Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Woolsery

On the subject of computers and related technology....I was missing in inaction yesterday attending a funeral service, cremation and afternoon tea in a far-off place. Seven years ago, when the deceased's spouse passed, the 3  'events' were in the same widely spaced locations and many of the elderly attendees got lost en-route. This time, with us probably now being included in that elderly group, everyone made it successfully through the geographical challenges, but as DB observed, they had newer cars than us and (probably) sat-nav built in!

We certainly had the full gamut of weather in our 400 mile trek. We set off in low cloud and light rain which cleared to a reasonably warm day before banks of dark grey clouds were spotted ahead. A planned stop at services to change out of comfy gear into 'respectable' clothing didn't happen, though we pulled off soon after to escape the deluge which made the motorway look dodgy for a while. Then, suddenly it was a very warm sunny day and our destination showed no sign of rain having fallen.

At the church, which has a long history and a shorter one of 100 years for the family, I spotted a Cotoneaster growing too  abundantly over the path, so trimmed it off and stuck it in my water bottle. Totally the wrong time for cuttings, but I doubt if we shall go back and it will be nice if it does grow.

Sadly, my plan to tour the gardens at the posh venue for tea was thwarted again. Last time it was raining and this time the sandwiches etc and the company were  better, so I only got a quick snap frpm a window and grabbed a shot of some bluebells on the way out, before someone shouted, "C'mon, we need to be back before dark!" I'll see what they look like tonight and post one later if OK.

Edited to add: It didn't rain much here. I asked a neighbour. It's doing better in that respect this morning.

in_my_wellies

Good morning. I was woken to a steady dripping from a broken gutter. A useful amount predicted. A bucket has been placed, already half full

Good that you had a successful trip Woolsery. I often wonder if my late DH would have used the satnav. I use two, one is better for traffic, the other for speed. Sometimes they argue!

Cloudy, breezy and dull would describe yesterday. I washed my 6 solar panels and have come to the conclusion that pigeon poop contains glue so I was only 90% successful. Todays rain might give it a soak and I'll try again later. Then I climbed the longer ladder and trimmed the few branches I could reach. I was hoping for a bit of sun to 'test' them later.  By the way they are a left over VI Form project so although under a beech and ash tree at the time they did the job. Now they only generate in March/ April and October before and after the leaves and when the sun is high enough

98% germination of old French beans and 0% for runner beans so replanting today. A row of beetroot and radish has appeared. possibly parsnips but no sign of carrots and now I'm doubting myself and wondering if I actually planted them or just placed the string. Charlottes are doing well. As I harvested the last of the sprouting broc I was thankful for the shops filling the 'hungry gap' or I'd be surviving on leeks, parsley and rhubarb for the next few weeks. The welcome rain will enable me to pay attention to the garden. I need to plant the small 'nursery' which growing by my backdoor! 

Thank you for all the photos everyone, I really can't compete. 

Woolsery

in_my_wellies said:

Thank you for all the photos everyone, I really can't compete. 

Your last photo was great. Your garden has character and although some of us like to mess around with photos, snaps are just as good.

Here's my snap from yesterday, Are they English or Spanish? I think the house might be Victorian with an eclectic mix of influences, but I am to architecture what Grayson Perry is to wrestling.....

in_my_wellies

I'd say English, flowers on one side and bending over.  Mine are Spanish. 39 years ago we had English with one or two paler ones which stood upright, how interesting we thought, little did we realize they would do what the grey squirrels did the the red ones! 

in_my_wellies

Another try...

Farway

Back to dull with rain on the way, not enough of it will fall down here so they say

Nothing much done garden wise, busy clerking, car ABS light on booked in, Covid booster likewise, online shopping etc.

The nasturtiums sown at the front are now up, so now I can see where to pop in the beetroot seeds, may do that PM depending if rain arrives or not

Castor oil plants and some toms are now being left out overnight for final hardening off before deployment to final spots

liberty_lily

Lovely pics 😃

Rain overnight for us. Bright, sunny and warm today. I really need to get my beans etc planted but currently there's no room to move around the raised beds in the courtyard due to all the outbuilding stuff being temporarily parked there under an assortment of tarps 🙄 Mustn't complain though, because DH is steadily getting the stone flags laid, a few each evening when he arrives home. Hopefully come Sunday (15th) it will be finished. According to my notes, that's the date they went in last year. 

The hostas in the ground continue to do well - we're (fingers crossed) fortunate in not getting too many slug issues here, although they do seem to enjoy the kirengeshomas and ligularias. This hosta we've had in a pot since about 2009. I'd love to transfer it into something larger, but I fear breaking the rather lovely pot....

The large cerise pink rhododendron (one of only a small handful of flowering plants we inherited here) is beginning to open. I'm not a huge fan of the pale mauve type but do love this one....

Woolsery

Great photos again, lily. Hosta looks like 'Big Daddy.'

I can see there's a difference in the bluebells, wellies. Saw a nice house with interesting 1/2 acre for you, but it was on an A class road, so here's one that's extra-secluded yet within 1/4 mile of basic shops.....There is a catch, though, and it's not only the price!

Hint: "If not in a suitable 4x4 vehicle, then park outside the Church and walk down the hill to the property."

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85213017#/?channel=RES_BUY

After a dull start, today is ending fine and not too windy. After the rain I had little option but to mow everything in sight.

in_my_wellies

Woolsery said:

I can see there's a difference in the bluebells, wellies. Saw a nice house with interesting 1/2 acre for you, but it was on an A class road, so here's one that's extra-secluded yet within 1/4 mile of basic shops.....There is a catch, though, and it's not only the price!

Hint: "If not in a suitable 4x4 vehicle, then park outside the Church and walk down the hill to the property."

Sunny and bright but as my visitor was up at 6am and waiting to be entertained the garden will be neglected this weekend

Woolsery, three people have alerted me to that house because it's in such a similar position to the one I'm 'housesitting' now and which I used to own. I love it but I fear I'm on the wrong side of 60 to continue to live in such isolation. 

Today I'm going to Barnsdale in Rutland, Geoff Hamilton's old garden, photos later!

Woolsery

in_my_wellies said:

Woolsery said:

I can see there's a difference in the bluebells, wellies. Saw a nice house with interesting 1/2 acre for you, but it was on an A class road, so here's one that's extra-secluded yet within 1/4 mile of basic shops.....There is a catch, though, and it's not only the price!

Hint: "If not in a suitable 4x4 vehicle, then park outside the Church and walk down the hill to the property."

Woolsery, three people have alerted me to that house because it's in such a similar position to the one I'm 'housesitting' now and which I used to own. I love it but I fear I'm on the wrong side of 60 to continue to live in such isolation.

I have a feeling isolation won't be too popular for most of us in the near future and certain sorts of vulnerability will bring people closer together in the countryside. Some of us have never lost the community spirit, of course, but it's taken a battering of late.

That property would be OK if it was on level ground, but the hill is about 1:4 in parts and rough with it, so a bike would be out for all but the fittest people. Even a 'plastic' 4x4 like ours might struggle in winter time.

I'll look forward to the Barnsdale pics!

Meanwhile, here's a plant I may have mentioned at some time. I've had it for years as it seeds around, but never becomes a  nuisance. It's Geranium pyrenaicum 'Bill Wallis.' I've never been able to find out who the Bill Wallis is/was. I asked the actor with that name when he was alive, but he didn't think it was him, though he once wore an entire outfit in a Shakespearean production exactly the same colour as the flower!