Daydream thread... without the rose-tinted specs

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

Quick update about me...

Dad's health is the same, he's got to go for a chest x-ray to rule out cancer & asbestosis (he worked in an asbestos plant back in 1950s!), but for now the diagnosis is moderate COPD. He's been told to stop smoking, which he's finding REALLY difficult as my mother (who he lives 'with', but not WITH) refuses to give up. She's finding the whole situ difficult, she won't take him out in the wheelchair unless it's for a dr/hospital appt and although she says she cooks the dinners he wants, she doesn't exactly give him much choice: "you want pizza for dinner? Is it pizza I'm doing? Oh !!!!!!, you're getting pizza" *storms out of room* And he's diabetic, he shouldn't be eating family sized pizzas!

The weather here has turned, and it feels like it's going to be a tough winter. I can't remember a time when it felt so cold so early in September. I was in Dorset last week and it was perfect temperature for me (about 18 degrees in the day) with a pleasant warm breeze and gentle sun. Then the weather turned when I arrived back home, and I've been very cold. Which isn't like me, I feel the heat and not the cold (hot flushes, it's me age, think I'm pre-menopausal!) and can usually walk around nekkid until the temperature dips below 5 degrees!

Went out today to buy some silicone sealant for round my windows and under the cills etc. I'm sat here now and can feel the icy fingers squeezing in and blasting me, and I'm feeling quite arthritic in these draughts! Also need to seal round my kitchen sink again as that rotted a while ago and I'm flooding my cupboard every time I splash (which is often!).

My grandson started big school And now the job centre are sending my daughter on a 4-week retail course to teach her about retail - I could teach her all that in just half a day, and it's nothing like the CHILD CARE/NURSERY NURSE training that she actually wants to do (she eventually wants to be a nursery or primary teacher). Useless, but it looks good for the job centre statistics!

Am VERY glad that there's someone from the UN doing a 3 month investigation into whether the 'bedroom tax' breaches Human Rights. She actually said "even if just one person dies from these reforms, it's one death too many".

Ooh, and Freegle (thanks Davesnave!) is coming up trumps for me.

Davesnave

Better_Days wrote: »

Lots of contraindications:

Be careful.

Davesnave wrote: »

As in everything, use with care, rather like you said.

ukmaggie45 wrote: »

Hmmm!



Don't think I did say that, I assume all on this thread know that anyway. I

I don't understand then, but let's not wind each other up over CTC's meds, which are her concern. :A

Davesnave

Sorry your toms aren't up to scratch rainbow. If Yellow Pear is pear shaped, like my Floridity, then maybe blossom end rot is more likely in fruit of that shape, because some of mine suffered.

I took it that I had to feed more, so I did and it seems to have helped.

I suspect the weather has turned everywhere, but I'm not thinking 'hard winter' particularly. I think the surprise summer shows we really don't know what to expect.

Our first log delivery happened yesterday, rather unexpectedly, so I had to make room in a rush. I'm determined not to burn any for at least another month though!

Hello Tallu. :hello:

The rock garden idea you have sounds good. They are straightforward to manage once established and there is no need for alpines, which prefer sun. The heather will be Ok if you are not alkaline, and thyme likes a bit of sun, but the golden oregano I have takes shade. Mint needs containment!

Fuchsias do well in shade. Not attractive all year though and get vine weevil in pots. Viburnum tinus 'Eve Price?' or even risk the variegated one? Eleagnus in one of its variegated forms? Shuttlecock ferns are good for 8 months of the year and much cheaper/easier than Dicksonia.

Itismehonest

Murky, miserable & chilly here again.

Hello & welcome Tallu :wave:
Yes, the rock garden sounds good.
First, though, as Dave said, you do need to know what soil (acidic, alkaline or 'normal') you have or you could waste your money buying the wrong type of plants. What sort of plants seem to grow well around your way? Any neighbours who are gardeners you could pick the brains of? Alternatively, you can pick up a soil testing kit relatively inexpensively.
If there's a lot of grass growing between the rocks you'll need to make sure that's dealt with first or it will be the bane of your life coming up between whatever you plant & won't be so easy to get rid of without destroying your planting, too.
It's coming up to the time when all the 'groundwork' (getting things ready for planting in new areas next year) starts - so it's the right time.

RAS

The long grass is likely to be couch grass and the only way to get that out is to dig it up.

Can you borrow a fork?

alfie_1

hi tallu

take a stroll around your area and get chatting to people, ask questions if they have "GOOD" gardens .....;)
they will prob offer small plants,seeds etc.
if this corner can be dismantled then do it. take it apart, get rid of the weeds and why not use your fireplace stone to build a wall [no cement] you can plant sweet likkle rockery flowering plants or lobelia etc..and then you can infill and make your rockery . you can in the spring have your daffodils etc popping through.
some clematis like shade.
if you can get cuttings pop em in a milk bottle with water [dont know why but they seem to prefer a bottle ??] and when rooted pot on then plant out either in your corner or a large pot.
do you have a dump near you that sells stuff...often good pots from clear outs..:D

lostinrates

Hey guys....

Just want to say I will probably not be around much over the next few days, Don't panic. I am not planning on dropping dead. . If I am not about I'll see you all next week.

alfie_1

lostinrates wrote: »

Hey guys....

Just want to say I will probably not be around much over the next few days, Don't panic. I am not planning on dropping dead. . If I am not about I'll see you all next week.

000000 if ever that was a .....

leaving us all in suspense.... i hope you are doing/being somewhere where you are being pampered/spoilt....:D

Davesnave

Hope it all goes very well for you, lir. :A

Return with some good news soon!

lostinrates

You've jumped to opposite conclusions daves and alf! :rotfl:


Neither.....we have a sort of a gathering and I will not be able to get online much. I'll probably still need to take my breaks and naps but just i
The house is likely to be packed for a while and it might be that I am less likely to take my breaks alone. :eek:. I do like to get away for a recharge these days so might feel a bit frazzled by next week.