Preparedness for when

Frugalsod

I found this on Indiegogo which would be really useful for anyone living at risk of a flood.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/hydroguard-the-ultimate-flood-defense-barrier

GreyQueen

DawnW wrote: »

Yes, I definitely have a deficiency of ducks these days I used to keep them, the ones I had were brilliant layers, but this garden is really too small. They need a fair amount of space because they are messy. I do miss them as they are hilarious to watch - not clever, but very amusing. If one does something, however random, they all have to follow suit. The kids always reckoned that there are fewer brain cells than the actual number of ducks, and so when a particular individual currently had a cell, and hence an idea, all the others would have to follow him or her

Loving it. Love watching ducks, once nearly missed a bus as the bus stop was by a river and I was engrossed in their soap opera lives. What had me PMSL that day was the interactions between the ducks and the swans.

There were 2 adult swans about, one preening on the bank, and a couple of those grey-beige yearling swans. One of the latter was dabbling in the shallow river, neck completely underwater and thus blind to what was happening on the surface.

I saw a mallard drake line itself up with the side of the swan and then start swimming full tilt at it, from a standing start about 4 yards away, to crash into it like a torpedo. The swan's neck shot up out of the water but the mallard had just wheeled away after its strike and was one of several ducks paddling nonchalantly nearby.

I could almost hear it sniggering. :rotfl:

I'm sure that the little green caterpillars are the ones off the smaller cabbage whites, the multi-hued ones are definately the large cabbage whites. Nothing wants to wat them, they must be vile. The caterpillars, and the woodpigeons are the reason I no longer bother with the brassica family.

DawnW

GreyQueen wrote: »

Loving it. Love watching ducks, once nearly missed a bus as the bus stop was by a river and I was engrossed in their soap opera lives. What had me PMSL that day was the interactions between the ducks and the swans.

There were 2 adult swans about, one preening on the bank, and a couple of those grey-beige yearling swans. One of the latter was dabbling in the shallow river, neck completely underwater and thus blind to what was happening on the surface.

I saw a mallard drake line itself up with the side of the swan and then start swimming full tilt at it, from a standing start about 4 yards away, to crash into it like a torpedo. The swan's neck shot up out of the water but the mallard had just wheeled away after its strike and was one of several ducks paddling nonchalantly nearby.

I could almost hear it sniggering. :rotfl:

I'm sure that the little green caterpillars are the ones off the smaller cabbage whites, the multi-hued ones are definately the large cabbage whites. Nothing wants to wat them, they must be vile. The caterpillars, and the woodpigeons are the reason I no longer bother with the brassica family.

'Wild' ducks are like Einstein compared to the domestic variety :rotfl::rotfl:

I agree re brassicas, but I do miss them, especially kale and purple sprouting, but it is just not worth it, especially as we have so little space I tried again with cabbages this year and have just finished feeding their caterpillar ridden carcases to the chickens :mad: For some reason I have since sown spring cabbage in a seed tray hoping that they will not need to be planted out till the beggars have gone, but as they were around for all of last winter, that seems unlikely.

Caterina

Thank you all for chicken info, I read in a few sites that slugs give chickens a parasite but if you tell me they are ok I believe more my OS sisterhood/fraternity than the "experts".

Ginny I have jam envy, in the best possible way! But now we have sacked the builders I might have a real kitchen soon, we just got to finish a few details ourselves and it is viable.

Butterfly_Brain

My cabbages have been decimated by the caterpillars of both sorts even though DH goes out an picks them off every day.

The kale has survived though and I have lots of new growth.
Sorry Mardatha.....................

daz378

had my annual electric statement , they over estimated my usage last year by 10 % . this year they estimate to be 484 quid... i use between 8..9kwh a day and hopefully can reduce it further next year.... got 4 jars (coffeee) full of change...... my last annua leavel store netted me 90 odd pound,, probably about 40 pound today ... better than nothing.......might nip in wilkies /poundland for more l.e,d.s and batteries today

new series on sky called THE STRAIN seems quite good.......take care

Frugalsod

I keep all my small change and it does add up if you keep it all. Since I use notes only and keep all the change I get it can amount to nearly 25% of my spending.

daz378

was surprised nearly hundred pound in 4 jars...well chuffed

mardatha

Has anybody at all been watching the ebola epidemic? Not worried about it as yet but very horrible for the people touched by this. New cases coming in at 120 a day and that's the ones they're aware of. And slightly distrustful of TPTB who have suddenly developed a conscience after watching China and Cuba sending in help..

[Deleted User]

They've just started the 3 day shutdown MAR so we'll see if that makes any difference. There is also a vaccine in the pipeline but not ready yet to use in big quantities. It all moves towards checking and controlling this dreadful virus. The biggest problem seems to be that the people in Africa aren't trusting the western medics and think that it's either witchcraft or that the medics are causing the disease and trying to kill them, so they're not getting treated which keeps the epidemic rolling, so very sad!