Preparedness for when

nuatha

Possession wrote: »

Thanks that's really helpful (and thanks Nuatha!).
Something to get in place this Autumn I think.

You're welcome
I used fence boards from a lumber yard, the 6 foot boards were half the price of the 8 foot ones. Hence the length.
The biggest issue is not constructing the beds, its moving that quantity of soil. I didn't give any thought to drainage, but thankfully they don't become waterlogged (and some of the area they cover did/does but the beds are fine).
The only thing I've found that discourages slugs and snails is copper tape. Even then they can get into the beds from underneath. We have a huge population of snails this year (slugs much less so) and are thinking of trying nematodes.
Generally I'm well behind on the garden this year and am starting to think that I'll just go for winter crops and green manure. Life keeps getting in the way.

GreyQueen

I read that ZH story before breakfast. I'd say that anyone with money in RBS or Ulster Bank is a fool, and we all know what happens to fools and their money. I wouldn't touch them with tongs.

Today is a little light interwulation, some YS dainties for me tea, then off up t'archery club. Haven't been for 3 weeks due to Teach being on holibobs for one week and then me being poorly last week. Hope I haven't lost my muscle memory for it, it's darned amnesiac at the best of times.:p

I think we are living in the lull before the storm, money-wise, and that things will be going very bad before we're much older. Too many stupid decisions by too many stupid people, such as Ower Gordon flogging a big chunk of the nation's gold reserves at a historic low price - and none of it to yours truly, I might add, which is galling.

Possession

nuatha wrote: »

You're welcome
I used fence boards from a lumber yard, the 6 foot boards were half the price of the 8 foot ones. Hence the length.
The biggest issue is not constructing the beds, its moving that quantity of soil. I didn't give any thought to drainage, but thankfully they don't become waterlogged (and some of the area they cover did/does but the beds are fine).
The only thing I've found that discourages slugs and snails is copper tape. Even then they can get into the beds from underneath. We have a huge population of snails this year (slugs much less so) and are thinking of trying nematodes.
Generally I'm well behind on the garden this year and am starting to think that I'll just go for winter crops and green manure. Life keeps getting in the way.

Yes I had a few things planned but life and waiting for next door's fence to be replaced (as I didn't want to plant stuff and have it trampled) has got in the way a bit. Still the fence is meant to be done on Saturday so there might be time to get runner beans in along the fence.

craigywv

Hi,regarding the zero hedge link could someone pls explain it to me in very simple terms, my mil is with ulster bank,her current account,savings various isas pension etc....I myself am not in that bank. I need to explain it to her as she is in the generation who believe banks are safe and secure and that nothing can happen to your money. Thanks in advanc

GreyQueen

craigywv wrote: »

Hi,regarding the zero hedge link could someone pls explain it to me in very simple terms, my mil is with ulster bank,her current account,savings various isas pension etc....I myself am not in that bank. I need to explain it to her as she is in the generation who believe banks are safe and secure and that nothing can happen to your money. Thanks in advanc

craigyw, the worst case scenario is that RBS/Ulster Bank is like a ship which goes down with all hands, taking everyone's money with it.

One of the next-worst is that individual accounts get 'bailed-in' - a certain percentage is stolen to pay the bank debts. Only they'll call it a bail-in, just like they did in Cyprus last spring.

If you can, please please try to encourage her not to have all her eggs in one basket.

[Deleted User]

This is just an observation but when I was in the city today I saw so very many people innapropriately dressed, very short shorts, very strappy and skimpy tops and all of them as pallid and white as we normally are as a race at this time of year, and thought to myself Oh my goodness there are going to be an awful lot of sunburned and very uncomfortable people by the time the evening arrives. I saw it happening again on the TV when we were watching the tennis at Queens, so many red and sore looking necks and shoulders and arms, the thought passed through my mind that having suitable garments is as much part of prepping as any other measures we take. Good protective waterproofs and footware and warm clothing for the colder wetter months is one thing but who thinks of loose and covering garments and shady hats for the hottest days when the sun is intense? Not many people I think, when the first reaction is Oh Good a suntan for free. I think taking appropriate action to keep yourself from being burned in the first place is a much better option especially if we ever get to the point where that would take you out of action for a few days with sunstroke or heat stroke, might mean the difference between making it or not in the long run!

craigywv

Thanks for that gq am heading up to hers this evening so shall hVe a chat with her and give advice she will prob think I'm mad but I can start to coax her round. Lynn it's the same over here first sign of sun and it's third degree burns all round even babies in pram last week were seen out in really hot weather with no coverings parasols etc I lucky me and manchild don't burn he dark eyed and swarthy I green eyed and skin like old leather boots oh dark eyes and hair and swarthy but he would still cover up. My niece has strawberry blonde hair and translucent skin like most red heads and she runs around willing herself to be boiled alive basking in the sun,she was in my mums house and my mum said she had this really good cream which tans you quickly so she begged mum to put it on her ,my mum knew she would.............it was total sunblock factor 50 or more so she couldn't get burned silly fool sat for hours baking and didn't even get a freckle my mum well she just smirked xxx it's like round where I live tanning booths on every block everyone wants the Oompa Loompa look and they actually think its a good look yeah right woman passed me by a few days ago and all I could see we're the goggle marks where the sunbed have torched the rest of her skin she was like a Peking duck. Maybe I'm just biased but I would rather have my health .

the_cake

Possession wrote: »

Really want to get a good growing space in my garden, but have the dual problems of appalling drainage in the lawn (which we'd be getting rid of) and knee replacements meaning I can't kneel. So raised beds seems to be the answer. What have people used to build them? Decking boards perhaps? And what should I be putting at the bottom so they have better drainage? (Given that they will be built higher than most probably for aforementioned bending down problem!) If they are then surrounded by those large chippings on the ground, will that solve potential slug problems? All help gratefully received!

We used old scaffolding boards - they are a good size, and very sturdy, as well as cheap(ish). I'd be tempted to put some 'scalpings' from a local builders merchants in the bottom for drainage - it's a fairly cost effective way of filling up some of the space, too. You could use them on the ground round the beds, too. If the slug/snail problem is bad (!!!), try Nemaslug (nematodes which you water in) - I am using it for the first time this year and it seems to be working. HTH ...

jk0

craigywv wrote: »

Thanks for that gq am heading up to hers this evening so shall hVe a chat with her and give advice she will prob think I'm mad but I can start to coax her round.

Craigywv, can you afford to buy this book for MiL?:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shredded-Inside-Bank-Broke-Britain/dp/1780271387/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1402419669&sr=8-1&keywords=shredded+inside+rbs+the+bank+that+broke+britain

I have it on order, and I think it should tell her everything she needs to know.

craigywv

jk0 wrote: »

Craigywv, can you afford to buy this book for MiL?:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shredded-Inside-Bank-Broke-Britain/dp/1780271387/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1402419669&sr=8-1&keywords=shredded+inside+rbs+the+bank+that+broke+britain

I have it on order, and I think it should tell her everything she needs to know.

Thanks for that I shall certainly pass it on to her she could maybe get it from the library anything to get her on the right track