Today, I have been mostly....

[garynortheast]

Gardening. Actually, that goes for the last few days.

And I'm quite pleased with the results so far. Pictures will follow.

[garynortheast]

Having already tackled the front garden (which I forgot to take "before" pictures of) and with the er... reluctant help of my daughters, dealt with the chopping back of all the Rosa Rugosa on the side of the drive, I thought it was time to tackle the growing mound of grassed over cuttings and assorted vegetation on the drive.

Getting there....
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7893/46608813815_c024e1dfe8_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2e1Emwc)
Getting there (https://flic.kr/p/2e1Emwc) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

I was left with this very useful pile of compost from all the cuttings that had rotted down over the previous 6 or 7 years. There is more there than it appears. I had 4 very large barrow loads which were spread over the front garden and border.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7892/46608813235_7d3a19087f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2e1Emmc)
Getting there (https://flic.kr/p/2e1Emmc) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

In fact, over this border once I had uncovered it!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7839/46608811995_9397eac4d4_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2e1EkYP)
Getting there (https://flic.kr/p/2e1EkYP) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

I uncovered this while dealing with the cuttings mound, an unfortunate victim of our cat I suspect.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7926/46608812235_f904c47247_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2e1Em3X)
Baby bird skull (https://flic.kr/p/2e1Em3X) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

Up next to look at the sorry state of my terraced veg beds after 8 years of neglect.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7834/47471573242_1093ecfc84_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2fjUdQJ)
Veg beds (https://flic.kr/p/2fjUdQJ) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7870/32581828477_49cb020ec5_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RD9otp)
Veg beds (https://flic.kr/p/RD9otp) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7837/46608814395_fd26938757_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2e1EmGc)
Veg beds (https://flic.kr/p/2e1EmGc) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

[garynortheast]

The side and the front bits now look like this. All the bare earth won't be bare for long as I've scattered wild flower seeds over it, good for the bees! The Mahonia smells glorious and already has quite a few bumble bees visiting it.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7874/32582135317_fe1b347bc3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RDaXFK)
Side patch (https://flic.kr/p/RDaXFK) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

It's hard to describe how overgrown the front had got. It'd been invaded by pampas grass from somewhere and most of the rest needed a serious pruning - which is what it got!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7873/32582135087_c3d86fbcc0_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RDaXBM)
Front garden (https://flic.kr/p/RDaXBM) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

The little border and small end bed out the front now are clear. I've dotted a couple of plants in which had been sat in pots for several years looking very sad, a Euphorbia and an oriental poppy. I also put a sedum in last night that came from the in law's garden.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7915/32582134937_27ca12bd9d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RDaXzc)
Border (https://flic.kr/p/RDaXzc) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

I have several tubs of flower seeds, many still sealed up but dating back quite a few years. I thought I'd see what came up if I planted some of them so there's a row of sweet peas in that border against the wall, a row of marigolds in front of that and then, right at the front a row of pansies. We shall see what happens.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7903/32582134597_50e9bab12e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RDaXtk)
Border (https://flic.kr/p/RDaXtk) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

Next it was up onto the veg plot and first to be tackled was the cooking apple tree. Unpruned for 8 years, it was an unholy mess. I decided to forgo and decent crop from it this year an give it a pruning. Most of the canker is now removed and it looks a better shape.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7859/32582134217_8ef1bb821b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RDaXmM)
Pruned cooking apple tree (https://flic.kr/p/RDaXmM) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

So now I'm onto the digging bit. There are lots of other jobs still to do but I need to get planting space prepared as I'm going to order a load of veg seeds from Garden Organic in the next couple of weeks. A friend up the lane is doing a joint order with me as neither of us alone will be able to use all the seeds so it makes sense to split them.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7856/32582134007_0757bed7af_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RDaXia)
Digging the veg beds (https://flic.kr/p/RDaXia) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

I'm getting a collection of pallets together as well, to use to repair the veg bed supports and to make new compost bins. I have some seriously overgrown bits to tackle still as well but they will have to wait till I have veg planted and compost bins in place.

I can't begin to tell you how enormously satisfying and calming this project is.

[Adam Ef]

Good work. Might be aching a bit the next few days!


We're having a dramtic cull of plants in our garden this year. We've realised that we don't actually like the plants that were left here when we moved in a few years ago, that we need to spend a few days trimming and pruning twice a year. So they're going, which will save us a lot of work.


Actually preferring being able to see the walls behind them with a few simpler plants in their place.

[shiftin_gear98]

Good Effort Gary, I too love spending time in the garden. Clears the mind focusing on what others think is mundane. Unfortunately this having to go to work lark gets in the way of most of the things I enjoy doing.

Don't forget to post up a pic in a few weeks when your seeds grow!

[garynortheast]

Actually not aching at all Adam, not a twinge! I suspect all the running I do has kept me fit enough for it not to have affected me.

[garynortheast]

It has the same calming effect as my running Martin, seems more real than all the other pointless crap we tend to surround ourselves with somehow.

Seeds will be started off in a couple of weeks, but nothing much will be planted out till nearer the end of next month once the risk of frost has passed.

Had a very pleasant half hour yesterday sat with my friend and a couple of cups of tea, going through the Garden Organic seed catalogue choosing what to grow this season.

[Sir Trev]

I too enjoy getting out in the garden for exactly the same calming reason. Might well get out there this afternoon as I'm waiting on two recruiters at the moment to get back to me on potential new contracts and the waiting is driving me NUTS! A bit of weeding will bring me back down to an even keel.

[garynortheast]

I think a few pictures of peoples' garden labours might be good then. I always like seeing what other folks growing efforts look like.

[maviczap]

For the record I hate gardening :-)

[garynortheast]

For the record I hate gardening :-)

That's a shame as I had us all booked on for a surprise afternoon gardening workshop at the BPW Mav!

:smt046

[garynortheast]

Another 3 or 4 hours spent on the veg plot prep this afternoon, mostly digging over the lower of the three beds. I'm just over three quarters of the way there on this bed now.

I was slowed down by the need to dig out some monster hogweed roots, and also by having to relocate some of the dozens of Aquilegia plants which have self set in the veg beds. The Aquilegia is too nice to just chuck in the compost bin so I have saved a few of them to temporary locations. I'll transplant them to a more permanent home a bit later.

I've also had to make some temporary repairs to the supporting revetment of the lower bed where some of the timber has rotted out. As long as I can afford it, there will be a serious programme of replacement of the timber at the end of this season.

My mate is coming down tomorrow and we'll place the order for our seeds. When I had a look on the website on Saturday I noticed a couple of the varieties we had chosen were out of stock so we'll need to decide on replacement varieties.

I'm going to sow the beans in toilet roll tubes which can then just be planted straight into the ground once they've germinated to save root disturbance. The peas will be sown into a plastic gutter full of compost. When they are ready to go out I can then just slide them out of the gutter and into a shallow trench.

Hoping for some decent weather tomorrow so I can finish the lower veg bed and start constructing some pallet compost bins.

I think I may be a bit stiff tomorrow morning as all my digging came after a pretty hilly run this morning!

[Sir Trev]

Gary

Try using kitchen roll tubes instead of bog roll for your beans - the longer tubes help the roots more and of course I'm sure you know how amazingly quick the roots start poking out of the bottom anyway.

[garynortheast]

Very productive day today. My friend and I ordered all our seeds, then it was up onto the veg plot for me.

A bit more digging on the lower bed. Nearly finished this bed now; one more good session will see it completed.

https://live.staticflickr.com/7916/47565925851_952865310b_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2fteNzR)
Lower veg bed (https://flic.kr/p/2fteNzR) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

Turned my attention to the young hazel at the top of the plot. I've coppiced it for the poles for my runner beans. My neighbour Diane is going to come round with her chainsaw and tidy up the stool so that it regrows properly. It's hard to make a tidy job with just a bow saw.

https://live.staticflickr.com/7917/47565927621_163dd386b1_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2fteP7n)
Coppiced hazel (https://flic.kr/p/2fteP7n) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

I needed some of the thicker pieces of wood from the hazel so that I can pin this into place. New compost bin in a more convenient location.

https://live.staticflickr.com/7904/32623420167_002a01a43c_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RGPyev)
Compost bin (https://flic.kr/p/RGPyev) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

Next to be dealt with was one of the pear trees which had thrown up a mass of shoots from the base and was stopping me from getting at the lower veg bed. Some of the shoots had layer rooted so I yanked them out and gave them to my neighbour. A quick pruning and the tree looks much better.

https://live.staticflickr.com/7806/47565925251_76def34590_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2fteNpv)
Pear tree (https://flic.kr/p/2fteNpv) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

While I was in a pruning mood I had a go at my poor old, canker ridden Fiesta apple tree. Pruned out most of the worst affected parts and gave it a general tidy up.

https://live.staticflickr.com/7847/47565927031_46d1a9ea20_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2fteNWc)
Fiesta apple tree (https://flic.kr/p/2fteNWc) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

Went and inspected my rhubarb patch too. After pulling the dead bracken away and clearing back the yellow arcangel I discovered a very happy looking rhubarb patch, with lots of young shoots all ready to harvest.

https://live.staticflickr.com/7922/47565924601_2885f3a211_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2fteNdi)
Rhubarb (https://flic.kr/p/2fteNdi) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

My very untidy gooseberry bushes are next on the list. I grew these from cuttings taken in 1997 from a very old (possibly 50 or 60 back then) bush in the garden of another house I was then living in here in the village. They are dessert gooseberries and crop heavily with very large, sweet, pink fruit that you can pick and eat straight off of the bush.

https://live.staticflickr.com/7826/47565926471_261bc48f19_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2fteNLx)G
Gooseberry bushes (https://flic.kr/p/2fteNLx) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

Hoping to snatch a couple more hours tomorrow to finish digging the lower veg bed.

[garynortheast]

Gary

Try using kitchen roll tubes instead of bog roll for your beans - the longer tubes help the roots more and of course I'm sure you know how amazingly quick the roots start poking out of the bottom anyway.

That's a useful tip Trev. I'll have to see if I can get hold of a few kitchen roll tubes though as we don't use the stuff normally.

[maviczap]

This morning I have mostly been sorting out the 'Pain Cave'

[garynortheast]

Before and after pictures Mav?

[maviczap]

None of before Gary, I'll post some after ones

[Sir Trev]

Nicely done Gary. I'll try to get a pic of my raised beds over the weekend - only got the early spuds in so far and the resident foxes, badgers and squirrels keep digging in everything which is getting worse!

[garynortheast]

Nicely done Gary. I'll try to get a pic of my raised beds over the weekend - only got the early spuds in so far and the resident foxes, badgers and squirrels keep digging in everything which is getting worse!

It's coming along Trev. Fixed the four sides of my compost bin together this evening and it's now half full. I have another couple of bins to make yet and a black plastic one with a lid to move down from the top of the garden.

Didn't I read somewhere that you can buy sacks of lion poo which is supposed to deter foxes and badgers?

[maviczap]

None of before Gary, I'll post some after ones

https://live.staticflickr.com/7918/33701726078_301406973a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Tm7a1J)2019-04-10_01-18-00 (https://flic.kr/p/Tm7a1J) by maviczap (https://www.flickr.com/photos/89416312@N07/), on Flickr

Here's my pain cave, although you can't see my 'Smart' turbo trainer in the picture, but basically it increases or decreases the resistance on the bike subject to the gradient. Controlled by a little Acer PC via whatever platform I'm using.

Spent an hour and a bit climbing the Col Du Telegraph this morning, which has an average gradient of 7% and a max of 10.5%.Not the kind of workout I can get in flat East Anglia to prepare for the mountains in July :-) When I did this climb a few years ago, it took an hour and 37 minutes, so not far off reality.

Certainly made my legs ache!

Also helps to get a good workout when I'm limited for time or the weather is shizz

[Sir Trev]

Didn't I read somewhere that you can buy sacks of lion poo which is supposed to deter foxes and badgers?

My dad has tried all sorts of stuff like that and it never kept the wildlife off his veg patch so I think I'll just assume I will have a certain % of wastage each year. Unfortunately.

[garynortheast]

That looks a tad...er...compact in there Mav. Doesn't look like you have any room for a sofa or beer fridge!

Smart turbo trainer sounds good for the crap weather (when you can't get out on the veg plot ;) ).

[maviczap]

Yes, it's pretty rammed for sure, the Sv and my other bicycles are in there too!

Fridge/freezer is in the other corner, but it stopped working, so it's now used for bicycle part storage :-)

Even if it was empty, we could only fit my wife's car in our garage, so not much use as a garage, although I am trying to downsize the clutter, as things have a habit of getting lost in there :-)

[Adam Ef]

I swear if I spent long enough in our garage I'd end up buried under all the tins of paint, boxes and things not wanted in the house that get thrown in there.

[garynortheast]

Today, I have been mostly....
Working and dad taxiing, so no time to get on the garden. :-(

[dirtydog]

I hate gardening, so much so that I bought 4 tonnes of slate chippings and covered all of my garden with them

I've been off work the past few days being school holidays, decided to tidy the van. It's taken hours and hours and half a wheelie bin of rubbish
On the plus side I also found £140 of scrap brass and copper in there

[garynortheast]

Working this morning although the bonus was that I was able to go to the jobs on the bike. Stopped at lunch time and got back up on the veg plot.

These arrived yesterday from Garden Organic, which spurred me on to crack on with veg bed prepping.

https://live.staticflickr.com/7862/47548616042_4b15d9ea1f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2frH5YS)
Seeds (https://flic.kr/p/2frH5YS) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

The broad beans won't be planted till November but everything else is for this season. My friend Marcus and I bought the seeds between us so he came down and we divided them up.

So this afternoon I was largely digging and managed to finish the lower bed. It's all ready for planting now but beans and peas won't actually get transplanted into it until the end of May when the danger of late frosts has passed.

https://live.staticflickr.com/7834/32659210387_20846410fa_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RKYZqg)
First bed ready (https://flic.kr/p/RKYZqg) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

Sorted out the sticks for runner beans and peas. I need a few more for the beans so I'll coppice the other hazel tomorrow.

https://live.staticflickr.com/7888/32659208217_3eb123e648_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RKYYLR)
Pea and bean sticks (https://flic.kr/p/RKYYLR) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

My other task for tomorrow afternoon is making a start on the middle bed. There's meant to be a path running along just above it and the rear retaining wall needs sorting before I can start digging over the bed.

https://live.staticflickr.com/7832/40635296173_b22d876d14_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/24UNvQH)
Middle bed next! (https://flic.kr/p/24UNvQH) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

I shall be making a start on this top bed later in the week too.

https://live.staticflickr.com/7861/46685929625_00212dcd5e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2e8tAn8)
Top bed (https://flic.kr/p/2e8tAn8) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

The last job of the afternoon was to pull this.....

https://live.staticflickr.com/7858/46877490894_77d5099d01_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2eqpoRC)
First rhubarb (https://flic.kr/p/2eqpoRC) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

….and make this!

https://live.staticflickr.com/7869/46877492594_fe403f246e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2eqppmW)
Crumble (https://flic.kr/p/2eqppmW) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

Very tasty it was too!

[Littlepeahead]

Baking for a charity bake sale at work. Bailey's cappuccino, lemon and chocolate Easter cupcakes, and vegan brownies.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190414/541107e3baa304cd16a5b80afaf1de36.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190414/1d1b7782e306940afb71a71e0346bf6f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190414/d891870a9ddf9b6af752115b57c7253a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190414/42c493c76d87f2f8dc99b0d6c9496af0.jpg

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[garynortheast]

That's an impressive batch of baking there LPH! I bet that lot sold pretty damn quick.

[garynortheast]

This morning I have been mostly delivering laptops I've been working on to clients. Sunny here so I've been able to go on the bike.

This afternoon I shall be back on the veg plot.

[Chris_SVS]

Watching the clock, will be all week :D

[shiftin_gear98]

The last few days I have been building a shed. 3.06 x 2.4 x 2.4 (Highest point).
Took Thursday and Friday off last week, and got a few hours in over the weekend too.
I managed to finish the bit on the left last night, so just the doors to work out now.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/46896037394_4fb7f083de.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2es3s5S)Shed (https://flic.kr/p/2es3s5S) by martin cockerell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/155901659@N02/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/46896037574_a9b1fb8129.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2es3s8Y)Shed (https://flic.kr/p/2es3s8Y) by martin cockerell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/155901659@N02/), on Flickr

I bought the stud work and the roofing board and felt, the rest is re-purposed wooden crates that metal bars are delivered to work in, you can see the end of one in the doorway.

[garynortheast]

Tidy looking shed that Martin. Nice job.

[garynortheast]

….playing music at the market in Oswestry with one of my daughters. Got home at about 4pm and headed up onto the veg plot.

Sorted about two thirds of the rear retainer for the middle bed with whatever materials I had to hand - paving slabs, reusing some of the rather dilapidated sleepers, and lengths of hazel coppice stems.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/33767869768_8cf5f7629a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/TrXaeb)
Middle bed (https://flic.kr/p/TrXaeb) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

I have this to finish tomorrow, then I can start digging the bed over ready for planting.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47645345281_c951955d5e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2fAfRdn)
Middle bed (https://flic.kr/p/2fAfRdn) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

As long as I can get this bed completed in the next couple of days then, with the lower bed which is ready, I'll have enough planting space for the seeds I've bought. I shall try and get the top bed done though as I can use it for late planting.

[Sir Trev]

Onion sets. Mine are now planted. May well set off the first batch of lettuce on the utility room window sill before they move to the greenhouse or cloches in the veg patch as they're a hardy variety.

Edit - now taken a pic. Early spuds are back right, onion sets covered with fleece to hopefully stop the birds plucking them out (fleece damaged last year by a curious fox) and yes, one of the fence posts has rotted through at the bottom which gives me a job to do on Monday.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/46927199984_71eac77192_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2euNaCU)Just getting started (https://flic.kr/p/2euNaCU) by Trevor Laight (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116210840@N03/), on Flickr

[maviczap]

Started the fabrication of of Ike's Ragnell

[Littlepeahead]

Cleaning my bike. May even ride it some day.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[garynortheast]

Gardening again.

Out with Sioned, one of my daughters, planting various flower seeds from old packets to see what comes up. Then veg planting; runner beans in toilet roll tubes, courgette plants in plastic modules, and outdoor cucumbers in a seed tray.

Long stint up on the veg beds again too. I've now finished the back retainer of the middle bed and started digging it over. Another couple of days should see it ready for planting.

I'll put some pictures up tomorrow.

Dunno what the roads are like around your way this weekend LPH but nice thought the weather is, I have no desire to be mixing it with all the holiday traffic here at the moment!

Veg beds look well organised there Trev. I shall have to do the fleece bit with my onion sets too I think. Hoping to get them in this next week.

[maviczap]

Started the fabrication of of Ike's Ragnell

He's this mornings work. All cut out now, just need a 45 deg router bit to do the blade. Thank goodness for Amazon Prime

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47606081462_ba068dc390_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2fwMBrY)IMG_20190421_101015 (https://flic.kr/p/2fwMBrY) by maviczap (https://www.flickr.com/photos/89416312@N07/), on Flickr

[shiftin_gear98]

Today I have mostly been walking around Wells. Plotted on Strava. My 5 year old set the pace, quite impressed she managed 8 miles.

[shiftin_gear98]

Oh yeah nice sword mav.

[maviczap]

Oh yeah nice sword mav.

:sunny: :sunny: :sunny:

[garynortheast]

Bit lost here Mav! Aside from the fact that it's a sword, who is Ike and what's his or her Ragnell?

[maviczap]

Bit lost here Mav! Aside from the fact that it's a sword, who is Ike and what's his or her Ragnell?

This is Ike, and Ragnell is his sword. He's a character from Zelda's Breath of the wild game, which is my daughters Nintendo favourite game. That's the limit of my knowledge

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/pt/c/c1/Ike.jpg

This Ragnell will be part of her Ike Cosplay outfit for the next Comicon event in London. We have this every year, but this is the most elaborate so far, the sword is only one part of her home made outfit!!

[garynortheast]

Gardening again!

Got my courgettes, cucumbers, and runner beans sown yesterday.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/33784221348_b678d60a2f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/TtoXYY)
Courgettes and cucumbers (https://flic.kr/p/TtoXYY) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/46745908205_776f5ab544_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2edLZUz)
Runner beans (https://flic.kr/p/2edLZUz) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

Sowed the onion sets, covered them in fleece against the birds, and sticks to dissuade a certain lurcher who has it in her head that it's ok to run up and down the veg beds!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/33784221678_c772e6ccda_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/TtoY5E)
Onion sets (https://flic.kr/p/TtoY5E) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

And I now have a path I can use between the middle and top beds. I will probably get a sack of bark chippings to cover this.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/46745908665_a50a5678ff_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2edM13v)
Path (https://flic.kr/p/2edM13v) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

Need to finish digging the second half of the middle bed, then it's onto the top bed which looks like being pretty tough going.

[Chris_SVS]

Road testing a Richa Typhoon oversuit. Positive results :D

[garynortheast]

.....gardening again!

First, a picture from a couple of weeks back. Lunch al fresco, a couple of seed catalogues and a gardening book. Simple pleasures.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47791333231_2b79635201_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2fPa5kZ)
Simple pleasures (https://flic.kr/p/2fPa5kZ) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

A trip to a garden centre this morning for a few things. One of my daughters wanted some houseplants, I needed another three bags of bark chippings, and I wanted the liner and plants to do this.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/32847608447_9ffb642bfb_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/S3CzAF)
Hanging basket (https://flic.kr/p/S3CzAF) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

I've planted nasturtium seeds around the outside in the empty bits, so in a few weeks it should be good and full.

I've got lots of stuff nearly ready to go out now. My runner beans are galloping away. I'd rather not put them out just yet for fear of late frosts, but I may have no option at the rate they're growing!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40824748553_981d9b1a6d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/25cxvr4)
Runner beans (https://flic.kr/p/25cxvr4) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

Cucumbers are all up as well. The module in the corner has poached egg plant seeds in it. I bought the seeds today along with marigold seeds. They'll both be planted in the veg plot as they attract bees, and hoverflies which eat aphids. The marigold petals go well in salads too. Peas and courgettes are all starting to come through as well.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40824749893_f0795f2752_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/25cxvQa)
Cucumber plants (https://flic.kr/p/25cxvQa) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

The first two beds are now prepared and ready for planting. I'll do the top bed shortly but I need to get some timber to sort that first. The blackcurrant bush at the bottom left of the picture looks remarkably happy considering it's not been looked at for 8 years!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47738805322_d3e64d33af_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2fJvRCo)
Top and middle beds (https://flic.kr/p/2fJvRCo) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

Lower bed. Bean poles all in place and there's half a row each of rocket and radishes, and a row of spinach sown. The rocket and radishes are already showing through. The twig fence all the way round the beds is to keep Mabel off!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47739228112_e3944e40a1_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2fJy2iS)
Lower bed (https://flic.kr/p/2fJy2iS) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

The onions on the middle bed are well away now too.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/32847605367_c09b3df426_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/S3CyFz)
Onions (https://flic.kr/p/S3CyFz) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

An immensely satisfying day.

[Sir Trev]

Beans grow very quickly so I will not be sowing mine until this weekend - plant out in two weeks or so when late frosts should be VERY unlikely.

Beware of poached egg plant seeds getting everywhere. Dead head them frequently as they are notoriously invasive.

[Chris_SVS]

Wasting NHS resources and Xray film for an issue starting elsewhere (lower chain/foot issues causing my right knee to be very angry, not fun when I cover 10mi+ walking in work per day)

[garynortheast]

.....gardening yet again!

Quite a bit of stuff will be ready to go in the beds soon.

Sweetcorn and poached egg plants are coming through now.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47831873612_a5a2f6d665_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2fSJRA5)
Sweetcorn and poached egg plants (https://flic.kr/p/2fSJRA5) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

Cucumbers, courgettes, and tomatoes.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47094457854_a0a1735203_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2eKzpzh)
Cucumbers, tomatoes, and courgettes (https://flic.kr/p/2eKzpzh) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

The frost had my runner beans :-( Four of them survived the rest have lost their leaves and growing tip so I think they've had it. I shall leave them for a couple of weeks to see if the recover, but in the meantime I've sowed seed straight in to the ground on the adjacent supports.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47094458714_a8a50c4d92_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2eKzpQ7)
Frosted beans (https://flic.kr/p/2eKzpQ7) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

Peas are now in and peasticks in place. I've sown a few more peas straight to the soil in the gaps.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47883800381_3d7a73c808_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2fXjZBc)
Peas (https://flic.kr/p/2fXjZBc) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

Cleared all the bracken and brambles away from my gooseberry bushes and cut out all the dead wood. They are in need of a serious pruning but it'll have to wait till the end of the season now.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47883800031_00aa19a902_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2fXjZva)
Gooseberry bushes (https://flic.kr/p/2fXjZva) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

Just another couple of rows of peas, and the sweetcorn to go now and this lower bed is about planted.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47094457514_90d4a04573_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2eKzptq)
Lower bed (https://flic.kr/p/2eKzptq) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

[Sir Trev]

Nice. My parsnips are now sown as well as the first half row of beetroot. Runners and pumpkins are just popping up in their pots in the greenhouse and the first batch of lettuce is well up via the utility room windowsill (they seem to like a cool place to germinate). The bamboo poles for the bean supports are in place now so hopefully I get enough plants this year - all bar four failed to germinate last year as it went from snow to full on summer in two days and it was too hot.

[daktulos]

My garden has suffered badly from neglect, I'm afraid, but I did make a lovely rhubarb crumble from it this weekend. Pink gooseberries to follow ...

[garynortheast]

....gardening again. Well, yesterday really.

A friend of mine up the lane grew Russian Kale last year. Somehow it's seeded itself all over the place. So while I was preparing a patch in which to put my courgettes I lifted and potted on these. They're looking much happier this morning now that they've settled in. This does mean I will need to tackle the top veg bed, as I don't currently have anywhere to plant any brassicas. I'll get enough done initially to plant out the Kale and then see if there's time to do more of it in order maybe to plant some Purple Sprouting Broccoli as well.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47942427341_990bfeaa49_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2g3vtmR)
Russian Kale (https://flic.kr/p/2g3vtmR) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

The first flower on the unfortunately named "Rosa Golden Showers" has opened. Most of the leaves have already fallen off due to blackspot, but the rose has been seriously neglected so not able to find disease too well. I've just cleared the area around it of weeds and the like, built a low retainer around the base, filled it with well rotted horse manure and topped it with a mulch of bark chippings. Hopefully that will translate to a healthier plant.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47942391297_2f6e2a5a64_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2g3vhDp)
First Rose (https://flic.kr/p/2g3vhDp) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

My lower veg bad is pretty much completed now. I put the sweetcorn in yesterday, both lots of peas are getting away nicely now, and there have been more recoveries from my frosted runner beans than I expected. I will still need to sow a few replacements straight into the ground though I think.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47942391492_47bfeb1348_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2g3vhGL)
Lower bed completed (https://flic.kr/p/2g3vhGL) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

Middle bed is now well on it's way. I put the courgettes and tomato plants in yesterday. I have another couple of tomato plants coming my way shortly so they'll be going in there too. I'm just waiting for the cucumber plants to get to a better size and I'll plant them out next to the courgettes.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47942390647_65789d2ea3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2g3vhsc)
Courgettes (https://flic.kr/p/2g3vhsc) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47942516058_a43569d42b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2g3vVJs)
Tomatoes (https://flic.kr/p/2g3vVJs) by garynortheast (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67411872@N03/)

I've still got Marigolds and Poached Egg plants to go in between the veg yet. They need to be a bit bigger first. I've also got Sunflowers and more sweetpeas to plant somewhere soon, as they are now germinating too.

Looking forward to the fresh veg now.

[maviczap]

Repaired my left hand fairing lower, as it had broken on the rear mount. Did that a week or so ago.

Today, I balanced the carbs, as my bike was clearly not ticking over as sweetly as it should. Thanks to Bibs extension tubes it was a five second job to see that they were way out of balance. Tank up, air box off & balance them. Don't know why the shop didn't do this when they took the carbs off to clean them?

Its a bigger faff putting the airbox back, which also threw up another issue, in that the breather wasn't connected to the engine.

Which would explain the oil on my left boot. I don't know if I'd pulled the breather hose off, or my local garage had when they took the carbs off. Anyway, its back in place now, so no oily boot.

Also fixed my wayward speedo, as the hall effect sensor had moved too far away from the magnets, and made it erratic. Couple of washers behind it, have moved it closer and have smoothed its movement.

[garynortheast]

Now the bike is running properly Mav, it sounds to me like an excuse for a meet up and ride!

[maviczap]

Dented tank off, undented and good tank put on.

Undertray removed and snowplough put back on

[maviczap]

Refitted the lower fairings last night, covers up a whole host of engine corrosion on the cases and she looks mighty pretty from a distance. Still needs a bloody good clean and polish

[garynortheast]

Refitted the lower fairings last night, covers up a whole host of engine corrosion on the cases and she looks mighty pretty from a distance. Still needs a bloody good clean and polish

:smt023 We need pictures!

[maviczap]

Patience paitence.

[maviczap]

Here ya go, been working away, so couldn't post up

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48497177152_830e333f25_b.jpg

[Adam Ef]

beauty!

[garynortheast]

Very nice Mav, and not many I've seen in that colour.

[zsv650s]

Contemplating buying a fireblade would I miss the sv though:smt012

[shiftin_gear98]

Trying not to swear at everyone.

[garynortheast]

Oh dear, what's up and should I stay out of your way?

[Sir Trev]

Trying not to swear at everyone.

I had that one today as well. Every month end I have to walk our customer through the cost incurred on their behalf for one of the projects I look after and at the end of he meeting raise an invoice to cover it all. Every month this frikken control freak b-itch tries to bully me and the rest of the team and nit-picks on pathetic items that she knows full well she still has to pay. It's pure bullying. She often makes us verify things which costs her more in project staff costs that the items we're looking in to which I had already checked and passed anyway! This month she is insisting we investigate a possible get out clause and potential refund on the off chance we finish early and the stock insurance our sub-contractor charges us is no longer required. For Bob's sake, when have you ever had an insurer go "OK then, we'll let you have some money back even though we acted in good faith and based our premium on the volume and values and timescales you provided us".

Yes I know this should be in the Gripe thread. Go easy on me, I've had a bad afternoon.

[maviczap]

Following in Garynortheast's gardening footsteps

Front garden was overrun with this stuff, so in preparation for the sale, I tidied it up from this:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48698831953_8d07ae6856_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hcmf6F)IMG_20190908_103038 (https://flic.kr/p/2hcmf6F) by maviczap (https://www.flickr.com/photos/89416312@N07/), on Flickr

To this.



https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48699345747_2d7bb532aa_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hcoSQc)IMG_20190908_151209 (https://flic.kr/p/2hcoSQc) by maviczap (https://www.flickr.com/photos/89416312@N07/), on Flickr


Gonna nuke it with something to get rid of the little roots I couldn't pull out

Also cut down a dead tree stump & weeded the patio in the back garden. Even though I hate gardening, it was quite therapeutic to be outside in the sunshine

[garynortheast]

A concentrated salt solution will deal with the weeds you want rid of Mav, without the unpleasant chemical effects of translocated herbicides like Roundup (glyphosate).

[maviczap]

A concentrated salt solution will deal with the weeds you want rid of Mav, without the unpleasant chemical effects of translocated herbicides like Roundup (glyphosate).

Twas going to use a DIY bio weedkiller made up of salt, vinegar and fabric softener to do this. Airs pretty salty here, so plants are quite resistant to just salt

[garynortheast]

Twas going to use a DIY bio weedkiller made up of salt, vinegar and fabric softener to do this. Airs pretty salty here, so plants are quite resistant to just salt

Sounds like it'll do the job!