Awful weather - typical Brits talk

YoungBlueEyes

Morning weekend playmates! I've forgotten all I've just read now... pp I hope your RL sadness isn't overwhelming and you've got plenty of support   My church is lovely 2p - it looks quite sleepy from the outside but the inside is definitely more ...awake... or something If you're seriously looking to move then isn't this the time of year the market picks up? :fingerscrossed: Oh and my car has an ashtray! It's a removable tub thing with a lid, and came with a pinecone in it so I just left it in there Love all the pics - snowdrops and crocuses (crocii...?) and snowy hedges and gardens and canal walks and seals and interlopers And that crocodile How's the allotment coming on taff? Have you got a plan sorted...? It's frightening how fast places change eh Arb. Hopefully you got to enjoy a bit of Cardiff outside of your work nonsense? Did you suvveners get your bikinis packed away in time for the yellow snow coming? How's the new camera working out Farway? Has it got lots of fancy how-did-I-live-without-them settings? Has Mr Canute (that still feels a bit nawty ) made any more moves re the stream Dusty?

Nothing much happening here. It's that bladdy cold out there that everything's frozen solid, but warmer than it has been. Only -2 now where we've been down to -8 the other night :brrr: Things are going well at work. Big Boss Man called me in after he'd listened to the complaining person call. I handled it just right he said, and doesn't think the 3 months probation is necessary. He gave me a key to the front door and a bottle of wine (which The Oracle happily took cos it's "quite a good bottle").

Now. Here's an entertaining story that is not true and didn't happen and is not legal advice. If you get a letter from an heir hunter company telling you you might have a bit to come cos a far off relative with a perfectly legal will has died in, let's say Canada, you really truly cannot take it in to your nearest solicitors and demand that the will is cancelled and you be made an executor.  Really you can't. Even if your justifications are "well how can they do it proper from the other end of the world?!" and "but they talk in foreign!!" I'm only sorry it wasn't on the phone cos Big Boss Man would've loved that Not that that happened etc. 

Right I need to shift meself. I wonder if mum+dad's snowdrops are up...

Dustyevsky

Working_Mum said:

 I'm not sure what I will put in the ugly gap in my Belfast sink - it gets super hot out front which is why I put the succulents out there as they're virtually bombproof. I will sort when the soil defrosts a little - I have other pots by my front door with cyclamen, ivy and evergreen shrubs underplanted with bulbs so it won't be long until there is proper flowers out there welcoming me when I walk through the door!

Well done on being pic of the week Dusty snowdrops are so full of hope aren't they. I love them

The trouble with succulents of the Sedum family is their propensity to do too well, so you end up editing these 'easy care' plants a lot if they're potted. Then they get vine weevil. They do an excellent job in dry situations, though, like in the rain shadow of our garden hedge. Sempervivums are generally much better-behaved. Your front door tub sounds lovely.

As a former nursery person, I've waxed lyrical about the psychology of snowdrops and hellebores before! They do symbolise hope, so we used to sell lots of them in January/February, and then disappear until May, when our selling season really began! Of course, garden centres have now made every season look delightful, and any winter's day may be rescued with tea and cake. Two years ago, we braved inclement weather and visited a galanthophiles' paradise, just to see if what we'd heard was true. Indeed, it was, with people seriously considering single bulbs in a 3" pot for £30, which was quite beyond our comprehension! :*I doubt if we'll return. However, if there's a modest local wood, somewhat less busy than 2p's Snowdrop Valley, we'll go there.

YoungBlueEyes said:

Has Mr Canute (that still feels a bit nawty ) made any more moves re the stream Dusty?

Nawty? Oh...yes....I see what you mean, but it really was unintentional. Well, he's cleared the fallen tree and replaced bits of his dam, but the stuff festooned on the privacy fence is only a fraction of what comes down annually. Most of it has gone through, much as one would expect, given the power of water moving swiftly. I'm more interested to know whether the £ thousands he spent on surface water drainage will be effective in preventing his house flooding again. I hope it does, because then he might be a little wound-up about other people doing normal things, like seeking planning permission, for example!

OT: A dull day again, with little chance of rain and a top temp of 5c. Wind still wrong for bonfires. We may not love all of our neighbours, but making them inhale smoke isn't part of the game plan! I have a horrible feeling I'll be printing posters for the quiz I've not started to compile yet!

The photo was taken at dawn 2 days ago. It's Mrs D's expensive walnut tree. Now tell me it needs pruning!

Farway

Hard frost again, but bright & sunny. 

Like Dusty, may be imagination, but I think the mornings are getting lighter a bit earlier.

Congrats Dusty on the snowdrop pic, and getting a booking for garden visit, with tea & cake

E-mail this morning, a local GC is closing down, 70% off everything, but as they were always silly prices, which I suspect may be reason for demise, 70% off will bring the prices down to sensible range

I may pop in on return from dentist next week, it's not worth a special trip because there is nothing I really need

This GC has had more owners than some football clubs. 

Give it a few months and someone else will think they have the answer, or maybe it will become a giant Lidl etc, although given the push for housing a large housing estate would fit nicely in the spot

Welcome back Arbs, and WM .  

I was going to mention eating leeks as well, they can be used as Spring Onions, or really when any onion taste required.

I used to grow them, and wish I had space & back muscles to do the same again, given the silly prices these days for something quite easy to grow.

I'll have to look out for the Gardeners' Specials, I'm currently on an intergalactic spaceship where there's been a murder, so a bit distracted right now

YoungBlueEyes said:

Oh and my car has an ashtray! It's a removable tub thing with a lid, and came with a pinecone in it so I just left it in there  

How's the new camera working out Farway? Has it got lots of fancy how-did-I-live-without-them settings?

Nothing much happening here. It's that bladdy cold out there that everything's frozen solid, but warmer than it has been. Only -2 now where we've been down to -8 the other night :brrr: Things are going well at work. Big Boss Man called me in after he'd listened to the complaining person call. I handled it just right he said, and doesn't think the 3 months probation is necessary. He gave me a key to the front door and a bottle of wine (which The Oracle happily took cos it's "quite a good bottle").

Now. Here's an entertaining story that is not true and didn't happen and is not legal advice. If you get a letter from an heir hunter company telling you you might have a bit to come cos a far off relative with a perfectly legal will has died in, let's say Canada, you really truly cannot take it in to your nearest solicitors and demand that the will is cancelled and you be made an executor.  Really you can't. Even if your justifications are "well how can they do it proper from the other end of the world?!" and "but they talk in foreign!!" I'm only sorry it wasn't on the phone cos Big Boss Man would've loved that Not that that happened etc. 

Right I need to shift meself. I wonder if mum+dad's snowdrops are up...

YBE, back from work, and sounds like you have got your feet under the table now, well done you, and them, on getting full-time perma job and not P45.

And found the car ashtray, a good start to 2025

I imagine solicitors do get some imaginary odd balls enter their offices. I've read a few on MSE forums, suing Gas Board, ISP etc.

One DGD is studying law, her sister is the Horticultural one. Be interesting long term to see how their careers turn out, replacement Bob Flowerdew & Rumpole?

The new old camera has had its first outing, with a nice solid clunk when the shutter button pressed, so you know a picture really has been taken

I tried with last night's sunset.

If you look closely, you may see what looks like  Dusty's Cheese & Pickle filter, even though I can't see anything on the lens. More investigation required later.

Here's the pic

ArbitraryRandom

Great news YBE. It's always good to have the uncertainty done with and it sounds like you've got a decent boss there to boot. Nice way to start 2025. 

I can definitely say I slept well, even with the nap. Woke up at my normal time of 7ish, but the house is still cold so went back to bed and only debating now getting up for long enough to make a cuppa and reading a book for the rest of the day - cities are tiring and I walked a lot more than normal so my feet are appreciating me not doing much  

I guess really what I should do is bring in some logs etc for this afternoon... and probably figure out something from the freezer to defrost. And put the washing machine on so I can pack my case ready for next trip. Sigh. Cup of tea first either way. 

OT. Weather report says it's 2 degrees, and from what I can see that looks right - some frost/bits of snow on the rooves opposite. Dry though, until maybe 4pm.  

I was expecting my potatoes from Mr F by now (said the 8th when I ordered) so dropped them a quick line, as a couple of times things have been delivered and stashed somewhere and I don't want them sitting outside in the frost if I can avoid it. I also want to dig out my windowsill propagators and make space for them as the kitten won't have seen them before and I want her to get any desire to push them off out of her system before there's seeds in there.  

Oh - Dusty, when is the right time to buy bulbs (I want bluebells, snowdrops and snakeheads)? I keep trying, but I seem to miss out when they're available 'in the green' then nothing comes up with the dry bulbs the next spring, so I wonder if I'm buying them too late in the season? I'm just poking a hole with my dibber then dumping compost on top. 

twopenny

What gorgeous photos!

One a stunning blue in the sky and the other orange. Amazing what nature gives us that mostly goes unnoticed by most.

Bluey, it was people wanting to sue sombody that had the laughs. One 'lady' had bought a pony for her 7yr old son and it juttered at traffic and he fell off. While she was complaining the lad was grinning and bouncing up and down to try and see over my counter so right as rain (reign).

I won't be moving up your way, too darn cold by reports here. I was looking at Cornwall when we were all getting the chills. It was happy as larry down there on the foot.

Arbs, I too can sleep and sleep again. You seem very well organised for your comings and goings.

So it staggered up to 5c lunchtime with sunshine.

I stayed in bed with a book because of whatever this bug is, then I decided I really did have to go slow so tidied and sorted the garage while it was still warm. Mind it's a 'first sorting' because there's so much there that should be packed/go/be mended.

Had a walk round the garden, the soil is solid and tinged green. A white crocus has got a bud but it's in the middle of snowdrop leaves so it's a renegade. And a potplant cyclamen is in flower among the wild ones and primroses. But I'm fine about that, a little surprise here and there.

The poor old standard lavender hedge may or may not survive between sooty fungus and the gales. I considered it and the forum  voice came into my head and said 'leave it, it may come good'

And I'll ignore the excellent advice on pruning in winter and wait for it to show new growth before I set too with my saw and shape it. I may just get shoots from the bottom of the stem........that seems to happen with the ones that I don't want it to.

Promise of sweltering temperature on the way. But 8c is quite an event these days.

Farway

Back to grey & dull today, not very inviting to go out & do anything in the garden, so I'll take the hint & stay inside & look out

Not much of a frost, so at least the birds will be able to rummage about a bit

Hope you bug clears 2P, certainly a lot about

I'm delving into financials today, Christmas credit cards & HMRC catching up  

Thank heavens for Mr Gates & MS Money

 

Only gardening may be looking through newly delivered Parkers catalogue, again nothing needed but always nice o browse & dream

I still have to find the new GW garden prog, but not looked very hard TBH

YoungBlueEyes

Thanks for quoting wm Dusty, I didn't realise I'd missed her post!  What will you put in the gap then wm? Something that compliments the colour of the other wee flowers or a contrasting one? Lots of little flitty birds here too... Do you ever wonder how much of a difference you've made putting food out? I wonder how many more I'd have if that ersehole of a robin wasn't undoing my efforts  

So what wind direction do you need to get the bonfire going Dusty? It's a shame Mr Canute isn't more agreeable, if he only knew what a wealth of knowledge he has in his neighbour. Did you get your quiz written? And belated congrats on the snowdrop pic   

70% off not enough to tempt you Farway? Must be a hellish expensive gc. Or just full of unnecessary tat.  Well done on growing your own Flowerdew + Rumpole If you can get one of them going on a boiler repair sideline you'd need nothing else in this world would ya. Oh maybe car repair too.  I love your sunsetting pic, you can really feel the calm of it. Lovely  

Definitely a decent boss Arb, old fashioned and good fun. I've definitely found my niche What does Miss KittyKat think of the snow? Would blu-tacking your propagators to the windowsill work? I don't know about buying bulbs n stuff 'in the green' but the gc we were in yesterday had snowdrops in wee tubs with their heads poking up. Kinda dear mind - 3 bulbs in a pot was £4.50, 3 pots for £12 I can't remember now what they were called, but I'm guessing they weren't swish ones cos there were loads of them. If they were specialist ones there'd only be a few surely? Don't know. I don't know the answer to your pallett-y compost question either but I'll be interested in that answer cos I want to do something similar meself

2p We used to have a fellah on our local weather - John somebody, he's retired now - and his catchphrase was "look up, it's freee!"  I love that.  Your pony 'lady' story made me nod along, aren't people just entitled erseholes! Right as reign <snigger>  How's the lurgy today? Hopefully you'll get it shifted before it sets in.  And s0d the garage, that'll all still be there when the temps lift next week. 

No puppy dog tails of seeing his first snow I notice... I've forgotten who's he is now.... was it gb or wort maybe?  

OT still cold, but marginally less cold than yesterday, possibly. All still frozen solid but the thaw is coming. They say. Fingers crossed none of us get a while lot of flooding. Right I'll go see what my garden con provide in the way of pics.

Dustyevsky

ArbitraryRandom said:

Oh - Dusty, when is the right time to buy bulbs (I want bluebells, snowdrops and snakeheads)? I keep trying, but I seem to miss out when they're available 'in the green' then nothing comes up with the dry bulbs the next spring, so I wonder if I'm buying them too late in the season? I'm just poking a hole with my dibber then dumping compost on top. 

Spring, 'in the green,' is supposed to be best. It shouldn't matter if they've gone over. I would always bury in soil though; compost might be too good a clue to those animals that like to dig them up! But I'm no expert. I've yet to see evidence of all the Tete a têtes I planted, though I'm hopeful they're merely late.

Lovely sunny morning here and 8c promised, but the bird feeders are either in blinding light or deep shade, so the visit of long-tailed tits may go unrecorded. Nice to see them, though.

I hope 2p's bug is packing its bags and pp feels OK. It's amazing what a little dose of that yellow thing in the sky can do for spirits in January, especially as we near that day which is supposed to be the most depressing one of the year. It might be for me; around then, as I shall become closer to 80 than 70.   It won't make any material difference, of course, and I'll still be a trend-setter if my cheese & pickle photo enhancement catches-on.For your sake, I hope it doesn't, Farway. Could it be a bit of fluff on the sensor?  It's possible someone may have previously used the camera for candid photography.....

OK, I'll get me coat, but not before I give you a rather dull shot of Mr & Mrs House-Sparrow, two neighbours who are not camera-shy at all. They'll pose in any position you like!

ArbitraryRandom

It's a beautiful to look at day today. Clear blue skies but cold enough to cut. Gardener has confirmed he's coming around on the 20th, so I'm going to have a 'looking and thinking' rather than doing day to figure out what I want his help with next. Makes me feel like I'm doing something without having to actually do anything. 

My no spend month failed as I realised I was down to my last pack of cat food. It's fair for me to have some weird food combinations as I try to make a dent in the freezer, but not for animals. Still no spending on amazon etc would be an achievement, so I'm going to keep chuntering on with it.

wm. I sound productive... doesn't mean I actually did any of the things I was talking about yesterday I've got one of those brains where I need to say the thing at least three or four times to get the idea into my head about doing it. Can't just jump right into something - the idea needs to mature and warm up for a bit  

YoungBlueEyes

The world's most sorrowful rose is still sorrowful. St Fiacre has provided it with a honeysuckle to tempt him to look up but to no avail (they're planted next to each other). A honeysuckle! In January! Not right isn't that.



Who was asking after my pomander? Well here it is (look away now wm ) Mind it's had a lot of weather and neglect to contend with -

I didn’t notice if my bulbs started showing before the cold snap hit or if they’re growing through it, but I’ve a tall something and a few wee somethings coming up - 



It's gonna be a filthy claggy soggy mess out there when the thaw comes