How to Get Through The Tough Times The Old Style Way.

GreyQueen

Uhh, back in the saddle again, pls excuse that I haven't caught up with the thread (haven't even caught up with the washing-up tbh ). Why are weekends 2 days and workweeks 5? 'Snot fair.

Well it was cool and overcast here on Saturday but a better working temperature for the heavy work which I was doing on the lottie as the previous Saturday had been about 20 degrees and that felt a bit too warm to be lumping earth about.

I've got a bumble bee nesting in a mouseburrow on the edge of one of my beds. It's the variety of big black bumble bee with the red backside (I think I was napping when we did bumblebees at school). I'm very pleased because the nest is no more than 2 paces from the bean patch and I shall have hot-and-cold running pollintors on the job. Plus I have been having a co-operative working relationship with a couple of robins and a black bird. It works like this; dig a bit, go sit down and have some flask tea, birds peck up the critters, dig a bit, etc etc. Organic pest control at it's laziest. My ultimate goal is to have the allotment run itself whilst I sit back and admire the view down the hill......:rotfl:

My mini greenhouse it earning it's keep nurturing the pea crop (installment 1) in loo roll tubes and I have courgettes, butternuts and turk's turbans in pots. Latest tally is 2 courgettes, one butternut up and no sign of the t. turbans. I hav no idea what these taste like but I grin from ear to ear whenever I see a pic of them which seems like a good enough reason to plant them IMO.

Loved the idea of being scoped by the police chopper whilst sieving one's compost.....sort of thing which happens to me. I once got followed by our police chopper for about half a mile as I cycled thru the park. Dunno what kind of desperado they took me for on my sit up and beg pushbike with the trad wicker basket on the front......speaking of which, must remember to get said pushbike from the repair shop after work as it suffered a injury this weekend.

Ah well, kettle needs to go on again as I have to cudgel what passes for a brain in my case into operational mode in order to be some use to the customers. There's a full moon up there at the moment so anything might happen.......someone who was arguing about his council tax threatened to come and blow us up last week. I know it's an ugly modern building but I think that was an over-reaction myself........:rotfl:On second thoughts......maybe not!

blackandwhitebunny

Hippeechiq,
I find a good tip for growing courgettes in containers is to fill the containers about a third full with compost and then add a third of kitchen compost stuff such as banana skins, apple cores, salad bits etc but no tomato bits or potato skins (otherwise you get lots of extra plants) and then fill up with compost. Do this a couple of weeks before the plants need to go in and water occasionally. courgettes need lots of food to grow well and this is an old Victorian trick. I actually always plant a courgette and some sort of squash plant directly into my compost bin, I throw in some old compost from last years pots and then add the plants - super squashes.
If you have a lidl near you they sell packets of yellow bean seeds (I think they're called kinghorn wax) I put six or so seeds in a flower bucket and as long as you keep picking the beans you'll get loads. I think as weight for pence they're one of the best bargains around.:D

cat_smith

GreyQueen wrote: »

I've got a bumble bee nesting in a mouseburrow on the edge of one of my beds.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:I missed the fact you were in your allotment - was getting rather worried you'd developed more housing problems.

GreyQueen

cat_smith wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:I missed the fact you were in your allotment - was getting rather worried you'd developed more housing problems.

Gordon Bennett, just about spluttered my tea across my monitor screen! LOL, THANK YOU! I only have the one bed here at Chez GQ and there's barely room for that. I have a cunning plan to tunnel sideways into next door's flat. A series of cut-out archways (so the rest of the block doesn't fall on me) should do the trick. D'you think anyone would notice? I haven't got many critters in residence cos the place is so small I started charging them rent and would you believe the little so-and-sos left me?

cat_smith

GreyQueen wrote: »

I haven't got many critters in residence cos the place is so small I started charging them rent and would you believe the little so-and-sos left me?

Ah, was going to suggest you relocate them to IB's place. Glad I gave you a laugh.

mama67

mardatha wrote: »

The croft in the hills one was actually better, is now one of my all time fav books. Talking of sitting with her daughter by a glowing peat fire, while the biggest blizzard ever is raging outside the windows...magic . Lovely lady

I bought this on your recommendation Mar as i love books like this.

Have read and re-read the fictional series by Lillian Beckwith about crofting on an island and all that goes on the community, worth a look if nothing else.

bertiebots

Gooooood mornin' and another fantastic sunny day!
I have just dropped my car off at the garage for its MOT so wish me luck!. I am also toying with the idea of putting my car insurance onto monthly payments so that I have a fund for the summer hols. It will cost me more and I hate that -but I also want some money in the bank to book our camping jollies. I think I will wait and see what the MOT bill is first before I phone!:cool:

I am starting to worry that I am loosing the plot as on the way to the garage (which is only 1/4 mile away) I was thinking what a waste of petrol for such a short journey...I really should be walking..........erm!!!????!!!:eek::rotfl::eek:

Have a good day all x

RAS

GreyQueen wrote: »

I've got a bumble bee nesting in a mouseburrow on the edge of one of my beds. It's the variety of big black bumble bee with the red backside (I think I was napping when we did bumblebees at school). I'm very pleased because the nest is no more than 2 paces from the bean patch and I shall have hot-and-cold running pollintors on the job. Plus I have been having a co-operative working relationship with a couple of robins and a black bird. It works like this; dig a bit, go sit down and have some flask tea, birds peck up the critters, dig a bit, etc etc. Organic pest control at it's laziest.

Lucky you. I think it is called the red-tailed bumble bee ( Ah yes http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org.uk/bumblebees_id.htm )

lapidarius

I spent quite a while thinking some of my white-bummed bees were a bit grubby until I discovered terrestris!

saveabobortwo

:rotfl:,Had another round of crumpets to use up contents of the fridge this morning, had a tidy up in the back garden and was was mighty pleased as the four miniature fruit trees i had planted last year in containers were doing very well and flourishing before my eyes i had given up on these last year and just put it down to another one of my money savings pie in the sky schemes that had gone down the river got 2 cherries of one tree last year no pears no plums and no apples so was not amused but this year looks promising .i hope they grow lots of cherries and these are really steep now to buy sorry fingers crossed last year got the hump and shoved them all in a corner for winter so been dragging them all back out to get the full sun:rotfl:.I would just like one of my ideas to work and believe me have tried lots last year did tried to do some paintings to sell at bootfairs :rotfl:and was not amused when some people laughed at my art,maybe i do have to practise a bit more but they did nt have to be so rude :rotfl:i just thought your be sorry when im famous and you did nt buyand the price has now increased from 5 pound to fifty.:)

de1amo

GreyQueen wrote: »

Loved the idea of being scoped by the police chopper whilst sieving one's compost.....sort of thing which happens to me. I once got followed by our police chopper for about half a mile as I cycled thru the park. Dunno what kind of desperado they took me for on my sit up and beg pushbike with the trad wicker basket on the front

My dotty dad liked to stand in the garden amongst his marrows waving at police copters(like a kid)--he recently learnt his lesson though because the other day one came down so close and started asking him with a loud hailer 'if there was a problem?!!--that'll learn him!!