I'm not quite sure where I fit in in the age range of forum members (somewhere in the middle probably?). One thing I know for certain, I do appreciate the advice given by experienced and knowledgeable gardeners, regardless of age.
The guidance and advice you share on the forum Frank is invaluable. First hand from someone who's "been there and done that" beats a book or the tinternet hands down.
I also enjoy reading your posts reminiscing your youth. The way you write your memories so vividly brings it all to life on my screen.
Wishing you a very happy birthday this weekend, I'm sure you will be spoilt rotten by your lovely family
Frank, it's great that you're being used as a "resource" for local history. You're right, there's no substitute for someone who remembers clearly and can relate their memories. My Granny lived in 3 centuries (born 1895, died 2004) and was used by the local schools to talk about what it was like in the east end of London in WW1 and WW2, as well as relating her memories about being brought up in rural Essex before there were cars around.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
Lirodendron just written a piece on back yards, outside toilets and horse drawn vehicles, some one born in the fifties did not know why the toilet down the yard had a trapdoor opening onto the back street? Explaining when those street houses were built the outside toilets were soil boxes that had to be emptied before flush toilets were fitted much later allowed some humour to show. Lets face it, the contents went into middens, once sweetend? went on the vegetable plots and thus the ultimate recycle, from you to plot to vegetable and back to you? When I was in Garrison in the Middle East the night soil collectors told me English night soil was liquid gold, that was what Gyppy tummy did for you. Nice to be useful.
For a while now I've thought about putting a composting toilet in a prettily painted shed at the end of the garden. Could look like a feature. Would be useful when gardening or working outside (no need to traipse muddy wellies into the house). Would produce a useful end product. Could have a cat flap in and be a useful rain shelter for the cat. Would certainly be a talking point...
PS. Glad you're not leaving us Frank. We love your tales
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Frank - when we moved to very rural Suffolk in the mid 50s, unlike many of the older houses in the village we had an indoor flush toilet. However the very old farmer across the field hadn't got such new-fangled stuff, and he and his equally elderly wife still used the brick-built bucket lavvy in their back garden.
Their back garden adjoined our woodland where we used to play and quite often we children would sneak through the dry ditch that separated our farms and use their 'facilities' ... much more fun than our flush toilet as theirs was a 'two seater'
Last edited: 16 February 2017 11:42:47
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Posts
Many happy memories of your dear Joan, Frank We will see you when you are ready.
Enjoy your birthday celebrations Frank
So glad we haven't heard the last from you
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Glad you're not leaving Frank. Always love reading your posts.
And as RB said we need your expert dancing opinions.
Have a wonderful birthday, take care and see you soon. x
I'm not quite sure where I fit in in the age range of forum members (somewhere in the middle probably?). One thing I know for certain, I do appreciate the advice given by experienced and knowledgeable gardeners, regardless of age.
The guidance and advice you share on the forum Frank is invaluable. First hand from someone who's "been there and done that" beats a book or the tinternet hands down.
I also enjoy reading your posts reminiscing your youth. The way you write your memories so vividly brings it all to life on my screen.
Wishing you a very happy birthday this weekend, I'm sure you will be spoilt rotten by your lovely family
Frank, it's great that you're being used as a "resource" for local history. You're right, there's no substitute for someone who remembers clearly and can relate their memories. My Granny lived in 3 centuries (born 1895, died 2004) and was used by the local schools to talk about what it was like in the east end of London in WW1 and WW2, as well as relating her memories about being brought up in rural Essex before there were cars around.
Lirodendron just written a piece on back yards, outside toilets and horse drawn vehicles, some one born in the fifties did not know why the toilet down the yard had a trapdoor opening onto the back street? Explaining when those street houses were built the outside toilets were soil boxes that had to be emptied before flush toilets were fitted much later allowed some humour to show. Lets face it, the contents went into middens, once sweetend? went on the vegetable plots and thus the ultimate recycle, from you to plot to vegetable and back to you? When I was in Garrison in the Middle East the night soil collectors told me English night soil was liquid gold, that was what Gyppy tummy did for you. Nice to be useful.
Frank.
Continuing Frank's theme...
For a while now I've thought about putting a composting toilet in a prettily painted shed at the end of the garden. Could look like a feature. Would be useful when gardening or working outside (no need to traipse muddy wellies into the house). Would produce a useful end product. Could have a cat flap in and be a useful rain shelter for the cat. Would certainly be a talking point...
PS. Glad you're not leaving us Frank. We love your tales
Frank - when we moved to very rural Suffolk in the mid 50s, unlike many of the older houses in the village we had an indoor flush toilet. However the very old farmer across the field hadn't got such new-fangled stuff, and he and his equally elderly wife still used the brick-built bucket lavvy in their back garden.
Their back garden adjoined our woodland where we used to play and quite often we children would sneak through the dry ditch that separated our farms and use their 'facilities' ... much more fun than our flush toilet as theirs was a 'two seater'
Last edited: 16 February 2017 11:42:47
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.