Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Dustyevsky

twopenny said:

Not general mot, I've avoided all those. It would say stop smoking, stop alcohol, drink more water but I'm still standing despite my dissolute living and so far I'm not on any pills.

The MOT is the only thing I turn up for. However, I don't smoke, drink responsibly and stay just on the right side of plump, so there isn't much Ms Nurse can say, regarding lifestyle. Speaking of that, you're good at socialising, which is a massive plus following retirement. 

Mrs Dusty & I decided some years ago to take more personal responsibility for our health. However, that's been much easier for me. I'm happy to stay low-profile, so those who genuinely require the most help, can continue to receive it. Unfortunately, it looks like more tough choices are on the way.....

Farway said:

Congrats to Mrs D on a cat proof feeding station, 

Thank you, but we're still at the testing stage, and the test failed!  See below: 

From examining all the photos, it seems the cat was strong enough to raise the ridge tile sufficiently to get its body inside. The next step will probably involve adding another tile!  It also spent a surprisingly long time inside the box and scoffed all the food. 

OT: A lovely morning, and the wall-to-wall sunshine the inebriates are predicting is here.  Chilly, but definitely a day to be outdoors. 

Farway

I've got sunshine as well, not sure if due to be wall to wall, but it makes a nice change

That darn cat Dusty, have to admire him /her for persistence. 

Typical cat I guess, given a nice cat flap & warm home + food, the blighter would just scratch and wail to be let in. Mine was the same with drinking, sniffed at nice clean water in her bowl, much preferred dank pond water

I'm at sixes & sevens now, I thought it was Boiler Day on Thursday, found out yesterday evening it is Today when Boiler Man e mailed a reminder. Quick check, his diary keeping is superior to mine 

No gardening today, soggy still and TBH not much out there that won't wait, like clearing dead plants etc. 

Still have GW to catch up on

twopenny

What about this for Rottery acres.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c80xrpy7vnyo

Plenty of logs to be had  The Dusty's are good at that.
Lots of wildlife photo opportunities.

Speaking of which I did an about turn this morning as it was sunny and got to see kingfishers.
No I didn't get a photo but not for want of trying.
3 of the little blighters. Now I know where they are I may be AWOL on a regular basis 🙂

Dustyevsky

twopenny said:

What about this for Rottery acres.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c80xrpy7vnyo

Hmmm....an island playground forthe excessively rich.  Why does that concept sounds oddly familiar?    And it seems there's nothing new under the sun, since Kinloch's short history (allegedly) includes a fair amount of debauchery.    As a gaff, it's a good pile for £3/4m, but I note the estimate for a proper refurb is around £20m. Can we run to that? 

As a modest alternative for a pocket money price, I'd suggest this:

https://www.countrylife.co.uk/property/a-private-island-in-the-thames-estuary-is-up-for-sale-at-gbp50-000-complete-with-its-own-victorian-fort

It also needs some work...and.....what?  Global boiling?  Rising sea levels? Well, they don't seem to bother Oprah Winfrey!  

I'm glad you made the most of today's sunshine, 2p, even if the kingfishers didn't cooperate. They rarely do! 

I spent the day making the sliding doors on the polytunnel more windproof, while also leaving a small gap for the wren which hunts in there.  Mrs Dusty spent sometime modifying her hedgehog feeding box, but I don't know yet what she did. Apparently it will all be on the camera card tomorrow morning. 

YoungBlueEyes

Professional shoes - 

(Stripey socks for badness 🫢 ) 

Bluddy cold here this morning, phone says 0’ FL is -2. Lovely and sunny and dry though  

Dustyevsky

Loving the badness, Bluey.    I've a pair of these, but in a larger design:

https://poshmark.com/listing/URBAN-OUTFITTERS-BART-SIMPSON-MOONING-SOCKS-UNISEX-6814f2ad2fa054c1809a1ba3?srsltid=AfmBOorCaKMis1mArPIb7gdrtaH14QZn6C28I7m6oC8fzOuFitUww_13

I can't post the higher level stuff here! 

It's also very pink and nippy here this morning. The unripe grapes are still languishing on the trellis below our imperfect view.

Sadly, there was no hedgehog or cat activity recorded overnight by the wildlife camera.  Here's a picture of what Mrs Dusty did to further restrict the entrance to the feeding box:

The ice forming on the water dish is probably why there was no action at all. 

OT: The sunny morning here isn't due to last. I shall finish wind-proofing the polytunnel doors and carry on levelling the floor in there, assuming heavier rain doesn't arrive before mid-afternoon.

LessImpecunious

Met say  it's 2C here, actually c -3...

Went outside to take a pic of sunrise as I keep promising pics and don't get round to it, and spotted something else - first sunrise, then the something else ( if I can post two pics!).

Love the socks!
Well that didn't work - appears I can't load pics in the app? Hang on a mo.oh, appears I was signed out, tho I only just signed in to try forum on the app  

Refreshed to see Dusty beat me to it with sunrise pic .. tbh mine  was probably closer in colour to Dusty's, mine seems to have been dramatised in uploading... Think the hedgehog box almost deserves it's own thread!

Now for the pinkbow...looking on the opposite direction...

wort

I can almost hear the pink panther tune, and the cat walking round the hedgehog house scratching his head 🤣 Mrs Dusty is very inventive.
Such lovely sunrise photos, it’s frosty and bright this morning here. I was hoping to go in garden yesterday as it was sunny and chilly, but got caught up on dom nom. Then financial stuff.
Farway fingers crossed for the bulbs. Is the amaryllis a red or a pink stripy one? I’ve toyed with the idea of one but I’ve that many orchids at the moment I don’t know where to put it.
YBE maybe get odd clashing socks 😉 tbh I go from trainers to boots . I don’t possess a pair of “ shoe” shoes .

I have the spotty laurel been in 20 years not big at all but I am quite ruthless with the secatures.

twopenny

0c here this morning but no wind and watery sun.
Not enthused by the thought of gardening so did a bit of clearing round the back steps. I ought to do more but while it's staggered up to 3c dark grey rain cloud is coming over.

I think maybe a swim and sauna is on the cards.

Nice classy shoes Bluey. Don't forget to polish them every night 😈

Lovely sunrises and views. Haven't seen one for a while because thermal curtains closed that side to try and deaden the noise of idiot son leaving early. Ought to charge them for the extra heating of waking early.

-taff

Dustyevsky said:

If not a Liquidambar, how about Cercidiphyllum japonicum? Or if that's still too large, there's Parrotia persica 'Vanessa' 

OOO, they are pretty! Maybe I can make room out the front...Youthinasia 2 - :::snort:::  Mrs Dusty should get McGyver award of the year for the continued adaptations being made...although when are they supposed to hibernate? I think we've lost our fox, we haven't seen her for about a week and apparently their tails are very important in the cold...poor thing, she's already had so much rubbish thrown at her...

Frway I have some bulbs which have never flowered so I've brought them in the see what they are being as they seem to be growing again...I have no idea what they are though, hoping it's something I like otherwise off to the deepest darkest part of the garden they go...How's your boiler? Is it good? It better had be in this weather...

That's a bit of alright 2p, but I'm with Dusty, I don't think I have the readies to properly do it justice...bit brrrr up there too...

ybe, LOVE the socks [ I had many pairs of stripeys, turned them into wrist warmers, just saying, in case they develop holes squashed into those 'suitable' shoes, booo!!! 

Less, amazing pic...And I've never seen a pinkbow before...in honour of ybes socks maybe? 

Went to the lotment yesterday, planted garlic from last year, all the big ones that hadn't split, hoping they'll get a lot bigger this year ad infinitum..and the broad beans, gave the straw a fluff, cut the grass and had a coffee [ indestructible flask this time] and the ndn gave me a savoy cabbage which is currently soaking in the sink...very nice of him...My belly says thank you...

Hard frost, sunny so far, quite nice really [ as long as you have some warmth to appreciate it obviously]