Daydream fund challenge part 4

greenbee

Lovely day here today - I've been digging in a long narrow bed along the back fence. My mother was here last Sunday, and we cleared a lot of the overgrown and dead stuff as well as the obvious weeds. Clematis and honeysuckle have been cut right back regardless of the suitability of the time of year, as there was so much dead (and deadly nightshade and bramble) in them. Digging isn't easy there, as there are lots of roots (some of which have now been pruned) and stones. But I've cleared around some cyclamen, moved some others, moved/divided my hellebores into the newly cleared patch and moved a couple of roses that were in the wrong place.

I'm going to try to keep clearing along there, and as I do move roses from elsewhere to fill the gaps along the fence. I should probably put a couple more clematis in there - I think there may be one in another bed. If so I'll move it. I've dug up lots of random bulbs with the weeds, but from memory they're most likely to be those horrid plastic 'king alfred' daffs, so I'm happy for them to come out. If I have time I'll plant some more interesting bulbs in there.

So far I've done the bit in front of the utility room window, so at least I'll have something other than the bins to look at while washing up! I have the length of the kitchen, dining room and apple tree at the end of the house to go. But it's a start!

Davesnave

I'm spread rather thinly at present, the good weather having created a sense of urgency by making me believe I can get all the wood sorted out and under cover before we have too much wet stuff.

I definitely have enough wood to build at least two wood sheds, except for the 4" x 4" uprights that is, but there's still a small pile of pieces which need all the screws amd nails removed.....

But there's also grass to cut and a polytunnel to rearrange, so I flit about like a demented moth, doing a bit here, a bit there etc.

I also need to build some platforms in the loft to get damp-sensitive items out of the barn and stashed away before winter strikes....Aaarrgghh!

alfie_1

hi all...
had a great afternoon at LIR's... took mum as she does love it there. we had a lovely lunch and cake !!
a wander round,
mum got sat on by numerous dogs ! and met the new mare and foal .. dodged the goose poop and returned home refreshed and happy..


she is having cataract op no2 next Monday so thought id give her a trip out before. the colours on the trees going over Salisbury plains was stunning and we meandered through the quaint villages and it was equally stunning !
been very warm here today, misty start but was average 14d. still no water in the ponds on the forest so ponies/cattle wandering further to find it at rivers etc ..

Davesnave

I think we might have beaten you on temperature today, alfie. :DBright sunshine and I reckon around 17c at the warmest. I was gently levelling some concrete in the living room fireplace with the patio doors wide open this pm and I found beads of sweat running into my eyes..... That's not happened for a while.

It's been a funny old day. It began inauspiciously with a village friend sending me a suspicious link in an email, which didn't really come from her. I sent a warning that maybe her email address book had been hacked, and almost as soon as I finished, there was a nice foreign-sounding lady on the phone from 'BT' telling me my internet connection was causing issues by sending them 'error messages.'

I argued with her for a bit, playing thick and saying they should sort themselves out at BT and that I never make any errors or send them messages etc, but then, when she kept insisting I log on to the internet, I got bored, said I knew what her game was and told her to bog off.

Thoroughly grumpy by then, when the phone rang once more, I let DW answer. It was DD2 telling us she and her partner had become engaged last night during the Diwali celebrations in London. That wasn't a bolt from the blue, but definitely on-cue, because it was only last night I was debating with DW about how much to put aside for 'another wedding some time in the next few years.' (Looking at the finances, after the refurb, I think it'll be about £7.49 !:rotfl:)

The wood burner is happening somewhat faster than I'm used to here, hence my sudden interest in the fireplace. The guy who's doing the install has ordered the steel box we'll use to form the fireplace opening and this will be made to measure tomorrow morning and ready to collect after lunch! :eek: The limestone surround will be months away, but this means we can have the fire working long before that.

lucielle

Congratulations to your DD. I can give you 1p to round that figure up!


L

choille

Well, congrats on DD getting engaged - can they do a DIY wedding? All the expense of having a posh do is such a waste - I'm sure you'll agree Dave. Is this the one who did the tree jumpers? Can she not knit a wedding? I think that would be a challenge over the Winter months. Sorry didn't mean to take the posh. OH & I have never tied the knot - been together nearly 30 years - well, I don't want to rush into things eh? Long engagement is the answer, that way, no messy divorce.

Alfie - Hope Mum's op goes well. She'll be glad to get it done. A lady here goes for her 2nd eye op this week & was pleased after the first, but said she could see the muck!

Hope LIR is getting along well - Send her my good wishes.

Pooped today - had a problem on ebay & wasted so much time trying to sort it out & speaking to the Phillipines - got very BT-esque. Just about lost the will to live. Thing is the item was sold for £5.99, but the grief it caused me is .............immeasureable - or would be if I could spell it.

Dark here at 5pm - I don't like it - I really don't like that at all.

Davesnave

choille wrote: »

Well, congrats on DD getting engaged - can they do a DIY wedding? All the expense of having a posh do is such a waste - I'm sure you'll agree Dave. Is this the one who did the tree jumpers? Can she not knit a wedding?

Well, other DD had a very DIY wedding and nobody noticed, even ebaying the lot afterwards and making small profits, but she's the financial genius of the family. :cool:

The other one, as you've remembered, used to make clothes for trees:o, though to be fair, running a major retailer's outlet store needs a fair amount of practical nous as well.

However we mustn't forget the bridegroom, or rather his 101 relations, who have certain expectations, like the fact that weddings in their society last about a week......:eek:

I'm all for that long engagement, although these two have been together 3x longer than DW and I were before we entangled ourselves in matrimonial legalities. :rotfl:

choille

You'd best get saving up then Dave! It'll be a interesting time. Your DW will be kept busy.

Drizzly here, but clearing up. Thankfully.

greenbee

choille wrote: »

You'd best get saving up then Dave! It'll be a interesting time. Your DW will be kept busy.

Think he'd better get ebaying those doorhandles too

Congratulations Dave

Davesnave

choille wrote: »

Loads of wood needing sawn in to logs, so if it's dry tomorrow maybe make a start on it with the new leccy cheapy from Screw Fix - Titan - which is anything but it's namesake. I think.

Didn't spot this earlier.

That's the leccy chain saw I use, now on its 4th season, and it's fine. The first one they sold me wouldn't oil its chain properly and went blunt in half an hour, so it's the usual Chinese roulette.....get a good one and you're OK.

That's one thing I don't economise on: chainsaw oil. I know a lot of people use cooking oil, but I also know how lax I am at cleaning out the oilway etc.