Next steps; grip-relaxing bimbling, and avoiding the temptations

Suffolk_lass

Mine died in my absence @foxgloves - so I started another pot of seeds (so late) last week. I am not growing so many this year as I still have loads (maybe over 20) jars of hm passata under the shelving in my pantry!

I do hope you like them with their dark skins round the crown. They are my favourite for flavour, sliced and sprinkled with a bit of S&P - I manage 2 slices, while Mr SL eats several! I remember adding chilli to one lot but forgot to mark them so that will be a spicy surprise this summer, at some point!

Suffolk_lass

Ooh! Nice surprise - while no PB wins this month, interest of over £700 added to our emergency savings pot yesterday!

foxgloves

I'm looking forward to trying them. It's so chilly in the greenhouse this morning, I've left a layer of bubblewrap over the vegelets. I'm sure yours will catch up & hopefully miss any further cold snaps. We have 1 jar of last year's home-bottled chopped tomatoes left, which is earmarked for using tomorrow.

beanielou

So lovely in the coffee shop.

Makingabobor2

What a lovely gesture by the lads in the coffee shop. Just shows the young generation still have a heart, despite what some people seem to think these days. The donut sounds delicious

Humdinger1

Random acts of kindess - inspiring! There's plainly something that spoke to the youngsters. Love Humdinger xx

Suffolk_lass

Well, with the temperature creeping over 14c it was clearly going to be a bee day yesterday.

Bees - I inspected some of our colonies yesterday.

• 3 were fine as they are,
• 2 needed bigger boxes,
• 1 needed a much smaller box and may yet fail, and
• 1 other needed more space so now has three boxes for honey.

I didn't manage to inspect the last one as it was rather windy and the temperature was dropping (and I ached). They made it very clear they were not in the mood by setting off their alarm pheromone (IPA or Isopentyl acetate, not he beer!) which smells of bananas, trying to recruit others to defend against me. I just put the extra box on, added back the others, closed them up and walked away.

I went to two more but just observed. One needed space, the other can wait until it warms a bit more. Two more will need space but that's because I can see crops of OSR in flower, - I didn't actually get there. It will be Tuesday before I go back.

The best thing was - no money was spent as the bees took ages. At least two hours fiddle-faddle with equipment before I even left the house!

My word though, my back was killing me when I got home. Two paracetamol did the trick and I managed to stay up until 10pm (lol, I know how to live). This morning my lower back is sore, and my upper arms and shoulders ache more than they should.

Money - sadly no PB wins this month. Mr SL's holdings are less than £2k now after raiding for the truck. And the bee shed pot has reduced by £11k for the same reason. On the upside, £737.73 in interest appeared in the joint instant savings pot where I stash the scrapings. Once the regular saver is taken (£250) I shall exceed the £1000 I am for, quite comfortably as £155 has already been scraped by Tilly tidying down.

Garden - that is our focus today - seeds to broadcast - salad seeds where the second early potatoes are in, and a big bed in the fruit cage to weed and add cuttings to - a not inconsiderable task. I've got a few perennials to get in too so will take a week-break by planting these. While Mr Sl has some bee-kit to clean too, he is threatening to help. I shall get him to empty the pots I grew tomatoes in - they can be used in rabbit dug excavations. He might even give the grass a cut, at least where it is long and tufty. I think I might be pushing my luck if I suggest cleaning the greenhouse glass but let's see!

Happy Easter everyone, whatever you do!

ArtyJ931

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81950519#Comment_81950519

loved that little insight into beekeeping thank you

Watty1

What a lovely gesture in the coffee shop. Not only were the three of you delighted but also everyone reading here - such a kindness to ripple outwards.

Suffolk_lass

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81950593#Comment_81950593

What a lovely way to look at it. I am sure my Mum has spread the word up there too - her little group of pals and my sister will all have been equally impressed. A random act of kindness goes so much further and gives so much more pleasure than anticipated!

Plans to broadcast salad seeds were delayed as Mr Sl confessed to not planting the potatoes yet - then could not find them for looking. I went to the greenhouse and there they were. So they are now in. Seeds will be scattered this morning. We have our Easter roast today with DS&P coming for chicken and all the bits at lunch time! I am hopeful we can get some of the plants in pots planted too. My weeding was started but will need to continue tomorrow, when Mr Sl is out for the day and evening, in London with former colleagues and several hostelries will be involved! I will have the dog so no bees but will get some seeds planted and pot on one or two babies. Wednesday will be my next bee day!