Now watching From Romania With Love. Now that is heart rending.

Afternoon All.

Not sure what you mean Emptybox about the grafted branch reverting back, if i graft a twig of say Peach onto Plum tree you get Peaches, there's no way you could ever get Plums off that growth.

I have added some support steel to my trellises, the strain of the tie wires was pulling in the side sections of wood that the wire is stretched across, i got some steel flat bar brackets made at work from 50x10mm steel, the sizes are an 'L' shape 460 long by 120 and i've fixed them now, all is good.

The sun is beating down, have uncovered the strawberry plants to give them some fresh air.

Hi Hicky.

No I wasn't saying your graft would revert to something else. I was just saying that when you graft something on to different root stock, then you can get unwanted shoots coming from the roots. Especially with roses etc.

I think that's what Frodo meant when she was talking about reverting?

Not bad day. The frost went quickly, but it was cloudy rather than sunny.

Got one of my big conifer hedges cut. I'm shattered tonight cos I'm not used to hard work.

Had the last portion of my frozen stew tonight, so I'll have to make another batch soon.

Watching the second episode of Child of Our Time. No idea why they have it on two nights in a row, but it's still good.

While I was in town (before I cut the hedge) I went into the hardware store and bought a carbon monoxide detector and a couple of roasting trays.

I just thought it would be a good idea to have the CO monitor since I've got the new boiler.

I'll need to buy more heating oil soon, but the price is at another high at the mo.

Evening Emptybox.

Whenever you cut a branch the tree tries to make a lot more branches.

The branch leader has to be cut if you want it to produce branches because the lead branch sends down a chemical that inhibits branches growing.

So when you cut a branch to graft it the new growth below the graft has to be cut off when it appears.

It was very frosty and foggy first thing but it soon went and left a nice day apart from it was cold.

It's good you could get some jobs done anyway.

It's handy having frozen stew, get cooking to restock.

I think all houses should have CO detectors the same as we have smoke detectors.

I would have thought you needed it more with the old boiler.

They aren't that expensive.

Hi Hicky.

Yes when I was at Uni I could have told you all about plant hormones and their actions. Forgotten it all now.

The new boiler seems to produce more fumes than the old one. When it starts off you get a whiff of kerosene that wasn't there with the old one. Yes I know CO is odourless but I just wanted to be safe. This is a battery one that cost £25 from the shop,

Not sure why we didn't have one before, as my Dad put up smoke alarms. Perhaps he never got round to getting one?

Anyway the important thing is it hasn't gone off, so i presume I'm safe.

The smoke alarms are always giving false alarms. They don't like the bathroom cleaner (Cif) for some reason, so whenever I clean the bathroom they go mad, and I have to take the batteries out for a couple of days till they calm down.

I presume it's the ammonia in it that sets them off?

Evening.

Another dry day here, so another work day.

More hedge cutting, pruning apple trees and tidying up.

Plenty of notice this time Frodo. Aisleyne will be back on Looser Women Live on Sunday at 10pm. Sky channel 200.

Not decided what to have for supper yet.

Wild Arabia on BBC2 at 9, or perhaps Mary and Martha on BBC1?

Decisions, decisions.

Hello all 

just a quick post...I'm getting rather ratty to-night ,we have two dogs 

only small (not pedigree )one Is very difficult well no that's wrong he Is a one person dog my son's ,but he Is off courting and he pines when he Is out ,he is out for walks at least 3 to four hours a day at least ,but Is never satisfied ..he has had so many homes before us that I hate It when he Is crying ,the other one Is so laid back we have had her from a puppy .

Funny you should make a remark about your boiler emptybox mine Is gas but I know yours Is oil fired .but It was a back boiler before .now Its in the kitchen but It smells of gas when you first ignite It ,I did ask the engineer but he said It was normal..I have It serviced by B.Gas ,but I have those carbon monoxide things up and down stairs

March 1st to-day Is the 21st of this month the first day of spring or have I got It wrong..loving the lighter nights ,Its so dreary when Its half dark all the time.

I had fish&chips to-day but early lunch time ,but I'm feeling a little hungry at the moment so I may have a raid of the fridge /freezer .

By the way Hicky I know you are an expert on your fruit trees but I had an Ornamental Cherry tree in the back and It went wild ,through my ignorance 

that's all I was saying.

I so hope Mollie Is Ok and coping with everything and not getting overtired 

speak to-morrow xxxx

Hi Frodo. I think you're right about Spring officially starting on the 21st, although whether it will actually begin then is another matter.

Oh well, I won't worry too much about the boiler giving off a little fumes. Just as long as it's not using up more oil.

Pity that one of your dogs is driving you demented. Perhaps if you wore your son's coat when you take it for a walk, it might fool it?

Hi emptybox

this weather we are all in the same boat ..You live further/farther

whatever the spelling than I do ..and It has been extremely cold my payments have increased ,food everything Is on the up .

Take your pick out of a bunch of lousy politicians 

Have you been following the Jodi Arias case in America believe me  I am not a ghoul but this Is horrific stuff .Google will do the trick

 I followed Storyville in America on BBC4 a true story called Death On The Staircase 

http://www.peterson-staircase.com/

If anyone likes crime stories

No I'd never heard of that case Frodo. Makes strange reading.

Morning All.

Another beautiful day here.

Waiting for O/H to come in, just ordered some mealworms for the birds.

Had a nice Doner meat and chips and curry sauce last night.

Had made a crab & sweetcorn packet soup, very nice just add and egg but it makes 700ml so i had to have 2 bowls O/H didn't want any.

Don't envy your dogs Frodo, wouldn't have cats or dogs anyway, can't see the point really.

But millions do, to me they are just wild animals that do what they want when they want, we have little control really.

Emptybox, thats the problem with CO, no smell or anything, i think the devices should be built in to the boiler some how don't you?

Hope Mollie isn't getting too stressed out.

Think i will get some brekkie now.

Have just had brekkie, large tine toms and a couple of middle rashers, and some fresh bread, o/h did some shopping, yummy.

Have covered the bird feed cage with protection from rain, have ordered 5kg of meal worms, they all love them.

Just off to Costco for some tablets.

Going for Bloods Tuesday.

Hello all

well Sky movies finally went off to-day ..good and now for the rest of It

Yes Hicky I understand your point of view about animals ,and everyone Is entitled to their opinion  doesn't offend me in the slightest you either want pets ours are part of the family ,or speak your mind and say no not for me 

we have other things in common so no problemo

I agree about C.M Is that what you mean about the C.O. ? silent killer but some can be quite expensive a lot of money for some people to fork out ,

everything Is going up apart from wages.

Spag Bol to-day emptybox for you ? cooked breakfast for me but I haven't eaten since ,do you like peppers and I mean the sweet kind ? I love them and if I have a glut wash and cut them in thin slices freeze .

The sun this morning streaming through the windows fantastic It puts a different slant on things and says decorate  I will soon .

Missing Mollie and really hoping you are well xx take your time to post but realise you are missed ,as a new person I hope Its not out of order to wish you back ..a cog Is missing in the wheel 

Spiral to-night for me on BBC 4 the only thing Is I have to tape It as Its subtitled miss a few  sentences and your lost ''

I may cook something with prawns ,garlic.peppers onions ..later 

sees you soon xxxx

Evening.

Not bad day here. Did some work in my own garden. Dug a bed over ready for potatoes later.

Yes spag bol as usual Frodo.

Yes I quite like peppers. Mostly have them in salads. Haven't really tried cooking with them.

CO alarms are quite expensive compared to smoke alarms. In the hardware shop the CO alarm was £25, but you could get a smoke alarm for £8.

So it would be a help if they were built into boilers.

Hope your blood tests go OK on Tuesday Hicky.

Hope Mollie isn't getting too stressed?

Evening All.

Got my tablets from Costco.

Uncovered the Rhubarb and Strawberry plants to let them get some sun.

I had a nice fillet of Plaice earlier, then a Sweet & Sour Chicken with egg fried rice, then some Jelly.

Got a chicken for a roast tomorrow.

O/H brought me a few meals in and some shrimps & prawns.

Have ordered a Rentokil Pen, it's for the flys in the summer, you just wipe it around the windows.

It's the PSM73

This one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rentok...Killer/dp/B001CN1OTA

Yes Frodo, many people have cats & dogs, a constant stream of them go up and down the road to the local park, some have 3 dogs many 2 and the rest of course have just one, it never stops.

But thats what they want.

Many years ago it was mainly the young girls who wanted to walk the dogs because it got them out and let the lads see them, don't think that happens these days as they aren't safe out alone any more.

Think i will have to wait another month to do more grafting as the trees don't look like coming out of dormancy yet.

Hello again

hungry cos since this morning I haven't eaten so decided to experiment ..

well not really onions garlic prawns celery tomatoes ginger frozen broad beans all simmered in pan ,pasta tubes at the ready ,filled them up ,homemade cheese sauce with a little mustard ,loads of  grated parmesan  cheese on top in the oven at the moment ....will It pass the taste test ..haven't a clue ..let you know later's

resorted to the chocs last night Mollie

HI update 

meal was really tasty although ..I let the cheese sauce split cos I did  the in the micro and got fed up ,otherwise quite good ..the only thing Is needs loads of mouthwash and teeth cleaning cos of the garlic  which I love

                    night all xxx  

Evening All.

Not a bad day really, too much cloud to be very good.

Did a couple of grafts on the Apple tree, tried a side graft, a bud graft and a cleft graft.

No idea if they will work or not.

Just experimenting really.

Just had a fantastic Chicken roast, O/H made it, i peeled the spuds and the carrots, i did an experiment, made all the spuds to be roasted square, that gives them all 6 sides to roast.

Evening.

Dull day here but dry.

Glad your meal last night was tasty Frodo.

Cheese and onion quiche and chips for me tonight.

Grafting again Hicky?

I can just picture you chasing after flys with that pen.

Looking forward to Aisleyne's prog later.

Pity about the way Gareth went out of DoI.

Well.........she was slightly out of control......but still funny.

Afternoon All.

Emptybox, you just write an invisible line around the window glass with the Pen, it must be like a marker pen with clear ink.

Sorry to see Gareth suffering from the wires, i think i would have the same problem as well.

Got to work early, 5.20am, only to make sure i can park, didn't mean to be so early but with less cars on the road i suppose it's even quicker.

I see the weather is going warm for a couple of days then wet and cold again.

Don't think i'll be at work long now, one boss is sick, the other has gone home early.

O/H rang, they are starting the new drive/from in the morning, it is getting block paved.

It's about 40sq metres but needs doing, O/H has been organising it.

Hello all

been quite nice here although the forecast Is for some more cold weather

tell me about It (higher heating bills) brrrrrrrr heating Is full on as we speak,

forgot to watch Aisleyne emptybox.

I did watch' Murder Is Easy' Agatha Christie and some of the new serial 'MayDay' on BBC 1 Its on all week..I haven't eaten yet to-day so I'm just thinking of what to cook ,

No word from Mollie I hope all Is well in your world xx,I understand some days are spoken for and you just can't post and sometimes you need a break from the internet ,I know I do Its funny sometimes I really like to switch off and know that mates will still be there  

I have these tiny delicate kind of a crocus not the showy kind very soft pale pink ,they are so pretty really I wish I had put a label on them ..my garden is a week sometimes later than my friend next door ..perhaps Its my high hedges well not conifer ones but the old fashioned ones for the wildlife ,I have loads of shrubs that the birds like full of berries in the Autumn ,funny they seem to pass on the white ones.

Yes It was a shame about Gareth 'Dancing On Ice ' but I still say these people are new on the Ice ..but the things they achieve in such a short time Is fantastic  .. Jason Gardiner is a bore people get fed up of spite all the time 

bye for now xxx

Evening Frodo.

Cold weather back after Thursday i think, and the wet weather.

Hope your not worn out Mollie, it's getting warmer for a few days anyway.

I'm fasting at the mo for Bloods in the morning, trying to remember not to eat.

I've ordered 5kg of meal worms, they sure like them, all the birds.

I've been clearing stuff thats in the front of the house for the workmen in the morning.

They have dropped off the JCB ready.

Yes, shame about Gareth, but the other 3 are good and it would have been a shame if 1 of the other 3 had left instead.

I'm watching live feed and comments about the Jodi Arias case in America

for anyone who is interested

                             http://wildabouttrial.com/vide...i-arias-live-stream/

Hi Hicky

Hoping all Is well for your tests to-morrow I can imagine what a pain It

 must be for you cutting down 

You must show pictures when the front of your house Is ready....

 to all sees ya

Hi guys.

Not bad day here.

Your garden sounds nice Frodo.

I'm recording the Mayday thing, but haven't watched it yet.

It perhaps wasn't Aisleyne's best show ever, so you maybe didn't miss much?

Hi Hicky. Hope your blood tests go fine tomorrow.

That was an early start for you today?

I'm sure the drive will be a big improvement, but will be a disruption while they are working on it.

Will you have trouble parking at home, while they are working?

Hello emptybox

my garden Is nothing special really mainly grass but with hedges that have been there for yonks  hawthorn .elderberry ,philadelephus this one smells 

yummy ..if I have spelt It wrong sorry

Evening.

Nice day here.

I got another of my big hedges cut. I'm tired and dusty, so I'm going for a bath before supper.

Going to be chicken in a mushroom sauce.

I've got a couple of Philadelphus bushes here Frodo. They look good with the white flowers on.

Hi Hicky. I see from Facebook that you have been well and truly scraped?

How did the blood tests go?

Hi Mollie. hope you are well.

Evening Frodo, Emptybox and Mollie.

Won't get blood results for a week, i don't mind needles, doesn't bother me a bit.

Had a good day really, had to wait till 10.30 for brekkie though, had a bacon on toast with O/H,

Been making cups of tea for workers, only 2 today, 4 coming tomorrow.

Those JCB's are fantastic, the work they can do, wow.

Don't know if these links to the pics will work, going to take them in stages each day.

The first set is when they got a wagon load of rubble to be picked up, but they couldn't take it all, then created more.

http://www.facebook.com/photo....mp;type=1&ref=nf

2nd set is at 3pm.

http://www.facebook.com/photo....mp;type=1&ref=nf

Hi all

hope you are all well.

sorry have been away for so long, but have had a horrible week.  I ended up taking mum out of the old peoples accom. I really did not like the set up there, or the woman in charge... Lucky we got her into a better flat next door to a friend of hers that has just been vacated, and she is much happier already. A very expensive and very tiring mistake for all of us. I feel bad putting mum through this.Very busy now with all the paperwork to sort.

And yesterday I came down with this horrible cold, and sore throat.

It was good to see the sun today though, wasn't it?

I sat in the garden for awhile, thought it might help get rid of this lurgy.

off to start reading back to see what you have all been up to.

to you all, missed you. xxx

Evening Mollie.

Sorry to hear about your bad week, thats awful finding yourself in that position.

Hoping this place will be better for her.

Oh dear, a sore throat as well, hope it's short-lived.

thanks, Hicky, yes a horrible position to be in, but I just knew i wanted to act quick to get out of it.

Managed to read back here now.

I really had to at Emptybox's nephew coming to visit and bringing his own pizza.   ... then Emptybox got to eat the pizza he had already got in for the nephew. 

Hicky

I really enjoyed looking at your pics, the slate is lovely, and great healthy looking rhubarb too. Those pics are so interesting of the work in progress on your drive too. Yes good idea to keep the workers well supplied with drinks.

And I had to at Fredo looking at the rhubarb and immediately thinking of it with crumble and thick custard.   It is good to know we all enjoy our food round here.

Fredo...Of course I don't mind you saying you missed me, you daft thing,  it is nice to know you hadn't forgotten me, and I missed you all.

I hadn't conciously kept off the internet, but just hadn't had any time to myself, not even to watch tv, so it is good to be back now.

 I was off my food yesterday, (not like me), but it was because of this grotty cold I have. I only had some white toast all day. Eaten bit more today though, but nose so sore with it running so much.

Hope the blood test results are ok Hicky.

Emptybox

the grass has grown around here, we had our first visit from the gardner to cut the grass on Monday. Not long till your busy grass cutting time arrives now.

Am watching the family with 16 children now.

I don't mind a noisy busy household, but 16 kids, must mean absolute chaous.

Hi Mollie and Hicky.

Great pics Hicky. That's some pile of rubble.

What a pity that the sheltered housing didn't work out for your Mum Mollie. But a stroke of luck finding an alternative. Hope she'll be fine there.

Your cold sounds a bad one, if you've not been eating. Hope you feel yorself again soon.

I heard someone cutting their grass this afternoon, while I was hedging. Looks like I'll have to get my mower ready for duty sooner than I planned.

all

feeling bit better today, thankfully  as the nose has stopped running, but still not got rid of this cold completely yet.

Emptybox

yes sounds like you better dig out that mower soon, that bit of mild weather seems to have got that grass growing quickly again.

Duller here today, but still mild.

work today Hicky?

How's the doggies Fredo?    Can't believe your little dog wants all that exercise. My doggie is done in after an hours walk. Yes dogs do pine after their owners don't they? Our dog isn't too bad in the day as she knows the family are out, but if anyone is out in the evening, she sits by the window watching for them until they come home.

Our nosey LL coming out tonight to check up on us, says she wants to check a leak, but we have told her there is nothing to see.   And she is still sending the agent out next week for a full "inspection"..what on earth she thinks we are doing to damage her house , heaven knows... she needs to spend some money on maintaiing it.. ongoing drains and damp problems and now both showers have stopped working.

I think we might try and find a place to buy some time soon, as there seems to be quite a few reductions around now.

Are you tempted to look for anything to buy Emptybox? I guess as you are on your own and the LL does not bother you,  there is no rush, with prices still falling and likely to fall more as time goes on. I think you have to be dead sure though before you buy, because with prices not going up now, you are bound to lose big money if you are stuck trying to sell it on too quickly.

time to catch up with some jobs and some more paperwork now too.

am glad I can get to watch tv again now.

Fredo...how bloomin annoying is this? I tuned in for my early evening rest to watch 4 in a BEd, and it is a flippen repeat!!  GGgrrr!!! 

Have a good day all xxx the daffs are starting to come up in our garden now.

Evening.

Misty and very cold here today.

Hi Mollie, glad you are feeling better.

Hope you came up to scratch in your LL's inspection?

I keep half an eye on properties here, but trouble is, I couldn't really afford a place big enough to run my business from. What with my van and sheds for the mowers etc. So unless prices fall further, I think buying a place is likely to be something I do when I retire. Unless the landlady has different ideas for this house that is.

I don't know.

House prices here still seem to be going down, but I think they are picking up in some places? I have some shares in the house builder Persimmon, and they are at an all-time high.

Be a while before daffs are out here. They are just green shoots at the mo.

However, I bought some tomato seeds this afternoon, so things must be marching on?

Evening All.

Had the workers here all day of course, full time job keeping them all supplied with tea, even made them a bacon on toast each this morning.

Uncovered the Dwarf Peach tree & Nectarine, the Nectarine is breaking dormancy all right.

Made a temporary frame to be able to protect them from a frost but i can remove the cover on a nice day.

Same with the Strawberry plants.

Took a couple of the Block Paving Frontage,

Here, very pleased with it so far.

http://www.facebook.com/media/...179272398&type=1

Click on picture then mouse over to get arrow for next pic.

Hope your cold doesn't hang on Mollie, nothing worse.

I could do with my grass cutting it seems to be growing again.

I'll have to get my lad round again.

Where's Frodo tonight?

Got to work tomorrow as well, got Dell in putting the new Server in and setting it all up.

Hi Hicky.

Very cold and wet day here. Not nice at all.

Planted my tomato seeds in the propagator on the window sill.

Your paving is looking great. Will be a big improvement.

Watched the programme on the Hutterites on BBC2. Very interesting. Bit like the Amish, but with big tractors.
Now watching Celebrity Juice with Ashley Roberts and Ashleigh & Pudsey.

That'll be interesting. having Dell come and set up your system?

all

Hicky

wow, those slabs look dead posh, far too nice to drive on them.   Glad to hear you are looking after the workmen, bet they loved their bacon sandwiches.

Yes according to weather forecast, sounds like you still need to protect garden things from frost. It was real mild here today, but forecast for real cold weather in few days again.

How did the Dell visit go? why are you changing server? Have you left your BT one now?

Emptybox

hope your tomatoes do well.

Yes sounds like a good idea in your circumstances to hold off buying a place until retirement, as I can't see property going up in price (outside London), and anyone who wants to sell now, seems to be stuck for ages trying to sell. And of course once you buy, you have to maintain too.

I bet Persimmon are doing well from all these government schemes now. Don't think I'd fancy buying a brand new place, so overpriced, and being help up in price by these government schemes, but handy if you have shares in them.

Tidied up for LL, OH came home early to help, then stupid woman didn't even bother turning up, and it was her who kept pushing the agent saying she needed to come here.

Feeling better again today, but still not cleared yet. OH has streaming nose now.

Hope Fredo is ok, haven't seen her since I got back.

Double Corrie for me tonight, then 8 out of 10 cats.

have a good evening all xxx