Early Summer Bits and Bobs.

[peter]

Richard I think you're normal.
I've buried three by hand, mostly with a wet face.

Our thirteen year old has got "old" very quickly and I no longer have a suitable plot , so am thinking I need to know how and how quickly pet cremation can be arranged. But hoping it won't be for some years yet.

[Ricard with an H]

Thank you Peter.

I often wonder if others understand the way I feel and my sensitivities. I didn't want another dog when I finally agreed to having Molly as a puppy and it had been 15 or more years since I lost my first dog, a Westy. Though the pain of loosing the Westy had eased I didn't want to go through that grief-period again.

I'm now wondering if have a new dog will it upset me even more.

I have finally agreed to another dog, my main concern has been what happens if I'm poorly, will it make my grieving worse.

Also, I can't cope with the image of my new dog loosing it's human and having to be farmed-out to someone who may not care enough.

[peter]

Richard, I have German Shorthaired Pointers, a very energtic all day rough shooting type of hunt point retrieve gundog.

Our youngster of three came to us at one via a breed specific rescue organisation. His boundless energy and, we believe, a lack of proper training had proved too much for owners unfamiliar with the breed. Occasionally there is a bereaved dog on there and whenever possible it will be with one of the group's regular fosterers while awaiting a checked out permanent home. The leader of the group scours gumtree(free to a good home ads)dog warden and generic rescue sites to offer the groups assistance for any GSP she finds.

So if you are worried about your mortality and get a recognised breed, then join and support it's rescue group, sadly there will be one, primarily for reasons other than this.

[Ricard with an H]

I had a bad day yesterday to the point my partner was concerned that a new dog may make things worse, it was one of those days with constant reminders started of course with me sharing my feelings with you.

I'm not one to store emotions into compartments, I'm only just learning to store views rather than make them known regardless.

I'll get past this and enjoy another Cocker Spaniel but I need time and to let it go when emotions rise.

Thanks for the information Peter, I will need to socialise my next dog with other dogs, Molly didn't like other dogs. She had been attacked by dogs on the loose so she figured all other dogs would be like that, she also avoided sheep. Presumably for the same reason.

[Elaine]

Richard, I too, grieved deeply when I had to have my beautiful cat, Tibby Puss, put to sleep. She had just had her 17th birthday and was very ill, her time had come. I don't know how I drove home from the vets. I cried all night and regularly after that. I missed her so much. My eyes are welling up now, thinking about her and it was six years ago.

I waited almost three years before I got another cat...it didn't feel right before that but when I saw Meg in the RSPCA centre, I just clicked. I've had Meg three years now. . You will know when the time is right to have another pooch Richard. xx

[Pa Snip]

After the Lord Mayors Show we have drizzle here this morning.

Yesterday was 24 degrees up the plot at midday (and not much less late afternoon / early evening) and I was having to get runner beans transplanted before next round of chemotherapy. I also have a lot of brassicas to plant out with only a few days to do so

Also needed a damn good watering of various items across the plot yesterday despite the heat and strong sun. Again a case of having to do it whilst I can even if the conditions were not exactly the ideal time of day for watering. Did give watering the potatoes a miss though.

Might have stuck some of our Sarpo Mira late maincrop in a bit deep when planting them out, a few have failed to show leaves yet. They'll come good soon.

Meteor Peas have completely failed, probably old seed. Sowed some Early Onward into guttering and placed under cold frames on plot 10 days ago and they are all sprouting growth well. Time to move them out from frames soon then get them transplanted soon after.

[Geoff]

Why do I bother?
7' windbreak fence round veg garden, individual beds with their own windbreak surrounds, stuff wrapped in fleece - and it is still all getting smashed to bits. Fed up with replacing Sweet Pea rings probably just wait see what's left when it's finished playing with them. Butterfly netting off Brassicas tangled up with Potatoes and not doing them much good. Doubt we'll get any Squashes, Pumpkins, Gourds or outdoor Courgettes. If this is going to be the norm will have to save up for more tunnels.
Summer bedding looking good too!

[Monika]

Same here, Geoff. I am watching the trees and wonder how they can survive, now in full foliage, being bent and shaken.
I planted he dwarf beans on the allotment yesterday and covered them with, hopefully, well-anchored fleece. Will that still be there after today? Some years ago, another allotmenteer's cloche was found three miles away after a summer storm!
And just to cap it all, tomorrow evening the wind will drop and there is the possibility of frost. And we never got a drop of rain yesterday, so will have to do the full watering routine, too. Life is hard ......

[Primrose]

Wind blustery here but luckily all outdoor crops have so far survived.

It has been Kami Kazi Day for bird,life. Garden has been full of baby starlings today. We,ve had six of them fly into our patio windows today knocking themselves out for up to an hour. I,ve learned just to leave them where they fall rather than trying to move them. Luckily they all eventually recovered and flew off.

[Clive.]

We had a Hummingbird Hawk moth visit the tearoom today....it headed straight for the vase of sweet peas...and was not at all interested in buying tea and cake.... It admired the sweet peas and then went on its way...

Much refueling I expect needed today to fly in this wind....


Clive.

[Elaine]

It has certainly been blowing hoolies here too. Last Monday night was the worst...I found next doors' brolly from their patio set in my garden.... I'm glad it didn't damage anything anyway.
We were working on the allotment today and the wind was relentless. It almost knocked me off my feet on two occasions and there is no way I could be described as the type that a "puff of wind would knock over".

I'm a bit later than usual planting things out, due to other commitments, maybe it's just as well. However, I've planted out the runner beans and courgettes and in the greenhouses, the tomatoes and cucumbers have gone in. Fingers crossed for all of it!

[retropants]

So my question is, why is it so windy this year? I understand the strong winds in the winter, but why have we still got them now? Pretty fed up with it. Losing so much glass from the greenhouse

[Geoff]

The answer to everything - climate change. Or is it that our memories and statistics are a just the blink of an eye on geological time scales?
Which ever way you look at it the weather is b*******. Wind's unpleasant wherever it is.

[PLUMPUDDING]

Primrose, don't clean your patio windows while there are baby birds in the garden. I've noticed over several years that if I leave windows slightly dirty the birds can usually see the glass before they collide and avoid it, but when I've just cleaned them they are crashing into them much more frequently.
There is the odd mishap but far fewer than with super clean windows. They aren't so dirty that we can't see through them though

[Cider Boys]

I picked my first gooseberries yesterday and my wife stewed them and we ate them for tea to-day, they were delicious.

Barney