From debt to freedom...

VelvetFreak

I am disgusted to hear that your ex has used the bath The audacity!
Things are just as bad where I am (Australia). I have just opened my last packet of TP, there hasn't been any available in the shops for a few weeks now. Starting to get a bit concerned.

janb5

I`m with you VF and the words I used were unmentionable!  So much for taking heed of the mediator.....! 
Please do add this to the lists of aggressive behaviour and are you able to ban him from the house legally? 
After all you don`t visit `his` house and have a bath do you!

Humdinger1

HSL, do you need to shut your doors to all non-residents on public health grounds?! Might be one good thing to come out of it.  Love Humdinger x

Cherryfudge

Potatoes seem to me incredibly easy to grow - it's peas and carrots that defeat me!

Honeysucklelou2

I have this morning used my birthday money from family to order  some  seed potatoes and some seeds for vegetables that I haven’t already got seeds for. I’ve potted up another few tomato seedlings - this variety is “Brandywine yellow”. Hoping to wander up to the allotment later and do some pruning before the gooseberry bushes flower. Hopefully will make it easier to see the gooseberries and to harvest them.

sashybo

Honeysuckle I'm sure you'll do fine growing potatoes, they really don't need much looking after, as long as they have enough water they're generally fine. I'm going to start chitting my seed potatoes this week, we grow the potatoes in big bags next to the greenhouse in the garden so will need to get some compost once the seed potatoes are ready to go in the bags.

We haven't really pruned our gooseberry bushes, they are in pots and only got them last year but they are a fair size. I think our resident magpie and his mate nicked all our gooseberries last year as there were definitely some on the bushes but whenever I went to pick them they had disappeared! 👀 The big fat magpie is always in our garden trying to get the raspberries as well but he has to beat DS to that which isn't easy. 🤣 At least the birds get the honeysuckle berries later in the year as DS obviously isn't allowed to eat those! Not that he doesn't try. 😱 

Sorry to hear about your ex taking baths in your house again - it's just so weird! Must be pretty horrible for you to be honest, which is probably why he does it. 😠 

savingholmes

Glad you have your allotment and food growing to focus on instead of all the madness. I am sure you will get the benefit of sunshine when it comes too. The forecast ice snap didn't materialise.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you VF, Janb5, Cherryfudge, Sashybo, Humdinger & SH.

Thank you for the potato growing comments. Don’t know why I’d thought them to be tricky and I’d forgotten about growing in containers. Might see what I can fit into the garden at home to maximise growth. I had to smile about the magpies Sashybo. I planted a jostaberry about 6 years ago and I have yet to taste one as we just get to the point of being able to pick them, then every local bird seems to polish them off before I make it to the allotment!

One of the older children has developed  a cough so we are now all self isolating. I have no idea whether it is just a winter bug or cv. The DC seems quite bright and chirpy but making sure we are following the guidelines.  There does seem to be a lot of work I can get on with at home to prepare for home learning, so much of yesterday was spent doing that. I got out for a walk but made sure I went at night so no chance of bumping into anyone. Very sobering to see the pub shut and in darkness - can’t remember an evening when it’s ever been shut. Humdinger, your suggestion is very apt. The ex dropped food off for tomorrow  ( he usually cooks for the children on Wed) but he didn’t come in!

Planning work in at the allotment. Plenty to do there and when the seed order arrives, I can  get on with sowing those. I did order some quinoa seeds...thought it was worth a try and some cape gooseberries. The cape gooseberries are grown like tomatoes and are quite versatile.

VelvetFreak

I am shocked to learn that you guys have Magpies too
I thought they were exclusive to Australia. I think ours might be worse than yours though. My neighbours are obsessed with feeding them so now I'm scared to walk outside to the washing line out of fear that one of the wretched things will attack me because they are everywhere.

sashybo

Sorry to hear you're self isolating Honey, hope you're all ok.

😃 Velvet, I think your magpies are different to ours. The ones around here are proper bullies as well, they've chased all the smaller birds away and they're only scared of the seagulls and crows, so anything bigger than them really. We have a pair that visit our garden as part of their territory because they know we grow fruit and they can steal it. 😂 

Apparently magpies are part of the crow family and very intelligent though and can recognise themselves in mirrors. Can you tell that I read some random stuff online about them there. 🤣