Mummy Muddy Paws

MOB rants

Fred, thanks, know it was Mitchell that invented the Spitfire, and couldn't remember the name of the chap that invented the jet engine.  Know it was definitely a shed, albeit a very big one, as in one of his tests he couldn't get the thing to switch off, and before he could cut the fuel supply it went bang and set fire to the shed.

Think I need a shed, without one the only thing I could come up   with is a radio-controlled rat in order to scare ladies (and some men) everywhere.  Of course, it would be marketed as a cat toy - I'm sure no-one would buy it in order to scare their mum!  Or Calorie-free chocolate, but then I'm sure that there are several genii with a few million working on that one as we speak - the inventor of that would make an absolute fortune.

Several people in the area have sheds, very posh ones, with hot-tubs in them.  What a waste!

MOB rants

Frank, if your grandson gets his crackpot ideas from you (not that he would!), make sure you don't get a shed.  Englishmen always invent stuff in sheds, don't know what it is, but there you go.  Cockerell and the Hovercraft, Barnes Wallis and the Bouncing Bomb, and I should know, but have forgotten, the chap who invented the Jet Engine (Mitchell springs to mind, but think it's wrong, as he gave us the Spitfire).

Give an Englishman a shed, and as long as he's bonkers enough, sure as eggs is eggs, he'll go and invent something.

Maud, hope both you and your Dad are feeling better.  Both Asda and Tesco do a very good home shopping service on t'interweb, get yourself a coffee, do your shop, and ring for a take-away.  They deliver late at night and early-ish in the morning, so should be able to fit it in around hospital visits.  At least they don't think it's cancer, as it's always a worry once it's been in someone's system.  Sending some positive vibes, sounds like you both need a bit of a rest!

MOB rants

I used to get that all of the time with OH's Dad.  He'd had a triple-heart bypass and was on the list to get both knees done (he'd actually lost a full inch in height as they were that shot), so was in a wheelchair.  The number of times someone has been parked in the few disabled bays in the supermarket, with NO blue badge on display was massive, it was actually commented on if he did get a parking space, he did need the extra room for the wheelchair.

On the few occaisions the person came back whilst I was pushing the chair, I actually asked if their disability was ignorance or bone idleness.  Two of them had the grace to look shame-faced, the rest started verbally abusing me, to which I let out my own stream of invective (I do look respectable, but went to school in a virtual de-militarised zone and then working in the offices of a steelworks) that would make a Navvy blush, that coupled with Barrie waving his walking stick and occaisionally making contact with shins (he was a bugger) normally made them very hastily get into their car before the mad sweary woman and cantankerous old git did any lasting damage.

Unfortunately, unless the supermarket or car park charges for parking, there's nothing they can do, and since it's really difficult to get a clamping licence, there's no way of enforcing it, they can just drive off.

If it's really annoying you, you could always accidentally drop some tin-tacks in front of their tyres...

drat and curses to this hot sunny weather

Drat and Curses?  Has this forum suddenly morphed into the DangerMouse Appreciation Society whilst my back's been turned?  Has Verdun turned into Baron Greenback?  Is FairyGirl Penfold?  Who exactly is DangerMouse?  And when will I stop sounding like David Jason in my head?

Tune in next week for the next exciting episode of Gardeners World Forums......

Clearing Jungle...

The weedkiller is normally only active if it's touching leaves or roots.  No need to cover up the manhole covers, just don't put it on there - if buying ready-made weedkiller it should come in a squirty bottle like kitchen cleaner.

Unless there are massive mounds of earth, I wouldn't worry too much, put the membrane down, maybe double it over to be on the safe side, then put LOTS of the gravel down, it will level out.  The only other option is to wait until the ground is wet during the autumn and dig it over and level it out.  You might want to try to get some of the worst roots out, there are chaps on here that recommend the use of a mattock (like a sort of land-axe), I've never used one, I've never really had to, so can't really help you there.  Maybe someone else can advise on the best way to get the roots out.

Ericaceous Compost Recommendations

Hi All

I have recently acquired three pink blueberries and a cranberry plant (for the princely sum of 97p thanks to Tesco clubcard vouchers and free postage offers), now I've recieved the cranberry and the blueberries are due in the next 4 weeks, I need to pot them on into bigger pots, so has anyone got any recommendations for a decent ericaceous compost to use, being as most of the stuff sold these days is made of bark, nails and polyethene?

Also, this is the first time I'm growing cranberries and blueberries, has anyone got any top tips?  Know they didn't cost much, but I'm a Yorkshirewoman with very short arms and deep pockets.  Be nice to be able to make my own cranberry sauce this xmas.

Electric daisy recipes

I bet they taste like chicken, too

The jungle in my garden needs to go.

Tony, that might be useful for chopping into bits, if you do it in 8-10 inch passes (so you don't have to do the chopping up later), but remember, you don't NEED a power tool to clear that lot, I think it will be quicker to do it by hand, as a lot of it will be really, really long bits of bramble.  Some of the stuff I've pulled out has been AT LEAST 18 feet long.

I have a 2-stroke petrol Stihl strimmer, even with the brush cutter tool I wouldn't bother using it, most of that bramble will have root systems that are 18 inches-3 feet apart, from the top it looks like impenetrable jungle, once you've cleared the edge and can see in, you will see what I mean.  I used the wolf-garten cultiweeder to drag some of the stuff towards me (cos I'm a lazy bugger and don't bend if I don't have to), bit expensive if you don't intend using it as a gardening implement afterwards, but really great for clearing up, as it's as strong as a rake, but has a shorter length, so easier to pull the stuff out - a rake must be at least 8 inches at the business end, so that's 8 inches of bramble and brushwood you have to fight.

Why do things the difficult way if you don't have to.  Sometimes the difficult way is using something with an engine or motor.

Clearing Jungle...

You can get decent weedkiller from ebay, or something like roundup or pathclear from a Garden centre, or even a supermarket or somewhere like Wilkinsons (their stuff is good and fairly cheap).  It needs to have Glyphosate as the active ingredient.  It actually works by encouraging the weed to grow really, really quickly and exhaust itself - it grows itself to death.  If you apply it every few days, you should start to see it start to die back in a couple of weeks, it might take up to 6 weeks for it to go completely, it does only work when the plant is actively growing, so now is the perfect time to do it.  It does need to be dry for 6 hours after you apply it for it to work properly.  When it's dry to the touch it should be OK to let animals into the area, but make sure you read the lable carefully, some of the labels advise an hour, or two hours later.  Definitely once it's dry it should be OK.

MOB rants

It's the call centre that gets walloped with the fine, as I used to work for one of the damn places, I often see things from the call centre's point of view.  The fine is to encourage the call centre to re-tune their predictive calling software.

TPS only works for UK registered centres, with the Indian ones (and ones in malaysia now), you're on your own. 

If you enter competitions or anything else where you have to put your phone number, you are probably opting-in to recieve calls - read small print CAREFULLY.

Mobile phones have the Mobile Preference Service, google Telephone Preference Service and that should bring website up.  No need to call, can all be done over tinternet.

Ericaceous Compost Recommendations

pH meter suggestions, please

Does anyone else..........

Getting rid of Bindweed

Got any 'ose?

Rowan Tree Propagation

Amateur Weatherman/woman

Gauntlet recommendations, please

Apple Tree Help needed

Bargains

Is there anything I can't compost?

Help with overwintering Strawberries, Please

Help - Massive Bramble problem

Unidentifed Raptor