Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Farway

Dull & grey again, if I look hard I think there is a hint of blue up there behind the clouds

YoungBlueEyes said:

Did you get your hyacinths in Farway? Was redistribution of the litter of bins (love that) successful?  If you've a devil-may-care attitude on you, maybe view the fartless hormone/chemical/drug laden cheese as a possible boost? Might do you the power of good, you never know   (That is NOT medical advice!) 

I agree about alcohol-free Guinness Dusty, most acceptable *nodding* A lot of the lagers/wines etc aren't up to much (I hear) but they've deffo cracked it with the Guinness. 

Hyacinths remain on the window sill, awaiting me to get aris in gear, maybe today if blue sky keeps sneaking out

Tempted now, I've added some alcohol-free Guinness to my shopping list. 

Riddle me this, why is the boozy one with booze tax & duty cheaper than the non-boozy?

Hypothetical, I think we can guess.

Hope the job remains Blue, at least until Christmas. If you get the sack, ask about Christmas Holiday Pay in lieu

Wheelie bins round up sorted, all now back with rightful owners.

I suspect there is an unspoken bin rebellion under way.

A row of houses, mine included, are not accessible directly from the kerb side. 

This means bin men have to trundle bins down & along a sloping path to the lorry, then trundle them back, uphill, to where they got them from.

Over the past few weeks, they decided the return journey time was eating into their knocking off time, or summat, and took to leaving them on the road at the end of the path. Blocking parking spaces & leaving us taxpayers to trundle the bins back home.

A complaint was made, part of the collection T & Cs is we leave at Curtilage & they return them there.

So now they have to bring them back to the curtilage, and this is where the random abandon comes in, we all get a bin back, but like Eric Morecambe's piano playing, not necessarily in the right order

Thanks for recipe link Taff, I'll try it over the hols

Yesterday I spotted blue tits feeding on the Shoo Fly seed pods, I never knew they did that. Of course, no camera to hand.

twopenny

Went to the living Nativity last night at a local village. Great fun even though it was dark and raining.

Shaun the sheep had a place, a black spanial had a sheep costume which was brilliant and the donkey wasn't impressed. And angel, a wise man had wooly hats under their crowns and it had some unusual natural phrases here and there that made us laugh.

This was from another year and some of the 'lesser known' funny text has been cut out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odAzTq_z794

Today we saw some of that bright stuff. I wouldn't say sun but the world looked a lot better.

Unfortunately it was a battering ram expidition to Tescos and Morries among others. Sheesh they've whacked the prices up   

I was looking for a base for a wreath that I was going to use my hydranga flower heads on but the bases weren't to be had and the flowers have gone brown in the cold winds. So it will have to be next year..........after all the inspiration of the beautiful ones you folks have made. Thank you for showing us

Farway, Yes we've got a new contingent of bin folk, the last used to put the bins back where they found them. This lot scatter them as they feel like

Bluey that sounds like an interesting discussion about your hours. I once rebelled after being last to leave and lowliest and leaned at the bottom of the stairs and said 'if they wanted me to leave half an hour late they would have paid me for it' - knew the bosses door was open. All post down on time from there on

Wort you sound like you're making the most of the seasonal revelrie The strictly final looks to be a loooong one. Defo snuggling down and all done beforehand.

Actually got some 'gardening' done after all the jobs. Swept away the leaves from the storm, trimmed the lavender and pulled up the deaded one, cut back the Eriginon which has tried a take over of the paths. 

I did see some Primroses blooming already and the Helebore in a pot is just about to flower. Little signs of hope.

But it's so very wet I'm reluctant to do much else as it's just mud. I've done a lot of standing and looking but haven't made any real decisions. Except that going through photos I think I liked it better when there was less - stuff. So some thinning out and I doubt I will get carried away buying plants next year. Everything is way too expensive now. So will try to go for 'Less is More'.............

pink_poppy

Thanks all, I think we're leaning more towards new storage heaters, rather than the ASHP. I did a rough estimate for the ASHP and it would cost over £15k. We're not eligible for a grant, but we could possibly get a 0% loan for part of the cost. I'm not sure I want to stay here long term though, so probably not worth it. We did the loft insulation, YBE, but I think the house itself isn't properly insulated. Maybe those insulated boards may be worth looking into, although I'm sure I read about them a while back and they reduce the size of the room?? I've read a couple of threads on the home energy board about storage heaters, greenbee, I think that's probably what we'll end up going for. I looked at our Energy Performance Certificate from when we bought the house and it suggested under floor insulation. It also suggested another couple of things, but the cost to install compared to savings meant they just weren't worth it financially. We've got a couple of windows that are almost single glazed, looking at the thickness of the glass and the back door is the same - I think we're going to have to replace them. The EPC is a low D, which I find hard to believe - I think it's because the previous owners used an old loophole and put energy saving lightbulbs in all the light fittings...

Anyway, enough of that... taff, that wreath is gorgeous, well done you. I've seen a lot of people making their own this year. YBE, hope you get the answer you want at work tomorrow. I did wonder where you were going with the pillow for my DH haha. wort, the baby cheesus cracked me up   Farway, how lovely that blue tits are making use of your shoo fly seed pods. twopenny, I liked your little signs of hope comment   

A dismal forecast today - strong winds this afternoon and a yellow warning for rain over the next couple of days. Temperatures are up though. I'm still coughing and snotty, so won't be going anywhere anytime soon. Vertigo seems to be easing though, so that's a big plus

Farway

Back to dull & grey after a brief sunny spell yesterday.

The sun left me no excuses for not planting the hyacinths, I've done that now and come spring I'll be glad I did. Only five in a pot on the front steps, but I think on a sunny Spring day everyone will get a whiff of them.

Even the bin men as they scatter our wheelies everywhere.

2P, It's the thought of the battering ram shopping putting me off going, but I have too soon, just to post Christmas cards. Hoping to take the opportunity to get a photo of the Town Christmas tree at the same time, and maybe my robin near the garage.

No gardening today unless it suddenly brightens up

Dustyevsky

After my gallivanting on Friday, Mrs Dusty handed me a long list to fulfil yesterday. Off to the consumer emporia I went.   As 2p says, the sun shone brightly and temperatures climbed to a dizzy 8c, but I was stuck in town.  

Hardest on the list was a specific weatherproof black box with clamp-on lid to house more electrics, required now Mrs D has added another 2k lights to her outdoor display. I wasn't optimistic, but this item was hidden in the disorganised bowels of a Homebase, already well-pillaged by other human hyenas lured by the CLOSING DOWN notice. The elation was immense.... I'd been spared the hell-holes of Wickes, Home Bargains, B&Q, or B&M! 

Happiness was short-lived. By the time I'd traipsed through the rest of the list (only this Christmas pudding....only that type of gammon etc) the clouds were rolling in. Arriving home, it was beginning to spit. The rest of the tree trunk pieces were trundled out of the willow grove to the chopping-up pile, but that was all the 'gardening' done on what could have been a pleasant day.

Farway, the curtilage relevant to wheelie bins here is over 150m from the vast majority of properties, and more than 200m for some. The council refuse operatives are well-named, as they refuse to enter private land. With some households having 2, there could be well over 20 bins assembled, but the average is16-18. Naturally, the organised lining-up process on both sides of the entrance splay is randomised during collection. Bins are reassembled in one mass, restricting access, and it's slightly amusing watching certain people hunting theirs down. After years of this, you'd think they'd take a minute or two to mark the lid. Another example of Darwin's theory in action.

I won't go into recycling. The numbers are mind-boggling, with each household having at least 4 containers......

Loved the Nativity, 2p. With our once proud Thespian traditions, we ought to do that here, but I fear it might be somewhat ribald! Or did you say inappropriate parts had been edited?

I missed wort's 'Baby Cheesus.' Went straight over....Whoosh!   Obviously, I need to lighten-up. Maybe when we go to get the tree today.

I'd go high-tech storage heaters too, pp. Just make sure they're not too smart and recording your household conversations, like some air fryers: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6574929/just-a-heads-up-about-your-air-fryer

I have some more 'greens' from the RHS to share, so here they are.

Oooh, look, a shoo-fly too!

YoungBlueEyes

Well we’ve had the office Christmas party, and not having been to one before (having never worked in an office before) I didn’t know what to expect but I was still disappointed Not a photocopier in sight, nobody got their bum or their diddys out, a free bar didn’t cause anyone to get drunk, no mistletoe, no cheesy Xmas music, no snogging or singing or rowdiness in general. Honestly I’ve been to livelier funerals.  I was home by a half ten thinking ‘I can’t believe I missed Gogglebox for that!’ 

The weather is erm  well it wasn't what my phone said it would be when I went out this morning. Feels like 4’ and properly windy. It was easily 11’ and not a breath out there, humid as you like :rolleyes: The wind’s only got up these last couple of hours and it’s not much. 

Anyway. I only came on to post pics. Stoopid brain won’t let me remember who said to look east at sunset and west at sunrise etc, but we’ve had sunset here and this was the view looking NE. Beautiful, calm, mesmeric it was. 

Did anyone else see the wosnames round the full moon last night? It hasn’t come out on my phone cam but they were clear as a bell in real life - 

…and a lovely robin, sat in the cat wee tree, just overseeing his world - 

That’ll do. 

YoungBlueEyes

Speaking of wind, sprouts might be 25% bigger this year - 

https://news.sky.com/story/brussels-sprouts-expected-to-be-25-bigger-this-year-13274253

So there’s that. 

Dustyevsky

Sorry your office party was tame, Bluey, but at least staying sober meant you captured a Moon halo, supposed to precede bad weather by a couple of days. Tomorrow looks OK, but down here we're having some more strong winds on Tuesday into Wednesday.  Lovely sunset too, even if looking the 'wrong' way.

Your robin may be good.  Ours is a right pain, not only carping on cars parked in his territory, but now we have the bird feeders out, claiming those too, and trying to drive other birds away. 

Well, we have our tree!  It also took less than an hour to choose; something of a record. However, we had to drive much further to get it, since our local source has gone upmarket to mainly Nordmann Firs. Here's Mrs D and DD2 looking for the perfect specimen:

You'll notice the very long trunks! These arose because the plantation was neglected, with trees growing into one another. On purchasing the site, the new owner decided on radical pruning to save the existing trees. It actually makes selecting much easier, too. New trees won't be grown this way, though!  So, our 7' tree was around 12-13' when we .

picked it out for the chop.

twopenny

Very romantic to choose a tree while it's growing. Mine from last year is still alive outside but it's leading branch is bare. Still I'll string a few lights around it, job done.

Dusty yes, a little judicious editing of the play. It wasn't raunchy or offensive but very much more what was likely to have been said. The statement by Mary 'but I'm a young girl' for the sturdy middleage lady. We were just hoping she wasn't going to actually get on the donkey.......and it was all done with great humour.

Lovely photos Bluey, we too have sight of the moon and it has a halo. But seems there's always one these days.

I hate office parties with a vengance including the activity ones we have now. I used to go abroad timed to miss them   Only good ones were a solicitors where the boss paid for a mini bus and we left at 12pm for a slap up dinner and presents were good. I remember shooting disc things at the bosses. He was a good egg  

Farway I went in today just for a couple of things and it was worse. Good will to all men seems to have gone completely out the window.

I came strainght out and headed for the hills to recover

Didn't come home because neighbours other son home and showing off the christmas tune his car made when opening doors which he then changed to windy raspberries. Sort of funny but he was so proud of himself which took the fun away.

Poppy if you want something cheap, at least for doors and windows, I've used cling film over windows, lightly moisten frame and fasten to that. I also use masking tape over opening windows. North facing and despite DG and new seals it just chills the room.

I've also made thermal/black out curtain fabric to cover the windows.....just cut to size and use double sided velchro. It sticks to the frame at the top and fabric. Take down during day. velchro Comes off the frame with no mess when you want to . Little things that make a huge difference.

Glad at least one of your probs is showing signs or leaving. There are so many bug ridden people around here so you're not alone.

I was going to have a lazy day but couldn't rest, the sun came out again against all predictions. I had to be out in it as long as poss so long since we've seen it here.

Temp crept up to 11c thank goodness

Gas man aparantly rang at 4.30 yesterday afternoon.......who would expect that late on a Saturday before Christmas? To add to emailing at 23.45pm one evening. I'm beginning to have my doubts about this guy

LessImpecunious

Just popping in again to show pics I took last weekend after storm, in vicinity of where dreich views were photo'd the week before...

The track ahead was impenetrable as a number of the conifers had also been blown over, but we managed to get round one of our usual circular walks with a few deviations around or under fallen trees today...Someone (sorry can't remember who) asked about polycarbonate sheets for greenhouses - I cannot recommend them! , though I think part of the problem is the glazing clips available now - the only ones I can find are nice shiny stainless steel ones, but they're smaller than the old ones and don't reach as far over the edge of the glass or any other material that they're supposed to hold in place (grateful for any recommendations...). Two more pics - one that looked better in real life, with a mix of yellow and green leaves and orange berries (one of the cotoneasters which for some reason is an occasional volunteer in local forests and gardens, including ours - spread by birds?), lurking behind a troll-like stump; and, a not puppy but will suffice I hope... (who wasn't as pristine-looking by the end of today's walk...)