Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Dustyevsky

Farway said:

Likewise, no gardening, but may catch up on last week's GW, if Family History work [at home] starts to frustrate

OT, but with AI I'm now updating Wikitree entries with some photos and more details,. 

Lots of distracting rabbit holes to go down of course, one of mine was a 16 years old Kitchen Maid, working in a house on Onlsow Square. 

I have her story from Good Housekeeping 1936,1/- at all good bookstalls  . Very Upstairs, Downstairs, complete with "Your servant" waiting behind your chair at dinner. 

Perhaps on special occasions at Rottery Acres we could have this?

That house is still there

I lived in Onslow Gardens when I first went to London in the late 60s. The house wasn't for wealthy folk; it was a hostel for young government employees like me, up from the sticks. It was maybe a little like being at a boarding school, or an open prison, but I've no experience of those. I just know they starved us, and made life generally restricted and uncomfortable to ensure a good turnover. 

Two acquaintances were expelled evicted, which was good news, because I could then move into their room in the upper part of the house. The servants' quarters, with their low ceilings, were the best, because they were warmest.

Two guys in that room turned out to be reliable, so we planned and executed an escape, but it wasn't easy. Even in those days, a grotty lower flat in Kilburn attracted about 6 or 7 groups of hopefuls at the appointed hour, but we got there first.   

The Onslow houses are certainly still there, but I doubt if any are hostels. One or two would buy a very decent Rottery Acres! 

OT: Sun's out. and the amount of rainfall seems to have been unexceptional here. 

greenbee

2p - I buy towels from the CS for 50p as dog towels.

I'm looking at the dying apple tree and trying to decide what to grow up it. Rose? Clematis? Both?

Farway

greenbee said:

I'm looking at the dying apple tree and trying to decide what to grow up it. Rose? Clematis? Both?

Thornless blackberry & a clematis

Get the right [Merton] blackberry and have great spring blossom, then all the berries 

Clematis, cos they are lovely, try and avoid the Norwegian variety I keep buying from Morries 

Dustyevsky

Farway said:

greenbee said:

I'm looking at the dying apple tree and trying to decide what to grow up it. Rose? Clematis? Both?

Clematis, cos they are lovely, try and avoid the Norwegian variety I keep buying from Morries 

How about Clematis 'Bill MacKenzie?' Not prone to mildew, or curling-up at the first sign of drought. If you can give it some shade at the root, and hack it back in February, it should be fine.

greenbee

Dustyevsky said:

Farway said:

greenbee said:

I'm looking at the dying apple tree and trying to decide what to grow up it. Rose? Clematis? Both?

Clematis, cos they are lovely, try and avoid the Norwegian variety I keep buying from Morries 

How about Clematis 'Bill MacKenzie?' Not prone to mildew, or curling-up at the first sign of drought. If you can give it some shade at the root, and hack it back in February, it should be fine.

Not a fan of yellow, but do like the shape.

@Farway - I already have a merton thornless blackberry on the fence based on your recommendation, next to the brown turkey fig. 

Farway

greenbee said:

Dustyevsky said:

Farway said:

greenbee said:

I'm looking at the dying apple tree and trying to decide what to grow up it. Rose? Clematis? Both?

Clematis, cos they are lovely, try and avoid the Norwegian variety I keep buying from Morries 

How about Clematis 'Bill MacKenzie?' Not prone to mildew, or curling-up at the first sign of drought. If you can give it some shade at the root, and hack it back in February, it should be fine.

Not a fan of yellow, but do like the shape.

@Farway - I already have a merton thornless blackberry on the fence based on your recommendation, next to the brown turkey fig. 

Take a cutting and have two ! Or another variety, maybe earlier or later fruiting, or some other hybrid berry?

What about Passion Flower, maybe too blowsy but I think the fruits can also be used

Kiwi? I think there are smaller ones around these days that don't need a pollinator

twopenny

Good old Montana that is also slightly scented. Spreads and doesn't give a fight about the weather.
That will have Farway clutching his pearls again 😁 wonder where he wears them?

Or could you try grafting a different sort of apple? If the tree is only a maybe it's a good one to practice on.

Wet and windy, had people laughing at the supermarket trying to get trolleys back to the car.
Didn't amount to a storm here though. The seagulls were back on the beach and doing aerobatics on the winds. I think they were enjoying it. All quiet now. Sunshine was back over Wales.

pink_poppy

Just a quick post from me because I’m attempting to type this on my phone with a sore index finger… can you get RSI in your finger joint, or am I just getting old?!

Disgusting fox 🦊 behaviour, Dusty 🤢 

I must have been wearing handcream in that pic, twopenny 😂

greenbee, I’m going to try again with the energy site, but create an account this time. It was the underfloor insulation that I noticed was very expensive vs. the savings, but I suppose it’s not just about the cost.

YBE, I was confused about Mrs P-B, but I get who you mean now. Haven’t seen the story though.

Farway, I think I might have inherited a Salvia hot lips 💋 I’ve tried unsuccessfully to ID this plant before, but today I noticed it had flowers on and it was identifying as a Salvia. White flowers with red ‘lips’ 😳 could it be??… it’s a terrible photo because it was raining…

greenbee

You don't have to do ALL the energy saving things PP. Get the heating decision made and get it installed - and then get the energy-saving stuff done, with the easy stuff first!

Dustyevsky

If it helps, I can ID that as Salvia 'Hot Lips,' pp....though with the proximity to your phone, it also looks quite like Audrey11 out of the Little Shop of Horrors! 

 'Hot Lips' is a tough cultivar, like 'Nachtvlinder,' but much easier to spell, or say!  You should be able to keep it in an average winter.

Underfloor insulation is difficult, especially with solid floors. We only have it where we built from scratch.