The Garden Fence - help and support in tough times

ivyleaf

I'm sure you're absolutely right fuddle, about the teachers hating them too. i'm glad you're seeing the HT about it :T

Softstuff Ugly sisters? Probably about right :rotfl: To my fury the strap on one of my lovely comfy Mephisto toe-post sandals now rubs the top of a toe I bought some new trekking sandals Lyn linked to, last summer, so I hope I don't find they're now uncomfortable too! I haven't had time to wear them much yet!

Took DGD(8) for new shoes after school today. To my surprise, she chose a completely plain pair (though patent leather as usual) rather than the ones with little bows on the front. I suppose she feels the plain ones are more grown-up. These things are so important when you're eight

nursemaggie

What's this strange thing choosing shoes? I have never chosen a pair of shoes in my life. It often takes years just to buy a pair to fit.

Softstuff

Thanks all for the puddy tat advice. Looked briefly out the window this morning (haven't been out yet, waiting for hubby to get up because this is upsetting me and I don't want tk go alone) and the chilli and vinegar doesn't seem to have worked.

We don't have holly here Pollyanna, but I may grab twigs. I've used thick mulch here Nuatha, it's pretty standard for the area given how hot it is, unfortunately it makes for a nice litter tray. Things like weed mat, motion sensored sprinklers or noise makers and wire mesh are a bit cost prohibitive. It's a long narrow garden, about a metre long by 30 metres or so. It's a bit rough to have to spend a couple of hundred quid on someone elses cat, but I may have to. If I wasn't an animal lover, I can see how roaming cats would cause homicidal tendancies.

Mardatha, keep pushing for the RV. On a similar note, b12 deficiency is supposed to need 3 monthly injections, yet I need monthly. Though I have a great doctor now, knowing in the future I might not I got him to teach me how to give myself intramuscular injections. I'm not relying on someone else to tell me the sky is blue.

Nursemaggie, I'd like to go pick a pair of shoes too, but putting custom orthotics in mine makes it even harder.... even if they fit those often they rub another bony bit. Mens shoes work better for me, they seem generally softer too. My fingers are crossed for your sandals Ivyleaf.

Very proud of your efforts so far Fuddle, still with you all the way.

mardatha

He gets his jabs monthly softstuff, they were on the ball with the PA, he was diagnosed first time he went in.
Was minus 5 this morning, now a sweltering minus 3. God I need spring to come lol. But it was light at 6.45, went out to feed the poor wee birds.

fuddle

It's ever so close Mar. I have a daffodil

nuatha

Softstuff wrote: »

We don't have holly here Pollyanna, but I may grab twigs. I've used thick mulch here Nuatha, it's pretty standard for the area given how hot it is, unfortunately it makes for a nice litter tray. Things like weed mat, motion sensored sprinklers or noise makers and wire mesh are a bit cost prohibitive. It's a long narrow garden, about a metre long by 30 metres or so.

I use a bark chippings mulch on top of the weed mat, incidentally that area would cost about £6 here, on the front garden where I need it to be more decorative and the spiky twigs on the growing beds. Apart from the year where I'd used the fruit bush trimmings (having completely forgotten they'd propagate) I tend to use a mix of apple tree prunings and what ever looks right that I can gather from a woodland walk. I've acquired a soak hose this year, I'm wondering whether damp mulch will work, but I'm several months away from being able to report effectiveness.
Good luck.

Softstuff

nuatha wrote: »

I use a bark chippings mulch on top of the weed mat, incidentally that area would cost about £6 here, on the front garden where I need it to be more decorative and the spiky twigs on the growing beds. Apart from the year where I'd used the fruit bush trimmings (having completely forgotten they'd propagate) I tend to use a mix of apple tree prunings and what ever looks right that I can gather from a woodland walk. I've acquired a soak hose this year, I'm wondering whether damp mulch will work, but I'm several months away from being able to report effectiveness.
Good luck.

Weed mat is something you can't skimp on money wise here. The cheaper versions break down really quickly in Australian conditions and you end up having to fish a thousand plasticky bits out of the garden (ask me how I know. ..) I've been generous in my chilli powder and vinegar and have planted 100 bamboo kebab skewers I found in a drawer. Easier than finding 100 twigs! I don't have trimmings of my own to use yet, this little herb and veggie bed is the first of my gardening endeavours. Hopefully that will be deterrent enough.

Mardatha, it'll warm up soon. I just booked a flight over and I'll bring some sun with.

ivyleaf

nursemaggie wrote: »

What's this strange thing choosing shoes? I have never chosen a pair of shoes in my life. It often takes years just to buy a pair to fit.

Aww nursemaggie, I'm really sorry to hear that I remember we were on a day out a few years ago and I saw a small child with a really hideous pair on - I guessed they had been the only ones that were a good fit for her.

monnagran

Nurse maggie.

I once saw a young attractive teenager wearing a pretty dress and big clumsy black boots. I felt so sorry for her having to wear these orthopaedic monstrosities. It wasn't until I'd seen a few more young girls struggling along in similar footwear that I realised that it was a fashion statement. It's all a matter of perception, isn't it?

Fuddle: you are absolutely right. Teachers hate SATS. Most of them want nothing more than to get on with the job of education. Testing children constantly, especially little children, doesn't allow them to progress at all.

x

nursemaggie

My remark was meant to make you laugh, not to elicit sympathy, even if it is true.

I real irony though is, they have stopped making my size in shoes in the UK. Most shops now start with size 5 and I only take 2 1/2. Just like everything else they just got bigger.

My DD had the DMs She still can't walk in normal shoes.

On the 6th March only a week away DD and SIL retire from the British Council and move to Malta permanently. There are lots of language schools in Malta which is why they are going to live there.

She will soon have to wear shoes and not sandles for work. She will find out they don't make shoes in her size any more either.

monna no shoes is not a perception. I once had to send my older DS to school in trainers. His school shoes had disintegrated. I had been to about ten different towns plus Nottingham which at the time had about 40 shoe shops. We spent the entire half term holidays looking for shoes I just could not get any because his feet are like mine, very narrow heels AA and C at the front. They had stopped making either of those fittings.

Despite me sending a note to explain why he did not have school shoes and a long list of every shop I had been to they would not allow him to attend school. He was a mens size 8 so too big for school shoes anyway.

I have also been suspended from work for weeks for not having the correct shoes.