Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Farway

Weather is undecided, sun, then cloud, cold wind though so my climbing beans are out “hardening up”, but I'll probably not plant today

YoungBlueEyes said:

pp what about getting some of that fake trellis with plastic leaves and flowers on it, just for now while a real something grows up there? It would give you instant privacy... Although what's the big plant on the right at the back? Any chance that's big and fragrant?

Cool and breezy and sunny here. We're off to himself's least 'orrible sister's today to collect and walk her dogs  

Still not a lot of movement on my tom seeds...  

Good idea about the plastic trellis, with fixings as per Dusty, P P can we tempt you with a grape vine there?

One alterative, once fixings are sorted, could be very fragrant honeysuckle, but they can be mildew homes as the season progresses.

Blue, are your tom seeds in the warm? If postage were not so silly, you could have some of my forest. I was looking at them this morning, all potted up but now more confused about varieties, what have I got myself into?

Moves are underway for a visit to Wisley, hopefully this month. A friend who went yesterday used the alternative exit route, and regretted it , all winding, heart in mouth, narrow roads, so roadworks route is the least bad option it seems.

Good bird pic Dusty, there's a robin who visits here but never still long enough for a pic.

If sun stays long enough, I may get round to clearing front pots of winter debris, possibly sow Persian Jewels in there while waiting to see if the cannas survived winter

pink_poppy

Love the blackbirds and sparrow bum photo, Dusty. Great photos of the beetles too, just a bit less appealing haha. And thanks for the Snowflake ID - I thought they'd come up blind this year so was surprised to see that single one the other day.

Grape vines in Scotland, Farway?? I think not - just pass me the bottle - it'll be quicker   

I don't think I mentioned on here that I was made redundant two weeks ago (I'd wanted to leave for months but couldn't decide when to hand my notice in, so at least the decision was taken away from me, albeit a bit short notice). Anyway, the sitooterie is a wee project until I get another job. I've already had one job offer and been offered an interview for another, but I'm actually thinking of having a few months off while the weather is nice to work on the garden and house as they're both in desperate need of attention...

greenbee

PP - if you can afford to take a bit of time off, then do. Clearly neither of the roles you mentioned appeal enough to make you want to go straight back to work. I'd suggest planning to take off half the time you can afford to, know that if the perfect job comes up you'll want to take it rather than stay home and garden. And start looking seriously when you're about halfway through your planned break. Alternatively, if someone offers you a great job and is prepared to negotiate a delayed start to give you some time off, that would be perfect. I'd planned 3 months off after my last redundancy, but was persuaded to reduce it to a month as I was offered something interesting. 

ArbitraryRandom

You might have said, but if you did it didn't register - I'm glad it sounds like it was a positive thing (if that makes sense? You wanted to leave, even if the timing wasn't your choice), and that there's decent prospects for you when you want them  

If you can afford it, taking some time or doing something intentionally on a temp basis while you reset your head and enjoy the summer sounds good.  

I got made redundant twice, back in 2008 and again 2011 (thanks to what is apparently now called 'the Great Recession'), and neither time I was sad about it. After the second time, I took a few months (I think from July to after Christmas) before getting serious about the job hunt again - it ended with me moving nearly 100 miles when I got offered the job I'd been saying I wanted since I was about 8... the job that I'm still in (and 80% of the time enjoying) 12ish years later. 

kiss_me_now9

Lovely blossom @Farway, I'm sure something will be along soon to nibble it all away. The pigeons here seem to have eaten their fill - hope I'm not speaking too soon - as I haven't seen any on it today or yesterday. There's still a good 70% of the blossom left as well. Yay

I bought some strawberries yesterday at the garden centre. I have one already which is from last year and seems to be storming away. I am planning to pot the new ones on to bigger pots but I wondered if anyone could explain why strawberry plants all seem to say either put in the ground, in a grow bag or in a specific strawberry planter? Why shouldn't I just put them in a bigger pot? 

pink_poppy

Thanks, greenbee. You're right, neither job appealed to me. The first one was a cash in hand job and I'm just too honest to do that, plus the work itself didn't appeal. The second one was something I applied for, but I think it was a knee-jerk reaction to finding out I was going to be made redundant and wasn't something I was really interested in pursuing.

pink_poppy

Thanks, AR. I think it is a positive thing to have happened as I was agonising over making the decision to leave (and losing sleep over it) and I'm really enjoying the freedom now. I think 3 or 4 months off would be ideal - I could make a real dent in the garden (weather permitting) and get things sorted in the house when the weather isn't so good. I love that you're in a job now that you've wanted since you were a child   

twopenny

I too took time out when I was without a job around easter time and spent the nice weather exploring the place I lived and tea rooms for the summer. I still remember the relaxation and sunshine. 
I think if you feel it's right then it's worth doing. 
If it makes you anxious then not.
These chances don't come often.

pink_poppy

Being out of work does make me a bit anxious if I’m honest. I’ll have to see how things go.

I've just been for a wander outside and the proposed sitooterie is still mostly in shade. The other space I was thinking about is in full sun, but that’s the area that’s full of above ground tree roots. I think the first space would be okay for late afternoon sitootering and bbqs, but I’d like somewhere to sit out on a morning and lunchtime too, so something to ponder 🤔 

The garden is really weedy and stony, but at least someone is enjoying the dandelions...



Unfortunately the ants 🐜 are back. I discovered that after accidentally dislodging a stone, cue lots of ants running around daft. They really do make my skin crawl 😕

It’s lovely and sunny out, but there’s a cold wind, so I’m back inside about to have a lovely hot chocolate 😋

Farway

pink_poppy said:

Grape vines in Scotland, Farway?? I think not - just pass me the bottle - it'll be quicker   

I'd forgotten that, still a touch more of global boiling and you'll be all set.

Hope your redundancy spell works out for you, mine did because I unofficially retired then & never went back to work, but of course I was much older so it made sense, never looked back or regretted it, ever.

Pouring rain now, so put paid to any pottering plans I had pencilled in.

Meanwhile, here's yesterday's pic of my old, self-supporting, espaliered apple, with more blossom yet to open, and my crop of dandelions, with celandine bottom left corner. Bees banquet.