Awful weather - typical Brits talk

sturat3200

Davesnave said:

Well, down here in ever-sunny Devon it hasn't been too bad, as we've organised much of the rain to fall at night. I've been out chatting to the sheep, who are all newbies and shorn, but they seem to have their shelter area sussed OK........

Then her outdoors had me moving the small hen coop to pastures new.

I'll admit after that essential outdoor stuff I headed into the polytunnel, where there were hardy geraniums and geums in pots waiting to be de-vine-weeviled. As you'll know, there's nothing 'divine' about vine weevil grubs. I've learned that if you don't change the compost there's no roots left by December! The same applies to many other potted plants, especially primulas and fuchsias. I have an industrial looking microwave from the 1980s to cook the used compost up, grubs and all, and then I re-use it.

The trouble with polytunnels is that they're stretched tight like a drum, so rain is amplified. I have a mains sound system in there to cope with that, but after a couple of hours I'd had enough. The music teacher who lives across the lane probably felt similarly!

That sounds like a pretty perfect Devon day, rain management skills and all 😄 The sheep and hens sound well cared for, even if they keep you busy. I admire the compost-microwaving commitment too. It is lovely

Dustyevsky

LessImpecunious said:

My mind is now boggling with the idea that Gargle AI is visiting the forum and mining our chats, not least Farway's collaborations with ChatGP... no wonder AI is hallucinating... (I thought I was when I read the above...)

Hmm, I've suspected it for a while. A couple of weeks ago, after I recounted my minor accident with carrier bags in one of Lidl's automatic basins, this person's work arrived in my YouToob feed: 

https://www.youtube.com/@ukhanddryers/shorts

Without going back and checking, I recall saying I'd had to use the hand drier to render the sopping-wet bags usable again.  YouToob hasn't sent me anything from this 'content creator' (I use the term loosely!  ) before, or anything remotely like it.  I specialise in......well, never mind! 

YoungBlueEyes said:

Morning all, on Old Rock Day. Eh?!
I'm not bit surprised you got up/down a hill that was then closed for being dangerous Dusty  

Old Rock Day? Is that the Stones? Reading your sig, perhaps not enough people are smoking now. Keef's pulled the plug on the upcoming tour. 

The car had more to do with us getting down the hill safely. Being automatic, I shoved it into fixed first for the really tricky bit and fixed second for the rest, so it didn't have much chance to run away with us. We do have 'all season' tyres, which are good. The lack of gritters seems to have been widespread. SiL got stuck trying to get out of his village, but met a nice man with a tractor. 

Your 'blue chests' are exhibiting typical habits, Farway. Like Arnold Swarzenhardboiledegger, they'll be back. It's their nature to trust a new feeder as much as we trust Gargle. We're excited because we had 7 long tailed chests on ours the other day, but not when my camera was to hand. 

Today fine weather and 6c has been mostly taken up with retrieving my van, stuck in DD2's village since last week thanks to the state of the roads.  I did nip into the GC on the way back to pick up some more Irish compost.  Also found a good-sized Carex 'Evergold' at a pleasing price.  That’s all the gardening today. Getting ready for Storm Confetti now...... Logs cancelled! 

twopenny

You seem to be getting better down there Dusty . it's still a sultry 3c but nw wind which dropped this afternoon and you can touch stuff and it's not cold.
Farway seems lots of people are feeding the birds because our shop has run out of peanuts.

Had a couple of sorties into the garden but it's claggy and chill. Rained again this evening but only a bit.
I need to get on with some repotting with some urgency but it's going to be big stuff and hard work.
Just managed to get the garden rubbish to the tip which is an achievement because it's so busy so I'm ready to start again if the weather improves somewhat.

I'm waffling now because it's been a dull old spell.
Hope work went ok today for those of you on the treadmill. Downhill to Friday now 😉

-taff

Your riddling is cleverer Dusty, you have a nice big wheelbarrow instead of a builders bucket So I tried the mini chainsaw, works well cut a six inch across tree stump [ dead bay, got wind dried and died] and the christmas tree. The chain was loose after those two but as I suspect it is a cheapie version of a good make, I'm not too miffed. I'll take it to the lotment to try on the apple tree this month. 

Your hand drier story is very similar to OHs findings. He had a dream about a ginger cat called Barry Hedges, told me all about it, FB for the next few weeks threw every Barry Hedges at hime to be friends with....an update though, it turned out he'd worked with someone called that and completely forgotten, and the aforementioned died, and someone asked him if he knew, he was slightly shocked [ ok, very] because he thought he'd plucked this name out of random thoughts somewhere...turns out...not...

I normally try to grow something paste tom wise, I did Roma last year, did quite well in the stupid hot weather, I suspect would have been better outside but quite productive and can ripen off the bush, another plus. 

I've tried salting runner beans 2p, I wasn't impressed though, but it was my first attempt so maybe I got it wrong. I just have them fresh now, and small, so tender, I love them...And weren't there clamps for storing veg? lumps of soil covered in hay or straw or something like that. 

What a nice break for you ybe, very spur of the moment and fun..Not sure I've ever had a real resolution but if I did, I'd want one like your lady...good to hear Mr Poland has recovered a bit.. I normally make a christmas cake for my cousin who usually takes until November to finish eating a slice at a time, so your man isn't too far off ekeing out his wares..

The wolf moon photos are really lovely, love yours Dusty all huge and trying to hide behind a tree, and yours Less, all picture perfect snow. 

Snow Tiger is a great name for a fiery balm Farway, you must get AI to design you a pack and stop asking it other things so it takes it's eye off ybe...just going to put swanky honey ponse in to throw it off track...and how very dare those poverty stricken birds turn their noses up at your offerings? They'll be behaving like cats next...

Bloody cold, did snow a bit, did freeze a lot, tulip bulbs remain on side unplanted but all cat poo has been collected to chuck in the moved raised bed when it moves...

Dustyevsky

-taff said:

Your riddling is cleverer Dusty, you have a nice big wheelbarrow instead of a builders bucket So I tried the mini chainsaw, works well cut a six inch across tree stump [ dead bay, got wind dried and died] and the christmas tree. The chain was loose after those two but as I suspect it is a cheapie version of a good make, I'm not too miffed. I'll take it to the lotment to try on the apple tree this month. 

The riddling and piddling about is only necessary because the digger man put too much soil in the polytunnel. Then, when it was spread, and that became obvious, he drove his compacting roller inside and vibrated it flat! The result wasn't what I intended, and it's been a constant bone of contention between Mrs Dusty and me ever since.  I have to excavate to set the deep bed boards at the correct depth, and then break up the bottom, which is like concrete.   At least this means I can mix the soil infill with manure and old compost as I go. 

Any new chain will stretch, so if your mini saw has a way of re-tensioning it, all will be well. Remember, with stumps and similar, not to touch the soil. It's usually instant bluntness if you do, although I sometimes get away with it. 

twopenny said:

You seem to be getting better down there Dusty 😉

Dull, grey, and miserable this morning, and that's just me!  In an hour or so we're promised a deluge, eventually accompanied by winds over 50mph, and sleet, so I'm glad I cancelled the log delivery. 

No gardening planned, but I've ordered a few chillies and other seeds from Sea Spring in Dorset, which might arrive if the Deadwood Stage gets through! 

Today's photo is Viburnum tinus with a dusting of hail, and currently in full flower. OK, there might be a moon in there somewhere, too! 

twopenny

Very dull and grey here too but 'mild' at 3c at least in comparison because there's no wind.
Haven't looked at any predictions but need to go out today. Hoping it would be like this at the weekend so I can get round the badger run and start putting right last years wrongs.

Taff you're a busy bee, thanks for the report n the chain saw. Sounds promising 🙂 I'll have to start looking around.

Farway

Another one with dull, grey, damp & miserable to report, Bageutti   due this afternoon, wet & windy, see if my blue chests are any hungrier by then

The chests were quite active yesterday. I have a nest box near my bedroom window, never been used except by a mouse some years back  :(Yesterday I saw a BT checking it over, poking head inside & inspecting

As added temptation I have hung one of the fat-filled half coconuts on the supporting hook, sort of B & B for any BTs that fancy it

twopenny said:

Farway seems lots of people are feeding the birds because our shop has run out of peanuts.

Had a couple of sorties into the garden but it's claggy and chill. Rained again this evening but only a bit.
I need to get on with some repotting with some urgency but it's going to be big stuff and hard work.

Feeding birds, I've not bothered before, mainly due to not wanting to encourage ratty& friends near the house, and mobility problems if feeding further away, but I'm hoping the hang in tree feeds will help the birds in this hard spell.

I did have a thought yesterday about getting some sort of bird food thingy on pole to stick in the front, where I can see it while lounging in my observing from chair

More investigation required there, I could easily top it up at the front, handy steps & handrail

Potting, you have reminded me about my apple that needs potting on, since the old pot has been frost-damaged

Dustyevsky said:

No gardening planned, but I've ordered a few chillies and other seeds from Sea Spring in Dorset, which might arrive if the Deadwood Stage gets through! 

Curse you Dusty, I had to look, now the tomato devil is calling, despite me saying I'm sticking with what I have.

Some interesting ones there, and P & P seems OK [£2.20]. Darn it!

Apart from the new temptation, no more gardening today

Dustyevsky

Farway said:

Dustyevsky said:

No gardening planned, but I've ordered a few chillies and other seeds from Sea Spring in Dorset, which might arrive if the Deadwood Stage gets through! 

Curse you Dusty, I had to look, now the tomato devil is calling, despite me saying I'm sticking with what I have.

Some interesting ones there, and P & P seems OK [£2.20]. Darn it!

     I was there for the chillies; Apricot and Cardiff Queen. Besides having a slightly dodgy name the latter is a little hotter. They should have called it Tarka.....then it could be used to make Dahl. Yeah, well, it's panto season! 

I did do a little gardening today, splitting my £6 Carex 'Evergold' into about 10 pieces.   There are a further 7 or 8 bits without roots, but looking like they might grow some, also potted-up. Definitely a good deal, as grasses, or in this case rushes, always look better in groups.

No sign of Storm Spaghetti yet; though we hadsome heavy rain this morning. There was no rain and very little wind when I put the hens to bed about 20 minutes ago. Drunks are insisting we have gusts of 40mph currently, but I'm not experiencing them.   We're told not to expect more than 50mph tonight, which is comforting, but we must wait and see whether 'explosive cyclogenesis' occurs. (I kid you not! ) Surely they were a late '60s psychedelic band?    

LessImpecunious

Miserable rain this afternoon, washing away some of the last of the snow remnants, tho my veg bed downslope and to the NE still had a decent covering at c. 4pm, keeping the garlic and mouldering remnants of other things cosy...

By 4.30 first spots of white appeared among the raindrops, and we now (nearly 6pm) have medium-size flakes and c. an inch covering everything... Wouldn't describe it as explosive though - yet...

YoungBlueEyes

Popping on without catching up to say I hope you suvveners are alright, especially 2p + Dusty 🤞🏻