General Chat

r JUST LOST THE BL**DY LOT AND THERE WAS A LOT TOO.

I didn't stay out there long as it's boiling! I rescued and potted up 3 of the little self set mauve Verbascum growing in the soil that was in the raised boxes and pulled up a few more weeds and weedkilled yet more of the nasty weed I spotted growing between the patio slabs.

Afternoon All,

It's another lovely day as has been said. I liked it this morning in the garden as it was fresh, but warm enough. I zapped a few more of the nasty weed I'd missed and watered my marigold seedlings and Violas in the pots, then pulled a handful of weeds to go in the bin. OH was back from having yet another blood test then so we went to a garden centre and had a breakfast bap, looked at EWH in there, but I resisted the nice, cool and lacy summer cardigans they have in, mindful that my wardrobes still can't breathe easily! OH got a couple of birthday cards for staff that worked for him years ago that he keeps in touch with. We then went to the garden centre out in the sticks and past the High Cross monument that is said to mark the centre of England, is high up and has lovely views. As I have so few Marigolds I got 2 trays of the single flowered ones the butterflies love and also got two colours of Petunias to go in my tall pot. After I have planted those I will see what to put in the wall pots round the back and other pots.

I'm glad all went well with your OH's surgery yesterday Vera. I expect he has the eyedrop regime for a while now! I think OH has another fortnight to go. So you managed to buy something at the shops yesterday then.

Yes a job in the shade is a good idea today Mel. I might go and pick up the Cammelia dead flowers as those are in the shade too. If I'd stayed married the first time my 56th wedding anniversary would have been later this year as well. Only as it turned out, it wouldn't, as he passed away 13 years ago. His second wife passed away 4 years ago as well. How fast time moves on.

Mandy Max sounds quite a character, but I can't believe he is 9 years old now! I thought about you and your runners this morning when I saw some runner plants for sale. :-) I am wishing we had a Roys here so we could get the same compost. Have you finished knitting the Rabbit?

You will feel nice and cool after your hair appointment this afternoon AnnG, especially as it is supposed to be hotter tomorrow. Young children do pass bugs to their parents don't they. I remember Jane's Chris getting tummy bugs, which was an occupational hazard with his job.

OH is going in the garden to do a bit now, so I'm going to join him.

happy not anniversary then Mel. :-)

If I had stayed married it would have been my 56th anniverary today.

Morning all,

Lovely morning once again, I could get used to this. its 20 degrees here and pc says mostly sunny. Its supposed to go up to 25 degrees today so I shan't be out in the garden if it does. Although I may go and cut some more of the Albertine roase down which will be in the shade of the bungalow by this afternoon.

Good morning all 9 degrees already and a lovely sunny morning. I bet I am not the only one wishing that we had had an overnight shower of rain, it feels really early to have started having to water some of the plants in the garden.

Ann yes I was pleased that Jake had not been here before he had the bug, although he doesn't come into the house and we don'e have any contact. I assume it is the result of employing a father of four young children. Hopefully he will be ok on Friday.

Mandy you will have a load of lovely vegetables in the summer to share with your family. Is the new outside cupboard finished now?

Vera I am pleased for your OH that the op went OK. Had to chuckle over the reluctant shopper buying just one small thing. You will be fine when the time ecentually comes that shopping is done via the bus. I am often, like many other ladies my age I see, loaded with bags on the journey home.

I remembered, when round getting my prescription yesterday, to call in and ask the optician when my next check up was due. She said, 'last February, we contacted you'. Now, they usually contact me by email so I know they didn't. anyway, no problem, I have an appointment on the 14th.

Hair dresser today at 1pm.

That's good the op went OK Vera ,yes Max is a character he knows just how to get round you with his puppy dog eyes ,he's brought all sorts in from the garden ,if he comes rushing in I know he has something and if I take no notice he barks as if to say come and see mum I have something lol

Colin has drops for dry eyes ,we get them in spec savers .

Glad the surgery went well for your oh Vera. It was so nice of your neighbours to take you both and it gave you a bit of company while he was having it done. When my oh had a new lens in his eye I went round the garden centre and he got a nurse to ring me from the hospital to say he was ready to be picked up.

I did'nt know you could get eye drops for dry eye.

Good evening everyone

A bit more of a breeze than yesterday but another really beautiful day

Mandy is right – we do like the compost from Roy’s but I think it may be peat free. We just buy the multi-purpose one and it doesn’t actually say peat free on the bag but it says with added Gro-Boost (whatever that may be) and on the back of the bag it says that in order to protect the environment Roys have added peat free materials such as timber and PS100 green compost which have all been through a vigorous shredding and screening process. They are a reputable company and I am sure they wouldn’t risk breaking the law by having peat in their general compost.

It's annoying that Jake couldn’t come today AnnG, but better that he stays away if he’s got a bug.

Mandy, I hope Colin’s glaucoma results are good. You were there for a long while. I did have to smile at Max bringing in the tube from the beans. He’s a bit of a character isn’t he, I like dogs like that.

It sounds as though your eye test went well Annx and good news that you don’t need a change of glasses. I’ve been using those dry eye drops for 3 or 4 years now. The ones recommended for me are Hycosan Extra and I’m supposed to use them 3 times a day. I’ve been told by the chemist and by a nurse at the eye clinic that they can be prescribed for me but, although I’ve mentioned it at the hospital a couple of times, the prescription never seems to get written. They are about £12 a bottle and these things all add up. Boots sometimes have an offer on them of “buy one, get second one half price” so I generally get a couple of bottles then.

Oh ‘s cataract surgery went very well. We’ve had some soup and he’s now snoozing on the couch, though I will have to wake him soon or he won’t sleep tonight. I traipsed round the shops with our neighbours though all I bought was a small birthday gift for one of our friends.

I’m going to have to move from this computer. The sun is shining through the window directly on to me and I’m melting. Time for a cold drink I think. Sleep well tonight everyone.

Well I don't know how they get round it but it's nice compost ,we've had it since well before covid

I think Colin said if there's anything wrong he will hear in the next couple of weeks .

Hope all has gone well with OH's op Vera and that he's a good patient :-)

I planted the odd runners we had left in a small tub ,Max the little terror came in with the cardboard tube I had planted the beans in and plenty of the soil attached so I've just put some old wire shelves that were from the old greenhouse round the tub hopefully he'll not be able to pull anymore out , he may be nine but he still has the puppy devil in him :-D

Afternoon All,

Another glorious sunny day and a pair of Red Kites are circling over the field, but a Crow has been hassling them. They get so close to them as well.

I hate the peat free compost as it seems worse than just using the soil out of the garden. I must admit I wondered why the plants we buy still look so healthy and now I know why.

That's another delay from Jake AnnG, but better than him bringing you a tummy bug! I was let down by the flooring man yesterday who didn't phone as he promised he would. I contacted him this morning and he's coming tomorrow afternoon now.

Mandy I hope Colin's glaucoma results will be good. I was at Boots for an eye test this morning and there's no change in my cataracts and they said my eyesight is actually very good, even though I don't think it is. They suggested my eyes seem dry though and I should use eyedrops when they get blurry in the afternoon. At least I don't need new glasses so LESS EXPENSE for a change and I needn't worry about losing my driving licence because of my eyesight. OH had a good walk around the other shops while he waited for me and bought some cards at W H Smith which we thought had closed by now.

I can't imagine having no electric and even if you didn't have an electric car the petrol pumps wouldn't work would they.

Vera I hope your OH's cataract surgery is done and went well. It was good of your neighbours to take you, even if it means going round the shops. You will probably find something to buy anyway, and it has saved you worrying about driving yourself.

Better get on and get something done now!

But Mandy the thing is it is illegal for them to sell anything with peat in it at all so I wonder how they are getting around that.

Hope all is ok when colin gets the result anyway, wonder how long he will heve to wait.

We had a long wait this morning for Colin's check for Glocoma, it says you could be up to an hour for the appointment in the letter but we were there nearly two hours ,anyway just got to wait now if there's anything wrong they'll get in touch if not it could be another six or nine months before he needs to be checked again .

This compost is a mixture of peat and peat free after reading on line but it's not all fibrey like some that dry out and nothing grows in it , most say peat free on the front of the bag but this doesn't ,its a nice dark compost.

I was supposed to have Jake here today but he has a stomach bug so hopefully will be here Friday now. I have given up being surprised when he cancels now!! I just walked round to get my prescription as I wanted to know if it was the last one in the annual pathway, which it was So, after I get back from daughters I need to make an appointment for a blood test

Mel yes you are correct, I am pretty sure that professional growers were exempt from the ban.

But I assume you are looking on line Mel, Mandy was in the shop.

I can't see any potting compost on Roys with peat in!

So does that mean that garden centres and growers are still able to use peat in their compost? No wonder their plants do better than ours who buy the peat free.

Mandy how can Roys sale none peat free compost?

" it is no longer legal to sell peat-based compost to amateur gardeners in the UK. The UK government has banned the sale of peat-based compost in the retail sector starting in 2024. While some peat-containing products are exempt until 2030, the ban for amateur gardeners has been enforced since 2024."

Morning all,

Nice sunny morning and we're off later for Colins eye appointment so it's a morning of waiting to go so can't really get on with anything .
Anng we like Roys compost as its not peat free like all the others ,I think Vera likes that one too.

Looks like chaos in Spain and Portugal with no power makes you wonder whats going on there .