Saturday June 28th

 We have been here now for 3 months believe it or not and how our life has changed - for the best. Jon continues to work from the workshop which is roughly 9 miles away. At our previous house the workshop was 5 minutes away so I pack Jon up with a sandwich etc. Some days I go into the workshop - usually a Tuesday as I go on to Saltburn for Slimming world. (Diamond Target member) I don't need to go every week but I have friends there who have been on the slimming journey and we have a lot in common. It helps with setting a routine too. We briefly discussed the possibility of re-locating the workshop but having done that once a few years ago the costs involved out weigh the 9 mile journey which is a lovely route too as it is on the moor road (A171) to Whitby. The rental rates are higher here and we would need to hire a contractor to move the heavy machinery (about £3,000 - £4000) and the installastion of 3 phase electricity - about the same price. 

The fact that we have shops on our doorstep is fantastic. 5 minutes from M&S! 6pm is yellow label time and I am there most days - the freezer is full. We had to have a new fence panel due to the previous one being of disrepair and with 3 dogs to keep secure it was a priority. The house on the other side of the fence in the next road often had a dog running in the garden so I went round just to say about the fence being removed and replaced so their dog didn't escape. On the 2 occasions I went round there was no answer and I just caught the owner working on his car so I told him. I didn't give it another thought. A few days later I was in M&S when one of the assistants came up to me. She recognised me from the doorbell camera. It was at the time of the big cyber attack on M&S. She asked me if we ate chicken - subsequently she brought round 2 carriers packed with chicken breasts, various portions, a whole chicken, 2 half chickens and endless pizzas etc. The system was down and food was being wasted - hence our freezer was full and continues to be so. A great new friend there.

House wise - we have made the decision to live here for a year before we make any changes. We had an additional unit installed in the kitchen and that's about it. For security reasons we had new garage door fitted on 26th June and a fence panel as mentioned. A new led light in the kitchen and the garage was rewired for obvious safety reasons. The downstairs cloakroom lets the house down as it is so outdated. There is a recurring problem with the flushing of the toilet and whilst we had a plumber to look at it, it would seem the problem is with the drain so now the garage door is sorted (the drain cover is in the garage) we can get this sorted and then have a new sink and toilet installed and update the cloakroom.

It has been great to work in the garden. My hanging baskets which we bought in October 2024 are still going strong and I have made a note of the creeping bugle and have taken cuttings to use for my own baskets.

I saw this hare when we were in Goathland and Jon bought it for my birthday.

Our local facebook pong group was offering some ceramic planters - I was first in the queue! 

We are right next to the old railway line so the dogs are getting lots of exercise - as we are. We walk into the town and only use the car for shopping for heavy items like sacks of dog food, tins of dogfood etc. 

Jon's mum had an incredible 95th birthday celebration in Goathland, home of Heartbeat series. We go there every Saturday without fail. Through contacts we located the group who re-enact the characters. Mavis's favourite is Greengrass so this made her day.

She suffered a fall in early June and is currently in hospital - we keep in touch with the group and they sent her a get well card, so thoughtful.

Update then so far!

Watch this space.