Plumbers turn this morning. The landing radiator now works and the downstairs loo is no longer dripping, but the water tank in the loft needs cleaning out. The pressure is very low here and the bathroom washbasin taps only let out a trickle but they could be the wrong sort of taps. The water is very hard. They'll send an estimate for both.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Biglad, I think they might have been and gone from my area but Marti can't let go.
Do you get regulation flippers instead of boots when its like this or do you have to make do with wellies (Ante:čizme). Mind you, if you are thinking about waders, I guess they might do!
Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
Well I was thinking about having an hour outside this morning (it was sunny when I woke up) but it's now Marti through and through - so I think not. Need to re-fit the freshly washed "Dry-clean-only" sofa cushion covers this morning. Did just one of them as a test and it was ok so fingers crossed these will be as well. They fit very tightly so it will be a real tussle getting them back on. My work out for today😉
Had an email from the workshop about the m/home yesterday. "...bigger job than we thought...need more bits...staff on hols...etc etc" and so the saga continues😬😥
BL - we also have low water pressure (and very hard water). We haven't got a pressurised hot water system so most of our taps have to be low pressure appropriate - otherwise you do get a very poor flow of water. The exceptions are the 2 showers and the bath filler. We had a small pump fitted (not expensive) which supplies those items so we could have much nicer, more stylish higher pressure fittings, plus we get a good 'power shower' and a faster bath fill. Can only really use one thing at a time though - the pump doesn't have sufficient capacity to deliver two showers at the same time. Have to explain that to guests when they stay.... If you need a water softener I can recommend a good brand and company to fit it🙂
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Meant to post this pic yesterday. Taken at Beth Chatto's. Very clever and apparently it's full of colour come summer. I have some spare photo frames so might try making one myself:
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
I have just had to contact the foodbank organiser to tell her I won't be there on Thursday. This cold is not for letting go and I could be OK by then but didn't want to risk spreading my germs around and wanted to give them enough time to ask for another volunteer. Bestie is still going.
T'Bird, I am so sorry to hear the further grim news about the m/home. It must be very dispiriting for you both. Having to wait for parts from abroad is not really helping either. Got everything crossed it will be fixed, collected and back home with you soon. Perhaps a letter to the manufacturer about making access for rodents impossible might be an idea.
I absolutely LOVE that picture. How clever is that? I have got a gazillion semps in my garden, my greenhouse and pots by the back door but I think I would love to have a go at making a living wall art picture myself. It looks as if there is a mossy type substrate behind the wire. I can sure find plenty of that in my garden.
Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
Yesterday,I hung a repotted Bilbergia up in my front window. I had the macramé holder ready for it and noticed that it was just coming into flower. Can't wait for it to fully open. I'm hoping it is happy in this situation.
Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
Confession time This afternoon I've spent a welcome but unexpected dry spell getting rid of two uninvited guests in the back border. The rowan tree and laurel offshoot (from NDN's garden) were both positioned in spots that wouldn't particularly work for me long-term. However, their fate was really sealed by choosing to sprout right next to tree stumps that are getting removed shortly. They're both so close, it's as if they've actually grown out of the stumps. Silly beggars!
Once those stumps have gone, I can start replacing everything that has been removed from that border over the last 18 months or so. It's over 7m long and now has only 2 plants in it Can't wait.
Always exciting having a space to plant up @Biglad - although I always feel a little daunted to start with and spend ages spacing everything out - only to do lots of rejuggling and replanting once things start going in. Site once - plant three times seems to be my motto🙄
I have a bit of a major revamp to do this spring - the fairly big border where I removed the parterre style box hedging following a visit from the caterpillars. All the plants in that border were positioned to allow for the hedge and, of course, they're now about 18" too far in.
The big shrubs and roses will stay where they are but it's the perennials that need a bit of a shuffle and filling out - hence my purchases yesterday. I have 6 hostas in the shadiest part of that border but couldn't really see them behind the hedge until up close. Looking forward to selecting another 4 or 5 to put in that part of the border. Will need to do some serious work on the slug and snail front though. Might have a trip to Aldi soon for cheap beer for some traps!
LB - thanks for your kind words about the m/home. Feeling quite numb about it all now. The mice only got into the engine - presumably by climbing up the tyres. The engine compartment is just open to the elements at the bottom - same as on a car. No real solution to that.
In the last few weeks we've heard of 3 other friends who have vehicles (one m/home and two cars) parked up over winter who have had problems with mice. One has a 'summer' sports car and something has chewed all the wiring behind the radio. He won't know what other damage has been done till he fires it up. Another one actually found the mouse sitting on the drivers seat when he opened the door! He has yet to discover whether it's done any damage but it got in somewhere... Yet another friend had motorcycle leathers and gloves chewed by mice last year - cost a couple of hundred to replace. Little beggars😬
LB - the plant looks grand in that spot!
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
LB, hanging plant is gorgeous. I'm very satisfied with my new shelves. They are simply, white, 2 m high, not expensive book shelves.
Whole day is grey, with heavy rain and thunders. I slept very well last night, so I was in good mood. Tomorrow will arrive my order of pets food. Just heard on tv that we can expect snow for weekend.
Posts
Well I was thinking about having an hour outside this morning (it was sunny when I woke up) but it's now Marti through and through - so I think not. Need to re-fit the freshly washed "Dry-clean-only" sofa cushion covers this morning. Did just one of them as a test and it was ok so fingers crossed these will be as well. They fit very tightly so it will be a real tussle getting them back on. My work out for today😉
Had an email from the workshop about the m/home yesterday. "...bigger job than we thought...need more bits...staff on hols...etc etc" and so the saga continues😬😥
BL - we also have low water pressure (and very hard water). We haven't got a pressurised hot water system so most of our taps have to be low pressure appropriate - otherwise you do get a very poor flow of water. The exceptions are the 2 showers and the bath filler. We had a small pump fitted (not expensive) which supplies those items so we could have much nicer, more stylish higher pressure fittings, plus we get a good 'power shower' and a faster bath fill. Can only really use one thing at a time though - the pump doesn't have sufficient capacity to deliver two showers at the same time. Have to explain that to guests when they stay....
If you need a water softener I can recommend a good brand and company to fit it🙂
Confession time
Once those stumps have gone, I can start replacing everything that has been removed from that border over the last 18 months or so. It's over 7m long and now has only 2 plants in it
I have a bit of a major revamp to do this spring - the fairly big border where I removed the parterre style box hedging following a visit from the caterpillars. All the plants in that border were positioned to allow for the hedge and, of course, they're now about 18" too far in.
The big shrubs and roses will stay where they are but it's the perennials that need a bit of a shuffle and filling out - hence my purchases yesterday. I have 6 hostas in the shadiest part of that border but couldn't really see them behind the hedge until up close. Looking forward to selecting another 4 or 5 to put in that part of the border. Will need to do some serious work on the slug and snail front though. Might have a trip to Aldi soon for cheap beer for some traps!
LB - thanks for your kind words about the m/home. Feeling quite numb about it all now. The mice only got into the engine - presumably by climbing up the tyres. The engine compartment is just open to the elements at the bottom - same as on a car. No real solution to that.
In the last few weeks we've heard of 3 other friends who have vehicles (one m/home and two cars) parked up over winter who have had problems with mice. One has a 'summer' sports car and something has chewed all the wiring behind the radio. He won't know what other damage has been done till he fires it up. Another one actually found the mouse sitting on the drivers seat when he opened the door! He has yet to discover whether it's done any damage but it got in somewhere... Yet another friend had motorcycle leathers and gloves chewed by mice last year - cost a couple of hundred to replace. Little beggars😬
LB - the plant looks grand in that spot!
LB, hanging plant is gorgeous. I'm very satisfied with my new shelves. They are simply, white, 2 m high, not expensive book shelves.
Whole day is grey, with heavy rain and thunders. I slept very well last night, so I was in good mood. Tomorrow will arrive my order of pets food. Just heard on tv that we can expect snow for weekend.