Tuesday, September 28, 2004
More customers - including happy ones
Got home from breaking a tractor (its currently stuck in reverse and will have to be split in two to be fixed) to see that we'd got an email with two more orders from our website www.berkswelldirect.com - it seems that our wee business is a goer.
Our first customer was delighted with her dress and even emailed us to tell us, we might even get a picture. I think the fact that we kept her informed about what was happening, the dress being ordered, a projected despatch time, an actual dispatch time, being in customs, and a telephone call before delivering the dress, helped to lessen the customers nerves about not being let down again.
Our first customer was delighted with her dress and even emailed us to tell us, we might even get a picture. I think the fact that we kept her informed about what was happening, the dress being ordered, a projected despatch time, an actual dispatch time, being in customs, and a telephone call before delivering the dress, helped to lessen the customers nerves about not being let down again.
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Blood Tests
Having had a few blood tests over the last few months, my Dr is apparently a bit concerned about my blood sugar level, I've used my dads machine to measure it a few times and it is normally okay, even after a heavy meal.
I guess this means I'm insulin resistant, rather than a full blown diabetic of the type 2 species. A bit of weight loss should help in this instance, but I guess I'll have to be a bit more careful and watch out for the danger signs of drinking lots of fluids, going to the toilet a lot and avoiding too much sugar.
I guess this means I'm insulin resistant, rather than a full blown diabetic of the type 2 species. A bit of weight loss should help in this instance, but I guess I'll have to be a bit more careful and watch out for the danger signs of drinking lots of fluids, going to the toilet a lot and avoiding too much sugar.
Berkswell Church - the flower festival
Big Al
Been to a funeral today
Not a particularly happy day today as Annie and Myself have been to our next door neighbours funeral today. Don was a pretty quiet sort of person, but was always happy to help out were he could, our first dealings with him involved him breaking into our house.
No, Don was not a burglar, he was a great neighbour who was prepared to give a hand where it was necessary. We kidded him about breaking into our house and he took it in great stead.
I guess I'll miss his quiet good humour and dry sense of humour.
No, Don was not a burglar, he was a great neighbour who was prepared to give a hand where it was necessary. We kidded him about breaking into our house and he took it in great stead.
I guess I'll miss his quiet good humour and dry sense of humour.
Turbo enjoying his favourite pastime - jumping into water and generally having a good time.
Big Al
Friday, September 10, 2004
JCB stops play - just before I do.
Friday a day of peace and recovery for me as a broken down JCB TM300 - Telescopic Handler (otherwise known as the JCB on the farm) has more or less stopped play. The engineer is coming out at the earliest on Monday to put a new water pump on and if what I seen was correct, probably a new head gasket as well. I can't say that I'm not glad either as I'm absolutely knackered and have at times been just a "walking bundle of pain". A few days extra rest should get me right as rain (or is it reign) again .
I've been using muscles that I didn't know I had before and by the looks of it they aren't to happy about the situation either and are not afraid to let me know. The ligaments in my hands and ankles have been doing a bit of complaining too. The chaff from wheat has been getting into my eyes and just about everywhere else, this has left me with bloodshot eyes and extremely itchy hives on my arms, legs, neck and stomach, but that is not any different to when we were doing the barley on our own farm, luckily I've discovered anti-histamines, so I'm not writing this with scratched and bloody shins I would have had as a wee kid. Doesn't sound as if I'm complaining much now, does it?
I've been drinking gallons of water and all this exercise rolling round bales around calve pens has sort of knocked the appetite out of me, not a bad thing all things considered, but not what I was expecting at all.
So have I been sickened yet? Well, just a little, but if I look at it as a way of getting fitter and getting paid at the same time, it doesn't seem so bad.
I've been using muscles that I didn't know I had before and by the looks of it they aren't to happy about the situation either and are not afraid to let me know. The ligaments in my hands and ankles have been doing a bit of complaining too. The chaff from wheat has been getting into my eyes and just about everywhere else, this has left me with bloodshot eyes and extremely itchy hives on my arms, legs, neck and stomach, but that is not any different to when we were doing the barley on our own farm, luckily I've discovered anti-histamines, so I'm not writing this with scratched and bloody shins I would have had as a wee kid. Doesn't sound as if I'm complaining much now, does it?
I've been drinking gallons of water and all this exercise rolling round bales around calve pens has sort of knocked the appetite out of me, not a bad thing all things considered, but not what I was expecting at all.
So have I been sickened yet? Well, just a little, but if I look at it as a way of getting fitter and getting paid at the same time, it doesn't seem so bad.
Monday, September 06, 2004
I must be completely bonkers
I'll explain - went for my first day at Nailcote Farm for 7.30am and was introduced to John a Berkswell & Balsall Rugby who also happens to do Mondays and Tuesdays at the farm, he also farms 750 acres along with his family in Meriden.
So the first thing involved servicing and checking the tractors and greasing the grease nipples on the grain dryer, managed to insert over the day 5 gallons of oil into one of them. After about an hour of that we set the grain dryer on its way to drying a 10 tonne of wheat, carrying out moisture measurements of the grain to make sure it was dried to the right spec, then we set the meal grinder off, grinding feed for the calves adding in protein and vitamins.
Then I was left to bed down some calves, boy was that tough work for someone as unfit as me, the sweat lashed out off me. After drinking rather too much water and then getting back to doing a bit of bedding I actually puked the breakfast up, it might have been because I was working so hard, but probably the bodies way of protecting itself from too much water.
When John came back we fed the very small calves milk and then they were all given fresh straw bedding, after all this was done, the small and large calves were then given "meal". There were a fair few kittens (some were absolutely lovely)running about the yards, no doubt keep to keep the rats and mice at bay.
As it was now about 11am I was sent off to Fillongley in the "TS" a 4 wheel drive tractor (New Holland took over Fords Tractor operations) with a large trailer capable of holding 10 tonnes of grain. It was a bit of hike and tractors don't have suspension as such it, the suspension is the tyres, driving their was pretty easy, but it is amazing how out of control you can get at very low speeds. The indicators must have been working as the police car that was following me (along with about 5 other cars) didn't pull me over.
Coming back fully laden was an experience, in a lot of ways much smoother, but as the roads are so badly surfaced, it set off a bouncing motion that at times threatened my control of the tractor, it was much better the next few times as I got to know the road much better and where to slow down.
So the rest of the day, right up to 7pm was spent loading grain from the combine, driving back to the grain store, moisture testing the wheat, recording it and tipping the grain up.
Its same time tomorrow, and probably something else - driving the JCB at a guess and loading the grain dryer as well as looking after the calves, as well as finishing of the last of the combining. The thing is tired though I am, I'm actually quite looking forward to it, I must be completely bonkers.
So the first thing involved servicing and checking the tractors and greasing the grease nipples on the grain dryer, managed to insert over the day 5 gallons of oil into one of them. After about an hour of that we set the grain dryer on its way to drying a 10 tonne of wheat, carrying out moisture measurements of the grain to make sure it was dried to the right spec, then we set the meal grinder off, grinding feed for the calves adding in protein and vitamins.
Then I was left to bed down some calves, boy was that tough work for someone as unfit as me, the sweat lashed out off me. After drinking rather too much water and then getting back to doing a bit of bedding I actually puked the breakfast up, it might have been because I was working so hard, but probably the bodies way of protecting itself from too much water.
When John came back we fed the very small calves milk and then they were all given fresh straw bedding, after all this was done, the small and large calves were then given "meal". There were a fair few kittens (some were absolutely lovely)running about the yards, no doubt keep to keep the rats and mice at bay.
As it was now about 11am I was sent off to Fillongley in the "TS" a 4 wheel drive tractor (New Holland took over Fords Tractor operations) with a large trailer capable of holding 10 tonnes of grain. It was a bit of hike and tractors don't have suspension as such it, the suspension is the tyres, driving their was pretty easy, but it is amazing how out of control you can get at very low speeds. The indicators must have been working as the police car that was following me (along with about 5 other cars) didn't pull me over.
Coming back fully laden was an experience, in a lot of ways much smoother, but as the roads are so badly surfaced, it set off a bouncing motion that at times threatened my control of the tractor, it was much better the next few times as I got to know the road much better and where to slow down.
So the rest of the day, right up to 7pm was spent loading grain from the combine, driving back to the grain store, moisture testing the wheat, recording it and tipping the grain up.
Its same time tomorrow, and probably something else - driving the JCB at a guess and loading the grain dryer as well as looking after the calves, as well as finishing of the last of the combining. The thing is tired though I am, I'm actually quite looking forward to it, I must be completely bonkers.
Sunday, September 05, 2004
Early Start - for me anyway.
Tomorrow I start doing a wee bit of farming, to see if I can sicken myself. I want to be able to drop everything if we happy to get some sort of rush, and Roger understands that - that and he is a bit short handed with a son in New Zealand gally-vanting around the place.
Here is hoping I can hack the pace, and don't come home with my tail between my legs - its been getting on 15 odd years since I've done a hard days work. eeeekkkk. I'm reckoning that a bit more exercise might help to take a bit of the beef of me, but its been awfully hot today here in the Midlands.
You will hear the details soon enough, but now I'm off to bed see if I can get me some sleep.
Here is hoping I can hack the pace, and don't come home with my tail between my legs - its been getting on 15 odd years since I've done a hard days work. eeeekkkk. I'm reckoning that a bit more exercise might help to take a bit of the beef of me, but its been awfully hot today here in the Midlands.
You will hear the details soon enough, but now I'm off to bed see if I can get me some sleep.
me likey
http://www.alpha-programming.co.uk/naff/jokes/jokes/LANGUAGE.TXT
http://www.mageo.cz/home/RIAN_II/please_no_not_me.jpg
http://www.mageo.cz/home/RIAN_II/please_no_not_me.jpg
Friday, September 03, 2004
First proper external order - possibly - correction definitely
Well, just had an enquiry for what I think will be our first order (all being well), someone who has been let down by a supplier and has only 6 weeks until her wedding - :-o
Have contacted our suppliers and for the size the customer is looking for it is likely to be available to send out by the end of next week, which is a pretty quick turnaround in this business. Just have to see, if the order goes through tonight or not. (fingers crossed).
--
Well true to her word, our customer deposited a very nice sum into our account for a lovely dress in crimson-
Yippee!
Have contacted our suppliers and for the size the customer is looking for it is likely to be available to send out by the end of next week, which is a pretty quick turnaround in this business. Just have to see, if the order goes through tonight or not. (fingers crossed).
--
Well true to her word, our customer deposited a very nice sum into our account for a lovely dress in crimson-
Yippee!
Rail against Banks and their life in the slow lane
Last Tuesday afternoon Anna sent a standard bank transfer to our suppliers in Canada which cost a not inconsiderable £16 (ouch!) and we have learned that it was credited only yesterday. What are things coming to in the electronic age when it takes 8 days to give someone their money, its an absolute disgrace.
I think we will be paying our supplier via paypal or credit card in future as it is almost instantaneous, okay it takes 3 days for them to take it out, but it is sitting in their account, and even if we get hit by a 3% surcharge we'd still be better off.
The banks have had their chance, they are seen to be wanting and profiteering, stuff-em.
I think we will be paying our supplier via paypal or credit card in future as it is almost instantaneous, okay it takes 3 days for them to take it out, but it is sitting in their account, and even if we get hit by a 3% surcharge we'd still be better off.
The banks have had their chance, they are seen to be wanting and profiteering, stuff-em.
Did something a bit weird today
Well not really weird, but weird for me, let me explain. It was a really good day today and in the field outside I heard the combine thrashing away in the field outside our back window.
I sort of hanker back to my days driving tractors, so I took the head staggers and thought what the heck I've nothing to lose, so I walked across the field using the footpath to try and see if I could see anyone in-charge, not looking to stop the combine working I looked for a gap in the hedge that the tractor and trailer would enter and made a beeline. Only thing was I made a beeline to the wrong entrance, so when the next tractor arrived I had to walk the whole way over to the opposite side of the field.
When I arrived at the tractor, I tried to talk to the driver, it didn't happen - his English was not much better than my French. I gave him a little card with my details that I'd wrote out earlier and asked him to give it to the boss, when he went back.
Lo and behold I got a phonecall 40 odd minutes later from a Robert Cooper of Nailcote Hall Farm, so I'm going over for 10am tomorrow to see if I can get me a temporary job. Doubt it will be well paid, but it might put the hankering out of me. :-) Then I'll get back to looking for a proper job with good money, unless the dress business goes crazy and needs lots of help. Anna will be able to cope fine in the meantime though.
I sort of hanker back to my days driving tractors, so I took the head staggers and thought what the heck I've nothing to lose, so I walked across the field using the footpath to try and see if I could see anyone in-charge, not looking to stop the combine working I looked for a gap in the hedge that the tractor and trailer would enter and made a beeline. Only thing was I made a beeline to the wrong entrance, so when the next tractor arrived I had to walk the whole way over to the opposite side of the field.
When I arrived at the tractor, I tried to talk to the driver, it didn't happen - his English was not much better than my French. I gave him a little card with my details that I'd wrote out earlier and asked him to give it to the boss, when he went back.
Lo and behold I got a phonecall 40 odd minutes later from a Robert Cooper of Nailcote Hall Farm, so I'm going over for 10am tomorrow to see if I can get me a temporary job. Doubt it will be well paid, but it might put the hankering out of me. :-) Then I'll get back to looking for a proper job with good money, unless the dress business goes crazy and needs lots of help. Anna will be able to cope fine in the meantime though.
