Long awaited Spring Bits and Bobs…

[robo]

Primrose it’s against our councils rules to pay someone , I’ve got my heated propagators set up in the conservatory bringing my tomatoes on that’s keeping my interest going

[Westi]

I didn't go outside much today. Cold & showers this morning then the big winds joined the mix this afternoon with such heavy rain I had to check it wasn't hailing. Even the critters crossed their legs as long as possible & made quick dashes. The dog totally refused to go out for a walk which was kind of good news.

The back garden now looks a right mess with tulips on an angle, leaves, branches, neighbours little food compost bins & fairy lights - even a ball from the school which is closed so how unknown! I did retrieve my big re-cycling bin from the middle of the close (emptied this morning but put back) & no dents in our or the neighbours cars so well lucky it went between them! (We aren't allowed front fencing). The news said 96mph gusts recorded at the Needles which I have a fine view of as just 2 blocks away from the beach! Dread to think of the damage to the beach houses & the other houses as waves also reported metres high!

[Stravaig]

Sorry for another absence. Been ill again - probably stress-related.

And today I got told that an old friend (probably about 15 years younger than me) had just collapsed and died of a heart attack last week. Where will it all end?

OK, I'll stop raining on your lovely kitchen/garden parade. Sometimes I just feel a bit overwhelmed. Find it hard to believe that my friend is dead.

Feel free to delete this post. I understand.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Stravaig, your post will certainly not get deleted….
So sorry to here you have been ill again, stress can really affect your health.
Also sorry to read of the loss of your friend….life can be very tough at times but, however tough things get, always try and find at least one to smile at everyday….

[Stravaig]

Thanks OH.

It was only a couple of years ago that they drove off into the sunset - retirement, they had a new home built for them in a foreign land. Seemed like they had everything to look forward to. And now this.

So, the wife is presumably now at their new home in the foreign land - and she can't drive! I really can't see her staying there by herself for much longer. She's probably already fled back to Blighty.

[oldherbaceous]

A lot of rain here over-night, so there won’t be a lot of activity on the allotments today….but looking good for the next week, although it looks like we are still in for some chilly nights.

[Clive.]

Some early onward peas that were sown on the 4th are just popping through. I'm going to see if the radeo ones will go in this evening, I am going to work the ground and get the fertiliser on at least.

There are certainly a good line of sunny symbols on the forecast..

C.

[oldherbaceous]

Sounds like you are making good progress, Clive….
I’ve been shuffling trays and pots around most of the day…

[Geoff]

Perhaps it's Spring, lovely day today up to 15.1° after -0.5° last night which wasn't on the forecast. Broad Beans and Sweet Peas planted out, SP's surrounded by fleece as usual, and grass cut and looking quite smart. I'll need a shuffling day as well OH, got Tomatoes that need to go into one litre pots but not enough staging space to spread them out. Polytunnel Potatoes growing like mad, looks like I'll make my digging on the 30th target. Just about caught up after a week away for my wife to cuddle grandchildren, the one born 14th February seems a lovely little girl.

[Westi]

I've got to the point of limited space too & most plants have been potted on a few times now so I re-jigged the planting plan in the tunnel & worked in there today to get them in. I also have outdoor ones ready which will go in tomorrow, no frost expected & lot's of little suns on the weather report so should be OK to get them established & they will have netting or mesh covers.

[Stravaig]

Wow. So much Thai basil - grown in a small hydroponic unit on window sill. (The Day of the Triffids.) I gave some to our fishmonger. That stuff costs a small fortune in the supermarket and for the price of a packet of seeds we have more than we can use - and I cook a lot of Asian food!

Panjeon (Korean seafood pancakes) for breakfast today. Then later to store room, try to reclaim the flat from boxes and start living again tomorrow.

Still haven't yet planted the outside stuff. Weather never seems to be right. Perhaps we're a bit late?

[oldherbaceous]

Morning Stravaig, still loads of time…infact you be making small sowings right up to August for the quick maturing salad stuff.

[oldherbaceous]

Just cut the allotment grass…wow, it has certainly grown in a week and I suppose it will be doing the same for quite a few weeks to come!

[Primrose]

Robo. Mr Primrose is involved in a lot of community activity and when it comes to council regulations he works on the principle that it is better to plead for forgiveness than ask for permission! . He has broken so many rules over the years but things have got done which otherwise wouldn,t have.
In my old age I,ve come to realise that if anything is ever going to be achieved, you have to just get on with things while the bureaucrats whitter on.

[Primrose]

On another topic will somebody please give a shout on here when they start sowing indoors their climbing French beans for plant outdoors.
I always wonder every year whether qi,ve got it right, sowing too ewrly and then worrying about frosts,
My growing this year will now depend on what my husband can manage so I need to get it right as Incan,t get out into the garden independently to add frost protection, etc.