Awful weather - typical Brits talk

RAS

Personally, I don't want parakeets, although some popped up in the city last autumn.

My cousin has some that strip her bird tables and fruit buds, and they made a hell of a racket when I stayed in London.

MrsCatz

We used to have them. Nasty. You could always tell when they were on their way all the other birds would stop singing and leave. We also had loads of Doves, they would be released at weddings and concerts and would end up living in our gardens.

twopenny

Raining and grey here all day.
I'm just looking at all the things I want to get done. Hope that lasts till the good weather comes.
It's really mild though. The plants are thinking spring has come. That's sort of worrying.
No sign of any buds on my poor magnolia or greengage though. Can't do much about it till things dry out.
Coughing only once a day now. About 5,30am! But seems I might survive now. 
Hope everyone else is getting better.

YoungBlueEyes

Coughing once a day - what I wouldn't give. My cough is more... productive..... now, so it's moving along.

V mild here, it's 10'c out there! Nice not to have to wipe down the condensation on the windows this morning. Washing's on and all upstairs windows open. Seems a bit wrong really. 

I popped out yesterday for a look round. No trees/plants in lidl or aldi (Morrison's is miles in the other direction), just a few sad tulips and reduced buckets of those glitter-sprayed pine cones on sticks. 

Funny, you don't consider what happens to birds that have been released at weddings. Spose it's obvious really. Must really upset the little eco-system of wherever they end up. Oh speaking of birds my long tailed tits are multiplying. I'm sure I used to have a good half dozen, now it's more like 15. The little robin is very cross about it. And there's a mystery afoot re my blackbirds. There's a nest in the ivy-slathered hawthorn tree and they've quite happily adapted to me tootling about out there, and they like the seeds etc. Then the other day I saw a fledgling come down, and I don't think it was a baby blackie. It's a big beggar for one thing, a touch bigger than Mr blackie, and it's the colour of a Mrs. Paler chest which is kinda gingery speckled. I've not heard it make a noise yet... I can't get a photo cos it hops away no matter how careful I am. I'll keep trying.

How long is a spell in the sin bin anyway?

MrsCatz

In the end we all had dove coats added to our gardens as they were pretty but it had not occurred to me as to how it impacted our eco system. 

 How lovely, I have one that watches me out out the washing, I have two robins at the moment in the garden they appear to be using the feeder as a timeshare after a fight before Christmas.

Farway

Dull but very mild, I went out earlier checking Home Bargains for compost, but it's a bit too early in the year I think, none there anyway, or plants either come to that

No gardening planned but may browse my newly arrived Brown's catalogue later, it's very thick so plenty of temptation within

YoungBlueEyes said:

How long is a spell in the sin bin anyway?

Varies, can be short or eternal damnation and never allowed back, depends on the "sin" or how many times, yellow card, red card etc. Being a good boy, AKA Brown Nose, I have never found out

YoungBlueEyes

Brown nose here too. I’ve had some posts removed but that’s all. 

Mind you, I was looking round the Marriages + Relationships board the other day. There wasn’t a single thread I could’ve posted an honest response on without getting banned… 

I think that’s why I’m so fond of this thread, mature participants 🙂

twopenny

Not much coughing, really runny nose all morning and having a relaxing day I can breath through my nose at last. Is this the end?

Not raining today and mild with brigher cloud but it's blowing a stiff wind so not altogether welcoming out there.

So I've just been looking at how to improve the garden with no sucessful conclusion.

However the pretty new Helebore is coming on apace, bulbs are making progress, my new Daphne and the other one (can't remember what it is but it's scented) have flowers coming.

But it still looks dismal, much like me.

Having afternoon telly running a gardening programme has just come on

Beachgrove repotted BBC2. First a restored garden. It may be interesting.

YoungBlueEyes

Beechgrove gets a frequent mention so I’ll have to look it up…. 

Mild and bright here too, poss a smidgeon too breezy for all the washing I put out. Had to keep nipping out to peg it back on the line! 

I’m not sure at all if I’ll have any flowers come up outta the bulbs I potted. I hope they’ve some goodness left in them to produce flowers 🤞🏻

twopenny

Always worth a try Blue. I had some crocus for 3yrs in my gardening box. New property, no plants so it was venured. I was really surprised but they did come up and still going.

That was Poundland. Their onions and tulips are good too.

Beechgrove I've never taken to. Not sure it's got any interest for a beginner. Always seems to be cloudy and winter there. It gives me terminal depression.

Gardeners World comes out best, GroundForce and Garden Rescue (the old ones) lead you astray with the designs and plants.