09/04/2026

TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT, WHAT YOU REALLY REALLY WANT 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICOLE.

Yes, it's my eldest niece's birthday today which always puts me in mind of one of the best gigs I've attended.

Manchester Arena 8th April '98

As a devoted and loving uncle, I had promised to take Nic to see the Spice Girls should they ever tour. Now in my defence, this was said after they had released "Wannabe" and I genuinely thought they would be one hit wonders. Shows how much I knew.

So I had the phone call, "Uncle Simon, they're touring" and I did the decent thing. Only issue was, I couldn't drive. Step forward Rob, a friend who said he'd drive us, if he could go see them too.

Sorted.

So we went, and it was wonderful. 

They sang, sometimes out of tune proving it was live, they danced, and thousands of young girls screamed, cried, and blew whistles. And Rob and myself had a blast (apart from the fucking whistles).

Happy Birthday Nicole

Lots of Love 

Uncle Simon x

The rest of you

TTFN

Sime.

08/04/26

I'M STILL HERE

Well ain't this something?

I am writing this at stupid o'clock after Vic has gone to work, and before I do my video diary. That's a first.

I don't want to do politics here, but some things are just unavoidable.

We went to bed last night not knowing what we were going to be facing when we woke up, a bit like the morning after the referendum but MUCH worse.

The light was glowing on my charger and the windows were still in place, so Armageddon hadn't happened. Yet.

Vic has spoken a few times in the last few weeks about what's if's and maybe's, but I keep telling her, there's nothing WE can do to stop it or alter the course of things, so try not to overthink it. Obviously easier said than done when there's a lunatic ready to unleash nuclear weapons as a distraction from what we all know to be true.

So it seems we get to go around the sun for another 48 hours (given the orange one's latest proclamation/ultimatum) and hope that they're keeping his tiny hands full of McDonalds and away from any red buttons.

Much Love

TTFN

Sime.

07/04/2026

IT'S A MYSTERY*

As Toyah once sang, it really is.

Knock on the door from the posty this morning, she hands me a parcel.

Go back in kitchen and open it. It's Weller's "Orchestral Songbook" the deluxe cd version.

On the back it says "sender, Paul" and an address.

I've spent the best part of the morning trying to work out WHO Paul is. Coming up a blank.

If you're Paul, and you're reading this, THANK YOU, I really appreciate it. 

Still confused though.

TTFN

Sime.

*credit to King of the Mods (Dave) for today's title.

06/04/2026

MASOCHISM 

Don't know why we continue to do it, but we're off down to Oakwell this aft as Tarn "entertain" Plymouth Argyle.

It's a nothing match, we can't go up, unlikely we're going down, it's been another season of hope and disappointment combined.

But we keep going.

Said it to many folks, and Vic concurs, if the ground wasn't literally at the bottom of the street, we'd likely not go. We don't drink, we don't smoke, we're happy in our own company, so it's basically the only thing we do on a regular basis, and sometimes the only time that week/fortnight I get to see my lad (Vic sees Fyn at work every day) but this season has us questioning whether or not we renew our season tickets.

We probably will. I'll get dogs abuse from certain sections of the Barnsley online keyboard warrior brigade, but it's a personal choice, and a connection that runs deep as my Uncle Dave.played for them in the late 50's.

Watch this space.

TTFN

Sime

05/04/2026

GRUBS UP

Over the space of many Christmas periods, we alternated them between Barnsley and London, Harrow on the Hill to be precise, stopping with Uncle Frank and Aunty Sheila.

I bring this up today, as we're having Vic's family down for Easter dinner and I've made a treat that Aunty Sheila used to make and then Mum passed on to me.

Don't get too giddy, it's a simple dish.

BISCUIT-GEL

Digestive biscuits

Melted butter

Jelly (your choice of flavour)

Evaporated milk

Crush the biscuits, mix in the butter and make a base in a suitable dish. Chill in the fridge.

Make the jelly (use half the amount of water as normal) then add the milk.and put In fridge to set.

Should look like this.

Then eat. 

OR

You could make a Biscoff cheesecake, like this one Vic made 

but it's my blog, not hers, so that's enough about that.*winks*

Roast sirloin beef, home made cauliflower cheese, Yorkshire puddings amongst other goodies before the sweet stuff though. 

Oh, and Vic made a cake too this morning as she'd "got ahead" of herself.

TTFN

Sime

04/04/2026

TWICE IN TWO DAYS

Vic went to church for the first time since before COVID yesterday, and then we went for tea with the kids and in laws.

For fish and chips.

Which we'd had the day before.

This isn't a complaint, I LOVE fish and chips.

Thursday we had them from the big chippy/restaurant on what was the pier, yesterday at the Whetherby Whaler in wakey. 

Both equally tasty. Both equally enjoyed.

Been out with Vic to take a load of her old clothes to charity this lunchtime, sorting mine out in the next couple of days. Desperately needs doing. 

TTFN

Sime

03/04/2026

GOOD FRIDAY MY ARSE

I'm struggling with sleep at the moment. Awake six times last night, it's left me completely knackered today.

Said that this written blog and the video one will be different, but today both will feature this topic.

There's few nights in sleep all the way through, but last night was a swine. Pain in all extremities had me waking up frequently as you can see here...

I had been in hospital a while, getting woken up every hour so every night for observation, then was informed that I could refuse them, which meant more chance of a half decent kip.

I adore the NHS and all they have done for me, but to be woken just to be asked if I was ok never ceased to infuriate me and make me laugh equally. 

Anyway, bit of a loaf on the settee watching Barnsley this aft should see me right.

TTFN

Sime. 

02/04/2026

CLEETHORPES

Vic and myself have been out for the day to the seaside, and a place closed to my heart.

My Aunty Joyce and Uncle Ken had a caravan there and it's THE place we always went to.on our holidays, and later Mum & Dad got a caravan of their own. 

I shall gladly concede there's little to nothing to do there, but that's always been the appeal to me.

Ona warm, sunny day like today it was a delight.

Vic took Bella and Baxter on the beach, the last day they're allowed on all beaches before the season kicks in tomorrow. They had a lovely run up and down, Baxter doing his trick of funding any kind of water to go in (easier at the seaside).

Couple of cups of coffee, fish and chips and fresh donuts (the law) even I managed a jaunt along the front (loads of benches to rest on).

A pair of worn out wumps later and time to head home. Chilled, relaxed, feet up. 

Today has been a good day.

Sime 

01/04/2026 pt2

 Just to let you know i have included a link to the daily video diary over on the right sidebar.

There are already over seventy entries there, content will be different to here, That's the plan at least.

Also adding a subscription button.

01/04/2026

It's a funny thing coming back to "Blogger" as it's where my computer fun started, 

Back then i was known as the Cappuccino Kid. And it almost cost me my job (a tale for another day)

I met people online that remain friends to this day, some of whom I've been fortunate enough to meet in real life.

It's also how I started my life as a DJ, firstly online, then out and about. 

Again, more of which later, at the moment I am dipping my toes back in this pool, not diving in straight away.

See you tomorrow,

Sime.