Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Chatting => Chatting on the Plot => Topic started by: mumofstig on April 17, 2018, 07:44
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I feel a bit sore after strawberry planting, yesterday, but hope to get a bit more done today, although I'm not at all sure what the weather is going to be like, from looking at the sky. It looks full of rain but the forecast is for sun 8)
Have a good day, whatever you're up to :)
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Hope a bit more stretching eases out the aches Mum, it’s quite overcast here too & looking like rain is likely, I’ve planned a gardening day so hoping I get to get out there, on Sunday I jetwashed the greenhouse & finished off in pouring rain, I was soaked but determined to finish
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I'm aching a bit from digging yesterday as well. I've got work later, but currently wondering about clearing a couple of patches in the garden for poppy seeds and sowing some squash.
More coffee needed first :D
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Tea for me please, but I've got sticky buns to go with it, if anyone wants one?
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I'll swap some digging with someone ....
Today I shall be cleaning 40 years of emulsion paint from the electrical socket faceplates ::) Being 18" off the ground, it will no doubt involve me crawling around on the floor and folding myself into strange shapes to try and clean the underside.
That is of course after I soak off the countless layers of wallpaper left behind them because why bother striping the wallpaper from behind a socket, it's not like anyone can see if >:(
I swear this refurb is like painting the Forth bridge ... never ending.
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I swear this refurb is like painting the Forth bridge ... never ending.
Oh yes! I get that one!!
I am defrosting the big upright freezer .... :ohmy: <gulp> Will it all manage to go back??
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I'll swap some digging with someone ....
Today I shall be cleaning 40 years of emulsion paint from the electrical socket faceplates ::) Being 18" off the ground, it will no doubt involve me crawling around on the floor and folding myself into strange shapes to try and clean the underside.
That is of course after I soak off the countless layers of wallpaper left behind them because why bother striping the wallpaper from behind a socket, it's not like anyone can see if >:(
I swear this refurb is like painting the Forth bridge ... never ending.
Oooh I have such sympathy for you there Lardman. We embarked on major refurb some months back, and the hallway was a complete nightmare, with layer after layer of painted wall paper, one atop the other, and stripping it all off took weeks. And then there was the paintwork, which, with moulded topped skirting boards took a mass of work squatted down, and as for the ceiling, well a lot of that fell down when the woodchip came off. We replaced the sockets and light switches in the end as in cleaning them they ended up all scratched in removing the paint.
"Lay on, Macduff"
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I'll swap some digging with someone ....
Today I shall be cleaning 40 years of emulsion paint from the electrical socket faceplates ::) Being 18" off the ground, it will no doubt involve me crawling around on the floor and folding myself into strange shapes to try and clean the underside.
That is of course after I soak off the countless layers of wallpaper left behind them because why bother striping the wallpaper from behind a socket, it's not like anyone can see if >:(
I swear this refurb is like painting the Forth bridge ... never ending.
Is this your house or Mother Lards? Just think how nice it will be when it’s done! 😊 lie back & think of England lol
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Tea for me please, but I've got sticky buns to go with it, if anyone wants one?
Any left? I could do with one today :D
Well I got the poppies and the squash sown and now have itchy fingers to get home from work to do some more.
Glorious sunny morning here and its tough to be inside :lol:
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Catch it then ...... :D
Today's gone very wrong - was sposed to be early Tesco delivery, gardening, physio.... maybe more garden
Instead I get a txt tesco delivery running late, be there by 10. Then another saying be there by half past 1 :mad:
Rang them and said won't be there cos of hospital physio session, replied ok we'll deliver sometime after you are back. When will sometime be? Couldn't possibly say right now - delivery van broken down on motorway ::)
So it's lovely weather and apart from a trip to physio, I have to wait in for Tescos *sob*
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Catch it then ...... :D
Got it :D
Could be a nice afternoon to be sitting outside waiting for a Tesco delivery. After the spring we have had I would advise extreme caution about gardening in 22C heat. From mudlarking in the rain straight into summer days :ohmy: We will all be in shock :lol:
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Is this your house or Mother Lards?
Mother Lard's old one - I don't so much mind the cleaning of the faceplates , they're 70's MK so built like tanks it's the rolling around on the floor now it's an awfully long way to get up again ::)
I've had to do a few hours of real work today :ohmy: but I have my eye on a quiet 2 hours late afternoon , Need a change of clothes though - it was big coat and thermal hat weather went I left the house this morning - it's not any more 8)
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Mornings, it's a lovely sunny one, so deffo a plot visit on the cards.
If I can still move after that I might pop into town and take the library books back - rather than hit the renew button again :lol:
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Morning, yep another warm one. Time to mow the lawn and then head to the plot and plant the cabbages out :D
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A lovely summer day! At last ... Enjoy while we can. I was shattered last night - just not used to it!
All seeds checked and now a quick trip to the shops (was supposed to just be Aldi but now I have a brake light to collect, and some sealant and ...... why exactly did I say I was going? ::) ) before an afternoon with the seed box and pricking out (in the the shade!). Perhaps I better get some more compost while I am out.. :unsure:
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I'm working later, so am having a relaxing morning. I've just watered the greenhouse and cold frame stuff, plus all the pots. It's beautiful out there :D
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Off to plot again today after a lovely day at plot yesterday with a friend for company. Sun cream today though after yesterday ;)
If energy left later then will cut the grass in my back garden too ::)
Work tom unfortunately but weekend off so pleeeease can it stay sunny as I finally feel like I catching up with jobs on plot :D
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Mornings, it's a lovely sunny one, so deffo a plot visit on the cards.
If I can still move after that I might pop into town and take the library books back - rather than hit the renew button again :lol:
Mum, is the library still off Tufton Street, opposite the park?
Quite busy back when I used it...
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Was a day at the zoo in beautiful sunshine with our little granddaughter today after 5 hours at the plot in the sunshine yesterday, as you say madcat I’m just not used to, I too was shattered last night, I was in bed by 9.30 lol
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O what a lovely morning the suns shining the birds are singing decorating is on hold for the time being yippee collected my trailer of horse manure unloaded it down the allotment a wire post had rotted of so I replaced that thought its heating up time to take it easy bit of lunch five minuets in the chair
got back to the house with the tractor to swop the trailer onto the car to take back then it happened panic stations the wife came out in a panic the greenhouses where getting hot plants where dropping there heads with the heat she watered all the floors
now I usually put anti UV nets on the greenhouses but the instant hot weather court me out this time so it was a quick trip back to the farm drop the trailer get home and start putting the shading on the greenhouse it took us around two hours to complete the job but it has made things a lot better in the greenhouse I thought we had lost all our plants when I seen them but there all come back there's a load of bedding just potted on and all my veg plants in the greenhouse I would have been very mad if I had lost them to the sun after all that rain
anyway happy days ploughing the allotments tomorrow getting prepared for planting potatoes broad beans and onion next week weather permitting crack on ming mong :D
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Mornings, it's a lovely sunny one, so deffo a plot visit on the cards.
If I can still move after that I might pop into town and take the library books back - rather than hit the renew button again :lol:
Mum, is the library still off Tufton Street, opposite the park?
Quite busy back when I used it...
It's a new building on Church Rd with the entrance opposite the park gates :)
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Another lovely sunny morning, and after yesterday's efforts on the plot I would be happy to just sit outside all day 8)
But...... lots of non-gardening things to do today *sigh* but I'm hoping, at least, to get the garden lawn cut - it's dry at last! Woo hoo!
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Yup - first lawn mowing of the year today, and if it's anything like last year I'm not looking forward to it (lots of moss which never dries out when the grass is long - it clogs everything up and means you have to stop every few yards to clear it out. :mad:)
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Ah yes - yesterday was our first mowing. Preceded by the mower service as we didn't get the 'last' cut off in the autumn which should have been followed by the clean up for the winter ... Result, clippings set like concrete and lots of swearing. ::) The blade looked like it had been chewed! Hey ho - there is a lot that can't be mowed yet because of the bulbs and the primulas so it wasn't that drastic a job.
Today ... actually get to the pricking out that I didnt do yesterday ... where did the day go? :unsure:
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Yup - first lawn mowing of the year today, and if it's anything like last year I'm not looking forward to it (lots of moss which never dries out when the grass is long - it clogs everything up and means you have to stop every few yards to clear it out. :mad:)
Weed, feed, moss kill. Scarify. Collector mower to clear. Get one of those spikes and do the walking dance all over the lawn to add drainage. Reseed with grass as necessary. At least it won't happen next year too. Alright I can hear your groans but no gain without pain. I'm going - I'm doing the above so appreciate the work. ;)
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As you know, we're vacating The Patch in the Autumn, and a strange and very special coincidence is unfolding...
There's been an enquiry at The Parish for a plot, and in fact there are only two free now - both utterly derelict and real beasts - full of couch a yard high and bindweed which covers the shed!
The Parish emailed me with the enquiry, (I help out now and then) and it turns out that it's a family we know a little, who have very young children and a small garden at home. We know it's a small garden, as they live in the very house we used to live in until we moved here!
So I'm showing them round tomorrow morning - they're a charming young family, and it would suit us for them to start right away, rather than they get demoralised over dealing with the awful jungle of the other two plots! I reckon there's nearly a year's clearing for a working family on either plot, which is not that fantastic a prospect whichever way you look at it!
We'll not see any of our Patch unused (as some bits would have been), and they can get going immediately! What could be better! I have lots of tools they can have, as they were handed down to me by another retiring gardener, and they can share all the rasps, blackcurrants, redcurrants, tayberries, etc and have the lot after October!
Fingers crosed anyway, I'll let you know how I get on!
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That sounds like an ideal solution for you both Growster :D
I've got the whole weekend off so planning a plot visit early on before it gets too hot, then a play round the garden, seedling shuffling and then maybe more seeds. A perfick day for me :lol:
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I hope that’s works out for you Growster,sounds a perfect solution. I was very saddened to read your first post about giving the patch but I know it’s a sensible idea. It made me worry about when I will need to give mine up, I was hoping to have a drive by when I’m in a box lol.
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It's all worked out well!
A new, young family are going to take over 'The Patch' in the Autumn, but they're going to start right now, and get some of the season's sowing and planting away immediately! Everything is sorted, The Parish are happy, we're very happy, and best of all, there is a new generation getting to grips with one of our favourite bits of our village!
When the building work at The Turrets has finished this week, and we can get the dentist appointment in Rye over and done with, well, Mrs Growster and I might just celebrate with a small tincture or three..;0)
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Glad it all worked out :D
I'm off to the plot in a bit to put up my new mesh covered growing frame (winterval gift) and generally muck about a bit. We has thunder storms late on last night, so everything is a bit damp and drippy at the moment.
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Mornings! A grey sky this morning so not as cheerful.
Retail therapy with my daughter either this morning or afternoon (still TBD) I'm hoping to fit in a plot visit as I must put up more pea netting.
Have a nice day whatever you're up to :)
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I’m off on a WI walk & lunch this morning, but I’ve still got lots to do in the garden & Lottie that I’m feeling torn, but a few hours away won’t make much difference will it lol.
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its the same here Mum Joe dull but its not raining yet hope to do a bit of gardening on my daughters allotments
still got plenty to do on our own allotments had a good day yesterday cultivated some groud and planted some broad beans but it doesn't speak of good gardening weather over the next few days :(
hope you have a nice day mum with your retail therapy :D
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Forecast is for sunshine and showers, so better get a shift on.
Have to get the netting up before the peas get to big, I've some ironing to do :dry: and the allotment meeting is at tea-time.
Enjoy your day :)
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Working until this afternoon, but then have a lazy time planned for the rest of the day. I had a long shift yesterday at job no. 2 with seemingly endless stock to put out, so playing with seedlings will be the extent of my activity later on :lol:
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We’ll weekly shop✅, time to play in the garden & maybe at the Lottie if the threatened showers don5 stop play. Tomatoes are germinated so I’ll pot those up before the day is our hopefully.
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This is a lovely post place!
On other places they call it something else, but a nudge here and there on a note of happiness is just marvellous!
Nice one Mum, as usual, you've hit the button!
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Today it is Willow day, or what has become to be known as that in this house, because it’s the day we have our little granddaughter for the day, & this week we get a Brucie bonus, she’s coming again tomorrow afternoon for dinner & a sleepover 😄. So fun & laughter all the way.
Thursday morning I collect her & she & I go to wriggly readers at the village library & then come home for ‘“snacks” & chino’s with Grangra, then it’s play, snuggle, nap, & anything else we can think of to entertain her. Today we’re making pikelet pizzas for lunch & stating the bolognaise off for Friday dinner, when she’ll also help Grangra make the pasta to go with it. If there’s time she & I will sow some seeds that I’ve saved for her to do, sunflowers,nasturtiums & some ladybird poppies.
Enjoy your day all cos I certainly shall(although the 2 yr tantrums have started so I might need wishing some luck too 😊)
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This is a lovely post place!
On other places they call it something else, but a nudge here and there on a note of happiness is just marvellous! Nice one Mum, as usual, you've hit the button!
Well, Growster, we used to have an early morning thread which slipped off the radar, so I thought I'd restart it - but my inner clock doesn't do 'early' oh no! :lol:
It is bright and sunny, if a little cooler, so a gentle plot visit is planned for this morning as I have physio again this afternoon. Oh joy ::)
Good luck snowdrops and enjoy your time together, blink and they're all grown up ;)
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It is a lovely drying day, so the washing line is flapping away ....
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Had a card from the Royal Mail through my letter box about a week ago advising that they were unable to deliver a parcel because the sender had not paid the full postage for it, which is a 'first' for me, and really rather intriguing given that I'm not actually expecting a parcel! :unsure: ::)
Think a trip to the local parcel depot will need to be scheduled amongst the usual chores this morning - it might be a wad of cash from one of those nice people in Nigeria I've been reading about! ;)
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Mum, what's Dobbie's GC on Junc 9 like?
A chum here says it's well worth a visit, but it's a bit of a trek for just a packet of seeds and a lookaround...
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I find all the big GCs much of a muchness, even the cream cakes there have gone downhill lately ::)
I certainly wouldn't think it's worth making a special journey just for Dobbies (It's only Tescos but with plants instead of food ::) )
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I find all the big GCs much of a muchness, even the cream cakes there have gone downhill lately ::)
I certainly wouldn't think it's worth making a special journey just for Dobbies (It's only Tescos but with plants instead of food ::) )
Thanks Mum, I think we'll stick with High Banks here..;0)
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A cold, damp, grey, miserable day, so the only gardening will be inside the greenhouse.
Also some chores to do inside so I'm tidy(ish) for the weekend :nowink:
Have a nice day whatever you do!
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Same here weather wise, but I had a really late finish at job no. 2 yesterday so happy to mooch about doing not a lot :lol:
OH has been to the dentist this morning so is feeling sorry for himself. He wants to go to the garden centre to get pots and seeds for a sunflower growing compy at the Beaver group he helps with (mini Scouts, even younger than the Cubs). He's suggesting lunch and I've just had a load of special offer vouchers emailed through from them. Suddenly the day is looking up :D
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Well afternoon lol, already been to yoga & now waiting to be collected to go & get lots of bags of well rotted manure, shame it’s persisting it down plus chap that’s driving has put it back by 1 hour already so much got not happen but I’m so excited at getting some. I really do need to get out more lol
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Horrible day - so I am doing a horrible job and putting the account books to bed for the (tax) year. Almost finished and feeling quite virtuous! :D
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And here's me hoping that 'Quite Virtuous' is now a very happy person..;0)
Cold 'ere, innit...
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Moderately .... I still have the last bells and whistles to finish and then set up properly for this year. I always say that I'll get this all done at the turn of the year and then end up scurrying through for the end of April. Last minute Annie, that's me. I blame the nice weather! :D Never mind, I am just grateful I don't have company or personal accounts to deal with that are with TSB. :ohmy: I hope that none of you are hurting.
Today is chores - and hot soup for lunch. It is still horrible ... Have we had summer for this year? :(
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Busy busy busy day today - cakes to make, visits to make to deliver them and people to see.
Must dash, laters :D
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Just had to mow everywhere this morning, although it was so wet!
The mower is pretty powerful, but struggled, and got clogged several times, so afterwards I turned it over to give it a good seeing to...
Blimey, I've never collected so much grass under the bonnet before! There was a huge pile of the stuff, and so wet that it had started to weaken the dried-on grass already there, so after half an hour with a paint scraper, it all came away! Poor old thing, it really did have a job on its hands - (blades) - today!
It had a treat of a squirt of WD40 as a nice thank you tincture before it went back to bed...
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I'm with Madcat, we've spent the day doing end of year financial stuff. Paul found a load of receipts in his van that should have been handed over months ago that I've had to log. Nearly there now, just the last bit to do .
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Sigh - it' s allotment inspections day. Glad I'm not on the team. But had better be there to open gates and smile nicely as am committee. But it's not warm and the showers have been busy this morning. Will have to come home and prick out sweet pepper seedlings from the window sill this afternoon.
The local varmits have been running off with plant tubs from the front of the bungalows here again. I know where my one went but as they took one that was not thriving to the point of being replaced it's only a plant pot (plastic at that) gone. Could have gathered up the plant but it ain't worth saving. Have moved the one good pot with the herb that I wanted to keep round into the back garden.
Whatever with the pots that are left.
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Makes you cross though, don't it Christine. Here they just like pulling the plants out and making a mess. The half barrels full of soil are a bit heavy for them to lift ::)
The committee here has put inspections back by a few weeks because of the rotten weather. I'm struggling to get plants big enough to plant out, and prefer not to buy them. So all they could see on my plot is weed control covered beds, except for the tater ridges - I managed to get them in when we has a warm spell :)
It is only 8C outside in the greenhouse, so all the toms, cukes and peppers are still on the dining table - didn't think it was worth moving them :nowink:
It looks like a book or a boxset kind of day, certainly don't fancy doing the ironing ::) :lol:
Have a nice day, whatever you do.
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I've a list as long as your arm for stuff to get through today - and noooooooo motivation. (Entirely get that about the ironing. At least it is a warm job, I suppose :unsure:) I am going to have to give myself a kick up the backside. :wacko:
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Yes it’s an inside day here too, but on the plus side I’ve already assembled a large lasagne for the freezer, from bolognaise I made for Friday’s dinner, hubby made extra pasta but I used it up on the large lasagne, he was going to make me some more for the smaller ones but we’ve run out of pasta flour, so 3 x bolognaise in the freezer plus a tub of bechamel sauce plus said lasagne. So quite productive so far, oh & a batch of jam jars had their labels removed, then got a message to say friend is popping round with some more!
Still not got out to spread horse pooh ☹️. Really want to get that done but it doesn’t look promising for today.
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Its not great here - cool, overcast and breezy - but I have been to the plot, done some planting and some digging.
Just got to batten the hatches now - wild wind and rain overnight and tomorrow according to the weather forecast :ohmy: Hang on tight everyone ::)
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Big change round in the greenhouse today. We use a flyaway GH for hardening off the overwintering fuchsias, which makes space for the toms etc...
Cold, wet and damp - not good, but a great book in front of the fire is the antidote!
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Well it stopped raining after lunch so a trip to the plot was just what the Dr ordered, 46 bags of manure later 😱😂 I came home a bit more weary for a hot bath, but the feeling that I got started is great, plus I finished planting the spuds.
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46 bags of manure later
O M G you deserve a medal let alone a hot bath ::)
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46 bags of manure later
O M G you deserve a medal let alone a hot bath ::)
Thanks Mum a large glass of Shiraz & a lovely roast lamb dinner did the trick, oh & a sit down with my feet up for the evening was all I could manage lol
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Today is forecast heavy rain & wind, we’ve got the wind, so shall I tip the contents of the 11 bags of manure that are on the drive onto the back garden or have a good clean up, not sure what needs it more
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Go for the clean up and hope that the forecast of better weather comes true! :)
I'm getting the sewing machine out as soon as I am finished on here .... Pricking out can wait.
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Just been out to buy a shirt in Cranbrook, and got drenched and nearly blown over... Also got soaked in Waitrose, but had a nice chat by the olive oil with our librarian chum who's a sweetheart!
Also forgot my wallet so had to do half the journey twice!
Funnily enough, the traffic lights were out in the village. They're normally absolute mayhem as the huge lorries take up all the room in our little roads! But today, with the bad weather, everyone was cautious, curteous and above all, slow, and we all went through as easy as an easy person's easy bits!
This is often the case, and we've noticed it before, traffic sorts itself out and finds its own levels if you let it!
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Go for the clean up and hope that the forecast of better weather comes true! :)
I'm getting the sewing machine out as soon as I am finished on here .... Pricking out can wait.
Well we now have i sparkling clean bedroom & bathroom, scrubbed within an inch of its life, clean bedding as well of course. Me that another matter lol but it hasn’t rained yet! Lovely & sunny so I’m being tempted outside instead of the sewing I was going to do next. Mind you I’ve to peg the bedding on the line again before I can make a start, 3rd time already!!
So now the question is do I tip the manure or go to tha allotment with the new strawberry plants & try & get them in
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I've spent the day changing emails for so many accounts it's ridiculous. Didn't realise that I lived so much online and shopped so much on line. I chickened out when I got here at the end of a long list, deleted the old me and thought it was just as easy to start again - same person, same place just a new email account.
It's all those places where you go shopping periodically that you want to have access to again that get to you. But I have a collection of emails for different things as long as a long arm. We'll get rid of one at least. If not two in the longer term. The moral is - never volunteer.
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The garden won as it’s supposed to rain on Wednesday so I can sew then. Garden looks better for the 15 bagels of manure it got after I’d weeded & pruned 3 beds.
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The shed and workshop roofs were white this morning, the thermometer in the blow away had been down to 0, but it is now lovely. Bright and very little wind. Washing is out, 20 more mins and I'm off outside ....
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As we're giving up The Patch to a lovely family in October ( now actually), I've spent a great day reorganising the veg plot at home - a few more square yards of growing area, a tweak to the edges to make it all look good, and a chat with the greenhouse inhabitants...
We decided just a moment ago, that we'll do all the leeks here, but not in rows - just where they fit. It'll be beans and sweetcorn as well close by, and maybe some radish etc, but leeks don't really need to be on straight lines do they?
Toms are forging ahead, and we have blight at home so they'll need a good growbag - oh heck - just remembered - the soil I use in the pots is from the blight area...
Exit Growster, buy more big growbags on the list..:0(
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Don't worry Growster blight spores don't live in the soil over winter. It's only in the air, anew every year.
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Don't worry Growster blight spores don't live in the soil over winter. It's only in the air, anew every year.
Thank you Mum, I didn't know that!
What I always do is half-fill the 10" pots with garden soil, then top up with good bought compost. I can get four pots in each watering tray, so that way can fit up to sixteen tom plants in the greenhouse!
The big grow bags are for the cuces, and we're not growing peppers this year...
Not good round here today is it! 11 degrees? Paaaaah!
Going to get much better soon though!
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The new 'Patch at Home'...
The brown areas are the fallout from the yew tree in the churchyard behind. It all used to be this size until we took on the allotment, but I can now get all the beans in behind the four black currants, put the sweetcorn in a block in the middle, plant the leeks around the edges, and perhaps pop up a couple of wigwams for more beans.
I think we'll still be getting as much as we had down at The Patch, as you can just see the spuds in bags in the greenhouse, and we always spread the toms around the house as they then get the benefit of different sunshine, shade etc, also if blight comes along, it has happened that one side of the house got it, but the other side didn't!
Sorry about 'Lady Hillingdon' waving in front of the photo! I hope the original grand old lady wasn't as promiscuous as ours, she gets in all the places you least expect...;0)
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What a horrible morning! Called in to the nursery to collect bags of compost (tried on Sunday afternoon but they had sold out! :ohmy: ) and the man said "we are going to get a lot of lurkers today" and he was right! I had just spent 10mins looking at seeds I didnt need in hope that the rain would ease....
Oh well inside jobs this morning and hopefully it will clear later.
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Shopping ✅
Bread made ✅
Some ironing done✅
Lunch✅
Dinner organised✅
Time for a catch-up on here then to go & make some dolly’s pram bedding for little granddaughter .
Maybe pot on some toms at some point if I don’t have to swim to the shed/greenhouse
I love,love,love being retired 😂😂😂
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Not good round here today is it! 11 degrees? Paaaaah!
Going to get much better soon though!
Don't put the mockers on it! but I hope so ;)
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Bank holiday weekend, the weather is looking great and by some fluke I have evaded a shift at job no. 2 and have the whole 3 days off :D
Just getting going and then I'm off to the plot to do some planting. Have a good one folks, whatever your plans :)
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He's off planting french beans and I am going to sit in the sun and make onion netting ... onion fly in the spring and then over the leeks in the auturm against the allium miner. It is war !!! :mad:
PS looks like I am doing the royal wedding dress, sitting surrounded by white netting .... ::)
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Bright sunshine and the morning to myself! Off to the plot to sow some turnips and plant out my chillies in the tunnel.
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Had to retreat inside,it’s positively hot out there.been to the farmers market in the village collecting little granddaughter on the way,so we included cake at the monthly coffee morning, then a play in the park until mummy turned up as daddy & grandad were fitting the new front door. Home to find it was far too hot in the conservatory for the seedlings, so cool in there down & a good watering & the greenhouse. Time for lunch & then off out to sewing group. Steak for tea, what’s not to like.😄
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Left going to plot til tea time as so hot.
Didn't waste my day though, trip for compost to garden centre and picked up supply of rabbit poo.
Had to put tomato plants outside as they were wilting in conservatory so hoping they cope in greenhouse tomorrow ;)
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It's been Growstractor weekend...
I wanted to bring some of the manure home from The Patch, so took the mower down, tied a long watering tray to the handlebars, and managed twelve bags with no effort, to drive it all back home (about half a mile)!
Got a few strange looks as well, but the stuff is well Mantissed in and needs some plants asap!
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Well the Growstractor must have been a sight to see :D
I'm off to the plot in a bit to put up a big net tunnel for greens and possibly plant it up. OH is booked for strimming duty later round the plot edges.
After that, some gentle pottering in the sunshine I think :)
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Hi all up dressed, house tidied and ready to go to the plot. I have loads of planting to do and want to get it done before it gets too warm.
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Washing and plants out. Fast whiz to aldi for bbq veg (too early for our own!) and then outside for the rest of the day. Oh, it is lovely to feel the sun...
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It's just wonderful out there today, bright sunshine and a breeze so it doesn't feel too hot.
I've been to the allotment 3 hours, been a busy bee - plus chatted to nearly everyone. It's looking good as most people have cut their paths and started work with a vengeance.
What a difference some sun makes 8)
Now for a sandwich and a glass of cold cider ;) Maybe a potter in the garden later or just a sit in the fresh air for a change. Probably with the cat on my lap :lol:
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Sun is out, Blues weren't relegated, happy times indeed :D
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Today, I am a volunteer for the Hospice. It is a cycle ride across the south Downs, ether 20 or 40 miles.Last year was the first time we organised it, and this year we have over 500 entries (all who are well sponsered)
I am running the water station at the finish line.
I have just got home, it was so hot, I was probably one of the most popular people there today 8) 8)
I think I gave out about 1200 waters (there was 1500 beakers in the box)
It is just so emotional to see friends and families taking part coming across the finish holding hands etc.
Cuppa tea now, and a sit after my cool shower for a cool off.
My Congratulations to all who took part, and people across the country taking part in other money raising events. Mrs Bouquet
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Oh, what a beautiful mornin'
Oh, what a beautiful day
I've got a beautiful feelin'
Everything's goin' my way....
Ok I might be over optimistic, but it is lovely .... Blossom, flowers, birds and everything thriving.
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Good work Mrs B, including you for helping out :)
Madcat, the sun makes me feel so much more optimistic, yes there's a list of jobs as long as my arm, but it doesn't matter how long it takes when the weather is good 8)
It's a garden tidy-up today - the grass is too long and there are too many weeds :ohmy: but I'll enjoy the work today ;)
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It's a garden tidy-up today - the grass is too long and there are too many weeds :ohmy:
That was me as well :lol: I got the back garden done and the lawn trimmed, but have come back inside for a cool down now :)
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The lawn was trimmed, and then the mower went over it - but the edges against the fence and border still need more trimming ::)
I only got about half of the big bed weeded, mostly Sticky Willy and Herb Robert, a lot of top-growth but not much root, but boy do my arms itch despite using Anthisan *sigh* I'll have to get some Piriton tomorrow before I attack the rest of it :nowink:
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Peace, perfect peace today...
Mayday means about forty-seven million motorbikes hurtling past 'The Turrets' on their way to Hastings for some sort of rally.
We're in a 30mph zone but the acceleration of the blasted bikes start just by our drive, and the screaming racket hangs around for several seconds - minutes - hours, up to lunch time. We reckon they're doing about seventy by the time they get into the 40mph zone a few yards further down the road.
Nice day today though, Mrs Growster and I always get a little shopping in locally, and smile with a few chums on the way!
And its peace, perfect peace...
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Yesterday was a morning trip to meet up with son & family at a local car show, where he had taken his roadster to show off. Very hot so we left about 11ish, spent the rest of the day reading in the shade apart from a brief spell potting on the brassica’s but it was soon too hot for me to do much more. So glad I got the garden weeded the other week & mulched as it’s been looking lovely, so I looked at the results of my hard work😊.
Today might be much of the same apart from a bit of shopping to restock on salad stuff. Oh & I will be sowing seeds I think
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but boy do my arms itch despite using Anthisan *sigh* I'll have to get some Piriton tomorrow before I attack the rest of it :nowink:
With you there .. and I cant stop sneezing. I am finding the one a day anti histamines from Aldi very effective and a lot cheaper! They have one with citirizine (like Piriton) and loratadine, which is the one that works best for me.
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They don't make a anti-histamine tablet without lactose and as I am intolerant to lactose have to have the syrup, does tend to make you sleepy as it is also used for children with epilepsy. I was alright until Monday when everyone (probably an exageration(sp) but it sounded like it) near us decided to cut their lawns!
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My hay fever is bad this year, I take the 3 a day Benadryl, they’ve been great for years & years, but this year I’m struggling, & I’m so itchy still
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Apart from another half hour spent weeding this morning, it has been an inside day - I had birthday cakes to make. They're all done now except the cream cheese frosting to go on the carrot cake in the morning :D
I just want to sample them all, but it's not good for my waistline ::) :lol:
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A sowing day & spending kind of day, after a trip to the garden centre for more compost, diesel to get there & another garden centre on the wayback to buy a top for my sis, & I for me fell in my basket lol. So quite good.
Tomorrow is granddaughter day 😄
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I'm going to retire. From allotment holding. From allotment committees. From all things gardening.
2 complaints to town council about a couple of fires on my allotment site. Not as bad as stated. But you know how complaints get polished up for town councils. Anyway emails to plot holders with a copy of the bonfire guidelines attached, words on Facebook. Hope that this will quieten things down for a bit.
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I feel your pain - if your rules are anything like ours, they make it more or less impossible to have a bonfire ::) because the smoke will always be going in someone's direction. If the smoke isn't blowing then it'll probably be a nice day when people will be out in their gardens and won't like the smell etc. etc. etc.
Cake finishing and housework for me today, I think - feels much cooler outside today, or is it just me?
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It is cooler. The sun is out, but there is a fair breeze and it is a lot fresher.
Lazy morning here as I have work later. The house guest (feline) has retired upstairs to under the duvet and I am working up to watering the greenhouse :)
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Cooler and fresher here too. I'm going to get the sewing machine out when I have finished my chores ..
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Sunny and breezy here too. Got to go and pick up some plants for the balcony pots and then it's off to weed the alium bed at the plot. Better have a good tidy up too before the site rep has a quiet word with me ;)
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Need to make some more paper pots for my runner beans which have all chitted in their little box this morning. That's the last of the 'summer stuff'' which I sow indoors - don't seem to be doing much different but my kitchen seems to have shrunk this year! ::)
Yes, much cooler here too, but a bit of aerobic hoeing this afternoon will overcome that. ;)
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Mowed everywhere, and edged...
Need to dig out the other edges tomorrow, as the geraniums need a home, and the dear chums next door like seeing them on 'Wisley', which they call it all as a view from their bedroom...
...more like Bisley...
;0)
Still no regrets about giving up The Patch. The new guysand gals have just gone mad with frames, shrubs, plants, bulbs etc, and I'm really overwhelmed at their progress...
As I'm seventy, and they're in their late thirties, I re-live their joy and Mrs Growster and I have the best result we could wish for!
Gorgeous! Happy days!
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I'm glad it is working out ok Growster, your version of Wisley sounds delightful :D
An early morning for me, I woke at 5 and just couldn't get comfortable enough to go back to sleep :wacko: I gave up trying and decided to do a list of what needs doing on the plot ::) The list is soo long, because of the weird weather so far this year, so slow and methodical seems to be the way to go. Some of the 'that would be pretty/might try that' options may get crossed off the list, as I need to get all the basic stuff done first... starting with the greenhouse tomatoes :D
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Mum, that could have been me posting this!
Everything you wrote applies here, and the shower has started to leak again as well, but this time I can see the problem..:0(
Lovely Kent morning though!
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It's a beautiful morning here as well. Off to work in a bit, but I also have a long list of catch-up jobs for the plot and greenhouse for over the weekend.
If a few get ditched along the way, then that is just how it will have to be :lol:
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Lovely here too. Washing flapping on the line in the sun and somehow the chores don't feel too bad.
(OH might have a different view when he realizes most of that wash load is ironing - his dept. :dry: )
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We had a lot of rain yesterday, starting late afternoon and continuing into the evening. Loads more tjan forecast, but the garden looks fresh this morning, so it did some good :)
Blue sky and sunshine now and I'm off to the plot in a bit. Enjoy your Sunday everyone :D
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Started the edges a day late (rain), and have found: -
3 Columbines
A lovely geum we'd forgotten about, just in bud,
A standard rose ditto
A honeysuckle ditto
Several primroses in a state of gasp...
And a million or three of those tall buttercup types which we can never remember the names of, plus the same number of white bluebells. Much of this is behind 'Dennis', one of our pear trees, and getting down there was a bit tight, especially as several of our cats are asleep close by, and I didn't want to wake them...
One thing I've realised is that a lot of this latter stuff was choking the roots of 'George', our resident Lord Lambourne, and he really needs some TLC, so he'll get a gallon of Miraclegro when we've cleared everything! (With ice and lemon knowing him)!
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Next year I'm going to be a proper gardener and grow things. This year I have lost the touch completely. Things I can usually grow without trouble aren't playing this year.
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Things I can usually grow without trouble aren't playing this year.
Don't despair you are not alone ::) It seems I can't grow cabbages this year :dry:
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...and I can't grow pumpkins either!
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I wonder if DD. can still grow peas? ::)
Getting a lift to Argos soon, to pick up the new battery mower/strimmer combo and browse B&M's veg plants - I hope they have grown some cabbage for me :lol:
It feels cooler this morning, so maybe a garden rather than a plot day. No fledglings in the robin's nest to worry about now - I don't know what got them, either the magpies, which have been very noisy lately, or one of the many local cats :(
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Ahh that’s a shame about the robins. Enjoy your trip to town.
Not sure on what today holds for me today apart from sitting & admiring my fingers when I’ve been & got my nails done 😊, might feel I can’t get mucky, but the onion seedlings could do with going in & I need to sort the greenhouse out. I need to move the rest of the tomatoes down there but then I’ll need to clean the conservatory, decisions,decisions
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I hope the nails are doing ok and you are remembering to put your gloves on :D
I played with the mower yesterday and was impressed, was hoping to finish the job today but the weather has other ideas. Looks like I'll be using the Dyson instead - oh well - it does need doing :lol:
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Thanks Mum, nails are standing up to it, with gloves at every opportunity, helped garden club empty 96 large hanging baskets yesterday 😱😂
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...and I can't grow pumpkins either!
Blimes!
Three more have appeared..;0)
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Had an op 6 weeks ago to remove a basal cell carcinoma from my face, and this morning I went back to the hospital for the consultant to give me the results of the biopsy, which thankfully was good (i.e. they reckon they've managed to carve all of it out.)
Think I may have overdone my cautionary remarks about protecting my face from the sun, because the charming Irish consultant gently told me not to turn myself into a mushroom, and that life is there to be enjoyed (I dunno, you go in to fix one problem and come out with another! :wacko: :lol:)
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Thank goodness the results were good!
You didn't really want to be a mushroom did you? ;)
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Great news, Jay - long may it continue and make you feel better!
As Mum says, being the right side of the grass is preferable to the alternative, and you can now wear that big hat you always wanted!
Take care eh?
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Thanks for your comments Mum and Growster, I do now have a 'cricket hat', which I like wearing as much as I enjoyed wearing my school cap (ie. only when in sight of the school grounds! ;))
If people worry about the effects of sun exposure at all it probably involves remembering to check whether any of their moles are changing their appearance (quite rightly too.)
BCC's are surprisingly common - mine was on my left temple and before the op I felt the need to mention it to my barber. She said she'd quite often noticed suspicious patches of skin on some of her clients, one of whom passed it off as just a rough patch on his ear - a couple of months later he admitted it had been diagnosed as a BCC and had been surgically removed. Worth bearing in mind folks, especially if you're fair skinned and got lots of healthy sunshine in your yoofs. ;)
The main point the consultant made was not to avoid sun exposure altogether, but to know your own skin and make sure you take sensible measures to avoid burning it.
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Sounds like your consultant had the right balance there between being careful, but not letting something take over your life. Thank goodness you did have it checked and the outcome was good :D
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So pleased you got the treatment you needed at the right time JayG, it’s such a shame when people leave it too long & then it’s a different ending.
Granddaughter here for the day again, it’s only 1 day a week but it comes around so quickly, thank goodness, we would be happy to have her more, she’s such a poppet, she’s having her nap now so time for a sit down with my feet up & a cuppa lol
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I feel a strimming day coming on...
The brick paths here are a disgrace, with weeds all over the place, so its 'bzzzzzzzzzzzz' for an hour or so - sorry neighbours...
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Been at Mum's for a few days - so started with a tour of inspection. All well with the world and now it is down to watering because they are a bit parched. Then it is the dentists .... :(
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Glorious sunshine here, but I over gardened a bit yesterday and am not rushing out in it. A more sedate day I think with possible pottering later :D
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No sunshine here today :(
I only pottered yesterday, after plot inspection frenzy on Friday! - but my back says no strenuous work today either :dry: but there's still plenty to do in the greenhouse :ohmy:
I think it's going to be one of those years when I never catch up with myself :wacko:
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Wedding to attend today so no gardening,looks like it’s going to be a scorcher too. Greenhouse all opened & well watered. I advertised some tomato plants last night on fb marketplace, had 4 replies by this morning. Turning into a pain, 1 person was going to come last night,then first thing this a.m,still not turned up! I’m not bothered about selling them, just wanted good homes for my excesses lol
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Lovely day here again, nearly wishing for rain now ;)
Night time temps not set to dip below 10c over the next weel so it's nearly time to take the doors of the PT for the summer. Taking the sprog out to the park for a picnic.
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Bit sad here - one of our oldest friendly neighbours has just popped off, and that's just after another chum as well...
Mum, I think you once said that Stig knew a few people round here - it's dear David Wood the butcher. A lovely man, and we always reckoned he took a few pennies off our order as we lived next door, and were still newlyweds - well a few years! His wife is a darling, and we know all their children so well.
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Sad news, I'll have to ask him..
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Well it was a bit of a too early start after a late night at the wedding, which was lovely. I was helping take delivery of the 1300 plants for the planting up of the village hanging baskets tomorrow. Then it was a bit too hot to do much in the garden after lunch, plus I needed to bake for the volunteers tomorrow who will be planting up the said baskets. Committee meeting this evening. This retired life is certainly keeping me occupied lol
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Overcast and some rain this morning, so I thought it would be a housework day. All change at lunchtime so I've been clearing all the rubbish from pots on the paving, in bright sunshine 8)
A big disappointment today - the perennial poppies I grew from seed last year and planted in the Autumn, are not Patty's Plum but a bright orange red one :ohmy: which looks horridly out of place with all the blue and purple alliums in that bed *sulk* I'll have to try again, I suppose..
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Mrs Growster and I spent a fortune in Hastings, then did our usual pog out with a KFC on The Firehills... It's an annual ritual which ends up with violent indigestion, but so what!
The trip home became a 'memory lane' and we went all over the place to see sights we hadn't been to for ages, and they're only a few miles away!
Great day, and I hope you all had as much fun as we did!
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Overcast and some rain this morning, so I thought it would be a housework day. All change at lunchtime so I've been clearing all the rubbish from pots on the paving, in bright sunshine 8)
A big disappointment today - the perennial poppies I grew from seed last year and planted in the Autumn, are not Patty's Plum but a bright orange red one :ohmy: which looks horridly out of place with all the blue and purple alliums in that bed *sulk* I'll have to try again, I suppose..
I’ve got patty’s plum, where did you get the seeds from, would you like me to save you some from mine(when it flowers, I spied buds today)
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They were ebay seeds but in one of the major seed supplier packets, can't remember which one, it's been a year ::) and yes, some seeds would be lovely. Thank you :)
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This retired life is certainly keeping me occupied lol
:D :D I sometimes (just) have the time to wonder how I ever had the time to work.....
Looks a lovely morning, but that wind is a bit chill. Chores done, so I am going to move my potting table round the corner out the breeze and get the toms moved on to bigger pots, ready to start hardening off. That really feels like the start of summer ....
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They were ebay seeds but in one of the major seed supplier packets, can't remember which one, it's been a year ::) and yes, some seeds would be lovely. Thank you :)
Ok I’ll see what they produce & pm you in a couple of weeks
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Its a bit damp and overcast here today, but we have had lots of rain over the last couple of days and the ground will have softened nicely :)
I feel a planting session coming on. There are squashes and tomatoes in 2L pots that have been patiently growing on waiting to go out, so it could be instant garden time on the plot :lol:
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Not had as much rain here, I'm still hoping for one of the big storms that they have forecast. ::)
Stinking hot from first thing, so I've done some pottering in the garden and now going under the sunshade with a long drink and my book. 8)
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I wish! This morning's plans were a washout - but now the sun is out and I am on my way .... :)
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Serious realisation going on here...
I just can't manage to work the big hedge cutter Mrs Growster gave me for my birthday last year. It's too heavy.
Exhausted from a whole morning at the job, and I still haven't cleared up.
Need to get a chum in to do the hard yards, cut the whole lot down to manageable size then we'll have an easier task in the coming months.
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I was expecting the heavy rain of the night to continue today but it started to dry up after I’d started cleaning,then as it clouded over & began spitting with rain I went a walk up to our sons & ended up bringing our granddaughter back with me for an hour so daddy & grandad could carry on with the lounge renovations, she ended up staying all afternoon. Friend came to visit & then our daughter. Finally got to go to the plot after dinner & did a bit of light weeding, water butts are full again
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Didnt it rain last night! The lightening was magnificent ...
Anyway the ground is now lovely for getting little plants in, so off we go, then if it rains again this pm they will settle in lovely. PS it is not to rain this am - I'm leaving washing out!
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Dodged the lightning here thankfully!
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Terrific storm last night for over an hour, right overhead, torrential rain, so plans change again for today now household jobs are done. I think it’s the greenhouse for me, potting on the tomatoes into final pots, then hardening off beans to get planted out when the wind dies down. Think I’ll get as much planted out before we go away, shame I hadn’t hardened beans off.
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Finished the hedges at last! :0)
The good thing about hedging on a Sunday, is that lots of chums are passing by with various dogs, children etc, and I can stand there chatting for ages on a glorious day like this!
Even had a long chat with an estate agent who is flogging the house opposite, and was waiting for a punter. Blimey, when I was in that job, we stopped on Saturday lunchtime, and didn't ever do Sundays! Mind you, for £2.75m sale price, the commission might have something to do with it...:0[
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Its a grey morning here and after 2 days of slogging away on the plot, I have a bad case of lassitude :lol: Second cup of coffee on the go and I still have no plan for the day.
Maybe a potter round at home is on the cards ;)
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No plan here either, might finish the ironing if it gets that bad lol. If the weather improves I might plant out some brassicas but I was going to order new netting but now I’m not sure what to do, veggie mesh v debris. I’ve already got debris but I melted big holes in some of it with too big a bonfire😱😂. I use an old adapted tent frame but it’s not as big as I would like/need. I could just plant then throw the net on top of now. Decisions,decisions.
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Grey warm morning here - there might be a thunderstorm later and there might not. So ... washing out and freezer raided for a bbq later.... Now thinking about what next.... Coffee, that is what is next!
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We're supoosed to be out nabbing speeding drivers (Speedwatch) here this morning...
Fat chance as it's raining!
Must get the toms planted so it'll be a greenhouse day then, so might as well do the cuces as well. And the peppers. The sunflowers are getting eaten by something - baaah!
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Might get the brassicas in but they’re still very small, might not be there when I look again
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Warm, grey and with a nasty north wind - a good drying day. OH has gone out for a spin on his bike, so there must be something invigorating in it. I think it is a catch up inside day, with an afternoon at the sewing machine.
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Persisting it down right now, typical cos I have to go out in a bit :nowink: Ain't that always the way! and just found a cupboardful of ants around the honey jar EUGH, l o v e l y ::)
I hope my day gets better :lol: :lol:
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Wet, warm and calm and the birds are singing their socks off now - lovely :)
The storms have smashed down a lot of the just opening roses, it's so sad after waiting this long for them - it's a good job most (not all though :() will rebloom later on.
I think I'll put on my boots and see if there's anything I can do round on the plot, depends how claggy the soil is ::) If not I'll be garden pottering for me - I need to be outside for some fresh air today. I can just ignore the ironing pile for another day :tongue2: :lol:
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Just done six hanging baskets with three red geraniums and a lobelia in each one! We've given up on liners and use a chunk of dark greendebris netting to hold all the compost in, and Mrs Growster is very happy, because I remembered to put in the water retention granules - for the first time in living memory...
As they're all in place, and the sweetcorn is also in as well as the runners, there's bound to be a frost now!
MUST do the greenhouse this afternoon too...
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It is a bit grey and damp here today. I might get some gardening done after work, but it depends. Everything is very drippy after heavy overnight rain, so venturing into the undergrowth doesn't really appeal :unsure:
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As the weather can't make up it's mind, neither can I :D
I need to go to feed my daughter's cat - I think it'll rain on me if I go soon :unsure: or I could go this afternoon, and still get rained on! Plus there's all the usual stuff to do on the allotment and at home - the growing ironing pile, of course :blush:
Decisions decisions ::)
It's a hard life innit ? :lol:
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Took advantage of a local solicitor's free will making service in March, and after a few hiccups (including my elder sister suddenly becoming my mother and vice-versa due to the solicitor apparently not being able to understand her own notes ::)) I finally get to sign it and have it witnessed later this morning.
Don't want to tempt fate, so will drive down there with even more care and attention than usual! :lol:
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I've had a fabulous day tackling the front (wild - furious actually) garden...
Apart from a damn good haircut everywhere, I'm half-way there, but have found more sycamores, than were ever grown by Mr S. Sycamore when he opened a sycamore nursery in 123, Sycamore Street, Sycamore City, Sycamore County, USA...
One had a stem a half an inch thick and we hadn't even noticed it!
Tomorrow, as I've strimmed like a dervish today (do they actually do this, I know they whirl), I'm actually considering raising the blades on the mower, and giving all the undergrowth a seeing-to. We always leave the strimmings etc. to the elements, as they rot down, and create some sort of wild habitat for milkmen, voles, postmen, passing couples in need of a rest etc., and then the dog will see the rabbit, and I can finish it all off!
We've decided that we need a man in to see to the remaking of the front and side hedges. It's too much for us, and they need some structural redesign, which I can do in my head but not practically! Once that's done, I can use the small battery trimmer to keep it all in shape. We know the best chap to do this as he keeps some of the bigger hedges around here razor sharp and dead level - hope he won't charge too much, as that my be my birthday present..:0)
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Set of on holiday today calling at Homeacres in Somerset to Charles Dowding’s garden that he was opening for the ‘yellow book scheme’ for the first time today & tomorrow. Very interesting.
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After lots of planting yesterday, everything aches today ::) so I've just been in the garden watering, pottering and reading.
Lovely bright day, but patches of dark threatening clouds - been lucky so far as they have blown over. A cooler day forecast for tomorrow, so I may get more done on the plot.
Hope you are all having a nice day :)
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Took advantage of a local solicitor's free will making service in March, and after a few hiccups (including my elder sister suddenly becoming my mother and vice-versa due to the solicitor apparently not being able to understand her own notes ::)) I finally get to sign it and have it witnessed later this morning.
Don't want to tempt fate, so will drive down there with even more care and attention than usual! :lol:
We also took advantage of a "special offer" many years ago, and had our wills done. We were only in our forties at the time, but as we had children we thought we needed to sort ourselves out. I think age is irrelevant as nobody knows what is around the corner, and once it's done you can forget about it. Well, almost forget about it, because as the years roll on it's probably wise to review it and make any necessary alterations.
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Cooler cloudy morning with the ground wet from a heavy dew. Good gardening day ... final push to get the courgettes and outdoor toms out of pots and into the ground. Phew!
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Mornings... starting the day grumpy because...
I woke up cold at 3am, my fault I had taken the duvet off, after a few weeks of warm nights just leaving sheet and thin bedspread on. Got up and put duvet on bed again but couldn't get back to sleep properly. Just kept tossing and turning and only slept in snatches so now have a 'heavy head' and back-ache, Grrr!
Cool and grey this morning and it feels like the heating should be on ::) woolly socks and cardi instead of sandals and t shirt kinda day ::)
The cat isn't happy either cos I ran out of pouches and she only had biscuits for her supper, when I gave her the same this morning she just gave me 'the look' and stalked off :lol: The Trashco delivery man is due soon, so normal service will be resumed shortly. Think I'll make myself some porridge to warm up with ;)
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Cooler here today, think we’re staying on scaffolding corner, this is the 3rd morning a scaffolding wagon has been parked opposite our digs, either putting up or taking down scaffolding. Won’t be renting in the middle of a town again
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Oh dear Snowy not a room with a view then !
I'm just having a quick surf before going on a 13m walk !! Tis a bit far for me but it should be flat as it follows a route that ponies pulled coal carts from the pits to the river Avon, it then got took to Bristol and Bath. The rails can still be seen in a few places so I'll be spot the bit of history.
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Much better morning here than we have been having - blue sky with a bit of a brisk breeze. Good for playing out. Next doors are having a new kitchen fitted - much relief that it will all come in dry and without a lot of mud being tramped through the house. :)
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Massive storm overnight, so garden drenched ::)
So apart from a few sowings in the greenhouse - I will be ironing today :ohmy:
I don't want to, but it really can't be left any longer as I have little left to wear. Now I don't mind scruffy gardening, but it isn't the best look for the committee/Council meeting later, I think you'd agree :lol:
Hope you all have a nice day..
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Hubby had suggested we went to the Eden project whilst we were nearby in Devon, google told us it wAs 1 1/2 hours away but it turned in to more like 2 1/2. Worth it to see it again, it’s been a couple of years, shame it rained quite heavily when we were ready to look outside, did the biomes first in case it brightened up & got too hot for them.long day,left holiday house at 9.15 & just back now6.15
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Havn't been there for at least 10 years but hope to go again sometime. We went on one of those past time chartered trains as late OH used to be a train spotter in his youth, we won a £100 voucher in the raffle on the way back which really rounded off the day as it was my birthday (cannot remember which one !!)
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We've had a dozen Speedwatch session here over the last fortnight. The village has a terrible problem with dangerous driving, and these sessions showed no let up on morons belting through at crazy speeds!
Last Sunday morning, we clocked 88 drivers doing way more than 30mph IN AN HOUR including a bike doing 66mph about a hundred yards after the traffic lights! It's disgraceful, and the spot where we were working is a well known black spot. As usual the Kent county council do absolutely nothing. The Police support us though...
But the garden is getting into shape at long last, and I even managed to get some tilling done for a great old friend down the road. We always chat for ages, and afterwards, I got home and a few minutes later, 'Bing-Bong', and a happy face and a couple of bottles of wine appeared at the door! What a lovely man he is!
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Mornings!
Keep up the good work Growster.
Here we have a lovely bright sunny day, my morning cuppa has been drunk in the sunshine and I'm ready to start.
Strimming to do as yesterday afternoon the strimmer didn't run out of battery as usual - it ran out of spool!
There's someone up there with a strange sense of humour, I think :nowink:
After the grass I'll start planting up the new 'flowers for cutting' bed, Dahlias first.
Have a nice day :D
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As usual the Kent county council do absolutely nothing.
Oxfordshire have a plan to stop speeding - potholes! Every few yards there is one that will destroy tyres/suspension/teeth if you hit it at more than 30mph, and often 20 is a bit rough .... A motorbike would be whirling through the air ... :ohmy: Always a silver lining I suppose .. :dry:
Cloudy dry morning. Washing out and now to tackle the goosegrass along the side of the house so I can get the planters and cherry tomatoes out.
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Last day of our holiday, been out for an early coffee & a bit of a shop,mainly to buy something for our granddaughter. Will be going for another walk round in a bit & maybe lunch out today, I think it’s fish & chips for tea, will be 1/2 portion each as they’re just too much 1 each.
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"Oxfordshire have a plan to stop speeding - potholes! Every few yards there is one that will destroy tyres/suspension/teeth if you hit it at more than 30mph, and often 20 is a bit rough .... A motorbike would be whirling through the air ... :ohmy: Always a silver lining I suppose "...
Madcat, we have the most useless county council in the land! They never listen, and do absolutely nothing except make excuses...
I know we're never political here, but if the bloke in charge of 'roads' is a 'waste management expert', what on earth are we to do? £100,000 salary a year to do what?
Anyway, we have a meeting soon with a senior policeman who actually is looking at ways to stop the farce of speeding and dangerous driving. Our village deserves better than the sham we get from KCC!
(Sorry Mods - won't happen again, but I'll let you know how we get on - the chap I'm with for the meeting is 6'6" tall, I'm 5'7" and used to be a serious rugby prop forward and we'll never let up...;0)
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we have the most useless county council in the land!
I think there will be a few who would also claim that :lol: Reading Borough Council are pretty mind blowingly useless most of the time. There is another side to all this whinging about council under-funding and staff costs are a big part of it. We rent business premises from them and its laughable. We switched units, both the people in the department were on holiday at the same time, so no-one would deal with it ::) I also got 'out of office' notifications from emails sent saying 'I'm working from home, so am not reading my work emails' :wacko: I did ring the main office and eventually got through to someone fairly high up who squirmed about as I asked how anyone could achieve that particular feat. Anyway he sorted it for me, so it was worth kicking up a fuss ;)
If your bloke in charge of roads has that as his job, then he needs to get on with it. His wages are paid by householders like you and you are entitled to value for money. He is there to help you, so don't let up until he earns his keep.
Anyway back to chit chat. Its a bit overcast and dull here, but dry. I'm contemplating a plot visit and a garden pottering session, but haven't got going yet. I'm tired from busting a gut doing my 2 jobs this week for considerably less than £100k a year :lol:
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I'm tired from busting a gut doing my 2 jobs this week for considerably less than £100k a year :lol:
If Growster has his way, there will be a well paid vacancy in Kent asap. Fancy a move east? :lol:
Cloudy start to the day. Chores for the morning and hopefully it will brighten up later when I want to play out doing planters (whisper it - flowers!) around the house.
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Anyway back to chit chat. Its a bit overcast and dull here, but dry. I'm contemplating a plot visit and a garden pottering session, but haven't got going yet. I'm tired from busting a gut doing my 2 jobs this week for considerably less than £100k a year :lol:
You go gettem, News!
£100k is an absurd amount anyway, but my giant chum Keith, another lovely (and argumentative as well as gorgeous) lady chum and I are due to give them both barrels soon, especially as the police here are well behind us, but not being political, KCC are just awful...
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Madcat, we are seething about the incompetence at the moment, and would you believe that on a local media site, some residents even think we should 'get a life'. Pathetic really, but dross gets swept out eventually.
Perhaps the alternative is preferable in their case, and a nice plywood box awaits them...
Our group doesn't care a monkey's about comments anyway!
(Growster, we've warned you before, don't do this sort of haranguing. - Mods)!
sorry
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Well I didn't make it to the plot yesterday, but had a productive time at home sowing some more beetroots in modules, plus khol rabi. fennel and various greens and salads for catch crops as stuff like overwintering onions come out.
I am going today, but I think the soil will be too dry to do much. I'm hoping for some broad beans to pick at least :)
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Me too - but lots done at home. Today is warm and cloudy, so it is pot on the sage, take some bay and rosemary cuttings (in hope) and prick out lettuce and basil. Oh and feed the troops .... ::)
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Yesterday, I managed 3 hours on the plot, but paying for it today ::)
So like everyone else it's a pottering about day - I've been sorting out the seed box to find what's next....
so some seed sowing and putting the garden dahlias into bigger pots and a couple are going into the border (if I can dig the holes ::) )
:D :D Happy days!
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Yup, I'm a bit crocked today after trimming about 200' of my privet hedging which is at least 6' high over the last couple of days.
Worst 50' still to do, including having to squeeze my aching bones behind the shed, so I'm telling myself it's too hot now to do it today - tomorrow looks sooooo much like the better bet! ;)
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It's Mrs Growster's big 70th birthday today, so it's a morning of chaos, then up to 'The Queens' for lunch!
Welcome - The Queen's Inn Hawkhurst (http://www.thequeensinnhawkhurst.co.uk/home/#eat)
May even celebrate by spraying the paths with Roundup..;0)
Two balloons have already burst!
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Happy birthday Mrs G.
I was up super early for some unknown reason, I thought about going out & sorting the greenhouse out, potting on the last tomatoes into final positions, but the heavy mist has put me off, looks like it’s going to be a scorcher when it lifts. Need to get in that greenhouse v.soon though.
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Mornings!
Happy Birthday to Mrs Growster, I hope you both have a lovely lunch.
I was up bright and early for some reason, so bedroom curtains and spread now washed and on the line :) another lot in the wash m/c as well.
Coffee next and then garden needs strimming and mowing..
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Happy birthday Mrs G. 🎉 💐 🍰
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Mornings :D
Bright and sunny here so it's a working in the garden day. My allotment is fairly tidy the garden is an absolute mess though, a bit embarrassing as my garden is in front of the house :blush:
Finish my cuppa and start...
Have a good day!
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My jungle sorry garden is at the front of the house too, I leave it a bit wild for the wildlife (thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it. Always something to do on the allotment but that really is my happy place but today got dragged into a patch that our U3A gardening club look after at a local community centre.
The Ox eye daisies had really taken over so we pulled loads up leaving a few in the middle (well they were crowding other plants) only to see a photo of them and a remark of how lovely they were when I looked on the centres news page. opps :lol:
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Grandson said let's go to Orkney. He lives in Thurso and I live about 11 hours down the railway line. Two days travelling there and back - never been on most of that railway line so it was novel and am used to long distance rail. I did remember some of Orkney - and between us we managed to lay out a tour for when his parents go up in a couple of weeks time.
Terrible tour guide on coach round island - driving good but verbal diarrhea and a lot of it inaccurate. As the boy said when we left the island - well I know where he lives (who cares but he told us as we went passed his house when he had nothing else to say). Mind boggles but not to ask.
We met some of the Dutch fellow travellers next day looking for puffins at Dunnet Head lighthouse. Norman and his dog who run a coffee shop with decent paintings was closed with it being Sunday but grandson was hopeful he might be open. Having lived inland of a lighthouse that the RAF use as a marker for training runs and which still sounds in bad weather I have no great affinity with lighthouses.
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Sitting in greenhouse drinking my first cuppa and it started spitting ::) I thought I was plotwards bound this morning, but it doesn't look like it right now :dry:
Oh well! Housework it is then ;)
Are we in for a soggy Sunday? Have a nice one everybody.
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Started with a damping down (much needed!) but the sky is brightening up. It will be nice by lunchtime, so chores this morning and we will see this afternoon ...
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Awake at silly o’clock(4) then couldn’t get back off, I think cos little granddaughter was sleeping over, she was up at 5.30 so I’m tired now, she’s gone home so it might be a rest day today.
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Our front garden is designed to have just shrubs and a wilderness floor.
I'm planning to mow it to knock the ivy etc', out, and Mrs Growster asked me a few minutes ago, whether I'd done it!
Totally forgot, but the lawn looks great, and so does the kerb stuff outside The Turrets!
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Admittted defeat with my homegrown aubergine plants which never recovered from a flea beetle assault so replace them with store bought plants, first time I've done that :(
Bit of weeding and then wandered off home as it was getting dark.
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Admittted defeat with my homegrown aubergine plants which never recovered from a flea beetle assault so replace them with store bought plants, first time I've done that :(
Bit of weeding and then wandered off home as it was getting dark.
I germinated some aubergines then fried them in the greenhouse in the first wave of hot weather 🙄 so I bought 2 & they’re romping away
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Up bright and breezy but it's a drizzly start to the day, so indoorsy stuff on the 'to do' list.
Cat's got her grumpy head on, cos the door is shut, I let her out and she runs straight back in ::) Can't win can I?
Have a good day :)
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The cat here has a grump head on this morning as well. Much prowling about and moaning, but after stuffing his face and sitting on my knee for a bit, he stalked off to bury himself in the duvet.
I've left him to it and gone to work :lol:
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JRT keeps chasing bees, andhasn't learned what happens the last time she ate one...
I spied the biggest grass snake I've ever seen this morning, down on The Patch! It was basking on a section of old greenhouse, and while I couldn't see its head or tail, it must have been at least a yard long, and its girth was as big as the average salt cellar!
Sadly, one got caught in a net a few years ago, and presumably a fox got to it before I did, but this feller was a monster, and with beautiful colouring! I wish I'd had my camera, but with a very, very long telefoto lens..:0)
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JRT keeps chasing bees, andhasn't learned what happens the last time she ate one...
I spied the biggest grass snake I've ever seen this morning, down on The Patch! It was basking on a section of old greenhouse, and while I couldn't see its head or tail, it must have been at least a yard long, and its girth was as big as the average salt cellar!
Sadly, one got caught in a net a few years ago, and presumably a fox got to it before I did, but this feller was a monster, and with beautiful colouring! I wish I'd had my camera, but with a very, very long telefoto lens..:0)
Ooh yuk, I’d have been back at the Towers quick as a wink, I’m terrified of snakes.
My cats are grumpy today as I’m not letting them past the kitchen door today as someone left a deposit on the doormat! I think I know who it is as she’s feeling sorry for herself.
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Mornings :) Lovely start to the day here, and as it's cooler thanks to a strong breeze I'm going to go and do some hoeing ...
I lifted one of my early spud plants yesterday and there was very little underneath, so also have to do a bit of shopping later, as well.
What an exciting life I lead in retirement :lol: :lol:
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Done some watering and tried a bit of hand-weeding but far too hot despite a cooling breeze. OH is busy doing a much-needed sort out in the garage for our new freezer and fridge-freezer coming tomorrow. He's also asked me to load up a pic he took of a circular card that is on the top of a gun cartridge case (ok, fine) but he wants it to be printed out the exact size so he can make some more cards for those that don't have any (r-r-right). It's a good excuse not to do any hoovering today! :lol:
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"the top of a gun cartridge case "
I thought he was a muzzle loader Goosey?
Perhaps we need a tincture at a hostelry near both of us to understand these shenanigans!
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Another lovely start to the day so a plot visit is on the Agenda, plus some baking because it is...
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And we bought some scones and cream only yesterday Mum...
Tesco must have seen us coming!
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"the top of a gun cartridge case "
I thought he was a muzzle loader Goosey?
Perhaps we need a tincture at a hostelry near both of us to understand these shenanigans!
He is but also shoots rifles that use cartridges which he collects. He is presently sorting them out which appears to have taken over the whole house! Some are quite rare so I daren't move them. Some are missing the paper on top which is where I came in handy so he could cut my pics out and stick them on the top. All I did was crop the pic then print out the smallest size and, with only a minimal tweaking, it worked and I can't tell the difference between the original and the stick-on pic. Part of my morning was spent in the garden pulling a few weeds out and praying for rain.
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With the hot weather, I've mostly been getting out quite sharpish, so any morning posts are a bit on the late side, like today.
The tomatoes have been pruned and tied up, allotment watered and a bit of hoeing , peas and raspberries picked, :ohmy: Home for a cuppa and a cheese and HG tomato in a HM roll. Life is good..
Hope your day is as good :D
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Morning :)
Much cooler today, so wondering what to do first now it's actually cool enough to do something :lol: :lol
There's a lot of potting on to be done, or should I take the overdue library books back ::) Decisions, decisions - first another cup of tea ........
Have a nice day!
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Working today, but at least it is a bit cooler. Had some very hot, sap draining days at work recently that have left me feeling a bit like a damp dishcloth :( At least I don't do a big commute these days. That is hell in this weather.
We have a chance of showers later. Fingers, toes and everything else crossed here :D
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I forced myself to get up when I woke at around 6.30 & was at the plot by 7.30 as it’s another scorcher here today. By 10. 30 I was homeward bound & ready for my late first coffee of the day, done a fair bit of what I wanted to do,but there’s more, but then again there always is isn’t there. After said coffee I went in search of cucumbers in case there was some I’d missed & ended up winding the toms round the strings & side shooting them & taking some vigorous leaves off. So now I’ve had lunch it’s a case of shall I do more gardening related jobs, wash the kitchen floor,finish the ironing or pod the broad beans?
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Hey!
As we don't watch the awful bbc any more, the news comes via the PC/Ipad, and that's that!
So what is happening? Is there a football match somewhere? Dunno really.
As for us, we have a clutch of library books to devour. I'm on Stella Rimington's novel 'Present Danger', (fantastic writing, I'd love to meet such a great woman), and Mrs Growster is up for M.C Beaton...
So there it is...;0)
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Hey!
As we don't watch the awful bbc any more, the news comes via the PC/Ipad, and that's that!
So what is happening? Is there a football match somewhere? Dunno really.
As for us, we have a clutch of library books to devour. I'm on Stella Rimington's novel 'Present Danger', (fantastic writing, I'd love to meet such a great woman), and Mrs Growster is up for M.C Beaton...
So there it is...;0)
Shame you’re not in the WI Stella Rimmington was the guest speaker at the recent WI AGM, she was signing books as well
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Life's very good here too. Had my other cataract removed on Wednesday, patch came off yesterday, and today I can see the wires coming from the pylons in the very far distance!! My cheap reading specs are great for close-up work. Did a lot of watering last night so am twiddling my thumbs at the moment wondering what to do that doesn't involve bending down, and rejoicing in my Lavender Hidcote that's in a tub by the window which is flowering its little heart out!
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That must be lovely for you GG & when i read on your thread about your op it made me less frightened if I should ever need that op, so thank you.
Up reasonably early this morning, off to our local Soap box Derby today down the towns Main Street,it’s a hill which is essential for the soap boxes, our daughter enters it so we have a good laugh. Round to hers after for a bbq, then our little granddaughter is having a sleepover which should be fun, she’s such a character, bless her she’s just develop stutter, her little brain is going faster than her mouth can keep up.
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Had to come in from cutting the hedge, it's just too hot and draining out there!
The project is to reduce a 7ft holly/laurel hedge by about half so I can easily cut it with the lighter battery trimmer. It took an hour and a half yesterday to do a strip 10ft long, so there's at least another two days work...:0(
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Growster DON'T! I'll get very cross if you pass out and hurt yourself in this heat. I went out earlier and phew! If it gets any hotter I'll have to take my thermals off! :lol:
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Growster DON'T! I'll get very cross if you pass out and hurt yourself in this heat. I went out earlier and phew! If it gets any hotter I'll have to take my thermals off! :lol:
I was wearing a Kent County Cricket Club sun hat polo shirt and shorts, Goosey - in no particular order..;0)
Today - Monday, just about finished it all in the cooler afternoon.
Got an idea.
The inch thick stems of the laurel and holly are all now about 4 ft high, and pretty well bare. I've cut all the dross away.
There are four larger 'trunks' of ash and holly etc at regular intervals, and as the cut hedge is still a couple of feet deep, I reckon a good idea would be to wire/tie all these bare - but alive - stems in bunches, and then tie them back to the bigger stuff. This will reduce the depth.
This will also mean that the additional strength will be there, and I can trim it all to shape as it develops. Of course, the wire will be there forever, but so what? It's no different to growing a hedge over a rusty old fence, and after a few weeks, you won't see anything anyway! The hedge cutter will be working well away from the stems.
Well that's the latest plan anyway!
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Now it's cooler, and rainy outside, I think I'll actually start catching up with the housework, especially the ironing :D I've not been doing much indoors, in the heat, most of my energy was spent watering the allotment and garden ::)
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Now it's cooler, and rainy outside, I think I'll actually start catching up with the housework, especially the ironing :D I've not been doing much indoors, in the heat, most of my energy was spent watering the allotment and garden ::)
Great minds an' all that Mum!
Mrs Growster has just tackled all the ironing, and persuaded me to clean all the windows upstairs...