Daydream fund challenge part 4

Davesnave

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

Ummmm are we supposed to have catkins on the trees this time of the year???

Yes, they're often quite developed by this time of year, but it depends which tree too.

Trees can be strange. The Italian alders have big 'cones' at this time of year, but they're not conifers.

Beech hedges are nice choille, but we already have 90' of that. I like hornbeam too because it behaves like beech, but leafs up a few weeks earlier. We have that down in the mini wood, between us and the thatchers. We also have something like 200' of 3 different cotoneasters in three different places and 70' of yew. The yew went in in 2011 and already they're taller than me.

We're also supposed to be making a new mixed evergreen hedge to hide the caravan this winter, but other things are more important just now. I'm leaning towards privet because it's cheap, we only have the 'wild' one,and it's popular with birds.

There's still broken cloud here, so no frost yet, but the office is back at 13c again! I'm reasonably warm though; I have a wee greenhouse heater under the desk.

Left another message on plumber's phone......

Davesnave

choille wrote: »

Had roast venison for supper with some homemade crab apple & bramble jelly - mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Who says being trailer trash means rubbish food!

I experimented with some chicken, putting piri-piri seasoning, Chinese 5 spice, stock and lots of honey on it before plonking in the oven with garlic, peppers and onions.

Came out fine.

lostinrates

We have one holm oak here davesnave, is that what you mean by ever green oak? Its a lovely thing. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

Garden or field?

Davesnave

lostinrates wrote: »

We have one holm oak here davesnave, is that what you mean by ever green oak? Its a lovely thing. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

Garden or field?

That's right, holm oak. I have two in our secret garden, facing the field and another 5 in pots, waiting to become part of this evergeen hedge, with viburnum tinus, the wild privet, eleagnus and prunus lusitanica.

Holm oak is found quite often in these parts as trees, but it maks a super clipped hedge. I haven't introduced it into the field hedges; anything that goes into those takes an age due to dryness and competition. It would be a bit expensive to grow a 100' hedge of it, though I can can get seedlings for around £1.50. They'd take a long time!

pink_poppy

Davesnave wrote: »

With the temps here this morning, I'd be afraid that anything I exhibited would go unnoticed!

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

With regards the hedge, I've just bought a tiny £2 Photinia Red Robin from Morrisons to start off my version of a privacy hedge. I think it may take some time (and a few more plants!!) before it starts doing what I want it to do though

alfie_1

choille...... ive received an email saying parcel couldn't be delivered cos no one was in, please check your post office ?
did they leave a card? or decide not to even go to yours !! let me know
a]...if this is an accurate email
b] ... if they left a card
c] where the h*ll you have to go to retrieve it !


ssoooooo sorry ! x

Davesnave

We've had another frustrating day, trying to contact people and waiting for other people, who haven't appeared. :wall:

No word from plumber.
No reply from electricians.:(
No Pete, who was coming to collect sheep and deliver logs.:(

We had one bit of luck, when the wife of a local log man called next door and I obtained her husband's phone number.....but he wasn't answering his phone either!!! :mad:
As you might imagine, we have been going through our stock of logs at quite a rate, so I want to do a top-up....soon.

I think everything is winding-down here. It was white, about -4c this morning and "beginning to look a lot like Christmas." Perhaps some people have decided that it is! :think:

pink_poppy

Sounds very frustrating, Dave, especially with Winter just around the corner Hope you have more luck today.

Does anyone know what insulating blockwork is and if having it means you don't need cavity wall insulation?? House was built in 1991 and is always cold.

lostinrates

alfie_1 wrote: »

choille...... ive received an email saying parcel couldn't be delivered cos no one was in, please check your post office ?
did they leave a card? or decide not to even go to yours !! let me know
a]...if this is an accurate email
b] ... if they left a card
c] where the h*ll you have to go to retrieve it !


ssoooooo sorry ! x

We have had this for the last week with two different couriers. Eventually one found us ( admitted could not find house) and dropped off the boots I had orders for myself. The true funny side of the story is, I 'm sending the boots back now...they are too big in the calf. That this is possible has made this a happy story instead of an annoying one :rotfl:

Davesnave

pink_poppy wrote: »

Sounds very frustrating, Dave, especially with Winter just around the corner Hope you have more luck today.

Does anyone know what insulating blockwork is and if having it means you don't need cavity wall insulation?? House was built in 1991 and is always cold.

Insulating blocks are made with some kind of foamed cement; physically like Aero, but not as tasty. They can be cut with a saw and they are lighter than standard breeze blocks.

For many years, people have used insulating blocks for the inner leaves of cavity walls, and sometimes on the outside too, as they can be used for both. They are thermally more efficient than standard blocks.

Having thermal blocks doesn't mean you can't have CWI. I have both, but if it had been down to me, I'd have been wary. In exposed places, CWI can be one of the worst things you can do to a house, so tread carefully and do research. Local authorities in Wales haven't been pulling CWI out of their properties for fun!