Good morning 

Weather is looking overcast and grey 

 

Norty Mr Summer  

 

Summer, if you look at the same site I posted earlier at this page you will see links to quite a lot of Hans Christian Andersen's stories including The Brave Tin Soldier which squiggle mentioned:

http://www.online-literature.c..._christian_andersen/

For me The Little Match Girl is possibly the most poignant short story I have ever read.

A BBC news clip this morning:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22061795

reminded me of that time years ago when a flock of starlings descended at dusk on trees around my parents' house, The sight and sound was magical.

Thank el, I've emailed myself the bookmark

Oh the starlings are magical when they do that aren't they

How odd that they have changed the name, it was integral to the story that he was steadfast

Squiggle, maybe they changed it in America from steadfast to brave? On Wikipedia it is steadfast.

That's probably it EL, brave completely misses the point.

I love the clip of the starlings, El.

As a child, I read most of the HCA stories but don't remember The Brave Tin Soldier. I agree Squiggle, that The Little Match Girl was very poignant.

I can't get those links to load, it must be because I'm on my phone. They'll work on the iPad I'm sure Would you believe, it's been snowing here

I assume it must be because you are on your phone - I don't think there's anything odd about the links.

Crazy weather with it snowing in your area. Here it's 9 outside so although a bit below what it should be, there's no possibility of it snowing here.

El, that'll be the case, sometimes I just can't load things on the phone that I can on the computer It's been a cold dog walk tonight I hope it's warmer where all of you are

How cute is this... Sweet dreams in here and for yogi, I hope you're having a nice evening

Good morning everyone. Weather is nice and bright today.

Thank you for the hug Summer. Has your snow gone yet?

I love the puppy on the moon pic, seriously cute.

I've had big H since Sunday night, he is on his last sleepover before DiL starts her maternity leave tomorrow. Not long to go now!

I'm hoping to take a trip to the garden centre this afternoon to pick up some bits and pieces, in the hope that Spring really is going to make an appearance soon. *crosses everything*

Good morning everyone

 

Cloudy here and the easterly wind seems to have returned making it feel cool. There may be some rain here today.

 

Cute pic, Summer . I think it depends on the strength of the mobile phone signal as to what you can load. My house seems to be in a poor zone for high quality mobile phone strength, but further down the road it's OK.

Good morning cold and overcast here, but no more snow Yogi, luckily none of it settled yesterday Is Houdini behaving himself this week? I hope the garden centre has something nice waiting for you. I'd like a variegated holly bush The link worked just fine on the iPad, thank you I'm off tomorrow so hopefully can read at least 1 short story

Hi Summer. No Houdini escapes since Mr Yogi put up the chicken wire fencing - downside is, the garden looks like a chicken run.

Towards the end of last year, my dad gave me a cutting from the big holly bush in his garden. I potted it up and over-wintered it in the greenhouse and it is coming along nicely. It isn't a variegated variety though.

I have to find a replacement for a large clump of carnations which were ruined last year. No idea what to get, I think I'll just see what the garden centre has and take it from there.

Good morning everyone, still cold and from the looks of the forecast this cold weather is due to go until the end of the month.  I don't think I can remember an April as cold as this one.

 

Good luck at the garden centre Yogi, I really envy gardeners like Alan Titchmarsh who can look at a flower bed or a dry area or boggy area in the garden and know exactly what will do well there.  We had so much trial and error in our last place before we established our garden.

 

The pup picture is seriously cute Summer.

It's trial and error with me too, Squiggle. I just plant and pray!

Squiggle, the longer term forecast seems warmer for inland areas and seems fairly typical for April. I hope your cold weather doesn't last as long as your forecast. I think you will find that the wind direction switches from north east to south west from Thursday which should make it feel a bit warmer.

The forecast is still for very low temperatures here at least up until the end of next week EL, I hope it's warmer and brighter for others.

Yogi, how exactly does a holly cutting become successful? I thought about asking a local person for a cutting because they have a stunning holly bush We have a dark green one too, it was just a little one from m&s that I didn't expect to do much but it's grown big!

Summer, the link below should explain how to do it properly, but my dad just gave me a decent sized cutting which I potted up.

http://www.ehow.com/how_649790...te-holly-bushes.html

Good afternoon, Moonie.

Hiya Yogi 

How's you today?

Thanks yogi, that's brilliant! I didn't know to use sand instead of soil. also, the section on how to prune the bush is useful, I'm going to do that to our existing bush when the cold weather is gone I think I'm a qualified gardener now

Hi moonie Who's playing today?

I'm okay, thanks Moonie, how are you doing?

Summer, I changed the link to an easier way to do it, and there's no sand required.

http://www.ehow.com/how_649790...te-holly-bushes.html

Hiya Sweet 

Galatasaray SK v Real Madrid 7-30 

That's good 

I'm okay fankoo 

That's good.

In that case, Mr Yogi will be sent upstairs again.

Oh thanks yogi, that's even easier! I'm pleased they're easy & hardy, I can do that The hard part will be introducing myself to the owner of the holly bush, but I know his/her neighbour quite well so I'll sound them out. I'd much prefer to ask than just go snip a bit off like a ninja in the night! Shame it's not in a park really, but if I have Bramble with me and smile sweetly, I think we stand a reasonable chance...

OMW! norty very norty  

Galaxyfaraway vs Madrid- got it I'm betting on Madrid

 @ Ninja Summer. It probably would be better to ask for a cutting but the ninja would be more fun.

I'm prepared to compromise. He can stay downstairs and I'll go upstairs.

Most definitely  

Nah, if you say that to him he will take pity on you and let be in the comfort of downstairs