First-time house renovation

stolt

hi everyone, tomsmum, sorry to hear the bad news, i understand what you mean, my sister suffers from MS and shes in a really bad state and i know its a horrible thing to say but the pain she suffers with on a daily basis makes it awful because i'm helpless to do anything to help. I hope you are aswell as can be and you have family around you. my thoughts are with you. all the best.

TomsMom

Thanks for all your kind words guys. It's the funeral tomorrow, TD requested a non-religious service so I've chosen some songs from his CD collection and some poems including quite a light hearted one which if he's watching will bring a smile to his face! As he didn't want anyone talking about him who didn't know him then I have written the tribute and am aiming to deliver it so fingers crossed I can manage it. It's been a busy week organising it all but I'm happy with what's been decided. Fling a few positive vibes my way tomorrow at 1.30, hopefully they'll give me the strength to carry out this last act of love I can do for him.

typeractive

best wishes and thoughts for tomorrow. xxx

latecomer

@TM

I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. Big hugs from LLC too.

ukmaggie45

Will be thinking of you and your family TM. Hugs from Liverpool.

suisidevw

Really really sorry to hear about this TM. Thoughts and prayers with yourself/your family today. Hope it goes as well as can be expected.

spirit

TM I am so very to hear of your sad loss. My good wishes for you and your family at this sad time. :grouphug:

latecomer

@TM - hope everything went as well as possible.

We are trying to get some progress but are struggling to get the architect out to discuss things. Looks like we are definitely going to need to pur some chips on the flat roof as its in the original spec - no idea how we missed it when we checked while having all the original builder issues. May also need some additional roof vents but need to get confirmation from the architect.

Need to get final painting and boxing in done in the showerroom which I'm hoping to get done this week. Also bought a new solid oak table, chairs, side board and mirror as a package which should be coming on thursday. Still trying to get kitchen fixed but should be next week.

We are making progress but its very slow.

TomsMom

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and good wishes. Everything went very well on Friday and if a funeral can be beautiful then it was. The view from Aberystwyth crem is breathtaking as it is high up overlooking hills and valley and autumn colours were just beginning. Went in to Forever Autumn by Justin Hayward, also had The Long and Winding Road by Will Young and then Heaven by Hayley Westenra, exit to Forever Autumn again. The poems were most suitable without being religious (he didn't want a religious service) and I managed to get through my tribute with a bit of a wobble in the middle - d-i-l came up and put her arms round me and I was able to carry on. There was even a bird of prey circling outside during the service which was lovely as TD was very into them and could spot them from a good distance and could identify them all. Those that could appreciate a non-religious funeral said it was lovely, I couldn't have pleased his parents as they are very religious but at the end of the day I wasn't there to carry out their wishes, I had to do what TD wanted. He was an honest man and did not wish to pretend or be a hypocrite by having a religious service. Thank you all again for thinking of me.

Can anyone help me with a gardening question while I am here. If Maggie is about I think she can help with this.

We bought some new geraniums this year and I'd like to try and keep them going as TD chose most of them. I've taken some cuttings (I think I did it right ) and put them in a mix of compost and Perlite and have put them in the porch. Should the leaves go droopy and die off? Some have started to but some seem lovely and green and healthy looking.



I really don't have much of a clue. Any advice? The original plants are still in the garden at the moment. I've given them a bit of water so the compost is slightly damp. Do I continue to do this during the winter? I know I could ask on the green fingered forum but thought I would try here first. If no-one can help I'll re-post there.

ukmaggie45

Hi TM, so glad it all went OK and you managed to give your tribute.

I'm not the best person to ask about geraniums - I seem to be death to them! But I do think you've got too much leaf on your cuttings. The leaves will still be transpiring, but since there aren't any roots yet (or very little) the plants can't take up more water from the compost to replace what's been lost. I'd be inclined to try taking off the biggest leaves, you will get fresh growth from those nodes come the spring I think. Just leave a few small leaves - just 2 or 3 per cutting. It's also possible to cut big leaves down too (just leave a small amount of area half or a third depending on leaf size) - will look messy, but they'll be coming off come spring anyway.

Also it would be worth bringing in the original plants to overwinter before the first frosts, as then you've got a second chance to take more cuttings in spring.

But I would ask on the Green Fingered Forum too, as I'm useless with geraniums! I have the theory, but can't seem to get it to work in practise! :rotfl:

Hugs from Liverpool. :grouphug:

PS keep the cuttings out of direct sunlight until they're established - how sunny is your porch? Cuttings need it bright but not scorching sun!