I must've missed that Indian-knife episode but I saw Monty use, more than once, a curved pruning knife and heard him comment that it was very good indeed.
As I was in need of some fit-for-purpose pruning implement this summer, I visited a very special little garden shop and found one that looked much the same as his; so, I bought it. It is called ARS (nearly there!), it's Japanese and the best ever!
Monty does have help from, I gather, a couple of women. DK used to rabbit on about how Monty never acknowledged his helpers. It does seem less than honest.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
He does in his books. And often reiterates that his wife does as much as him in the garden, so that adds up to quite a bit of graft even before paid help.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
I've got 2 wheelbarrows in a SE London semi's garden . Admittedly I only bought one of them, the other was here when we got here. I have probably 5 or 6 trowels due to freebies, inheritence and hoarding tendencies too. And 3 (I think) pairs of secateurs - all knackered and blunt, however.
Had to chuckle last night when I found myself on the chapter about tools in a Monty book, having just been on here reading this! Sorry Marlon, he doesn't mention his knife or where he got it. He does say that only a few tools are necessary, anything else is a luxury, and having a range of specialist tools is a luxury he enjoys. There are worse things!
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
So many of our views expressed on this thread, seem to depend on our views on Monty himself.
Reading his books he has always explained that he has help in his garden.
As for tools, I think he clearly loves them, writing lovingly about oiling old spades and sharpening secateurs. I am sure he is given tools by manufacturers, so what, perk of the trade. Back in the day, I used to get free Paracetamol [ actually, I probably stole it ]
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
Posts
I must've missed that Indian-knife episode but I saw Monty use, more than once, a curved pruning knife and heard him comment that it was very good indeed.
As I was in need of some fit-for-purpose pruning implement this summer, I visited a very special little garden shop and found one that looked much the same as his; so, I bought it. It is called ARS (nearly there!), it's Japanese and the best ever!
Monty does have help from, I gather, a couple of women. DK used to rabbit on about how Monty never acknowledged his helpers. It does seem less than honest.
He does in his books. And often reiterates that his wife does as much as him in the garden, so that adds up to quite a bit of graft even before paid help.
he was once ( ONCE ??? ha ha, ) seen pushing a wheelbarrow with another 4 propped up behind him.
Artemis says
"Yes, but have you seen the size of his garden? "
Mine is bigger than his and A: I don't have help,and B: I need neither 10 pairs of secateurs , nor 10 variously shaped trowels , nor 5 wheelbarrows.
I've got 2 wheelbarrows in a SE London semi's garden
. Admittedly I only bought one of them, the other was here when we got here. I have probably 5 or 6 trowels due to freebies, inheritence and hoarding tendencies too. And 3 (I think) pairs of secateurs - all knackered and blunt, however.
Had to chuckle last night when I found myself on the chapter about tools in a Monty book, having just been on here reading this! Sorry Marlon, he doesn't mention his knife or where he got it. He does say that only a few tools are necessary, anything else is a luxury, and having a range of specialist tools is a luxury he enjoys. There are worse things!
" few" is a relative term I suppose.
But I've said it before, What Monty says , and what Monty does are two entirely different things.
So many of our views expressed on this thread, seem to depend on our views on Monty himself.
Reading his books he has always explained that he has help in his garden.
As for tools, I think he clearly loves them, writing lovingly about oiling old spades and sharpening secateurs. I am sure he is given tools by manufacturers, so what, perk of the trade. Back in the day, I used to get free Paracetamol [ actually, I probably stole it ]
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Maybe I'm just bone idle, or very lucky, but I've neither oiled, nor sharpened a tool in my life and they've all been / are just fine.
Life's too short.
Would you not do it even if it gave you great pleasure, Hosta?
If I had absolutely nothing more pleasurable to do, then perhaps, yes. However, that situation has never arisen, nor do I expect it to.
Folk find pleasure in all sorts of things.
Lots of folk love spending hours preparing food, lots love shopping. I loathe both.
I love opera , and gardening, but lots of people hate these.
Neither makes us better, or worse people: just different.
Last edited: 17 November 2017 09:02:10