Thought it would be a good idea first thing this morning to move the 63 concrete paving slabs from the driveway, where they were deposited on Friday by a disgruntled delivery chap, to the top garden where they will form the base for the new greenhouse. This is what I learned :
1) a concrete paving slab (45 cm square by 35mm deep) weighs 16.5kg or, if like me you are still programmed to imperial measurements, 2 stones and 8lbs
2) you cannot move two of these slabs at the same time. Well, I can’t. Not if I want to maintain forward momentum
3) each paving slab moved becomes progressively heavier. I believe this could be a trick of mechanics versus my physical fitness
4) one wouldn’t need a gym membership if one shifted paving slabs for a living
5) I’m glad I don’t have to shift paving slabs for a living
6) I felt quite wobbly once the job was done, but I experience no chest pains, which was reassuring given my paternal family’s propensity for dying young of heart attacks
Anyway, job done now! The greenhouse is being delivered on Friday. Just need to work out how to make a flat surface for it with the slabs so they don’t wibbly wobbly around.
Back indoors, I warned Bambino Bobble Wilson on NO UNCERTAIN TERMS was he to chew my tomato seedlings, currently in a seed tray on the kitchen window sill and just about putting up their second set of leaves. He said he couldn’t guarantee that he wouldn’t give them a surreptitious nibble because of his impetuous and buoyant nature. I told him it wouldn’t be worth his while to even try. Seriously.
I’ve signed up with a site called FutureLearn which provides some free on line learning courses. I have embarked on one called ‘A History of Royal Fashion’ which starts its journey in Tudor times, so plenty of chat about ruffs, codpieces and sumptuary laws. Lots of lovely photos of velvet things, silk things, embroidered things, all of which must have been an absolute sod to launder. The course lasts 5 weeks and was created by the University of Glasgow. So far it is very interesting. I expect it won’t be long before I start being bombarded with emails inviting me to sign up to their ‘Extended Learning Package’ for £42, or their ‘Unlimited Learning Package’ for £199, which I might be tempted to do. Who doesn’t love a bit of life long learning, eh? Especially when confined to barracks as we are at the moment.
The rose bed border has been cleared! Only two shrubs - a forsythia (I think) and something else a bit more woody and resistant, identity unknown, put up any sort of a fight and I nearly fell over only twice in my tugging and heaving attempts. Therefore, I have allowed myself an hour or so of indulgence on the David Austin roses website, perusing the treasures therein. So many beautiful roses! So many varieties, so many colours! I’ve decided on a mostly white and cream colour scheme with some dots of pale pink. When I lived in Kent I used to visit Sissinghurst Place fairly regularly and was very fond of the White Garden. I thought it was rather classy. A bit like me. Ha ha!
The plan, then, is to have two or three climbing roses for the back of the border (I need to do some proper measuring) to cover the uninspiring privet hedge that separates us from our neighbour, and then a selection of old English roses underplanted with snowdrops, lily of the valley and lavender. Maybe some geraniums. I reckon I could get between 10 and 15 rose shrubs in the space, mixed in with the extra plants. All I have to do now is choose the varieties. Such a hardship...but I do like this for a climber: The Generous Gardener...
On other garden news, we have triumphed in catching the two bantam hens, Molly and May, and consigning them to barracks in the Eglu accommodation. May wandered in by herself, but Mollie had to be wrangled. I was disgusted by Magnus who, when it came to the fight, did nothing at all to defend his girls, preferring instead to put up a racket and a hoo-ha in order to save himself from incarceration. But I suppose it was lucky for me he was such a coward as he has a set of very sharp looking spurs and if I’d had to beat him off with a dustbin lid or garden spade, serious injury may have occurred. And whilst I occasionally wish death upon him and Tootsie, I don’t really mean it. At least, I don’t think I do...
This triumph means there will be no more hunting the grounds of Damson Cottage looking for nests of eggs, and no surprise chicks appearing, all of which would likely be sodding cockerels. So hurrah for that! Nancy Pants, our old hen, continues on unabashed. Sometimes we think she is on her last legs, but then chuck her a grape and she’ll fight off the others and win, no probs. She’s wily, that one. Reminds me a bit of Mrs Miggins.
That’s it from the homestead for the moment. I hope everyone is staying safe and well. When all this malarkey eases and we return to what is likely to be a very different kind of ‘normal’ I have a fancy to take a holiday on a canal boat.
1) a concrete paving slab (45 cm square by 35mm deep) weighs 16.5kg or, if like me you are still programmed to imperial measurements, 2 stones and 8lbs
2) you cannot move two of these slabs at the same time. Well, I can’t. Not if I want to maintain forward momentum
3) each paving slab moved becomes progressively heavier. I believe this could be a trick of mechanics versus my physical fitness
4) one wouldn’t need a gym membership if one shifted paving slabs for a living
5) I’m glad I don’t have to shift paving slabs for a living
6) I felt quite wobbly once the job was done, but I experience no chest pains, which was reassuring given my paternal family’s propensity for dying young of heart attacks
Anyway, job done now! The greenhouse is being delivered on Friday. Just need to work out how to make a flat surface for it with the slabs so they don’t wibbly wobbly around.
Back indoors, I warned Bambino Bobble Wilson on NO UNCERTAIN TERMS was he to chew my tomato seedlings, currently in a seed tray on the kitchen window sill and just about putting up their second set of leaves. He said he couldn’t guarantee that he wouldn’t give them a surreptitious nibble because of his impetuous and buoyant nature. I told him it wouldn’t be worth his while to even try. Seriously.
I’ve signed up with a site called FutureLearn which provides some free on line learning courses. I have embarked on one called ‘A History of Royal Fashion’ which starts its journey in Tudor times, so plenty of chat about ruffs, codpieces and sumptuary laws. Lots of lovely photos of velvet things, silk things, embroidered things, all of which must have been an absolute sod to launder. The course lasts 5 weeks and was created by the University of Glasgow. So far it is very interesting. I expect it won’t be long before I start being bombarded with emails inviting me to sign up to their ‘Extended Learning Package’ for £42, or their ‘Unlimited Learning Package’ for £199, which I might be tempted to do. Who doesn’t love a bit of life long learning, eh? Especially when confined to barracks as we are at the moment.
The rose bed border has been cleared! Only two shrubs - a forsythia (I think) and something else a bit more woody and resistant, identity unknown, put up any sort of a fight and I nearly fell over only twice in my tugging and heaving attempts. Therefore, I have allowed myself an hour or so of indulgence on the David Austin roses website, perusing the treasures therein. So many beautiful roses! So many varieties, so many colours! I’ve decided on a mostly white and cream colour scheme with some dots of pale pink. When I lived in Kent I used to visit Sissinghurst Place fairly regularly and was very fond of the White Garden. I thought it was rather classy. A bit like me. Ha ha!
The plan, then, is to have two or three climbing roses for the back of the border (I need to do some proper measuring) to cover the uninspiring privet hedge that separates us from our neighbour, and then a selection of old English roses underplanted with snowdrops, lily of the valley and lavender. Maybe some geraniums. I reckon I could get between 10 and 15 rose shrubs in the space, mixed in with the extra plants. All I have to do now is choose the varieties. Such a hardship...but I do like this for a climber: The Generous Gardener...
On other garden news, we have triumphed in catching the two bantam hens, Molly and May, and consigning them to barracks in the Eglu accommodation. May wandered in by herself, but Mollie had to be wrangled. I was disgusted by Magnus who, when it came to the fight, did nothing at all to defend his girls, preferring instead to put up a racket and a hoo-ha in order to save himself from incarceration. But I suppose it was lucky for me he was such a coward as he has a set of very sharp looking spurs and if I’d had to beat him off with a dustbin lid or garden spade, serious injury may have occurred. And whilst I occasionally wish death upon him and Tootsie, I don’t really mean it. At least, I don’t think I do...
This triumph means there will be no more hunting the grounds of Damson Cottage looking for nests of eggs, and no surprise chicks appearing, all of which would likely be sodding cockerels. So hurrah for that! Nancy Pants, our old hen, continues on unabashed. Sometimes we think she is on her last legs, but then chuck her a grape and she’ll fight off the others and win, no probs. She’s wily, that one. Reminds me a bit of Mrs Miggins.
That’s it from the homestead for the moment. I hope everyone is staying safe and well. When all this malarkey eases and we return to what is likely to be a very different kind of ‘normal’ I have a fancy to take a holiday on a canal boat.
Comments
Very exciting to think of those lovely roses - we all need something to look forward to.
KJ
Aileen, I am shocked! You’re not keen on eggs?? What do you dip toast soldiers into? I agree that I think lots of us will come out with magnificent gardens this year, thanks to the social restrictions. And that can’t be a bad thing.
Hello, KJ! Bravo for sorting out your raspberries and blackberries. I believe raspberries grow on canes and blackberries on brambles. But that might be a weird UK thing. What are you crocheting? I am useless at crochet unless it is triangles.
KJ
Vera, I think you are quite right. However, I do feel that if ladies didn’t get involved in the lumping around of stones and stuff, then these jobs might not get done. Maybe?
Aileen, the food texture I can’t bear is rice pudding. Even the thought of it makes me heave. Ooo-er.....yuck! And thanks for your comment about the David Austin roses. They seem more expensive than other brands and I kind of expect them to be good for the money, but perhaps not. I shall broaden my search...