Saturday 14th April 18

Got a bit done in the garden today, chopping back brambles and shredding. 

Michael came to visit at 7pm and I helped him do his facebook page for Magic Merlin.

Sunday 15th April 18

Not too early a start but in time to go to town for 2pm for the Don't Bomb Syria rally. After this I went to Sainsburys to dispose of plastic film, and buy muesli. Then on to Joy's.

Home to get compost ready for tomorrow.

Monday 16th April 18

Up in good time to be ready for my customer to come round and buy £30 worth of compost.  I was also given some chutney, which I was very pleased with. 

Did a fair amount of compost management and then had a quick shower/bath before going to do my radio show, interviewing Sophie Jewett from the new York Cocoa Works. The show went well.

Tuesday 17th April 18

Pretty nondescript day apart from going to Joy's in the evening in order to meet up with Ceri there ad talk shrouds.

Wednesday 18th April 18

Got some stuff done in the garden, including building a new pallet bin and part-emptying a barrel bin next to a dalek, and doing some clearing up with Gill. In the evening I went to a Green Party meeting and met up with Dawny.

Thursday 19th April 18

The best bits of the day were going to Joy's and getting her to write to her daughter Sarah, and then photocopying the letter and getting stamps and sending it off, and I suppose I was happy to have got bread etc before that, and I came back via a woodpile and did some chopping and stuff. 

Friday 20th April 18

Met Kiri in town and went with her to Ben's where she did lawn and trenching and I did tree, then I went for my annual eye test and then home with tree, and back to continue turf removal and trench digging.

Saturday 21st April 18

I think quite a good day, decided to go and get the pallets from the Cocoa Works, got paid 3 little bars of chocolate, but also found some copper wire in a nearby skip. Did some compost management and tidying in the garden.

Sunday 22nd April 18

Had arranged to meet Joy and Alan at Lucky Days for lunch, and somehow I persuaded Gill to come along too!  I arrived first and Gill came on the bus, then the others 10 minutes later, and we had a nice meal and friendly chats.

I had a meeting at 2 to go to, York Community Energy and Yorspace, a very interesting discussion about Private Wire Networks and energy co-operatives. Then a quick visit to see Ben who had excavated the trench a lot more, so all I had to do was to take away some sacks of turf.

Monday 23rd April 18

A good day with a trip to the skip site with a large amount of rubbish from the garage which we're desperately trying to clear out to enable Ken to get going his side, and build a party wall.

I did quite a bit in the garden and then at 4.30 met John and Nigel for the test ride of the proposed route of the WNBR, and it worked very well. It was 8.4 miles and took one hour 20, to which we'll add 2 ten-minute stops and one 20 minute stop, giving a 2 hour ride.

We went to the Welly for a pint and chat, and then I met Aysha, and then Andre joined us. Good chats.

Tuesday 24th April 18

So, a wet day outside but did go to the Co-op and did light the stove to dry a load of grapes.

Wednesday 25th April 18

Main thing today was going to help Joy (eventually!) with her paperwork, some Good Energy stuff and a couple of other things, quite stressful but got her happy at the end.

Thursday 26th April 18

Good day going to Bradford
Uni talk on compost
Met Jessica for lunch
Sorted leafmould and loam for Ivana

Friday 27th April 18

A frustrating day as had wanted to get Ivana's compost order sorted but it was cold, windy and raining, not the sort of weather to bag up compost. However I did repot a load of cacti and succulents.

And did bananas for drying.

Saturday 28th April 18

Two main things today, took a load of leafmould and loam to Ivana and Rich, six sacks, they paid me £40, and ordered 6 sacks of compost, and then I changed my trousers and met Judith at the station. We walked to North St, across Ouse Bridge to King's Staith, through Tower Gardens and New Walk to Millennium Bridge, then up through Rowntree Park and Bishy Road where we had a cuppa in the Pig and Pastry, then we walked the walls round to past the station, and she got the next train back to Northalleton.

Sunday 29th April 18

A good day in the garden, mainly. Clearing garage, putting barrel compost into bags, and digging out the 220 litre dalek and refilling the barrel, and doing a variety of other jobettes.

Monday 30th April 18

Meeting at 10 at Tang Hall Community Centre with Andrew Waller and Michael Pavlovic, Doug, Sharon and Michaela from the Road Safety Campaign.

Then at 3 a meeting in town with Sue and Melody at the Co-op Bank to close the York LETS bank account.

Gill had an appointment in the morning for a biopsy.

I spent much of the evening gardening.

Tuesday 1st May 18

The day included having visitors come and pick up rogan josh sauce - a chap called James, and Rosie and Sam came too, then I cycled up the road to pick up some wood, and then to the library to go to Laurie Farnell's book launch. Michelle was there, which was nice.

Came home via Helen, and I picked up her bucket, and visited Joy briefly.

Wednesday 2nd May 19

Did a lot of shopping today.  Cycled round to Gill's GP and picked up her prescription, and then to the chemist to get it made up. Then down to Alligator to get peanut butter, muesli base, tofu, and I picked up their compostables too. Then on to Aldi to get soya milk and others.

Did also do some chopping and stacking, but overall, was feeling quite low. Spoke to Anna and Tom in the evening.

Thursday 3rd May 18

P'raps feeling a little better today, and got up early to go and do M's Bay tree in Emerald St, butonly did a little bit as there were two visible bird nests.  I removed some ivy and lower branches, but will leave the rest til August.

Friday 4th May 18

Working for Ben today, finishing off the trench and then laying the conduit, and refilling the trench.

Saturday 5th May 18

A very leisurely day, up reasonably early and spent quite a bit of time with Gilly just chatting and mucking around. After tea I went and did an hour at Ben's, taking home a trailer-load of turf. But I also did some weeding and growing medium mixing. A warm and pleasant day.

Sunday 6th May 18

Another relaxed day, did some assorted gardening jobs including planting sunflowers and shredding a load of Ken's holly, and took a delivery from Chill.

Monday 7th May 18

My 52nd birthday. Wasn't feeling like celebrating. However, Debbie came round and that was lovely. I had some time in the garden and brought the soil sifter up to take round to Julian. Good to see him.
Nice phone calls with Janie and Bob.

Tuesday 8th May 18

Took Helen's bucket back and collected maps from Harvey, then visited potential tree site at Clifton Reach/Water End, and chatted to people there. Then to Treememndous, and YEF where I did a presentation on energy.

Called in on Joy on the way back then popped in to see Andre's art class, who are looking for a model.

Wednesday 9th May 18

Activities today included delivering letter to Gill's GP, working in Clire Kennard's back garden, pruning a tree, and shredding all the resultant materials, planting potatoes, and some other outdoor stuff.

Thursday 10th May 18

The main thing today was going to Leeds to the Chapel Allerton Allotment group and doing a talk on compost.

Came back via Joy.

Friday 11th May 18

Met up with Sam at the Foss Barrier, and waited for the others to come who had met at the Hub Station. Tour of the barrier, walk down New Walk with Germans, coffee in Rowntree Park.

I met up with Aysha at the station and went to Leeds with her. Yorkshire Poly Connections event. Got the 10.30pm train back, was hungry.

Saturday 12th May 18

Did quite a bit of work in the garden today, very relaxing. Maggie arrived for lunch and I spent a bit of time with her.

In the evening I went to St Nicks for the German visitors social, and Eurovision Song Contest. Good chats and food.

Sunday 13th May 18

A productive day outside and then in the afternoon, did an hour over at Ben's removing turf.

Monday 14th May 18

Quite a good day and finished with interviewing Graham Blueskies on Two Rivers Radio.

Tuesday 15th May 18

Up early to get an 8.45 taxi to the hospital with Gill. We got a taxi, the driver was very nice.

Gill was told that yes she did have breast cancer, a Stage 1 to 2, so not as aggressive as a Stage 3, but the best way to deal with it would be a mastectomy. We felt very looked after and were given lots of information.

Gill went home on the bus and I walked to Sainsbury's Foss Bank and then walked home, getting in before Gill.

Told Toby fairly soon, and Gill told Howard later. Both seemingly OK about it.

Wednesday 16th May 18

A fairly quiet day, although I did go and buy Vitamin D tablets and later, decided not to do the Green Party meeting as was getting on with the garage, and weeding.

Got a phone call from the vasectomy clinic, they've a cancellation on Friday so I'm having it done at 4pm Friday.

Thursday 17th May 18

Mor work in the garden, riddling compost and doing the garage, also did 2 hours at Colin's, removing nettles and ground elder, including the roots, which were enmeshed with teabag material.

In the evening, had a bath and shaved my scrotum, ready for the op tomorrow.

Friday 18th May 18

Well, OK, the big thing today was that I walked round to the Co-op to post a letter to the solicitors about Robert's house, caught the bus into town, caught a bus up to Acomb, had a cuppa in Chill chatting with Mary and Jo, then went for a vasectomy. Came home on two buses. Ball ache.

Saturday 19th May 18

Today I should have been resting - but there was too much to do!  I had a fairly late morning and got myself ready for 1pm to go out to Red Tower, for the official opening. Good to see some of my friends and ex-colleagues there. Rachael Maskell did the opening ceremony, with Imelda and Barry.

From there I cycled into town to get Howard's boots, with new soles, and then to Alligator to get muesli base, tofu and a couple of dustbins full of compostables.

When I got home I did some garden work and had a short nap at 5pm, and then did more stuff outside.

Sunday 20th May 18

A pretty normal day really, did a lot of tidying in the conservatory, using the leaf sucker to deal with all the old yam and bean leaves. Found my climbing bean collection, put a load in soak for germination!

Monday 21st May 18

Today I worked with Julian on his raised bed preparation.

We moved wood away from where the next one is due to go, took delivery of 20 tonnes of soil, in dumpy bags which Julian moved with a fork lift truck he'd hired, then two tonnes of sand, then 5 pallets of paving slabs. A pretty busy day, did 9 hours.

Tuesday 22nd May 18

A fairly nondescript day until shortly after 7 when I got to the Community Centre near Stockton Lane where Andres does his art class. He'd asked me to model. I did 4 poses for 5 minutes each and then one long pose, for an hour, with a short two minute break halfway through. I earned £25 and enjoyed it, mostly. It was certainly an interesting experience.

Wednesday 23rd May 18

The main thing today was I went to Joy's so I could take her to the Nuffield Hospital to see Dr Sam Chan, for a second opinion about her mesothelioma. We had a bit of time together before we walked to the hospital and arrived at 6pm, and spent an hour with the doc, a very relaxed appointment.

Thursday 24th May 18

A full day's work in Beverley. I got the 6.40 bus which got in before 8, and worked through til 7.15 and got the last bus back, which was supposed to leave at 7.37, but was late due to a fuel spillage.

I weeded a large circular raised bed. It was quite satisfying, and I got paid for 12 hours.

Friday 25th May 18

Main thing today was going to Aldi to buy soya milk etc, also Alligator.

I created an event page for the Naked Bike Ride too.

Saturday 26th May 18

Productive day in the garden. Also wooding, and the main thing was cutting (mowing) the front hedge.

Sunday 27th May 18

Melissa came over to York to go to a production her sister was in, and she took the opportunity to spend some time with me. She arrived (dropped off by her mother) at about midday and had a cuppa and a walk down the garden, then we walked down to the Four Poster, and went for a walk through Rowntree Park where there was a cycling and walking festival on.

Had lunch at Cafe 68 at Cycle Heaven.

I came back when she went to the show to have a chat with Zion, and then went back at 9.30 and had a meal with them, Linda (Mel's mother) and Paul, Linda's partner, and Siobhan, Mel's 12 year old sister. Went to a Chinese restaurant and I had a dish with wood ear fungi and noodles.

Tuesday 29th May 18

Lots of visitors today - Charles came round to pick up lettuces and had a cuppa and a chat, Maggie also but I was out at the skip site taking rubbish down, and later Ruth picked up some lettuces too. 

Wednesday 30th May 18

Got up early to leave the house at 8.30, so I could get to Ruth's by 9am. I arrived beforehand and she wasn't there, but came back soon with a 2.5m pink-flowered hawthorn which she wanted to plant out at her grandfather's property at Wilsill. I loaded up the car with my chainsaws and some wire and pliers, as Ruth had mentioned making a compost heap with some pallets.

We took an hour to get the 30 miles and arrived at 10.15, and Ruth showed me the compost system which needed dealing with - 5 bays made of cemented blocks, with wooden fronts, which were perhaps originally pallets. However, these were in a poor state of repair, and the heaps had loads of weeds on them too.  I dealt with the lowest one first - the whole garden is on a steep slope. I removed the weeds and uncomposted materials and then put all the reasonable compost onto a tarp for Ruth and family to deal with. Then I made a start on the second, putting the weeds and uncomposted stuff in the base of the first one. This material was not so well composted so I put the majority of it into 5 sacks, where it should mature somewhat.

I then finished off the work on the line of Leylandii trees, getting right to the top of the line, so that all the lower branches were gone - then I started working down the line taking off higher branches, until Ruth told me it was time to stop, after 9 hours. Nice drive back, and cycle back from Acomb.

Thursday 31st May 18

A less busy day than yesterday, but still got a lot done.

Horwells is no more. This was a shock as I arrived with a trailer-load of metal.
Clanceys need a passport or driving licence so Sam Calpin came to my rescue.
At 7, I went to the Edible York social at Red Tower and Joy came too. I walked home with her.

Friday 1st June 18

Up early as the meters were due to be read so I cleaned out under the stairs. Lots of shoes. Took some into a charity shop. My first Oleo transaction, a woman came to pick up lettuces fr her chickens.

Saturday 2nd June 18

Cycled to Easingwold. Set off at 10.15 and got there 11.25, it's almost exactly 15 miles. Said hello to the Lions who had put the event on, got changed and put my battery on charge. Entertained from before midday til about 4.45.

Cuppa, got changed, visited nearby Coop, and came home

Sunday 3rd June 18

Up early to get to town for a Cycle Campaign photoshoot.

Big garage clear out.

Monday 4th June 18

A good day as I got a few things done in the garden including riddling some turf-loam, and found five newts in the rolls of turf!  Howard helped move a load of Ben's turf rolls in sacks, so I can make a turf wall.

Gill got a message to say that the planned operation on the 25th was to be moved forward to the 14th and would we like to go in on Wednesday to chat about it?