Get a grip woman!

Suffolk_lass

Thank you - I will try to head up Bee posts in bold so it isn't too dull for those not interested (assuming I have a few non-posting readers, sometimes!)

Garden
In other news I pricked out all my germinated tomato seedlings with proper leaves. I planted two varieties to half a standard seed tray and had germinated them in a heated propagator. I now have 8 of three varieties and 6 of the fourth. Way more than I need but it means there is contingency for failures, as well as plenty to gift. The chillies are a week or two behind - I must not leave them too long though as there are six in each small 3" square pot and I won't be able to separate them if the roots get too developed. Bell peppers are still on the kitchen windowsill and only just germinating. Salads in the window box in the greenhouse are all sprouting (looks like loads of French breakfast radishes so far!)

I would like to get our 2nd early (Charlotte) potatoes in and also some broad beans this week. It was pouring at 07.00 but looks to be clearing. Bees prep is taking precedence this week. I need to take sprouting cuttings too, from blackcurrant and a couple of gooseberries, in case we move. And I must (must, must!) cut down the last autumn fruiting raspberry canes

House selling
No word from our EA again. Not impressed really. Perhaps it is not meant to be.

Family
My Mum confessed this week that she has lost interest in outings now. She said she has no interest in traipsing around shops any more (she never had this as a hobby as her tennis always took up that time until she was 87). She also no longer wants to holiday. At 93 I know what is coming, but she is still enjoying her life. My sister does most of her shopping, although Mum goes to meet Sis once a week and they go round one or two places and have coffee in M&S (always M&S, as she parks in their disabled bay).

I am still in dialogue with M&S. Having told me that the flowers I sent Mum were cancelled, they apologised and gave me a 10% off voucher that did not work. When I reordered for Thursday, the voucher failed so I contacted them. That was a week ago. Then they sent another email to say they had delivered the cancelled flowers (but I had ordered a second bouquet by then). On Thursday the second bouquet (21/25 roses) was delivered to my Mum and on Friday they told me they had refunded the 10%. I checked yesterday, and they have. Not the refund for the "cancelled" bouquet. So I am actually £25 out of pocket... and I have emailed them again

Suffolk_lass

Oh yes, my points total for Ipsos is over 800 points for March so far. Not too tedious.

enthusiasticsaver

Another one here who finds your bee keeping stories interesting. 

Are M and S losing the plot? I used interflora for my mums flowers this year as they use local florists and they were very good. Glad I did now as M and S would have been the alternative. 

Debsnewbudget

I am a non posting reader who is fascinated by the bee talk 

Suffolk_lass

Having mentioned the adulteration of honey by processed sugar syrup this morning, our beechat group have shared this article in the Grauniad today.

badmemory

There was a similar type of report a couple of years ago which said that it was impossible for all the honey on the shelves to be genuine as per description as there was more than had actually been produced.  It does make you wonder what other foods are not genuine too as logically there is no way it is only the one type of food.

beanielou

M & S are not what they were. 

CRANKY40

Too late to help now but a friend sent me some flowers from Bl00m and W1ld as a thank you. I've never had them before (had M&S from another friend and they weren't great) but oh my goodness! These came with arranging instructions for the clumsy (me) and despite not looking that good when I opened the box they came beautifully to life when I put them in water with flower food mixed in. There was even extra flower food for day three. They arrived on the 4th Feb and were only starting to look like a few needed throwing by the 27th. I assumed that they were expensive as they were so good but I've just had a look at their website and they're not actually that bad. 

Suffolk_lass

M&S have responded and I am getting the refund. I presume it will be the £25 but in days before retail struggled, they would have said B****r it, give her the £50 and a voucher by post. I do have an abject apology from a person as well as the automatic one that is meant to sound sincere. 

It's ironic, I never mind if flowers are not 100% but it is a measure of the company how they deal with things when they go wrong. I just thought on this occasion, I have their email address and I'm not giving up because this isn't right or fair on me.

Thanks @CRANKY40, I have heard good things about B&W flowers.

Oops, as I was typing I could hear the boiler gulping (normally an indicator of low pressure). I have just been in to re-pressurise it (get me!) and the heating has kicked in. It is set quite low (16.5c) but the frost this morning means it was needed. My study has a big old single skin slab radiator and it is generating heat behind me. Not long now until we switch off the heating completely but this week's forecast on Countryfile persuaded me not to turn it off yesterday. I do hate being cold. 

A quick check on the greenhouse yesterday before dark (in a brief pause in the filthy weather) and all the tomatoes (including the sad ones) have perked up with fresh compost and manhandling. I will have plenty to gift to others at this rate. In my larder, I have a ridiculous number of jars of passata I made. The box of 12 is still under the counter and there are 17 jars stacked to use on the shelf. Not to self - I do not need 23 tomato plants. We really need to eat more when they are fresh and delicious too.

We skived off for an hour to go and sit in the V Hall Social Club yesterday. £5.50 on a pint and a glass of wine (bargain!). One of the women observed to Mr SL how affectionate and friendly our dog is. Mr SL said that is a reflection of the people he lives with. Oh yes, she observed, just like SL (with heavy irony). I knew I slightly intimidated her, and to be honest, I don't mind, but I probably shouldn't take pleasure in slightly terrifying her... 

Karmacat

Suffolk_lass said:

A quick check on the greenhouse yesterday before dark (in a brief pause in the filthy weather) and all the tomatoes (including the sad ones) have perked up with fresh compost and manhandling. I will have plenty to gift to others at this rate. In my larder, I have a ridiculous number of jars of passata I made. The box of 12 is still under the counter and there are 17 jars stacked to use on the shelf. Not to self - I do not need 23 tomato plants. We really need to eat more when they are fresh and delicious too.
Wow eating fresh is great, home made passata is great.


We skived off for an hour to go and sit in the V Hall Social Club yesterday. £5.50 on a pint and a glass of wine (bargain!). One of the women observed to Mr SL how affectionate and friendly our dog is. Mr SL said that is a reflection of the people he lives with. Oh yes, she observed, just like SL (with heavy irony). I knew I slightly intimidated her, and to be honest, I don't mind, but I probably shouldn't take pleasure in slightly terrifying her... 

Norty SL!  It's a good thing your dog did what he did 🤣🌈🐶  And your Social Club sounds exactly that, wonderfully social. And extremely good value