Just thought I'd post an image of Madeleine and her beautiful distinctive eyes and to ask any readers to click on the link to the website dedicated to the search for her. Look here
The Bank Holiday Weekend was a complete washout! Grrrr. Had planned to do so much in the garden.
Managed to plant out some peas and dwarf french beans but that's all. My poor hens are miserable although I did let them play out yesterday whilst I pottered.
Found the Nemaslug in the end.....on a bookshelf in the sitting room. Can't imagine how I came to put them there! Strictly speaking they should have been stored in the fridge. I made them up and administered them as per the instructions so I'll just have to hope for the best.
Spuds are coming on a treat. Have stopped earthing them up as there is no more room in the bags.
Spent most of Tuesday sorting out the bare patches on what we laughingly call the lawn! It is in fact a large area of moss, clover, buttercups and dandelions...but when you've got 2 strapping lads who still want to play footie on it with their mates from time to time is their any point re-turfing?
Had to go to B&Q first as we didn't have a rake. The Mantis Tiller had made a very good job of rotovating the soil into a very fine tilth, but it needed raking smooth.....and that took absolutely ages, especially in the bigger patch, which was criss crossed with tree roots, which I have snipped out.....well....they were in the way.
I sprinkled the seed and watered it in and rigged up a bird scaring arrangement with old CD's....I knew the Gary Glitter compilation would come in useful one day! .......and so far so good!
Am still reeling with dizziness and had to come away from the garden centre as all the visual thingies were making it worse. I came away with some slug tape and 2 lupins so not a completely wasted journey.
I ordered some nematodes and they came a few days ago but am buggered if I can remember where I put them. Damn. I'm convinced that I've got a brain tumour but Him Indoors comforted me with the words "you can't have a tumour in an organ you haven't got".
Gary the builder is back...lovely bloke but his singing! Am glad to be out in the garden let's put it like that.
Spent most of yesterday in the garden....which I have neglected for the last few days.....have had labyrinthitis and have been reeling and lurching about the place like a sit com drunk. Absolutely horrible. Still feel a bit weird.
Update on the Mantis Tiller.....It's very good but takes a bit of practice. the first time I used it I overdid it massively and got tremors so badly that I couldn't hold a cup of tea for about an hour....and the next day my arms and shoulders were so stiff....I couldn't hoover! What a shame.
It does a very good job, and reduces the soil to a very fine tilth. The secret is to do 15 mins or so at a time......and build up your strength. It's amazing how much you can achieve in 15 mins though.
Re the green house disaster....I rescued as many plants as I can, and have re sown more. Interestingly....because I've been laid up with the labyrinthitis....I didn't get chance to clear up the pile of mud and seeds that resulted......and lots of determined little plants have continued to grow, uncovered and higgledy piggledy in the heap.....must give them a chance and will transplant them.
Vis a Vis the rat.....I bought lots of bait boxes off Ebay and set them strategically, and there has been no sign of digging around the Eglu's for over a week......so fingers crossed.
Disaster has struck!!!!!
My poor little greenhouse thingy has been blown over by really gusty wind.
I had weighed it down with 3 heavy boulders but the wind was so strong that it made no difference whatsoever. Most of my seedlings have been lost or damaged. Have managed to rescue some, but they mostly have come out of their pots or lost their label sticks, so even if they do survive, I won't know what they are. Buggeration.
Have re-sewn runner beans, mange tout, dwarf french and french climbing beans in some of those little peat sack whatsits that look like tea bags. Will just have to hope for the best. Am Sooooo disappointed.
Am so hopeless at keeping this blog up to date.
Spent all yesterday working in the garden....most of it clearing an path so overgrown you'd have been hard pressed to tell it was there if you didn't already know. Have done a good job...am pleased. Only two thirds clear though...will need a couple more hours work. Shoulders and arms veeeerrrry stiff and sore today!
Mowed the lawns yesterday too. Have two mowers....a petrol one with which I have a love hate relationship. I find it very hard to start and usually have to ask one of my sons to pull the cord thingy. I also have an electric mower, which starts easily, but I have to unravel miles of cable as the lawns are fairly big, and wind them up again afterwards which is a pain, and last year I mowed over the cable (accidentley of course) whilst mowing the grass verge outside the property. I was so engrossed with observing a full scale argument between two star crossed lovers over the road that I wasn't paying attention and cut the cable. Even though we have one of those cut out thingy's, it still threw me over the road practically and I had a distinctly funny feeling in my hands, arms and chest. Consequently I'm now very nervous about using it!
Bought an AZADA last week.It is VERY good.Cost £26. Much easier to use than a spade, and nothing like as hard on your back. Just the blade was wrapped in brown paper and covered with stamps. The Postman rang the bell and said "I feel like the bloody Grim Reaper stood standing here with this in my hand!" I cleared (roughly) all the front borders in about a hour with it (would have taken a day with a spade) and a largish area in the back. It will need fine tuning with a hoe, but has made the job much easier.
Have also ordered a MANTIS TILLER . I really want to get the garden organised. I absolutely love it when it looks neat and tidy and cared for, but I have neither the time nor the strength to achieve what I want without "assistance".
Veges are coming along nicely in the little plastic greenhouse thingy. Have also now got a cold frame too.
One tray of seedlings has lost its label and I cant for the life of me remember what it is!. Shall enjoy the surprise at harvest time!
Will try harder to keep this up to date....although I suspect that I only have one reader....Me!
