As The Workhouse Approaches....How To Do Everything To Avoid It, the Old Style Way

ceridwen

Hippeechiq wrote: »

Thanks very much for the replies.

I can't really plant Holly Mary as my garden was all paved by the previous tenant, so no earth to plant it in.

The previous tenant also had a small pond, approx 3½' sq (on the opposite side to the fence) that we have drained and are throwing fruit & veggie peelings and plant/tree cuttings into (I have a tiny 12" dwarf walled border on the opposite side of the garden with mature plants in it and a large buddleia tree at the bottom of the garden) with a view to attempting to grow something in it next year - this is where the cat goes.

Netting is a good idea I think, thanks Smiley & RAS, especially if you can get it from the £1 type shops, as I could put netting over the empty pond. I also have empty plastic compost sacks that I could lay in it actually. I will put netting over the hole in the fence too, although if the netting stops the cat getting through, it will simply come over the top.

The netting wont give me any privacy, but if they can't see in, I've seen them lean heavily on the panel to peer over the top, and the whole panel buckles. They have no sense.

If they do that many times, the whole panel will go, and then we will be faced with a 5' wide by 6' tall hole. It wouldn't bother them at all if I could see into their garden, but it bothers me not having any privacy. I hate it ....I don't feel like I can win to be honest.

I could do a diary Smiley, but I might end up with someone even worse

Right - now got this far down the thread.

So - maybe that poison ivy in a container then - of the trailing type (you would need to keep well clear of it yourself BTW!).

Re the pond area - maybe a few large pebbles scattered strategically around the ground and/or some short cheap garden canes sticking up at regular enough intervals that the cat couldnt squat on its bum without getting a poke up the backside.

I've done both the pebbles and the 1' garden canes broken in 2 stuck in the soil with a sharp end pointing upwards.

I do still notice dirty pawmarks on the inside of my garden wall - so I've clearly still got some feline visitors - but I think, as far as I can see, that they dont bother my plants with those "precautions" scattered around.

ceridwen

EstherH wrote: »

Seems most on here were grammar school educated not inner city comprehensive like me but this thread seems to be a leveller.

I wouldnt say "most" were...

I DO think its useful for us all to have the wide variety of backgrounds/experiences we have on here - as we can all learn from a wide variety of different "set-ups".

I know I've always been strongly minded that I feel those of us from ALL backgrounds should contribute - as I recall personally feeling in a "bit of a minority" to start with as single/childless/ex grammar school/etc....and have made my point on a number of occasions that I wish to see EVERYONE contributing:
- with or without children
- from any background
- etc

and this does seem to be pretty much the case these days on MSE and thats all to the good...:)

Winchelsea

Our school was the same - gave up cookery etc for Latin. I HATED Latin, but managed to scrape through O level with the pass mark - but ONLY because I fancied the Latin teacher like crazy! (Amo, amas, amat, amamus, amatis, amant - I think!) - the verb "to love"!

Learnt basic cooking from my mum, but acquired fancier skills from a Penguin book on French cookery once I got married. Could make things like Tripe a la mode de Caen(!).

Taught myself sewing by buying the simplest patterns and following them step by step, gradually getting more complicated. Started with maternity dresses and tops. Then when we had the twins (early 1960s) I made little Viyella nighties for them, and progressed to smocked dresses. Eventually ended up making trousers and even an overcoat for DH. Used to buy cheap fabric from the mills. Even bought sheeting and made bed sheets for the girls when they progressed from cots to beds. Those were the days - don't do so much now.

anguk

Hippeechiq - as you say even if you block the hole the cat will probably just jump over the top of the fence so you really need to find a way to keep the cat off the soil. I wouldn't advise gravel as the cat will just see this as a big litter tray, if it's a largish area you need to protect you could put netting over an inch or so above the ground. One other thing I've found that does work is wooden skewers (they're quite cheap from places like poundstretcher), stick them in the soil a few inches apart so they're sticking up, the cat will find it difficult to get into a decent pooing position and with luck will go into it's owner's garden.

If you've only got a small area to cover you could lay bin bags down, the cat won't be able to dig and it'll help with weeds.

kidcat

Evening all, hoping the weather has calmed up in northern parts.

Its been dry here today well except for the floods of tears but thats another story.

Have been shopping today and am really alarmed at the rises since last week - value soft cheese was 50p last week and is 65p today.

Memory_Girl

EstherH wrote: »

Oh yes, I remember pineapple upside down pudding.

Seems most on here were grammar school educated not inner city comprehensive like me but this thread seems to be a leveller.

With Custard I hope - Mmmmmmm

Me - local comp!!! In fact took DS1 to look around our local High School on Monday - and when I mentionned where I was educated the Pupil Liason Officer's eyebrows went so far up her head they met her neckline at the back......... and I swear, she whistled through her teeth!!!

Then she asked if all the stories were true?? Erm!!! Yes!!!!:o

Not the best days of my life :rotfl: Although I did get out alive so that's a success story itself

MG

Living_proof

stiltwalker wrote: »

Cornelia est puella romana. Flavia cantat! (sp)

Cornelia is a roman girl, Flavia sings. - We had that book too! How seriously tedious were the stories?

Caesar ad sum iam forte
Pompei adarat
Caesar sic in omnibus
Pompei sic on mat

Hippeechiq

Thanks so much for everyones replies

GreyQueen I'm kinda liking the mass homicide idea , but given that such action would lead me to reside in a place where I'd have even less privacy (not to mention liberty) :rotfl: I'd perhaps best not go there

I like the idea of all the plants suggested, but funds are an issue, so I'm not sure that's the way to go, and whereas I dislike cats immensely (mainly due to them triggering asthma attacks, rash and runny eyes), they are animals at the end of the day, and I'm passionate about animals, so I don't want to particularly harm it so much as deter it.

I've completely covered up my composting empty pond with empty compost sacks turned inside out, so thanks for that suggestion - smiley was it?
I will pick up some netting from P0unland or some such shop at the weekend to put over the pond and over the hole in the fence. That way, the morons next door can still look in the garden for the cat but wont, at least, lean on the panel and break the whole thing.
It will also prevent the cat entering the garden via the hole, which it has done at least a dozen times since I last posted.

And I like the idea of the skewers or bamboo broken and poked in the tiny bit of earth that I do have in the garden to prevent it from being able to do it's business too. So thanks to Kittie, Ceridwen, & anguk for those suggestions, and also the water pistol suggestion RAS

Thanks also for the suggestion of the orange peel and eucalyptus oil kylebrad - that's simple/cheap enough to do
culpepper I like the idea of making a compost bin in front of the fence, but have nothing to make one out of (no pallets or tyres or such) but also, my washing line runs in front, and the full length of the fence, so would get caught up on it even if I had materials at my disposal. I appreciate the suggestion though

I'm a secondary modern school for girls educated here, which will no doubt come as no surprise to any of you

Sammy - really pleased for you that the move went well for you hun
Any news on Jediteacher today? Maybe the poor girl has gone into labour at last, I do hope so.

hex2

Living_proof wrote: »

Caesar ad sum iam forte
Pompei adarat
Caesar sic in omnibus
Pompei sic on mat

Thankyou - I was trying to remember this earlier. Read it in an Angela Thirkell novel a few years ago but couldn't remember which one - only remembered the bit about 'Ceaser had some jam for tea'.

Hippechiq - water pistols and garlic powder. I did the garlic powder for my elderly neighbour when she complained about mine going in her garden and it did seem to work. Cats allegedly don't associate water pistols with a person, it just makes them nervous of a place.

My first strawberries are ripening which reminds me I need to shut the greenhouse. Get off my knee cat.

Hippeechiq

Is that neat garlic powder hex, or diluted down into a spray?