Storm damage

Woke up this morning to find that my garage roof had been ripped off during the night and was hanging into my neighbours garden, I know it was quite windy at times but I was quite unprepared for what I saw when I opened the bedroom curtains.

Rang the local roofer who arrived suspiciously quickly and got a quote which was at least double what I was expecting, anyway my wife rang around a few other roofers and indeed we were able to arrange to get the work done for less than half the original quote!  Just goes to show you shouldn't assume that your local tradesman is necessarily going to give you a competitive price.

Another satisfied customer

It's always nice to get feedback, especially when it's complimentary, so thank you Brian for the kind words and mention on your blog: brianfordtrains.blogspot.co.uk regarding the 'Levenbridge' layout that I shot for Model Rail and which is in the latest issue (179).

Fun and games in the snow

Well the Met Office got it wrong again, 2 to 5 cm of snow they said to expect on Sunday, in fact it snowed all day and by the morning when I went out to clear the car, there was clearly more like 10 or 12 cm.

Anyway, my daughter's school announced it was closed with just a few minutes to spare before she would have had to set out to catch the bus (it's 9 miles away!), my son's school however clearly stated on it's website that it would be open, so we duly set off in the 4 x 4 as I wasn't convinced my wife's A-class would make it up the hill to the main road through 15 cm of virgin snow.

When we arrived at the school, I normally drop my son off at the 'kiss & go' car park near the school entrance, but as the conditions were so bad and as it seemed very quiet I decided to take him up the sheet ice and snow covered drive, right up to the school itself. Just as well I did because as I dropped him off by the main entrance, the caretaker came over to tell us that the earlier decision had been reversed and the school was now closed. So we turned around and headed home, informing any stray students as we went that the school had closed. Having finally got home, I then had to take my wife to work!

Diary of a sick dad

It had to happen, a week before Christmas, hit by a particularly nasty virus which still hasn't fully cleared up nearly three weeks later! So not really the Christmas and New Year that it might have been, from my point of view in particular. Hopefully I wasn't too miserable and grumpy (actually I think I probably was). The kids seemed to have enjoyed themselves at least. If I can just shake off this cough then I'll be laughing, that's both figuratively and literally!