Wednesday 7th March 18

Appointment with Denise, then onto town to meet Joy, paid bills and later, met up with Kiri. Home via logpile. Later, to Green Party meeting, took compost to Sam.

Thursday 8th March 18

Enjoyed doing a bit of outdoor stuff in sunshine. However had two visitors, firstly, as arranged at midday, Michael, to talk about risk assessments and balloons, and later, Ruth to deliver some dwarf French beans  which one of the growing projects had going spare. 

Friday 9th March 18

Woken early by Kiri and Joy, but had a fairly relaxing morning, bust composty afternoon and then at 5, delivered 7 sacks to Siv in Derwenthorpe.  Nice family! Helped with the raised beds.

Saturday 10th March 18

Erm, funny old day. I thought I might go and visit Nicola to chat about Green Party stuff but then Toby said he might like to go and do a litter pick, so I cancelled the Nicola chat. But Tobe didn't get himself together until too late, as I was invited for tea with Paola at 5.

I got there and she'd invited me for just a cup of tea (yuk) but they had coffee... but only decaffeinated (why?) and when it came, it was a third of a mug and lukewarm!  However, a few nice chats. But the real reason I'd been called became apparent, that they'd got months of accumulated biodegradables, 33 bags worth, festering in the back yard. I was not impressed. I took them anyway.

Sunday 11th March 18

A really pretty crappy day as woke up after midday and didn't get a whole lot done, apart from a shed load of internet stuff, reading and posting on fb, and getting embroiled in two separate arguments, but did some work too, like starting my Fiddlesticks risk assessment.

Monday 12th March 18

Quite a good day, as I called in on Joy and Kiri on my way to Cliftom Moor to pick up a Freecycled exercise thingy for Gill, although this turned out to not be what she wanted.

At 3.30 Robin came round to pick up my log splitter which I no longer use. He may be able to get it to work and put it to good use.

Tuesday 13th March 18

Three meetings today, first one with Nicola, about a Green Party issue, then I picked up some sticks/logs and went into town and got two pasties and had those to eat at the West Offices before Treemendous and the Environment Forum.

Home and didn't go to the York Cycle Campaign meeting.

Wednesday 14th March 18

A lovely day really, as I got some stuff done outside including a Stephen delivery,  and I took the Step Trainer down to the charity shop and they were delighted, and I got Gill's prescription. For 6pm I cycled along the cycle track to see James who was wanting compost bin advice, and he asked me to buy and install one.

Then went to pick Joy up and walked into town with her and had a meal at City Screen, and then watched the film Tawai, A Voice From The Forest, which was just wonderful.  Walked home with Joy and cycled back home.

Thursday 15th March 18

I spent most of the day helping Joy. I facilitated a phone call with the Asbestos people and Benenden Healthcare, and dictated a letter for her to write to her GP requesting a diagnosis letter to be emailed to me so that it can get sent on to creditors and others.

We walked up to her doctors and I left her at Sainsburys. I went to the bank and paid Yell and the Press.

Friday 16th March 18

Quite a good admin day.  Renewed my Equity membership and forwarded Michael's risk assessment to Rob in Beverley. Spoke to several people about green funeral stuff.

Did some woodchopping, splitting and stacking.

Saturday 17th March 18

Weather got wilder and wilder, with snow flurries on and off all day.  I got some stuff done in the garden, notably getting Joy's bike ready for Kiri to have, and she arrived at about 7pm and had some soup and bread.

I walked her back as far as the Travellodge with the bike in the trailer, and she walked back to March St with it from there.

Sunday 18th March 18

Main successes of the day were to cycle over to Aldi and buy 60 litres of soya milk, plus 10 of almond milk. Also got veggies.

Sorted out a bin bag full of food which Kiri brought over last night from Joy's fridge, composting most of it but rescuing some.

And got ready to go out to Leeds!

Monday 19th March 18

Returned from Leeds.

Called in on Alligator, picked up supplies and compostables.

Met Rob Martin before Two Rivers Radio, and interviewed him for the show 8-9.

Tuesday 20th March 18

Another busy day, culminating in going to Leeds to present a 5 minute talk at Cafe Scientifique.

But most of the day was in Poppleton, visiting Mamta, the person behind Flower Power York, and she showed me her 3 growing areas.

I then visited Kate Houghton briefly before zooming back home to get ready to go to Leeds.

Wednesday 21st March 18

Green Party meeting at West Offices where I presented info on waste and recycling and facilitated a workshop to try to find manifesto points, then went to an electronic music open mic at the Fulford Arms, coming home via a logpile.

Thursday 22nd March 18

Woken early by Gill as H wasn't well and she'd talked to the NHS and they were sending an ambulance. I got up and gave H some support. All was well, though.

I arranged some work with the new Cocoa Works as they had a pile of pallets and packing crate wood which needed disposing of.  They paid me £40 to take it away, and it is an immense load of firewood! I took 3 trailer fulls after seeing Joy. At Joy's I got a water meter sorted and also a police visit for next Tuesday.

Friday 23rd March 18

Up not too early and got down to the Cocoa Works after midday and spent another hour chopping up pallets.

Spent some of the afternoon chopping and stacking.

Saturday 24th March 18

A very early start as needed to get to Leeds before 10am.  I got a train soon after 8 and got to New Pudsey soon after 9, and as I'd booked my tickets through the website, I got my ticket from there to Sheffield before I went to the venue for today's work, Pudsey Town Hall, where the Leeds and District Federation of Allotment Gardeners was meeting for a Learning Day.

My job was to do four 40 minute presentations on composting.

Anna's 50th

Sunday 25th March 18

I got a really good sleep, and then had an excellent day, doing a lot of gardening!

Monday 26th March 18

Another good day in the garden, mostly.

Tuesday 27th March 18

To Joy's for 1.30 to assist with Police visit, and then to the station where I bought tickets to Swansea for George's funeral, and back via Sainsbury's and finding logs near the River.

Wednesday 28th March 18

Quite a good day, plenty of outdoorsy stuff, chainsawing and clearing the shed and garage.

Sunday 1st April 18

A good day for collecting wood: Kri cycled round and I took her to see St Nicks, and then we cycled all the way to Rowntrees, and on the way back I collected some cut branches.

Stacking, preparing peppers for drying, admiining facebook, a bit of telly, a pretty normal day.

Monday 2nd April 18

A pretty quiet day, mostly inside due to wet weather. However I was asked to go and provide company for Kiri, and I suggested Maggie might like to go round too. We played Scrabble. It was good.

Sad, though, to hear Mark Gladwin has died. He was running York Playspace in the mid 90s and got me quite a bit of work. A lovely man.

Tuesday 3rd April 18

A quite busy day, including some chainsawing, mending the loo seat, preparing peppers, going to a WNBR meeting, having Dawn visit.

Wednesday 4th April 18

Up early because Cathryn said she'd be here at 10.  I had a quick shave and bath.

Traffic was heavy and she ended up going to a Park and Ride in Poppleton and getting a bus to town and a bus to ours, and arriving at midday.

After a brief cuppa and walk down the garden, we walked down to town, me with bike, and went to El Piano for lunch. Good chats. She got the P+R bus back at 2.30.

I went to Bishophill to look at trees.

Thursday 5th April 18

Lots of outdoor work! Composting, mainly.

Friday 6th April 18

Another manly ourdoorsy day, chopping and stacking. However had a headache and had a nap in the evening.

Thursday 29th March 18

Up really late, woke at 12.30. In dressing gown til 3.  Visited town to pay cheques in and get one out for Michael. Then went to the GP to get repeat prescription and sign vasectomy form. Popped in on Joy. Picked up wood on way home.

Saturday 7th April 18

A bit of a frustrating day as was due to go and see Joy but her phones went straight to answermachine and she didn't call me. Eventually I went over via Red Tower, where Barry had opened up, and by chance Sue, Ruth and Anna were there, so there was a bit of social, which was nice.  I called in on Maggie and she wasn't there, nor Madeleine, and nor Joy.

However, at about pm I got through. Joy had been at home all the time, but not answering the door and ignored the knock at the windows, so I came home via a woodpile, well, dead branch which I cannibalised and chopped up once home.

Sunday 8th April 18

A pretty fab day, went to the Co-op at Gill's request and then for 3pm went over to Joy's as agreed.

Had a meal there and then went to see Purple Man's 'coming out' event.

Monday 9th April 18

Well, a pretty good day really, as got a fair bit done in town and around.
Delivered Gill's prescription request, visited the EcoDepot, but the maps weren't there. Visited Kiri to lend her a little bit of cash to get the deposit on the bedsit, and visited said bedsit with her, and met landlord Tim.  Then visited the bank to exchange two old-style £10 notes, and get money out.  Then booked visit to the opticians. Then visited Cycle Heaven for a new trailer hitch knob. Then back via my GP to pick up my prescription. Then to EcoDepot where the maps were still not available.

And home for lunch!

Tuesday 10th April 18

Up late and decided not to go to Treemendous or YEF as needed to go to Aldi for soya milk, Almond milk and other things.

Apart from that, had a fairly boring day... even the cycle to Aldi was quite exciting.

Wednesday 11th April 18

Up in good time to be at the Cemetery for about 11.45, for the midday remembrance ceremony for Mark Gladwin. The Chapel was full, standing room only, and the humanist service very good.

Whilst the food was being laid out I walked up to his grave with Maggie. Lots of people there I knew.   

After the buffet I went to Alligator to pick up their compostables, and then on to see Joy, and at 5, to see Maggie, as arranged, but she was yet again not in.

Called in on the Co-op on the way home.

Thursday 12th April 18

Getting ready to go to Swansea, included having a bath.

But during the day I went to the bread shop and chemist in the rain.

Friday 13th April 18

A very long day!  Gill ordered a taxi for 3.30am as we had booked train tickets for the 4am service to Manchester.  Nice taxi driver. Pretty quiet train, got into Manchester around 6am and had half an hour to wait until the Swansea train, which took 4 1/2 hours to get there, and we got a taxi to the church in Killay and arrived just as the vicar was beginning his spiel.

Gill's Uncle George Carson Sambrook was obviously a popular man as the church was completely full. He also had plenty of family. That service was dire, for me, although the hymns were sung with gusto.

Robert, Jane's son, and his wife Leonie, gave us a lift to the crematorium, which again was really full, and a dreadful service.  However the wake in the Black Boy back in Killay was much better.

Gill enjoyed meeting long lost relatives and I chatted to a few people but tried to be low key.

We got a lift to the station at about 4.30 but our train wasn't until 5.50, but we chatted and snoozed.

The journey back was pretty for the first couple of hours but after dark, boring. Got into York at 12.20.

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?