Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Chatting on the Plot => Topic started by: Kleftiwallah on April 21, 2019, 11:56

Title: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: Kleftiwallah on April 21, 2019, 11:56
Well that's it then, I'm on the run down.  I'm only filling my 2 gall' galvanised watering can half full.  Any other signs out there?

Cheers,  Tony :)
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit.
Post by: mrs bouquet on April 21, 2019, 14:28
Me as well, can't lift it completely full.  Lots of other heavy things I definitely struggle with too.   :lol:   But we are still out there doing something and that's what is important.  So many give up now - but not us  ::)  Mrs Bouquet 
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit.
Post by: grinling on April 21, 2019, 19:57
On the plus side you are getting twice as much walking exercise
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit.
Post by: Growster... on April 22, 2019, 07:17
Taking two steps instead of one in my case!

My elderly neighbour suggested that she just did a maximum of one hour doing any gardening job, but paced the whole garden work over several weeks!

Works for her! She's eighty-three and as fit as a fiddle, so I'm following her ways, but as a sprightly 71 year-old, can take a few chances as well...

Yesterday for instance, it was doing the lawn edges properly, then starting to build the bean frame (didn't work - back to canes), and so it goes on, but slower...
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit.
Post by: theothermarg on April 22, 2019, 11:34
Taking two steps instead of one in my case!

My elderly neighbour suggested that she just did a maximum of one hour doing any gardening job, but paced the whole garden work over several weeks!

Works for her! She's eighty-three and as fit as a fiddle, so I'm following her ways, but as a sprightly 71 year-old, can take a few chances as well...


Yesterday for instance, it was doing the lawn edges properly, then starting to build the bean frame (didn't work - back to canes), and so it goes on, but slower...

Also a 71yr old (for a few months more) and noticed I have to swop jobs as if I bend down any longer I will never straighten up again. Also have drag bags of compost from the car as too heavy to lift and forget the super economy size, did I really used to lift that ?
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit.
Post by: Goosegirl on April 22, 2019, 15:38
There's nothing wrong with doing things slower because when you have a breather you notice nature and other lovely things you didn't see before because in the past you were too busy trying to get gardening jobs done in the bit of short time you had at the weekend. OH and I are very blessed because we're both retired and can pick and choose what to do each day as to what are the priorities and how we feel. Today has been one of those examples because we got some new chooks and a cockerel but their large pen needing mending. Apart from sorting that out most of the day I heard a chiff-chaff, buzzard, gold finches, skylarks and saw my first swallows.
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit.
Post by: RubyRed on April 22, 2019, 18:21
  I'm still a full time worker at 61 (would have retired if it hadn't been for the sisterhood,thanks ladies) but have to walk slow round the garden due to a very friendly blackbird that gets so close to me he nearly trips me up.
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit.
Post by: Growster... on April 23, 2019, 06:41
Goosey makes a good point here...

So yes, we may be retired, and possibly a bit achy, so the two really go together, don't they?

Mrs B mentions bending down slowly, and dragging instead of lifting, and I well understand that nowadays, so I suppose it's a matter of reality and common sense, (the last bit we should have learned by now), and making do with what we have left!

Although we've given up 'The Patch', I still have so much to do outside, that the list gets longer every day, and the mental position is on safer ground now, because I don't have to worry about digging and weeding 32 beds, mowing all the paths etc, and can concentrate on getting the home garden looking spick and span - which is an absolute pleasure for just an hour or two a day!

This post started by Tony will hopefully become a long-term reminder for all here, as I just love seeing comments from like-minded chums, all facing the next few years, with perhaps a little more time, and a little less energy...

(exit Growster, with a rolled up copy of a Stannah lift quotation)...;0)
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit.
Post by: theothermarg on April 23, 2019, 09:04
Tis me doing the dragging Growster and off to get more compost today (Garden Centre double points for oldies on Tues)
Re stairlifts, Do you know that feeling of forgetting something the minute you've reached the top stair and not remembering it until you get down again ? Well nature gives us oldies that gift to keep us fit, would you have walked that many steps otherwise ?  :lol: :wacko:
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit.
Post by: snowdrops on April 23, 2019, 09:10
I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry at this thread, reading all your wonderful replies I can see it all inching closer to me by the year/month/week, and it’s quite frightening. Still being under 60 but happily being able to take early retirement I think at the moment I might have the best of both worlds 😊
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit.
Post by: mrs bouquet on April 23, 2019, 12:05
Goosey makes a good point here...

So yes, we may be retired, and possibly a bit achy, so the two really go together, don't they.

(exit Growster, with a rolled up copy of a Stannah lift quotation)...;0)


That has really made me laugh,  we may be a bit slower and more achy, but we haven't lost or sense of humour and we can also laugh at ourselves.

Did you see the programmes about celebrity OAPs, trying to work out new technology, so funny.    Mrs Bouquet
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit.
Post by: Growster... on April 23, 2019, 12:36
Mrs B, spring chicken!

Always come here for a laugh and a poke at life as we see it!

I really mean it when I'd like to see a permanent subject post on getting a little bit older and how one copes, I suppose I should ask John...
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit.
Post by: mumofstig on April 23, 2019, 12:50
I really mean it when I'd like to see a permanent subject post on getting a little bit older and how one copes, I suppose I should ask John...
Well, after my years on this forum, the worst that can happen is demotion  ::) John is AWOC (absent without computer) for a few days, so I've made an executive decision  and stickied this thread  :lol:
Post away to your heart's content.......
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit.
Post by: theothermarg on April 23, 2019, 14:20
Getting old has it's drawbacks (and bad backs) but being retired really is great  :D you do forget when it is a weekend of course, it's when you're family remember you and descend to eat you out of house and home and then there are things called bank holidays where all the workers block the roads up and spoil our fun  :lol: :D :wub:
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit.
Post by: Aidy on April 23, 2019, 22:46
although a little younger than some of you I am now noticing a change.
I will pick up the fork and my back complains before I start!
I now dig/fork a four (spade) width row a day instead of a whole bed.
I will muck in what is required before it is to be planted instead of the while plot minus the root bed.
My knees complain for days after any digging or wheelbarrowing muck.
I am also finding transplanting is becoming a little bit of a strain and of course I am getting more grumpy  :lol:
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: Goosegirl on April 25, 2019, 16:22
I've rather a large flower and veg garden which years ago I used to manage as well as decorating inside and out (see attached pics). I am very fortunate that not only did I find a gardening handyman who I really get on with but also my dear niece-in-law gives me a hand with bits of housework I struggle to do. In return (well, sort of) she's now got two of our raised beds where she's trying to grow veg for her family. She's really taken with the whole process of gardening, and her two children (Louisa and Johnathan) love coming to help with digging etc and they're also learning about nature as well. It's like standing aside while you teach others what you've learnt about all sorts of things over the years and I love to have them around, and it works both ways. We're going to have two year-old Johnathan on a Monday afternoon so she can do more milking on the farm where she works. We've never had children but I feel so blessed because they've given us a new lease of life which means more to us than I can say.
To me, ageing with my loved ones has brought so many benefits that far outweighs all my physical aches and pains. I'm still here despite all the odds and their love and care is a continual healing process that helps to mend the scars in my heart from past years.
 Growster, if you think I'm gonna consider getting a stairlift then think again! I'd probably catch my leg on the damn thing especially if our little Johnathan is here, because he's such a smartie-pants he would suss out how it works and then have me zipping up and down like Zebedee!  :lol:
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: snowdrops on April 25, 2019, 17:21
Looks fantastic Goosey😊
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: Fairy Plotmother on April 25, 2019, 21:27
A beautiful garden GG.
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: TonyB. on April 25, 2019, 22:14
It's a pastime not a farm is a quote from someone on this site. Very true. I spent the last 38 years of my working life (1 year ago) , working shifts and sat behind a desk. Every hour I grabbed a coffee and bought it to my desk. 10 months ago I took over a much neglected (5ft high nettles and weeds across the 45ft by 42ft plot. I still grab a coffee roughly every hour, but now I sit and admire a beautiful view. Plot is sorted - obviously the list of jobs never diminishes - but, there is always tomorrow. Enjoy, don't get stressed, as long as the weeds are controlled and the veg is watered you're doing enough.
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: Kleftiwallah on April 26, 2019, 10:53
Close to 70 but still able to manhandle a pressure washer up onto the roof of our bungalow to clear the guttering in readyness for our next storm. ::)

Cheers,  Tony.
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: Goosegirl on April 26, 2019, 15:27
I find pressure-washing very addictive and could even manage to lug it up to the roof if we had a bungalow which we don't and am not going to try it. The last time I went on a roof was to paint the rendering above the single-storey extension as the tiles looked to have a good grip, er, wrong! Fortunately I didn't spill any paint over my OH as he helped me down but never again! I stick to the paving around the house and patios and the rendering on the low walls around the garden. Then there's my garden bench, various stone pots, garage walls, the windows and the rendering on our cottage, the car, the cats, my OH - the list is never-ending and nor is my refusal to bow down to the ageing process!
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: Christine on April 26, 2019, 15:45
Nowadays I come home when it starts a heavy shower that looks as if it will continue for a long time.  No longer fun being sodden.
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: Growster... on April 26, 2019, 21:29
Catharsis today...

One wheelbarrow of old pots, frames, netting, clear plastic covers etc - all down to the old allotments for other much younger people to use!

And now, lots of space for me to do a few more smaller, more imagineable jobs at home too...

Another barrowload tomorrow, probably two!
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: Goosegirl on April 28, 2019, 15:57
There's nothing like a bit of catharsis to clear out all the accumulated rubbish both physical and mental. As my dear lovely niece and her husband said when they came to help us out to sort out our burgeoning home with all its various furniture, ornaments and other stuff, she said some very wise words which was to be ruthless. I said to myself if it ain't doing anything for me then get a skip and chuck it in or put them in a box and give them to a charity, and it was the same with my garden where some areas needed a good sort-out which kind of clears the mind so you can concentrate on the things that really matter to you.
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: Growster... on April 28, 2019, 20:33
Very true, Goosers, very true!

I spent the morning finishing off the clearance, shoved all the pots down the road, then realigned the storage shelves in a totally different position, and now have sooooooo much extra space that there's room for some more courgettes (NO says Mrs Growster - paaaah), but I'll think of something else, probably about 3:00am, when the doors are locked, the owls hoot, and only one car passes to delight the shadows beyond their mortal stare...
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: Goosegirl on May 21, 2019, 12:59
Thanks all for your kind replies to my garden pics. The other week I had a big chuck-out of accumulated cracked pots to give me more room in the g-house for plants etc (oops OH, get out of that wheelie bin!) and it gives you a sense of freedom. Unfortunately that leads to a sudden desire to fill the empty bench and shelves. It's like Groundhog Day all over again!
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: DD. on June 28, 2019, 07:38
Not been around a great deal due to a few circumstances, but talking of getting on a bit, I'm now a first time granddad, and had a hernia (no connection) that's now been fixed. Having it fixed put me totally out of action after being in super-slow mode for several months, so now it's onwards and upwards.

Can't hang about, I've an allotment to reclaim!
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: mrs bouquet on June 28, 2019, 10:59
Congrats on the grandchild, and recovering from your nasty operation.   So, that's it now, no excuses Digger Dave !     :D  regards  Mrs Bouquet
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: Growster... on June 28, 2019, 15:03
Good to read this, Dave!

Just keep taking the tablets, and it's nearly time for pics of your peas too, so we're waiting!

Love to Mrs DD too, she must have got fed up with you wandering around muttering 'peas' etc...
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: DD. on June 28, 2019, 18:37
Good to read this, Dave!

Just keep taking the tablets, and it's nearly time for pics of your peas too, so we're waiting!

Love to Mrs DD too, she must have got fed up with you wandering around muttering 'peas' etc...

Sad to relate, the hernia and fix it operation has stopped me getting my maincrop peas in this year. I do have a  "climbing" heritage variety at home though called "Robinson" that I'm saving for seed next year. They're looking quite good.
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: Growster... on June 30, 2019, 17:53
Marvellous crop, Dave!

That's all we need at this time of year, so you take it easy, keep the seed, and restart next year!

I'm on watch!

;0)
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: snowdrops on July 03, 2019, 14:45
Congratulations DD on the new addition. You’ll soon be caught up in the trap of can you just have..... but I wouldn’t have it any other way, you can buy veg but not grandchildren (well in theory I know you can but as this is about grow your own 😂😂)
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: dugless on August 16, 2019, 18:18
I am back, ran out of time to come on here,
 we moved house this one belonged to a lady she died one day short of her 100th Birthday had to replaster all the walls and ceilings they were covered in artext, plus much-needed alterations. I still have my allotment I was doing fine until three months ago developed sciatica, ar 84 now wondering if I should give it up.
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: John on August 17, 2019, 00:22
Only you can decide when it's time to throttle back and give up the allotment but if it's the sciatica (which I suffer from at times thanks to twisting my back whilst lifting years ago) then I'd recommend looking up back exercises.
If you go on your hands and knees and then stretch your right hand and left leg out for 5 seconds or so then the left hand and right leg - repeat a few times - it can help. Well it certainly relieved my sciatica.
Another option is to look at reducing the work on the plot or even sharing it.
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: Christine on August 18, 2019, 07:48
It's a good thing that the family turned up with two hedge cutters, one of which had a strimmer attached. The manual labour is possible using hand clippers for hedges and a push mower but it certainly saved a lot of time and effort. Things will be better when one knee is replaced in October and better still when both are done.
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: dugless on August 29, 2019, 15:54
I am getting forgetful it has been so long since I came on here I have forgotten how to post a new topic.
what I wanted to know How can you kill Ivy it is destroying the fencing at the bottom of my garden the roots are on the other side.
 
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: wighty on August 29, 2019, 20:19
We have this problem too.  What we did was water (with weed killer) along the bottom of our fence line and it did the trick (for a short time).  Eventually I sneaked round as it was an alleyway that led to their land while they out and snipped it half way up our fence.   When he commented on it I said it had been 'eating' our fence panel and did he want to replace them when they fell down?  Shut him up and I do it no w on a regular basis.
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: mjg000 on August 29, 2019, 21:47
Oh my oh my..... 3 years ago I was on here reporting on looking after 3 half plots whilst travelling up and down to Lancaster from London. reading back on it it was a doddle!! now i just have the 2 half plots + a daughter getting divorced, + a husband with a serious cancer problem but which is on going rather than terminal,my own back problems etc. etc.  How to reclaim time that was mine to decide how to spend it and not appear selfish or greedy?  I long for the days when we were all at work and chose how to spend our free time whilst being at home (ish) in the evenings!!
Title: Re: Gettin' on a bit - but still gardening!
Post by: dugless on August 30, 2019, 01:45
We have this problem too.  What we did was water (with weed killer) along the bottom of our fence line and it did the trick (for a short time).  Eventually I sneaked round as it was an alleyway that led to their land while they out and snipped it half way up our fence.   When he commented on it I said it had been 'eating' our fence panel and did he want to replace them when they fell down?  Shut him up and I do it no w on a regular basis.
Thank you I will try that.