Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Farway

Beetroot "Wodan" now sown in plugs and in conservatory to germinate

Rain due any time now, looking dark & gearing up for it outside, but all jobs that I intended have been completed.

twopenny said:

I love Guiness, and any dark beer. My favourite is Black Prince but can't get it now.

I found the Manns Brown Ale to be fine, just a bit light. Even Banks £1 special would be great in summer because it's like a shandy.

I liked Watneys Brown, probably due to my tender age & lack of choice

Dustyevsky said:

YoungBlueEyes said:

Stout is a queer choice for a first pint Farway, or did he already know he liked it

Down here it was rough cider, obtainable for 1/6d at the back door of the Txxxxxxn Inn, provided you looked at least 14 and brought your own quart bottle. My first proper pub pint was at 16. I was never asked my age until I was 18 or 19. I told the guy,"Well, you should know; we were in the same class at primary school!"

Blimey, you were on the posh stuff, it was only 10d a pint in The Axxxxn, age was never asked if in uniform Came with a compulsory gorilla

YoungBlueEyes

I’ve only popped back on as I remembered - we used to call it diesel. Good job it came to me cos I don’t know if your clue would’ve helped gb ha haa! 

Woohoo for free sheds and beautiful dawns Dusty You’re primary school comment made me giggle  

Have you tried porter 2p? Some of them are very acceptable. There was a dark choc/coffee one that was delish, and a blackcurranty one that I remember fondly. I got them in Co-op iirr. 

By good training/discipline I mean being in tune. When your dog knows what’s expected of them, and when, and can relax because they’re sure of their place in the pack. They’re not stressy or panicky or needy, they understand their role and have accepted it. Always nice to see a dog waiting for a treat though  

Ive tipped a bit of the conservatory out but I wasn’t long at it, there’s a bite to that wind even if the sun is out! 

pink_poppy

Currently on our way home from Ayrshire - it’s been a long day 😴 

I’ve heard of Kishorn, but can’t think where it is. I’m sure I saw a big aurora alert for tonight.

Just passed a co-op in Inveraray - too late or I would’ve stopped to look for the choc/coffee beer.

wort

Not caught up, Dusty nasty bruise there, hope it’s not still sore. Checked out Chloe ,will definitely watch some more.

Friday I got compost so topped up a few pots at the front. Also took up some scillia to pass on. And did a bit of weeding.
Sat went for a drink sat outside the pub for a bit. Home for a takeaway and chat. Yesterday Dd1 took me for early Mother’s Day meal, I’m working next Sunday and it’s a racket going on the day isn’t it.

Dustyevsky

Farway said:

Dustyevsky said:

YoungBlueEyes said:

Stout is a queer choice for a first pint Farway, or did he already know he liked it

Down here it was rough cider, obtainable for 1/6d at the back door of the Txxxxxxn Inn, provided you looked at least 14 and brought your own quart bottle. My first proper pub pint was at 16. I was never asked my age until I was 18 or 19. I told the guy,"Well, you should know; we were in the same class at primary school!"

Blimey, you were on the posh stuff, it was only 10d a pint in The Axxxxn, age was never asked if in uniform Came with a compulsory gorilla

 Our 'rough' was 9d a pint (1/6d a quart) I'd guess a little later on than yours. I'm talking 1964/5. (and a foreign language to some folk. ) 

YoungBlueEyes said:

Woohoo for free sheds and beautiful dawns Dusty

By good training/discipline I mean being in tune. When your dog knows what’s expected of them, and when, and can relax because they’re sure of their place in the pack. They’re not stressy or panicky or needy, they understand their role and have accepted it. 

The shed's small and needs a roof, but we can do that. We've inherited a few other useful things too, as well as 6 half-dead conifers, which will need burning. I still have 2 bonfires to go.
How many people understand dog psychology? From what I see, only around 25%.   And then there are the 'thick' breeds. Dogs bred for looks, not brains, and natural variations thereof. I won't name any; it's bound to cause offence. After all, lots of people's characters are reflected in their hounds!

Speaking of Canidae, I discovered a very large dog fox, dead, on the other side of the stream last week. Not a mark on him, and he looked in good condition. I'm not saying the new, old neighbour had anything to do with it, but the animal was close to his newly-acquired land, and the new farming people still haven't shown-up yet. If it was poisoned.....draw your own conclusions!

pink_poppy said:

 I’m sure I saw a big aurora alert for tonight.

I've had an email from a friend in Canada with an aurora picture, very like some of your best ones.   A fairly close relative recently went to Iceland. I asked him about seeing the aurora, and he said, “Oh, I don't think it happens at this time of year.”

How good, to sit outside the pub, wort. Definitely a sign of spring. I'd not sit in our local's 'garden' unfortunately. 2p tells us we wouldn't recognise her now from her outside the shop photo, but I bet we would! That lady in the background seems to be taking a selfie, so it's not back in the Dark Ages!

Another dry, calm morning and a fine day in prospect here. My SiL has been very kind and finished the path I began years ago on Saturday. I can't handle those 3' long street pavers any more!

Dustyevsky

A thatched cottage in Devon with roses around the door, all for less than the average house price?* Look no further:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/159741344#/?channel=RES_BUY

Lots of scope in the garden!

*P.S. I don't live in, or very close to, the village concerned. (It would take1.75 hours for me to get there by bus! ) I've no connection with the property. Frankly, this kind of house doesn't interest me at all, but I bet it goes quickly!

Farway

Dry morning, tipped down last night, which is Good. Supposed to be back to warm by mid-week.

Dustyevsky said:

A thatched cottage in Devon with roses around the door, all for less than the average house price?* Look no further:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/159741344#/?channel=RES_BUY

Lots of scope in the garden!

*P.S. I don't live in, or very close to, the village concerned. (It would take1.75 hours for me to get there by bus! ) I've no connection with the property. Frankly, this kind of house doesn't interest me at all, but I bet it goes quickly!

That would do me Dusty, and given silly prices around here, I may have some change left

Actually, it would be entirely impractical for the likes of me & my health wobbles, forty years ago maybe

Congrats on path completion, ribbon cutting ceremony come summer?

YoungBlueEyes said:

 Himself is away on site next week, right oop norf - Kishorn - to build lodges for a salmon farm, so fingers crossed for great auroras and skies and stuff cos his phone takes much better pictures than mine  

I've heard of Kishorn, we used to stay over at Plockton and based at Kyle. Nicely scenic. 

My memory of Kishorn is buying a Scotch pie from a shop there on our way over to Applecross. Nice views while eating the greasiest pie ever.

I love how this thread is wide-ranging, from way up Norf to Deepest Devon, elephant foot pies to scrumpy.

Checked on what's left of my oriental poppy, not a lot is the answer. Despite the pellets, it looks like more has been devoured. A bit of a bummer, but can I dream my aquilegia will spread into the space?

One thing I'll not put in there is a self-seeded foxglove I found in a pot yesterday, that's another slug magnet.

Sitting outside pubs, one around here, picture postcard type, open fire etc, has just reopened, forced closure just before Christmas. Good news because it is sometimes used for [expensive] family celebration meals.

A unique claim to fame is the FA Cup was there during the war/

https://www.hampshire-history.com/the-fa-cup-in-hampshire/

Nice garden as well, with a bluebell wood nearby

Brightening sky now, I may mooch / squelch down the garden later if it keeps up, just checking really. I'm debating on moving my pot grown Golden Delicious from the back to the front. 

It's not doing very well at the back, neglect and poor spot mainly.

pink_poppy

Ooh, the Aurora is most definitely still lighting up skies here and in Iceland. The admins of a group I follow on FB have just been to Iceland recently and posted a few stunning photos of the Aurora, visible while they were there. There's a big coronal hole at the moment, which is expected to generate some big stats here over the next few days, so fingers crossed. Maybe a final fling before it goes to sleep for a while.

Are you moonlighting as an estate agent, Dusty??

Well done to SiL for finishing off your path - it looks lovely, as does your garden   

I have been known to partake of a Scotch pie, Farway. There's a nice bakery in Callander that sells decent ones, or Kilmarnock pies (Killie pies) from places like Aldi are nice too - heat and eat and not at all greasy.

wort, I love sitting outside a pub with a glass of wine, just watching the world go by.

OT - it's cold and rainy tonight - the fire is lit and pussycat is sat in front of it getting a warm    

twopenny

Dusty your garden is just lovely!

If I had a spare bedroom I'd offer MrsD free board and lodging to design mine.

That cottage is exactly what I've dreamed about. Unfortunately too late for me.

Wort you seem to have a good work life balance there. Just right.

Farway how do you manage the pots? I have mine on little trays with castors now though I'm fairly sure that's harder than lifting the darn things.

I'd like my big pot moved but probably not a good idea considering the number of things already wrong with me I could do without another.

Poppy sorry about your rain. Still at least you have the fire and cat to keep you warm.

OT Busy day, exhausted. The sun came out and it was WARM!

I said I was coming home to do gardening but it was so lovely I went up on the moor to photograph. Loads of flowers and primroses everywhere.

But of course, now we've got rid of the mist and got heat haze!

This is just round the corner from the magnolias I posted. Everyones garden is different.

Farway

Cold & misty morn when I awoke, the heating was back on

But, now sun's out & warming up nicely, it may be the warming weather we were promised

twopenny said:

Farway how do you manage the pots? I have mine on little trays with castors now though I'm fairly sure that's harder than lifting the darn things.

I'd like my big pot moved but probably not a good idea considering the number of things already wrong with me I could do without another.

This is just round the corner from the magnolias I posted. Everyones garden is different.

Pots, I tend to slide / drag them, or roll, like a barrel. Some I just have to leave where they are, or, as you allude, do myself a mischief.

I tried those wheeled tray jobbies, useless, wheels kept getting stuck in any crack or gap.

My Golden D apple falls into the awkward category, too far to drag around the front, too heavy for a straight lift. 

I'm considering getting a cheap sack truck, like this

https://www.diy.com/departments/vonhaus-sack-truck-folding-hand-trolley-industrial-aluminium-90kg-folding-sack-barrow-for-convenient-lifting-moving-at-home/5056115705847_BQ.prd

Or a wheeled shopping trolley ?

This would also help with me lugging my home delivery shopping in, and bags of compost

I love that house & tumbling plants pic 2P, do you know if the purple trailing down the wall is Aubrieta?

Hope so 'cos I'm trying to get it tumbling around my steps, first season, so can't say if it's worked or not

Batch two pea shoots are just breaking the compost surface, I'll get batch 3 in this weekend.

My rocket, in dubious compost, is not well, still no growth at all. I'm going to resow and see what happens.

The compost is carp, goes like concrete despite looking great. Next time I spot some, I'll get an alternative for my yet to be planted hanging baskets. They will be baked in sun, so need something that will not turn to stone if dry.

Next door's Concorde pear is full of buds, hope it matches the blossom time of my two pears, just for once please get in sync

And, whisper quietly, I think I can spot teeny weeny figs showing, just as green pimples so far