Eating a Vegetarian Elephant

Chiglepig

Karmacat said:

Fascinating, thank you chiglepig!  When I think of the "acting muscles" of various actors, the two you originally saw would win hands down.

Some things need experts: I went to see Waiting For Godot at the Haymarket about 10 years ago now - I'd always avoided it like the plague, but it was the first day out for my sister and her daughter after my brother in law died, and it was what they wanted to see.  I was lucky enough that it was Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen, and I've literally never laughed so much at any production of anything anywhere, it was wonderful.  You just never know - its always worth taking a risk on a new production.

Of course, new production of compost still eagerly awaited 

I've seen clips and I'm now wondering if we have the DVD in the University Library, because I am very jealous. Two very fabulous stage actors. Anna Chancellor was seriously, brilliantly, derranged.

I was very disappointed by Derek Jacobi in Heartbreak House at Chi, I'd waited years to see him on stage and he was actered off it by Ronald Pickup.

@themadvix - the theatre is pricey - and we're much more choosy now about what we go and see - Until first lock down we just did everything in the season - but at Chichester we see a lot of things before they transfer to the West or tour, so that and the Arts council funding make it a little less expensive - and it's 'our thing' for me and MrC!

Chiglepig

Mr C and I got the hotbin all set up yesterday - more of a faff than expected because the place we wanted it wasn't flat (funny what you don't notice about things you look at every day!), so we had to go wombling around the house and garden to find things to stand it on. The base layer is in, the starter bottle is warming it up, so I hope to be able to report lovely crumbly compost by the new year! And as it's in the front garden, I no longer have to wheelbarrow front gaden waste down the side of the house (securing the doggos first) and through the back.

Chiglepig

The hot bin is slowly building and maintaining temp, but today's main news is that the car has got through the MOT with no issues again - 11 year old Ford focus.

Chiglepig

And in more compost news, this week I will be doing the council a favour and clearing some of the local paths of leaves - the absolute best kind of compost, and to my knowledge, it can't be bought!

Yes,  I AM a compost obsessive

themadvix

Will you try it in the hot composter or leave it to do its thing separately?

Chiglepig

Oh and how are you all so organised about Christmas? I only just realised that this weekend is the last of November - where did that month go? I need to get into the loft for DD's advent socks.

I mean, we don't go overboard anyway, it's mostly about lights, feeling cosy, and having a break (and joining the hoards for a walk on the beach at West Wittering on Boxing day), but 

And this year I'm only bringing out the oldest decos and the Christmas tree that I've been threatening to throw away for years because it sheds like a real one - because the puppy is NOT to be trusted! My Balsam Hill tree and hand blown ornaments are having a year off. (and in true MSE style I have to add, my BH tree was 50% off - they always do their best deals in November, and all my baubles are bought the week after Christmas for 50, or 70% off - I think I've said before, I store the receipts so I get a lovely warm, virtuous, money saving glow the following year!)

Chiglepig

themadvix said:

Will you try it in the hot composter or leave it to do its thing separately?

Completely separte, @themadvix, because I'll use the leaf compost for seeds and in the shady bit of the garden for ferns and hostas.

(edit to add, it was so tempting to say "I'll 'leaf' it!"

themadvix

I’m not in any way organised about Christmas, don’t worry, you’re not alone! It’s DH’s birthday on Saturday - Christmas doesn’t start until after that! (Although some stuff is sorted because I bought a few bits in the Debenhams closing down sale at the end of lockdown.)

 What about leaf mould makes it good for the shadier parts of the garden (apart from the logic in nature that shade is caused by trees)? And for seeds because it will be fine? I confess I would expect the hotbin stuff to be fine too, but maybe I’m being optimistic? I’m no compost expert, so I bow down to your greater knowledge!

Chiglepig

@themadvix, it's good for the shady bits - for exaclty the reason you state - where it would build up in nature, and I don't want high nutrient compost on the hostas because they will grow 'soft' and become slug and snail bait. It's good for seeds because it's low nutrient like comercial seed compost, and fine. The hot bin compost is decribed as 'good for mulch' after 30 days (ie it's still a bit coarse), and fine after 90, but it should be relatively high nutrient either way.

themadvix

Thanks @Chiglepig - I didn't realise that it wasn't high nutrient, that's really interesting. As my only compost is very coarse (the sieve is used extensively, I think the hotbin would work well for me, especially given it would need 90 days for the cat litter, I imagine. I can't believe I'm this excited about compost!