Daydream fund challenge part 4

choille

That's all that matters - deeds. They came out with this daft thing here to register crofts, I haven't as I have actual deeds, some don't as they haven't bought their crofts. I haven't registered as I don't see the point & it costs to do so. It's like an added bit of meaningless bureaucracy that I doubt is legal.

Land eh? We have a neighbour who has mucked about with some fences - removed it thereby taking over some ground. It's really really annoying & could get costly, but......

greenbee

Boundaries seem to be a problem for a lot of people.

Hope today isn't too stressful and upsetting at work IHS.

I've done practically no work today (I'm overdue for a deadline) but I have managed to pay some bills, send evidence of my no claims bonus to my new car insurer and email both the builder and tree surgeon. So getting my priorities right as usual. Maybe I should sort out the house insurance before going for a walk...

DaftyDuck

Luckily I'm reasonably confident of my own boundaries. I do have a couple of properties in my land, in that they are possibly legally vaguely a bit landlocked. I'd quite happily give them any necessary legal rights if they pay the legal bill, and give me a bottle of wine (or even whisky), but the need hasn't arisen. They may regret it if I move on first.... who knows who'd buy this place next!

I'm even lucky in that I don't own the small corner of land outside one of my field gates. Oddly lucky, in that it will never (be able to) be a ransom strip but it does attract a bit of fly-tipping. It actually belongs to the local Earl's rather generous estate, and a quick text message results in a brand-new liveried truck turning up within an hour, all rubbish removed, and a friendly thank you message in return. I've not yet been tempted to exploit their efficiency ("HUUUGE pile 'o ragwort just been dumped, chaps, do pop down asap and tidy up....") but I do envy their monster vehicle.

Anyway, spare time is spent feeding the horseflies while collecting said ragwort. Very few Cinnabar Caterpillars about this year. They used to be so common in the west of Ireland. I try to get them off the ragwort before I burn it, as they are pretty specific about eating it, and are pretty good at controlling it. Sadly, few this year - and much ragwort.

Our local woodsman (who is obsessed with money) caught me and chatted for ages. Within thirty seconds of my saying we weren't intending to cut more trees this year, he'd lost interest and was off. Any tale he has ends with how much he earned from it, lost by not, or would have gained him, if only... followed by a gleeful wink and rubbing of fingers, and one of those lean-ins that defies any personal space. Reminds me of a Leprechaun....

Ash die-back is a problem here. I have a couple of unaffected trees, but many in the woods by the water meadow are affected, and several in the wood by the lane. I do want to get general tree advice from the Woodland Trust, or something similar, soon. I just want to know a bit more first. "So, tell me, what's that tree there"... "You mean that sycamore, or the horse chestnut over there?" ... "Ummmm... Oh... "

On a similar note, a question. I always thought hazel took cuttings very easily (not quite as keen as willow, but similarly easily). Looking it up, experts say it's difficult. Anyone got actual experience, or words of wisdom? I was quite looking forward to having a go, as I've got about fifty yards of willow hedge/trees, and I was hoping to do a DIY extension. I might as well have a go, but I'd like to be ready for the disappointment. Anyone know/advise?

Lady donkey got sore paw . Farrier due to pop in this arvo. We have his horse lorry stored as hostage, so he's got to pop in or we might try moving it. Cruuunch! Mind you, it has a flat battery at the moment, so nobody can move it. I must remember to ask him where the battery is, so we can move it if needs be.

Next week I will be in a suit, trying to remember what it is I'm actually meant to do for money. I am actually a bit scared... been so long... I actually tried suit on, to see if it fits. Trousers fall off (lost midrif bit :T), jacket squeezes over shoulders (new-found hunky muscles... not! :rotfl:) They actually seem to expect me to know about stuff n !!!!. Fools, poor fools.

alfie_1

hi all...


everyone sounds busy !


ive cleaned out [after goslings] my summer house yesterday and put reed carpet in [off cut £40 sq m from friend !!] so will pop in a couple of chairs and table for when sister house sitting uber posh or what !!
ive emptied furniture from bedroom and about to strip out old carpet in a mo...
son mowed 2 lawns yesterday :j.....


was sat watching all the bats swooping last evening in the garden... knew it was gonna rain cos all the insects were out in force..


dafty duck... surely your horse lady would pull the field ragwort if shes getting the use of ?
re the lame donks.. always had to keep an eye on my old donks [long gawn now] if they start to "turn" its a hell of a job to keep on top of.. also prone to foot rot [ in the frog part of the hoof ]
our horses hoofs here are trimmed/checked every 6-8 weeks, expensive but not as expensive as a lame hoss !


right well its still mizzling/drizzling here but has done the garden good...:D

greenbee

Let me know when the rain stops Alfie. It should take about 15-20 minutes from you to me I'm going quietly insane stuck inside working... I really do have to get this presentation done though.

Dafty - I always feel the same, and dread the moment when someone else actually knows what they are talking about. Thankfully most of the time I still seem to know more than the people I'm talking to - but I do wonder at times. Need to keep up as the mortgage still needs paying...

Davesnave

I've never tried hazel cuttings Dafty. Even without many squirrels, we have lots coming up each spring, so I just harvest them, heel them in and then plant out a year or so later.

But it's a long, slow process, establishing plants in an existing hedge, especially where there are mature trees. Hazels which are into their 5th year of life now are still rather weak little things under 1m in most cases.

It's the same with the rosa rugosa I planted in one bank by the old cottage, where it needed a bit of cheering-up, without blocking their only view. A couple of years on, they're not dead, just fighting it out with the nettles, bracken and brambles. I saw one flower!

Where Mr Dog was pulling-out trees I was planting in the road bank, persistence and prickly species have won and there are now about 6 species quietly bushing-out, but it's a gradual process. In a couple more years we'll be clothed there again.

Not much done here today. Our builder arrived, put up shuttering for me and left just as the rain began. Any time it's dry now I'll just be mixing concrete. Gardening will have to wait.

choille

Sore eyes in two sheep so spent ages catching one & getting stuff on. One is very rashy i her ears as well - she has really made them bleed badly.

The midgies & cleggs are awful with the wet weather. Just had to rub sudocrem in them, don't know what else I can do really. She was a good girl, stood there as I did it unlike the other one. I was ages getting her & had to drag her up the field as OH had disappeared to get someone. I had to wait an hour & a half before he came back with out anyone, but I'd done everything other than put stuff in her eyes as that was a two pair of hands job to hold her steady. I was eaten alive & fuming by the time he reappeared. My back has given up & just been stretched out on top of the bed for half hour before I make the tea - haddock with chips I think....salad to go with it.

choille

I haven't tried Hazel cuttings Dafty - I thought they'd be like willow - dead easy, but I do have loads & loads of seedlings/saplings, so you may find some if you look - they seem quite prolific.

lucielle

Choille sent you a pm


L

Davesnave

I'll swap my dinner with yours choille, but not the sheep! :eek:

Sounds awful, and boring with it.

Glad to say Pete came up and dosed the ones here for fly strike about a week ago, but with the weather being so wet here, I haven't ventured to see them today....:o

Really needed this rain. We might lose a few young trees after such a dry July.