anticipated, 2 1/2 bloody painful hours to be precise. It wasn't all wasted time though. My in laws being their normal unbending selves are unwilling to make the necessary changes to their staircase to accommodate the lift so it's all off.  Hey ho, it's their house and it means we're cancelling the second quote on Friday so it's not all bad news. I did my guitar lesson and had a play around with a few melodies.  Will do some more tomorrow. Oh and no gym either. After discussions with Sham, considering how much time we're hanging with her parents we need to be extra careful Covid wise until further notice.

Well that wasn't too bad for my first working week of 2022.  Started at 8.35 this morning and finished at 5.15 this afternoon.  The sort of working week I used to dream of (yesterday's post refers).  So what's the word for the rest of the week and the week-end? As follows, Wednesday - Gym, then home for a couple of hours. Probably play might guitar for a bit and might even try to write a short song or a tune. Got an appointment at Sham's parents with a stair-lift company. Then back to Sham's for the evening. Thursday - I might go to the gym again. I normally play golf with our Chris on Thursdays at Stokesley but the forecast is rubbish.  Very cold at best which is too cold for me.  Chris might still come over to see me and we maybe we'll have a game of snooker on my new snooker table. A Christmas present off Mike and Chris I kid you not. Think will still be left with a few hours to hang so will try and do something productive before going out with our Russ for a...

Alas, I'm back to work tomorrow. Always a bummer but especially so after Christmas/New Year. In fairness it's probably been my longest Christmas break since my last year at school/college.  I broke up on 21 December and due to the way the calendar fell I didn't have to take any time off.  Mind, it also helped that since 1 November 2021 I only work Monday and Tuesday so a further bonus is that after tomorrow I'm off again until next Monday (10 January). So 1 working day in 21 days. Just.... so great, I'm sat here smiling at the thought. Cutting down to 2 days work a week doesn't feel a huge leap to be honest. Working 5 days a week was a drag from the age of 5 but I stopped working Fridays nearly 12 years ago. It wasn't that I particularly disliked school/work but when push came to shove even the best things about being at work weren't as good all but the very worst things when I was off.  In fairness I expected to retire completely on my 60th birthday whe...

 So here we are again. Happy New Year all. There's definitely a pattern developing here.   So what's new? It's been another bum year hasn't it? Although I guess it could have been worse and probably has been for many.  Current thinking is that the vaccination is the key to swerving the worst effects of Covid.  Those that have chosen not get jabbed just look like they've got a death wish? Who knows what is getting pumped into our arms but the unpleasant side effects of the vaccine feels a price worth paying.  I've been triple jabbed and was ill after "the booster" but I've heard of 2 people catching Covid after being fully vaccinated so.... Watch this space I guess but me, Shamila, her parents and my sons are all well (Mike has the virus but is ok). Here's to 2022 I guess. I'm cautiously optimistic. Mad times, mad times ......   2021 wasn't all bad though eh?  I feel like I've been washing my hands all year and I can't remember w...