@Joyce Goldenlily, that's interesting as I've just contacted a local gardening lady who advertises she undertakes light gardening work. She's going to contact me next week when she gets back from holiday. I only need her to do some weeding, some perennial cutting back and general tidying. Don't know yet what she charges but will let you know.
My DIL tells me she pays her cleaner £14 per hour so I'd guess an hourly rate of £10 is too low these days. I think the minimum wage is now around £11/£12 ph?
Sorry, forgot to ask how are you now feeling after your recent scare? Taking it easy?
I found my 'gardener' mowing next door's lawn. He's a good old country boy who knows stuff. Be careful though. He now goes by the name of 'Mellors' on here. 😳
Hi lizzie, Thanks for enquiring. I am still adjusting to living life in the very slow lane and taking a bucketful of tablets each morning to keep me going. I feel OK as long as I do not do anything, which is very frustrating. I have made some forays into the garden, light weeding, watering and tying in tomatoes which was lovely. I have also extended my dog walking distance gradually, not quickly enough for me, but I have been warned I will not make much more improvement. The garden is a wildlife haven, very long grass and no one tramping up and down to disturb the peace and quiet. Getting my head around my new situation is hard work but Wimbledon has been a God send. I am sure with time I will adjust.
Just come in from a stint in the garden. Despite having moaned a few days ago that the pigeons had decimated our redcurrant bushes, I have picked more redcurrants than last year. What a lovely surprise. 😃
My fruit cage was blown down in the Spring gales and I have not been down there yet to see if there are any currants. From what I can see from a distance, it looks as if the birds have had a field day. I must fight my way through the over growth of grass and bracken to see if there are any left for me. I will take my GPS personal alarm with me in case I get lost or submerged.
@Joyce Goldenlily My sympathies, I know just what you mean as I'm in the same boat but hopefully I will improve over the next few weeks. Already feel better after taking the steroid tablets. Heart problems I know are a different kettle of fish, so easy does it.
I managed to pick more blackberries yesterday, then just sat in the 'orchard'. One thing that does help is that I do have lots of sitting areas and solitary chairs dotted about which helps a lot, we're on a hill with quite a few steps. My landscaper is here at the moment putting up a handrail to the back garden which will be a great help.
Just come in from a stint in the garden. Despite having moaned a few days ago that the pigeons had decimated our redcurrant bushes, I have picked more redcurrants than last year. What a lovely surprise. 😃
Just made a batch of redcurrant jam. Will keep us going through the next year, since we are still eating jams from a few years back.
Well if our neighbours thought I might be mad before, they're sure now. I put the moth trap out last night. I started by putting it in the greenhouse by the doors, but that wasn't working so I pulled it out. Moths coming in thick and fast then. I crunched something under foot. A large snail, when I flashed the torch around they were everywhere. At 1.30 in the morning, I filled up the slug pubs, and went around the cosmos, nicotiana, kale, and beans with a torch, dropping snails and slugs into a 2L laundry rinse container with some salt in. I nearly filled it. No wonder the poor runner beans are not doing well, some of them had three large snails on, munching away. The sweet corn seem to not be bothered at all. Massive slugs. I had two hours sleep, emptied the moth trap, went back to bed and just woke up again to chain saws next door again.
I picked some blackcurrants yesterday. A lady with a currant clearwing lure came, but weather not good enough Tuesday morning, but there are holes on older branches where the larvae come out. I've ordered some clearwing lures. We should have three sorts in our garden, but they are day fliers and only come to pheromone lures at specific times on warm days. The amount of kit I've got for this moth-ing lark is adding up to be as expensive as scuba diving. As t'other half is not allowed to scuba anymore, and travel insurance is exorbitant for him, and he has chronic fatigue now, my world has shrunk to finding just how much wildlife is in close proximity instead of far flung places. Who would have thought there is a strange pocket of welsh clearwing in Sherwood Forest? I wonder who they hitched a lift with.
I got 100 moths last night. I drowned 4 box tree moths, doing my bit for all you who have box hedges. new for garden was a lovely white satin moth. I've got about 70 to identify yet. That will keep me busy today.
Posts
My DIL tells me she pays her cleaner £14 per hour so I'd guess an hourly rate of £10 is too low these days. I think the minimum wage is now around £11/£12 ph?
Sorry, forgot to ask how are you now feeling after your recent scare? Taking it easy?
Be careful though. He now goes by the name of 'Mellors' on here. 😳
Thanks for enquiring.
I am still adjusting to living life in the very slow lane and taking a bucketful of tablets each morning to keep me going. I feel OK as long as I do not do anything, which is very frustrating.
I have made some forays into the garden, light weeding, watering and tying in tomatoes which was lovely. I have also extended my dog walking distance gradually, not quickly enough for me, but I have been warned I will not make much more improvement.
The garden is a wildlife haven, very long grass and no one tramping up and down to disturb the peace and quiet.
Getting my head around my new situation is hard work but Wimbledon has been a God send. I am sure with time I will adjust.
What a lovely surprise. 😃
I managed to pick more blackberries yesterday, then just sat in the 'orchard'. One thing that does help is that I do have lots of sitting areas and solitary chairs dotted about which helps a lot, we're on a hill with quite a few steps. My landscaper is here at the moment putting up a handrail to the back garden which will be a great help.
Don't get lost in the long grass!