Another Lifetime to go

3rd September 2025

What we have been waiting for happened in abundance today, it rained, all day.

The downside was I couldn’t do the work I had planned, which was not good.

So really the day was a waste, I was reduced to trying to fix a laptop that needs a good clear out. In the end I had to put a plea out to the community to see if there was a Mac expert out there.

We did manage to finish a dresser that we are giving to Kelli’s niece as a gift for her new baby.

We are getting closer to the eleventh of September that terrible day in history when the twin towers were attacked and destroyed.

There has alway speculation about that, and I’ve got a few questions myself.

1. Where were the military fighters? There are air force installations all around NYC, and none were deployed, why was that ?
2. They say the fuel from the planes melted the steel structure, although that burns at a maximum temperature of 1500 degrees Fahrenheit, steel would melt at 2700 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. There were people visible waving towels from the windows, if things were that hot, they would have been burnt to a crisp.
4. When the towers collapsed, there was nothing identifiable, no office chairs or desks, no computers nothing, but they found the passports of the terrorists.
5. There was another plane that hit the ground so hard it buried itself into the ground with no wreckage, people aren’t even allowed to use metal detectors on the site.
6. There was one plane the was supposed to hit the pentagon, that made a hole in the wall smaller than a plane, and again no wreckage.

You can’t make this stuff up, but you can ask what was the plan? 

This led to the overthrow of Saddam Hussain, who really benefited from that?

I can’t now sit around and not think about stuff, and neither should you. What is happening in the UK is part of a plan, and the people can’t see it, it’s right in front of their eyes.

The people need to plan to take the country back, before it’s taken away from them.

DO YOUR RESEARCH!

2nd September 2025

There was a second flood, not so bad, but that was after I replaced the water intake valve.

Everything went well, I followed the instructions to the letter. Undoing the correct screws, taking off the plastic covers and releasing the proper clips, the valve was replaced easily. The problem came once I reassembled the unit, I noticed that the valve was not straight, although it wouldn’t have made any difference, I removed the covers again, and repositioned the valve so it sat correctly. 

In doing that, a metal clip and plastic part fell down inside, which meant the covers had to come off again. I didn’t want to remove them completely because I was worried about aligning everything up, but I had no choice. I located both parts, and with the aid of a telescopic magnet retrieved the metal clip. I also managed to find a get the plastic part. By now Kelli had arrived to help with the reassembly.

With everything in place it was a case of opening up the water supply, and start the machine. 

Kelli loaded it with clothes and started it up.

The water started to fill, I stood and watched as the level rose. My heart was pounding, as it continued to fill without any sign of stopping, we had to intervene and stop the cycle.

Now I was pissed, we had a washing machine full of water, and a device that still wasn’t working.

What happened next was a mystery, I thought that Kelli had put it on spin to pump out the water, but somehow it continued to fill, now spilling on the floor. Luckily I spotted it, and we contained the flood to the laundry room floor.

We managed to suck out the water, and I went on the internet to find out what the problem could be. I had my suspicions that it was the pressure switch. That was confirmed by my findings. There were a couple of checks that I could do to see if the switch was faulty, but we had to take it apart again. Now we were experts, and it didn’t take us long to find the problem.

Somehow, during the last reassembly, the plastic tube that connects to the pressure switch had become dislodged. With that refitted, and the machine once again rebuilt, we went for another test. This time we did a small load. The water started to fill, slowly the level rose, there was a pounding sound, that was my heart, then it happened, the water stopped all by itself, we had fixed it!

What started out as a simple job had take a few hours, but I am proud to say that we are now fully fledged experts at washing machine repairs.

1st September 2025

It’s Labour Day over here, the official end of summer, and it sucks. The summer was a slow start that became savage, so much so that it was difficult to be outside, the AC bills were high, and people complained about it. Imagine complaining because it’s hot, in five months time the same will complain that it’s flipping cold, you can’t win.

I will miss the warmth, working outside is great, I can hear the birds, watch the cars on south shore, and see the people walking their dogs.

Hopefully there will still be a reasonable amount of sun left to enjoy.

However today I am a little sad because about now I usually start to plan my visit back to the UK, but not this time. I’ve decided not to travel because I have so much outside work that I want to do here that I can’t afford the time. There are trees that have to be trimmed, new fences to be built and big changes to the garden that I want to do before the cold weather arrives. 

I hope to return in March, and then get back to my regular routine.

I had a visit from my friend Chris who I used to do a lot of recording with. He moved away ten years ago, and although we kept in touch, he recently mentioned that he wanted us to work together again, so he visited to talk it through.

For me it would be fun, but a bit daunting because I’ve probably forgotten everything, so I need to reacquaint myself with the software.

We are coming to the end of our twelve hour documentary, and it’s been an experience.

All I can say is, history, like the joke about nostalgia, it isn’t what it used to be.

Frogs are very important in our household, there are frog ornaments all over the place. In pride of place is the pond where, recently we were given frogs to populate it. Every morning there is a pilgrimage to see how many are visible. There is excitement if we hear a plop, but even more if there is one chilling on a rock.

There was excitement yesterday when Kelli rushed in breathless saying that water was gone from the pond. Both myself and Chris rushed out, and sure enough the level was really low.

Somehow it had happened over quite a short duration of time, so I wasn’t convinced there was a leak, but the priority was to refill the pond with the stored water we had. That wasn’t easy, but I rigged up a pump and used it to fill watering cans that were then dumped into the pond.

Poor Chris was standing watching us madly trying to fill the pond to save the frogs.

Most of the water in the barrels was gone, but the level in the pond was stable, I believed that the fountain had tilted and shot the water out into the surrounding ground.

We checked it periodically, and there was not any drop in level, so panic over, no frogs were harmed in the writing of this blog.

31st August 2025

After the debacle from yesterday, there was calm, and the eager wait for the spare part to arrive.

I had an hour long video call with my friend Martin, he told me he has lost nearly two stone in five weeks, he looked painfully thin.

He cannot eat solid food now and has to rely on soup and yogurt.

All this is happening to the poor chap yet his blood tests have come back normal. His doctor has reduced his pain medication trying instead to get him on a type of fentanyl. He has lost the use of his right arm, and his hand is beginning to close.

Is this the state of the NHS? Doctors swear an oath “to do no harm” but instead “ Do no good”.

His story starts when he was part of a program of 12 children suffering from Tourette’s during the late sixties, at the National Hospital where they were given experimental drugs in an attempt to treat the condition. He believes he was given psychotic medication, which is why he continues to have violent outbursts to this day.

To his knowledge, he is the only survivor of these tests with many committing suicide. 

I have known him for thirty years, I have seen his decline, and his battle with the establishment.

He believes his medical history has something that needs to be covered up, of course this is his story, but I believe him. 

Ever since Covid, where doctors did not inform the patients of the possible side effects, I have lost my trust in their abilities to tell the truth.

In fact I do not believe anyone in authority anymore, if they can lie about that they can lie about everything.

Now I have to watch my friend twitch in pain, who cannot sleep, and is getting no help, how would you feel?

30th August 2025

There was a shout of panic from inside the house as I was trying to do something outside.

Often a shout has been about a spider, or something crawling about, but this time it was a whole lot worse. Kelli had put some washing on and luckily she came back in the house to see water spilling out from the laundry room.

I rushed in to see the lake of water forming in the living room. Kelli turned the machine off whilst I ran back into the garage to grab some sheets and dust clothes to mop up as much water as I could before it ruined the wood floors.

I dragged in the shop vac to start sucking up the water. I used about five sheets in the mopping process then taking them outside to dry. I finished with shop towels which are pretty absorbent. The laundry room took a bit longer to clear, first moving everything that was in there out, and moving the actual machine out that revealed a lot of crap that had accumulated over the years. Finally we got everything under control, both of us were exhausted, and fortunately the wood floor was undamaged.

Now both problem was the washing machine itself. I looked up on line the make and model and found a troubleshooting section that suggested that the problem was in water inlet valve. The repair procedure was well documented, so I ordered the part on Amazon which should be delivered tomorrow. 

I’m sure the simple process shown will end up as a disaster, but I’m willing to have a go.

As I went back outside to finish the job I had started, I looked around the front yard at all the sheets hanging out to dry and it looked like washing day at the Ku Klux Klan.

29th August Friday

It certainly felt a bit fresh around the kneecaps this morning, a sign that summer is slipping away. Kelli was planning to go on a Goodwill binge with Elaine, not so much for herself but for Elaine who has been suffering with anxiety and depression. This gave me a chance to crank up my playlist of old gits music and do a bit of serious machining.

I had to square up the old door, which went better than expected, the rule of measure a hundred times and cut once worked well.

We had the dresser collected this afternoon, a good end of the month result. 

Kelli returned with a bag full of stuff that I will have to try on at some time.

She was excited to try a colour remover that had been delivered today. She had an article of clothing that she felt was too bright, and wanted it toned down a little. I volunteered to give moral support, although I’m not an expert at colour removal, I’m just good at adding bits of colour to my clothes. 

She had watched a few YouTube videos and was eager to try it.

There was a large pot of boiling water on the hob, two packets of this stuff was added, and then the article of clothing was submerged.

Amazingly the colour started to seep out, after about ten minutes, she lifted the sodden item out of the pot, and into the sink to rinse it thoroughly.

I was expecting a huge disappointment, but it turned out pretty good, Kelli was pleased, and I was relieved.

28th August 2025

There was a moment this morning that reminded me of a scene from The Truman Show. It is where American suburbia is so perfect, and everyone does the same exact thing, in a coronagraph way.

It was rubbish collection day, and I knew that ours had been emptied, so I walked up to the end of the driveway to retrieve it. 

At the very same time, my neighbour was doing the same thing, almost step for step, as he turned around to walk back he saw me, and we both waved at each other, and continued to walk back, it made me laugh to myself. If you haven’t seen the film, I advise you to, it’s very thought provoking.

We were due for a thunderstorm mid morning that never happened, typical, all the technology in the world and they can’t even get that right.

Kelli wanted to finish the dresser we picked up hoping for a quick flip, that didn’t quite go to plan. We ended up stripping the top, which was cherry, and painting the rest. Waiting for the sun to set, I took some pictures, and lo and behold it sold within a few hours.

I also did a bit more work on the kitchen island, it’s gradually coming together, but I will need a couple more trolleys to be able to move it around.

We have been watching a twelve hour documentary about the history of Europe, well the real history of Europe. It is called Europa, the last battle. 

Having a German mother she alway talked about how good life was when she was a young girl, that conflicted greatly with the history I read in textbooks.

We are halfway through it, and it blows my mind every day. Needless to say it did portray Germany building itself back up after the destruction of the First World War, and the life that my mother experienced.

This continued my journey through the lies and deception we have all been subjected to. 

It was refreshing to see a different account of history, but also how the heroes and villains were actually reversed.

27th August 2025

I could finally get on with the kitchen island. With the top safety in the storage room, I dragged out the main part of the door to work on.

I needed quarter rounds to trim the visible side of the door, so that went on the list. Next was checking for square, I had to reference the part that will rest on the floor. Unfortunately everything was out, not a lot but enough to kick out the side panels, so these were marked ready to cut. 

Kelli had a dresser to paint, that was a great opportunity to go and get supplies, which I did.

While I was there I decided to buy the plywood for the floor, I love buying timber, and I was excited to get going.

The drive to Menards has become automatic, a dangerous effect, but so far I have not had any problems. There is alway so much house construction going on, land is becoming precious, anyone with a large garden is selling off part of it, but having to live with people so close, would get annoying. That is why the sellers move out, and by a property with more space. We both fear that when Larry finally pops his clogs they will be able to fit four houses on his land. Talking of Larry, he is still in hospital suffering from pneumonia, not a good condition to have with everything else he has going.

The temperature is finally cooling a bit, still shorts and t shirt for me, without the high humidity.

Kelli says that I have been a bit distant recently, I get like that when I have things on my mind, which I have at the moment. There’s the kitchen island where I’m thinking about how it will be fixed together, I’m also working though design ideas for the lounge furniture project, and I also must get round to cutting the grass at the front of the house, and get rid of the dead leaves that have dropped early. I’m sure as progress continues, my distraction will reduce, until the next set appears.

26th August 2025

My last trip to John the wood’s barn for a while.

He helped me load the beech worktop into the back of the truck, then I did a bit of cleaning up. 

Later his local pastor turned up with one of his sons to get some lumber for a project, I helped load that into their vehicle.

The next project I will be working on will be some lounge furniture, I’m still in the process of finalising the design, but maybe in a month I will go down again, if he remembers who I am of course.

Before I left he showed me another store of timber that he had upstairs, wow! I thought the basement was impressive, but this was another level. He had timbers from Asia and many rare species from the USA.

He still keeps going, his kiln is going continuously, he has logs in his yard that he hasn’t milled yet, he is obsessed with timber.

He excitedly told me about a thirty foot walnut tree that is coming his way, his eyes were wide open as he described it.

As I left he gave me a number of pieces of scrap, which I had asked for, some cherry, walnut and beech, he is such a good man, I can’t wait to go back again.

We finally finished the commission job of stripping and refinishing of the bed frame, mirror and dresser, that was hard, but now it’s done.

25th August 2025

Drama, Drama, Drama everywhere, what is happening?.

Well first the emergency services turned up at Larry’s place again. His care worker who visits him everyday must have called them out. Red lights and sirens all around, the paramedics carried the poor chap out, and off to the hospital, he must have a room named after him by now, normally an ambulance visit is about a grand, so he must have racked up the price of a small car by now.

The next drama happened at Aldi, over the week end the store had a revamp, everything was moved. Kelli was in a panic, we were used to consistency, not chaos. Finding our usual things took longer, items didn’t seem in any logical place, it seemed to be change for change sake.

This is a common practice, “ A change is as good as a rest” they say, but it’s crap. It’s an experiment, like rats in a maze, I guess we are being viewed in a kind of psychological test. They should know better than to try Kelli’s patience. But we survived, she let it be known that she wasn’t happy, and the staff that she asked didn’t know the reason why themselves, maybe they were being tested as well.

I have started reading a book by Jordan Maxwell called  Matrix of power, this is going to add fuel to my small grey sponge. I’m already beginning to understand that everything that I thought was true though out my life is not true, I’m not going to go into details, you must do your own research, but don’t use Google or Wikipedia that perpetuates all the untruths, it’s scary journey, because everything is connected.