The Garden Fence - proper Old Style support and chat!

MingVase

I'll take a look on the BBC site thanks polly. I saw you all talking about it but the weird title put me off. I hardly watch any tv, very rarely. I loved Shetland though, watched that from day one and read the books. I've wanted to live in Shetland all my life but not now, too old and want some gentler weather for a change. Finding the winter far shorter and less hard down here in the new house. And the garden's far easier, roses still out all over the place and I can grow rosemary for the first time ever

pollyanna_26

MingVase said:

I'll take a look on the BBC site thanks polly. I saw you all talking about it but the weird title put me off. I hardly watch any tv, very rarely. I loved Shetland though, watched that from day one and read the books. I've wanted to live in Shetland all my life but not now, too old and want some gentler weather for a change. Finding the winter far shorter and less hard down here in the new house. And the garden's far easier, roses still out all over the place and I can grow rosemary for the first time ever

Always one to look things up I searched for the various locations on Guernsey. It looked so picture perfect. I've discovered the Guernsey harbour scenes were actually filmed in the North Devon village of Clovelley but that dosen't detract from my enjoyment of the film.I was lying in bed last night wondering what Potato Peel Pie might taste like then thought pull youself together woman do you really want to try it and went to sleep.

I too watched all of Shetland and the many series of Vera and George Gently. it's the wide open spaces that appeal to me and different landscapes.

Moving was one of the best things you ever did Mar. Things were getting too hard up the hill. It's lovely you still have roses and can grow your Rosemary. I brought the milk in half an hour ago and the early snowdrops that are always in flower at Christmas have begun to flower. It always cheers me up on the darkest of days to see them standing against the wild winds, rain and on the rarer snow days snow.

pollyx

monnagran

Thanks for that Polly.  I love the book and didn't want it spoiled.

Guernsey is beautiful.  It is often overlooked as Jersey gets all the attention, but in my eyes there is no comparison.

I love snowdrops and when I lived out in the wilds my friend gave me 500 bulbs in the green.  I recall the planting of them with horror.  It took ages and finally I got them all settled into the hillside.
The first year, one lonely snowdrop lifted its little head.
The next year it had obviously got discouraged and I never saw another snowdrop. 

pollyanna_26

monnagran said:

Thanks for that Polly.  I love the book and didn't want it spoiled.

Guernsey is beautiful.  It is often overlooked as Jersey gets all the attention, but in my eyes there is no comparison.

I love snowdrops and when I lived out in the wilds my friend gave me 500 bulbs in the green.  I recall the planting of them with horror.  It took ages and finally I got them all settled into the hillside.
The first year, one lonely snowdrop lifted its little head.
The next year it had obviously got discouraged and I never saw another snowdrop. 

Even with the obvious signs of the devestation wrought during the occupation Guernsey still looked beautiful and one of those places I would love to visit and see for myself. Nor ideal in a pandemic though

I thought the  actors played their parts just as I'd pictured them and the herbalist and provider of gin  was just as I'd imagined.

I've often come across people snowdrops just don't grow and flower for but have no idea why. One of my sisters never had them thrive and flower. I gave her pots of my own in flower when she lived in the NW but after the first flush they withered away Did it again with the same result when she moved to a much warmer Devon and yet she and her husband were both experienced gardeners. I was very young when one of my grandads dug up a clump growing wild near his allotment and put them in an old clay pot for me and snowdrops and I have been together ever since ,

that must have been just before we left the prefab and moved to that victorian terrace mum and I didn't like with nothing green to be seen after our gardens and dads allotments. Dad dug out long planting areas either side of the concrete backyard so mum could grow a few flowers and I could plant my snowdrops and sow the usual pot marigolds  with the seeds that were always saved when the flowers went to seed. it wasn't what we were used to but we had a sort of garden among the bomb sites and factories of post war britain.

To this day I collect the pot marigold seed from the pot marigolds and sow them the next season and do the same with violas which I grow through the seasons including the winter ones. I shelter the plants in winter except the winter ones which are flowering and next season have the existing plants and newr ones too. My dad and grandads feel close to me then ,they must have had so much patience to tolerate the toddler with her bucket of worms and a tendancy to put the blue aconite flowers in her mouth to see what they tasted like prompting them to pull them out and pour water down my throat .

pollyx

pollyanna_26

Just popping in to check if Monna has chucked the glitter at the cobwebs yet. These traditions are important you know and now part of Fence histiory. I hope the marmalade gifts are jarred, set and ready to give to the lucky recipients- they sounded very tempting indeed.

It's gone very quiet here now. I have been waiting for the Dusty Springfield CD to arrive after starting the Goin' Back thread. normally cds etc arrive next day but not that one. I was beginning to think it had gone awol in the post when the big river site turned the tracking on. Going through customs in Madrid! on to other places until it arrived for customs clearance in the uk. Then more parts of the country, Barnard Castle was one  and we all know that isn't always the best place to take a sudden trip to.

So it finally came through the letterbox today and is currently isolating on the doormat.

We got the backlash from the Liverpool v Madrid match last year though we're further up the coast . Sharp spike in cases and up another tier so I will leave it there for a while. I'm looking forward to hearing Goin' Back after all these years but will be patient for now.

I hope you're all sorted for tomorrow. Another home alone Christmas for me like last year but I didn't struggle for years to keep youngest in the world and she is still ECV so best where she's been since Feb last year. I saw her recently but we'll stick to our rules while pubs, clubs etc are still open over the festive season and not everyone believes in vaccination, masks or keeping any distance between themselves and others.

I have been thinking of David who must feel the loss of his beloved at this time of year so much. You know organised religion and I parted company many years ago Monna but I hope Davids faith can sustain him when services tomorrow will be joyful and will hopefully lift his spirits.

Wishing all fencers the sort of Christmas they'd like if possible. Laid back or full on whatever suits you best.

Take care all

pollyx

MrsCD

Just popping in to wish everyone a very happy Christmas. 🎄🎄🎄
Thinking of those, like David and Her Majesty who have lost the love of their life this year, and wishing them a peaceful time. 

mothernerd

Wishing everyone a peaceful and pleasant time and hoping you get to do what you want to do at least some of the time. I am safely back in my own home and mum does not want me to spend Christmas with her (she's not well but I've told her what she should and shouldn't be doing, Ds2 called at her house and cleaned all the handles and taps and she's well provisioned).

Everyone is safe and fairly well (Beloved has been collected to spend Christmas with her parents). I've done what I needed to (hobbling around) and I going to rest and sleep as much as I need to, read books, eat whatever and whenever I want (rice pudding, cheese and pickles, raw broccoli or lamb dinner) and hobble around doing a little sorting and tidying when I feel like it.

monnagran

Thanks Polly.  Cobwebs glittered as per tradition and I live with the soft sounds of falling things.  No.  Not snowflakes, but Christmas cards gently detaching themselves from whence they had been stuck with low impact masking tape. Another tradition of mine.  The Christmas season is marked by the heaps of cards all over the floor and the quiet swearing murmuring of the householder as she bends double to pick them up and return them to the walls. 
Marmalade is made and distributed.
Tomorrow I am spending with DS2's family and Sunday with an old friend when we mean to sit by the fire, eat rubbish, watch rubbish and gossip.

David has tried to ignore Christmas, but his friends aren't having it.  He has had many cards and., knowing his weakness, everyone seems to have given him a box of biscuits.  He was up to 8 when I left him yesterday and he has gleefully reported another one arriving today.
I, knowing his weaknesses better than anyone, have given him a bottle of whisky.  It will last him for ages, but he does enjoy a thimbleful (his words) now and again.

I have several friends who have lost beloved partners this year, and its difficult to know what to do.  Wishing them a happy or a merry Christmas is plain insensitive, so I have sent each one a note card hoping that they get through the days as painlessly as possible.

Polly, I would love to spend the day on my own, but it's not allowed.

Hoping that everyone can enjoy the festivities in whichever way they wish and thank you, all of you.

MingVase

I hope all Fencers have a good contented restful break from the grind. My xmas is going to be so calm and restful I will need to be poured off this chair.

burtha

hi, just noticed that the post I thought I posted 2 days ago hasn't shown up ..
so 
Happy Christmas everyone.  hope you're having an enjoyable few days x