Friday, 29 April 2016

Trimming

On Wednesday morning I waited for the young lad from next door to appear so that I could give him some money to get me a T.V. paper but he didn't appear.
 Around 10 30. am. the door bell rang, it was the lad he told me he wasn't going to work today so I took him to look at the garden although nothing is growing much as it has been so cold. He wanted to show me his garden but the spiky shrub is growing quite large so it does affect the view. I told him I would go and look at his garden as he was convinced that the seeds he had set was growing but I assured him that it was much too soon for them to grow especially as it was so cold.
 Anyway off we went round and looked first at his little flower patch then off to the greenhouse where to be honest the tomato plant is doing well. I saw the Carer so off we both went to talk to her. I told her that he wanted to have  dinner with me next Wednesday and she told me that he had mentioned it and that it was fine. I then told him that on Wednesday next week he could trim those branches off the shrub  and the carer suggested that he could do that today so I told him to see if he had a strong pair of gloves that would protect his hands as that shrub had huge thorns. I then told him what he needed but the garage was nearly full of stuff that he couldn't find anything much but did find a pair of heavy duty gloves.
 Eventually I found the loppers which were not as I had imagined so I told him I would get mine for him to use. I did tell him that we would have for dinner next Wednesday Cottage Pie with a cheese topping and for afters we would have apple pudding as I did not have enough apples for a blackberry and apple crumble. He told me that it would be alright but I knew he wished really to have the crumble.
 I went back to mine and told him I would pass the loppers over to him and tell him what to do. I was surprised just how he got on and he really did a good job. I then told him to take all the cut branches away to a place that I had told him before. I then left him as I was perished.
 In the afternoon I decided to go to the Supermarket to buy some apples. Lidl do not sell Bramley apples so it was the Co-op. I didn't get much but when I paid I was given 2 vouchers with discounts. The first was for £1 off if I spent £5 the other was for £2 off from my fruit and vegetables so this morning I went back to the Co-op and bought some Flora Proactive a cabbage and some more apples. Incidentally I did tell the lad that we would after all have blackberry and apple crumble. I could tell by the smile on his face he was happy. I always let him choose what vegetables he would like. More soon.

Tuesday, 26 April 2016

Egg!!!

On Friday afternoon I went up the garden to look for weeds in the orchard where it has been graveled. I check up there almost every day just to pick the weeds up.
 I noticed where there are a couple of polyanthus plants one had a piece of white showing so I went to investigate. To my surprise I saw an egg. It was obviously a wood pigeons egg, about the size of a bantam egg. I did no more than pick it up and went straight back inside.

The next two photos show just how the egg looked and to be honest I didn't know if it was addled so I cracked it carefully but before I did that I did put a little lard in the egg pan, incidentally I hadn't used it for several years. I looked at the egg  and it seemed to be fine so I lit the gas and when the lard was hot enough I then placed the egg in the pan. I was pleasantly surprised because it was just as a hens egg should be and when it was cooked I ate it and to be honest it tasted great.                                    
The weather changed over the week end so much so that on Monday I decided to do my shopping as Tuesdays weather was bad. Off I went to Mablethorpe and first popped in to the local warehouse and as I was about to walk in I saw they had seed potatoes for sale at £1.50 p. for 3 kilos. I thought that it was so cheap that they would be no good at all. Anyway I went in for a few potatoes to eat, a tin of stewing steak so I have on in reserve and a cabbage. At the check out I asked the lass who I know well what variety of seed potatoes they were and she replied that they were labeled. I decided to buy one and told her I would call back after I had put the bag of potatoes and other things in my car boot. 
I looked at the assortment of seed potatoes and noticed one bag was of Estima, a favourite of mine that you don't see very often. They are ideal for boiling as they keep their shape but to be candid they are not the best for chipping. When I got back home, although it was cold I set nearly all of the potatoes some 30 tubers and left about 4 to plant out. No sooner had I got indoors when the phone rang, it was my Best Pal who asked me if |I would be in later, of course I told him I would. He arrived about 2.30.pm. and I did warn him that the lad from next door would call in to see him. The lad likes him as he talks to him and makes a fuss of him too. One thing the lad told us was that his Dad had his car confiscated  as it had no Licence. We assumed that he meant his VED had run out. The lad was laughing when he told us. He said his Brother had informed him. More soon.                                      

Thursday, 21 April 2016

Better weather

On Monday the weather was dry but dull so the garden didn't dry much, however on Tuesday it was nice and sunny so although it was cool it made one feel better.
 I went to do my shopping at Lidl and when I got to the checkout a lady was asking the lad on the checkout when the store was going to close. He informed her that he didn't know but there would be signs in good time in the store. I then asked him if it was for a refurbishment, he replied that the store was going to be knocked down and rebuilt. I sent an e-mail to my mate and he replied by telling me that the Lidl store in Skegness was closed for about 9 months but it was doing well. I thought that Aldi had made a big mistake as they had planning permission to build a store in Skegness but had not started yet, had it been built I am sure that they would have taken the Lidl customers, well many of them anyway, now when the store opens they will have to fight to get the customers.
 On Monday I noticed that my guttering on the rear of the property had a growth of weeds. I was surprised and as it has a protection of mesh I had to get the mesh off and clean the guttering. It took me most of the morning and of course after clearing the guttering it meant I then had to clean the gutters and fascia but at least it has been done. It must have been a few years since I last cleaned the gutters. Mind you I was absolutely worn out.
 Now to gardening, the lad came round the other day offering to get me some of Tesco's own Scottish Oats. I naturally let him get me some but I told him that we would set some broad bean seeds and a few radish.
 Today I saw him and he told me that the Man next door had set a tomato plant in the greenhouse. I could see he wasn't pleased and to be honest I was not happy at all for it has been me that has got the greenhouse sorted and have prepared it for the lad to set his plants. Anyway I took a tomato plant together with a snapdragon plant which he wanted. I told him that he could have a plant if he wished in my greenhouse. He seemed pleased with that.
 When we went into his, well his carers greenhouse there was a tomato plant, also there were trays of other things, carrots, brussel spouts runner beans also a chili and a pepper plant.
 I then told him not to tread on the garden where he has sown a few seeds, so we went over to where there is a lot of wood, I managed to find some skirting and then showed him what to do instead of treading directly on the garden, lay the plank of wood and step on it. He could see what I was getting at and he understood well. More soon.

Monday, 18 April 2016

24 hrs of rain





I got up early on Saturday to find it was still raining and it got progressively heavier until it decided to stop around 11.15.am. I decided to walk down and pick some broccoli, not that I was successful. In fact I was surprised for as you can see my garden was once again flooded. It has definitely been the wettest Winter and early Spring I have ever known. Normally we get drying winds in March but not this year.
 The photos I have shown are after I had removed some of the water, not that it helped much for around 3.00. pm. the heavens opened up once more for about an hour. We had rain, hail and sleet so I was back to square one.
 The young lad came to see if I would be planting the tomatoes in his greenhouse but I told him that on Saturday evening there was a sharp frost so I would probably go round later in the week.
 Today I saw the weather forecast for the week ahead and although it is not too bad for the next few days, towards the week end it talks of strong northerly winds with wintry showers so I don't suppose I will be planting any plans for at least another 10 or so days.  More soon.

Thursday, 14 April 2016

Quite a bit

Actually quite a bit has happened since I wrote last time.
  On Monday I transplanted over 100 peas that I had grown in pots in the greenhouse and to be honest I was shattered but at least they are now in the garden growing.
  On Tuesday the lad came round to tell me he was going shopping for I had asked him to get a few bits and bobs for me, he told me that the next day he would not be going to work as a guy who worked there was "winding him up".
 He came back early in the afternoon with the goods so I told him that as he was here, I would sort his greenhouse out, also we would set the broad bean seeds. The problem is that next door do not have many canes and those they have are a little short. I had a plan for I have an old flex cable and as it was a 2 core thought I could thread it through his greenhouse so that we could then attach the canes by tying the canes to the flex. We managed to get it threaded from one end to the other then we looked for canes but only 1 was long enough. I then remembered that there were lots of wood stacked up so I found a long thin piece and took it to see if it was good enough. It was certainly long enough but although it was long it was not 100% sturdy. While I was doing that the lad found a second length and as I had noticed a metal pipe that was long enough we had sufficient. I then told him we would then set the broad bean seeds. I dug the hole but I made him place the seeds in so that he could say that it was him that had sown them. I then left him as it was well after 3.30 pm.
 Wednesday morning it was nice, unlike Tuesday morning which was awful. Anyway I decided to go to Alford to try to have my haircut. I think I mentioned it before but the hairdresser that I have used for about 6 years is going to go to live and work in Spain and it was his intentions to go in early January next year, I thought it was time I found an alternative Barber.
 I had noticed this place some time ago so off I went yesterday morning and arrived about 11.50. am. As soon as I opened the door I was greeted with a "Good morning please take a seat". It was a good looking very young lady. There was just a fella in the chair and I had to wait about 10 minutes which was fine. When I sat in the chair she asked me what number I wanted. I looked at her and told her numbers meant nothing to me, all I wanted was a short back and sides and a bit off the top. There were only 2 sorts of cuts in my youth it was either short back and sides or a trim.
 with that sorted she told me she would try a number 4 on the sides and if I had any thing to say then I should tell her but it was fine. In fact as so many Women are she was much more gentle that Keith was although I had no cause to complain.
 When I went to pay she told me it would be £4.20 but I told her I would give the same as my old place which was £5. I did mention that I had told him to increase the price as he had not done so since I had fist gone there. She then told me she would give me a Loyalty Card this meant that after 5 visits to have my haircut the 6th. visit would cost me nothing. I thanked her and left for home.
 Soon after getting home I put my dinner on, I was just straining my vegetables when the doorbell rang. It was the lad he had bought his scooter to play, I told him I was about to have my dinner and he told me he would wait so I hurriedly ate my meal and then we went out the front driveway for him to play on his scooter. I then told him that I had an idea and we would strengthen the canes in his greenhouse.
 After playing for about 40 minutes I told him that I was going to dig a little lavender for his tiny garden, also I was going to get some twine and take a pair of scissors so that he had some twine available for tying his tomato plants when they grew.
 Off we went round, I first planted the lavender then I asked him to get a few canes then off we went to the greenhouse. I showed him what I intended to do and he found a couple of canes that were suitable. We stuck them in the ground and I cut a couple of pieces of twine and tied the canes to the wood so that now they felt sturdy and I am happy at that. I then cut about 10 pieces of twine for him and told him to keep them safe. I eventually got back home. More soon.

Tuesday, 12 April 2016

Fruit cage top

I did sow some peas in pots in the greenhouse and they have been growing well lately. So well that I knew they would soon have to be planted outside.
 I had a place for them in the fruit cage and one day last week I did set some round a sort of wigwam but unfortunately the gardeners least favourite bird, the blackbird had pulled a lot up and had managed to ruin a few. Anyway I asked the lad from next door if he could soon help me with fitting the top to the fruit cage. I was a little surprised at his reply for he more or less told me that the week end gone he was going to see his Mother and the following Sunday he was going out to the Theatre with his Carers so he didn't seem keen to help.
  On Sunday morning the weather being the best day in ages, I decided to make a start on the fruit cage. I must say the length is 17 paces  but the width is only about 10'. A very big fruit cage.
  I started about 9. 45 am. and had spent about 15 minutes trying to get the netting completely free of the first 2 fruit trees, after that it would be a lot easier. I heard my name called, it was the lad from next door. He asked me if I would like any help, of course I told him I could, he told me he would come up by the end of the garden. I notice he had his wellies on and I immediately asked him if he was going to see his Mother but he told me she wasn't going to Mablethorpe as she had a Hospital appointment. With him helping me we managed to get it fitted in a very short time. I was thrilled that it went so well and I guess we had it all fitted within the hour.
 I asked him if he would like to stay for dinner, mind you I had nothing ready for him but he told me he would ask his Carer. I told him that while he was asking about him staying for a meal I would get the broad bean seeds and we could sow them. When I went round he told me that it was alright for him to have dinner at mine but he first wanted to show his small garden and the shallots. I was surprised that the shallots had begun to grow, he was thrilled and then he made me look at his few flowers, they look fine also.
 It was then back to mine for as always I let him choose what he wants for his dinner. Steak pie and a blackberry and apple crumble. By now it was after 11. 00. am  so I had to put my skates on to get the dinner ready. I told him that he was in charge of the drinks and he made a couple of nice cups of coffee. I was busy getting things ready while having  a quick sip of coffee. He then told me he was going to get his scooter and play on my driveway. Off he went and my arms were going like bees wings. He came in after about 10 or so minutes but I told him I couldn't go out because I had so much to do. I got him to get the blackberries out of the freezer having made the crumble. I got a couple of cooking apples out of the fridge, peeled them and put a sprinkling of blackberries on the top, added some water then put them in the microwave for about 5 minutes to cook a little. While the microwave was on I then made the Steak Pie. The timer went off so out came the pie, I checked to see the apples were about cooked so I put the crumble mix on top. I then lit the oven and while the oven was heating up we went down and picked some broccoli he also wanted some peas and broad beans, both of course frozen. I then peeled the potatoes and place the crumble and pie in the oven to cook.
 I then told him we could go out to play on his scooter for about 15 minutes. He was happy to do that and even asked me to have a go which I did but as I am getting old I didn't do anything fancy at all.
 After 15 or so minutes I went in to put the potatoes and veg on. Another 10 or so minutes outside he decided to bring the scooter round the back garden as he knew dinner would be ready before too long.
 I took the crumble out about 15 minutes before the Steak Pie and the veg were about ready too. I had to make him some gravy and I had some meat juices saved so it was especially tasty.
 I took the pie out of the oven and strained the potatoes and veg, put the gravy on to thicken and asked him if the piece of pie was enough for him, he told me it was enough I then put the potatoes and 3 other veg on both plates, gave him the gravy and we started to eat. After a few minutes he asked me apologetically if he could have some more pie, it is the first time he has asked for more of course I gave him another piece which he told me it was beautiful.
 He was pleased because he finished his dinner first but had to wait a little for after I had finished my dinner I had to make some custard for him. He thoroughly enjoyed his crumble too, mind you I was tired out. More soon.

Thursday, 7 April 2016

Doorbell

I was getting my tea meal ready yesterday when the doorbell rung. I went and saw the young lad from next door, he had just finished work and it was just before 4.30 pm.
  I could tell he wished to tell me something also he wanted to show me something also. So I did no more and asked him in, we had a quick tour of the garden and he noticed that in the greenhouse the grape vine has begun to show signs of growth. I only grow them for him really. I showed him the young tomato plants which of course a couple are for him then it was off next door.
 We first looked at his little piece of flower garden and I showed him how to pull the odd weed up the off to his little veg patch.
 He asked me if I noticed what he had done, of course I had, he had dug the patch up and I told him it was very nice, he also showed me the greenhouse which he had also dug and did what I told him to, that is give it a good watering. I asked him if he had a rake so that I could smooth the soil but before he went to get the rake he showed me where he had set the shallots and was keen to show me that a couple had begun to grow. I told him it was great as some of mine which I set in early March had not yet shown any signs of growth. I did say he had done well with the digging and suggested to him that he would be sweating after he had dug the ground. He admitted to me that he had been sweating.
 When I was raking I found the odd weed which I showed him and told him to pick them up as he didn't see any weeds in my garden. Of course that is not true but I do try to keep my garden as weed free as I can. I told him I would give him 10 out of 10 for his effort, he smiled widely and then I told him that I would not be giving him ant tomato plants just yet as it was far too cold and hopefully it might be another 2 weeks before I helped him plant them in the greenhouse. I did tell him that as soon as he liked, I would give him some broad bean seeds to plant. I would show him but I want him to sow the seeds as then he can say that he has grown them himself.
 Once again today has been generally cloudy and cold for April but we have had the April showers, I guess it will warm up eventually. More soon.

Tuesday, 5 April 2016

Neighbour


With the weather improving these last few days, my garden has shown signs of Spring.
 The polyanthus are doing well and I am pleased about that. I also set some old fashioned daffodils late last year and are showing nicely on the first photo. They are called king Alfred. I don't know how the rest of the garden will go on as we have had some heavy showers and today has been a rather cloudy and cool day.
 This morning after doing my shopping I went round to see a Neighbour, he lives a couple of doors away. The other day he came to see me and asked me where I bought my polytunnel from and who had erected it. As it was about 15 years ago I couldn't help him but when he left I thought I would go Online and see if I could get any information.
 This morning I went to give him a web site but he was down in the dyke clearing it but I saw his Wife, she asked me in and I gave her the note with the web page on it and then told her that it was her previous owner of the property who asked me round many years ago that I decided to get a polytunnel for myself but mine is I think 15' x 5'.  She then invited me to look round the garden I was very impressed for so much has altered since I last went round although the polytunnel is looking a little sorry for itself but I remembered it must be well over 20 rears old. I guess it is 30' long and 10' wide. They also have a swimming pool which has been refurbished and looks great although it has a cover on this time of year.
 She then showed me a shed that her Husband had built and we entered, the view from the rear which has a large window in was great. She told me she loves to watch the rabbits in the field, she also pointed out her Husband who was clearing the ditch. When he saw me he finished what he was doing and I bet he was pleased to do so, he was muddy but thanked me and apologising for  not shaking my hand as he was covered in mud.
 There was so much to see and one thing his Wife pointed out was a huge grapevine, I did ask her if they produced grapes which she confirmed it did, in fact, she told me that last year they made some wine from the grapes.
 Anyway I left soon after wondering just the amount of work that had been done, I could tell they are both retired so it wouldn't have been easy. I couldn't believe the transformation of the property, it certainly looks great. More soon.

Friday, 1 April 2016

Hoarder?


I was checking in one of my cupboards when I noticed these items. The first is of a Company called Applied Chemicals. I had cause to use them when I purchases a commercial dishwasher in the 70s. I also bought a case which was I think a dozen air fresheners and I must admit they had a pleasant aroma. I still have 3 one of which is partially used and the remaining 2 are full.
The second is of Cooper fly killer. Once more I guess this was purchased in the 70s. I can only guess that they were purchased in a case of  a dozen. They were the best fly killers I have ever had but I think they were banned for use in the catering as they had some toxic content. It was a pity for it had an immediate effect on the flies. I wonder if it contained any DDT?
These are modern additions or so I thought until I realised that this was bought in the early 80s. I used to bake and sell bread rolls and the size of the new polythene bags were 17" x 14". They were relative a new thing in the early 80s. They were also ideal for holding a dozen bread rolls and as no air could get in they kept the bread rolls fresh. I must correct the modern theme as it is well over 30 years since I purchased them. They came in a roll of some 250 bags. I definitely have enough to last me my lifetime  and would probably last the average user several years.
Now we are right up to date, or so I thought until I remembered it was 1997 when I sold my Business. These are a few of what I sold , my Best Pal went Self Employed and had a contact who sold him a lot of sun tan lotion. He, of course let me have some at a discount and suggested I sold the tanning lotion at I think £3.99p and the after sun at £2.99p.  The pictures I have posted are the last of what I had left and to be honest I can't remember when I last used any of the lotions.
  I certainly live in a dream world and at my time of life will never alter.
  It shows just how we used to live several years ago. More soon.