Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Davesnave

Black_Cat2 said:

Good work D, your neighbour sounds delightful 😹

If only we had one! It's 8 if we include the council, but most are OK, apart from the guy at the far end, who shouts nasty things and does the odd nasty deed too.  The other farmer is OK; just unable to accept he might be wrong, even when shown evidence. We had a 2 hour meeting with all the Land Registry plans and OS maps etc, but it didn't help.

Quite a wild night and maybe another fair weather gap today. Blue sky sighted!

goldfinches

Am cowering indoors this morning as the rain is lashing against the windows and I feel disinclined to be brave.
I saw a red kite circling quite low above Tom Quad and Christchurch Meadow yesterday afternoon but wasn't quick enough to get a nice photo, I'll keep a sharp lookout and try again.
I spied one of the volunteers at the Botanic Garden pruning a pear tree on Monday and their spring bulbs are nearly all up now so things are moving in the earth even while it is so waterlogged.

Farway

Raining already, more of Dave's leftovers I believe as it's arriving from the West

My compost and FYM arrived about tennish yesterday, the first I heard was when they rang the bell [I was on computer], and found they had put them exactly where I had hoped, a nice newly cleared space near my front door, perfect, one happy bunny

By the time I decided to try & lift them indoors it was raining, but went ahead anyway.

Managed to get the compost & one bag of FYM inside, but just had no puff or strength left for the remaining FYM bag, very heavy being wet muck inside I suppose

Later once puff & strength returned I used my shopping trolley to wheel them through into the unheated conservatory, where they can get to ambient temperature over the next few days

I intend putting the FYM outside because even though it's in sealed plastic I can smell it, I could then wait for Easter BBQs to start before I spread it

Davesnave

Farway said:

I intend putting the FYM outside because even though it's in sealed plastic I can smell it, I could then wait for Easter BBQs to start before I spread it

Yep, and give the comfrey barrel a good stir too!

There's a nice day behind that weather I sent you folks. Tomorrow doesn't look so good.

twopenny

Started with the promised sun now back to cold wet and cloudy.
Really had enough of covering up and wading through mud. There's only so much pulling up and getting on with it I'm willing to do. Sometimes you just need to go with the flow. Dispiriting when it's just more of the same predicted tho. I'm working on 'they must be wrong and it will get better'
Most of what I need to do needs dry weather, even just a full day.
I remain impressed of the work you are all getting on with though 
Sheesh, 14c. Send a couple of c,s down south please.

Davesnave

Well, it did rain a little bit, but I came indoors then and phoned someone whose Christmas card was missing for the first time ever this year. Thankfully, there's nothing seriously wrong and we chatted for over an hour; it being the first time we'd spoken since about 1990. Funnily enough, a couple of weeks ago, another old friend rang to check on my well-being, even though I'd sent a card and letter, as usual. We'd not spoken since 1969!

Farway

The morning has started dry but forecast is more rain from the West later

I see we are now going to get some Saharan sand chucked in as well this weekend, should make lovely sunrise / sets so they say, as well as grimy cars

All the compost & FYM is now where I want it, my son popped over on mercy mission yesterday & lugged the FYM down the garden for me

Dentist due next week has been cancelled, seems she has something else on, not complaining as it's only a check up

Still not sorted out any possible sowing this weekend, but if weather is dry I may clear the dead stuff so the daffs can be seen

Apodemus

goldfinches said:

I saw a red kite circling quite low above Tom Quad and Christchurch Meadow yesterday afternoon but wasn't quick enough to get a nice photo, I'll keep a sharp lookout and try again.

I watched a pair of red kites circling near here on Wednesday, too, but that is a reasonably common occurrence here. Much more exciting was that I was surrounded by a big mob of long-tailed tits yesterday afternoon, feeding in some scrub birch. I don't think I've seen them for nearly 20 years!

I also picked up my first tick of the year yesterday...a less welcome sign that the seasons are turning!

twopenny

Ha!ha! I thought the Saharan sand was a gardening term for a minute.
Wet and very windy for the foreseeable future. 

RAS

Kites here in abundance; they like to work their way over the allotment site and park, at about 2 house heights, and then ride the thermals over the valley, as long as they don't get mobbed by the crows. Obviously we're not far from one of the release sites, where they are still fed to stop accusations of predation.

They've moved along that valley and over the hill. Apparently they particularly like a major junction a mile south where there is a congregation of takeaways and restaurants that chuck out stuff. However, I've noted that they often fly off to the west not towards the release site, so may have found another feeding ground or have a nest site somewhere . Have gone from being thrilled at every sighting to almost blase in the last ten years. But still lift my head when I hear them calling to watch them soaring.