Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Dustyevsky

twopenny said:

It is at least - 10c here today   and sunshine no wind in the morning. Obvs no heat in it to dry the ground but still.............

Missed it because I had the plumber man cometh = Yay! and

Car in garage for fixing.

And did the plumber man lay his hands on the heating system and cast out the devils within?

Snap with the car. I await news.....

Despite the retraction from those who imbibe and mystically interpret the dregs, we also had some sunshine, though it faded after lunch. Admittedly, I was bonfiring, but it felt pleasantly warm and definitely raised my spirits.

None of the above was captured on camera, as I mislaid it behind some papers in the office, but bonfires aren't terribly exciting, and they're certainly not PC!

Pictures I also haven't taken include the return of Mrs Woodpecker and barn owl. Great and long-tailed tits have  eluded me too, but I shall keep trying.

Well done for building a drinking pond 2p. I hope the aches clear up soon, and the wee car's fixed so you can go up to the moor and snap some more ponies enjoying life!

Meanwhile, as this is MSE, I shall post one more picture from Tarr Steps, reminding everyone money can grow on trees, if you know where to look!

 

wort

What an adorable puppy 🐶 
The ponies might need an itch scratching, which I was having trouble with yesterday. 
2p did the plumber sort it , or is it expensive? 

Dusty what an interesting picture, was the tree on the ground before people started pushing money in. I thought poor tree , but not anymore.😂 it’s weird the things people do, that I certainly would never have dreamt of doing.

Yesterday turned out drizzly ,mizzly wet rain. But the pub was warm and fish and chips eaten. Today is turned decidedly misty. I’ve to walk into town for an appointment at 12 so hoping it improves.

Farway

Dull & grey, again.

I had a look at the garden, no changes or life signs, so no photos despite my new old camera clamouring to get snapping. 

I thought maybe this morning, it’s a bit misty, but I think the mist would only show with broad vistas, not scabby dying back garden plants

Those trees Dusty, Silver birch or Copper beech, boom boom

Hope the drinking pond works for you 2P, before mine leaked & silted up the local cats loved drinking out of it, as did wasps!

Always the way, attracts the wrong wildlife, but I did get some dragon flies making guest appearances.

It also acted as a frog deterrent as well

I may be MIA tomorrow, it's dentist, then mooching round closing down GC, then later is volunteers meeting

Fingers crossed the car starts, it's been asleep in the garage since Boxing Day, but it did have two good runs to Southampton area beforehand, so had a fully charged battery when last seen.

-taff

Good to see you fitting in at your place now ybe.. And again, laughed at the stories No allotment since befoe CHristmas what with one thing and another...Today would have been perfect but a new electric meter is being fitted [ I didn't want one but it's come to the end of it's tested life - or will do in May] so I bited the bullet and will see if I can change to cheaper tariffs.

Again with the spectacular sunsets and stuff? Phooey....I did enjoy them though, along with the gorgeous puppy..WANT TOO...but more GSD shaped or wolfhound shaped

Fingersc rossed theheating enginner got his magic persuader out and banged the heating into submission along with mechanics doing the same thing.

Going to have to sit down and go through seeds this week to see what is going to be planted this year and make a good plan so I don't miss things...

Ponds sound good, also sounds familiar...I'll just do this before...and then boom! no walking for a week

Working_Mum

Hello everyone,
There seems to have been a lot of talk about smart meters and such on the Forum recently - I hope you got yours sorted -taff. I inherited a smart meter when I first moved here 5 years ago and check in each week to see how much my energy is costing me (and adjust accordingly!). I think it must be an oldish one as I can only get weekly updates. Hope all is well with your allotment when you get there.

I love the money tree Dusty - quite a curious thing to see. I have a champagne cork with an old sixpence stuck in it from my 21st somewhere.

I adored the horse pic 2p - how agile to do that! I'm with the one looking on thinking what a waste of energy! How did you make your drinking pond?? I'm interested because I've just been down my garden and the water bowl I had hanging from a tree has bitten the dust in the cold weather and smashed into pieces!

Hope all good with you at the dentist Farway and that you've not had to fork out any pennies. I'm slightly obsessed with my oral hygiene nowadays given how much visits cost and how infrequently I can get an appointment. Not like when I was a nipper and would be seen religiously every six months.

Thought I'd share this pic of the moon last night - taken as I got home after walking his Lordship at about 6pm. It shed so much light it was unreal.



Have a productive afternoon everyone. Sending ((hugs)) PP

((WM))

ArbitraryRandom

Good afternoon all. Can't believe how quickly time is passing right now. I'd swear I've lost a couple of days somewhere (should check behind the sofa!)

Weather here is cool but dry and the sky is alternating between a lovely blue and light grey. If I was organised it would be a great day to get some wash done, but there's always tomorrow

Potatoes have been delivered today - a kilo each of king edwards (main crop, which I grew and liked last year), ratte and nicola (both new to me and both second early). I'm more than 50% confident when I ordered it was supposed to be 1.5kg (long enough ago the listing isn't still there) but given I had too many potatoes last year, 3kg is probably enough. Some are already looking a little spouty, so hopefully relatively painless chitting this year. 

I've also been told my fruit bushes have been dispatched, so perfect timing given my local gardening man is due here on Monday. 

In other news an absolutely beautiful maybe 6 month old kitten has started visiting the garden this week (and seems to be getting on well with my kitten, so hopefully a playmate). They're a bit nervous but curious, but they had a treat from me today so hopefully able to take a picture to share with you soon. Yes... I know... I am a crazy cat lady  

They (or another local cat) has been digging in one of my beds - right where I planted by broad beans - so my careful spacing has probably been completely messed up, but I've still got half a packet of the seeds so I can always plant some more in a few weeks. if that's the worst thing that happens in the garden this year then I'm doing well. 

greenbee

@ArbitraryRandom - I'm growing through deer fencing mesh or chicken wire until the cats get the message (which may be never!) as it stops them digging. I don't really want them fertilising the produce... 

Dustyevsky

wort said:

Dusty what an interesting picture, was the tree on the ground before people started pushing money in. I thought poor tree , but not anymore.😂 it’s weird the things people do, that I certainly would never have dreamt of doing.

Today is turned decidedly misty. I’ve to walk into town for an appointment at 12 so hoping it improves.

Here's the story of the money tree. As it's on the internet, I presume it must be authentic.

https://exmoor4all.com/2022/07/04/the-story-about-the-money-tree-at-tarr-steps/

Your question isn't answered, though!

I suspect many will say, “Who goes walking with a hammer?” but there are plenty of flat stones in the river that would do the job.

We were very misty this morning, so I didn't pass judgement earlier. It has turned into another lovely, sunny day. Also, it looks unlikely we'll be punished with a hard frost. There might be degree or so.

Looks like you captured some hazel catkins in your moon photo, WM. I meant to look at ours, but forgot. I was underneath some too, wading up the stream and planting foxgloves. Surely nothing will eat those?

No news on the car, but then, unless it's terminal, or at least over £500, no one rings. here

Plenty more days yet for the allotment taff. I say that, but I'm itching to clear-up all the tree cutting mess here! However, today is supposed to be an easier one, so I may take loads of cuttings this afternoon.

twopenny

Good luck at the dentist Farway, at least you have two social things after to get that visit out of your head.

Seems a time for fuel dilemnas. No the guy, nice, young, cheerful, has a dog But he had a look, pipes aren't clipped at all! So from him he'll put in clips and lagging which means cutting and moving pipes. I think 'ouch' before I've got the quote!

I'm going to see if I can get someone to nip up there and put felt under the pipes and see if that stops the loud clicking as I'll probably have to wait for the work and no guarantees it will stop the noise. Lifes a bngger sometimes.

Still waiting for a call about the car.................so going nowhere.

WM I'm glad you captured that. I was awake at 3.30am   and it was like daylight with stars as well. The lone female tawny owl hooting forlornly. Quite beautiful. Almost worth being awake for.

Darn cold out front this morning though with clearish skies.

Dusty yep, I know those. There are some more scattered on walks. One is Penny Bridge near Williton. Quite a nice walk.

There's a bit about it and Tarr steps wishing trees here http://offthebeatentrackinsomerset.blogspot.com/2015/09/

Wort, ponds. I made one with a liner, dig hole, fill and pat down sand around the hole and place liner.

Then I decided I'd got it wrong place and filled it in.

Then I used a round dish shaped terracotta pot, used a rubber cork (winemaking have them) to bung the hole and some sealant for good measure.

I understand that you need do nothing to the pot to make it waterproof but I decided to paint it with an aquarium sealant as I didn't want to have to start again.

It's easier to tip out and clean, frogs bring weed and sunshine algae etc.

The solar fountain seems to keep it clear but I think that's because the frogs don't like the humming underwater from the pump.

So, chilly this morning. Sunshine has come out which is lovely but I still have this tummy trouble and the leg has gone again. Probably I've just had too much stress and not enough pleasure. So I won't be digging or anything for the mo.

Working_Mum

Hello everyone,
I took my Mum to the Memorial Hall in her village to a film night last night. £5 a ticket with a bar so it was a bargain We saw Wicked Little Letters - a sweary film but very funny. As we were walking back (to cries of "where are we going, what are we walking for, I'm going to fall over" from Mum - this is par for the course at the moment but she got home and into bed safely) we heard owls twooting in the trees and then came across this gate - loved it so much I thought I'd share.

OT, it was a damp night but we've had a severe frost overnight as everywhere is white this morning.

The catkins are on a self seeded silver birch Dusty - each year I have them I take it as a sign that he's a happy bunny in his galvanised bin pot! I didn't see any catkins on my hazels yesterday when I took an amble round my garden.

I am working from Mum's today - usually I'd have a tall leylandii hedge to watch as birds dart in and out to their nests but the neighbour has reduced the height of them by about 5 feet so all I can see if their roof complete with solar panels and very little bird activity

I hope those with poorly cars are getting them sorted for as little outlay as possible and anyone feeling under the weather I send healing hugs.

Right off to start my day!!

((WM))