We finished with 40mm yesterday and had two short but hefty sleet showers this morning with a cold NW wind, but the sun has come out again and I have sown the first mixed salad leaves and radish in the greenhouse, potted on the chilli and sweet peppers and the tomatoes are up as well.

Many (25?) years ago, I took some photos of Sir Nigel Gresley in pieces in the sheds at Steam Town, Carnforth. and it's in pieces again? We can see the trains of the Bolton Abbey and Embsay Railway in the valley below our house, so steam trains are quite 'normal' in our village, although never very ...

38mm rain so far today and it's still chucking down ..... Well, after such a dry February and January, it will be good for the trees to have a supply of moisture when the leaves appear.

All the best to your OH, Catherine! I am sure you will catch up with your gardening jobs, the recent weather will have delayed everybody else as well, no doubt.

IIf you google Kiwano, Elmigo, or Cucumis metuliferus, there is a lot of information, including its cultivation, so good luck on growing them successfully!

A warning, Colin: comfrey roots go exceedingly deep, so be sure you want your comfrey plants in that place for ever and ever because if you try to dig them up, it will be very difficult!

I am planting my early speeds tomorrow, Stephen, but they will go into pots in a (slightly) heated greenhouse and will go out later, with thick fleece on hand if required.

A dry morning today (hooray!), so I planted my broad beans out from roottrainers but covered them with a light netting because there could well be snow or sleet the next few days.

Have a lovely evening on your birthday, Geoff, and enjoy your curry evening on Saturday!

Well, OH, the MetOffice considers 1 March the beginning of spring, so you are in good company. Lots of signs of spring here: masses of developing frogspawn, the frogs themselves (we had about 12 in our small pond) are now leaving. Snowdrops, crocuses and hazel lambs' tails are over but the wild prim...

Happy Birthday, tigerburnie, good growing and good snapping!

Only just read your good news, OH. Keep it going, please!

Oh, Pa Snip, you will be missed. My thoughts are with you, his family .....

This is a lovely little poem, isn't it, Diane? My youngest daughter (now in her fifties) learned it by heart many years ago and recited it at the Ilkley Festival. I think she even won a prize for her performance. Below another poem. I am not sure if I've put it on this forum before (if so, apologies...

Actually, the weather forecast on Netweather for our area for this Saturday and Sunday is for sleet and snow ....... (unless they are still working on last year?)