Kitchen Garden Forum

I'm sure you'll succeed Peter He is a lovely looking dog.

Chantal - very topsy turvey year you've had and I'm so glad everything has turned out for the best. Wishing you continued happiness for 2013 and beyond

2013 - Try and keep positive without setting unrealistic and unattainable goals for myself and the hubby

VPM
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Hands up.......I have failed my resolution

Went to the allotment today for the first time this year to put some veggie peelings onto the compost heap, which I did, wading through the car park, which is still flooded!
Picked up the DVD discs that had fallen from their strings....
and then spent 20 minutes just looking, but in my defence it was getting late and dark

Next job to attack is the raspberry bed, though its on heavy clay and brambles coming through could be a sticky job

I did manage to cover the rhubarb with some well rotted manure

My one resolution this year was to finally retire and this I achieved on Friday! (that didn't take long did it)
Perhaps I can now have some peace at last.
I have been going non-stop for the last two years without hardly a days break and I am so tired I could easily sleep for a month.
Do you know that I actually had some time today to look at some seed catalogues which I found really relaxing. Then thinking of all the hard work I have to do to get my beloved patch back up to scratch after being very seriously neglected for so long. I regard that as a great pleasure and am of the opinion that work is not work if you are enjoying yourself!
Oh what a wonderful year I am going to have.
JB.

I trust you will have a long and happy retirement. I know you won't fade away sitting in your armchair!
How is the Oak growing project going, or have you passed that on? Might be a good market to replace Ash.

Johnboy, wishing you a long and happy retirement, although knowing you I'm sure you will find plenty of activities to keep you happily occupied. The best thing about retirement is that you wake every morning and do the things you want to do, rather than the things that somebody else wants you to do.

Chantal wrote:Got together with the man I wish I'd married 20 years ago (Sean)
Married him in May

That's quite a neat trick to pull off, Chantal. I was recently engaged to my girlfriend from many years ago. But it turned out in the end she had other plans.

I've given up on the idea of New Year's Resolutions, mostly because I've rather run out of resolve. I'm contending with sight loss which means I can no longer garden in any practical capacity, nor drive. i've elected to submit to surgery next month which, if it's successful, could improve my employment prospects. Until then, I don't want to hedge any bets.

I think the Chinese have the right idea, with their new year commencing a bit later than ours. By then, it feels more like the year is starting to turn the corner. To me, anyway, that's when it feels like the darkest days have been left behind, giving grounds for optimism.

I think the Chinese have the right idea, with their new year commencing a bit later than ours. By then, it feels more like the year is starting to turn the corner.

Do you realise that since yesterday the days are actually getting longer both in the mornings and the evenings? We have already gained about 12 minutes in the evening and two minutes in the morning since the winter solstice.

Not that it has been very noticeable with the heavy cloud cover of anticyclonic gloom!

We notice the shortening and lengthening days because our front lounge curtains open and close on an automatic timer. We set them to close according to when dusk falls. Around this time of year it starts to become quite noticeable from one week-end to the next that we are continually having to adjust the closing time to about half an hour later.

Dear Primrose, may i suggest a feather duster for the, "Dust falls".

OH

You are naughty I am sure Primrose meant Dusk


Regards

Arnie

yes - reprimand for poor typing accepted !! Actually I'll dispense with the feather duster because anything above eye level in this house rarely gets a dusting - the poor spiders can't stand having their homes destroyed !

Primrose - like your thinking! Housework, Dusting etc - what when there are plants & plans to sort - priorities is my excuse but will add in the wildlife angle as well in future!

Westi

Happy retirement JB.

I'm another subscriber to the 'eye level' dusting method Drives my other half mad

VPM
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I also admit to being an eye level duster, but must say I feel a bit guilty when someone tall comes and I wonder what the high up surfaces look like.

I also find that the vegetation growing over arches and overhanging paths all seems to be a bit more than 5 ft 3 inches in my garden, which drives my 6 foot + son and my partner crazy. They both keep pointing out that there are quite a few people taller than 5ft 3"