Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Farway

Morning folks, and sorry to hear you've joined the Horizontal Gardening Group PP, hope Dr has some helpful solution for you

My knee continues to improve, but I can feel it starting to twinge if too long bent, so I tend to stick to horizontal if I can.

YoungBlueEyes said:

Glad your improving Farway, hopefully it'll continue I've never heard of Tiger Balm gardens, I'll look that up cos it sounds interesting. I can see why you're all about cannas, that one looks like something you'd find in a rainforest  

Speaking of interesting, what's your south african cream 2p? I wish I had a miracle cure for stuff, cos it'd do us al rightly. Honestly, we don't make a whole one between us do we Wellies out warming, I love that Did your cramp ease enough to get in the garden? 

I suspect TB gardens will be on YT somewhere, mixture of colourful botanical plants & mystic Chinese fable statues

https://www.amusingplanet.com/2011/02/haw-par-villasingapores-most-bizarre.html

South African Cream, sounds like the stuff my Nan used to drink at Christmas. You have to be old to know this reference.

No flowers, except the Canna, that are out of place for me at the moment, well maybe the Shoo Fly, it's shoulder-high now but not readily accessible with my wonky knee

Weather is like Dusty's, grey & sort of damp. It was gorgeous yesterday, but I was confined inside. 

Anyone who had a camera was out & about catching Autumn colours. Local camera club reported world & wife were jostling around Stourhead, which for camera snappers must have been PIA at times.

No gardening today but will try to hobble down to empty the tea slops bucket into the compost Dalek

twopenny

That's awful Poppy, not knowing which way is up But rest never hurt anyone. I think we all feel a bit of pressure to do things at this time of year with the day short. Hope you get sorted soon.

Bluey, the cream is not on the net, I looked but its got Callendula, Mint, Arnica, Hypericum, Guen. I think it's past it's sell by date from the smell but a kind thought. It sure smells more socially acceptable than Tiger Balm. I rubbed some on but the gardening day was a bad one. Leg kept giving out and the ankle has joined it for company. But I got the garage sort of sorted, did the crumbling door with expanding foam which was slightly hillarious when having made it all 'neat' I returned to find it had turned itself into a bubble the size of a tennis ball!

Got the rotting tomatoes out and replanted the brussel sprouts. If they grow it will be Easter before I get any.

Did a bit of pruning and weeding which is a miserable job in the wet.

Plants have gone nuts. The winter flowering ones came out in summer and one in full blossom now. I have Purple Sprouting sprouting again and some rose buds. I cut some Hydranga heads for a vase and the leaf buds on the stems are plump and green. That's just not right.

Happily a bath with lavender scented Epsom Salts made the muscles relaxed so better, so far, today.

Light rain overnight and this morning with now, unforseen watery sunshine. I've bottled some more rose water and fighting my inner Mildred between getting out for exercise/learning about word docs at library/sanding rust on the car or filler on walls inside or something useful - and chilling on the settee with a book and pizza and just having a day off.

Dusty is sweet whatsit aniseedy like they say? It sounds so pretty as if it should be sweet scented.

Farway, that link is dark! Didn't really need that before eating tomato covered pizza   I'll stick to my fairies

Dustyevsky

YoungBlueEyes said:

 So what's your pensionermobile then Dusty? I don't care what clothes it's in if it's a decent car, and a 1.6 Fiesta would do me rightly...  I've flowers in my garden that I don't think should still be going, but ignorance has stopped me putting up pics in case it's normal ha haa! Persicaria - that's going on my list. They look like diddy starbursts   Shame about the Morgan, but the syndicate story made me chuckle!

It's the same as this, but purple and not as pristine:

https://www.cargurus.co.uk/Cars/l-Used-Ford-Fusion-d3086#listing=154074447/NONE/DEFAULT

It's taller than a Fiesta, so getting in and out is easier for elderly drivers. This means cornering's not as good, but the suspension's better for the roads here. Worst aspects are poor fuel consumption and high road tax. The Ford Duratec engine and Mazda auto gearbox are reliable, and because owners tend to be elderly, the cars are often low mileage and well cared for.

Personally, if Mrs Dusty didn't need want the auto and easy access
, I'd go for a Fiesta, like this:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409053707169?sort=relevance&advertising-location=at_cars&aggregatedTrim=&body-type=&colour=&fuel-type=&make=Ford&maximum-badge-engine-size=1.6&minimum-badge-engine-size=1.6&model=Fiesta&page=4&postcode=EX18 7EU&transmission=&year-to=2024&fromsra

Not exactly a Morgan, but I trialled an MG Midget too as a young man, finding it bumpy and rather scary. I guess I've always been a wuss with cars. My fave was this, which we had in the middle 90s:

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/auction/17126800

Never bettered as a swift family hold-all!

twopenny said:

Dusty is sweet whatsit aniseedy like they say? It sounds so pretty as if it should be sweet scented.

Farway, that link is dark! Didn't really need that before eating tomato covered pizza   I'll stick to my fairies

I agree, 2p, Farway's link is not one to peruse over lunch/ (or if feeling nauseous, pp!   ) 

Yes the leaves and seeds of Sweet Cicely are very aniseed-y. Apparently, it can be used in recipes where a reduction in the amount of sugar is desired. e.g. stewed fruit (but I've not tried this myself. )

 The rain hasn't lifted. Everyone has gone to a GC.   I haven't, because it's the one that sold me the suspect grapes. Tomorrow might be Rosemoor though.

pink_poppy

Thanks all, I couldn't get through to the Drs at 8.30am (think everyone else had the same idea with it being Monday) and when I tried a bit later they only had emergency appointments left. I don't think this is emergency level, but it's not nice, so I'll see how I am today and try again tomorrow if no better. I thought of Farway and Dusty when I was playing sock gymnastics earlier - trying to keep my head upright and as still as possible whilst putting them on was tricky. It is a bit odd that there are so many of us on here that are under the weather at the moment...   

OT, it's a bit grey outside, although light grey as opposed to dark rain cloud grey. I'm sat propped up in bed with the pussycat for company and am admiring the beautiful colours of the cherry tree down the road (I can only see the top bit from my sickbed, but it's still nice)...


Edited... wrong photo used

twopenny

Smashing view from your sickbed Poppy. I'd be inclined to spend a lot of time there if that were me

Dusty I'd love one that colour! 85000 though?

Meant to post a fairly uninspiring photo of what I've been making from the garden on rainy days. My one Bramley, Blackberry and Apple jam, the first Rosewater and Lavender tussies slightly unfinished

And yes I do hate the colours of the kitchen. Trying to change it with little money.

Working_Mum

Hello everyone,
PP your vertigo sounds bad news - I hope you've managed to get a doctor's appointment and that you're feeling better. I have to say your hydrangea pictures were lovely - they're one of my fave plants but I don't have much luck with them in my garden. I currently have one in a pot by my back door which I will repot soon and hopefully it'll thrive.

I checked the trees on my walk this morning Dusty and it does looks like mistletoe in the branches - I was a bit shocked (thought they were crows nests at first) as I thought mistletoe only grew in apple trees! Sadly I won't be able to make a fortune selling it off and/or snogging people as it is waaaay too high for me to reach.

I loved your star pics YBE - I never seem to be able to capture those kind of pics on my phone. I need full daylight and big items so I can see them clearly!

I managed a good chunk of work in my garden over the weekend. I've cut the grass and swept the leaves off the lawn into the borders (thought they'd make a good mulch). I bought a couple of bags of manure in August and decided to use one of them on my borders - I  popped round the bases of my roses and trees etc - it was only afterwards OI considered if it would have been considered "rotted" enough. It's too late now but I hope the plants will be fine and benefit from the nutrients.

In September I planted some potatoes which were supposed to be harvested at Christmas - well I didn't use big enough pots and I thought I'd secreted them away in a shady-ish corner. They grew like topsy and I noticed that the leaves had all disappeared at the weekend. I decided to empty them and ......I have spuds! Not going to give W4itrose a run for their money but I was pleased.



I have planted some winter  onions sets and garlic in some troughs - I've never grown vegetables etc before so these are the start of my growing area. I potted up some twisted willow whips I'd been growing over the summer and planted a load of bulbs in both my new border and the bottom of the garden. I bought them last year but didn't plant them as I was ill and missed the boat - I thought it'd be a bit of fun to see what actually grew! I'll have a lovely surprise in Spring I am sure.

I loved the Cana picture and have made a note to investigate whether I can have them in my garden somewhere.

I am a massive fan of T1ger Balm Farway - I use it for everything from headaches to aches and pains to hangovers. That and C0vonia are my cure alls  I hope the knee is on the mend 

I have to say I love the thought of having badgers in my garden 2P - purely from a sitting up at night and watching them perspective - I imagine they're a nightmare and can do a lot of damage. I replenished my bord feeding stations yesterday and have been watching lots of birds make their way to each of them. a few blackbirds have caught my eye.

Taff I hope you are on the mend too - I hate feeling like I've wasted days too. We're too programmed to be on the go all the time and don't always think of the power of rest and it's positive impact.

OT the rain fell hard last night but this morning is rather dank and dreary. I'm working but keep popping out here and there to sweep the patio 

Dustyevsky

pink_poppy said:

It is a bit odd that there are so many of us on here that are under the weather at the moment...  

Perhaps not, if the theories of someone I began taking note of in 2020 are believed to have merit, but it's more than my membership's worth to say more here. I would stress they are theories, and others contest them, but that's the nature of science. It's not something fixed that everyone agrees on, despite a well-known person's claim to that effect a few years ago.

And rather like the crowds vocalising, being the only distinguishing differences between performances in Taylor Swift's 'live' renditions recently, there's the 'background noise' of seasonal lurgy rising when temperatures fall and nights draw in. Well, I put my recent bout of cough, splutter, and sneeze down to that.....and Mrs Dusty, lingering in Lidl's midl!

twopenny said:

Dusty I'd love one that colour! 85000 though?

Meant to post a fairly uninspiring photo of what I've been making from the garden on rainy days. My one Bramley, Blackberry and Apple jam, the first Rosewater and Lavender tussies slightly unfinished

And yes I do hate the colours of the kitchen. Trying to change it with little money.

Ours has done 85k now, but in an ideal world I'd prefer 60k. Not many mud-colour cars around, sadly, so I'd usually go for grey or silver, if there's a choice. Can't understand the apparent lure of black.  

I could live with your tiles, but maybe not combined with the worktop. Which is easiest to change?  Who says your collection is uninspiring? I only have the apple! Ate what's probably the last blackberry this morning.

Working_Mum said:
I checked the trees on my walk this morning Dusty and it does looks like mistletoe in the branches - I was a bit shocked (thought they were crows nests at first) as I thought mistletoe only grew in apple trees! Sadly I won't be able to make a fortune selling it off and/or snogging people as it is waaaay to high for me to reach.

Never mind, you have your spuds! And you've planted your garlic before me.....   I'll go with your analysis regarding  the power of rest too.  

Rain is almost ending here, so I'm off to sort out the remaining wood barn. Another load of logs heading here tomorrow! Here's one pensioner who isn't going to be cold!!!

Farway

Just a quick update, and sorry about more ills going round.

It's now raining, so never did get to hobbling down the garden, but on a more positive note, Tiger Balm is on the way, delivery tomorrow from my Jungle supplier, and it's cheaper than A5da

Looking forward to my orange but hopefully pain free knee

Congrats on the spuds WM, a nice surprise. I'm thinking about planting for Christmas taster, don't know yet, very tempted.

I noted what's his name on GW planted his garlic last week, so you're in good company & will have something to compare yours with.

 Ooh, jam 2P, and I like the fancy Lavender, very productive. 

Are the lavender things just dried lavender? 

Thinking I have access to loads of it, at the volunteer patch, and could perhaps turn my gnarled arthritic sausages to attempting these.

Dusty, have to agree on Audi, I had the A80L two door saloon mid 80s, two doors with young children safety, not piling people in.

Lovely car, second hand of course, rotted away in the end despite all the German Vorsprung durch Technik  etc

Off for a mug of hot choc while looking out on a wet & gloomy world

twopenny

Ooooh home grown potatoes WM. Enjoy. You'll find they actually taste of something

"and Mrs Dusty, lingering in Lidl's midl"    I do think we forget when we're handling stuff away from home just what horrors may lurk there. Before the pandemic I always used a hand sanitiser after shops ever since getting Noravirus from Morries where the visitors from the camp go. I tend to forget now as a mental rebellion of all the santsr and bleach stuff during Covid.

It's an awful photo for colour. The tiles are nice, the cupboards are nice the worktop (colour of cat sick) not so much but it's almost new. It's just that they shouldn't have been put together. I've been looking for a cream worktop which doesn't exist but would knit the other colours together. I've even looke for a white and brown effect at a pinch but that seems to have vanished too.

The lavender Farway is not that easy - in theory you cut an odd number of stalks long, tie the top under the flower heads, bend the stalks down around and weave the ribbon around tying off below the flowers.

However I can never get the weave of over under to continue right and am forever unpicking and flumoxed.

But it's useful because it lets more scent out and keeps the bits in.

Just been sorting photos trying to get rid of ones that are duplicated or not very good. I tend to be too cautious about it but thought I'd add one I found because it makes me smile. That's one well looked after cat

Dustyevsky

Farway said:

Dusty, have to agree on Audi, I had the A80L two door saloon mid 80s, two doors with young children safety, not piling people in.

Lovely car, second hand of course, rotted away in the end despite all the German Vorsprung durch Technik  etc

We eventually experienced a failure of the Technik. Engine blew up!  Body was fine. They were galvanising by then.

My, that is one dominant-looking cat, 2p!

The forecast keeps changing here. We've woken-up to more warm murkiness, but there's a suggestion it might be bright this afternoon, so that could be a trip to Rosemoor for our visitors. The sculpture trail doesn't open until 9th November. We really need to go before then to enjoy the best autumn colour.

The next unseasonal bloomer I spotted was this Chicory, normally flowering in early summer. We cut it down some time ago, and it's returned for a second flush.

I've lived a sheltered life. Never heard of Tiger Balm, but then, today's kids probably haven't heard of poultices!