The Garden Fence - help and support in tough times

FPk I've never heard of winnaberries but I hope you'll enjoy the pie. Just had a thought, do you mean whinberries? I have heard of those. at circular lawnmowing!

We need to do some food shopping today - I really don't don't what to get. OH is very easy-going with regard to meals and will eat whatever I give him provided it doesn't involve offal, but it would be really nice if just sometimes he said "What I'd really like for dinner is...."

ivyleaf My mum used moan about my dad always saying what ever you want, My first husband used to say what ever you like love. I should have said we'll have salmon then, he hated salmon.

DS always says what ever you want and if I push it he will say well what have you got? They aren't much good are they.

We are having central heating. I have been wishing for that ever since we moved in. I could not believe it when I got a phone call last night from the housing association. The gas people are bringing in gas to the building next month so they decided as we all have decrepit storage radiators they may as well put in gas central heating for everyone that wants it.

I told her I thought everyone will want it as the storage radiators are not very efficient and cost a lot more than gas. I have a surveyor coming on Wednesday.

Oh Floss you've gotten my attention! Since moving I won't have any strawberries for jam this year. I've scouted some blackberries for when they're ready, although I'm not sure if foraging is permitted so have to look into it. Bilberries would make a great jam. Do you know of anywhere specific, either where foraging is allowed or pick your own? I'm more than happy to rope OH into driving (and helping to pick!) if necessary.

I did look into pick your own places for strawberries but it was cheaper to buy them in the SM and cheaper still to just buy the jam. I'll get my jam making fix somehow.

Yes FPK except I took the rad airers to a cs when we moved here. I had four, they were just more clutter.

FairyPrincessk wrote: »

Oh Floss you've gotten my attention! Since moving I won't have any strawberries for jam this year. I've scouted some blackberries for when they're ready, although I'm not sure if foraging is permitted so have to look into it. Bilberries would make a great jam. Do you know of anywhere specific, either where foraging is allowed or pick your own? I'm more than happy to rope OH into driving (and helping to pick!) if necessary.

As kids we used to go up around Dovestones reservoir, up the hills above our village (we lived in Saddleworth) and dad would take us to a spot above Scammonden reservoir beside the M62 on the way to Huddersfield. More recently I've seen them around Hollingworth Lake, along the Roman road up to Blackstone Edge (http://www.theaa.com/walks/ways-on-blackstone-edge-420713) and up towards Rivington Pike.

I did look into pick your own places for strawberries but it was cheaper to buy them in the SM and cheaper still to just buy the jam. I'll get my jam making fix somehow.

Why not put some strawberry plants into your new garden? They send babies out every year that can be planted out, so no need to worry about leaving them when you eventually move to your own home. I would guess that we've had around 8-9 kg from ours this year, 5kg went straight into wine, another 2kg+ is in the freezer for jamming, and DH has eaten the rest on his breakfast muesli!. Another plant to think about is rhubarb - again, it can be split after a couple of years to make new plants - and rhubarb & ginger jam is scrummy!