Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Dustyevsky

ArbitraryRandom said:

I don't know how you do it Dusty - made of sterner stuff them me obviously  

It's 'only' been 3 degrees yesterday, 4 degrees today (lowest at 0 overnight) and I'm really feeling it this week, even with the heating on and an electric throw. Must be coming down with something... 

What have I done? Monday and yesterday were sunny, so it wasn't cold until the sun dropped below the horizon here. I find after a few days of cold, 4c or so is acceptable, assuming woolly hat, thermals etc. Those gloves with rubberised bits on gripping surfaces are a wonderful invention, too. Don't know how I'd cope without them!

It's the transition I don't like, when suddenly temps become single figures for the first time. My body takes about 4 days to adjust, so perhaps you're at that stage?

I can report that Omeprazole worked for Mrs Dusty when she was on Naproxen, but I agree, Bluey, it's the same principle as a glass of milk. Mrs D wouldn't drink milk if they paid her, though!

All these lovely photos mean I'll have to get out there and find something more attractive than rats. Bonfire tomorrow if the drunks are right about wind directions!

Farway

Dull & bluddy cold, our threatened snow has stayed in the Channel and with the French, so maybe just hard frosts here?

I've got bulbs poking up but blowed if I'm going out to take pic at the moment, cold kills the old as they used to warn. I don't think it'll kill me, but I know it's too cold from my gout prone fingers.

There's definitely “something” going round Arbs, feeling cold is a symptom I'm sure. I felt chilled to the marrow on Thursday and "off" on the Friday. Not covid or suchlike, just “not right”

No gardening again, I nearly did, I'd ordered thyme in pot, growing, culinary use in kitchen only 90p., but out of stock come my delivery this morning , so zero garden related activity today

ArbitraryRandom

Part one of yesterday's mission is now complete... the seabeet (beta vulgaris maritima) is out of its packaging and into a pot. I was intending to evenly distribute them, but by the last one I couldn't feel my fingers properly. They'll be fine for a few months until I move them into my to be built bed  

I am ever so grateful to live in a place and time where almost unlimited almost instant hot water is reliably available on demand... 



Next quest is planting the common brighteye (perennial salad/reichardia picroides) - which is a dandelion-a-like but apparently compared to dandelion as a salad leaf, both the older and younger leaves are tender/have a good taste without blanching and it's harvestable all year when the plant is large enough... plus it doesn't seem to self seed easily so I'm hoping it's not going to take over  

And my Sorrel 'Abundance' (Rumex acetosa) which is supposed to non-flowering and productive for longer than other varieties as a result. 

If I can get a fennel and a sweet cicely at some point, my perennial salad bar should be fairly well rounded  

Dustyevsky said:

What have I done?

Before I lived in a rural area, I didn't think farmers had much to do in winter  

twopenny

Looking good and cosy Arbs, Good job done

We concentrate on flowers and veg but was thinking how well nature does it for winter especially

The different shapes and shades, insects and birds love, no problems with the weather - it but we get rid of it.

 

0c at the moment. Sheesh it's been bitter today!

ArbitraryRandom

twopenny said:

We concentrate on flowers and veg but was thinking how well nature does it for winter especially

Speaking of which, that looks like it may be a lovely picture of the  supposedly immune boosting 'turkey tail' mushroom? https://www.wildfooduk.com/mushroom-guide/turkey-tail/

YoungBlueEyes

Turkey tail - they named that well eh. Doesn't it look just like one. What do they taste like? 

Mrs Dusty is right, I couldn’t drink milk if they paid me either. So I have a lump of cheese instead, same thing I reckon. 

So is that your first round of planting all done then Arb? I can't see a flake of frost at all in your pic, seems you've got the heat where you are, lucky duck. It's all but arctic here and the whole garden's frozen solid. Haven't even got any snow yet, despite firm and confident promises from every quarter. Swines.

They’ve just done it again. Lots of snow coming, any minute now, truly honestly! Loads and loads of it, a total of 0mm. I wonder if it’s o lay rain they count as precipitation? Is that the get out? This is the sobers too, I expect better. Fool that I am. 

Is anybody else on my side of the country? Are your forecasts more accurate..? 

Dustyevsky

ArbitraryRandom said:

Dustyevsky said:

What have I done?

Before I lived in a rural area, I didn't think farmers had much to do in winter  

Ah, well, it depends on what sort of farming. With only about 5.5 acres I hardly qualify as a farmer, but I have farmer-like concerns, such as the need to maintain fences, harvest hay and keep hedges healthy. With over 1/2 km of boundary hedges, there's always something needing attention. This year, we decided to bite the bullet and rejuvenate the long elm hedge, which has simply been nibbled-at by the flail for around 20 years.

Unfortunately, the guy who was to give the hedge a severe hair cut, didn't turn-up until 5 weeks after the agreed date. This has put us seriously behind. Recent downpours haven't helped, so the calm, cold weather we've just experienced has been extremely welcome for catch-up. Apart from cutting out old, dead, wood, we have to shorten all the stems to make sure new buds break low down, giving the best results for hedge thickness. The faster we can do it, the longer the trees have to redirect their energies, so we want to be finished well before the end of next month. 

After that, there are at least 4 fairly large trees that need to come down and be chopped-up. Then, there are deep beds to work on in the polytunnel.....

Here's a section of hedge we've just done. It looks brutal, but by next year, with new planting in the gaps, it will look OK.

Dustyevsky

I liked the sound of those perennial veggies, Arb, and looked a few up. Spent at least an hour down the relevant rabbit holes!

Don't fancy a Turkey Tail decoction much, while I have single malt for many ailments, but everyone to their own! 

I agree with what you said/photographed about natural plant associations, 2p. Nature often does it better, but I still like to fiddle in places like our streamside.

Managed a sunset photo at last, though not a very obvious one. Today, we've had red sky in the morning, but the forecast looks OK.....until Sunday!

twopenny

Interesting Arbs. I'm good on herbs, oils and such but never thought about fungi.
Would never have thought to do more than name them. Too dodgy 
But they are beautiful. I once cut a huge bracket fungus, dried and varnished it and used it as a garden ornament.

-1c here and sunshine but I'm not going on the walk in that temp. Dancing is in a cold hall so may give that a miss too.
It's supposed to warm up tomorrow to 5c and sunny. I think that's wishful thinking but who knows, there might even be a bit of gardening!

I've been offered another physio appt. Two different depts. All or nothing. My take a fortnight with no appts seems have bought them out like a rash.
I'll try the gardening before the physio I think. That seems to make sense     

YoungBlueEyes

Well it's gently snowing here. Honestly, I can't tell you how surprised I am!  

Aaaand it's stopped :rolleyes: