Mummy Muddy Paws

Mannequins in the garden

Good job it was OH driving the other day, we went out to a GC and OH went the 'pretty' way.  We passed a house with one of the old red BT phone boxes in it's front garden, the occupant on the 'phone was a young lady wearing a dress that started late & finished early, fishnets & suspenders, and knee-high boots.  She had long blonde hair and was wearing a hat pushed down low over her eyes.  Yes, the young lady was of the plastic variety.

I let out such a squeal of laughter that the biggest little one wanted to know what was wrong, and I got told off for nearly deafening OH.

It was very funny, though.

Blackest, you may get more success with Tractor Crashing if your young lady wears slightly more than a hat - it's not what men can see, its what they think they can see.

mare's tail

Dobbies GC chain do a community scheme for folks such as yourselves.  Get yourself onto their website, and they have application forms on there.  Not looked into it myself, but thinking of applying for our local school.

You could maybe ask for a shed or polytunnel, so you can carry on growing when the weather's not so good.

Growing veg with little space

Apparently you can grow basil as a companion plant to tomatoes.  Stick a plant in with the tomato, and as basil is more sensitive to conditions than tomatoes, if it looks sickly, it will do it before it shows on your tomatoes.  Can't remember where I read this, but worth a go if you struggle with toms.

MOB rants

Tina, you may have a point there.  Gardening, good book, or chocolate.  Or grown-up ginger beer (in moderation).  Or cheese and biscuits.  Oh bugger it.  Off to raid the fridge.

Theft of Patio Planters and Containers

On a similar thread, someone, can't remember who, suggested supergluing drawing pins to the bottom of the pots.  Downside is you need to remember that too!

We don't tend to have a problem with theft, as we have an elderly GSD/Collie cross, who sounds as though he wants to eat you from the other side of the door.  Trouble is, our normal postie made the mistake of giving him a fuss, now the dog thinks the postman is delivering his fuss, the fact that he has a parcel for me is immaterial.  Downside is dog will leave deposits on your lawn and can be expensive to look after

MOB rants

GG - know where you are coming from.  Our scars are on the inside, and we can either give into them, or find the strength from somewhere to get on in spite of them.  I was lucky, Mum & Bio Father split up when I was 15, I realised I was afraid of him during a court hearing, strangely enough, after I realised I was afraid, I realised what he was, and stopped being afraid of him.  He's just a spoilt bully.

GG, you got one thing wrong.  You are a unique, beautiful person, and you DO matter, you need to remember this and give yourself some respect for all you have achieved, not everyone could have done what you have.  You remind me a bit of my Mum.  Was trained by her Mum to be a doormat, and did a very good job of it until she couldn't take it any more, and left in what she stood up in.  She's now very happy with my Stepdad, and have moved to Spain - I'd love her to move back so she could be more of a Grandma to my two, but if she's happy in Spain, then she deserves that happiness.

My motto in life is stolen from the Camel Trophy - One Life, Live it.

First new year resolution for 2014

No, you're not the only one.  Been very strict with plug plants, as no greenhouse to bring them on, but seeds my downfall. Forget to see what I've got left from the year before, or any ebay/jtf/aldi bargains (well, it's rude not to, at those prices).

MOB rants

hehehehe!  I don't think I've got more conkers than lots of chaps, I used to be a real shrinking violet at school, as I was bullied a lot (Mum was from Hastings, so I didn't have a midlands accent, where I grew up), as I 'talked posh', I didn't, I 'talked proper like what me Mum did'.  Mum & Biological Father ended up splitting up, best thing they could have done (he was, and remains, a bully).  I ended up going to a school in Leeds, in the middle of a council estate, but the teachers there actually gave a s**t and encouraged everyone to try as hard as they could.  Realised I'd actually been bullied by my Dad, and that was my light bulb moment.  I don't have anything to do with him now (completely blanked him at my Uncle's funeral)  My stepfather I regard as my Dad, and he gave me away when I got married.

So when you've been bullied by a member of your own family, you don't think twice about getting your ranty pants on with supermarkets!!

For a joke, when I had a lady boss at the steelworks, we played a joke on the blokes in the team.  I went in for my annual review, we decided we'd tell the blokes I was going on an assertiveness course.  Their comments ranged from 'What, as the teacher', to 'OMG, she'll be coming to work in Combats and a Kalashnikov!'

Trick is, even if you're quaking inside, put on a confident front.  Every day.  One day you'll realise it's not a front any more.  If I can do it, anyone can.

How early can I plant out runner beans?

Could you cover your bean wigwam with horticultural fleece?  If you've not room to keep them inside, this is what I'd do.  I normally sow my runner beans in pots outside (so the slugs don't get them), then when they germinate, wait until they've a few inches tall, plant them round my wigwams.  After all, if they've germinated, it must be warm enough outside for them.  Have you any seeds left you can do this with?  Hedge your bets!

MOB rants

Commented on the post again, they have me down as Blackest, I'm not even on the same island as he is!!  Have had another rant at them.  I have even suggested a way they can check who is watering and who isn't - they know how many plants they've sent out, and they know how many have been sold - therefore they must know how many have been chucked away.  Goodness, GG, you have got my Ranty side well off the leash today!

You would think they would READ the complaint posts, reply to the correct person.

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