Watty's Awakening

Watty1

And there was me thinking it was for my MSE style wisdom and tips!

Watty1

UK Power Networks have been in touch, apparently the financial compensation is incorrect and they need to reassess what equipment they have on my land.  As part of this I discovered I'm also receiving money for  poles that holds the wires that I didn't even know about.  Well, I knew it was there obviously, I just thought one put up with poles in ones hedge line as part of rural life. 

Will pop out later and walk the boundary to see if the list of what I have is correct, then the financial compensation can be sorted out and the money paid into the bank - which was the point of all this to start with. The poles net £1.11 per year apparently - barely worth the paperwork I would have thought, but, it was me that didn't want the cheques LOL

Suffolk_lass

Alchemilla said:

Those funny neddies.

Maybe MH needs some time to absorb it then revisit later?

Though seeing Babydog in action he is definitely less bright than both Puppylove and DaughterofSatan.

Loving the names. A lot!

Watty1

Walked around the boundary yesterday and was filled with joy.   I kept saying over and over again to myself "this is all mine".  It still seems somehow a miracle that I ended up living here.  Such a happy moment, that lasted for the rest of the afternoon and evening.  The sun was shining, and yes, there is a lot to do here but I was just so happy.  It is mine, it is mortgage free, I am rebuilding a life.   It is all so good.

As a result of walk I have confirmed to UK Power exactly what equipment I have so they can now progress the payment. I also emailed them (again) about them locking the gate so I cannot access that bit of my land and said compensation for the inconvenience would be appreciated, it doesn't have to be financial, a bunch of flowers would be fine

 @Slinky this morning, still happy from my lovely little walk I realised the perfect onion growing spot is behind the stables.  I don't know why I didn't think of that before. That is an area of wasteland that I know the VNM has had his eye on for a project but that will take time.   I also realised I could grow a lot of veg there and got all excited, but, I have over breakfast, rethought that in as realistically I know growing veg takes time which I don't have right now    Onions it is and will sort that at the weekend.   Happy days!

Slinky

We usually plant Centurian Watty.  Make sure you don't plant them too close together to make it easier to get a hoe in between to get the weeds out. We dug some muck in in December ready to plant next month.

Just a thought, can you get a tag engraved up to fix to the chain. Something like

STOP!! UK PowerNetworks Before removal please observe how padlocks are connected and ensure they are relocked the same way so the landowner can gain access to their property.

Suffolk_lass

One of the farm gates we use to get to the bees has a combination lock on it. I wonder of a big one of those with a shared number might be the solution for UKPN?

Alternatively, the gate we are using at the moment had two keys to the same padlock but we got two more quietly cut for our use, so the sheep man did not have to keep giving us his. The chain is really short on that gate so when UKPN want access they have to put it back how it was or it won't reach.

Also, if you think the area behind the stables might be for other veg, I always say, start with a few potatoes as they will clean the ground and break up the soil. Then you can grow more under the ground without it going too wonky (think the most carroty carrots) and then brassicas (or kale, kalettes etc) then beans on a four year rotation where each makes use of the soil conditions and nutrients from the previous year. The nitrogen from bean roots will give you bumper potatoes... just not tomatoes there as they are the same family as potatoes and you could end up with blight (I grow lots of tomatoes, but all in containers and fill rabbit holes (or rodent/badger) with the pot contents when they die back so the roots don't get composted where potatoes might grow. With onions, they can be repeat planted in the same place but watch out for the white onion (fungal) rot thing.

It all sounds lovely btw!

Watty1

Great veg growing advice.  I'm still thinking it over. The spot is ideal but I think it might be just one more thing to do in a long list.   I really want the house finished this year so I might need to save veg gardening for next year - but - if I put the onions and potatoes in now ??  OK, just the onions. These are a cost saving measure.   Potatoes need fetching and chitting and so on.  Just onions this year.

Watty1

I am realising that making a fuss about the cheques from UK Power Networks has opened a big can of worms.  There is no actual contract for the equipment on the land which there should be.  This now has to be drawn up apparently.

The care team are to be in touch about the locked gate issue.  It has to be "their padlock" which they bulk buy in 3 designs so it will always be one of 3.  They cannot give me a key.  There is no makers mark on it so I've no idea what/whose padlock it is. Their padlock should padlock one end of the chain and my padlock together.  My padlock links their padlock and the other end of the chain.   This way we can both access.  They will not consider another option and have no idea why the engineer cannot use the system that they use throughout the region. (I am not the only person to have this issue).  The care team will send someone out.   (Clearly this is not cost effective, a personal visit from a care team - why not just post me their padlock and I will sort it for goodness sake).

It is a minor irritation but the fact that there is no contract for the equipment on the land and they have not paid for 2 years seems to be a bit of a bother for them.   They tried the bullying tactic until I pointed out they needed me more than I needed them at this point as they have something on my land that they are (a) not paying for and (b) have no legal agreement to have there so demanding I send forms and go to a solicitor to prove my ownership is not going to happen - and - a more conciliatory problem solving approach from them is needed.     The £100 odd pounds this is likely to nett me is not really seeming worth the bother although I do wish I had taken up your suggestions to get those cheques cashed rather than this palaver.

Suffolk_lass

Watty1 said:

Great veg growing advice.  I'm still thinking it over. The spot is ideal but I think it might be just one more thing to do in a long list.   I really want the house finished this year so I might need to save veg gardening for next year - but - if I put the onions and potatoes in now ??  OK, just the onions. These are a cost saving measure.   Potatoes need fetching and chitting and so on.  Just onions this year.

Yes, onions now, and chit some potatoes, get them in when they are more than sprouty, with little lumps of leaves forming, make a decision whether to grow anything else next winter, and they will clean the ground.

Worst case, if they are wormy and disgusting, just take it as a signal that this is not your veg patch forever. You don't have to eat them. If they are wonderful, take pleasure. You benefit either way. They only need water and a top-up of compost so the tubers don't get exposed and go green (and poisonous - they [and tomatoes] are part of the nightshade family)

TallGirl

Such a hassle with the locks hope you get it sorted. Potatoes are really easy and such a pleasure to eat. I grow mine in bags (comes in a kit) with three types of potatoes for about £15. The taste of the new ones is just so lovely.  I don’t grow main crop just the earlies.