"Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it."

greenbee

Do whichever is going to be quickest and easiest, so it's done. Can you get a boy to do some digging?

redofromstart

Good idea, they would probably feel better for it too. The lawns need cutting too so tomorrow if it's bright. They did offer to go to the co-op and get me some wine 🤣

greenbee

They're clearly looking after you. But I think you're right - a bit of physical labour is probably a good outlet for them now. There's mowing to do here, but it involves scything, so not something I can outsource at the moment. 

PennysIntoPounds

Sorry to hear that your friend had awful news. Make sure to take extra good care of yourself while you're processing it x

Cheery_Daff

Also sorry to hear about your friend's news xxx

greenbee said:

...There's mowing to do here, but it involves scything, so not something I can outsource at the moment. 

I've only rarely managed to outsource scything. Lots of people are excited and want a go! Only two have ever managed longer than 5 minutes 😂 Both of those did several rows though, so many brownie points to them (both only once though, never managed to entice them back!)

Raking is better for visitors though. I tend to cut a few rows and don't rake, then if people visit and express an interest, I let them have a go on the scythe, and when they get bored, I take over and give them a rake. I don't think it's physically any easier personally, but it's less skilled and people seem happier doing it. Also I'd much prefer to be scything, so any raking I can outsource is good!

(Saying that, I've not had a single person offer to do anything this year, and I don't ever ask anyone specifically to help. My mum would have, but she broke her ankle recently and I didn't want to risk her snapping it again!)

(On a related note, I've not actually done any raking at all myself this year🙄)

redofromstart

Just to remove any doubt - the friend is me, and poor Greenbee was the person I contacted when I first heard (rather than frighten the family) before we had an outcome so she got to suffer at the end of messenger while I knew nothing, travelled and hoped, got the bad news and travelled home again.  A true friend indeed, but also a huge shock for her too.  

greenbee

I've decided I'm not going to let anyone else near the scythe given that the two people who have tried have claimed that the scythe wouldn't work for cutting my grass, and also have clearly been sharpening it wrongly (can tell from the stone, let alone the blade!). 

I'm having to rake as I go at the moment, because the grass is flat and lying in different directions in different layers. But I've outsourced the transport of the hay to the gap between the two hedges at the back to my gardener (one of the people who claimed that the problem was the scythe, not him... and is still claiming to be know all about it...). 

I want to try to finish the front tomorrow, and do the scarifying so I can sow the wildflowers. That's the really hard work bit as there's a reasonable amount of force required. 

redofromstart

It's all hard physical work I think. Great exercise I suppose. Have you got a scarifying machine? I think we have a plug in one somewhere.

greenbee

I use a rake for the scarifying! I might regret that when I get to the back.

greenbee

redofromstart said:

Just to remove any doubt - the friend is me, and poor Greenbee was the person I contacted when I first heard (rather than frighten the family) before we had an outcome so she got to suffer at the end of messenger while I knew nothing, travelled and hoped, got the bad news and travelled home again.  A true friend indeed, but also a huge shock for her too.  

Cross-posted last night and have only just seen this. I’m just glad you felt you could contact me rather than dealing with it alone. I can’t do anything to make things better, but I can listen, or distract you when things get hard.

The cats appreciated the home-made food I cooked them as a distraction while you were travelling. I will miss Mr Redo’s second-hand advice very much (I still remember you relaying his instructions when my car died in the M3 years ago!).