Well my whinge seems to have worked, the sun came out at 10am. We went to a GC (the pile it high flog it cheap one in Enfield) got some winter pansies, violas and more cyclamen. They will brighten up the green wall, and some other spots on the patio. Then had lunch at another GC nearby. Makes such a change to get out, just what I needed even if it meant spending money.
Glad it brightened up for someone @Allotment Boy … it’s flippin’ grim here at the moment. The wind is howling and rain is hammering on the east and north facing windows. Apparently we’re getting 17mm in the next 24 hours, and we’ve already had a lot.
Bed is nice and snuggly tho … we’ve got our books … night night all … sleep tight 🛌 🐑
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Sad news for us yesterday. Daughter's Ex partner (amicable separation) lost his brother. As boys the two men worked this farm with their Dad and eventually it became theirs. Brother has been suffering from various cancers over the past 4 years and had many sudden dashes to hospital for help when needed. Another emergency dash in the early hours of Sunday morning resulted with consultation with his doctors who basically told him that this time he would be dead in one or two days if they did nothing. Or they could try operating once again in the hope of giving him just a little more time, but they could also lose him during the op. (What a decision to make!). Well he chose the op and he was whisked off straight away, prepped and sent to theatre, surgeons there and waiting even on a Sunday evening. They got him through the op then on to recovery and finally to the ICU on Monday afternoon. Daughter had rushed over to care for son while Ex P was down at the hospital, and did a load of cooking and housework to keep things orderly. Then she and ExP went together to the hospital Monday teatime to spend a few hours with him and speak to the Doctors and the Surgeon. They did not offer a lot of hope at that stage. Daughter staggered home late Monday night and tried to get some sleep before leaping out of bed again at 4am to get ready for her shift at work. Tuesday straight from work to hospital to keep Ex P company and sit with brother talking to him in the hope that he would sense they were there. ExP returned to the farm to feed animals, daughter got home here at 9pm and fell straight into bed ready for a 4am start again this (Wed) morning. 15 minutes later the phone went, hospital had phoned to say they were losing brother and to get there quickly. Friend rushed round to drive ExP and grandson (who asked to go) to the hospital - no need for possible car crashes at a time like this - and daughter left her bed to go to the farm to await any news and be there for their return. Unfortunately they arrived just too late and he died just before they arrived. He was just 60 years old. Of course ExP is beside himself. The two brothers have not been apart since childhood. They still lived together in the same farmhouse. They never married, oh yes there were girl friends but most of them couldn't hack the commitment to farm life. Once their father died their Mum moved into one of the farm cottages and left the boys in the farm house and that is where they stayed. Their Mum died some 6 years ago, she had cancer and dementia and daughter nursed her for the last year of her life. Once daughter entered their lives some 16 years ago they thought they had a new 'housekeeper' who would cook and clean for them lol! She is basically a farm/animal girl and soon let them know that although happy to play the domestic, she also wanted to be involved with all the farm and was more than capable! Of course things eventually became a little fraught, as things do sometimes, and with the start of covid when we were told to organise our families to separate households for the duration, she moved back with me. Of course children were allowed to travel between house holds so grandson was able to spend his weekends with us while his weekdays were spent with his Dad at the farm and he stayed at the school near there too. The unexpected arrival of this young grandson of mine - he's now 14 - is indeed a blessing as he is very keen on farming in general so it looks as though the farm will be in good hands for another generation. But here in Wales there is no time for personal private grief, the farm house has already been filling up with folk passing through, calling in to express their sympathy and this will go on until the funeral (which will be huge as they had many friends near and far) and all these folk need (expect) to be fed and watered (and chatted to) as they come to visit, as tradition demands. Daughter is back here tonight but will be off again to the farm early in the morning to do domestic duties and give support where she can. I'm just hoping that she can return here for the evenings and some sleep where possible. Work have given her time off for the rest of this week and all of next without hesitation - good old T**co, credit where credit is due, they can be so very helpful and understanding with long term employees who dont normally mess them about. The funeral has yet to be arranged but brother will be buried in the small local chapel graveyard next to his parents, in the meantime he will return to the farm on Thursday where his coffin will lay in the lounge for anyone who wishes to pay their respects to visit. After the funeral the hard work really begins, with new help to be found, solicitors, taxes bookwork - daughter has already been told that she will be responsible for the bookwork (departed brother's responsibility as ExP's hopeless at it), she has been doing their vat returns for the past two years but has no idea about the farm accounts. But right now we have a very confused and grieving ExP who has lost his brother and best friend and a young grandson who has lost a dear Uncle who had been like a second Dad to him for the whole of his life. Very sad. My apologies for such a long post, I nearly didn't push the post button, but it has helped me clear my mind from a seemly mad whirl, confused thoughts and a genuine grief for the loss of a man that I admired. Thank you my friends for bothering to read it all.
Good morning all and a special good morning to you @AnnaB. No, it wasn't long and you are right to put things down and I'm glad you pressed send. Your daughter sounds like a very sensible woman and I am sure she will get through the paper work of post funeral. If it's anything like France, it is very bureaucratic but at least things will be finalised in a proper manner. You can only be there to support your daughter and her Ex partner.
Another calm day here - it promises to be sunny again. Afternoon @Pat E !! Wrap up!
Today is Saint Elizabeth where: tout ce qui porte fourrure n'est point bête. And it also predicts: Sainte Elizabeth nous montre, quel bonhomme l'hiver sera.
So all ye who have the wind and rain can expect a winter of this. Will we have a sunny mild winter? Hmmm. The seasons are changing and the planet is getting warmer.
So sorry to hear of such a sad loss @AnnaB … hopefully the support and commitment of a real rural community, to which he and his extended family were obviously very important, will strengthen you all in your grief. Our sincere condolences to you all as you pick up the reins and carry on his work.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Of course ExP is beside himself. The two brothers have not been apart since childhood. They still lived together in the same farmhouse. They never married, oh yes there were girl friends but most of them couldn't hack the commitment to farm life. Once their father died their Mum moved into one of the farm cottages and left the boys in the farm house and that is where they stayed. Their Mum died some 6 years ago, she had cancer and dementia and daughter nursed her for the last year of her life. Once daughter entered their lives some 16 years ago they thought they had a new 'housekeeper' who would cook and clean for them lol! She is basically a farm/animal girl and soon let them know that although happy to play the domestic, she also wanted to be involved with all the farm and was more than capable! Of course things eventually became a little fraught, as things do sometimes, and with the start of covid when we were told to organise our families to separate households for the duration, she moved back with me. Of course children were allowed to travel between house holds so grandson was able to spend his weekends with us while his weekdays were spent with his Dad at the farm and he stayed at the school near there too. The unexpected arrival of this young grandson of mine - he's now 14 - is indeed a blessing as he is very keen on farming in general so it looks as though the farm will be in good hands for another generation.
But here in Wales there is no time for personal private grief, the farm house has already been filling up with folk passing through, calling in to express their sympathy and this will go on until the funeral (which will be huge as they had many friends near and far) and all these folk need (expect) to be fed and watered (and chatted to) as they come to visit, as tradition demands. Daughter is back here tonight but will be off again to the farm early in the morning to do domestic duties and give support where she can. I'm just hoping that she can return here for the evenings and some sleep where possible. Work have given her time off for the rest of this week and all of next without hesitation - good old T**co, credit where credit is due, they can be so very helpful and understanding with long term employees who dont normally mess them about.
The funeral has yet to be arranged but brother will be buried in the small local chapel graveyard next to his parents, in the meantime he will return to the farm on Thursday where his coffin will lay in the lounge for anyone who wishes to pay their respects to visit.
After the funeral the hard work really begins, with new help to be found, solicitors, taxes bookwork - daughter has already been told that she will be responsible for the bookwork (departed brother's responsibility as ExP's hopeless at it), she has been doing their vat returns for the past two years but has no idea about the farm accounts.
But right now we have a very confused and grieving ExP who has lost his brother and best friend and a young grandson who has lost a dear Uncle who had been like a second Dad to him for the whole of his life. Very sad.
My apologies for such a long post, I nearly didn't push the post button, but it has helped me clear my mind from a seemly mad whirl, confused thoughts and a genuine grief for the loss of a man that I admired. Thank you my friends for bothering to read it all.
Sorry for your loss.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Another calm day here - it promises to be sunny again. Afternoon @Pat E !! Wrap up!
Today is Saint Elizabeth where: tout ce qui porte fourrure n'est point bête. And it also predicts: Sainte Elizabeth nous montre, quel bonhomme l'hiver sera.
So all ye who have the wind and rain can expect a winter of this. Will we have a sunny mild winter? Hmmm. The seasons are changing and the planet is getting warmer.
Have a pleasant day.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.