The Garden Fence - help and support in tough times

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

Oh Hester--I've received plenty of criticism on my writing so I know how hard it can be, but it is all part of it isn't it? Most recently I had a very uncomfortable two weeks after I sent off my manuscript, waiting to see if it was what the editors had expected when they commissioned it. Fortunately they only wanted some very minor changes. Writing is some combination between great joy and pain--probably like most exquisite things in life.

Nursemaggie Did you manage to get the rice in the end?

Bit of an odd day today, so I'm not sure if I'll get much if any work done. Lots of chores to do and in laws coming round for a bit. The house needs going over--it always gets much dirtier when there are two of us here in the summer, not to mention all of the in and out in the garden. OH was feeling a bit under the weather last night so we had the leftover lasagna for tea and I'll do something with the pasta and tuna and broccoli for lunch today and make enough for lunch tomorrow. We'll have omelettes for tea, probably with oven chips and salad. I have lots of things to stuff into them so they should be nice fat specimens--I do like a fat omelette!

Wednesday is my walk day, so I'll head out later this afternoon. I ended up only doing strength and stretching at the gym, no cardio as it was too hot and I didn't want to push my luck. Still my new exercises seem effective since I'm sore in the correct places this morning! It will probably take months, if not up to a year or so to have any improvement on the relevant joints--I've been through this with other joints as well--but knowing where the problem is and what to do about it is half the battle. I'm lucky that it is something I can change.

Someone asked about lavender lemonade--I'm thinking their name started with a J, but I can't see the post to verify--yes it is pretty much as it sounds. I keep sugar infused with lavender in the cupboard. If you're making it in a jug you can always make a simple syrup with the sugar and then squeeze in some lemons and dilute to taste. I tend to use the juice of 1/2 lemon and two tsp. of sugar for a tall glass and not bother with the syrup, but it has been so long since I did a litre jug that I don't remember how I scaled it. We like to top it with sparkling water, but plain water also works. You either need to strain it or drink it with a straw as the bits of lavender are disconcerting. I generally try to scoop the sugar out around the lavender and then just refill my jar for the next summer but a few bits usually make their way in. The lavender usually needs replenishing after two years anyway.

ivyleaf

It's recycling day, so I've put a big paper bag of shredded paper out on top of the "paper" recycling box. There's a bit of a strong breeze this morning so I'm hoping the bag of shredded paper won't get blown off the box and burst open on the ground :eek: (I did put sticky tape on it to keep it closed.)
But I think if I put it beside the box they won't even notice the words SHREDDED PAPER I wrote on the bag, and will ignore it.

FairyPrincessk

Ivy, those who take our bins would take it off the bin, put it on the pavement and then empty the bin and leave the box. I know they have a hard job and we have a lot around our neck of the woods who fly tip, don't do their sorting, leave out overflowing bins and generally don't bother following the rules but for those of us who do follow the rules getting rid of things properly can be a nightmare! Our council keeps reducing both the frequency and size of our rubbish bins-- I'm actually in favour of initiatives to reduce waste, but I wish they would also put some of the pressure on manufacturers and retailers. The majority of our black bin is full of unnecessary packaging that can't be recycled. The polythene bags around single aubergines at Aldi are my particular pet peeve!

Floss

FPK I have been known to leave excess packaging at the shops before now and I always break off broccoli stalks!

ancientofdays

I am a gorgeous Gemini too and married to another recreational vehicle. Sometimes I think I'd rather a yurt, nice little bit of outdoor luxury ahem.

FairyPrincessk

Floss wrote: »

FPK I have been known to leave excess packaging at the shops before now and I always break off broccoli stalks!

I've been tempted before although I feel for the staff in the supermarket who aren't involved in those decisions and then have to deal with it. If I could find a way to deliver or post it back to the headquarters for free then I'd be on to something :rotfl:.

silvasava

What about some recycling bins at the supermarkets so we don't have to take home all this unnecessary packaging? If they can reduce the carrier bag consumption then maybe this could be another initiative??

ivyleaf

Happy to report that they did take the shredded paper, and the food waste (I'm having a competition with myself to see how little I can put in the food waste bin each week )

Just waiting for them to come and empty the big garden waste wheelie bins now, then the fight to get my elderly neighbours' one back in its place; this will involve pulling the green wheelie bin out to the pavement, pushing the brown one back up the alley between our two houses, then putting the green one back where it came from. Thank goodness next week the green one will be emptied, so that's less hassle as it's the one nearer the pavement anyway.

Getting a pain in my right side, think it must be the gallstone which I know I've got but which has caused no problems before now

candygirl

ivyleaf wrote: »

I'm Libra - just don't ask me to make any decisions :eek:

Me too.I'm ok with life changing decisions, but little ones nooooo :j
CC have you had your b12 levels checked?
HESTER, i'm also a terrible parker

mardatha

Ivy I share your pain with the gallstone. A hot water bottle and sitting absolutely still for a bit usually eases it. And yes, its worse than labour pains .
Met a lovely lady yesterday at the seaside who is from London, up on holiday. She said she couldn't believe how much colder it is up here, and how much quieter the roads are. I've never been further south than one day in York and one long-ago (horrible) day in Blackpool. It sounds like the south of France lol