Archerphile - September 5, 2020 at 9:36 AM I do wish the BBC would swap Gardener’s World presenters - make Adam Frost the weekly lead, with Monty Don just doing the occasional programme. I am bored to tears with Monty, his claustrophobic garden and his wretched dogs following him everywhere. I much prefer Adam’s more open garden and his more casual style of presentation. Last nights programme was entrancing and we especially liked the visit to Dan Pearson’s beautiful countryside garden and the lady growing those amazing snake gourds and Thai vegetables. Monty Don has been fronting GW for a very long time now and it’s time for a change. Let him go on his trips abroad (always wearing some floaty scarf or other) and let Adam show us the weekly jobs in our own gardens and other inspirational gardens around this country.
Lady RSeptember 5, 2020 at 10:18 AM 🤣 oh Archerphile I said to Mr R last night that you would be saying just that 😂 I don’t mind Monty as a person but regarding GW Adam Frost is bright and very personable. Puss cat makes an appearance but I enjoy that and confess I did loved Nigel.
Lady R - September 5, 2020 at 10:26 AM Love Nigel of course 🤩
Archerphile - September 5, 2020 at 10:40 AM Oh dear! I/we must be the only people in the entire country who didn’t love Nigel! Afraid, as you will have gathered by now, we are definitely cat people, not dog lovers!
Basia - September 5, 2020 at 10:39 AM I only listen to GQT and yesterday I found out that if ginger sprouts it can be planted. I told my sister about and she said she's done it already, how avantgarde is that! It can take up to a year to grow, so I'll see how she gets on. Mine though organic has not sprouted, perhaps it's the long flight from Peru and storage that prevents it.
Archerphile - September 5, 2020 at 10:43 AM Thanks Basia, I might try that. Last nights TV gardening prog showed a lady who grows loofahs to eat (not use in the bath) and a very strange snake gourd, several feet long and looking exactly like a snake curling round. Very weird,
Archerphile - September 5, 2020 at 10:50 AM Also can report that the Tamarind seeds I bought back from Dubai 18 months ago have grown into 4 pretty little trees (only 10 inches high so far) with feathery leaves. They are supposed to be perfect for bonsai, so as they will never survive outdoors in England, I shall gave a go at bonsai-ing them.
I’m here!!!!!! I’ve just watched GW at my friends house as I usually do on a Saturday morning. I love both of them but when Monty retires I want Adam taking over. AND no one else is getting their hands on him but me!!! So back off Archerphile! Lol. The only thing about GW I’m getting sick of is the constant PC agenda they seem to have. Archerphile....yes I think you are the only ones who didn’t love Nigel. Poor Monty....I feel for him. Love how Nelly and Patty follow him about. I also like the fact that Adams cat appears. The clip last night of the “fox blight” was amusing. Didn’t like the garden designers garden... looked like an overgrown mess.
I am definitely a Monty fan and I was a Nigel fan although I have never had a dog. I am warming to Adam’s presenting style and agree it is gentle and relaxed but I do love Monty’s garden. Not a fan of landscaping or lawns.
Meant to say I haven’t watched last night’s episode yet because I was watching Anoushka Shankar, daughter of Ravi, playing sitar at the proms. I thought it was mesmerising. Loved it.
I love dogs and have owned five including the present three. The other two were a sheltie and a border collie. I don’t watch GW but have seen Monty’s dog, Nigel and of course thought he was lovely! They do like to see what you are doing and the border collie used to lie down by me when working in the garden. Our first two being herding dogs were very different from our two Shih Tzu’s and one cross breed with a Shih Tzu element. They were bred as companion dogs to royalty and aristocracy in China. When the revolution came along the new regime virtually killed them off but a few of them were rescued and brought back to UK. Some were then taken to USA after the war by servicemen. We now have quite a population! They still retain their superior outlook and need to know who is in charge! We have double doses with Buddy who also has a terrier background with resulting defiance! They keep us on our toes though and provide endless amusement and quite a bit of affection!🐶🐶🐶
Dogs vs Cats! What an interesting topic. I love dogs, and as a family we always had one, as I was growing up until I left home. Even then, my parents always had a dog, until when in their late '70's they had to have their lovely Pointer, put down. This dog was wonderful, and always alerted Mum + Dad when I was visiting. She strangely heard + recognised my car, so ran to the front door, wagging her tail, well before I appeared. Now I am a cat owner, as you all know. I got my first cat by accident, and have been one for many years. This was due to my life-style and home. With a cat-flap "Puss-cat/s" can/could go outside when the mood dictates, whilst I was working. I was often away work-wise, for over 10 hours a day, so it would have been not fair on a dog.
When my 15yr old cat is no more, as it will happen, sooner rather than later (I am prepared), I will adopt another one. This might well become two! 🤞🤞 This will not be for at least, a year.
Basia - I found that ginger information fascinating too, although I don't like ginger at all, in anything. I have no opinion on dogs or cats in gardens on television and only watch GW on catch up when it's been pronounced upon on here since I am a regular radio listener and so on Friday nights it's Any Questions.
Archerphile- your Tamarind sounds very pretty. Could I have one please as a house plant?
I have an old metal jug beside my front gate which collects rain water. Yesterday I found a small frog in it. Today my neighbour and I have made a new home for him/her in the garden, so that it can escape and or return. I love toads and frogs.
My eldest neice + family, suddenly have a lot of hedgehogs around. They have set up a Hedgehog Hotel in their garden. The kids are so very interested in doing this + why. I never watch GW, as to me it doesn't help me nor inspire me. My garden is just that, what I want and if it survives fine, if not then also fine. I do love Countryfile though, with the other Adam.
Oh, dear, I am obviously in the minority, but although I can appreciate Adam Frost's knowledge and expertise, I really struggle with him as a presenter. Like many English people his delivery is so fast that I can't always follow what he is saying, his words are clipped and abrasive in tone and he swallows the ends of his sentences so that I keep losing the point he is making. To make matters worse, he comments as he works, so that the additional breathlessness only contributes to his indecipherability. I long for Monty's quiet, measured approach, and the fact that he delivers his points carefully and distinctly to camera first and then demonstrates his point in the garden.
If Adam Frost eventually succeeds him, as seems to be on the cards, trying to make sense of what he is saying may well turn out to be too much of an effort.
Miriam.....it wasn’t dogs v cats. It was Monty v Adam Frost. We always had cats, always 4, up until 14 yrs ago when we got our first dog. Over the space of 3 yrs this had become 4 dogs as well as 4 cats. So I’m not biased on either.
Sarnia.....Adam can be as breathy as he likes with me!😉
It became part of the overall topic Miriam because Archerphile mentioned that for her (and Mr A) Monty’s dogs regular appearances in the show detracted from the main purpose of the programme. Fair do’s - no problem having different opinions 🤗
I have to tell you of some news that has occurred..my daughter who lived in New York decided during the summer to take up her sister's invition to move permanently to Glasgow. She did so at the beginning of August. She couldn't be happier . New York is detiorating hour by hour and I can't tell you how relieved I am that she is out of it. Anyway to get back on track they are hoping to buy a dog tomorrow, a Westie. They are are so excited and so am I.they wanted a rescue dog but since they live in an apartment they wouldn't allow it besides there are very few rescue dogs available due to lockdown. Will keep you posted. Anna is going to see the little pup tomorrow.
Lovely News with your daughter now living in Glasgow. This is obviously a relief for you and it will be so much easier to visit, when you can travel again.
Sisters can be so infuriatating at times, but on so many other times, they are so supportive + caring. It is a life-time bond which will never be broken.
To add, Big Sis rang me yesterday. She knew that I was off to The Zoo on my birthday (still not telling when) and suggested that she joined me. I have a pre-booked ticket for that day, and she will join me free, as I can swipe her in, on my members card, as the entey rules have just been changed for members, like myself.
It will be a lovely jaunt out- two sisters together, even with face masks, hand-gel and individual picnic lunches and driving individually (in tandem).
I have two brothers, Miriam, one older and one younger. It has made me a bit of a loner preferring to do things on my own. I don’t really like shopping with anyone else as I like to go into whatever shops I like, buy what I want and come home. Just recently though I have just done online shopping! It is lovely, however, to go out for coffee or lunch and a chat and I envy sisters for that and the closeness which more often than not exists between them. I am lucky to get on well with Katy and before lockdown we always enjoyed these things but now we do have cream teas etc at home! The dogs usually join us!
Autumleaves. Lovely to hear about the pup situation. We have been looking into getting another dog since July. We have applied for 2 from the dogs trust and have not been successful. It certainly is not an easy thing to do, get a rescue dog. We have tried a specific breed rescue centre and have been told we can’t even be added to the list. So we’ve given up and been in touch with a breeder. I hVe to ring in 2 weeks to see if her dog that’s been mated is preggers or not. 🤞
If we get a pup it will be called either Trevor or Daphne.
I had a long wait for Gypsy but it turned out they had forgotten about me! We very quickly acquired Buddy and Dudley after applying though. Rescue centres do try to match you up with a dog so don’t give up! I can recommend Shih Tzus for us older folk but no matter how small, dogs do need to get out for walks. All of ours were a bit short of walks in their early life resulting in obesity for Gyp, destructive behaviour for Buddy and aggressive guarding for Dudley. There’s a lot to be said for tiring them with regular walks as for the most part their behaviour improves as they are too sleepy to get up to mischief!
PtbY - many rescues in my experience prefer to home rescue dogs to a household that already has resident dogs. Don't give up, please, on rescues. So many dogs, particularly abroad go to kill centres, why do we need to bring more into the world ? You liked Lady, and when a rescue goes to a home with resident dogs they learn the rules and how to behave so quickly. Won't you look at paws2rescue ?
Autumn leaves, how lovely for you to have your two girls together in on relatively safe city. I'm sure you are very relieved. As for sisters having an unbroken bond...... well no, not always. My sister and I never had any bond to break. I never liked her from the day she was born due to unfortunate circumstances within my family and my dislike of her and her behaviour towards me was never taken seriously by our parents, and was escalated by our mothers attitudes towards us. I do not have a single happy memory attached to my sister and we have not had any contact since the day of our mother's funeral. Nevertheless I do envy the strong and positive relationships between sisters, and grieve for what I never had.
Mrs P, Ev. Most of the dogs I’ve looked at on rescue sites want to be the only dog in the household. We want a big dog that wants lots of exercise. I think that being a fair way from a rescue centre is going against us at the mo. They must want to rehome them closer. I was so convinced we would get Lulu the Rottweiler, she was perfect for us....never heard a word. I’ll keep looking. I’m one that believes in fate. So we’ll see.
Ptby Have you looked at breed specific rescue centres? They are located all around the country. Usually the charity will match the dog to you rather than you choosing one which I hadn’t appreciated before. Dudley for instance had a lot of upheaval as they moved 4 or 5 times and then had children where he had been their “baby” so he needed a quiet home and more routine which we could provide having no children in the house. We went to Shih Tzu rescue for him. Buddy was meant to be with us for a week as his foster carer was on holiday but I think they had an inkling he would stay with us! His foster carer was very fond of him but felt she couldn’t cope on her own as she had another dog and two cats. I couldn’t cope without Katy and as she goes out to work she needs me to look after them during the day. Gypsy at nearly 11, blind and with other issues and having an elderly infirm owner badly needed a new home. It took me overnight thinking to take her on. No regrets but she has required a lot of care. We love them all dearly and it has helped us so much after losing Mike. Rescue dogs come with issues and it takes time to build trust and to overcome their difficulties but so worth it!🐶🐶🐶 Gypsy has her thirteenth birthday on 13 September. They are having a special steak dinner!🎉🎉🎂
Ptby have just re read your post at 6.42 and find it extraordinary that you have applied to a breed specific charity only to be told you can’t even be put on the list! We had no problem with Friends of the Animals or with Shih Tzu rescue! Have you tried other breeds? Border collies make lovely pets. They are so intelligent and need lots of exercise! In Yorkshire you may find one which failed its training with sheep! Good luck anyway! The right dog will appear at the right time! Am a believer in fate too!
I am definitely a dog person and always have been. Grew up with the family dog and when married always had one. Love them all and Maisie, my little terrier, is a sweetie. She can be stubborn and knows what she wants but is so loving. Dogs names are interesting. A dachshund in my road is called Stuart which isn't very doggy to my ears. Other neighbours have dogs called Pepper, Pork Chop, Milo, Desty. Unlike Mrs. P, I love ginger. Ginger beer is a favourite (non-alcoholic).
When I was little we had a cake shop at the corner of our street. Mum used to say I could either have a gingerbread man or two mushrooms which were made from hard meringue. It was agonising to decide! I love ginger in any form. It is very good for the digestion! Rhubarb and ginger jam is a great favourite.
PtbY - I have just now copied two available dogs from 'paws' to send to you, but now having read that you want a large dog, might I suggest ' Sebra ' a rescue that brings over setters and Brittany's from Spain, hunting dogs. But they are kicked out or just neglected because they have failed as hunters, so are considered worthless.
Like Ev, I am astonished that you were not able to get onto a waiting list. But I do think that the quality of rescue organisations is variable dependent on the individuals who run them. Do you know about ' dog chat ' or something similar ( I will check that ) it lists many many rescues throughout the UK. Do keep trying, your dog will be out there.
Well, I must accept that I am in a very small minority of one, on this blog. Being, seemingly, the only correspondent who doesn’t like dogs, of any breed, shape or size. So I will dip out of contributing until the subject changes as I have nothing to usefully say on the subject
Mmn....I don't think any posts that are enthusiastic & lively about the subject are boring. That's a subjective thing - e.g I only skim read any post about sport or gardening, but I recognize & appreciate the passion ! It's so nice people can chat about what they like on this blog, whilst there's no compulsion for anyone to respond unless moved to do so.
Thanks for the invitation, Gary. I'll certainly let you know when I come over. Won't be this year, though, things are still too risky with quarentine and so on. Here in Italy numbers are starting to rise again and with schools starting on th 14th I think we're going to see a real spike in infections. I hope not but I think it will be inevitable.
I have the same feeling about an increase in covid cases Autumnleaves. My grandchildren go back to school on the 14th and l'm thinking of keeping my distance for a while. We were all hoping to go to my great niece's wedding in February but have decided not to go.
Are you sure you want a Rottweiler PtbY? I am a little bit biased against them because of an incident when I was younger. A newcomer to our village had just been given one as a birthday present by her daughter. I don't think it had come across sheep before and it was having the time of its life chasing ours up and down across some hilly valley fields. My dad and brother were out so it was me plus the owner's very plump husband trailing in the distance trying to catch the blinking thing, AND they don't have any fur which makes them exceedingly difficult to hang on to, and they can run really fast. You think you 've got hold of it but then it just slips through your grasp, and it had no collar to hang on to either. When I did finally get it it was as if butter wouldn't melt, and it looked like it was saying, haven't we had a fun morning?! The husband asked me if I wanted to shoot it but I didn't have the heart to (it was a fine animal just needed owners who could control it, and it hadn't actually savaged the sheep just chased them although that can cause them to abort) and they gave it back to the daughter to look after.
I like both dogs and cats - mine was called Minou and my sister's Kochka. Her sons have dogs, a Sarplaninac sheep dog - Nikita and a Samoyed - Michka and they enjoy each other's company.
Archerphile, you mentioned the amazing gourds. I also find vegetable shapes fascinating. I once bought some ginger which resembled a whole hand. I also like fennel and its multi-layered bulbs.
Archerphile, I remember MrsP saying a while ago that she was in touch with CowGirl who was taking a break from the Archers and blogging, let's hope she's OK.
Janice....laughed at your Rottweiler escapade. They were originally cattle herders so that explains your sheep herding incident. We lost our rottie very suddenly in May. She was a big softie. We got her from the rspca at 14 weeks old. My mother was horrified. Wouldn’t have her in the house she said. Loved her in the end. She used to climb up on my mothers knee in the arm chair and go to sleep on her.
We are going to have a treat for lunch today. Our neighbour who comes every holiday season Christmas and summer presented my husband with a tray of home made tagliatelle before heading off home to Modena. So I've been busy making ragu this morning. I never make homemade pasta but my mother in law made everything from pasta to ravioli ,tortellini and gnocchi. The woman who made us this is originally from our village and our families grew up together. Throughout the summer my husband would leave a couple of heads of salad and several zucchini outside their door (Mr 🍁🍁always plants more than we can use) and the following day we would find a bottle of wine in return. That's the way things are done here..I'm looking forward to my Sunday lunch.
Hello Winnie! Buon appetito, Autumnleaves. I know neighbours who share the surplus from their allotments/gardens. My sister made pasta with her granddaughters.
It is ironic that after calling this the "Sick Bay " blog I should have the fortnight I have had! Thank you for showing concern. You have been very kind.
I will be brief. Hospital last Friday . We were there for getting on for five hours without finding out very much. Another appointment tomorrow -told to bring an overnight bag in case- and also Tuesday. However,I am an optimist and am convinced he will soon be feeling fine. I also believe that it is always darkest before the dawn
It doesn't rain....... After the forest fires inCanada, spending time contacting the lovely Doctor in the hospital who said he would be happy to speak to him , my son and his wife have had to travel over 600 miles -three flights- to visit his father in law who is very seriously ill. In spite of this he hopes to do Face time this evening.
May I say one extra thing which hopefully none of you need to know but may be useful if you have a similar occurrence to the one we had? We were told that Mr LJ might have Covid(no symptoms) and that my lovely step daughter might have to self isolate with me- poor thing- for a fortnight. I wasn't allowed to go to the hospital I suspect that must happen every time an ambulance is called . We learned within 24 hours that he had not got the virus.
I am making up for lost time now! A little story about cats.
Sacha's seat.
Sasha is a cat who lives three doors away She has a lovely home. She used to sit outside the patio door gazing in. Percy cat is frightened of her but if Poppy saw her she would be chased away. It didn't deter her. When the weather got warmer we had the door open and one day she didn't half give me "what for" I had never heard a cat go on and on like that. I went outside and she dashed to a wooden bench at the far side of the lawn . I sat down and she carried on "talking'" I stroked her and eventually she allowed me to leave. This happens now most days. She comes to the door ,I go out, she belts down to the bench and we sit and "talk." I can't tell you what a tonic she has been. Now our two cats want to get in on the act. Percy dashes to the bench but isn't sure what to do when he gets there. Poppy ambles up ,jumps up with a squeak and then just sits there . We now call it "The Bonding Bench."
What a lovely story Lanjan, I can just imagine you sitting on that bench chatting to Sacha. Cats can be such loving creatures and I believe that stroking a cat is known to be a great stress-reliever and can help to lower blood pressure. Chat and stroke away!
Although I consider Lady to be my final dog, if I do keep going forever I would like a little Westie and yes I think Winnie is a lovely name and she does look very sweet.
Lots of sharing of produce around here. And we have The Long Table now making food for anyone without and spare fresh produce goes to the food bank for the Long Table to cook. I helped distribute damsons and crab apples this week and have a little pot of bramble jelly and damsons in my freezer, as well as receiving courgettes and carrots and potatoes.
I've always considered Rottweilers to be scary, until I had a friend with one. I house and dog sat for her one Christmas and those dogs are truly soft and soppy.
I can confirm Cow Girl is fine, that she is busy, and dipping in and out of the blog now and again. I will tell her that she is missed.
Final comment before watching the cricket on TV You can have Monty Don and P tbY can have Adam Frost . The one I like is crinkle eyed Nick with the clean finger nails. (The one criterion my mother had for knowing a good man from a bad un )
Having met him, I’m very partial to Chris Beardshaw too. But the very sight of our local famous gardener Alan (I’m a famous personality) Titchmarsh makes me cringe. Sorry!
Chris Beardshaw I like on GQT. I liked Alan Titchmarsh in his gardening years but not as a celebrity. How is it possible to keep clean finger nails when gardening?
Thank you Lanjan for keeping us in the picture with so much going on everywhere. How exquisite to have "The Bonding Bench", it seems your two are respectful of the newcomer and will decide for themselves how to join in.
Lovely story about Sasha LanJan. I have a talking cat, Puss. I was told by the fosterer when I got him that he was very vocal. And he really does talk but does not miaow at all. He also did not purr, but now after two years he is becoming much friendlier and there is an engine, but an extremely deep inside and very quiet engine. He has his breakfast on one end of my long table ( it's covered with a towel) and sometimes sleeps there too. His feeding station is on a windowsill upstairs, and he drinks from the bath tap. He comes downstairs and tells me that he needs his bowl filled with biscuits, or if I've forgotten to turn his tap on. And it is a different sentence for each request. He loves being groomed, and often spends the night out, but when in at night he sleeps in a wicker chair beside my bed, but more and more frequently is spread across my pillows behind my head, again covered with a towel, while the dog is spread beside me, when I wake in the morning. He is also a great hunter but doesn't kill, just catches. Again he has a special voice to tell me that he has prey, but the dog knows much quicker than me and snaffles Puss's prey from him. He also comes for a walk with us at night which is frightening because he strolls down the road without a care. When he comes in to the house after an absence Lady sniffs him all over to gain information about where he has been, and he talks to her as well, presumably telling her about his expeditions.
So pleased to hear that despite problems LJ your pushing on through. Lovely to hear from you. And as you indicate, it never rains but it pours.
Thank you LJ for finding the time to update us regarding Mr LJ. Absolutely love your puss cat post. So glad they are all providing a source of comfort for you 🐈🐈🐈 Enjoy the 🏏 🤗
I have a new "kid" on the block, a lovely siamese cat, but I do not where its home is. A house round the corner was re-let as Lockdown started, but they only moved in 6 weeks ago, so it might be from there, but I don't know. Sadly, it has found my cat flap!
On a completely different topic - I watched Britains Got Talent on tv last night. I was so impressed as to how it was done, with the current government guide-lines being followed. The audience were all "on-line", being streamed from their front rooms and portrayed on a virtual wall. At times it was difficult to believe that that the audience, were not in the studio - the ambience was brilliant and was almost normal. It shows what can be done, with modern technology. Sadly, this is passing me by. 😣
I can say this now. I got the date wrong previously, and today is my state pension date. I am now officially a "pensioner"! Gulp... Do I care - no way, but I can apply for my Bus Pass - 😂
Basia - to keep fingernails clean when gardening, scrape fingernails across damp soap before gardening. The soap under the nails prevents earth collecting under the nails.
We really like and admired Geoffrey Smith. I think of all the presenters over the years he is our favourite and most respected., And I still have several of his pocket sized gardening books and regularly use the fruit growing one when we need to prune our espalier pear and soft fruit.
As others have said I liked A. Titchmarsh in his gardening days, broadcasting from his garden here in Hampshire. Not that I have ever forgiven him for introducing the ubiquitous decking craze. But like so many other ‘experts’ (Claire Balding comes instantly to mind) he was propelled into doing other things, was given a posh new hairdo and a smart suit and started appearing everywhere. Over- used and presenting programmes he had no special qualifications for, we just became sick the sight of him.
In Alan Titchmarsh's defence, he does seem to have come back down to earth (!) more recently. I've been watching 'Love your garden' in which he comes across as a thoroughly decent and very caring man who knows his craft inside out (and I can understand him!) His thoughtful pieces in the magazine are good, too.The other presenter I find difficult to follow is Frances Tophill who, like Adam Frost, clips and swallows her words and is inclined to gabble. That doesn't matter quite so much as I've yet to hear her suggest anything useful, but in Adam's case I need his advice rather than his exciting breathing and he makes it too much of an effort to obtain it.
Perhaps I should watch one of those Love Your Garden programmes then Sarnia. I must admit that when I see something is going to feature AT, I automatically cross it off my ‘programmes to watch’ list, which is probably very unfair.
I must admit we started going off him when he became a deputy Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire and it felt he was getting a bit too big for his (gardening) boots! He seemed to be appearing everywhere, opening this, presenting that, handing out awards etc etc. But if he’s gone back to straightforward gardening, we’ll give him another chance. 😉
Have to agree with Sarnia re AT & love your garden especially where young terminally children or recently bereaved families are concerned the pain in his eyes is very genuine, but also that he can get on (certainly Mr R ) wick for all the reasons you stated AP
Charlie Dimmock - now there's an irritating woman, but her water features are imaginative yet practical and often very simple, and she excels at designing play spaces for children. Guess you can't have it all!
Have to agree with Sarnia about Charlie Dimmock. I can't stand her, her voice, that awful hair! She is possibly one of the only people I turn off the TV absolutely immediately I hear her! Archerphile and the rest of you who talked about Mr Titchmarch. I liked him as a gardener but as you say he became a jack of all trades. The one thing I do remember about hum is that one year he was awarded an annual prize for writing '"the worst 'sex' scene in a novel!" He should have left out the 'author' bit of his life!
hear hear re charlie dimmock. i did enjoy Alan Titchmarsh's autobiography but, yeah, should have left the novel writing alone. Every TV personality seems to think they are an author nowadays. They should all leave well alone and let proper authors earn their living.
Alan Titchmarsh was High Sheriff of the island in spite of the fact his main residence is in Hampshire and he only has a holiday home here spending about a third of the year in it. Years ago someone gave us tickets for an audience with him and I have never been so bored! I thanked my lucky stars I hadn’t paid for the privilege! I can only remember him on the stage with a woolly scarf round his neck wittering away! He should have stuck to gardening!
I vaguely remember watching GW with Mr S when the sig tune was on guitar and the presenter was his idol, Geoff Hamilton. Gardening seemed very technical and complicated in those days (which was right up Mr S's street|) and much too difficult unless (like him) you knew it all already.
I have been "breaking in" new footwear today, just around and about. These are "freestep" leather lace-ups, but were quite rigid. Hopefully they are now softened a bit by now. The beauty of these are they look like trainers, are sturdy, comfortable, and even though they are leather, they are machine washable. My previous pair, (still very wearable but tatty),are years old.
My new neighbours, are now in residence, as from yesterday. I knew that they were round and about yesterday, but it was only this morning that I realised that they are now "in situ". I woke up at 6.15am (a loo trip!) and looked out. Both the cars were parked outside... I hadn't heard a thing! This morning, I was vaguely aware of the burgular being set at 8.15am, as they left for work- what a difference! I hope it stays the same 😀
I am frustrated, as my lawns are overgrown and desparately need cutting. Over the last many days, there have been very many short, sharp but heavy rain showers. So much so, it is far too wet to attempt the lawn mowing + hedge trimming, which also needs to be done.
One of our much loved cats was a Molly. A short haired British blue with amber eyes (a result of her pedigree mother having a dangerous liaison with the local Tom!) She had a beautiful nature and we missed her dreadfully when she just disappeared one day. Despite all our efforts she never came home.
We came to France with Bobby (black & white, Mr P 's) and Amy (tortie, my rescued cat). Had a lovely few years then Amy disappeared. Searched everywhere. Never found. Neighbours think they may have seen her, eaten poisoned bait. France profonde.
I’ve applied to a different animal charity today for a 17 month old male Rottweiler. They say they rehome dogs all over the country and the online application form had 42 questions!!!! 🤞
Question 43 : can the prospective owner run fast enough to catch their little angel when it is "herding" sheep. 🐑🐑🐑 🐕 🏃♀️ 🏃♂️ 🛌 😉 Seriously, good luck, the right one for you is out there somewhere.
Fingers crossed for you PtbY 🤞🤞 We're picking them up Sat! Molly is about 3, ex farm cat, had 1 litter, farmer shot them. Neighbour rescued her. Dark tabby, v friendly & confident. Lily's mother was too young, couldn't look after her. She's 3 months. More silver tabby & white, v shy & needs a big sister /mum. Bit of a change from ginger twins..
Very strange that a farmer would waste ammunition on shooting kittens. Most farms usually drown them at birth! Not only in England but in Ireland too. Seamus Heaney writes in his poem 'The Early Purges' about it. I hated studying that with Year 11 girls. We all got very upset!
Ha ha ! Burlington Bertie was my Dad’s nickname! He was managing director of a Jewellers Shop in Burlington Arcade, off Piccadilly and my Mum called him that when she was cross with him, or he’d forgotten to do some mundane job or other around the home. If she was particularly cross she’d hum the Song under her breath! Memories!
I had to play a mind game to get to the name Archerphile. I had the rhythm of the five syllables in my head, and the vision of Vesta Tilly, but it wouldn't come to me. So I googled Edwardian singers, and although VTs name didn't come up, for some reason known only to Mr Google, Vesta did. So then googling Vesta Tilly I got there. How very posh that your pa was the manager of a jewellery shop in the Arcade. Did he regale you with accounts of the rich and famous of the post war years ?
Been thinking about my lovely Mum who lived through the blitz in Marylebone, London as I've been seeing articles about the 80th anniversary. How I wish I could ask her about it now. She told me some things, of course, but I'd like to know so much more now that I'm older. I cannot imagine how terrifying it must have been.
I grew up on the saga of 'when we were bombed out' - ironic, since Islanders were evacuated to Lancashire because it was supposed to be safer - although not under occupation, of course.
There was a great deal of friction between those who stayed and the ones who left, who returned greatly changed by the experience of having lived in England, or 'over the other side', as it was known. The conversation was so charged and so constant that, given the sound of explosions coming from the mainland of France, which my mother said was 'the guns', (although I later understood it to be the Allies dealing with unexploded ordnance), I was 7years old before I realised that the war was over and the Germans were not coming back.
I've heard more about the War than anyone could wish for (and also 'Before-the-War', which was apparently another country).
How coincidental that you are writing about this Sarnia. Today I watched a recording of the first episode of an old TV series called “The Enemy Within”. Made in the 70s, I think. It is about the German occupation of Guernesy and this first episode showed them arriving and taking over. We were introduced to the island Doctor and several other characters who will no doubt be taking a big part in the series, and doing their best to defy the Germans. The German General in charge is played by Alfred Burke and a particularly sneering young Officer by Simon Cadell. The doctor by Bernard Horsfall. The series is being shown on the Talking Pictures Chanel on Sunday nights at 9pm.
I don’t suppose you will want to record and watch this series, too close to home probably, but others might be interested to see what happened, how the residents coped and got the better of the invading force.
I was born after the war, a baby boomer but I often think how hard it must have been with dads away and being under threat at home. Imagine, six long years of it! My dad volunteered in 1939 as he wanted the choice of regiments, joining the Scots Guards. He only made the height requirement by quarter of an inch! He was a driver and drove Willie Whitelaw and Sir Charles Maclean who was a big noise in the Scouts. Later he drove tanks and lorries and went across in the later days of the Normandy landings. He was there when they relieved Belsen. Not a hero, just an ordinary bloke but he joined at the age of 24 and was demobbed in 1946 when he was 31. Like many others he lost much of his youth to a terrible time. Hats off to them!
I only remember my life, as a young child, in the late '50's and that was hard. I cannot imagine how it was previously.
I had a lovely 3hr walk today, in the lovely sunshine and 24C temp. wearing light canvas trousers + a short sleeved top. I am already stiff, so goodness knows how I will be tomorrow morning.
The boys went to the groomers today so Gypsy and I went down to the creek. I took her down there in her pushchair and then let her off the lead as there is a large area of grass, well away from traffic and having just the occasional walker with very few dogs. Being blind, she loves to walk in circles presumably testing out the surroundings and she loves the freedom, tail wagging all the time. It was a lovely day and down there much to look at, scenery and boats. During lockdown we were taking the dogs to Quarr Abbey in the car with shorter walks for me. I put on half a stone and hope to take it off again as Katy is back to work and I am walking the boys down to the creek in the morning 3 times a week, a much longer walk with hill included! They have a dog walker twice a week. It is nice to start getting back to normality. 😊🐶Gypsy has a shorter walk later on!
I would be interested to watch that but don't have any of those channels. Born in '42 with my mother pregnant throughout much of 41, she had been bombed out in '39 and came home from a shift at the munitions factory to find an empty house and what was left of the family all gone. She went up to the Guardhouse on Frances Street Woolwich to her boyfriend and he, my dad spent three days scouring all the pubs in Greenwich and Woolwich to find out where they had decamped to. They had abandoned her, she turned to the man in her life and he rescued her. And she paid a heavy price for the rest of her life in an unhappy marriage. Worried and frightened throughout the following years I was born to a fragile and neurotic woman ( she turned her life round in due course and became a very strong woman) who clung to me as the only living thing she could be sure of, living in rooms in south London for the following three years. I still freeze at the sound of sirens, cannot be comfortable in underground rooms if full of noise and people, and my abiding vision of my mother is of her rushing to get to safety.
I think the program being talked about is Enemy at the Door, originally shown in late 70’s I watched it at the time, I liked Simon Cadell. The Enemy within is more recent.
Well blow me down - you are quite right KP! Don’t know how I mixed up the name seeing as I only watched it this morning. Thank you for putting me right. And of course Simon Cadell, so nasty as a Nazi Officer went on to play the much softer Holiday Camp manager in ‘Allo ‘Allow sometime later.
Mrs P I promised to tell you about Burlington Arcade Yes, Dad was Managing Director of “Leightons Jewellers”, at 7 -11 Burlington Arcade, a short way up on the left side from the Piccadilly end. Sadly no longer there. He did, indeed have many wealthy and famous customers, film and theatre stars, ‘nobility’ etc. I still have the autograph book he gave me with many famous (back then) signatures in. Sophie Tucker, Frankie Vaughan, one of the Beverly Sisters, Lord Boothby, Lady Isobel Barnett etc. Unfortunately many of the many American customers could be very loud, difficult and demanding and often tried to beat prices down. I was allowed to visit the shop on a few occasions (kept well in the background) and the lovely staff usually treated me to sweets from a famous chocolatier further up the Arcade or some very posh stationary & pens from another store.
Sometime during the 50s shopkeepers would arrive in the morning to find chaos had reigned in the stores overnight. Stock thrown around, drawers and cupboards opened, mess everywhere, what we would call sheer vandalism today. But nothing whatsoever was ever stolen and there were no signs of broken locks, windows or break ins. There was no way in through cellars, only through the front doors which had not been forced. This went on over a few months. The police investigated but had no answers. Eventually an expert was called in and decided a poltergeist had been at work. The ‘spirit’ of a young person who had, probably many years in the past, lived on the site of the Arcade and suffered some cruelty or bad experience there, and had returned to get his revenge. My Dad thought this was complete nonsense but the owners of the Arcade brought in some sort of religious person to perform an exorcism, or what ever they do, and calm eventually returned. As I say, my Dad was very sceptical about the poltergeist but dined out on the story for years afterwards.
My only ghostly experience was at Greenwich where I went for officer training. I shared a room with two others and one night we had just put the light out when I heard footsteps across the floor. Then a figure even darker than the darkness stood over my bed. I was not frightened as it was like when a child someone came to tuck me in. I felt safe. On hearing the footsteps I had thought it was one of the other girls but when I put the light on they were both firmly in bed. Way back Greenwich had been a hospital for servicemen and it could have been a nurse from way back then. I was not alone with this strange experience. Another girl in the room directly below ours felt someone sit on her bed. She put the light on, no one there but there was an indentation on the side of her bed. Greenwich has a long history and is a very atmospheric place. Much later the Navy moved out and it became part of a university and I wonder whether any of the students had encounters!
I worked in a pharmacy, in a very old building, in a village in N.Wales (an old lead mining one). I was told about the "ghost" which I just poo-pooed. Over the years I also experienced very strange events, which could not be explained, logically. There was a Saturday morning, when I went in early, as the week-end methadone's still needed to be made up. I was just starting working in the "back room" on my own, when a small tub of a cream, fell off the third shelf ending up, rightside up in a small box, placed ready to put the "doses" in. I was spooked. There was another occaision on opening up, to then go into the main dispensary and turning the alarm off. I had been the last one out on the previous evening, when all was well when I set the alarm. What I found, were 5 prescriptions placed in a line on the floor, equally spaced apart, and a unmade bottle of a childs antibiotic (stored in the back/wet room not the main area) also in line. It was so very weird. Did I believe or accept the story about the resident "ghost" - I still don't know but I cannot explain what I saw!
There was another occaision, on entering (again last one out and first one in) finding some of the shopping baskets were placed in a circle, in the main shop area! Very weird! We had a firm who supplied + maintained the bin for ST's etc. in the loo. This was downstairs in the cellar. We had a new lovely lady who came and did this not nice job! On about her 3rd visit, she said to me and my staff (all female) - as to how she experienced the feel of another "prescence" in the building, esp. in the cellar. None of us had said or mentioned anything to her.
I am reading a book by Peter James, The Secret of Cold Hill. It is not one of his usual detective Roy Grace ones. All I can say that it reflects the current topic. It is very well written and eerie, but I am only a third way through, but I hope that the rest is as good as what I have so far read.
Archerphile - Wishing you well for tomorrow. I know you are dreading it, but be positive. 45mins of a procedure = perfect vision and no glasses, forever.👀 It will be so worth it. Just think what your next cruise will be like, with perfect vision!
Remember, deep breathe in and out, to try to stay calm.
I have my anniversary of my last cataract op on Friday 11th, with my now normal vision. I still find it amazing! It is the simple things, which mean so much, such as looking out in the night and seeing stars twinkling, reading all the small print on the TV, and so on.
All the best, Archerphile ! It seems to have come round so quickly, but time is funny these days, out of joint. At least you know what to expect, during & after, not pleasant, but bearable, with a good outcome.
Thank you all for the good wishes. I had my Covid test on Monday and self- isolated since and I was all geared up for tomorrow, girded my loins etc, when I got a phone call from the clinic at 4.45 this afternoon Sorry, but we can’t do your operation tomorrow! Oh no, I thought, I must have tested Covid positive.
But no, it is simply because the lens I need hasn't arrived ! Apparently it is rather an unusual prescription, being specially made to measure for my astigmatism and to give short sight. The company just didn’t have any in stock and have had to order it from abroad but it’s not yet arrived. So my appt has been re- made for 25th September and, most annoyingly, I shall have to have yet another Covid test and isolation until the op. 🙄
Oh how disappointed you must be Archerphile, and after being so keyed up about a few weeks ago. Now you must stay calm while you wait again. And thank you for the tales of The Arcade. I used to walk through on occasion but never ever looked in the windows. But it always felt so lovely just to be there.
Ev, you must have been at the Seamans Hospital. My mum, a ' Greenwich girl' always said she had a creepy feeling whenever she walked past. She had to go up to St Alphages on Sundays to get her dad's cockles and winkles and had to pass by the hospital to get there and back.
PtbY- I agree with Janice, you need to be registered with several rescues. I tried about five or six before I was able to get Lady.
It was the Royal Navy college and have looked up history. First used as a hospital for disabled veterans but this closed in 1869. The navy had it until 1998 when it became a campus for the university. The buildings include the painted hall where we enjoyed formal and ordinary dinners and cracked our boiled eggs in the mornings! It was quite an experience. I was there for three months. Greenwich theatre was nearby and we enjoyed several performances there. I think the Seaman’s hospital must be a different establishment but not sure about that.
Hello Everyone. Thank you or your concern. I am fine, but have been very busy re designing my garden, almost finished but then I will have several thousand bulbs of various kinds to dig in, in the new beds and wooded area, so no slacking for a few weeks yet. In addition I have been fighting a number of local issues with Councillors and my MP, still ongoing, , still but hopefully tying them in a knot or two, feudalism still exists I'm afraid.
Stasia, Mrs P tells me you work/ed in Peckham. Some 40 years ago a ran a unit on Underhill Road for parents and children, we worked very closely with the Maudsley and Bethlam Royal. I was trying to think of names, but ...our consultant psychiatrist was a man called Tony. We also worked closely with a senior consultant medical officer from Kings, Jane Watkeys, probably dont mean anything to you but worth a try.
CowGirl- when I was at school in Forest Hill my favourite teacher- yes I did have a crush on her- lived in Underhill Road. Many decades later so did a friend.
The phrase, ' it's a small world ' is so true isn't it. We discover many links with others when we reveal small details on here.
I finished my book "The Secret of Cold Hill" by Peter James.
Is it a "ghost" story - sort of Is it "eerie" - sort of Is it "wierd" - sort of Is it "scary" - definitely not!
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it is so well written and a gripping story. Would I reccomend it? I definitely would, if an extraordinary series of unexplained events happen, whilst reading . It will not to be to many tastes, but some might enjoy it, in the same way I did.
It's nice to hear of generous acts of kindness. My niece has finished her chemotherapy and all tests have now been returned as good news. But she is now to be shielded for some months; no Scouts at all (she is a Group Scout Leader which means being responsible for the programmes and discipline of all three sections in her Group i.e. Beavers, Cubs and Scouts as well as admin for the Scout 'Hut.' Not just the children either but all the other Leaders as well. But it also means that either she has to be shielded while her own immunity rebuilds (which was wiped out during the chemo.) This leads on to her husband and children staying in isolation as well, in Lancaster. Husband is working IT from home but both children are at Secondary school. To allow the children to return to school in September niece arranged to go to Newcastle to live with her mother-in-law and shield there. She received a phone from a lady down the road from her who apologised for eavesdropping on her daughter's and my great niece's conversation and offered her late mother's house which was to stand empty for 6 months while garden is fenced off and an extra house built before selling both. This house is just a few doors from niece's home. The lady said that she would get professional cleaners in, to not just clean but sanitise the premises and it is there for niece to use for the next three months. Overwhelmed, niece thanked her and she was told that the amount of voluntary work D. does for the community with the Scouting is more than enough payment for any rent!
I have at last an appointment to actually see a consultant on 21st so hopefully will get things sorted before I degrade any more and get back to where I started in April 2019! My own Scouting friends have been in touch frequently and made me laugh on numerous occasions during the summer. We all missed out on the main camping season. Jon very nearly pitched his tent in the garden; he was so missing it but decided it wouldn't be the same with only me at the Camp Fire! 🤣 He seems to be stuck in his 'office' all the time what with working from home 9-6ish and then writing Risks Assessments for his own Scout Troop, which have to go to the District Council, the County and then to Gilwell (HQ!) I am hoping that the consultant says it will be okay for me to travel to Dorset to see my brother soon. Also hoping one sister will take me but not all three! Don't think I could deal with that for a weekend! 😀 I love them really but in small doses!
I had no idea that your ongoing consultant visits had not been happening. A nightmare for you. On the other hand, what a wonderful gesture to your neice, with a rent-free offer. This will suit all - is she accepting this gesture?
I witter on everyday, about so many tedious points, when many of you are having so many problems. I have already wittered on about a book read, now for today's (which actually happened yesterday). I was out mowing the front lawn, then the mower cut out. I had done the inevitable, I cut the flex. I calmy "repaired" it but it would not work. I was pixxed off. I couldn't get on-line to look for a repairer, so it was to be a restorative cup of tea, but the kettle didn't switch on. The switch on the fuse board had tripped, and on putting it back on, the mower worked. I managed the front lawn fine, but decided against doing the back. I will do the back tomorrow, before I get it repaired, as I couldn't do it today due to rain for a short while.
Brilliant the start of things to come. But as you say 🤞 Thanks for the up-date. You on the 22nd and AP on 25th 👀 nearly together. Then there is Spicy on the 21st.. A week of good news to come. 😀
Another wittering post. I had a letter from DWP today, confirming my first state pension interimn payment is due today, then when the next one is due and then at 4 weeks intervals. It is actually exciting!! - after such a long time. I have managed fine for nearly 6yrs, but I really feel for the individual females, born in the '50's, who like me have had such a wait, but have struggled. I am not getting political, far from it....but just feel for those who are struggling.
When the new pension scheme started, my date came under the new scheme. On that date, I had more contributions than was needed for the new payments. As such I now get a good "protected payment" each month, which is a carry-over between the old + new. What a difference this makes, although not massive, it means I am getting a recognition to my inputs into the system via my NI contributions over many years. What is sad, I had enough contributions at 60, but I have had to wait! It is so complicated and upsetting.
Just catching up with old posts, and your story about the shopping baskets in a circle reminded me of one of the strange things that happened at Burlington Arcade.
One of the shops sold very expensive leather goods, notably handbags and purses etc. One morning the staff arrived to find that several of the most expensive bags had been removed from their stands and placed in a perfect semi-circle on the floor. This was one of the inexplicable incidents that assured the expert that a poltergeist had been at work. Funny that your story reminded me of that!
Gosh What a similar story which sent goose-bumps up my arms. On one occaision when I went in to find strange "things" I thought that another staff member (also a key holder with an electronic swipe for the alarm) had gone back in, and was playing a joke. I rang the alarm company, who had a computerised log of when the alarm was set and then switched off. No-one had gone in, after I set the alarm and then entered the following morning. Also some members of staff were convinced that they had seen a grey person in the cellar, on several occaisions. I never experienced this.
I always spent the hour when closed for lunch, on my own with no problems. On one occasion I had a locum dispenser with me. I was reading a book, and she was writing up her work "journal" when she suddenly said What was That? She supposedly, heard a male voice very close by asking who was she? She was spooked - but I laughed it off in some way!! She was nervy the whole afternoon and never came back!
Dear Miriam, yes you do witter, and sometimes your wittering must make some of us laugh.
BUT
and it is a BIG BUT .... you are as well very good at remembering dates and allowing the rest of us to hang on your coat tails to say good luck to whoever Birthday or anniversary or hospital appointment date is.
So in the ..... alls fair in love and war !
Carry on wittering Miriam
Spiceycushion- what a lovely gesture from that neighbour towards you niece and just reward for her community spirit and activities.
Miriam, Sept 10th 5.56pm. Yo, Miriam, I also had an official letter on the same day, but from the Council, checking up that I am still living alone, and that my claim to 25% Council Tax reduction is not fraudulent.
That in itself strikes me as an adequate deterrent against taking a Toy Boy or living 'in sin'! Mind you, I've been assured by someone who's done both that neither was the fun it's cracked up to be, although looking at her taste in males, that's hardly surprising.
At present I have a half of Mike’s service and civil service pensions and if I were to co-habit or marry again I would lose it all and become dependent on a man! Apart from having no desire to enter into a relationship as I have lost the love of my life, not flipping likely to lose that income! So no toy boy for me. Some would say highly unlikely!
If a man has provided for his wife and his intention was to go on providing for her throughout life then I think it most unfair that the pension should stop, regardless of how she chooses to spend the rest of her life.
I've been married 31 years so far. How I haven't killed him I don't know!!! I would not go through all this ever again, be it toy boy, Adam Frost or even Noel Fitzpatrick - Supervet. LOL
As a woman who gave up on men before the age of forty, Sarnia, Ev and PtbY, have given ME a good laugh too. Mind you, I can say with all honesty that I have never encouraged any woman to give up on her marriage. Even without the benefit of inherited pensions, it's a lonely road. But perhaps I should also say, I do enjoy the companionship of some men.
Ev 10.13: I'm with you on that. The idea that widows who choose to enter into another relationship should then become financially dependent on the new partner, who will most probably also be a pensioner, is SO out of date. Like PtbY, I have no intention of going through all that again, but should a likely candidate ever present himself, I'm afraid he'll have to retain a separate household and I'll pencil him in for weekends!
I assume a single person's pension goes to the state when they die? Are there different rules that apply to men when their wives die, do they benefit from their pensions? Does anyone know?
A woman I know was widowed early in life with two young sons. She hasn't married her long term partner for the reasons you have quoted above, though they have always lived together.
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ReplyDeleteArcherphile - September 5, 2020 at 9:36 AM
I do wish the BBC would swap Gardener’s World presenters - make Adam Frost the weekly lead, with Monty Don just doing the occasional programme.
I am bored to tears with Monty, his claustrophobic garden and his wretched dogs following him everywhere.
I much prefer Adam’s more open garden and his more casual style of presentation. Last nights programme was entrancing and we especially liked the visit to Dan Pearson’s beautiful countryside garden and the lady growing those amazing snake gourds and Thai vegetables.
Monty Don has been fronting GW for a very long time now and it’s time for a change.
Let him go on his trips abroad (always wearing some floaty scarf or other) and let Adam show us the weekly jobs in our own gardens and other inspirational gardens around this country.
Lady RSeptember 5, 2020 at 10:18 AM
🤣 oh Archerphile I said to Mr R last night that you would be saying just that 😂 I don’t mind Monty as a person but regarding GW Adam Frost is bright and very personable. Puss cat makes an appearance but I enjoy that and confess I did loved Nigel.
Lady R - September 5, 2020 at 10:26 AM
Love Nigel of course 🤩
Archerphile - September 5, 2020 at 10:40 AM
Oh dear! I/we must be the only people in the entire country who didn’t love Nigel!
Afraid, as you will have gathered by now, we are definitely cat people, not dog lovers!
Basia - September 5, 2020 at 10:39 AM
I only listen to GQT and yesterday I found out that if ginger sprouts it can be planted. I told my sister about and she said she's done it already, how avantgarde is that! It can take up to a year to grow, so I'll see how she gets on. Mine though organic has not sprouted, perhaps it's the long flight from Peru and storage that prevents it.
Archerphile - September 5, 2020 at 10:43 AM
Thanks Basia, I might try that. Last nights TV gardening prog showed a lady who grows loofahs to eat (not use in the bath) and a very strange snake gourd, several feet long and looking exactly like a snake curling round. Very weird,
Archerphile - September 5, 2020 at 10:50 AM
Also can report that the Tamarind seeds I bought back from Dubai 18 months ago have grown into 4 pretty little trees (only 10 inches high so far) with feathery leaves. They are supposed to be perfect for bonsai, so as they will never survive outdoors in England, I shall gave a go at bonsai-ing them.
I like them both, but I bet PtbY has a strong opinion on this one...
ReplyDeleteI’m here!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI’ve just watched GW at my friends house as I usually do on a Saturday morning. I love both of them but when Monty retires I want Adam taking over. AND no one else is getting their hands on him but me!!! So back off Archerphile! Lol.
The only thing about GW I’m getting sick of is the constant PC agenda they seem to have.
Archerphile....yes I think you are the only ones who didn’t love Nigel. Poor Monty....I feel for him. Love how Nelly and Patty follow him about. I also like the fact that Adams cat appears.
The clip last night of the “fox blight” was amusing.
Didn’t like the garden designers garden... looked like an overgrown mess.
Ah, so Nigel was Monty's dog...
ReplyDeleteAs confirmed cat-lovers (of course) we also loved Nigel. & his predecessor.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely a Monty fan and I was a Nigel fan although I have never had a dog. I am warming to Adam’s presenting style and agree it is gentle and relaxed but I do love Monty’s garden. Not a fan of landscaping or lawns.
ReplyDeleteMeant to say I haven’t watched last night’s episode yet because I was watching Anoushka Shankar, daughter of Ravi, playing sitar at the proms. I thought it was mesmerising. Loved it.
DeleteI love dogs and have owned five including the present three. The other two were a sheltie and a border collie. I don’t watch GW but have seen Monty’s dog, Nigel and of course thought he was lovely! They do like to see what you are doing and the border collie used to lie down by me when working in the garden. Our first two being herding dogs were very different from our two Shih Tzu’s and one cross breed with a Shih Tzu element. They were bred as companion dogs to royalty and aristocracy in China. When the revolution came along the new regime virtually killed them off but a few of them were rescued and brought back to UK. Some were then taken to USA after the war by servicemen. We now have quite a population! They still retain their superior outlook and need to know who is in charge! We have double doses with Buddy who also has a terrier background with resulting defiance! They keep us on our toes though and provide endless amusement and quite a bit of affection!🐶🐶🐶
ReplyDeleteOh Gary! 😉 🤣
ReplyDeletePtby ✔️
Dogs vs Cats! What an interesting topic.
ReplyDeleteI love dogs, and as a family we always had one, as I was growing up until I left home. Even then, my parents always had a dog, until when in their late '70's they had to have their lovely Pointer, put down. This dog was wonderful, and always alerted Mum + Dad when I was visiting. She strangely heard + recognised my car, so ran to the front door, wagging her tail, well before I appeared.
Now I am a cat owner, as you all know. I got my first cat by accident, and have been one for many years. This was due to my life-style and home.
With a cat-flap "Puss-cat/s" can/could go outside when the mood dictates, whilst I was working.
I was often away work-wise, for over 10 hours a day, so it would have been not fair on a dog.
When my 15yr old cat is no more, as it will happen, sooner rather than later (I am prepared), I will adopt another one. This might well become two!
Delete🤞🤞 This will not be for at least, a year.
Basia - I found that ginger information fascinating too, although I don't like ginger at all, in anything.
ReplyDeleteI have no opinion on dogs or cats in gardens on television and only watch GW on catch up when it's been pronounced upon on here since I am a regular radio listener and so on Friday nights it's Any Questions.
Archerphile- your Tamarind sounds very pretty. Could I have one please as a house plant?
I have an old metal jug beside my front gate which collects rain water. Yesterday I found a small frog in it. Today my neighbour and I have made a new home for him/her in the garden, so that it can escape and or return.
I love toads and frogs.
My eldest neice + family, suddenly have a lot of hedgehogs around. They have set up a Hedgehog Hotel in their garden. The kids are so very interested in doing this + why.
ReplyDeleteI never watch GW, as to me it doesn't help me nor inspire me. My garden is just that, what I want and if it survives fine, if not then also fine.
I do love Countryfile though, with the other Adam.
Oh, dear, I am obviously in the minority, but although I can appreciate Adam Frost's knowledge and expertise, I really struggle with him as a presenter. Like many English people his delivery is so fast that I can't always follow what he is saying, his words are clipped and abrasive in tone and he swallows the ends of his sentences so that I keep losing the point he is making. To make matters worse, he comments as he works, so that the additional breathlessness only contributes to his indecipherability. I long for Monty's quiet, measured approach, and the fact that he delivers his points carefully and distinctly to camera first and then demonstrates his point in the garden.
ReplyDeleteIf Adam Frost eventually succeeds him, as seems to be on the cards, trying to make sense of what he is saying may well turn out to be too much of an effort.
Miriam.....it wasn’t dogs v cats. It was Monty v Adam Frost.
ReplyDeleteWe always had cats, always 4, up until 14 yrs ago when we got our first dog. Over the space of 3 yrs this had become 4 dogs as well as 4 cats. So I’m not biased on either.
Sarnia.....Adam can be as breathy as he likes with me!😉
Takes all sorts.......
DeleteI got things wrong, yet again! 😣
DeletePerhaps one of these days, I will get it right, but hold your breath 😂🤣
DeleteIt became part of the overall topic Miriam because Archerphile mentioned that for her (and Mr A) Monty’s dogs regular appearances in the show detracted from the main purpose of the programme. Fair do’s - no problem having different opinions 🤗
DeleteI have to tell you of some news that has occurred..my daughter who lived in New York decided during the summer to take up her sister's invition to move permanently to Glasgow. She did so at the beginning of August. She couldn't be happier . New York is detiorating hour by hour and I can't tell you how relieved I am that she is out of it.
ReplyDeleteAnyway to get back on track they are hoping to buy a dog tomorrow, a Westie. They are are so excited and so am I.they wanted a rescue dog but since they live in an apartment they wouldn't allow it besides there are very few rescue dogs available due to lockdown.
Will keep you posted. Anna is going to see the little pup tomorrow.
Lovely News with your daughter now living in Glasgow. This is obviously a relief for you and it will be so much easier to visit, when you can travel again.
DeleteIt is a great relief Miriam. It was my greatest worry during lockdown. At least they are not cut off ..they have each other.
DeleteSisters can be so infuriatating at times, but on so many other times, they are so supportive + caring.
DeleteIt is a life-time bond which will never be broken.
To add, Big Sis rang me yesterday. She knew that I was off to The Zoo on my birthday (still not telling when) and suggested that she joined me. I have a pre-booked ticket for that day, and she will join me free, as I can swipe her in, on my members card, as the entey rules have just been changed for members, like myself.
DeleteIt will be a lovely jaunt out- two sisters together, even with face masks, hand-gel and individual picnic lunches and driving individually (in tandem).
I have two brothers, Miriam, one older and one younger. It has made me a bit of a loner preferring to do things on my own. I don’t really like shopping with anyone else as I like to go into whatever shops I like, buy what I want and come home. Just recently though I have just done online shopping! It is lovely, however, to go out for coffee or lunch and a chat and I envy sisters for that and the closeness which more often than not exists between them. I am lucky to get on well with Katy and before lockdown we always enjoyed these things but now we do have cream teas etc at home! The dogs usually join us!
DeleteAutumnleaves, great news! And whenever you're over visiting you can pop up for a wee drink...
DeleteAutumleaves. Lovely to hear about the pup situation.
ReplyDeleteWe have been looking into getting another dog since July. We have applied for 2 from the dogs trust and have not been successful. It certainly is not an easy thing to do, get a rescue dog.
We have tried a specific breed rescue centre and have been told we can’t even be added to the list.
So we’ve given up and been in touch with a breeder. I hVe to ring in 2 weeks to see if her dog that’s been mated is preggers or not. 🤞
If we get a pup it will be called either Trevor or Daphne.
Daphne is a brilliant name for a dog!
DeleteI had a long wait for Gypsy but it turned out they had forgotten about me! We very quickly acquired Buddy and Dudley after applying though. Rescue centres do try to match you up with a dog so don’t give up! I can recommend Shih Tzus for us older folk but no matter how small, dogs do need to get out for walks. All of ours were a bit short of walks in their early life resulting in obesity for Gyp, destructive behaviour for Buddy and aggressive guarding for Dudley. There’s a lot to be said for tiring them with regular walks as for the most part their behaviour improves as they are too sleepy to get up to mischief!
ReplyDeletePtbY - many rescues in my experience prefer to home rescue dogs to a household that already has resident dogs.
ReplyDeleteDon't give up, please, on rescues. So many dogs, particularly abroad go to kill centres, why do we need to bring more into the world ?
You liked Lady, and when a rescue goes to a home with resident dogs they learn the rules and how to behave so quickly.
Won't you look at paws2rescue ?
Autumn leaves, how lovely for you to have your two girls together in on relatively safe city. I'm sure you are very relieved.
As for sisters having an unbroken bond...... well no, not always.
My sister and I never had any bond to break.
I never liked her from the day she was born due to unfortunate circumstances within my family and my dislike of her and her behaviour towards me was never taken seriously by our parents, and was escalated by our mothers attitudes towards us.
I do not have a single happy memory attached to my sister and we have not had any contact since the day of our mother's funeral.
Nevertheless I do envy the strong and positive relationships between sisters, and grieve for what I never had.
Mrs P, Ev.
ReplyDeleteMost of the dogs I’ve looked at on rescue sites want to be the only dog in the household. We want a big dog that wants lots of exercise. I think that being a fair way from a rescue centre is going against us at the mo. They must want to rehome them closer.
I was so convinced we would get Lulu the Rottweiler, she was perfect for us....never heard a word.
I’ll keep looking. I’m one that believes in fate. So we’ll see.
Ptby Have you looked at breed specific rescue centres? They are located all around the country. Usually the charity will match the dog to you rather than you choosing one which I hadn’t appreciated before. Dudley for instance had a lot of upheaval as they moved 4 or 5 times and then had children where he had been their “baby” so he needed a quiet home and more routine which we could provide having no children in the house. We went to Shih Tzu rescue for him. Buddy was meant to be with us for a week as his foster carer was on holiday but I think they had an inkling he would stay with us! His foster carer was very fond of him but felt she couldn’t cope on her own as she had another dog and two cats. I couldn’t cope without Katy and as she goes out to work she needs me to look after them during the day. Gypsy at nearly 11, blind and with other issues and having an elderly infirm owner badly needed a new home. It took me overnight thinking to take her on. No regrets but she has required a lot of care. We love them all dearly and it has helped us so much after losing Mike. Rescue dogs come with issues and it takes time to build trust and to overcome their difficulties but so worth it!🐶🐶🐶 Gypsy has her thirteenth birthday on 13 September. They are having a special steak dinner!🎉🎉🎂
ReplyDeletePtby have just re read your post at 6.42 and find it extraordinary that you have applied to a breed specific charity only to be told you can’t even be put on the list! We had no problem with Friends of the Animals or with Shih Tzu rescue! Have you tried other breeds? Border collies make lovely pets. They are so intelligent and need lots of exercise! In Yorkshire you may find one which failed its training with sheep! Good luck anyway! The right dog will appear at the right time! Am a believer in fate too!
ReplyDeleteI am definitely a dog person and always have been. Grew up with the family dog and when married always had one. Love them all and Maisie, my little terrier, is a sweetie. She can be stubborn and knows what she wants but is so loving.
ReplyDeleteDogs names are interesting. A dachshund in my road is called Stuart which isn't very doggy to my ears. Other neighbours have dogs called Pepper, Pork Chop, Milo, Desty.
Unlike Mrs. P, I love ginger. Ginger beer is a favourite (non-alcoholic).
When I was little we had a cake shop at the corner of our street. Mum used to say I could either have a gingerbread man or two mushrooms which were made from hard meringue. It was agonising to decide! I love ginger in any form. It is very good for the digestion! Rhubarb and ginger jam is a great favourite.
DeleteWell! Adam Frost's Heavy Breathing and smelly animals with questionable habits.......life is full of mysteries!
ReplyDeletePtbY - I have just now copied two available dogs from 'paws' to send to you, but now having read that you want a large dog, might I suggest ' Sebra ' a rescue that brings over setters and Brittany's from Spain, hunting dogs. But they are kicked out or just neglected because they have failed as hunters, so are considered worthless.
ReplyDeleteLike Ev, I am astonished that you were not able to get onto a waiting list.
But I do think that the quality of rescue organisations is variable dependent on the individuals who run them.
Do you know about ' dog chat ' or something similar ( I will check that ) it lists many many rescues throughout the UK.
Do keep trying, your dog will be out there.
Well, I must accept that I am in a very small minority of one, on this blog.
ReplyDeleteBeing, seemingly, the only correspondent who doesn’t like dogs, of any breed, shape or size.
So I will dip out of contributing until the subject changes as I have nothing to usefully say on the subject
Thanks Mrs P. I’ll take a look at that site. 🦮🐕🦺
ReplyDeleteSorry Archerphile and Sarnia. I’ll stop the dog posts now. Don’t want to annoy others. 😇🐈
Let us know when you get one though!
DeleteDon’t worry PtbY.
DeleteChat on about dogs if you like. I’m happy to just take a back seat until another topic emerges which I can usefully contribute to.
By the way, has anyone heard from CowGirl recently? Don’t seen to have seen her name recently.
Ditto, AP. Not annoying, just boring.
DeleteMmn....I don't think any posts that are enthusiastic & lively about the subject are boring. That's a subjective thing - e.g I only skim read any post about sport or gardening, but I recognize & appreciate the passion ! It's so nice people can chat about what they like on this blog, whilst there's no compulsion for anyone to respond unless moved to do so.
DeleteThanks for the invitation, Gary. I'll certainly let you know when I come over.
ReplyDeleteWon't be this year, though, things are still too risky with quarentine and so on. Here in Italy numbers are starting to rise again and with schools starting on th 14th I think we're going to see a real spike in infections. I hope not but I think it will be inevitable.
We certainly are over here. We are holding a chorale meeting on Weds to hopefully put in place a "protocole sanitaire" for the way forward.
ReplyDeleteI have the same feeling about an increase in covid cases Autumnleaves. My grandchildren go back to school on the 14th and l'm thinking of keeping my distance for a while. We were all hoping to go to my great niece's wedding in February but have decided not to go.
ReplyDeleteThe wedding will be in Salisbury Wilts.
ReplyDeleteNephew's wedding next April in UK. Unlikely we'll risk it.
ReplyDeleteAre you sure you want a Rottweiler PtbY? I am a little bit biased against them because of an incident when I was younger. A newcomer to our village had just been given one as a birthday present by her daughter. I don't think it had come across sheep before and it was having the time of its life chasing ours up and down across some hilly valley fields. My dad and brother were out so it was me plus the owner's very plump husband trailing in the distance trying to catch the blinking thing, AND they don't have any fur which makes them exceedingly difficult to hang on to, and they can run really fast. You think you 've got hold of it but then it just slips through your grasp, and it had no collar to hang on to either. When I did finally get it it was as if butter wouldn't melt, and it looked like it was saying, haven't we had a fun morning?! The husband asked me if I wanted to shoot it but I didn't have the heart to (it was a fine animal just needed owners who could control it, and it hadn't actually savaged the sheep just chased them although that can cause them to abort) and they gave it back to the daughter to look after.
ReplyDeleteI like both dogs and cats - mine was called Minou and my sister's Kochka. Her sons have dogs, a Sarplaninac sheep dog - Nikita and a Samoyed - Michka and they enjoy each other's company.
ReplyDeleteArcherphile, you mentioned the amazing gourds. I also find vegetable shapes fascinating. I once bought some ginger which resembled a whole hand. I also like fennel and its multi-layered bulbs.
Archerphile, I remember MrsP saying a while ago that she was in touch with CowGirl who was taking a break from the Archers and blogging, let's hope she's OK.
DeleteWell spotted Archerphile regarding lack of posts from cow 👧 girl. Hopefully just experiencing a very busy time.
ReplyDeleteDo hope Mr LJ is feeling a little better and that he and LJ are managing ok my thoughts are very much them with them 🌺
Janice....laughed at your Rottweiler escapade. They were originally cattle herders so that explains your sheep herding incident.
ReplyDeleteWe lost our rottie very suddenly in May. She was a big softie. We got her from the rspca at 14 weeks old. My mother was horrified. Wouldn’t have her in the house she said. Loved her in the end. She used to climb up on my mothers knee in the arm chair and go to sleep on her.
We are going to have a treat for lunch today. Our neighbour who comes every holiday season Christmas and summer presented my husband with a tray of home made tagliatelle before heading off home to Modena. So I've been busy making ragu this morning. I never make homemade pasta but my mother in law made everything from pasta to ravioli ,tortellini and gnocchi.
ReplyDeleteThe woman who made us this is originally from our village and our families grew up together.
Throughout the summer my husband would leave a couple of heads of salad and several zucchini outside their door (Mr 🍁🍁always plants more than we can use) and the following day we would find a bottle of wine in return. That's the way things are done here..I'm looking forward to my Sunday lunch.
Say hello to Winnie. My daughters new little 3 month old Westie pup.
ReplyDeleteI'm already smitten💓💓
Soooooo cute! Like the name Winnie.
DeleteHello Winnie!
DeleteBuon appetito, Autumnleaves. I know neighbours who share the surplus from their allotments/gardens. My sister made pasta with her granddaughters.
So sweet!
DeleteHope you enjoyed your lunch, love tagliatelle +ragu.
It is ironic that after calling this the "Sick Bay " blog I should have the fortnight I have had!
ReplyDeleteThank you for showing concern.
You have been very kind.
I will be brief.
Hospital last Friday .
We were there for getting on for five hours without finding out very much.
Another appointment tomorrow -told to bring an overnight bag in case- and also Tuesday.
However,I am an optimist and am convinced he will soon be feeling fine.
I also believe that it is always darkest before the dawn
It doesn't rain.......
After the forest fires inCanada, spending time contacting the lovely Doctor in the hospital who said he would be happy to speak to him , my son and his wife have had to travel over 600 miles -three flights- to visit his father in law who is very seriously ill.
In spite of this he hopes to do Face time this evening.
May I say one extra thing which hopefully none of you need to know but may be useful if you have a similar occurrence to the one we had?
We were told that Mr LJ might have Covid(no symptoms) and that my lovely step daughter might have to self isolate with me- poor thing- for a fortnight.
I wasn't allowed to go to the hospital
I suspect that must happen every time an ambulance is called .
We learned within 24 hours that he had not got the virus.
I am making up for lost time now!
ReplyDeleteA little story about cats.
Sacha's seat.
Sasha is a cat who lives three doors away
She has a lovely home.
She used to sit outside the patio door gazing in.
Percy cat is frightened of her but if Poppy saw her she would be chased away.
It didn't deter her.
When the weather got warmer we had the door open and one day she didn't half give me "what for"
I had never heard a cat go on and on like that.
I went outside and she dashed to a wooden bench at the far side of the lawn .
I sat down and she carried on "talking'"
I stroked her and eventually she allowed me to leave.
This happens now most days.
She comes to the door ,I go out, she belts down to the bench and we sit and "talk."
I can't tell you what a tonic she has been.
Now our two cats want to get in on the act.
Percy dashes to the bench but isn't sure what to do when he gets there.
Poppy ambles up ,jumps up with a squeak and then just sits there .
We now call it "The Bonding Bench."
What a lovely story Lanjan, I can just imagine you sitting on that bench chatting to Sacha.
DeleteCats can be such loving creatures and I believe that stroking a cat is known to be a great stress-reliever and can help to lower blood pressure. Chat and stroke away!
Although I consider Lady to be my final dog, if I do keep going forever I would like a little Westie and yes I think Winnie is a lovely name and she does look very sweet.
ReplyDeleteLots of sharing of produce around here. And we have The Long Table now making food for anyone without and spare fresh produce goes to the food bank for the Long Table to cook. I helped distribute damsons and crab apples this week and have a little pot of bramble jelly and damsons in my freezer, as well as receiving courgettes and carrots and potatoes.
I've always considered Rottweilers to be scary, until I had a friend with one. I house and dog sat for her one Christmas and those dogs are truly soft and soppy.
I can confirm Cow Girl is fine, that she is busy, and dipping in and out of the blog now and again. I will tell her that she is missed.
✔️ 👏🏻 🤗
Delete👍🐂🤗
DeleteFinal comment before watching the cricket on TV
ReplyDeleteYou can have Monty Don and P tbY can have Adam Frost .
The one I like is crinkle eyed Nick with the clean finger nails.
(The one criterion my mother had for knowing a good man from a bad un )
Having met him, I’m very partial to Chris Beardshaw too.
DeleteBut the very sight of our local famous gardener Alan (I’m a famous personality) Titchmarsh makes me cringe. Sorry!
Chris Beardshaw I like on GQT.
DeleteI liked Alan Titchmarsh in his gardening years but not as a celebrity.
How is it possible to keep clean finger nails when gardening?
Thank you Lanjan for keeping us in the picture with so much going on everywhere.
ReplyDeleteHow exquisite to have "The Bonding Bench", it seems your two are respectful of the newcomer and will decide for themselves how to join in.
Would that be a play upon words "Bondai Beach". Then I'm in😉😉
DeleteLovely story about Sasha LanJan.
ReplyDeleteI have a talking cat, Puss.
I was told by the fosterer when I got him that he was very vocal. And he really does talk but does not miaow at all. He also did not purr, but now after two years he is becoming much friendlier and there is an engine, but an extremely deep inside and very quiet engine.
He has his breakfast on one end of my long table ( it's covered with a towel) and sometimes sleeps there too. His feeding station is on a windowsill upstairs, and he drinks from the bath tap. He comes downstairs and tells me that he needs his bowl filled with biscuits, or if I've forgotten to turn his tap on. And it is a different sentence for each request. He loves being groomed, and often spends the night out, but when in at night he sleeps in a wicker chair beside my bed, but more and more frequently is spread across my pillows behind my head, again covered with a towel, while the dog is spread beside me, when I wake in the morning.
He is also a great hunter but doesn't kill, just catches. Again he has a special voice to tell me that he has prey, but the dog knows much quicker than me and snaffles Puss's prey from him. He also comes for a walk with us at night which is frightening because he strolls down the road without a care.
When he comes in to the house after an absence Lady sniffs him all over to gain information about where he has been, and he talks to her as well, presumably telling her about his expeditions.
So pleased to hear that despite problems LJ your pushing on through.
Lovely to hear from you.
And as you indicate, it never rains but it pours.
Carolyn 1:05, I agree. I read *almost* everything and find it informative, there are so many facts. This blog often becomes social history.
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely cat tales.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
We have made contact with local rescue /fostering associations re the next feline member(s) of the household.
I really like Chris Beardshaw too.
ReplyDeleteNever took to Alan Titchmarch but really did like Geoffrey Smith and Geoff Hamilton.
With you in spirit, LJ. It all sounds dreadfully familiar.
ReplyDeleteThank you LJ for finding the time to update us regarding Mr LJ. Absolutely love your puss cat post. So glad they are all providing a source of comfort for you 🐈🐈🐈
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the 🏏 🤗
I have a new "kid" on the block, a lovely siamese cat, but I do not where its home is. A house round the corner was re-let as Lockdown started, but they only moved in 6 weeks ago, so it might be from there, but I don't know.
ReplyDeleteSadly, it has found my cat flap!
LJ - what a time you are going through, but I wish you and Mr LJ well...and I loved the cat story. Take Care - 🤗
ReplyDeleteOn a completely different topic - I watched Britains Got Talent on tv last night.
ReplyDeleteI was so impressed as to how it was done, with the current government guide-lines being followed. The audience were all "on-line", being streamed from their front rooms and portrayed on a virtual wall. At times it was difficult to believe that that the audience, were not in the studio - the ambience was brilliant and was almost normal.
It shows what can be done, with modern technology.
Sadly, this is passing me by. 😣
I can say this now. I got the date wrong previously, and today is my state pension date.
I am now officially a "pensioner"! Gulp...
Do I care - no way, but I can apply for my Bus Pass - 😂
PS TV tonight is watching Drama - reruns of Dinnerladies, with the late, great, Victoria Wood.
DeleteI found the Grey Gables explosion episodes, and this I have put on the other page, if anyone is interested. 😣
ReplyDeleteBasia - to keep fingernails clean when gardening, scrape fingernails across damp soap before gardening. The soap under the nails prevents earth collecting under the nails.
ReplyDeleteI just wear gloves, to keep hands + nails clean. These then get put into the wash. My expensive NT leather ones, also wash well.
DeleteI like Chris Beardshaw too, and he is local to me.
ReplyDeleteAgree about A Titch ( a typical Aries man ) a good gardener but a very irritating personality.
Alan T born 2nd May Mrs P (so a Taurus man?) I only remember this because his birthday is close to a friend of ours 🙄
DeleteAgree ré the Titch.
ReplyDeleteLot of respect for the Geoffreys Smith & Hamilton - when I first got hooked.
We really like and admired Geoffrey Smith. I think of all the presenters over the years he is our favourite and most respected.,
ReplyDeleteAnd I still have several of his pocket sized gardening books and regularly use the fruit growing one when we need to prune our espalier pear and soft fruit.
As others have said I liked A. Titchmarsh in his gardening days, broadcasting from his garden here in Hampshire. Not that I have ever forgiven him for introducing the ubiquitous decking craze.
But like so many other ‘experts’ (Claire Balding comes instantly to mind) he was propelled into doing other things, was given a posh new hairdo and a smart suit and started appearing everywhere. Over- used and presenting programmes he had no special qualifications for, we just became sick the sight of him.
In Alan Titchmarsh's defence, he does seem to have come back down to earth (!) more recently. I've been watching 'Love your garden' in which he comes across as a thoroughly decent and very caring man who knows his craft inside out (and I can understand him!) His thoughtful pieces in the magazine are good, too.The other presenter I find difficult to follow is Frances Tophill who, like Adam Frost, clips and swallows her words and is inclined to gabble. That doesn't matter quite so much as I've yet to hear her suggest anything useful, but in Adam's case I need his advice rather than his exciting breathing and he makes it too much of an effort to obtain it.
ReplyDeletePerhaps I should watch one of those Love Your Garden programmes then Sarnia.
DeleteI must admit that when I see something is going to feature AT, I automatically cross it off my ‘programmes to watch’ list, which is probably very unfair.
I must admit we started going off him when he became a deputy Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire and it felt he was getting a bit too big for his (gardening) boots! He seemed to be appearing everywhere, opening this, presenting that, handing out awards etc etc.
But if he’s gone back to straightforward gardening, we’ll give him another chance. 😉
Have to agree with Sarnia re AT & love your garden especially where young terminally children or recently bereaved families are concerned the pain in his eyes is very genuine,
Deletebut also that he can get on (certainly Mr R ) wick for all the reasons you stated AP
Terminally “ill” of course..
DeleteCharlie Dimmock - now there's an irritating woman, but her water features are imaginative yet practical and often very simple, and she excels at designing play spaces for children. Guess you can't have it all!
ReplyDeleteHave to agree with Sarnia about Charlie Dimmock. I can't stand her, her voice, that awful hair! She is possibly one of the only people I turn off the TV absolutely immediately I hear her!
ReplyDeleteArcherphile and the rest of you who talked about Mr Titchmarch. I liked him as a gardener but as you say he became a jack of all trades. The one thing I do remember about hum is that one year he was awarded an annual prize for writing '"the worst 'sex' scene in a novel!"
He should have left out the 'author' bit of his life!
hear hear re charlie dimmock.
ReplyDeletei did enjoy Alan Titchmarsh's autobiography but, yeah, should have left the novel writing alone. Every TV personality seems to think they are an author nowadays. They should all leave well alone and let proper authors earn their living.
Alan Titchmarsh was High Sheriff of the island in spite of the fact his main residence is in Hampshire and he only has a holiday home here spending about a third of the year in it. Years ago someone gave us tickets for an audience with him and I have never been so bored! I thanked my lucky stars I hadn’t paid for the privilege! I can only remember him on the stage with a woolly scarf round his neck wittering away! He should have stuck to gardening!
ReplyDeleteI vaguely remember watching GW with Mr S when the sig tune was on guitar and the presenter was his idol, Geoff Hamilton. Gardening seemed very technical and complicated in those days (which was right up Mr S's street|) and much too difficult unless (like him) you knew it all already.
ReplyDeleteI do like the "Rich" brothers in Garden Rescue, but this is not a gardening programme, just a make-over one. I like their ideas though.
ReplyDeleteI have been "breaking in" new footwear today, just around and about. These are "freestep" leather lace-ups, but were quite rigid. Hopefully they are now softened a bit by now. The beauty of these are they look like trainers, are sturdy, comfortable, and even though they are leather, they are machine washable. My previous pair, (still very wearable but tatty),are years old.
ReplyDeletePS These have a very solid +sturdy sole, so are great for walking over rough ground.
DeleteMy new neighbours, are now in residence, as from yesterday. I knew that they were round and about yesterday, but it was only this morning that I realised that they are now "in situ". I woke up at 6.15am (a loo trip!) and looked out. Both the cars were parked outside...
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard a thing!
This morning, I was vaguely aware of the burgular being set at 8.15am, as they left for work- what a difference!
I hope it stays the same 😀
What a relief!
ReplyDeleteKnow exactly how you feel Miriam and so thrilled for you!
DeleteI think that I have won "The Lottery" with them!
DeleteI am frustrated, as my lawns are overgrown and desparately need cutting. Over the last many days, there have been very many short, sharp but heavy rain showers. So much so, it is far too wet to attempt the lawn mowing + hedge trimming, which also needs to be done.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope your peaceful neighbours continue to be a delight Miriam.
ReplyDeleteFirst meeting with Molly & Lily this morning, two very sweet young rescued cats. Hopefully picking them up Sat am. 💕🐈🐈
ReplyDeleteOne of our much loved cats was a Molly. A short haired British blue with amber eyes (a result of her pedigree mother having a dangerous liaison with the local Tom!)
DeleteShe had a beautiful nature and we missed her dreadfully when she just disappeared one day. Despite all our efforts she never came home.
We came to France with Bobby (black & white, Mr P 's) and Amy (tortie, my rescued cat).
DeleteHad a lovely few years then Amy disappeared. Searched everywhere. Never found.
Neighbours think they may have seen her, eaten poisoned bait.
France profonde.
So awful when animals just vanish.
DeleteHow lovely parsley. Great names.
ReplyDeleteI’ve applied to a different animal charity today for a 17 month old male Rottweiler. They say they rehome dogs all over the country and the online application form had 42 questions!!!! 🤞
Question 43 : can the prospective owner run fast enough to catch their little angel when it is "herding" sheep. 🐑🐑🐑 🐕 🏃♀️ 🏃♂️ 🛌
Delete😉 Seriously, good luck, the right one for you is out there somewhere.
Fingers crossed for you PtbY 🤞🤞
ReplyDeleteWe're picking them up Sat!
Molly is about 3, ex farm cat, had 1 litter, farmer shot them. Neighbour rescued her. Dark tabby, v friendly & confident.
Lily's mother was too young, couldn't look after her. She's 3 months. More silver tabby & white, v shy & needs a big sister /mum.
Bit of a change from ginger twins..
They sound beautiful. How could anyone shoot kittens.
ReplyDeleteMy thought exactly Janice 😡 (and agree they sound delightful)
DeleteVery strange that a farmer would waste ammunition on shooting kittens. Most farms usually drown them at birth! Not only in England but in Ireland too. Seamus Heaney writes in his poem 'The Early Purges' about it. I hated studying that with Year 11 girls. We all got very upset!
Delete....... Burlington Bertie......
ReplyDeleteHa ha ! Burlington Bertie was my Dad’s nickname!
DeleteHe was managing director of a Jewellers Shop in Burlington Arcade, off Piccadilly and my Mum called him that when she was cross with him, or he’d forgotten to do some mundane job or other around the home. If she was particularly cross she’d hum the Song under her breath! Memories!
I had to play a mind game to get to the name Archerphile.
DeleteI had the rhythm of the five syllables in my head, and the vision of Vesta Tilly, but it wouldn't come to me. So I googled Edwardian singers, and although VTs name didn't come up, for some reason known only to Mr Google, Vesta did.
So then googling Vesta Tilly I got there.
How very posh that your pa was the manager of a jewellery shop in the Arcade.
Did he regale you with accounts of the rich and famous of the post war years ?
I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow Mrs P .... and about the Burlington Arcade poltergeist! Got to go and cook dinner now!
DeleteBeen thinking about my lovely Mum who lived through the blitz in Marylebone, London as I've been seeing articles about the 80th anniversary. How I wish I could ask her about it now. She told me some things, of course, but I'd like to know so much more now that I'm older. I cannot imagine how terrifying it must have been.
ReplyDeleteI grew up on the saga of 'when we were bombed out' - ironic, since Islanders were evacuated to Lancashire because it was supposed to be safer - although not under occupation, of course.
ReplyDeleteThere was a great deal of friction between those who stayed and the ones who left, who returned greatly changed by the experience of having lived in England, or 'over the other side', as it was known. The conversation was so charged and so constant that, given the sound of explosions coming from the mainland of France, which my mother said was 'the guns', (although I later understood it to be the Allies dealing with unexploded ordnance), I was 7years old before I realised that the war was over and the Germans were not coming back.
I've heard more about the War than anyone could wish for (and also 'Before-the-War', which was apparently another country).
How coincidental that you are writing about this Sarnia.
DeleteToday I watched a recording of the first episode of an old TV series called “The Enemy Within”. Made in the 70s, I think.
It is about the German occupation of Guernesy and this first episode showed them arriving and taking over. We were introduced to the island Doctor and several other characters who will no doubt be taking a big part in the series, and doing their best to defy the Germans.
The German General in charge is played by Alfred Burke and a particularly sneering young Officer by Simon Cadell. The doctor by Bernard Horsfall.
The series is being shown on the Talking Pictures Chanel on Sunday nights at 9pm.
I don’t suppose you will want to record and watch this series, too close to home probably, but others might be interested to see what happened, how the residents coped and got the better of the invading force.
I was born after the war, a baby boomer but I often think how hard it must have been with dads away and being under threat at home. Imagine, six long years of it! My dad volunteered in 1939 as he wanted the choice of regiments, joining the Scots Guards. He only made the height requirement by quarter of an inch! He was a driver and drove Willie Whitelaw and Sir Charles Maclean who was a big noise in the Scouts. Later he drove tanks and lorries and went across in the later days of the Normandy landings. He was there when they relieved Belsen. Not a hero, just an ordinary bloke but he joined at the age of 24 and was demobbed in 1946 when he was 31. Like many others he lost much of his youth to a terrible time. Hats off to them!
ReplyDeleteI only remember my life, as a young child, in the late '50's and that was hard. I cannot imagine how it was previously.
ReplyDeleteI had a lovely 3hr walk today, in the lovely sunshine and 24C temp. wearing light canvas trousers + a short sleeved top.
I am already stiff, so goodness knows how I will be tomorrow morning.
Forgot the sun protection, and I can now tell this.
DeleteThe boys went to the groomers today so Gypsy and I went down to the creek. I took her down there in her pushchair and then let her off the lead as there is a large area of grass, well away from traffic and having just the occasional walker with very few dogs. Being blind, she loves to walk in circles presumably testing out the surroundings and she loves the freedom, tail wagging all the time. It was a lovely day and down there much to look at, scenery and boats. During lockdown we were taking the dogs to Quarr Abbey in the car with shorter walks for me. I put on half a stone and hope to take it off again as Katy is back to work and I am walking the boys down to the creek in the morning 3 times a week, a much longer walk with hill included! They have a dog walker twice a week. It is nice to start getting back to normality. 😊🐶Gypsy has a shorter walk later on!
DeleteArcherphile I remember watching The Enemy Within years ago.
ReplyDeleteI think we can get Talking Pictures on Sky Channel 343 .
Freeview Channel 81
DeleteI would be interested to watch that but don't have any of those channels.
ReplyDeleteBorn in '42 with my mother pregnant throughout much of 41, she had been bombed out in '39 and came home from a shift at the munitions factory to find an empty house and what was left of the family all gone. She went up to the Guardhouse on Frances Street Woolwich to her boyfriend and he, my dad spent three days scouring all the pubs in Greenwich and Woolwich to find out where they had decamped to.
They had abandoned her, she turned to the man in her life and he rescued her.
And she paid a heavy price for the rest of her life in an unhappy marriage.
Worried and frightened throughout the following years I was born to a fragile and neurotic woman ( she turned her life round in due course and became a very strong woman) who clung to me as the only living thing she could be sure of, living in rooms in south London for the following three years.
I still freeze at the sound of sirens, cannot be comfortable in underground rooms if full of noise and people, and my abiding vision of my mother is of her rushing to get to safety.
I think the program being talked about is Enemy at the Door, originally shown in late 70’s I watched it at the time, I liked Simon Cadell. The Enemy within is more recent.
ReplyDeleteWell blow me down - you are quite right KP!
DeleteDon’t know how I mixed up the name seeing as I only watched it this morning.
Thank you for putting me right.
And of course Simon Cadell, so nasty as a Nazi Officer went on to play the much
softer Holiday Camp manager in ‘Allo ‘Allow sometime later.
Dundridge, Blott on the Landscape...
DeleteDied at 45 from lung cancer.
DeleteMake that Hi di Hi. Also brother of Selina, AKA Mrs Tishell in Doc Martin.
DeleteOh goodness, Sarnia, what was it with me and programme titles yesterday?
DeleteOf course......Hi De Hi, not the other one. Another stupid lapse in memory.
Mrs P
ReplyDeleteI promised to tell you about Burlington Arcade
Yes, Dad was Managing Director of “Leightons Jewellers”, at 7 -11 Burlington Arcade, a short way up on the left side from the Piccadilly end. Sadly no longer there.
He did, indeed have many wealthy and famous customers, film and theatre stars, ‘nobility’ etc. I still have the autograph book he gave me with many famous (back then) signatures in. Sophie Tucker, Frankie Vaughan, one of the Beverly Sisters, Lord Boothby, Lady Isobel Barnett etc. Unfortunately many of the many American customers could be very loud, difficult and demanding and often tried to beat prices down.
I was allowed to visit the shop on a few occasions (kept well in the background) and the lovely staff usually treated me to sweets from a famous chocolatier further up the Arcade or some very posh stationary & pens from another store.
Sometime during the 50s shopkeepers would arrive in the morning to find chaos had reigned in the stores overnight. Stock thrown around, drawers and cupboards opened, mess everywhere, what we would call sheer vandalism today.
But nothing whatsoever was ever stolen and there were no signs of broken locks, windows or break ins. There was no way in through cellars, only through the front doors which had not been forced. This went on over a few months. The police investigated but had no answers.
Eventually an expert was called in and decided a poltergeist had been at work. The ‘spirit’ of a young person who had, probably many years in the past, lived on the site of the Arcade and suffered some cruelty or bad experience there, and had returned to get his revenge. My Dad thought this was complete nonsense but the owners of the Arcade brought in some sort of religious person to perform an exorcism, or what ever they do, and calm eventually returned.
As I say, my Dad was very sceptical about the poltergeist but dined out on the story for years afterwards.
Ooh! AP, I have a spooky feeling that you have just opened a portal to the "other side".
DeleteLet the ghost stories commence!
My only ghostly experience was at Greenwich where I went for officer training. I shared a room with two others and one night we had just put the light out when I heard footsteps across the floor. Then a figure even darker than the darkness stood over my bed. I was not frightened as it was like when a child someone came to tuck me in. I felt safe. On hearing the footsteps I had thought it was one of the other girls but when I put the light on they were both firmly in bed. Way back Greenwich had been a hospital for servicemen and it could have been a nurse from way back then. I was not alone with this strange experience. Another girl in the room directly below ours felt someone sit on her bed. She put the light on, no one there but there was an indentation on the side of her bed. Greenwich has a long history and is a very atmospheric place. Much later the Navy moved out and it became part of a university and I wonder whether any of the students had encounters!
DeleteI worked in a pharmacy, in a very old building, in a village in N.Wales (an old lead mining one). I was told about the "ghost" which I just poo-pooed.
ReplyDeleteOver the years I also experienced very strange events, which could not be explained, logically. There was a Saturday morning, when I went in early, as the week-end methadone's still needed to be made up. I was just starting working in the "back room" on my own, when a small tub of a cream, fell off the third shelf ending up, rightside up in a small box, placed ready to put the "doses" in. I was spooked.
There was another occaision on opening up, to then go into the main dispensary and turning the alarm off. I had been the last one out on the previous evening, when all was well when I set the alarm.
What I found, were 5 prescriptions placed in a line on the floor, equally spaced apart, and a unmade bottle of a childs antibiotic (stored in the back/wet room not the main area) also in line.
It was so very weird. Did I believe or accept the story about the resident "ghost" - I still don't know but I cannot explain what I saw!
There was another occaision, on entering (again last one out and first one in) finding some of the shopping baskets were placed in a circle, in the main shop area! Very weird!
DeleteWe had a firm who supplied + maintained the bin for ST's etc. in the loo. This was downstairs in the cellar. We had a new lovely lady who came and did this not nice job! On about her 3rd visit, she said to me and my staff (all female) - as to how she experienced the feel of another "prescence" in the building, esp. in the cellar. None of us had said or mentioned anything to her.
I am reading a book by Peter James, The Secret of Cold Hill.
ReplyDeleteIt is not one of his usual detective Roy Grace ones.
All I can say that it reflects the current topic.
It is very well written and eerie, but I am only a third way through, but I hope that the rest is as good as what I have so far read.
Archerphile - Wishing you well for tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI know you are dreading it, but be positive. 45mins of a procedure = perfect vision and no glasses, forever.👀
It will be so worth it.
Just think what your next cruise will be like, with perfect vision!
Remember, deep breathe in and out, to try to stay calm.
I have my anniversary of my last cataract op on Friday 11th, with my now normal vision. I still find it amazing! It is the simple things, which mean so much, such as looking out in the night and seeing stars twinkling, reading all the small print on the TV, and so on.
DeleteI’ll also be thinking of you tomorrow 👁 Archerphile so no need to feel alone while you are waiting! 🤗
ReplyDeleteAll the best, Archerphile ! It seems to have come round so quickly, but time is funny these days, out of joint. At least you know what to expect, during & after, not pleasant, but bearable, with a good outcome.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Archerphile.
ReplyDeleteDog related........
ReplyDeleteNot heard a word about the Rottweiler I applied for and now on website it says he’s reserved. So, passed over yet again. ☹️
Do not despair, Ptby. Your turn will come! Best wishes for tomorrow, Archerfile!
ReplyDeleteGood luck Archerfile , two good eyes tomorrow 👀
ReplyDeletePtbY perhaps you could put yourself on more than one waiting list. It would be lovely if you had him in time for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for the good wishes. I had my Covid test on Monday and self- isolated since and I was all geared up for tomorrow, girded my loins etc, when I got a phone call from the clinic at 4.45 this afternoon
ReplyDeleteSorry, but we can’t do your operation tomorrow!
Oh no, I thought, I must have tested Covid positive.
But no, it is simply because the lens I need hasn't arrived ! Apparently it is rather an unusual prescription, being specially made to measure for my astigmatism and to give short sight. The company just didn’t have any in stock and have had to order it from abroad but it’s not yet arrived.
So my appt has been re- made for 25th September and, most annoyingly, I shall have to have yet another Covid test and isolation until the op. 🙄
Oh how disappointed you must be Archerphile, and after being so keyed up about a few weeks ago. Now you must stay calm while you wait again.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for the tales of The Arcade. I used to walk through on occasion but never ever looked in the windows. But it always felt so lovely just to be there.
Ev, you must have been at the Seamans Hospital. My mum, a ' Greenwich girl' always said she had a creepy feeling whenever she walked past. She had to go up to St Alphages on Sundays to get her dad's cockles and winkles and had to pass by the hospital to get there and back.
PtbY- I agree with Janice, you need to be registered with several rescues.
I tried about five or six before I was able to get Lady.
It was the Royal Navy college and have looked up history. First used as a hospital for disabled veterans but this closed in 1869. The navy had it until 1998 when it became a campus for the university. The buildings include the painted hall where we enjoyed formal and ordinary dinners and cracked our boiled eggs in the mornings! It was quite an experience. I was there for three months. Greenwich theatre was nearby and we enjoyed several performances there. I think the Seaman’s hospital must be a different establishment but not sure about that.
ReplyDeleteOh rat’s Archerphile what a disappointment! On the plus side thank goodness that was the reason and not a positive Covid test 🙏🏼
ReplyDeleteHello Everyone.
ReplyDeleteThank you or your concern.
I am fine, but have been very busy re designing my garden, almost finished but then I will have several thousand bulbs of various kinds to dig in, in the new beds and wooded area, so no slacking for a few weeks yet.
In addition I have been fighting a number of local issues with Councillors and my MP, still ongoing, , still but hopefully tying them in a knot or two, feudalism still exists I'm afraid.
Stasia,
Mrs P tells me you work/ed in Peckham. Some 40 years ago a ran a unit on Underhill Road for parents and children, we worked very closely with the Maudsley and Bethlam Royal. I was trying to think of names, but ...our consultant psychiatrist was a man called Tony. We also worked closely with a senior consultant medical officer from Kings, Jane Watkeys, probably dont mean anything to you but worth a try.
CowGirl- when I was at school in Forest Hill my favourite teacher- yes I did have a crush on her- lived in Underhill Road.
ReplyDeleteMany decades later so did a friend.
The phrase, ' it's a small world ' is so true isn't it.
We discover many links with others when we reveal small details on here.
Good luck for the 25th Archerphile! Frustrating when things have to be postponed when one is all keyed up.
ReplyDeleteArcherphile what a disappointment, when ready to go.
ReplyDeleteWhat will be so hard, is not the wait as such, but still being in isolation.
It will be worth so chin up.
I finished my book "The Secret of Cold Hill" by Peter James.
ReplyDeleteIs it a "ghost" story - sort of
Is it "eerie" - sort of
Is it "wierd" - sort of
Is it "scary" - definitely not!
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it is so well written and a gripping story.
Would I reccomend it? I definitely would, if an extraordinary series of unexplained events happen, whilst reading . It will not to be to many tastes, but some might enjoy it, in the same way I did.
It's nice to hear of generous acts of kindness. My niece has finished her chemotherapy and all tests have now been returned as good news. But she is now to be shielded for some months; no Scouts at all (she is a Group Scout Leader which means being responsible for the programmes and discipline of all three sections in her Group i.e. Beavers, Cubs and Scouts as well as admin for the Scout 'Hut.' Not just the children either but all the other Leaders as well.
ReplyDeleteBut it also means that either she has to be shielded while her own immunity rebuilds (which was wiped out during the chemo.) This leads on to her husband and children staying in isolation as well, in Lancaster. Husband is working IT from home but both children are at Secondary school. To allow the children to return to school in September niece arranged to go to Newcastle to live with her mother-in-law and shield there.
She received a phone from a lady down the road from her who apologised for eavesdropping on her daughter's and my great niece's conversation and offered her late mother's house which was to stand empty for 6 months while garden is fenced off and an extra house built before selling both. This house is just a few doors from niece's home. The lady said that she would get professional cleaners in, to not just clean but sanitise the premises and it is there for niece to use for the next three months. Overwhelmed, niece thanked her and she was told that the amount of voluntary work D. does for the community with the Scouting is more than enough payment for any rent!
I have at last an appointment to actually see a consultant on 21st so hopefully will get things sorted before I degrade any more and get back to where I started in April 2019!
ReplyDeleteMy own Scouting friends have been in touch frequently and made me laugh on numerous occasions during the summer. We all missed out on the main camping season. Jon very nearly pitched his tent in the garden; he was so missing it but decided it wouldn't be the same with only me at the Camp Fire! 🤣
He seems to be stuck in his 'office' all the time what with working from home 9-6ish and then writing Risks Assessments for his own Scout Troop, which have to go to the District Council, the County and then to Gilwell (HQ!)
I am hoping that the consultant says it will be okay for me to travel to Dorset to see my brother soon. Also hoping one sister will take me but not all three! Don't think I could deal with that for a weekend! 😀 I love them really but in small doses!
I had no idea that your ongoing consultant visits had not been happening. A nightmare for you.
DeleteOn the other hand, what a wonderful gesture to your neice, with a rent-free offer.
This will suit all - is she accepting this gesture?
Yes indeed. She can now see the children everyday albeit in the garden at a distance or through the window!
DeleteMarvellous outcome, it restores faith in people.
DeletePtbY
ReplyDeleteWhen does your eye fixing start?
I might be wrong, but I thought that you also have a start date soon.
I witter on everyday, about so many tedious points, when many of you are having so many problems.
ReplyDeleteI have already wittered on about a book read, now for today's (which actually happened yesterday).
I was out mowing the front lawn, then the mower cut out. I had done the inevitable, I cut the flex. I calmy "repaired" it but it would not work. I was pixxed off. I couldn't get on-line to look for a repairer, so it was to be a restorative cup of tea, but the kettle didn't switch on. The switch on the fuse board had tripped, and on putting it back on, the mower worked. I managed the front lawn fine, but decided against doing the back.
I will do the back tomorrow, before I get it repaired, as I couldn't do it today due to rain
for a short while.
That's my witters done for today!
Miriam.
ReplyDeleteBotox on the 22nd of September.🤞
Brilliant the start of things to come. But as you say 🤞 Thanks for the up-date.
DeleteYou on the 22nd and AP on 25th 👀 nearly together. Then there is Spicy on the 21st..
A week of good news to come. 😀
Another wittering post.
ReplyDeleteI had a letter from DWP today, confirming my first state pension interimn payment is due today, then when the next one is due and then at 4 weeks intervals. It is actually exciting!! - after such a long time. I have managed fine for nearly 6yrs, but I really feel for the individual females, born in the '50's, who like me have had such a wait, but have struggled.
I am not getting political, far from it....but just feel for those who are struggling.
When the new pension scheme started, my date came under the new scheme. On that date, I had more contributions than was needed for the new payments. As such I now get a good "protected payment" each month, which is a carry-over between the old + new. What a difference this makes, although not massive, it means I am getting a recognition to my inputs into the system via my NI contributions over many years.
DeleteWhat is sad, I had enough contributions at 60, but I have had to wait!
It is so complicated and upsetting.
Miriam: 4.57 yesterday
ReplyDeleteJust catching up with old posts, and your story about the shopping baskets in a circle reminded me of one of the strange things that happened at Burlington Arcade.
One of the shops sold very expensive leather goods, notably handbags and purses etc.
One morning the staff arrived to find that several of the most expensive bags had been removed from their stands and placed in a perfect semi-circle on the floor.
This was one of the inexplicable incidents that assured the expert that a poltergeist had been at work.
Funny that your story reminded me of that!
Gosh What a similar story which sent goose-bumps up my arms.
DeleteOn one occaision when I went in to find strange "things" I thought that another staff member (also a key holder with an electronic swipe for the alarm) had gone back in, and was playing a joke. I rang the alarm company, who had a computerised log of when the alarm was set and then switched off. No-one had gone in, after I set the alarm and then entered the following morning.
Also some members of staff were convinced that they had seen a grey person in the cellar, on several occaisions.
I never experienced this.
I always spent the hour when closed for lunch, on my own with no problems. On one occasion I had a locum dispenser with me. I was reading a book, and she was writing up her work "journal" when she suddenly said What was That? She supposedly, heard a male voice very close by asking who was she? She was spooked - but I laughed it off in some way!! She was nervy the whole afternoon and never came back!
DeleteDear Miriam, yes you do witter, and sometimes your wittering must make some of us laugh.
ReplyDeleteBUT
and it is a BIG BUT .... you are as well very good at remembering dates and allowing the rest of us to hang on your coat tails to say good luck to whoever Birthday or anniversary or hospital appointment date is.
So in the ..... alls fair in love and war !
Carry on wittering Miriam
Spiceycushion- what a lovely gesture from that neighbour towards you niece and just reward for her community spirit and activities.
I think that swallows twittering are the bird equivalent of humans wittering so you are in good company.
ReplyDeleteMiriam, Sept 10th 5.56pm. Yo, Miriam, I also had an official letter on the same day, but from the Council, checking up that I am still living alone, and that my claim to 25% Council Tax reduction is not fraudulent.
ReplyDeleteThat in itself strikes me as an adequate deterrent against taking a Toy Boy or living 'in sin'! Mind you, I've been assured by someone who's done both that neither was the fun it's cracked up to be, although looking at her taste in males, that's hardly surprising.
Thank you Sarnia! That has started my day off with a good laugh! 🤣🤣
DeleteAt present I have a half of Mike’s service and civil service pensions and if I were to co-habit or marry again I would lose it all and become dependent on a man! Apart from having no desire to enter into a relationship as I have lost the love of my life, not flipping likely to lose that income! So no toy boy for me. Some would say highly unlikely!
ReplyDeleteIf a man has provided for his wife and his intention was to go on providing for her throughout life then I think it most unfair that the pension should stop, regardless of how she chooses to spend the rest of her life.
DeleteI've been married 31 years so far. How I haven't killed him I don't know!!! I would not go through all this ever again, be it toy boy, Adam Frost or even Noel Fitzpatrick - Supervet. LOL
ReplyDeleteHow about Hauser?
DeleteAs a woman who gave up on men before the age of forty, Sarnia, Ev and PtbY, have given ME a good laugh too.
ReplyDeleteMind you, I can say with all honesty that I have never encouraged any woman to give up on her marriage.
Even without the benefit of inherited pensions, it's a lonely road.
But perhaps I should also say, I do enjoy the companionship of some men.
Ev 10.13: I'm with you on that. The idea that widows who choose to enter into another relationship should then become financially dependent on the new partner, who will most probably also be a pensioner, is SO out of date. Like PtbY, I have no intention of going through all that again, but should a likely candidate ever present himself, I'm afraid he'll have to retain a separate household and I'll pencil him in for weekends!
ReplyDeleteGood idea, Sarnia!
DeleteI assume a single person's pension goes to the state when they die?
ReplyDeleteAre there different rules that apply to men when their wives die, do they benefit from their pensions? Does anyone know?
A woman I know was widowed early in life with two young sons. She hasn't married her long term partner for the reasons you have quoted above, though they have always lived together.