Daydream thread... without the rose-tinted specs

ukmaggie45

Back from a few days at posh hotel in Wales - to mark the fact that finally my parents' estates are done and dusted - final monies arrived, so we decided to spend some on visiting a hotel they used to go to for Christmas and New Year.

Came home on Saturday, but been knackered ever since, though have managed to plant a few seeds, and do a bit of hacking stuff in front garden. Today back so sore I hit the gin around 3pm. :eek: But then managed to do a little more in front garden - the hacking weeds from the paving is not fun, even with the tool I gave OH for Xmas. But I did a bit, and will keep going at it as and when I can.

Tomorrow we plan to go to the Lottie as looks like maybe weather will be good... And then we go back in evening to treat our half plot with NemaSlug. Got 2 packs for the Lottie, and one for the garden - we'll do the bit with the main crop spuds that OH planted today, and then anything else with what's left.

Really enjoyed our time away - the hotel had fantastic gardens. though I didn't really get to see them - OH had a walk around first evening, but we had a lot of rain, so with the things I did manage to do I didn't get to the garden. But here's a shot of the knot garden in front of hotel.

From Penmaenpool towards Barmouth then back up the drive to Penmaenuchaf Hall. by ukmaggie45, on Flickr

Food was good, the Welsh breakfast especially nice - the Bala Leek Sausage to die for!

Urm might write more about it later if have energy enuff. Seeing my Grandfather's bakery, wet drive round mountain roads, wheelchair trundle into Dolgellau via the railway path and stuff like that. It's not money saving, other than we got a cheap deal at the hotel via am**on offer. But it was great in terms of value for money, even though we stayed on an extra night and had to stay in more expensive room. (we had so much rain it made sense to stay on for a day that turned out to be more or less dry!)

We will be going back there when we sell Old Home as a celebration... Fingers crossed we can manage to sell! :rotfl:

MrsAtobe

Wonderful rose, LiR, what is it?

moneyistooshorttomention

Sunny day today and fingers crossed for some more gardening. Bits of mine are now starting to look quite nice. Fingers crossed for all with Problem Neighbours that they may rest peacefully in the sun and stop creating problems for once and just lay back with drinks in hand, thinking "manana" or words to that effect.

Have given a few little bits of my garden produce away now, so am starting to feel I am getting sorted out:D

and had the very cheering thought to start the day with that my own Problem Neighbour who is trying to stage a landgrab on a tiny part of my garden and has threatened legal action:mad: in a bid to make me roll over and acquiesce is so obviously both old/physically ill/in an agegroup where its possible they may not be thinking straight anyway that any solicitor would look straight at them and think "One way or another my client is most unlikely to be around long enough to see anything through", so what am I worried about anyway? as I'm darn sure solicitors like to know the client is likely to be around long enough to pay their bill at the end of it. Why didn't that thought occur to me before?:doh:

No need to think of getting the kettle on and think of inviting anyone "legal" round for a cup of coffee and a demonstration of the (obvious) real facts of the matter for themselves then after all:) (which is what I would do, as its so blindlingly clear whats what, both in my deeds and looking at things on the ground).

Fingers crossed that AN will now shut up and be more peacable/realistic/etc than remaining intent on staging a raid (shucks...not even any Viking helmet on their head to add a bit of "colour" to it whilst they are on "raiding patrol"). Sometimes you gotta laugh and make a joke of things or you'd cry...

At least I've now got the message home all round basically that my garden is not to be used or casually wandered round by other people whenever they decide to, as was the case with previous owners. I was a little surprised to find just how many "liberties" had been allowed by previous owners of my house before I came here.

Davesnave

Looks set fair for a while, which is a relief, because I've yet to knock out this year's crop of docks, thistles and the odd bit of ragwort. Mind numbing work, but someone has to do it.:(

With the excellent growing conditions we've had, the grass is fast turning into deep hay meadow already.

Picked up the Hayterette I bought on ebay yesterday afternoon.:) Immediately realised I'd need to use an angle grinder to get the old blades off, but provided it works reliably, it'll be fun owning a piece of kit that's virtually an antique.

Nice views from the hotel, Maggie. They look like they need some decent tree ties though! Baler twine!!!:rotfl: I know a good place to buy those.

lostinrates

MrsAtobe wrote: »

Wonderful rose, LiR, what is it?

Its aloha.

Originally I'd put it over on an orchard fence, but its so reliable I decided to move it to the north garden when we planted up there. It will flower most of summer. Only problem I am having round there is greenfly, so some of my blooms are Alien shapes. :mad: But I am hoping that if I do cat interfere too much lady birds will eventually keep up one of these years, We have loads of lady birds, and lots of small garden birds around there and I hope between them they will kick in soon.

Rummer

Davesnave wrote: »

Looks set fair for a while, which is a relief, because I've yet to knock out this year's crop of docks, thistles and the odd bit of ragwort. Mind numbing work, but someone has to do it.:(

Did you get a book on CD/download to help wile away the time?

Rummer

LIR I have pear envy we have had our mini tree in for years and nothing at all has formed on it. All the other mini tree have at least produced something but not even a blossom on the pear this year. I am beginning to think it isn't a pear at all!

lostinrates

Rummer wrote: »

LIR I have pear envy we have had our mini tree in for years and nothing at all has formed on it. All the other mini tree have at least produced something but not even a blossom on the pear this year. I am beginning to think it isn't a pear at all!

I don't know when the stripes will form on humbug, its a late variety, so its going to be tempting for a LONG time. Sensation is also quite heavy ( beautiful dark red pears, probably the most beautiful in the garden really). Winternellis, has a few, invincible too.

Glou morceau has very few and beurre hardy I haven't seen any on. But the abundance elsewhere is significant.

I'm still looking for may be two more trees to close this garden, I just cannot decide what. I am considering cherries, don't know how well they will espalier. One technically would be top close to the house unless I pot grew.


What variety was yours? Does it blossom? Humbug hasn't fruited before so its funny it has such a big crop now , maybe yours will be the same? Do you think it needs a pollinator?

Better_Days

Sunny and no rain here today :j:j:j

So sorry to hear about your car Alf - a bump can really shake you up plus sorting out insurance and repairs is a job in itself.:(:(:(

Welcome Badrick :hello::hello: - I adore raspberries - are they easy to grow?

Well done Dave on your lawn mower, hope you are both very happy together ;);)

Lovely pigges CTC Money - hope your NDN's are behaving themselves. LIR one of the few things we have in this garden is roses, but none anywhere near flowering yet - your photo is lovely.

Shattered, very busy day yesterday. Plumber was here, tiler was here, friend who I haven't seen since December was here, neighbour came round with her little girl to see how to look after the chickens while we are away.

Then the delivery of 3 tons of paving slabs turned up. I expected the lorry to have a little crane to be able to drop the pallets on the drive. No it was a one man lorry with a tail lift and a pallet mover thingy. And we have a gravel drive. So the driver, Mr BD and the tiler had to unload the pallets by hand. Thank goodness we had help. I couldn't lift one slab, let alone 164. Five of the slabs were broken, but I emailed the retailer and they are going to send me 10 out (some spares incase more get broken). Can't complain at that, and excellent prices too. http://www.clearancepaving.co.uk/ Once it's gone it's gone, so if you see something you like don't hang around!

I am pondering whether or not my new washing machine is aiming for world domination. With my old w/m - if I wanted to put in something I'd forgotten I would just open the door and put it in. If I got wet feet then that was my lookout. But the new machine is bossy - if it doesn't want me to put in something extra it keeps the door locked and flashes up 'no' on the display until I press the 'go' button again.:o

If there was an uneven load while the old w/m was spinning it would keep going, thumping and vibrating until it went into orbit or enough water was spun out to even the load. This new one - if the load is uneven when it is trying to spin it takes in some more water, does a short rinse and then tries again. All this makes me wonder what that w/m is up to when I am not looking. Or am I behind the times with modern w/m's ? Can they be trained to perform other household tasks?

Better_Days

Sorry Maggie meant to add those gardens look lovely.

And in case any of you are wondering following my w/m musings - I'm stuck in bed and bored!!:o:o