Awful weather - typical Brits talk

YoungBlueEyes

God I'm that sorry I haven't got a printer for your sign Farway, or I'd have one on the wall of every room at work  

Dustyevsky

pink_poppy said:

Farway, I think I’m thinking of a different plant for the Erigeron. I like to see plants spilling out of cracks in steps or walls - it always looks so pretty. Btw, it’s the sea holly plant I’m getting confused with.

Just to confuse things further, there are two Erigerons for walls, rock gardens etc. Both are pictured in this article:

https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/23557205.isle-wight-flora-includes-alien-species-fleabane/

As you can see, these plants are referred to as fleabanes.....but the Common Fleabane is neither of them!

https://www.jeremybartlett.co.uk/2022/07/31/common-fleabane-pulicaria-dysenterica/
As Jeremy says, this non-erigeron fleabane can become invasive if it likes a place. So after growing some, I decided not to release it here.

YoungBlueEyes said:
Here is this week's absolutely free but absolutely not legal advice made-y upp-y story that didn't happen. Etc. If you aren't practically at the end of your house buying journey then you aren't going to make it before the stamp duty changes. Really you're not.

Yes, but my DD2 and spouse are OK as FTBs, 'cos their mortgage in principle, approved this week, is well under £300k. They did their first viewings this weekend, though they (and I) have been watching the market for a while.

Don't worry, there is no way I'd interfere , but like taff wanting to watch a potential dahlia race, I play along. It was truly hilarious; their first viewing was a place I bookmarked last autumn, when it first appeared at a 'hopeful' price. Now, considering it's tatty and unimproved, the price is more realistic. I picked it out because it has a pub, good school, and train station within a 5 mins walk, but the clincher for me was the large corner garden, splaying out 80' or so into blissful rurality.   Will they get it? I'm unsure. These places are like hen's teeth, but FTBs tend to see only £££ signs....and I can't blame them, these days.

Dustyevsky

PS Thanks to your temptation link, Farway, I've just picked-up 2 sorts of rocket, 2 types of French bean, and 2 kinds of lettuce, all for under £6 post paid. Thanks!

Like your dahlias, my rocket seed has gone AWOL, and I've sown the last of the lettuce, so it was an Angela Rayner ....pardon my Cockney....no brainer! 

YoungBlueEyes said:

We've been down to bottomleftlandia this weekend where we went to see a man about a car - going back in a couple of weeks to pick it up :clapping: It's a disgrace you've to go all that far just to get a not-quite-banger, but the fellah there says it's a common thing now. People will travel miles cos they're so few and far between.

The 'normal' Polo has a comfy, classy interior and suits a more sedate than sporty style of driving, but that has a bonus of less fatigue on longer runs. Are you sure you didn't travel in the direction of Middleagea? I've often hankered after a Golf, but still on the fence at present. Mrs D's 1.6 buzz box is fun, especially in the Traffic Light Grand Prix, but on journeys over 50miles, it becomes rather wearing. I'm probably now suited to a Volvo estate. I've heard if you keep a copy of the Grauniad in the glove box, they go on forever. 

twopenny

I think you're going to love your little car Bluey.

While my new-er one is a nice little town car it's not as well designed for reversing or gripping the road in bad weather.

Will you give it a pet name

Weather variable here, some strong gusts, some rain but not a wild storm thank goodness. There's been worse without a warning.

Temps around 10c, having the heating on it's too hot but a bit cool without it. Sign of Spring?

Got a lovely photo of Catkins and blue sky from yesterday but it's on my camera in the car and I'm darned if I'm paddling out to get it at the mo.

Tomorrow is another day

wort

PP and Taff “FIT” flops are my go to all summer and I even have a pair of the boots.  All bought in sales years ago and not to be confused with flip flops.

Dustyevsky

twopenny said:

Weather variable here, some strong gusts, some rain but not a wild storm thank goodness. There's been worse without a warning.

Perhaps those in charge of weather soothsaying prefer their posteriors well-covered. Like those in charge of what's presented as 'news,' an added splash of drama here and there may accentuate some narratives, while distracting folk from others.

And as this thread shows, the variability of UK weather means objectivity at an individual level isn't easy. You and I on opposite sides of the same high moor often have different experiences to report!

Yesterday started somewhat threateningly. This was just before sunrise:

There was an eerie pink glow. By the time I'd attended to the chickens, clouds were scudding across the sky and the first of the rain wasn't far behind: Overall, it was blooming windy and wet yesterday, but the very intense periods of rain were fairly short-lived. I find the river cams are the best guide. This morning, the two rivers coming from Dartmoor are highest, while the one from Exmoor is well filled, but not in danger of going into fields. As is often the case, we probably escaped the worst.

Today looks good here! Still a bit windy, but 11c and some sunny spells.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Dustyevsky said:

 I believe things work out when they're meant to. We had half a dozen false starts, to say nothing of the many other properties we viewed and walked away from. We didn't buy this smallholding with long term ownership in mind; it was just a safe haven for our money in a financial storm. At first, I hated it. However, in the much quoted words of Ingrid Bergman, "Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get." It grew on us, so, like her, we've no regrets.

Your "getting there slowly" is indicative of contentment, too. 

It's a fine philosophy, contentment is certainly the thing to aim for but I'm not sure I'm finding it yet. I'm often reminded of 

And you run, and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again

The time sure does fly, what exactly it is I'm running towards I've no idea, perhaps it's an existential crisis but fortunately I have much to do and little time to worry about it!

Ah, a Pink Floyd quote. My experience with them was unfortunate. I  caught them just after Syd left, when they were down on their uppers, playing a small club in Richmond. They didn't impress, but I had to leave early. A wayward former friend from my home town (pop 3000) turned-up, stoned, and I'd no intention of reconnecting with someone who'd caused me much grief, two years previously.   My second experience with Floyd, perhaps18 months later, never happened, apart from reading the review in Melody Maker..... We forgot to go!   That shows how busy, or chaotic, life had become by then. 
Yes, time flies, but many weird bits and pieces of life's jigsaw seem eventually to fall into place, though it's never complete. I'm content with half the picture for now, and still see the possibility of an easier to manage garden when I approach 80 as potentially exciting. Will it have that elusive 'moist but well-drained' soil I'm always readng about? Hmmmm..
Anyway, I'm glad your double robin picture made it onto the front page; it was well worthy. I can't even get my single here robin to pose properly. There's still no sign of a mate.

-taff

wort said:

PP and Taff “FIT” flops are my go to all summer and I even have a pair of the boots.  All bought in sales years ago and not to be confused with flip flops.

They were the only things I found I could wear after double foot plantar fasciitis and operaions, injections, excerices etc...I have  some pairs now [ *cough*many...] but they do last well. I might have just bought an on sale pair of short wellies...well...it'll be summer soon and I won't be able to wear my arctic ones

Forgot to say love the ducks being shy for the camera..I see enough magpies here and they are annoying little sods. But I would like the hazel sticks, they would come in very handy.

 Cheese and chutney scone sounds lovely...

PP, gorgeous sparrowhawk too. My sister would be envious, she's a real birdwatcher and tries to explain what is what to me all the time..in one ear, out the other.

Another good story ybe

I htink when we bought this house, we both got what we wanted, so I had a garden, he had a garage. The one thing neither of us thought of was something to look at, which will hopefully be remedied if there's a next time..Just a fyi for ftb's.

I don't want to watch a dalia race, i want to watch hints and tips 

Farway, you're like the gardening worlds top saleman...you're an enabler too

Farway

Wet & rainy start, and just easing off now

Doubtful if I'll get out to squelch around today, though, but you never know, I would like to check if the bullfinch left any plum buds, or if Snakes heads are showing yet

And, from an upper window, I can see something green in one of the fuchsia wall baskets

Dustyevsky said:

PS Thanks to your temptation link, Farway, I've just picked-up 2 sorts of rocket, 2 types of French bean, and 2 kinds of lettuce, all for under £6 post paid. Thanks!

Like your dahlias, my rocket seed has gone AWOL, and I've sown the last of the lettuce, so it was an Angela Rayner ....pardon my Cockney....no brainer! 

Happy to help, I suspect the rocket is same as mine, rocket racing?

I have lettuce seeds, but never much success, maybe I'll give it another go

I found some radish seeds and may try again this year, but I can add radish growing to my long list of life's disappointments 

[Actually, looking back, it's not been too bad, considering the lives of some I'm one of the lucky ones]

Talking of disappointments, yesterday I started the last packet of my old pea seeds, 2022 vintage, on the peas shoot trail. These are purple podded, but I only want the young shoots.

My planned new apple tree planting trip to DD has been postponed until next week now, my chauffeur's car has a £xxxx red & amber warning lights come on.

One plus with very old cars, the only time you knew you had trouble was when steam or flames came out from under the bonnet, none of this "ooh I feel a bit poorly" warning light nonsense.

twopenny said:

Got a lovely photo of Catkins and blue sky from yesterday but it's on my camera in the car and I'm darned if I'm paddling out to get it at the mo.

Tomorrow is another day

I was tempted to try that yesterday, but it started raining & that was that. My new red filbert, some had catkins on, I think it will be impressive when it gets going, long red ones. Followed by young red foliage.

 Even the nuts are red, but doubtful any of those will make it with the squirrels

pink_poppy

wort/taff, it's the 'FIT' ones I was talking about, but in a flip flop style (between your tootsies). I've worn them for years and they are SO comfortable, BUT it's the flip flop style that I think caused me problems, I should have got the sandals. I still wear the flip flop style in the house and garden, I just wouldn't go for long walks in them. I'm envious of your boots and wellies, they're on my hit list.

Dusty, I was thinking of you when I tossed a bag of salad leaves in my trolley this morning   This year is the year I'm going to sort my garden out once and for all and buy myself a greenhouse (no chance of getting a poly). Really nice photos, btw.

As much as I admire birds of prey, I don't want them in my garden. I had no wee birds for a couple of days after the sparrowhawk drama. They're starting to come back - a one legged female blackbird, a dunnock and a blue tit have visited this morning, but no sign of my robins    I'm reluctant to throw food out now, tbh.

YBE, happy new car - I hope you'll be very happy together    

lunatic, the views where I live now are stunning, but the weather can be a pain. I used to live in the North East of England (DD still lives there) and I quite often compare weather forecasts, although I probably shouldn't, it's much drier there though.

The Filbert sounds like it's going to be a lovely addition, Farway.

Hope your weather is better today, twopenny, I'm desperate for Spring to arrive.

Mixed weather forecast today - it was dry and windy earlier ('I wish I'd tied my hair up' windy), then we had quite heavy rain, now it's sunny and windy. Make your mind up, please.

Farway

The sun decided it was safe to come out, so I took advantage & toddled around the soggy garden after lunch.

Most of it is still fast asleep, but it is all ready to go, buds are bigger, roses have some young new leaves

Best bit, found my Snake's heads, they are coming up, as are some ex house pot hyacinths

Buds are still on my bullfinched plum, as are the cherry buds.

Pears seem flower bud free, as usual, pears for heirs is a Top Tip.

A wayward blackberry had broken from its moorings, so tied back in.

And, best bit, my aquilegia from seed last year, the ones that were driving me bonkers as everyone's self sown came up in droves. New growth is showing, they have made it through winter! If weather keeps on the good side, I can get them out in final places soon.

Message from D T Brown, my first order, peas, is on the way. That news alone will trigger my recently sown purple peas to geminate.