The Garden Fence - proper Old Style support and chat!

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

Big Jenny, I missed your post last night. I've had a google this morning...wow. Exactly what it says on the tin. Lovely. I don't think I'll be having that for breakfast.

Monna, of course. Nightie? What nightie? That is your white lawn frock isn't it? The footmen will sort chairs out and bone china. They can also set up the croquet match. Apparently when organizing this thing I'm supposed to write to the rail company and reserve our coach (remembering to specify which class) and write to secure a man to take us out on the water in his boat and tell him to bring along iced ginger ale and lemonade as well as drinking water for making tea. I have a feeling we all may end up on Hester's vessel, I'm not sure what CHS will make of it all but we can just stick him in livery and get him serving dainty sandwiches.

Well, after our excursion yesterday I think most of today is devoted to chores. Hopefully we'll get out for a walk and maybe get a half at a local pub as we haven't really been to any yet. I'll have to scrounge up something for lunch as we had aubergine/halloumi burgers for tea and don't have any leftovers. We have plenty of sandwich fillings and some part baked mini baguettes though so those seem a likely option.

fuddle

I was broken yesterday and I let a snivelling little man do it to me. When we put the chicken coop into my plot we ensured we were within my boundary. What we didn't account for is that the plot slopes downwards because we're on a hill. This means that the top of the coop leans a little over my plot. I've been reported by my neighbour and repremanded by the warden even though the warden apologised as it was petty. Because of the report it has to be acted on and I have to move my coop. The problem is we ensured the coop was submerged into the ground and us being us in that we do things properly we did a ruddy good job of it. It's been welded to fit the size so moving it isn't an option as it means cutting and re-welding a smaller coop. The crux of it is that we spent a lot of yesterday digging the coop out. I now don't have any coop and I won't be getting chickens. Of course I'm upset that I won't be having chickens but the work involved just isn't worth it and I'm not buying a smaller coop. What I'm upset about is being reported for something so childish in such a childish way. Why not come speak to me? Why act like a snivelling little child trotting off to the teacher? Unfortunately I know the answer to that and it's because the general (not all) retired male population of the plots have made it quite clear that women are not wanted on the site. The one woman who is in there is a 'bike' because she allotments wearing shorts. That's bad enough but because I am a housewife I'm just not tolerated and many of them make it clear that I should be in the home.

I haven't come across this before but I've never been in an old boys network before. They may think because the chicken coop has gone that they've won but give me a few days to stop crying at the unfairness of it all I will be back doing my thing with my head down and my determination. What these fellas don't understand is that I don't need to be part of anything. I'm quite happy on my own in my own little world and not at all bothered whether I'm liked or wanted but what I have to ensure is that I don't give them anything to use against me.

On happier things I'm knitting again. It's not enjoyable and I'm tense with fumbling all fingers and thumbs but I'm on round 8 of a sock cuff. Now it's not perfect but I'm quite proud of my self. Today I will concentrate on that and avoid the plot until I gather my strength again. I have been distraught and feel a bit like it's been the straw that broke the camel's back. I deal with awful things really well but insignificant stuff just breaks me.

Floss

Fuddle that is so petty - is it a private or council site? Might be worth while popping up at the plot holders meetings to get your face known - but DON'T let them make you secretary just because you are a woman! When they realise that all you want is to grow stuff they should leave you alone, it was a little like that on my site but 5 years in I am accepted for my fine crop of bindweed, fake grass under the fruit trees and that I can grow cucumbers when the old guys can't :D:

whiteguineapig

i feel so cross for you fuddle, some people are

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Floss

FPK & MMF07 I am now about an hour & twenty minutes from Tatton but as a teenager & young mum lived abut 30 minutes away, it was always country house of choice for the gardens which are amazing. I believe the orangery has been restored now too, so defo count me in for the picnic, I can bring DH to help with catering and to serve drinks Oh and the wooden adventure playground is fab!

Hard_Up_Hester

Hugs to Fuddle & Burtha.

If you want to know what posh food is these days, well CHS and I went to a wedding reception at Wokefield Park yesterday and the food served was Pie & Mash with gravy, Fish & Chips with mushy peas or Pizza with ice cream for afters, woo hoo!!

We had a great time at the reception and I cannot remember the last time I saw a bride and groom so happy and so much in love.

CHS is still sleeping off the after effects of having SUCH a good time, so I'm pottering around quietly until he wakes up.

FairyPrincessk

Fuddle grr. Things like that get me hopping mad. I'm really sorry you've had to nix the idea of chickens because some old goat got his chin hairs in a tangle. I definitely think you need a flag. Maybe floral? And really, if gardening in shorts makes a woman a bike then there won't be any pleasing them so you may as well ignore them whenever possible. Glad to hear you're knitting again.

We went to Tatton about a month ago and I think we did see the orangery and the gardens are spectacular. We haven't been round knutsford for ages but a few years ago there was quite the selection of charity shops and antiques shops with varying price levels--champagne and lemonade.

Well, seeing as I got up an hour earlier than I thought I've already done an hour of ironing, started a wash and made a list for the rest of the day.

mardatha

Fuddle I'm sorry pet but the last thing on earth I would do is give in. My damn coop would be right back there in another site that he can't get you on, and if he complains about you once more then go to the people who run the allotments and say this is harrassment and you want it stopped. God I hate people like that!!!

greenbee

Fuddle - I'm with Mar. Get down to the allotment and show them you can't be bullied. Turn up for meetings, make friends with the lady who wears shorts and offer the grumpy old men the accasional bit of cake (preferably made with HG courgette or beetroot as your produce arrives). With the hens, it's worth remembering you'll need to move them regularly to prevent the ground becoming 'sour' from the acid in the droppings which in turn makes the eggs taste nasty. But regular moving is good for your veg growing

pollyanna_26

Fuds I agree with Mar this . If there is any way your husband can adapt that coop I would consider talking to the site manager in advance and getting written agreement . In most situations there is always at least one of those people with nowt better to do than have a power moment . Usually they just need to get a life but as they are generally disliked and avoided like the plague they nit pick at those they think they can bully . They've picked on the wrong person this time so keep on being you .
I'm sorry this happened after all the excitement and anticipation but you have the strength to keep him in his place .
Enjoy the knitting , good , calming therapy ( and knitting needles make a good weapon if needed)
polly