Some good news and that is the kitchen sink unit is finally fully installed apart from the doors which I removed from the old unit to recycle them for this new unit. I can practice with new hinges and if that goes well, it will stand me in good stead for repairing the other kitchen unit doors and refurbishing them. After a full sixteen months of covid nonsense and do we allow workers in or not or no plumbers to be found when we decided we will go ahead, it's done. Next task is the damp course and getting some surveys and estimates for the work. The cats have investigated, sat in the unit and examined the new sink and given it a massive Meh! I cut the shelf to size this morning and discovered the screw in shelf supports we bought aren't fit for purpose so back to B and Q I will go for the third visit this week. 

I did mange to get in an hours modelling today and discovered the joys of how ill fitting this kit is. Cue the use of flash (excess plastic on the sprues), sprue goo and lots of patience. A challenge I quite enjoy...

That is some of the flash to the right of the photo.  The build is the 1/35th scale Kleiner PanzerBefehlswagen 1KLA which translates as small command tank. It is small as a three man vehicle converted from a two man tank and the individual track links are being joined together via fifteen minute segments once a day. That way I keep my sanity when cutting, sanding and gluing what are badly fitting tiny track links. I do like these small tanks and I shall persevere with this build as I have the option of  Spanish Civil War or early WW2 versions.

Talking of persevering with things Blue Witch asked why I persevere with my current job and that thought has certainly crossed my mind on a number of occasions this past year. I do enjoy the challenge and I like the work I do as I get many of the complex male trauma / personality disorder cases that require a lot of psychological in-put. This past year that has become increasingly difficult with limited and often no psychology support. What I don't like is poor management and the lack of resources and seeing the impact that has on my colleagues and the patients. There are a number of patients I have invested three years of work in and I see good progress with many of them because they have invested the time and effort to do the work. I do feel committed (No pun intended!) to seeing that through for another year by which time several of them will be discharged from my caseload. I also need to work for perhaps another two - three years but I can do that as a part-time clinician; for four days currently and then I plan to reduce to three days a week. I will be sixty one this year and I don't envisage nursing at the age of sixty five years so there is a definite time limit but, I can also choose to leave at any time within the next few years if I decide it's enough. I won't get the state pension until March 2027 hence the need to do some work but with the current nonsense over covid lockdowns, vaccines and health passports I might finish sooner than expected. 

Having seen BW's link to Charles Dowding's 'No Dig' website I might then have time to devote to growing fruit and veg, brewing beer, some volunteer work (dog walking!) and generally pottering about. That looks very attractive, living a simpler stress free lifestyle. The other thing I have to factor in is running a car that will get me down to see my mother in relative speed and comfort. She was due to have an operation during the second week of August but that has been cancelled until she has a scan on her heart. The medical team rediscovered her heart murmur and are now loathe to operate. I had told my Mum about a car which has an electric disabled seat that comes out of the car so we can take her on trips out. 

She told me not to waste my money as she doesn't currently go anywhere apart from the GP and the local hospital. I had looked at a wheelchair cars but the words 'never and dead body' plus a couple of expletives ended that conversation! 

Finally, I don't yet feel ready to retire fully from nursing as I do enjoy the face to face work with the patients. I know that I am approaching that time as I do often feel very tired and at work I jokingly refer to being 'In the twilight of my career'. Another of my colleagues now says the same as she retired and came back and she works three days a week. I have the damp course to pay for and other bits and pieces for the house but unless we suddenly need some urgent work doing, the focus will be on redecorating the house and sorting out the garden over the next couple of years. Sue's still hopeful we will win the lottery and move down to Essex. My response to that echoed my Mum's response as I would rather stay in Lincolnshire or even move further north. 

TTFN.

 I have enjoyed a few days off and back to work tomorrow with a plethora of visits lined up and assessments on Thursday. It will be a busy two days but manageable after five days off. I had a visit from the plumber and he will be fitting the new sink unit on Friday and I managed to buy and cut a new sink top for it. Fingers crossed it will be a straightforward job. After that I can finally get the damp course done and we will have a few months of clearing out rubbish, redecorating, new carpets and at least the downstairs rooms will be sorted by next spring. Sue has me booked to sort out her state pension application this afternoon as she has received an email reminder for this. Talking of winter projects I bit the bullet and bought a kit that was discounted by 20% as my major winter project. I have been after a 1/35th scale Panzer III for the last couple of years but considered them too expensive but then I took another perspective. Buy a more expensive kit that will take longer to build and gain more enjoyment from it. Here it is...

A full interior kit which is a new departure for me and reflects my improved skills but also my desire to continue to improve my skills, especially at painting. Prior to its arrival this morning I managed to knock one completed build from the shelf unit...yes, the DH2 once again hit the ground for possibly the fourth time! I will make a crash scene diorama from it as I have another 1/48th scale DH2 in my stash and I can incorporate both on a WW1 airfield in France.

To enhance the planned future diorama I can now add grass to make it more realistic as...

Yes, I used my grass applicator and the Spitfire diorama is now completed although I do plan to add a little information plaque to it. You asked how this works BW and the following pictures will answer your query.

The applicator itself which is battery powered with the base glue and some static grass.

I added some summer grass and some nondescript faded grass...

The grass goes in there and you switch on, place the crocodile clipped wire near the base, it doesn't have to touch it and shake it. Very quick to apply, a quick spray of layering applicator and another application of grass.

I am delighted with the result and can use it for any dioramas I plan for the future. I will look at foliage, rocks, buildings, etc...next and buildings can be planned to scale and made from any available material. Lots of videos out there and there are modellers who do some fantastic work in this sphere. Talking of grass and I should really cut the garden grass but as it is my last day off I plan instead a very lazy day. We have been promised showers and they are much needed.

TTFN.

 I was surprised to receive the original copies of the deeds for the house this morning and boy, my flabber was never so gasted! 

The first deed contained a name that I never imagined I would see and it sent me down the rabbit hole of historical research on the internet.

Yes, Alfred Tennyson leased the land back in 1904 for building six properties on. Sadly, not the Alfred Lord Tennyson, Poet Laureate but after some research I believe it is his nephew. I will do some more searching through what records I can find on-line but I am delighted to finally have the deeds and to discover this connection, albeit somewhat tenuous to the poet himself.

It confirms the year of building the properties as 1904 - 1905, probably the latter but there are further documents tracing ownership of the lease and thence freehold of the property over the next ninety plus years. I shan't put those up as they have the address on but this original document doesn't have what became the 'new' address although I am sure a good historical researcher could find it out from the above. 

I shall continue my research and it is fascinating to know who previously owned and some of whom lived here many years ago. I know prior to us moving in the house was let which explains some of the 'bodge it' repairs to the house. Also that one day my name will be part of the story for future generations.

TTFN.

 It's been a hectic week and thankfully I now have five days off. I spent this morning with the plumber and he is now booked in for next Friday. I have bought a work top for the sink and had it cut to size but I have to cut the interior out. Sue has suggested I ask our neighbour if he has a router and is able to help after she dragged me away from the tools section. She has no faith in my DIY skills and sadly I have to agree with her although I was willing to give it a go. With the covid restrictions almost removed we can happily have workmen in the house. We have to wear masks at work and socially distance still but have been requested to remove track and trace. I suggested we should keep all the restrictions or none of them, that if they are stating the science states we wear masks, etc...then it should not be a pick and mix approach. Hence I don't wear a mask at work because although I know for a fact covid does exist, when managers have crammed several staff for a meeting into one small air conditioned room and want track and trace removed I question this nonsense! I wear a mask when I meet a patient and I ask if they want me to keep the mask on. So far all of them have either asked me to remove it or agreed I should remove it but I will happily wear it to accommodate their concerns.  The management  haven't challenged me or kicked me out...yet. Ho hum...the world turns and seasons change.

Inevitably, where there is scaffolding up within an hour of the workmen leaving the cats were on it.

I hasten to add not our scaffolding but cats believe they own the neighbourhood, not just the house they reside in. 

My plans for this extended time off is to get some gentle walking in as my right knee is causing me a great deal of trouble, more modelling as the half track is 95% completed and reading. The garden needs attention and I have booked the car in on Monday to have the air con fixed. I really needed that this past week but this was the earliest I could book it in. Fingers crossed we will still have the good weather to necessitate the air con. 

TTFN.

 It is hot with yesterday hitting 28˚C but today slightly cooler at 24˚C but joy of joys coinciding with my three days off! I was sensible yesterday and ensured that I did not fall asleep in the sun although sitting out at times with tea and a good book surrounded by cats was delightful. Yesterday evening discovering the house was full of smoke because the neighbour decided to burn old wood was not so delightful! In between watering the garden plants, doing some shopping very early so as to miss the heat of the day and chasing up the plumber I got some modelling in. 

Camouflage painted on and clear coated for the decals but there is also some very subtle rain streaking there and I will add some more. I am thoroughly enjoying the extra day off and making the most of the sunshine to top up my vitamin D hence an occasional half hour on the build. I will make a smaller diorama than planned for this and practice making some road signs for it.

The cats are wilting in the heat and the little buggers would not come in last night as they enjoyed the slightly cooler night. Trying to get Mindy in at midnight had an added bonus as I spotted two satellites overhead, one very bright in the reflected sunlight  and both heading in a south-westerly trajectory. I spent half an hour looking at satellite apps this morning trying to identify them but without success. One bonus of allowing the Willow tree to grow as it blocks out the light pollution and affords me an unrestricted view of the night sky.

Time for breakfast and more importantly, coffee! I don't sleep much when it is hot weather and I seem to do ok on five hours sleep but I expect to get some early nights when I return to work from Monday. We now have three staff leaving the team including the two CBT psychotherapists...we now have no psychology staff which beggars belief, increasing waiting lists of referrals and people for allocation and senior managers focused on auditing everything. Work getting more 'interesting'...

Stay well folks.

TTFN.

First week on my reduced hours and I needed it. I hadn't considered the changeover from full to part-time and this week I also had a duty day for the team and a training day. That left me with two days to squeeze in visits and Thursday I crammed in seven home visits and travelled 106 miles to cover them. This included covering a visit for a colleague who is currently unable to drive. All in all a crazy day and a reminder that I shan't do that again, hence a Saturday spent in the garden as it was sunny and then some modelling.

The latest build, a Morane-Saulnier MS.406 completed in French colours with Polish colours for the pilot circa April 1940. I have also made progress on the Spitfire Mk.XVI diorama but I am now waiting for the micro static grass applicator to make the grassy field.

It is currently hidden in the gloom of a shelf amongst other completed builds.

Then straight away into a new build and a return to 1/35th scale armour and again another planned diorama and I might finally incorporate the completed schwimmwagen that is currently stored away from accidents and prying felines.

Progress so far and Tamiya kits are well known for a great fit, simplicity of instructions and value for money. I shall have to buy some new bases from the local arts and crafts shop as I only have two left. I use artists canvas for this and generally small dioramas but I now want to up my game for this. 

Meanwhile in the real world the media are excitedly promoting health passports / certificates for the vaccinated and expulsion of us heretics from the good and obedient folks of society. I am not sure if it is to protect the good folk from being infected with a virus with a 98% + recovery rate which the vaccines don't protect them from or prevent them from transmitting it or, from our heretical questioning of the promoted government / pharma / media narrative.  All an excellent distraction from the eventual financial crash and an excellent fall guy to prevent the pitchfork and fire response to politicians and bankers from angry people. They could call the next variant the Nero Variant as the fiddling goes on as society implodes. I sincerely hope my black humour is just that and none of this happens...Part of my health questionnaire for the Breakaway Training aside from the usual health and safety questions about ones fitness to complete the session was 'Have you had the Covid vaccine and when and where did you have it?' Bizarre really as eighteen people, mainly strangers, had to make close and often personal hands on contact to use the various breakaway techniques which we generally do on an annual basis. Yet the vaccines only "Reduce the severity of symptoms of having covid", they do not prevent you from catching it or infecting others! I wrote "This is not pertinent to ability to complete the current training".

For my part, I believe it is personal choice to have the vaccine and for the record I am not an 'anti-vaxxer' as I have had many vaccinations over the years and I support the excellent science that supports the use of vaccines but...not this one. Having had covid and endured it for two months I believe I have acquired immunity and I will rely upon that. Health is important and for a virus that, like the Flu can potentially kill the elderly or those with compromised immunity but for most people will be unpleasant and uncomfortable for a short while before they recover and then have an immunity against that variant, why the intensive fear driven campaign to vaccinate? 

Question the narrative, explore and examine the evidence both for and against and make your own mind up. Take the vaccine if that is what you want but don't be part of the pitchfork brigade that is being directed against us supposed heretics by the media with government connivance. A pharmacological Spanish Inquisition, who knew humanity would prove they haven't changed in millennia in the twenty first century despite the trappings of 'civilisation'. My years of breakaway training plus previous control and restraint training might come in useful after all to protect me from assault...

To lighten the mood here is a picture of my work supervisor Sherlock hurrying to add a paw or two to my work in progress. He is a very helpful cat in his own way...

TTFN.

 My last week as a full time worker in the team and boy am I glad to have reached this point. Having received the sad news that a colleague who recently retired and returned to work part-time, she has been hospitalised  and diagnosed with terminal cancer. A popular and well regarded member of another team who has dealt with many vicissitudes in her life and when she has now reached the point where she can enjoy the fruits of a long career this happens. This has shaken a few people up and I am even more determined to start enjoying a better life / work balance. She is a great animal lover and sadly her friends are now trying to re-home the various animals to good homes.

   The boys having a rare fraternal moment together in the sun.

I haven't had much time for modelling this week as I get home from work, shower and change, eat my dinner and collapse in front of the TV or with a book. With two colleagues now leaving the team and no end to the demands being made on us I have enjoyed switching off or losing myself in another world. The above headless pilot is the first figure for the Spitfire diorama I am working on with acrylic paints and I will blend some oil paints in. The extra day off will be a novelty at first and I plan to use good days for walking although that will be a work in progress as I plan to regain some fitness and stamina back. The bad weather Fridays off I can use for modelling and inevitably...

A new kit and a plan for a new diorama although I haven't yet decided what it will be. Having looked through my kits, the tools and accessories and having an extra day off each week I have decided to up my game. I have ordered a static grass applicator and I am considering how to sort out my modelling table so there is less clutter and tools, paints, accessories are easier to find and more accessible. Having various cats in situ doesn't help but I have added storage as and when  needed and it's a mess. It's likely I will leave this until after all the works have been done because the house will be messy and there is a lot to be moved around or got rid of. The spare room is where I can put some shelves up and I can put the DVD's and books away.  I have finally decided to get rid of my vinyl records to a charity shop and there is a lot more stuff to go as well. Having a day off in the week helps as most people should be at work and I can see my Fridays will be busy for the foreseeable future, but in a good way!

There's a big match tonight and I best get some beers in and any chores out of the way so I can ready myself for the big event. Have a great weekend folks.

TTFN.