Nice people thread 2 - now even nicer

lostinrates

vivatifosi wrote: »

Crikey, persistent little beggers aren't they? Hopefully the tree will be ok. The crux of the matter is that I only have a small garden (about 25' by 14' of garden, though the whole garden including paved areas is larger. As a result, every little bit of space counts, so I can't afford to leave nettles down even if I can keep them under control because they'll look so hideous. When I first moved here the garden bit was just lawn, no planting at all which was really boring. I need to have some trees for shade or I can't use the garden because of my skin problems, but after years of neglect its as though the garden's going "wow, nice soil" and its attracting all kinds of stuff I don't want. I haven't even started on the mallow weeds or the aloe vera ones yet, at least they are pretty and as ground cover stop other stuff growing in the same place!

Never worry about pretty weeds, unless you want to. If its pretty I welcome it. I did not an elderflower had sprung up at the fingers crossed new house, and grimaced, but rather than argue with it I shall probably just make cordial promptly every year (I dislike the smell of elderflower).

I'm keeping out of the hot sun too. DH has psoriasis so he's in the sun I'm in the shade :D:D

misskool

eat the nettles, they make lovely beer and go well in a risotto. we have a large patch that I will be bothered to dig out at some point this year to make way for the soft fruit bed but it attracts all sorts when it flowers.

saw first set tomato of the year. cashback

harryhound

Davesnave wrote: »

I am lucky in having light soil,

It is the clay in the soil that neutralises the glyphosate (sp?) ie "Tumble weed" or "Roundup". So it may remain effective in a sandy soil. - You have to be very careful if you are tempted to use it on things starting to grow on a thatched roof. The alternative of a gas blow torch wand does not work too well on a thatch roof either:rotfl:l

SingleSue

This is like talking to my brother....a different language!

He and my sister are the plant/flower ones (brother trained landscape gardener, sister formerly a florist), I'm completely hopeless at it and can only say "Oh how pretty" at the different colours.

I've got so many different flowers, herbs and green things in my garden and people are always stopping and saying how nice it looks and where did I get the (some unpronouncable name) and I'm like "Eh what? What colour is that one?" or "Is that the one next to the weird one with spikey leaves or the one next to the one with a weird smell?"

Anyway my news, neck and back specialist is sending me up for an MRI...peeing myself with nerves about the MRI but the disability board peeps have told me it's nothing to get scared about...pity I can't take a book with me, could lose myself in the book and not be worried at all.

harryhound

SingleSue wrote: »

Anyway my news, neck and back specialist is sending me up for an MRI...peeing myself with nerves about the MRI but the disability board peeps have told me it's nothing to get scared about...pity I can't take a book with me, could lose myself in the book and not be worried at all.

MRI lucky you ! When I thought I had been crippled for life with my back; the NHS did an X-Ray and said "It looks like its your joints" (I've got 3 vertebrae in the small of my back that are too close together, perhaps something to do with humping wet concrete - you are not even allowed to pick up a cwt dry sack these days; thus indicating that the discs must be damaged) "Can we use an MRI scan to have a closer look" - no it is too expensive blah blah blah. Blow me, on my next visit to the local hospital, there in the car park was a huge mobile MRI scanner.:mad:
(In the event I had a weekly dose of physiotherapy on the NHS supplemented by a weekly dose of guinea pig treatment here, that cost me a tenner.
http://www.bso.ac.uk/mm5open.htm
That treatment did the trick and a weekly dose of Pilates and use of a "lumbar roll" seems to keep me that way.)

Here is the story of the MRI scanner:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/nottingham/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8297000/8297217.stm

As I understand it the only real no no is taking anything with iron in it near the machine.
Lovely story about a plumber who ignored the warning signs and walked into the room. The contents of his tool bag took flight and did 60K worth of damage.

Nice to know there is still some ability in this country to create world beating technology.

SingleSue

I think it is because of the length of time I have been having problems and when I started to have them, MRI hadn't even been invented!

My first slipped disc was at age 14 and then followed a catalogue of problems with my back. At age 18/19, I was given traction in the hope of sorting things out.

I already know I have collapsed discs mid spine (that was diagnosed in my early twenties) and arthritis in my lower spine (diagnosed when I was 30 after many years of going to see the doctor but being put off because apparently you can't have arthritis until you are 30 unless you are or were an athlete - poppycock) but they have now finally decided to have a look at the nerves (sciatica sufferer since my late teens) to see if they can do anything about the worsening symptoms (loss of leg function, increased pain).

I too was given the instructions in my late teens/early twenties (and more so when I ended up in a wheelchair when pregnant with my 2nd child due to the pressure on my back) not to lift or carry anything, to take it easy, to rest...did I listen? Did I heck! I carried on at full pelt determined a back problem was not going to stop me.

So this has been over 26 years, a multitude of appointments and physio, oodles of pain etc coming.

So I don't actually feel lucky, just relieved that for once, someone is taking it more seriously and actually doing proper tests instead of just an x ray or telling me "What do you expect, you have 3 children, 2 of which are disabled. Of course you are going to get twinges"

Thankfully, working in an office and not in a job which was physical meant I could still go to work even when it was bad (unless I was on bed rest which I managed to avoid most times), so it didn't impact on my ability to work.

harryhound

It is only when it hits you that you realise that there is something to the guff about posture and regular breaks from key boards and a regime of regular exercise aimed core stability etc.
A good mattress is essential.
Thee is also a sort of feed back mechanism - something about being optimistic and natural endorphins.

SingleSue

Think I am being in over sensitive mood this morning, sorry if you don't intend it that way Harry, but it feels like you are getting at me.

Blame it on my hormones if you are not.

carolt

Is everyone enjoying the sun?

I've retreated indoors - actually too hot.

silvercar

carolt wrote: »

Is everyone enjoying the sun?

I've retreated indoors - actually too hot.

Agreed. That and getting too much sun/ alcohol yesterday