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Life outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
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Life in Ambridge
THIS POST IS CLOSED "longer off topic comments" - Episode 14 Life Outside Ambridge Have a seat and let's chat.
Tinkerbell Cottage in Glen Prosen that I'm always banging on about - just booked a week next January!
ReplyDeleteOooogh !
ReplyDeleteI will have to google that Gary.
What a picture.
Thank you so much for administering us so well.
Yes I so agree with you Mrs P.
DeleteGG is doing a real ⭐ job as administrator and I appreciate it.
✔✔✔✔, and that little place is utterly magical. I can just imagine Snow White and the 7 little dwarfs sitting around the fire in there.
DeleteHope the peacocks don't wake you up too early.
ReplyDeleteGG Wow!!!
ReplyDeleteIt looks idyllic. I am so envious.
Mrs P 12:09 other blog. It was Scotland.
ReplyDeleteI had a sigh of relief today. Niece No#3, now 5+ months pregnant, has returned back from Hong Kong. She (+ her team) have been doing the interior design for a "plush property" for the past week. They were caught up in the riots on Sunday, but managed to stay safe in their hotel, as the client cancelled face-to- face meetings for the day, for their safety. They still had to work hard though, via Internet/video links/conferance calls etc.
ReplyDeleteIt was her last overseas trip, until after her maternity leave, thank goodness.
I might only be her Aunt, but I do care about them all. She + Hubbie (the ex-alcoholic + now a fully qualified cricket coach) celebrate their 10th Wedding Anniversary together, tomorrow.
I applaud them both, that the love they have had for each other, has out-shone the very many problems. This is resulting with a new baby (in Jan 2020) + a new home in Hertfordshire, probably November.
Totally understandable Miriam and so very chuffed for all 👏🏻 🤗
DeleteWhat a beautiful little cottage Gary, looks like it could be inhabited by the Three Bears and Goldilocks is going to turn up any minute!
ReplyDeleteI think of a Hobbit (J R Tolkien).
DeleteIt looks wonderful regardless.
DeleteWhat about Little Red Riding Hood?
I can't believe that I am now almost 7 days post op. after my 2nd cataract procedure.
ReplyDeleteWhat a difference re vision, and my life has so changed.
This does sound very melodramatic, but the change is just amazing + wonderful.
Dreams do come true ..
It is great waking up in the morning and looking out, with clear + sharp vision. This is unique for me, after being so short-sighted all my life.
To all those with very many medical problems, just think positive and trust your medics..
To add my consultants + surgeon were really great - I cannot fault them. The long wait was awful though, but it's all now over with a wonderful outcome. It was only a very simple problem, in the medical world..
DeleteI just hope others acheive such a good result. 😍
Pierre le C - Scotland, frequently ahead of the game !
DeleteApologies to Maryellen who rarely looks in on this blog, for protracted posts re childbirth.
However we were discussing this subject in response to Lexi present situation.
👍👍
DeleteExactly Mrs P. The whole correspondence was started because of us speculating about the birth and care for Lexi’s baby and perfectly legitimate, in my view, for inclusion in the Archers blog.
DeletePerhaps ME thought some of our stories were a bit too personal, though I believe all of the posts were pertinent to the current storyline.
Archerphile ..... I'm sure ME did think exactly that.
DeleteArcherfile ✔✔✔✔✔✔
DeleteIts the personal elements that I find so interesting and all comments related to TA SL
DeleteI’m off to the Ashmolean, Oxford to an exhibition called, Last Supper in Pompeii. It’s a beautiful morning, so it should be a lovely drive. Have a nice day everyone.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a perfect day out stasia! Enjoy.
DeleteWe are off out for a visit to a National Trust property today with a pub lunch at one of our favourite country pubs en route. I shall be very, very careful of any steps I might encounter during the day though!
DeleteArcherphile please take care, you don’t want any setbacks before your holidays.
ReplyDeleteI hope both you and Stasia have lovely days.
Hello everyone, I'd love to be part of your Archers and non Archers community.
ReplyDeleteI've been a listener for many years and have been reading your blogs daily.
Now thanks to my lovely daughter (here visiting), I have been able to write a message .
Welcome Autumnleaves! Consider yourself at home - consider yourself part of the family!
DeleteThanks Gary!
DeleteAutumnleaves Love it🍁 welcome !
ReplyDeleteIs it because like me you love the season/ born in it? Had I not already had Lady R - an old and long story between friends 😂 yours would have suited me admirably.
Look forward to hearing more from you.
Thank you Lady R. Actually I'm a spring chick so to speak...born in May.
DeleteWhen I was thinking of a name I couldn't come up with anything until I asked my daughter if maybe a piece of music would do and she immediately suggested Autumn Leaves....something I used to play on the piano when my girls were little. I suppose it became my signature tune.
But I also agree that the season is spectacular.
A good way to choose your “name” AL and we now have another musical blogger amongst us, how lovely to be able to play the piano 🎹 🎼
DeleteI have just had a very unexpected and serendipitous encounter!
ReplyDeleteThere I was, walking around some National Trust gardens admiring the dahlias when a very smart lady came up to me and asked (sotto voce):
‘Excuse me, but are you an Archers Blogger?’
I, stunned, replied cautiously, ‘I might be’
Whereupon the lady asked if I was Archerphile, because she was Lady R!!
What a surprise, and also lovely to meet the delightful Mr R and introduce him to Mr A.
Apparently Lady R thought she recognised me because I was wearing a dress (having once said I never wear trousers) and was walking with a flowery walking stick and had mentioned the plan to visit a National Trust garden today. So she very bravely came up to see if it was me - a thing I would never have dared to do!
The funny thing is that we had fully intended to visit a different property (Mottisfont) today and only changed our minds at the last minute to go to Hinton Ampner instead.
What a wonderful surprise . It was so lovely to meet and chat to one of our group of virtual friends and it has made me determined to make the bigger reunion next year.
So thank you Lady R, for having the courage to come up and introduce yourself - I am so glad you did.
That's amazing Archerphile - what a hoot! Well done Lady R, hats off to you!
DeleteHello and welcome Autumn Leaves, it is really lovely to have a new member of our band. We shall all look forward to hearing your thoughts on our mutual interest, The Archers, and on anything else as well, as some of the above posts prove! 🙋🏼♀️
ReplyDeleteArcherphile + Lady R.
ReplyDeleteThat is what I call fate.
I believe in this...
I hope you have exchanged more personal contact numbers and will meet up again.
How wonderful to find each other.
Just an intro and chat Miriam, maybe one day a coffee and mince pie at HA. Time will tell AP has many commitments coming up I know but it was good to say hello and get it right!! A very pleasant couple.
DeleteAutumnleaves.
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely you have had, at last, been able to join in and comment.
It's fun, but very addictive 😂
Gary. What did the Romans do for us? Answer, The Mediterranean diet. It was a small exhibition, but extremely interesting, and many of the exhibits were on loan from Naples. I didn’t realise that the poor little door 🐁 mouse was fattened up and devoured as they reclined drinking wine.
ReplyDeleteKPnuts. Thank you.
Archerphile, what an amazing coincidence, fantastic that LadyR was brave and approached and introduced herself.
Autumnleaves. It is always great to have a new member to this band of Ruthyites and now Garyites. I also offer my welcomes and look forward to hearing from you.
Hello again Archerphile 🤗 I think I surprised myself! However I am so pleased I did chance an introduction. You had described yourself so accurately here on our blog and luckily for me you were the only lady wearing a dress (and you have told us you are not a trouser wearer)
ReplyDeleteMr R has a disabled disc so we park in front of the house and then I go through the shop to the entrance to have our tickets scanned as I did this you both walked in and I felt even then that you maybe Mr & Mrs A. Mr A exactly as I would have imagined him and yourself such an elegant lady and a pleasure to meet!
Odd that you changed your minds and decided to visit HA at the last minute- my vibes obviously came through! When I read your post this morning after we had decided that if all stayed well we would do our visit it was a supposition on my part that it was to be your choice of NT as well as I know you have visited before.
Anyway there we go - two bloggers who have never met each other or any of the others before today, a surprise for us and all on here I’m sure 👍 👏🏻
Absolutely ! So serendipitous !
ReplyDeleteThat is marvellous, great that you made contact & had a natter, & in a lovely environment, thanks to a last minute change of mind. It Was Meant to be.....
AP & Lady R - serendipity!
ReplyDeletebienvenue Feuilles d'Automne!
Stasia - looked up the Last Supper in Pompeii exhibition earlier - it must have been fascinating.
I had a rather exceptional day yesterday, for me, that is. I'm an opera virgin ( can't count a dress rehearsal of Aida, over 50 yrs. ago. It's just never appealed. Anyway, a book club friend was directing a late (18 century composer, little known now, but rediscovered by friend & his professional company. A girl I once taught also had a role. It was a looong day, as I was engaged in another town all morning, no time to go home & set out for London later, so mooched around, ate, off I went. Got lost, not a part of Westminster am familiar with, missed the first 10 mins. of his pre show talk, but it was pretty impressive. Lovely music, fantastic orchestra, & glorious singing, well timed comedic acting. Still find this art form very strange. Don't think I'll make a habit of it, but glad I went - & saw some folk I know which was lovely. ( They were dead surprised, knowing I'm not opera buff)
ReplyDeleteWilkommen, Autumnleaves. What a lovely name ! Glad you found us.
ReplyDeleteI also, am not an opera buff.
ReplyDeleteI have, though, seen fantastic performances of both "Aida" and "La Boheme".
I prefer musical theatre and these I try + see whenever and wherever.
DeleteHow lovely for you both Archerphile and Lady R .
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice surprise.
Well done Lady R for approaching the elegant lady wearing a dress!
What an amazing unplanned meet up.
DeleteIt wouldn't happen to me as I am normally in jeans, cargo pants, trainers and selected tops, be they short or long sleeved. In other words, I don't stand out rather just an anonymous person in the background. 😀
Cannot believe it!!!! What a meeting.
ReplyDeleteWell done lady R and Archerphile
Even though Lady R and Archerphile know that they both live in Hampshire and both often visit NT properties nearby with husbands, nevertheless that was fate fortune and serendipity all rolled in to one wonderful surprising encounter for all four of you.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, brave of Lady R to speak up.
And there you go, another meet up. We shall be losing count soon.
And Carolyn, a new experience for you turns into a surprise that you enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteI cannot stand opera or musicals. The exception being West Side Story, which I watched from a box on its second week in London c 1958. An experience I've treasured for ever since.
I have tried both opera and musicals since and continue to be thoroughly irritated.
Autumn Leaves - welcome to our friendly blog.
You say your daughter helped you post.
Just a caution if I may.
Be careful about the two instructions one at top - sign out. One at bottom- post.
Be careful to never press sign out as once you have done so, it is very difficult to get signed in again.
Several of us have made the mistake from time to time and now know to be cautious.
I hope you enjoy joining in with us.
Thrilled to hear about your meeting, Lady R and Archerphile. Sounds so lovely 😊 elegant setting, beautiful weather, and a wonderful surprise. Really hope to meet you both next year sometime somewhere.
ReplyDeleteAutumn leaves hello 🤗
Our women’s choir sang this a year or two ago. I didn’t know it previously and it is so beautiful.
Gary I love the cottage, looks gorgeous. Close to my relatives in Forfar.
Welcome Autumn leaves
ReplyDeleteAutumn Leave by Nat King Cole - lovely.
You join us as Autumn is just beginning.
After I made a phone call the other day and had to give my age,I was then addressed as Dearie!
I thought for a nano second that perhaps I should change my nom de plume but
those who have met me I hope will agree that “Dearie “ I am not.
I am often asked if I mind being addressed by my Christian name when I make a phone call.
I love it.
(Incidentally , my pseudonym was chosen for me by one of our regular contributors who decided that Lancashire Janet was too long!)
Absolutely, Lanjan, you are not a 'Dearie!' in fact, I wonder if there many of those around these days. There certainly used to be. Ah, & , not recently, say 20 or so years ago, remember them at bus stops, looking vague & fragile, then making their way aggressively to the top of the queue when the bus turned up !
ReplyDeleteMrs P, can't stand musicals either, making an exception for 'Cats', wonderfully staged & entertaining. Only went because a friend & I were taking our children, years ago. Also, like you, ' West side Story' - a school production.
'Enjoyed' the opera opera last night is putting it a bit high. I appreciated the talent, lots of elements, but all these over egged arias, holding up the, admittedly daft, story, & then a rushed piece of action to speed up the action. Act I was fair enough, but the plot convolutions in Act 2....wanted it to END.
Archerphile and Lady R, what an amazing meeting! 😀 Well done Lady R for making the first move..
ReplyDeleteStasia, I have been thinking of going to see the Pompeii exhibition. I have never been to tne Ashmolean. Is it worth the drive or train journey from Bristol? (I seem to remember that you live in this neck of the woods, relatively speaking).
Autumnleaves, welcome. I am an occasional blogger, but I read every day and love to follow Archers and non Archers chat..
Non Musical lovers have you never seen “Les Miserables”?
ReplyDeleteThat had to be my favourite Musical .
I have seen it several times but there are so many I love
-Blood Brothers,Westside Story,Evita,Miss Saigon,The Producers,Phantom of The Opera ................
I saw Evita for the first time in South Africa in 2000 and paid the prickly sum of the equivalent of £8 for a seat.
It was brilliant.
I used to love going to the “Pictures” as a teenagers and seeing the musicals like Carousel .
“When you walk through a storm” ....
Ah !
Thanks everyone for your warm welcome.
ReplyDeleteI never expected anything less from such a nice group of people.😊
Re the Romans exhibition - stasia, I remember being taught about the scoffing of the dormice in primary school. Cue a couple of dozen 10 year olds shocked into disgusted silence! 😨
ReplyDeleteWelcome Autumn Leaves. Nice to have another contributor.
ReplyDeleteWest side story..... now there’s 3 hours of my life I won’t get back. The film that is....highly overrated imo. Also les miserables film.... another one 2 hours too long, thought it would never end.
Saw The Book of Mormon in London in August. Had no idea what it was about when I booked it but the ticket was cheap. I was quite shocked but it was good. No good going if you don’t do swearing though.
Also saw the Carole king show the other year. Now that was excellent. You don’t realise just how many songs she wrote and that actually you do know them all.
I’m not very good with comedy but “the play that goes wrong” had me nearly wetting myself. Might go see that again on my next London trip.
We saw the play that goes wrong in Malvern. Many shows went there before London and many famous faces. The show Les Miserables we saw in London was excellent, maybe not as long as the film. Another musical we enjoyed was Miss Saigon although I came out weeping! Saw it in Brum and somewhere else I forget where! We went to see Carole King show in Southampton. Her album, Tapestry was popular when I was in the WRNS and I had the CD which has since been replaced. Wonderful, thought provoking songs. What a talented lady! Also enjoyed Carly Simon.
DeleteAlso nearly wet myself at the play that goes wrong, PTBY!!😂
DeleteWelcome, Autumn Leaves. It’s good to have new faces! Can’t believe Lady R and Archerfile met up like that. Am hoping next year to meet up in Winchester! Katy is doing her PhD at the university hoping to finish next year. It’s in Archaeology. She will be a doctor and my younger brother remarked it was as well our Mum is no longer with us or she would be asking Katy to look at her bad leg!!
ReplyDeleteOur new dog, Dudley arrived today. He is delightful but a bear of little brain not having a clue about sitting at the kerb at 4 years old but plenty of time to learn. I think he has been babied and not treated as a dog. At this stage think we will come to love him as much as Gyp and Bud. Buddy of course feels put out but they have started to play together. Dudley is a full Shih Tzu and has the most amazing fluffy tail! He was well loved but the advent of two small children affected him. He is very laid back but doesn’t like delivery men so we will need to address that. We don’t want him snapping at postie or Trev the DPD man. He needs to meet them but be under control so here’s hoping!
I saw The Play That Goes Wrong in Bath about 18 months ago. I was sitting in 'the gods'. As the play was about to start there was a low rumbling sound /sensation. A few concerned glances were exchanged. During the interval, people behind us were on their phones and saw there had been an earthquake in Swansea at the same time!
ReplyDeleteAs for the play, I enjoyed it, but had already seen Peter Pan Gone Wrong, and I think A Christmas Carol Gone Wrong on TV. I thought Peter Pan was hilarious, the other 2 not as funny.
I am also not keen on musicals but I did enjoy Porgy and Bess - “Summertime “ - love that song, and Cabaret, great production at Greenwich years ago. I went to an opera when I was a student with my music student boyfriend. I spent most of the time staring at the glinting ring he bought me for Christmas. Thought it was high brow pantomime and I am definitely not a fan of those either.
ReplyDeleteThere is nowt like a good cry when you go to see a Musical ,P tb Y.
ReplyDeleteThe film of Les Miserables in my opinion was not as good as the Show.
Thought the actress who got an Oscar was poor.
Anne Hathaway?
Most disappointing..
I'm a huge fan of the stage version of "Into the Woods" - thought the film version was okay but not a patch on the original. Also love "Assassins" by Sondheim too - very dark musical about every person that has tried or succeeded in killing a US president. Very dark indeed! But funny!
ReplyDeleteZoetrope- I remember that earthquake in Swansea. I was at home and felt it here in my cottage in Stroud.
ReplyDeleteBut my daughter in Bath seemed not to even know about it, yet you felt it at (presumably) The Royal.
Thanks to all who were pleased to hear about Lady R and I meeting up so fortuitously today. Lady R is being extremely generous in calling me elegant - short, dumpy, wearing a dress a bit too young for my 74 years and bright pink shoes would be a more accurate description, whereas I should call Lady R the really elegant lady at our meeting!
ReplyDeleteI’m afraid I’m not keen on musicals either and would never pay to go up to London to see one. Classical concerts are more to our liking, especially Mahler, Chopin and Shostakovich. We are very lucky to have a top class concert hall near us and go to several performances a year.
However I made an exception, several years running by going to the Scouts and Guides Gang Show as our granddaughter, Rosie, was a regular performer from the age of 10. She has a beautiful singing voice (contralto now at age 17) and performed solos of songs like ´Over the Rainbow’ and ‘Someday’ which moved me to tears. She is hoping to study theatre, drama and singing etc at University next year thanks to her time in the Scouts.
Archerphile I protest most strongly at your description of yourself and you most certainly do not look your years! (Beautiful skin and a very youthful face) you must be looking in a faulty mirror 😂
ReplyDeleteThe songs your granddaughter Rosie sang - oh yes certainly ones to bring a tear to the eye, and marvellous that she can now go on to study in that field at Uni.
I admit to enjoying certain musicals most of which have already been mentioned here but music in general is so good for the spirit I think. Certainly people with dementia react to it and that is lovely to see. When my mum was in care and we visited many times a week when entertainment was on residents who maybe never spoke would sing every word of a song! If nothing official happening I would on occasion sing with mum or another resident and all of a sudden everyone would be joining in🤗 My mum loved it all and used to clap and smile all the way through - happy memories!
Mrs P, yes we were at the Theatre Royal in Bath on the day of the Swansea earthquake. It was a very strange sensation. I suppose that if we were in a part of the world where earthquakes frequently happen, we would have realised straight away what it was.
ReplyDeleteI was with my sister and and friend. When we returned to our respective homes (in Weston super Mare, Pill and Bristol) we each found items that had fallen of shelves, presumably also due to the earthquake.
Zoetrope- goodness me, had you been at home then you really would have felt it. I felt a sensation, little more, but when it was announced on the radio an hour or so later I immediately made the connection.
DeleteI looked at Swansea on the map and could see how close in a line we were, but I can imagine how in the area you mention the effect would have been far greater.
I have a cousin in Burnham who I regularly visit, but I have never mentioned it to her. She may well have experienced it herself.
May I ask if anyone has used a combi microwave convection oven? I bought one for my kitchen (Yorkshire) to tied me over until I have a proper kitchen and cooker. However I am used to cooking on an ancient gas cooker and this is a bit hi tech for me😟. The instructions are pretty sparse. It has a flat base inside and I understand you can use ordinary cooking vessels in it when switched to oven but I don’t know if you’re supposed to put them straight on the bottom of the oven. There are no shelves. Can anyone help?
ReplyDeletetied? tide??
DeleteTied, I think.
DeleteNo experience, but when confused about a new phone my granddaughter used the name alone to look up instructions on line.
Try typing in name and model number ?
I have had a microwave oven which also has regular oven and grill for years. To start off it was because I had only half a gas cooker working and couldn't afford a new one! It never had a shelf . I suppose because you couldn't have a metal shelf in a microwave but haven't really thought about it.
DeleteIf you go online and google make and model you'll probably be able to find instructions for it. However I think you may be limited regarding internet. can't remember?
If the heat is coming from the top then I don't suppose it matters whether the dish is standing on a rack or solid metal bottom but I'm afraid science just goes straight over my head!
No idea, Seasider, but if it didn't come with a shelf, that suggests the bottom of the oven is where you put the dishes. If unsure, maybe a layer of kitchen foil ?
DeleteTide ( you over) but semantics are the least of your problems right now !
NO FOIL if you are using microwave function it will cause arcing and may damage the oven!
DeleteThanks folks. Mr S, who’s much more scientific, thinks it’s fine. I suppose I will have to try it and see. I haven’t had much luck on the internet. I have WiFi down here and unfortunately the make and model number is up there!
ReplyDeleteGoogle says it’s tide. I hate getting such things wrong - I have a degree in linguistics so I should know!!🤔
I had a combination grill some years ago, the heat element for the grill was at the top and the oven came with a metal stand to raise the food close enough for the grill to do it’s thing. Also a note not to use the rack in microwave mode! As I recall the grill wasn’t terribly good so we didn’t use it much.
ReplyDeleteZoetrope 9.03 pm.
ReplyDeleteI used to work in Bristol and made the journey to Oxford frequently for work purposes. It is an easy drive, but Oxford is a difficult place to park unless you have local knowledge or a disabled badge. There are two park and rides and they can get you into the city within minutes. I would recommend the Abingdon Rd P&R as it would be more convenient coming from Bristol.
The Ashmolean is like a smaller version of the V&A, and quite eclectic in the objects and art on display. It is similar to the Fitzwilliam In Cambridge. When I lived in Oxford i visited regularly, and its free, although exhibitions are not. We are certainly very luck to have free museums.
Seasider. Sorry I can’t help with the microwave. I did have a duel one many years but rarely used the grill/cooking function, so now have a basic one for heating things.
ReplyDeletecarolyn. I’m intrigued you didn’t say what the opera was, as I’m an opera fan, could you let me know?
Having said that I don’t like opera beyond Verdi. Went to a Benjamin Britten opera called Curlew River worst experience I’ve ever had, would have walked out, but it was impossible. Musicals are not my thing. Classical and folk for me.
Seasider 12.40
ReplyDeleteYes I have a combination microwave, have been using them for several years and am now on my second one.
Mine has a large circular glass dish in the bottom (it revolves) which you use when microwaving, but I also have a matching metal one which you put over the glass one when using the convection (heat) setting. It is to protect the glass from cracking when using a high temperature.
My oven also has a grill function for which you put dishes up on a shelf but I never use that because it causes a lot of fat splashing and makes the oven difficult to clean,
I use the convection function more than the microwave, very good for cooking oven chips at a high temp when I have other things at a lower temp. in my main oven. It is also excellent at jacket potatoes using a combination of microwave and convection - they cook in about 12 minutes but have a crispy skin. My particular oven (a Panasonic) has all sorts of automatic programmes for cooking different dishes using microwave/ convection methods so you really do need to get an instruction book online if you can.
Don’t know if any if that helps but do fire any other questions you may have and I’ll see if I can help.
Re: cooking vessels: you can use any pans, dishes etc that you would use in an ordinary oven on a metal plate when you are just using the convection setting, but when using microwave, or a combination of microwave and convection you must not put any metal (or foil) in the oven and stick to glass/china etc.
DeleteI only use my microwave for reheating these days (usually a pre-cooked portion of a previously cooked one).
DeleteI prefer to cook in my oven + on the hob.
We are all different and that is what is so great, to share views + help others.
Stasia (3.45) (18 Stephen Storace : Gli Sposi Malcontenti ( translated the other night as Bride & Gloom). He knew Mozart, Salieri & others. His sister was a famous soprano. I got this from the programme, bought to remedy a little of my ignorance....The director friend has a mission to revive little known composers & operas. Lovely music, not that I'm at all competent to assess.
ReplyDeleteStrange art form to me but email exchange with friend since was rather helpful in understanding, & also made me realize that in Act 2, when I became impatient with all the arias, wanting the ( rather silly) action to move on, I was reacting by habit as if it was straight theatre, & not giving attention to the music ! Clearly, an acquired taste !
Thank you carolyn. Very interesting and just the music and opera I like. I have never heard of him, so asked my partner who plays several instruments if she had. I was then give an account of his life and his sisters.
DeleteI went on line and found some of his music, very like Haydn or a young Mozart. We we have lots of dvds of rare early composers so our next task is to find some of his. Amazing that a little place like Bampton has an opera society. When I lived in Oxford we went there for folksy festivals.
My partner tells me that the literal translation is ‘The discontented married couple’. Comedy misery?
DeleteAbsolutely !
DeleteThanks very much KP and AP (believe I thanked others earlier but apologies if I have left someone out) for helpful tips on oven issues. I will be reunited with it next week so I will have another look then. The jacket potato tip sounds particularly useful. So far Mr S has used it for heating plates! Oh and the microwave for porridge and hot milk. It did come with a round metal rack and a shallow metal dish. The microwave doesn’t have a revolving part, you just put things straight on the base and it stays still.
ReplyDeleteThe small instruction book has timings for various foods for the oven so I expect I will get there with it. Been too busy painting and organising workmen etc so eating salads in the evening seemed easier.
Thanks again.🤗
I joined the 21st centuary today (at last but I am still well behind).
ReplyDeleteI did my first scan as you shop, in the supermarket, and pay at the pump, for petrol, today.
Both were so easy + quick and I will use again.
There is a downside to all this, in that, you don't talk to anyone.
I love a chat with others in a supermarket queue, and then with the supermarket cashier.
I missed that.
Well my options are now open....
Oh don't feel bad Miriam, I filled up my car for the first time last week. Almost all our petrol stations now are self service.
DeleteYes easy peasy but if you don't know what to do it can be nerve- wracking especially if you have impatient people waiting behind you.
But my God what a feeling when it works!!!!
Miriam, I agree re cooker. I much prefer my old gas cooker which I cook on in London. I don’t even like the look of the modern cookers in the shops so I don’t really know what I will buy when my kitchen is sorted out (or what we will do in London when this old one wears out). If I were wealthy I would have an Aga ....in my dreams.👩🏻🍳
ReplyDeleteI pondered what type of cooker, when I had my kitchen re-done, almost 2 yrs ago.
DeleteI bought a "range" look electric cooker in black, and chose with a black glass splashback + a black cooker hood.
The cooker is a double oven, with ceramic plates, and I love it....It is so energy efficient, yet looks good!
Must add, the cleaning is much easier....🤣
DeleteHome Fires. How I loved that series.
ReplyDeleteITV3 is doing a rerun of the 2nd series, starting at 8.00pm tomorrow night (Fri 20th).
"Pip" is an actress in it, and very different, as is "Helen" in Coronation Street.
Just had an interesting read of all the cooking/ micro/oven posts.
ReplyDeleteIn the week that my partner left, the oven went too.
Not having anything to cook on was at that time the least of my concerns.
In due course I purchased a one ring camping stove and in time took the microwave (that had come as a bonus when we had bought the washing machine) out of its box.
For the next fifteen years or so, I managed, not eating very well, but managing.
When I was able to afford a new kitchen I bought an American table top oven which did all that a conventional oven could do.
When I had the kitchen done here I gave in and had the usual arrangements of a fitted oven and hob.
The oven has been here two years and I am still too scared to use it.
I would be terrified to use a scanner at the supermarket or pay the machine when filling up with fuel.
No sign of COWGIRL for a few days !
ReplyDeleteCOWGIRL ?
Hope your not ill.
Missing you.
Mrs P, l bought a two ring electric camping hob and that’s had more use than the oven. I can understand how to use it. I have tried the self service tills but not once managed without someone having to come over to bail me out. I avoid them, and petrol pumps with voices make me jump when they speak to you as you get out of the car.
ReplyDeleteMrs P just noticed your other post. I was also wondering about Cow Girl this afternoon. Cowgirl I hope you haven’t overdone the tree work. Hope all is well with you.
ReplyDeleteA bit more about cooking options :
ReplyDeleteWe have no gas supply in our village so, when we moved here I had to, very reluctantly, learn to cook on ‘electric’
At our kitchen refurb a couple of years ago I opted for a separate built in oven and hob.
The oven is one of those Neff ones they use on the Great British Bake Off, with the door that slides in under the oven. It is brilliant and makes it so easy to put things in and out. It can be used as a fan oven or
straight forward heat which makes it very adaptable.
But my favourite thing is my electric induction hob. I hated cooking on my old electric hob, it was so slow to adjust the heat and things kept boiling over. But the induction type is as quick to adjust as a gas hob and the heat goes up, or down, instantly. Having a flat glass surface makes it very easy to keep clean too.
So much as I missed gas at first, I think I now have the perfect combination of cooking methods,
Thanks again for all the really helpful tips on cookers. Better than GH and Which🤗. I do like the look of the sliding doors. Ovens seem so low down compared with my old side opener and eye level grill. I don’t think I’m coping with the 21st century😣. Off to prepare my carriage and horses for the journey up the Great North Road. Hope I’m not waylaid by highwaymen.
ReplyDeleteSafe journey Seasider!
ReplyDeleteCooking arrangements chez Parsley are rather eclectic, living in France profonde, including (bottled) gas hob, Deville wood - burning stove (wonderful in the winter months), & now eye - level Neff oven with the wonderful slide-under door! Basic M-wave for heating up only.
Mrs p 10.47 Seasider 10.52
ReplyDeleteSorry I have been very busy, but absolutely fine thank you and no I haven't overdone the chain saw. I am very conscious how dangerous they can be so only allow myself a limited time and wear all the safety gear.
How is Lady progressing ?
See you in Gods own Country Seasider ?
LanJan
ReplyDeleteMy tree has arrived, have been feeling very guilty about having spent so much, but now I have seen it, WOW, it is beautiful and over 5ft, so may well live to see it in all its glory. Will be planting it today.
CG 9.04 am
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear all is well. It is comforting that friends on here miss you when you don’t post for a couple if days, but sometimes other priorities just take over, don’t they?
Mr A is polishing up his chainsaw too as we have a couple of trees that have died and need to be felled and then sliced up into logs for the wood burner. We also have around a hundred wretched Leylandii around our borders (planted by a previous owner 40 -50 years ago) and the just keep growing and growing!
When he still lived at home, our son was very adept at shinning up them every year to keep them to a reasonable height but they have really got away from us now and look awful. Mr A wants to do the same but I am not at all keen on my 75yr old husband hanging off a rope, 40 feet up a tree, playing about with a chain saw! I am trying to persuade him to get proper tree surgeons in but he is reluctant to fork out the high fees they charge. 🌲🌲 🌲 😳
You might be able to find someone who will do a lower price in exchange for some of the wood. It depends if you need all of your wood for the woodburner. I am very wary of chain saws and just have an ordinary heavy duty electric saw, and when part of a huge old ash had to come down the tree cutter had some of the logs for a slightly reduced charge.
DeleteGood to hear all is well from COWGIRL, busy is fine, not posting because unwell, not so.
DeleteCongratulations on allowing yourself the cost=pleasure of the tree.
The planting of a tree must be one of the most satisfactory tasks of gardening.
Archerphile- and others ....... does anyone else subscribe to 'Next Door' ?
It is a community website in your area and is very useful for reccomendations and general information, lost cats, local services and so on.
It was 'Street Life' a U.K. Company but was sold to Next Door which is American, but works in the same way.
I use it extensively, and it's free to join and use.
You may find your help to contain your Leylandi in return for the timber on there.
PS - my oven has the sliding door too.
Delighted to hear about your tree Cowgirl.
ReplyDeleteYou definitely did the right thing in buying it.
We have a cherry tree which we bought from Morrison’s or Lydl’s years ago and until this year it was looking good.
This summer we had no fruit and it shed its leaves .
Apparently this can happen to cherry trees so I am not too worried.
However if it should not survive, we will get another because it is where the niger seed feeder is hanging and I don’t want to deprive the goldfinches of their food.
Like you Mrs P ,I subscribe to “Next Door.”
ReplyDeleteIt is really good.
We were looking for old bricks to make a pathway and a builder brought us a load round on his lorry.
Something has changed on my IPad today.
ReplyDeleteWhen I go onto Safari I have a whole raft of sites that I use, there on the page and just click on to the one I want. That includes this site.
Today this page is completely blank. Everything has gone.
Panic ! ! !
But then I found you on bookmarks, so that's alright then.
All my radios have gone phut recently so I have been using my IPad as a radio also. I now have to key live radio in too.
Anyone else experiencing these problems ?
Mrs P. 12.47 and earlier.
ReplyDeleteFirst, thank you very much for the information about Next Door. I had never heard of them before but it sounds a very useful site, so I will certainly investigate. We always use Check-A-Trade before hiring a Plummer, electrician or whoever, as it is useful to read exactly where they are, what they can and can’t do, and the comments of customers. We have not been disappointed yet and found a brilliant oil-fired boiler technician this year who instantly cured the oily fumes we had been suffering after the original fitter said there was nothing wrong.
Re iPad problems: I have not experienced anything like you experienced this morning but still find it impossible to access these blogs from Safari since the last iOS update. So I keep Chrome as an extra browser just for Archersfan Blogs and have no problems.
I am furious that I found I can no longer get radio on the Radio iPlayer - it has been switched off here now and I shall have to resort to the awful new Sounds app to listen to TA tonight.
NOT a happy bunny !😡
Agree and
ReplyDeletethat awful noise played before Sounds is announced and the way the prog is announced makes my teeth go on edge. Also no continuity announcer now 😦and some were amusing with their Archers comments.
I haven’t a clue how I originally was able to sign up to our Archers site.
ReplyDeleteAll I know is that when I signed out by mistake I was advised to go via chrome which of course I had never heard of.
Now that is what I do.
Learning about the Internet is the same as learning about mathematics.
One should start at the beginning and build up knowledge like building a wall brick by brick.
When one jumps in at the deep end because one has a new computer and there are emails to send and receive ,it doesn’t take long before there are a whole lot of words to learn like router etc..
Oh how good it would have been to have been able to learn the subject at school.
However.
Many folk don’t expect the elderly to have any knowledge about technology.
I don’t mind being patronised by someone being impressed that I know something about it.
My grandson was surprised but pleased that I knew how to use a contactless debit card.
In our household it is me (I?) who is computer savvy and my husband who hasn’t a clue.
ReplyDeleteI was fortunate to go on a free course at our local technical college to learn how to use a computer. Every week was a different topic starting with the basics (how to switch the darned thing on !) and covering everything thing from emails, web surfing, shopping on line, to desktop publishing, ExCel, graphs, presentations, the lot. At the end were staged, timed tests which, if passed, earnt a certificate and I achieved my ECDL qualification - which stands for European Computer Driving Licence! It would have been useful if I had been going for job interviews but I was already retired by then and just took the course for interest.
I have had a long, hard battle with Mr A to ensure he surfs safely, doesn’t let a virus in, clears old mail and files etc, but I have to do all the maintenance work on our PC running Windows, like de-fragging, back-up and cookie clearance because he hasn’t a clue.
I must say my Apple iPad is so much easier to maintain and understand, far more reliable and less prone to hacking than Windows, so if we ever have to buy a new PC it will definitely be an Apple one. 🍏
MrsP. I also had problems accessing these blogs apparently safari doesn’t like google, so I had to get in via chrome. I can still use my smart phone as it’s not apple. We have an apple computer in the study, which I don’t like using as it’s a bit more complicated than the iPad.
ReplyDeleteMore comfortable to lounge on the sofa, and should I need to print anything the message will be sent from the iPad to the printer. No need to move until I’m ready and feeling less lazy. Amazing all at the end of our fingertips. But when things go wrong!!
Another lovely sunny day again.
ReplyDeleteI am off to water, but just the window box + hanging basket, as these are still in full bloom, but sadly wilting. I am happy for the rest of the garden to die back.
To add to cooker chat. My No#1 neice who now lives only 25miles away, has a Neff kitchen. She has the slide + hide oven doors and an induction hob. I have cooked on these, whilst child minding, but I didn't find that these were any better than my electric fan oven/s + ceramic hob.
ReplyDeleteThe cost differerence is quite amazing.
I have to admit that I bought an expensive A++ rated Bosch integrated 'fridge, along with an A+++ rated Hotpoint washing machine. Was it money well spent - think so.
She also has a "quooker" to give instant boiling water - but I hate it. Give me a kettle any time....I have had several luke warm cups of tea + coffee, certainly not made with boiling water.
DeleteWeather is absolutely gorgeous here too Miriam. I managed to get sooooo much done in the front garden yesterday - planted up all the pots & baskets ready for winter. I have went polyanthus mad! Been growing them in the greenhouse and they look healthy as heck. Still got hundreds of daffs, tulip and allium bulbs to pop in the ground but at the moment I am crashed out on the sofa working my way through a HUGE box of Green & Black's chocolates and watching about 47 channels at the same time on TV. I'm a happy man today.....🍫📺😀
ReplyDeleteWell DONE and enjoy.
DeleteMy gardening is a bit behind, but I am not worried.
Me - I just love a dark chocolate kitkat, but are so small these days..😯
Pleased the weather is fine in Scotland today ,Gary ,as my son is doing the Ultimate Forth Bridge walk (in aid of Barnardo’s ) today.
ReplyDeleteApparently the walks were sold out in less than an hour.
Rather him than me.
Good view though.
The Forth bridges are amazing. I have done all in train + car.
DeleteI couldn't walk them though.
Well Done Gary.
I am impressed by Archerphile, agree with LJ, astounded at GGs gardening, and warmed by Stasias attitude towards laziness.
ReplyDeleteI was far too proud to take any computer course figuring that I would learn it as I went along. And I did, but still don't know lots. But I know what I need to know and on the whole am satisfied with that.
I sound like Miriam with that last sentence !
I don't think I have ever used chrome, so will have to see how I progress from today onwards.
Archerphile- if you type into your search engine ' Next Door ' followed by your nearest town, you should get it up, but equally it could be centred on a village in your region.
I would like to give better information but cannot.
Like LJ I was on Street Life when in London and simply transferred to where I am now. It was a couple of years later that it changed to Next Door.
I use Chrome all the time and it works for me. Everyone's devices + setups, are very different so it is finding just what works.
DeleteArcherphile 9.03
ReplyDeleteTell Mr A that his life is worth more than the cost of the job and you wont let him do it.
( you can tell why I never married !!! )
Leylandi logs need to be seasoned for at least a couple of years, to avoid damaging your chimney with the sap. Just going to use mine this winter cut down 3 years ago. Sorry if you know already. Since I and my neighbour had ours cut down it has been so light and airy, improved things no end. Too big for me to cut down myself, but it cost less than I thought, so hears hoping.
Grr - I was just tapping in a long comment and the website disappeared from my screen 😞
ReplyDeleteMiriam - I love dark chocolate kit kats too, but I freeze mine and eat them straight from the freezer. Weird, I know! I don't know how I got into that, but now it's the only way I eat them.
ReplyDeleteStasia - thank you for the tips about driving to and parking in Oxford I think the Pompeii exhibition is on until January, so hope to get there.
ReplyDeleteTo all of you busy in their gardens - I love reading about what you are doing. I hope to be inspired and motivated by you to work on mine. I have a terrible pattern of buying plants, bulbs etc then doing nothing with them. I think every season, this time I will get on with things, but time moves and I don't! 😞
ReplyDeleteJust do a few pots with bulbs, pansies for the winter. In the Spring just replant with petunias, begonias or similar.
DeleteIt is easy to do, and just two plant containers, can be so colourful and give a lovely focus.
It doesn't take a lot of time or cost, but the result can be amazing, which you can enjoy for many months.
One of my nieces lives in a flat, with a small balcony. She has done just this.
Be it a balcony, a small patio or outside space, it is possible to create something to enjoy.
ZoeT. I hadn't thought about freezing my kitkats.
ReplyDeleteI will try this. I am astounded how they have so shrunk in size though.
But this applies to all chocolate bars these days, without a reduction in price.
As a child, a Mars bar was cut into 5, a piece each for M+D and one each, for myself and my two sisters. This was a good chunky mouthful for each of us. This could not be done today.
I hope SpicyC is progressing well with her problem, as is Archerphile and Parsley16.
ReplyDeleteI wish you all well and are on the mend, along with others I haven't mentioned.
Cow Girl 5.31
ReplyDeleteYes, we were warned when our wood burner was fitted not to use too many Leylandii on the fire because they exude sticky sap which can block the flue, so we always alternate with hardwood logs. We actually had to buy in hardwood logs last winter because we only had the fir ones left and they hadn’t been seasoned long enough. We also discovered that you just can’t burn Laburnum wood, it just sits there and sulks! A great pity as we had a huge old Laburnum that died and couldn’t use any of it!
Cowgirl, good to hear you are well. Your tree sounds wonderful - I really hope you will enjoy it without guilt.
ReplyDeleteHope to catch up soon with northerly bloggers.
Decorator is coming next week to work on my front bedroom. It’s the biggest room in the house and I will be glad to have the use of it. Ceiling was replaced last month.
Mrs P, sorry can’t be much help with computer problems. I probably know less than you unfortunately.
I am so loving re-watching Home Fires again.
ReplyDeleteIt was a brilliant 2 series, but was so sadly axed.
I especially enjoy it, as I know the village it was filmed in, so very well, and the country side vistas. I see these very regularly on my travels around.
I particulary loved the views of Beeston Castle, where the ashes of my Mum, then my Dad, were scattered, a few years apart.
I always have a poignant thought, when I am nearby and see it. It is strange, but I have never walked up and visted Beeston Castle again. I find it hard yet others would find it otherwise.
I will go again, as it is a wonderful place, but only when I feel it is right for me
Interesting. I tried Home Fires on ITV 3 this evening as it came so highly recommended, but couldn't get on with it at all. I disliked being reminded of the 40s, the stiff way of behaving, the uncomfortable clothes that women and girls were expected to wear and the way that they were treated by men as inferior beings. It wasn't long before I switched to i-player and caught up with Gardener's World to find out what I'm supposed to be doing with the rather large garden which is now my responsibility (that's if I have the time, when not searching for missing certificates and tax returns!)
ReplyDeleteSarnia, Please can you help me ?
ReplyDeleteI stopped watching Gardeners World when the programme became an hour long and I had often fallen asleep before hearing what I should be doing in my garden at the weekend.
Please will you tell me what I should be doing this weekend ?
I think whatever it is -take cuttings? - it will have to be today as we are due to have rain tomorrow.
(I think P tbY only watches the programme to catch a glance of Adam Frost.I like the crinkly eyed fellow whose name escapes me but soon get bored when he goes round gardens talking about flowers with Latin names .He should leave that to Carol Klein when I can switch off)
Don’t work too hard with your document searching.
Do enjoy autumn in your garden .
Lanjan 8.34.
ReplyDeleteLol. Yes I do watch for Adam. He’s lovely, even though he’s a southerner!!
So you should be planting garlic this weekend, dead heading, aerating and scarifying your lawns.
Planting garlic,PtbY?
ReplyDeleteI am trying to get rid of the wretched stuff.
Someone gave me some wild garlic years ago and it is like a weed and grows everywhere.
It is supposed to be good for deterring slugs but they have not been told that.
The flowers -like white bluebells- are quite pretty but not in the number I have.
Thanks anyway for the information.
I will go outside and do a bit of gentle dead heading .
Our “lawn” is a bit past scarifying I think but it is much greener than it was this time last year.
This was elephant garlic, Lanjan, which apparently has a milder flavour in cooking than the ordinary sort. He showed us how to plant them at the correct depth, and I think I might have a go at that. Monty also re-visited the method of sowing a wild flower meadow, either in existing grass or on a new site, something else I'd like to try. I've got the seed, but it doesn't contain yellow rattle, and no one around here seems to have any. He said he'd used the wrong variety of grass in the paradise garden and had to cut it back because it had gone all floppy and collapsed over the other plants. I'm disappointed in the paradise garden - all the ones he visited were very formal in their layout and looked peaceful to be in. His is a mess.
ReplyDeleteLanjan, 9.15
ReplyDeleteOne of the other jobs (which I do all summer long, anyway) was to keep up with the dead-heading of all flowering plants to prolong the flowers.
I have all but switched off ‘in my head’ during GW these days if Monty Don is presenting.
I find him insufferably boring and his garden is almost claustrophobic with its small, over stuffed spaces and ever attendant dogs. I *much* prefer Adam Frost who seems to have more energy, different gardening ideas and seems to be a more down-to-earth and less cerebral gardener.
Its time for a change of both garden and presenter in my view, though Mr A is still a very keen Monty fan, though I think that is partially to do with Monty’s well published battles with depression with which he can sympathise
Lanjan - 10:37 on the Archers' blog. Your grandson is certainly broad minded enough to recognise that his future doesn't lie in the academia. When a relative dropped out of the educational system, his snob father said that he wanted to be a plumber! I pointed out that it's a skilled, highly paid job. (Purely as measure of financial success one plumber had both his children in private schools.) He and his brother set up as independent estate agents and are doing very well, though it's not my favourite profession. Young people nowadays are turning to manual work and they know how to market themselves. I've heard that there's a way of diverting the waste water from washing in the bathroom to flush the toilets. I hope that your grandson will learn how to carry out such innovations.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of using bathroom waste water for loo flushing. I don't think it would work for me though,as I always use foam bath so have loads of bubbles.
DeleteI can't imagine flushing the loo with water with bubbles in, esp. if I put the bath jets on, so it is even more foamy.
PS What about the hairs after I have shaved my legs, I wouldn't want those stuck round my loo.
Sorry, too much informatio.
Ooh Miriam! I have sugaring (every few months) keeps things soft and smooth too 🤗
DeleteWhat a glorious + sunny afternoon. I couldn't do as I planned, that was to sit in the garden and reading by book, (Careless Love by Peter Robinson - a detective novel), as it was far too windy. Also there is a lot of work needed in the garden, which I can't attempt as I am still on light duties after my cataract op. 10 days ago. It frustrated me to see these many jobs, and also my eye is still very sun sensitive and sore at times (but 7day post op. Hosp. visit last week went well, in spite of eye still being inflammed). I have to still sometimes, wear sunglasses in my lounge, but that is preferable to closing the curtains.
ReplyDeleteI am still amazed that a very simple 15min cataract procedure is classed as an op. with similar constraints eg, full healing will take 6 to 8 weeks, no swimming or hot tub use for 4 weeks, no digging in the garden for at least 4 weeks, no vacuuming or lifting for 2 weeks etc.
DeleteI am trying to be good, but it is difficult.
Continue being good it will be worth it!
DeleteIndeed Miriam. So many ops are are quick in themselves these days that it is easy to forget the body still needs to heal internally. When I had a detached retina repaired in itself a marvellous thing, I had to stay upright for a week, even in bed at night - used a large v pillow - and good for posture as I had to keep my back straight and bend my knees when filling or emptying the washing machine etc, and no driving for a few weeks which as the only driver was curtailing but it came to an end and I still am so thankful for my sight due to my quick reaction to the problem I was told at both the opticians and St Thomas hospital 🤗
DeleteBasia- 2.07 pm
ReplyDeleteSee my post on new Archer blog re two daughters.
Lily Pargetter and mine, an estate agent.
Archerphile, 10.12am. Isn't this fascinating! I've certainly learned some useful information from Adam Frost, but I find him difficult to follow: his speech is very fast, so I can't always keep up with what he has to say, and his staccato, clipped delivery is quite abrasive to listen to; a whole programme of undiluted Adam Frost is a challenge to my concentration and tires me out! I have never gardened before in my life, so tend to respond rather better to Monty Don's quiet, thoughtful, (and to my ears anyway, much slower) delivery. We are so fortunate that the programme makers seem to understand this very well and provide us with such a well-balanced mix of presenters. I believe there are even people who are devoted to Carol Klein ;)
ReplyDeleteI lost the i-player for 2 days last week. I managed to find TA on Sounds, eventually.
ReplyDeleteNow i-player is back and working well, which I much prefer. I use an Android phone btw.
MrsP - I did wonder what you meant by "area of work despised by many". I said it's not my favourite, though I've had good agents, but somebody's got to do it and we all have to live somewhere.
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteSarnia 5.07
ReplyDeleteMr A would certainly agree with you re, Monty! I think, for me, he has just been doing the programme for too long and I need a change. Oh how I wish they could resurrect the wonderful Mr Smith (Geoff Smith) and his garden. He was a true northern, down to earth gardener and showed you exactly how to do things, especially fruit and vegetables. I still have all his books and consult them often
My daughter and I cannot bear Carol Klein with the pulled through a hedge backwards hairdo!
But she does use Latin names for plants which I, personally, like. I always refer to plants by their full Latin name. I think I inherited it from my Mum who did the same so I grew up knowing them. The only problem is that the powers that be have a habit of changing them frequently so, for example, the lovely purple shrub that I always think of as Rhus cotinus (the smoke bush) is now called something completely unpronounceable!
I enjoyed Carol Klein in the recently broadcast Ch5 competative programme series, about creating gardens, in differing locations all with a different focus.
DeleteI enjoyed this, as it showed garden designs and why the planting etc was done in the way it was, to meet the brief.
Carol K. was so interesting with her knowledge of plants + planting, in that programme.
I loved this series, as gardens had to be created in care homes for senior citizens , in a home for persons who were blind or partially sighted, in a park which had to appeal for multiple generations, in two gardens at a hospital - for staff + patients to enjoy. It was fascinating and very informative, emotional.
DeleteI do so agree with you about Geoffrey Smith,Archerphile.
ReplyDeleteIt was because of him I got really interested in gardening and like you I have several of his very easy to follow books.(75p) each.
The DH Hessayon books are really good too.
What we would like to know is
What on earth does Monty Don do with all the fruit and vegetables he grows?
Also
It is so obvious that when he “digs “ a hole (which he seems to do in every programme because he spends his time splitting perennials to move somewhere else ) some kind soul has been there before him to do the hard work.
Yes Lanjan, I think he must have at least one, if not more, ‘under-gardeners’. There is so much to be done in that garden he cannot possibly do all the work himself - not with travelling around the world to make programmes and writing books too.
DeleteThe thing that I find most frustrating is that he (and other TV gardeners) seem to have perfect, crumbly loam soil. What we have is about 2 inches of topsoil on top of solid chalk and clay, liberally dotted with huge flints and hundreds of smaller stones. Whenever we want to plant something it is more like excavating a mine first getting all the flints out and then trying to drive in a stake or plant support is invariably difficult, or impossible due to underground obstructions.
Oh well, you have to live with what you have got, and over the years we have become expert at knowing which plants will survive on chalk and are ignored by rabbits!
Miriam 4.25
ReplyDeleteI noticed you are reading the latest Peter Robinson book - he is one of my favourite authors and I have every single one of his books on my shelf. I am looking forward to taking the new one on our cruise in November as it is always the perfect opportunity to get really stuck into a good book.
One if my other favourites is Ann Cleeves, in particular her Shetland series which she has now concluded.. She has just published the first book in a new series to be set in North Devon, an area I know very well, so I am going to buy that too to take on holiday. Apparently the new DCI is posted to Ilfracombe and has to investigate the murder of a body found on a secluded beach - I shall be able to picture the settings and follow the action over an area very familiar to me. I hope the new series is as successful as the Shetland one has been.
Come on Scotland!!!!! 🗾🏈
ReplyDeleteArcherphile 9.32 21st
ReplyDeleteAfter an absence rabbits are back in my garden, heres hoping Misty will keep them at bay, she has just chased one this morning and is now running back and forward following the scent. they are such a pain, I stopped growing vegetables.
Your garden my be challenging, but how rewarding to achieve what I am sure is a beautiful garden.
Most gardens to me are too formal, I like the old fashioned cottage garden, a jumble, though I have to say I am always moving plants about. There were only a few miserable shrubs here when I came 3 1/2 years ago, so my garden is in the making, not that I think I will be ever satisfied, growing plants from seeds is so satisfying.
We have to do all the work ourselves, so we can take pride in that, unlike these so called experts!
Sorry I don't have much time for them.
GG I remember your holiday from last year, I hope you are gathering your candles in readiness !
ReplyDeleteAlways got candles Cowgirl. Always! One of my biggest pet peeves is bright lights in the house - but it does mean that I get through an awful lot of candles in the winter months...
DeleteI share your peeve GG, but don't have candles, instead have semi darkness.
DeleteCowGirl, sorry to hear that the rabbits have returned.
The benefit being Misty gets lots of exercise.
Soooo cosy💣💣💣 ( sorry about the emoji...it was the closest thingi I could find to a candle...😁😁😁)
DeleteCowgirl 8.44
ReplyDeleteIf you need any rabbit-proof plants I would be happy to suggest a few!
We also gave up our veg. plot a few years ago due to fighting a loosing battle with the little critters and not being able to afford the fencing which has to be buried at least a foot underground to stop them burrowing in.
One particularly bad year they were even climbing up onto our tubs of geraniums to dig everything out, then decimated my dwarf Olive tree by climbing onto a wall and leaning down to stip it of its leaves!
I don’t think the rabbits have been quite so bad for the last couple of years though and our neighbours cat kills a few. But I can always tell when they are back because they habitually use our long garden path as their toilet, leaving their ‘currents’ for us to tread in!
Archerphile 2.37
ReplyDeleteThank you. They are not yet back with a vengeance, I have stopped up their quick escape route next door, hopefully once they realise Misty will have them, they will keep away.
Pigeons is my other problem, my barn is filthy, it has got so bad that my builder is coming this week to put up spikes to stop them from roosting, other wise Emeralds feed will be contaminated. I cant manage myself as the roof is extremely high, plus I'm nervous of heights. As fast as you clean up you have to start again.