Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: Maggi Young on October 24, 2007, 01:06:24 PM
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Here you are, a page for having a grumpy moan or a consoling chat!
Started off by this from Lesley Cox:
The power went out yesterday at 9am in the course of dreadful winds to 160 kph. 70 is apparently counted as gale force. Back on again just half an hour ago. Landline down, 2 cellphones with rapidly flattening batteries, no water because an elec pump sends water from tank to house and Roger took the only car away for a couple of days, just before the power went down. Also took the small gas stove we have for power emergencies. In the middle of all this I'm doing a major re-arrange of stroppy vendors at the Market because local council won't let us have vendor vehicles on the rail platform as we have always had. As yet, said vendors don't even know about it. We have 3 days notice!!! No email etc etc etc. What's left of my original blonde is visibly turning grey.
I think we should have an ongoing thread where Forumists can have a right old gurn. For those that don't want to know, it can be ignored altogether but the rest of us could let off steam without actually throwing something at the dog.
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Followed by this from Sue Gill:
Hi Lesley
Like the idea of a rant page - Chris B and I went to a talk on Monday night on New Zealand gardens around Auckland and ended up seeing lots of pics of David Austin roses, border phlox and penstemmons but NO new zealand plants - we could have gone into our own gardens and seen those plants, we didn't need someone to have flown all round the planet just to bring them back!! What a waste of an evening.
Sue
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oh what fun to be able to groan publicly........I have already done this on Alpine-L earlier this year, but a double-groan is even better....
There was a virtual explosion of rodents in eastern North American this year---and in one fell swoop one day this summer, every single planting of Fitillaria, species Tulips, hardy Gladiolus and some Liliums disappeared from the garden before I even had time to set the traps.
The culprits were chipmunks---hundreds of them on these 8 acres--I will not tell you what the numbers were after that eventful day!!!!
The worst part of course is that all the plants in question were seed grown (so you know how many years were invested in this), and they not only took mature plantings, but also dug through the hundreds of seedling pots still in the sand plunge bed.
Do I have the energy or the time to start over with these?
Kristl
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Do I have the energy or the time to start over with these?
Well, of course, you HAVE to, Kristl... you can't allow yourself to be beaten by a bunch of hungry rodents, after all! Embrace the motto, "don't let the furry little b******s get you down"
And perhaps you should get yourself a raccoon hound or two to keep numbers down?
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I don't suppose we could moan and groan about our ex-spouses here ;)
Kristl
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We could moan about our present ones, as well, if we wanted to!
I never complain about the Bulb Despot, of course: it is easily seen by his nickname that he is the sweetest of souls ::)
Now, on the other hand... his mother........ :-X
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Thanks Maggi, just what I (frequently) need. As to mothers-in-law, I got on just fine with mine and she was occasionally heard to remark that she didn't know how I could bear to live with her son! In the finish I couldn't but as it happens, he died soon after the separation but not through lack of me in his life, far from it.
You have my sympathies Kristl. My animal problems are miniscule compared to yours. If only the d.... dog were less active. The lastest loss is a nice little bush of the lovely silver Halimium atriplicifolium, snapped right off at ground level as he tore through it after some spider out the other side.
I do agree with you Sue, about the talk. Surely this person didn't come from NZ to the UK specifically to talk about such gardens? How stupid. But you won't see NZ native alpines around Auckland, only the bush plants, trees shrubs and climbers which to my mind are comparatively boring. There are the Auckland Islands of course, with a sub antarctic flora of great interest and beauty and having read about these, we had a Dutch gentleman arrive in the country expecting to see antarctic species growing in Queen Street, Auckland. (The local equivilent of Princes St. if you live in Edinburgh.) He wasn't a happy man, saying he'd been misled by his travel agent.
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Not a single male of the species so far! Just shows what an amenable part of the species we are!! ;D
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OK-I know I can do nothing about it but a good moan does me the world of good. My better half thinks I could moan for England in any case.
Remember, David, an elephant never forgets, and neither do women 8)
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;) ;) ;) ;)
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Okay, here's a male moan. Though actually, in a way, it's a bit of a feminist moan too.
I'm fed up that most bookshops won't stock one of my books 'cos it's too "rude". The Wicked Willy books weren't too rude for the shops in the 1980s (although they were rather sexist!) The shops seem to have got more prudish these days!
What really bugs me is that according to the feedback I've been getting since the book was published last year, a lot of people in the booktrade object to it not because of the willy characters but because of a certain female character in the book who is (how to put it?) the feminine equivalent. Now I think that's really sexist.
Waterstones, to their credit, took it for a while (and might do again this Christmas) but hardly any other book shops have done. Yet most people don't find the book offensive, and that includes most women who've seen it. In fact they usually really like Clarissa. But not sure if I should post a cartoon showing her here in case I offend anyone. Don't think I would, as you all seem pretty open-minded and not lacking in the sense of humour department. But you never know.
Here's the cover anyway. Maybe I'll post a quick cartoon with Clarissa from the book later and some-one can edit it out if it causes offence. :)
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I remember the Wicked Willy books,and they were everywhere in the 80s, so can't believe yours is really so filthy, Martin, as not to be saleable in Waterstones.... I'm sure they've sold plenty of Jeffrey Archer's stuff??!! ::)
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Martin,
We who post may all be nice and fluffy types, but there are a LOT of people who lurk here and never post. I'm reminded when people on other gardening lists mention to me something I've posted here on the SRGC, when I never even knew they came up here. I often wonder just how many lurkers there actually ARE on this site, but I'm guessing definitely in the hundreds, possibly thousands. Sort of daunting at times!! :o
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Maggi, no I don't think the cartoons are filthy at all, and I certainly don't think Clarissa is filthy - actually quite a cute and sassy character. Everyone I know who's seen the book (male and female) thinks it's funny. The shops just seem much more nervous these days about what they have on their shelves compared to the '80s. In some ways we seem to have gone backwards a bit from the anything-goes, Spitting Image, Wicked Willy, Not The Nine-O-Clock News hard-hitting humour of the 80s.
Having said that, I'm very aware that this is at heart a gardening forum and not a chat room, so I think all in all probably best not to post any of the cartoons, inoffensive and funny as I think they are. They may well offend someone amongst the many posters and lurkers (as has been pointed out to me offline).
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Come on Martin. Please post at least one. You know me well enough to be sure that I WILL tell you, if it's offensive. :D
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Martin, we wont force you to share... though you could, of course, send a few of us a PM with a sample to cheer us up!
Paul, I am sure you are correct, it would be a shame to upset anyone... and certainly, though the forum is not as busy as the main site, with the tens of thousands of visitors there each week, there are still many folks about who might be offended and that is the last thing we want.
We'll just have to have a little moan about how restricted we are ! :P
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I do agree with you Sue, about the talk. Surely this person didn't come from NZ to the UK specifically to talk about such gardens? How stupid. But you won't see NZ native alpines around Auckland, only the bush plants, trees shrubs and climbers which to my mind are comparatively boring. There are the Auckland Islands of course, with a sub antarctic flora of great interest and beauty and having read about these, we had a Dutch gentleman arrive in the country expecting to see antarctic species growing in Queen Street, Auckland. (The local equivilent of Princes St. if you live in Edinburgh.) He wasn't a happy man, saying he'd been misled by his travel agent.
What was worse Lesley was that he'd gone from England to New Zealand and back again and kept saying things about the wonderful trees and tree ferns but didn't show any! To be fair I wasn't expecting alpines but I was expecting something that I can't see every day - bhah I'm obviously still cross about the waste of an evening - I was expecting to be informed or inspired but just kept thinking that I could have been at home getting on.
Oh well, on the up side the University where I work had a free concert of classical indian music this lunchtime, something I know nothing at all about, but went along to and it was brilliant, inspiring and uplifting, one of the best hours I've spent for a while.
Sue
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Martin, we wont force you to share... though you could, of course, send a few of us a PM with a sample to cheer us up!
I've emailed a pic of Clarissa to Maggi, Lesley and Fermi, who all expressed an interest. Anyone else want a quick cartoon email, let me know. :D
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Oh yes please Martin....I don't get many laughs since we banned mirrors from the house!
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Yes please Martin, you've made me quite curious now ::)
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Me too! Don't worry about upsetting the grown ups, I'm not really as young as my picture.
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I knew this area for moaning would be a good idea :D
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This moan is REALLY a worthy one! As I sit here typing, my adorable ??? dog is asleep at my feet, gently farting away, non-stop, it seems to me.
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Reminds me of that funny scene in "10" when Dudley Moore is visiting the church minister and the housekeeper farts. The dog under the table scarpers double quick because "when the housekeeper farts we kick the dog". :D
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Anthony! Are you implying something about Lesley's blaming the dog?
Martin,
I'm not offended and I think the cartoons are quite fun (and funny!). Can I pass them on?
cheers
fermi
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Can I pass them on? cheers fermi
Of course. :)
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Martin
I find it difficult to see how anyone can be upset by such books. Yes please, send me a drawing, I might even give my son a copy of the book for Xmas. There must be far to upset people on the TV, e.g. all that sex and violence in the average nature programme, than ther will ever be in your books.
Brian Wilson
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Some one must have got it in for poor old Willy. I can't even find him on Google :(
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Ahh, he's a Willie, not a Willy!
A very limited number of Wicked Willie cartoons (on Google) for those too embarressed to ask Martin for an image ;)
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Not to confuse Martin's book with the Wicked Willy cartoons that appeared in the 1980s, this was only published last year: A Very Rude Book About Willies, Martin Baxendales : Silent But Deadly Publications; (Mar 2006); Pages: 32
ISBN:0955050030; ISBN13: 9780955050039
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Ah, Martin, naughty, naughty.
In line with the SRGC Publications Dept. practice of of trying to supply books written by members this is obviously one that we must carry! AGM next Saturday guys :D
Slightly more seriously though, Martin, I did not realise that you had published so many titles until I googled the ISBN. Well done.
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I have my copy :D
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Not to confuse Martin's book with the Wicked Willy cartoons that appeared in the 1980s, this was only published last year: A Very Rude Book About Willies, Martin Baxendales : Silent But Deadly Publications; (Mar 2006); Pages: 32
ISBN:0955050030; ISBN13: 9780955050039
No, as I told Fermi, I didn't do the Wicked Willy books. I was just using them as an example of how "rude" books about willies have been around for a long time without any problems, and the reason the shops won't take my new Rude Book About Willies seems to be that the characters aren't just willies but that there's a character based on a very important part of the female genitalia, which it seems some (many?) people still find ruder and less acceptable in cartoon form than willies! And I think that's sexist, 'cos the cartoon character is just as cute as the willies - in fact just like a smaller version of a willy (if you get my drift - trying not to be too explicit in case I offend anyone!)
In fact I did another book called Your Willy - An Owner's Manual, which the shops had no problems with as it was just about willies - so it can;t be the willies part that's the problem.
Though I didn't do the Wicked Willie books, they were the inspiration for my very first cartoon book, published in 1989 (I published it myself as I couldn;t interest any of the big publishers, and it went on to sell over 200,000 copies in the UK). Here's the cover:
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And the second book on the same theme, which sold almost 100,000 (so thrrrrrp! to the big publishers!):
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Mmm. Must get those, especially as 'Bogside' is an area of Dunblane, and 'The Bog' is part of my school's catchment in Falkirk (yes folks, we in Scotland are proud to admit that kids from defined areas actually do go to their local high school, and are not sent halfway across the country at the crack of dawn). :D
This was 'plopped' through my garden fence overnight. >:( I mean, for goodness sake. What is the world coming to? ::) The youth (big assumption, I know) of Dunblane frequenting KFC! The shame. :-[ Mind you, I do feel privileged, because the little daaling that posted said cup must have carried it for at least 6 miles and, judging by the direction of travel, lives in a much posher hoose than mine. :-\
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Anthony, trust me; there are many of us south of the border who are very jealous of the way many things are done north of the border and wish our politicians down here would take a leaf out of the Scottish book when it comes to how to promote and maintain a civilised and fair society in terms of education, health, etc.
(Sorry, feeling a bit emotional politically, having just watched the film "Bobby" on DVD, about the assassination of Bobby Kennedy in '68. An excellent film that I can highly recoomend getting from your local Blockbuster branch - full of all kinds of famous actors and actresses playing minor roles as an homage to Bobby, and a superb story, or rather a tapestry of little stories told about the lives of various people in the Ambassador Hotel in California during the hours before Bobby Kennedy was shot there after winning the California Primary in his bid for the US presidency, having promised to take the US out of Vietnam if he won. Very, very moving film.) :'(
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there is also a more famous Bogside in N Ireland to be found in Londonderry/derry/Maiden City/Doire
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Martin, I can remember that sad day as I watched it unfold on the television news.
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I am about to forward to several people, (Maggi/Ian, Martin, Anthony) an email sent to me this morning by another Forumist. It consists ENTIRELY of vegetable matter, but still could be considered offensive by sensitive souls. Definitely for private consumption. Anyone else who is not likely to be shocked, email me and I'll send it along.
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Lesley,
Send away...I wonder if it's the same thing I got this morning from an old colleague...
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OK Lesley, you've got me intrigued. Send away!! This little perverted mind of mine can come up with a lot of scenarios based on your description!! :o ;D
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Simply in the interests of medical science Lesley.....you know the e-mail address please?
Have many images of cacti that would make even Martin B. wince!
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You have me curious too Lesley - please send it !
thanks
Luc
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You have me curious too Lesley - please send it !
Shouldn't you all be out gardening or something - perhaps a game of rugby or a cold shower?! ::) ;)
Talk about 'toilet' humour, what about a plant that smells like a toilet! Does anyone want seeds of this smelly monster, I have plenty (contact me privately) - Aristolochia cymbifera:
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Your aristolochia has a "face" like an elephant seal! What size is the flower? Looks pretty big?
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Rogan,
I love stinky plants..... it gives that something extra in the garden!! ;D Just had Amorphophallus konjac flower here, and Arum dioscoridis was flowering as well. Currently I have buds coming on Dracunculus vulgaris, another stinker!! Of course not quite the scale of your Aristolochia, given they're a rather large tropical climber aren't they?
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Maggi, probably about 6" - 8" from the top of its 'beak' to the end of its tassel.
Paul, yes, it is a large, vigorous climber, but I keep mine confined to a metal 'obelisk' approx. 2 metres high. My wife hates it passionately and when it tries to escape from its confines and onto neighbouring shrubs she clips it off vigorously whilst muttering death threats - I'd better not let her in on this thread, she'd have planty to complain about when it comes to my bizarre gardening habits! :-\
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Right, I'll send off those 3 then I'm deleting it altogether, even from the Recycle bin.
Rogan, I couldn't grow your Aristolochia here but I have a friend in the far (very warm) north with a passion for the genus. I'll email you privately for a few seeds for him. I don't think he has this one.
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Rogan, I couldn't grow your Aristolochia here but I have a friend in the far (very warm) north with a passion for the genus. I'll email you privately for a few seeds for him. I don't think he has this one.
That would be my pleasure.
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Did you see Michael Palin in Slovakia and Czech Republic on Sunday? Our workers, all Slovaks, are angry that the programme made them out to be Vodka drinking poor farmers while the Czech part of the programme showed very wealthy extravagant people
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Did you see Michael Palin in Slovakia and Czech Republic on Sunday? Our workers, all Slovaks, are angry that the programme made them out to be Vodka drinking poor farmers while the Czech part of the programme showed very wealthy extravagant people
My wife was furious too. All Palin did was visit one very atypical mountain village in the Tatras to see Slivovica being drunk and a pig being killed and turned into sausages, then he shot off to the Czech Republic. As Ivi said: "They must have really worked hard to find the ugliest, most backward-looking, inbred, drunken villagers they possibly could."
We thought the whole programme was very poor, not showing the Czechs very well either. Instad of showing "Our European Neighbours", in any kind of real and informative light, it was mostly a poorly concocted series of cheap ha-ha segments about local oddities and tourist attractions. A sixteen year old student could have done it. And Palin's heart didn't seem in it. I suspect he knew they were doing a botched job - one programme to cover three countries (Slovakia, Czech Republic and East Germany) ?!
We turned off before the East German segment, but I'll bet there was a tired bit about old Trabant cars being used to drive tourists around Berlin and a look at the last remaining bit of the Berlin Wall. Real in-depth stuff like that.
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Some of you may already have been emailed this by friends. For those who haven't, it's quite amusing re. common computer moans.....
Subject: GM and Bill Gates
For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the way
computers have enhanced our lives, read on.
At a recent computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the
computer industry with the auto industry and stated,
"If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would
all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon."
In response to Bill's comments, General Motors issued a press release
stating:
If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars
with the following characteristics:
1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash........
Twice a day.
2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a
new car.
3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would
have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off
the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For
some reason you would simply accept this.
4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your
car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to
reinstall the engine.
5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable,
five times as fast and twice as easy to drive - but would run on only five
percent of the roads
6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be
replaced by a single "This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation" warning
light.
7. The air bag system would ask "Are you sure?" before deploying.
8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and
refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle,
turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.
9. Every time a new car was introduced car buyers would have to learn how
to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the
same manner as the old car.
10. You'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off.
Please share this with your friends who love - but sometimes hate - their
computer!
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Just read in the paper about the pair of hen harriers reportedly witnessed shot on the Queen's Sandringham Estate while Prince Harry and a mate were out shooting (reportedly the only guns out on the estate that day).
Reliable sounding witnesses who were watching (from a nearby nature reserve) the birds in the air when they were shot.
It'll be interesting to see how lenient the penalty is if a royal is found to have done it. But what's the betting that, if it's proved the shots came from the Sandringham estate, that it's blamed on poachers or other tresspassers, or an estate flunky falls on the grenade, admitting at the last minute to having been out shooting, unknown to the royals or estate staff.
Grrrrrr!!!! >:(
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For those who don't know, or haven't seen the story, there are only about 20 breeding pairs of hen harriers in England and the species is on the red list of the UK's most endangered species.
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I'm following this story in the papers, on the radio and TV news, too.....what a coincidence that these birds should be shot exactly when the young prince and his chums are shooting... ::) though I do not have much time for coincidences, myself :P
I suppose it shows that if Harry finds himself in a position where he needs to do his soldierly duty and shoot someone, he will manage it :-\
I don't think that the defence of "stray " shots or poachers will work though, Martin... won't there have been umpteen personal protection officers about the place? ;)
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I don't think that the defence of "stray " shots or poachers will work though, Martin... won't there have been umpteen personal protection officers about the place? ;)
Ooh, hadn't thought of that. Maybe it was all down to a bored special protection unit officer with an itchy trigger!
But I'm guessing there wasn't an officer actually with them as Sandringham is pretty well guarded on the perimeters and if one was with them then the local police would have had a witness who could have immediately cleared Harry and his mate, and the Press would have been informed accordingly. But I take your point. How would poachers or other intruders get on the estate? Unless they shot from outside, of course. Ah!
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I dont see why the royals are above the law when it comes to things like this. I bet when the cops came he said "air hair lair!"
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Or maybe there was a SPO with them and Harry and Co. did shoot the harriers but the SPO is keeping stumm for his job's sake?
Mark, you are very good at this writing accents business! Like "Norn Iron" and such... we in Aberdeen are very amused ! ;D
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So the UK princes are not above the law???
In Sweden (and) Denmark our king is above the law and he can shoot whatever and whom ever he wants. ::) :o ???
He is a nature lover so I do not think he would shout those birds but maybe the poachers. ;D (Well if it was his son I do not think he would shoot but the pocket money would be lowered substansially ;D
Kind regards from someone that is happy Portugal is a republic ;D 8)
Joakim
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Just read in the paper about the pair of hen harriers reportedly witnessed shot on the Queen's Sandringham Estate while Prince Harry and a mate were out shooting (reportedly the only guns out on the estate that day).
Reliable sounding witnesses who were watching (from a nearby nature reserve) the birds in the air when they were shot.
It'll be interesting to see how lenient the penalty is if a royal is found to have done it. But what's the betting that, if it's proved the shots came from the Sandringham estate, that it's blamed on poachers or other tresspassers, or an estate flunky falls on the grenade, admitting at the last minute to having been out shooting, unknown to the royals or estate staff.
Grrrrrr!!!! >:(
Any thoughts about the attractions of being a republic Martin? I see Joakim is in favour and I suspect most Aussies and NZers are too nowadays, especially the younger ones, but many or most of the ancients such as myself, as well.
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These people persecute birds of prey like hen harriers because the eat their grouse chicks. They seem to think this is their sole diet but it includes various small birds and mammals. Someone should shoot the queens pigeons!
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Partridges & peasants in Norfolk.
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The Queen has racing pigeons, David !
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I can imagine the hen harriers might attack the young partridges but the peasants? Or are they particularly small there, in Norfolk? ;D
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Doesn't matter what the hen harriers may or may not attack, Lesley, they're on the protected endangered list and have the full protection of the law.... for what that is worth. :-\
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The news about the shootings even made it to the morning news here!
"A palace spokesman said the prince was not involved in the shootings"!!!
cheers
fermi
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Lesley, me a republican? You need to ask?!!! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes....but of course it'll never happen, not in our class-ridden, snobbery-riddled, forelock-tugging, one-upmanship-obsessed society. I use 'society' in its loosest sense of course, to mean whatever it is we have left in this country after so many years of individualitis-driven Thatcherism, Blairsim and now Brownism (very difficult to tell the difference...just one never-ending social nightmare). :-[
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According to the Press Association, a gamekeeper at Sandringham was fined £500 last year for setting an illegal trap on the estate, in which a Tawny Owl got caught. Hmmmm! I'd say that could be seen as indicative of a general attitude amongst estate staff, if not its owners, if ya get my drift.
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A local estate owner is known to shoot Buzzards and Ravens
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Doesn't matter what the hen harriers may or may not attack, Lesley, they're on the protected endangered list and have the full protection of the law.... for what that is worth. :-\
I assure you Maggi, I wasn't suggesting that the harriers' attacking young game was any justification for shooting them. On the contrary, I'd be advocating the abolition of the shooting and other blood sports. That people kill simply for the pleasure of killing, seems to me to be obscene. The full protection of the law, here, there or anywhere I think, is only useful if the law happens to be in the right place at the right time and with the will to enforce it, no matter who it is, breaking it.
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Unfortunately with a lot of criminals the only law that affects them is "thou shalt not get caught". If you want to see the worst excesses of the hunting & shootin' fraternity this side of the pond just go to Malta (and many other countries round the Med). Nature reserves are there to protect birds for the hunters.
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me a republican? You need to ask?!!! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes....
Martin I am normally told to keep my mouth shut re politics and royals - too controversial or something.
But I am pleased to see that so many of you share my republican views.
There that was not controversial.
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Ian, you typed that with your mouth shut :)
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I confess to being almost totally unable to enter the Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew ...
Chloë
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Mmm. Talking of the PoW: why has no-one ever pointed out the fact that if you plant a row of concrete pillars along the side of a road and fail to put crash barriers between them and the roadway (c.f. every such road in the UK), if a driver loses it, a fatal crash will result. ???
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Some of you may already have been emailed this by friends. For those who haven't, it's quite amusing re. common computer moans.....
Subject: GM and Bill Gates.........................................................
;D ;D ;D I really liked that one and I'm still chuckling-how very apt!
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Did you see Michael Palin in Slovakia and Czech Republic on Sunday? Our workers, all Slovaks, are angry that the programme made them out to be Vodka drinking poor farmers while the Czech part of the programme showed very wealthy extravagant people
We thought the whole programme was very poor, not showing the Czechs very well either. Instead of showing "Our European Neighbours", in any kind of real and informative light, it was mostly a poorly concocted series of cheap ha-ha segments about local oddities and tourist attractions. A sixteen year old student could have done it. And Palin's heart didn't seem in it. I suspect he knew they were doing a botched job - one programme to cover three countries (Slovakia, Czech Republic and East Germany) ?!
We turned off before the East German segment, but I'll bet there was a tired bit about old Trabant cars being used to drive tourists around Berlin and a look at the last remaining bit of the Berlin Wall. Real in-depth stuff like that.
You were dead right Martin we got the old Trabant and the Berlin Wall. But, doesn't it fit very well with the current philosophy of the BBC, matched, if not vastly surpassed by ITV, in catering mainly for those unfortunates who have difficulty with words containing more than one syllable and an attention span measured in micro-seconds?
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I can imagine the hen harriers might attack the young partridges but the peasants? Or are they particularly small there, in Norfolk? ;D
The pheasants most certainly are NOT small in Herefordshire and all of them have a massive death wish. We were up in Herefordshire yesterday on one of our monthly ma-in-law visiting trips and took a little car trip to look at the Autumn colour. Driving, fairly gently, around a tight bend and a cock pheasant strutted right out in front us, anchors were thrown on (luckily no-one behind us). Result: one very dead pheasant and one very cracked number plate. Not more than five miles further on the same happened again but this time pheasant was thrown up, hit the windscreen and crashed into the near side wing mirror. Result: one more very dead pheasant and one wing mirror dangling from a piece of wire. Final result: one new number plate-£12.50 (had to produce car log book, driving licence and cheque guarentee card-asked if they would also like a sperm sample to establish DNA-Maureen told me off for that in uncertain terms!!) one new wing mirror complete with all the electrical gizmos one gets with wing mirrors these days £102.48 with fitting-but we shall have to order it in Mate, will be about three weeks!!
I hate pheasants almost as much as blokes in Toyota main agents with the customer service skills of an undertaker in the plague.
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Yes.... but the two pheasants are now hanging in the pantry, I hope?
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Yes.... but the two pheasants are now hanging in the pantry, I hope?
Have you seen the pictures of the crash test dummy after a 25mph crash? There were lots of feathers and a substantial amount of mashed flesh and bone. Suppose it could have made a reasonable soup! :P
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Driving technique problem there, David, I fear ;). When we hit pheasants we get a meal without damage to our cars.
Not the same as the roe deer that I stopped several years ago. Insurance for a new door - but plenty of venison.
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Sorry to a little bit of a killjoy, but I do believe dear Lesley was making a play about the Lilliputian 'peasants' (sic), rather than the size of our game birds?
Strike me down with a deflated rugby ball please if I'm wrong.....
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Driving technique problem there, David, I fear ;). When we hit pheasants we get a meal without damage to our cars.
Not the same as the roe deer that I stopped several years ago. Insurance for a new door - but plenty of venison.
Story of my life-there are those of us who, if they fell off the Town Hall roof, would land in a hay cart, there are others who would land in a muck cart!! :(
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Sorry to a little bit of a killjoy, but I do believe dear Lesley was making a play about the Lilliputian 'peasants' (sic), rather than the size of our game birds?
Strike me down with a deflated rugby ball please if I'm wrong.....
Don't you just hate literary Lancastrians? :o ;D
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Thank the Bulb Despot in his Heaven that I'm ACTUALLY from the deep South....West Sussex.
Have we all noticed that the 'Moan, Moan, Moan' topic is getting the most postings? I blame the Government, the Royals, the South African rugby team, squirrels and their accomplices, slugs, rap musicians (sorry, an anomaly there) and Genghis Khan (or that other boxer from Bolton). Maggi....you remain exempt from any blame on this occasion.
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Thank the Bulb Despot in his Heaven that I'm ACTUALLY from the deep South....West Sussex.
Have we all noticed that the 'Moan, Moan, Moan' topic is getting the most postings? I blame the Government, the Royals, the South African rugby team, squirrels and their accomplices, slugs, rap musicians (sorry, an anomaly there) and Genghis Khan (or that other boxer from Bolton). Maggi....you remain exempt from any blame on this occasion.
1: crawler
2: not another b****y southerner, AND you can't get away with 'I'm doing missionary work'
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Maggi....you remain exempt from any blame on this occasion.
Thank gawd for that, makes a change! :P
Have I told you, a propos very little, that the Bulb Despot's mother is from Leeds?
( it may have been the mention of Lilliputians that set me off)
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Sorry to a little bit of a killjoy, but I do believe dear Lesley was making a play about the Lilliputian 'peasants' (sic), rather than the size of our game birds?
Strike me down with a deflated rugby ball please if I'm wrong.....
Ooh, er, yes, I've just gone back a page or two to look and it was 'peasants' not pheasants...... a case of putting two and two together and getting it completely wrong, eh?
All together now "I'm not a pheasant plucker, I'm a pheasant plucker's son and I'm only plucking pheasants till the pheasant plucking's done" ;D
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Maggi....you remain exempt from any blame on this occasion.
Have I told you, a propos very little, that the Bulb Despot's mother is from Leeds?
I knew, I just knew he had Yorkshire blood in him 8) 8) 8)
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Sorry to a little bit of a killjoy, but I do believe dear Lesley was making a play about the Lilliputian 'peasants' (sic), rather than the size of our game birds?
Strike me down with a deflated rugby ball please if I'm wrong.....
Ooh, er, yes, I've just gone back a page or two to look and it was 'peasants' not pheasants...... a case of putting two and two together and getting it completely wrong, eh?
All together now "I'm not a pheasant plucker, I'm a pheasant plucker's son and I'm only plucking pheasants till the pheasant plucking's done" ;D
You have to have the right teeth in to say that quickly! ;D
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Thanks a million Cliff. I was thinking I was the only one who noticed that missing "h." My usual slightly twisted thinking. Maggi, I hope you're not into spoonerisms. Now David, work THAT one out but don't say I didn't warn you.
Profound sympathies by the way, re the wing mirror etc. :'(
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Royalists, Republicans, what price an Independant Scotland!
Yesterday the draw for the next round of the CIS Cup (football) took place in the Scottish Parliament - for some reason unknown to all.
This was for the semi-finals, right? Four teams, two matches, right? Can you screw that up? Yes!
The First Minister pulled the numbers out of the bag and the Speaker translated the numbers to football teams but had problems with his reading glasses. Do the words Aberdeen and Hearts look too confusing? Not to me but our Lords & Masters in Holyrood couldn't manage it.
Why am I so sceptical about the future of this poor little country of ours?
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Royalists, Republicans, what price an Independant Scotland!
Yesterday the draw for the next round of the CIS Cup (football) took place in the Scottish Parliament - for some reason unknown to all.
This was for the semi-finals, right? Four teams, two matches, right? Can you screw that up? Yes!
The First Minister pulled the numbers out of the bag and the Speaker translated the numbers to football teams but had problems with his reading glasses. Do the words Aberdeen and Hearts look too confusing? Not to me but our Lords & Masters in Holyrood couldn't manage it.
Why am I so sceptical about the future of this poor little country of ours?
David, if they only could enter Rotherham United would be certain of winning the Mickey Mouse Scottish Cup :o
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Here's a moan for you.......
What is WITH Heather Mills? She wants some privacy, so what does she do.... goes onto any interview show that'll take her, making veiled threats about knowing this and that, and whining about the fact that she has no privacy (while giving an interview... etc). Obviously she's pushing for more money in the divorce, hence needs to improve her public relations a bit. Sheeesh!! And she compares herself to Princess Diana, and Mrs McCann? Does she have tickets on herself or WHAT???
And that goes for any of these celbrities who make their money out of being famous...... you don't get privacy by whinging and whining in an interview, because that just makes you more notorious, and so they follow you more.
OK, moan over now. Just irritated at these empty headed morons who can't seem to see that biting the hand that feeds tends to leave you starving to death, although in a lot of cases with celebrities and supermodels that seems to be the idea anyway doesn't it? But that is a whole "nother" moan!! ;D
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Not sure about 'Independence', but me, I'm a Democrat.
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David to be fair to the Speaker of the Scottish Parliament it was the numbers on the balls he misread saw a 3 as a 2 or vice versa. He wisnae wearing his specs.
Still makes you think how they think they can run a country?
I should point out he is a Tory.
And David N' what do you mean Mickey Mouse Scottish Cup!!!
We take oor fittie very seriously up here ;)
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David N.,
Rotherham have not won anything since Danny Williams retired and Roy Ironside stopped keeping goal!
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Rotherham have not won anything since Danny Williams retired and Roy Ironside stopped keeping goal!
David S.... I had no idea you were such a student of ancient history ::)
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David N.,
Rotherham have not won anything since Danny Williams retired and Roy Ironside stopped keeping goal!
Was that before or after 'Moon River'?
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David N.,
Rotherham have not won anything since Danny Williams retired and Roy Ironside stopped keeping goal!
Was that before or after 'Moon River'?
I think that was Andy Williams? ::) I seem to remember I had to wait until his show was over before I could be taken out of my high chair/ ;)
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And David N' what do you mean Mickey Mouse Scottish Cup!!!
We take oor fittie very seriously up here ;)
Yes, I know you do, but really Ian I'm pretty sure I could score goals in the Scottish leagues and I'm nearly 65! Judging by the attendances in all but the 'Old Firm' matches we get more watching paint dry in England :o and I speak from from a football desert close to the end of the known world!
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Was that before or after 'Moon River'?
[/quote]
I think that was Andy Williams? ::) I seem to remember I had to wait until his show was over before I could be taken out of my high chair/ ;)
[/quote]
Anthony, you are far too young to remember, see http://www.guardian.co.uk/obituaries/story/0,,1667447,00.html Ididn't know he was no longer with us>
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Dark when I set off for work in a morning. Dark when I return at night. No more midweek gardening for me. I had to sow seeds Paul had sent me by torchlight last night. Least if we hadn't put the clocks back I would have had one hour of daylight at one end or the other (can't work out which!!!).
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Maggie, I am ancient history personified!
Enjoy the wedding tomorrow.
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Thanks, David S... we'll have a good time, I'm sure and I wish the newylweds a wonderful life together but they could have chosen a better date for their wedding than SRGC AGM day!! :-X
David N. your link may be to a man who sang Moon River, but the rest of us are speaking about ANDY Williams, not Danny.... the american crooner who had a TV show and was instrumental in the early career of the Osmonds!! :o http://www.andywilliams.com/
He performed on stage at the Moon River Theatre, Branson Missouri, as recently as the 27th October!!
NO! I take that back, he is performing all the time... two shows today!
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Phah - or noises like that! - I've finally had to admit my car is sick so I've got a week of using public transport to get around - what I hadn't bargained for is that tomorrow I've got a glass jewellery course starting in Sunderland (About 30 miles from where I live) and my total travel time there and back is going to be about five and a half hours (if all runs on time) - so I am going to need a GOOD book and some iron rations to keep me going ::)
Still I want to do the course, it's with a tutor I've worked with quite a lot now and I want to make the most of it while continuing education courses are running, also as it is at the National Glass Centre I get to use all the serious big equipment (cutters and grinders and sand blasting stuff) and maybe even a chance to do some glass blowing so it's worth the journey. You get (sorry, I get) even more dirty than when I'm gardening so may get some funny looks on the bus on the way home. Without the car though I can't stop at the brilliant fishmongers on the way there and have something nice for tea. Hey ho, just have to attack the freezer.
Enjoy the wedding
Sue
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Just for clarity, Maggie, my Danny Williams was one time right half and then manager fo that great English team, Rotherham United. Greatest claim to fame - finalists in the very first League Cup final. They came second :(
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David N. your link may be to a man who sang Moon River, but the rest of us are speaking about ANDY Williams, not Danny.... the american crooner who had a TV show and was instrumental in the early career of the Osmonds!! :o http://www.andywilliams.com/
He performed on stage at the Moon River Theatre, Branson Missouri, as recently as the 27th October!!
NO! I take that back, he is performing all the time... two shows today!
Danny Williams had the best version in my view, take a listen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BHCnLHPkWk. I used to watch the Andy Williams Show on black and white TV occasionally. I do believe though that anyone guilty of being instrumental in the career of the Osmans should be taken out and shot! By the way, even then I regarded anything that wasn't R & B, R & R, just plain Blues, or Trad Jazz as simply 'wallpaper' music.
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My 15 year old Flymow mower having come to the end of it's working life and the fact that I now have much less lawn area than I used to have meant I needed to look for a smaller mower. I did so, and at B & Q I found a small Flymo called the HoverVack. The name put me off to start with because I thought that perhaps it was only useful for sucking up leaves etc. But having read the details on the box and a chat with a staff member at B & Q both of whom reassured me that it was indeed a mower with a grass collection facility.
If you are looking for a new mower then give this one a miss-it's diabolical. Yes, it collects clippings, BUT the problem is it's lousy at clipping them in the first place. What isn't made clear on the box is that the machine doesn't have a steel cutting blade but simply two rotating plastic arms. I could get a better quality cut by walking up and down the lawn with a pair of scissors >:( >:(
The best part of £50 wasted.
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Can't you take it back because it is useless?
Sue,
Bummer about the public transport, and such aweful timing. Glad you can read while travelling.... I get car sick if I try that. Would be dreadful to have to travel that long while bored to tears, although a good set of headphones will help pass the time (providing they're attached to a cd player or something (just in case anyone wants to jump in and make any smart alec remarks about someone wearing headphones just by themselves!! ;D)
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David N. your link may be to a man who sang Moon River, but the rest of us are speaking about ANDY Williams, not Danny.... the american crooner who had a TV show and was instrumental in the early career of the Osmonds!! :o http://www.andywilliams.com/
For that alone, he should have been shot!
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I see David (N) you got your shot in before mine. I hope we both hit the mark ;)
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I see David (N) you got your shot in before mine. I hope we both hit the mark ;)
great minds Lesley, great minds...... ;D
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here is something not to moan about. I just noticed this.
Most Online Ever (at the same time): 794 (October 23, 2007, 04:48:54 PM)
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Mark,
I noticed it a few days ago. Was somewhat stunned (to put it mildly). Just goes to show how many different people actually read our meanderings, and yet can never be bothered to contribute!!
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Or did the counter go mad ? ???
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I don't know, Luc... I was online at the time and it was very busy, showing many pages worth of guests viewing different things..... I wondered if more folks than usual had come to the Forum because they were looking for the latest Bulb Log, though it was only Tuesday ??!!
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"Fascinating" as Dr Spock used to say... 8)
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"Fascinating" he will say again as Star Trek is coming back to the big screen
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Mark,
Yep, and Leonard Nimoy is in it as well...... and isn't William Shatner peeved that HE isn't in it!! ::) Has his nose right royally put out apparently. :o Says they'll lose out because he won't bring his legion of fans in to watch it. Did anyone like Kirk anyway? ;D
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no he was too slimey. Data or 7 of 9 should be captain
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Yep, 7 of 9 would certainly bring in an audience, that is for sure!! ;D
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Maybe a number of Klingons were on line on October 23rd ::)
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I'd write something for them to read in their native tongue, except I can't lay my hands on my Klingon Dictionary at the moment (and Yes I do own one!! :o). Trekkie from way back, been to conventions and everything. ::)
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...... and I thought I was was sad! ;D
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David,
That's a mighty big grin for someone who's sad!! ;D ;D
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Well if there are any Klingons around don't ask me to translate for them :D :D
Chloë
(who has never seen Star Trek in any form whatsoever!)
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Chloë
(who has never seen Star Trek in any form whatsoever!)
Not to worry, Chloë, you're still young... there's time! :P
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My dear Chloë,
On which plante have you been living ?? ;D
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"Plante" or "planet? ;D ;D
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There goes my joke.... :(
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Is there any truth in the rumour that the 'T' in James T Kirk really stood for 'Teflon' so Clingons wouldn't stick to him? ::)
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Yep, 7 of 9 would certainly bring in an audience, that is for sure!!
I have seen the actress who played "7 of 9" in one of the police shows recently... took me ages to think where I had seen her before... bless her, I don't even know her real name! Have to say, she looked a lot better as "7 of 9" :-\
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Oops :-[ :-[ :D :D
(no TV when I was a kid - very, very little ST in Portugal ...)
(wondering what on earth 7 of 9(2) is, but really quite happy to stick to plant(e)s ...)
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7 of 9 is number seven in a series of nine clones, Chloë, that's really all you need to know! the 92 was a typo!
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7 of 9 may bring the chaps in to watch the file, but you'll have to do better than that to get me there! Why not spend the money making more episodes of Firefly instead - much better use I think. ;D
Sue
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Okay, Sue, help me out here... I have no idea about "Firefly" .... ???
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OK this is really cult SF, Joss Wheelon (of Buffy fame) made a super SF series called Firefly, which was pulled by shortsighted TV execs before the end of series one, so he made a film of the same characters called Serenity to show some of the rest of the stories which never got made. It knocks spots off much of Star Trek and is generally a sadly lost opportunity!
It's available on DVD which is how I first came across it.
Sue
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We're enjoying them now, Sue.
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Chloë
(who has never seen Star Trek in any form whatsoever!)
Congratulations Chloe. I envy you. :-X
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Maggi,
7 of 9 wasn't a clone..... when the borg assimilates entities they are assigned the "working groups" (for want of a better term. She was number 7 of a group of 9, hence the name. Yes, she's in NYPD Blues (if I have the right name for the show in my memory of course).
SO many shows have been canned by short sighted TV execs. Very frustrating that just because the US audiences have no taste for different Sci Fi the rest of us aren't allowed either. "Earth 2" was another one that was rather different. You literally didn't know whether any of the main characters were going to die in an episode, because they were doing so periodically. It took away some of that saccharine sweetness that you get in some of the Sci Fi shows (i.e you just KNOW that they're all going to live, and that they're always going to prevail etc.... in E2 you couldn't assume that, which I thought was quite refreshing. The US audience of course didn't like that, so it was cancelled after season 1). I don't know Firefly, although I love Buffy, Angel etc (although not as much as my wife does... she's collecting the DVD series). Now Stargate and Star Trek on the other hand I collect myself. We're a sci fi loving house, just different series for different members!!
Apologies Lesley for sinking your estimation of me even further!! ;D
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My apologies to 7 of 9 for mistaking her origins! It's not NYPD Blue I've seen her in, Paul... something more recent than that.... it's one of the shows I catch half-heartedly in the middle of the night when I'd rather be sleeping, but can't :-\
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Okay, just googled 7 of 9 to see what all the fuss is about and found a pic (see below, for those who, like me, had no idea who or what 7 of 9 was).
TV science fiction has come a long way since I first encountered it. The first space show I watched (and awaited with bated breath every week) was a little thing called Fireball XL5 in the 1950s, a bit like Thunderbirds but with worse puppets (rockets on wires and smoke coming out the back, that sort of thing).
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I discover that 7 of 9 is, in real life, the actress Jeri Ryan ... the show I have seen her in is the legal eagle show, (okay so not quite the "cop" show I remembered) "Shark" .
I would agree that I need to get out more but since the chances for me so to do seem to arise in the late hours of darkness, the opportunities are more than a little limited :-X
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Suddenly I'm very interested in 7 of 9 :P
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Since I posted the pic of 7 of 9 my avatar seems to have spontaneously changed all on its own to a strangely leering version of me! Spooky! ???
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Suddenly I'm very interested in 7 of 9 :P
she looks a very pnuematic young lady with all spread before her! ;)
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That picture DOES tend to enhance her abilities, that is for sure. While pert, I don't recall them usually being THAT pert!! ;D
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Now, now boys...easy does it. (Although I believe it was Maggi who set this subject up as "get it off your chest...")
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And here's a pic I found on the web of a clip from Fireball XL5. As you can see, the crew included an earlier version of blond bombshell 7 of 9, and an especially impressive see-through robot that I remember well.
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Actually, I think that was the crew. And I just noticed, the robot was called Robert. Robert the robot. Now that's funny. And the woman crew member would just have to be called Venus, wouldn't she. Well it was the 50s.
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Gentlemen, I have to inform you that this was a test and you have all failed miserably. The correct answer to my posting of the pic of 7 of 9 is: "What a strong, independent-looking female character." (Oh yes, I know how to curry favour with the feminists. Did I mention that I only changed my avatar to a leering me in an ironic way?) I hope you're all thoroughly ashamed of yourselves. >:(
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Just a quick thought re that 50s space programme, Fireball XL5, would anyone in their right mind really want to go up in a rocket called "Fireball" ?!!!! It's a bit like calling a ship "Submerged Wreck" or an airliner "Bits Scattered on Mountainside".
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Interesting re the crew of Fireball (and Yes, methinks the name is a bad omen!!) ::). All I thought upon seeing it was "What's Lady Penelope doing in the craft?" She usually restricted herself to her car and other associated vehicles. What was teh time frame difference between this and Thunderbirds?
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Just a quick thought re that 50s space programme, Fireball XL5, would anyone in their right mind really want to go up in a rocket called "Fireball" ?!!!! It's a bit like calling a ship "Submerged Wreck" or an airliner "Bits Scattered on Mountainside".
Or calling the airport in Oporto after a prime minister who died in a (small) plane crash ... :o :o :o
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Down the coast from here there used to be a "Burns and Deadman Real Estate". Would YOU buy a house from people by that name?? ;D
My wife used to go to a Dr Kneebone, and I know of a Dr Death as well (also somewhat disturbing). My Chiropractor is Dr Tapper. And of course there is the Catholic Cardinal.... Cardinal Sihn (I think that is the spelling), which I've always found amusing. You'd really think the church would have cottoned on to that early on and blocked him from becoming a cardinal.
OK, I'll stop now!! ::)
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Years ago I had a dentist called Roy Gummer.
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...And you think you've got it bad? My lovely wife is called Sue Booker......I hasten her past the solicitor's office!
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I like this theme - kids names show that parents often don't think (or maybe they do.....? ???): Fae Fife (and she was too); Angus Aberdeen (Bull to his friends); Ivy Bush; Jenny Taylor; Pocahontas McGowan are just some I've come across.
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(Although I believe it was Maggi who set this subject up as "get it off your chest...")
I knew it would be me who got the blame in the end :P
A little boy two doors down the road is called John Thomas Binnie... parents really should be more thoughtful. Even if the names are innocent enough, look at the bother which has been caused over the years by Ian Bulb Despot Young actually being called James Ian Young....confusion with the phone book, hosptial appointments... you name it! So much easier to just refer to him as the BD!
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Henceforth to be known as wee Jimmy......will he ever forgive you Maggi?
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Henceforth to be known as wee Jimmy......will he ever forgive you Maggi?
Duuno, Cliff, he's muttering something about changing it by deed poll to "Sue Booker"... at least, i think that's what he said.......
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I did know someone who was called Jimmy Riddell (pronounced riddle) until he got married. It was then changed to James Riddell (prounced ri-dell).
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Our most excellent carpet ftter (in about 1980) was Jimmy Riddell, he was happy just to be a riddle, bless him. Just wish I'd known that 100 per cent wool carpets would be threadbare in all the high-traffic areas only 27 years later :P :o
A chum at school in Edinburgh was Marilyn Ri-ddell. Tall girl, glasses, lovely nature, haven't heard of her for .... well, it's been a long time! :-X
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As we are discussing names at the moment, may I raise a question that has intrigued me for many a year?
We all know and love the very wonderful Glassford T. Sprunt, but what does the 'T' stand for?
I have imagined a whole series of exotic and/or poetic names....will the reality be less glamorous?
I will plump for Theodore......apologies Glassford. :D
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Cliff, Glassford is T. G. Sprunt, rather than G. T. Sprunt.... He's a Thomas.... let's just hope he's not reading this, he would think it far too frivolous ! Which is ironic, since he is such a cheery person :-*
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I do know a male Kerry and a male Claire or maybe Clare
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Thanks Maggi.....time to put my mind to more serious matters....frivolity has no place in the world of potato peelings and baby minding.....
Presented a digital lecture to the hardy folk of the Failsworth Horticultural Society last evening....now there's a place to be frivolous!
Mark...do you remember Kerry Packer?
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So, that's that then! The Criminal Prosecution Service have said they are in no doubt that the two hen harriers were shot over Sandringham. But the bodies of the birds could not be found. The ducks shot by the prince and his mate were also "removed" before the police investigation. No evidence. No prosecution.
According to the Guardian newpaper, the clear implication from what the CPS have said is that the CPS believe the dead birds were removed and disposed of sharpish, as usually happens when birds of prey are shot illegally.
I know what a lot of people will be thinking!
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Sorry about all the underlining in that last post. It went wrong and I can't correct it. Only meant to underline the first word, were.
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bar stewards!
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I know which of the two I'd rather my taxes supported - and they've got feathers!
Sue
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Just wish I'd known that 100 per cent wool carpets would be threadbare in all the high-traffic areas only 27 years later :P :o
But after 27 years a woollen carpet, even though threadbare, still looks like a quality carpet. Nylon and other synthetics look like junk from the day they're laid.
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My Dad always talked about a chap who ran a fish and chip shop in Holmfirth on the outskirts of Huddersfield (Summer Wine country for those who might have seen the telly programme) which was situated in, for want of a better description, a run down wooden hut. Garden huts and other storage places were often referred to in that part of the world as t'oyl as in 'where shall I put it Dad' "oh, shove it in t'oyle"
Name of chip shop propriotor: Littlewood Hoyle. Difficult to write you, have to hear it really or be born with The Birthright! ;D
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When I left a door open, my dad always used to say 'Put t'wood in t'oyle'.
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"Last of the Summer Wine" was the BEST TV programme, EVER!!!
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In Huddersfield we'd say "put wood in th'oyle". My grandmother used bake bread in th'oven.
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In Whitworth we drink coffee from th'ermos flask.....or a bone china SRGC mug.
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Interesting re the crew of Fireball (and Yes, methinks the name is a bad omen!!) ::). All I thought upon seeing it was "What's Lady Penelope doing in the craft?" She usually restricted herself to her car and other associated vehicles. What was teh time frame difference between this and Thunderbirds?
Paul, Fireball XL5 was - according to Wikipedia, so it must be right ;) - made by Gerry Anderson (who also made Thunderbirds) in 1962 (so I was wrong about it being 50s). Thunderbirds was made 1964-65. In between was another I watched avidly, called Stingray.
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Thunderbirds are go! da dah dah, da da da da da dah. Yes m'Lady?
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In Whitworth we drink coffee from th'ermos flask.....or a bone china SRGC mug.
I love this. Before seeing it was from Ranunculus and not especially noticing Whitworth, I knew it was from the Bookeroo
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Oh No Cliff, you're getting predictable. We can't have THAT!!!!!!! :o
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Just going back to the shot Hen Harriers - Police had originally identified three suspects: Prince Harry, William van Cutsem and David Clarke, a gamekeeper
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Just going back to the shot Hen Harriers - Police had originally identified three suspects: Prince Harry, William van Cutsem and David Clarke, a gamekeeper
Yes, it's interesting that the Sandringham estate staff reportedly initially told police it was only Prince Harry and his mate who were out shooting. Then later it seems it was "Oh, actually Mr Plod there was a gamekeeper out there too." (probably not the exact words used). A cynical mind might jump to the no doubt erroneous conclusion that said gamekeeper would have made a very handy scapegoat for the crime if he'd been needed in the event of the finger of blame being pointed at those known to have been out shooting - which he wasn't, as whoever shot the hen harriers did an excellent job of disappearing the corpses before the police investigation (as complained about by the Criminal Prosecution Service) so no-one could have been prosecuted due to lack of evidence.
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OH the joys of youth - only 2 TV channels to fight over but in a house of 4 lads it was always Thunderbirds on a Saturday morning. Now for a vote on our favourite episode.
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OH the joys of youth - only 2 TV channels to fight over but in a house of 4 lads it was always Thunderbirds on a Saturday morning. Now for a vote on our favourite episode.
Tony, I can go along with a certain level of nostalgia but if we descend to the geekish depths of voting on our favourite episodes of Thunderbirds, Star Trek, Last Of The Summer Wine, etc then I'm going to have to shoot myself (and make sure there's a servile gamekeeper in the vicinity to take the blame...you called m'lady? - sorry, Thunderbirds joke!)
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On a different topic all together, at the discussion weekend some of us decided that we needed a new category at flower shows for those bulbs (or other plants) we grew which other gardeners got to flower but we didn't, you know 'class xxx for sternbergia in leaf no flowers'.
Such a good idea I thought, however, one of my pots of sternbergias has now decided to produce one flower, so, with reluctance, I'll have to withdraw it from that class. Hopefully I'll get a picture of the one little flower when I'm actually at home in daylight. Please don't tell me yours have so many flowers you can't see the leaves, just today that is not what I want to hear!!
Sue
PS I can't imagine how anyone can have a favourite Thunderbirds episode, maybe it would be possible to have an idea of the one which was least awful ;D ::)
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Sue,
Just cut off the bloody flower and enter the foliage class....
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Carlo
Now why didn't I think of that - it's been a long week, my excuse and I'm sticking to it!
S
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Sue, not knowing your age but assuming you watch Thunderbirds etc when you were wee, you would have loved all episodes then and didnt notive the strings attached to the puppets
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I'm afraid to say that Saturday mornings for me (at least in 1962-3, after my piano lesson with Mr Greenwood) was ABC Minors in Huddersfield with Captain Marvel, the orginal Batman, The Perils of Nyoka and a Loony Tunes cartoon. 9d in the balcony plus a tanner for a 'Zoom' ice lolly. Brilliant.
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Tony, I can go along with a certain level of nostalgia but if we descend to the geekish depths of voting on our favourite episodes of Thunderbirds, Star Trek, Last Of The Summer Wine, etc then I'm going to have to shoot myself (and make sure there's a servile gamekeeper in the vicinity to take the blame...you called m'lady? - sorry, Thunderbirds joke!)
Well - at least I gave you something to moan about ;)
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I'm afraid to say that Saturday mornings for me (at least in 1962-3, after my piano lesson with Mr Greenwood) was ABC Minors in Huddersfield with Captain Marvel, the orginal Batman, The Perils of Nyoka and a Loony Tunes cartoon. 9d in the balcony plus a tanner for a 'Zoom' ice lolly. Brilliant.
Ha!! The only time I really watched television when I was a child was at my piano teacher's, during my sister's lessons! Unfortunately, if I remember correctly, it was the Osmonds, Jackson Five cartoons and Loony Tunes ;D ;D ;D
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Never mind, north of The Border they are redressing the balance. Seems like they have sneakily released a whole load of Sea Eagles in Fife this year! ::) One was even seen in a supermarket carpark in Dunfermline! :o
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and we're getting Sea Eagles too and Red Kites
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Surely that Asda be Erne, Anthony? O.K.....I'll go and shoot myself......
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You'd have to be off your trolley because I don't think there's a safeway you can do that Cliff? ::)
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Liddle at a time, Anthony, and Allday.
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Oh dear, once you've seen one shopping centre joke you seen the mall. :P
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O.K.....I admit defeat. I'm hanging up my Boots!!
Next please.
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and I'll hit Gordon's
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Just been catching up on this thread.
I had a Dr Fester a little while ago.
Anybody remember Farscape ? I think there was only two series of that :(.
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What about Fester Bestertester from MAD Magazine? Remember him... and his prehensile feet!
I was introduced to Farscape by a chum who lodged with us for a while.... he was always making me watch some wierd TV..... Babylon 9 or some such... actually found Farscape quite funny and even watch the occasional episode voluntarily nowadays! :-\ Heaven help me!
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If we are recalling strange TV shows, does anyone else remember 'Northern Exposure' ... you must have seen it Maggi, it was always on late! It was often very funny (I don't watch much TV but if I do I like a laugh) in a quiet way.
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Northern Exposure was here too though I didn't see it. But we have a wonderful programme on at present, American, of course, called "I shouldn't be Alive" and is a series of appalling adventures (apparently all true) involving every possible ghastly situation from drowning at sea, being lost in blizzards, crocodiles (or are they alligators?) in the Amazon etc etc. The tales are so utterly horrific that they quickly become hilarious and as yet another dehydrated, pustule-covered person slithers overboard to be eaten by the circling sharks, I can't help laughing louder and louder. I avidly look forward each week to the next, rib-splitting episode.
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The tales are so utterly horrific that they quickly become hilarious and as yet another dehydrated, pustule-covered person slithers overboard to be eaten by the circling sharks, I can't help laughing louder and louder. I avidly look forward each week to the next, rib-splitting episode.
Lesley, the dehydrated, pustule-covered person slithering overboard to be eaten by the circling sharks in episode six was my Aunt Bettie from Boston. How could you be so horrible!?
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....And my brother-in-law's second cousin was related to the shark......!!!
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......Only basking!
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she's going to get hammer(head)ed
Oh God, now I'm losing it just like the rest of you...............
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Lesley is blessed, as most of us in the antipides are, with the ability to be able to laugh at the misfortunes of others. It's simple a gift; just ask Dame Edna!
cheers
fermi
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I swear I didn't know Martin. If the poor lady in question had had less head hair I may have seen a likeness. As for that next relationship, it's too far distant to be worth a jot. We're not trying to bring in Robert the Bruce here you know!
Carlo, You know by now you can't beat us, so why not join us. You're getting closer all the time.
Schadenfreude. I really love that word. But I can laugh at myself too Fermi, don't even mind when others do it.
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I swear I didn't know Martin. If the poor lady in question had had less head hair I may have seen a likeness. As for that next relationship, it's too far distant to be worth a jot. We're not trying to bring in Robert the Bruce here you know!
Lesley, you make fun of my Auntie's last dying moments and now you poke fun at my receding hairline. I'd come back with a devastating retort that would have you writhing in appropriate agonies of personal humiliation and embarrassment, but I'm too busy trying to figure out what the hell Robert the Bruce has to do with anything!
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Sorry about that one. It was just Cliff's relative's-by-marriage distant relationship with the shark that did it. I've heard it so many times here, and I think the Aussies do it too. You know the thing. " my great great grandmother's father-in-law's third sister's husband's mother was related to the Earl of North-East Black Pudding, so I am related to Robert the Bruce."
So do come back with your devastating retort. I'll look forward to it in fact.
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Two of the characters from Farscape are now in Stargate - the commander and Aeryn
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One little moan from me is the angles used when photographing flowers. I feel the best angle is a low one as if you were level with the flowers or better still one just above horizontal. ie between 20 and 50 degrees. I see lots of photos on here where the shot is from beyond vertical
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I first met Dame Edna in a hilarous (then) film base on Barry Humphries comic strip "The Adventures of Barry McKenzie". I think she was Barry' Aunt. He tried to bring a suitcase of tins of Fosters through Heathrow as 'peronal effects' and I rember the scenes wizzing past the window on the taxi ride (you've not been to England before have you sir) from there to London included Stone Henge, Loch Ness etc. Northern Exposure became a cult. I was superb. Catapulting a cow (or at least trying to) into a swamp figured in one episode. ;D
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You know the thing. " my great great grandmother's father-in-law's third sister's husband's mother was related to the Earl of North-East Black Pudding, so I am related to Robert the Bruce."
So do come back with your devastating retort. I'll look forward to it in fact.
Lesley, being barely able to claim a thin veneer of Scottishness from living there from age 2 to 12, I'm not known for my attempts to claim descent from Robert the Bruce's line, so was unfamiliar with the reference.
As for my withering retort, I've been awake all night cogitating and exercising my razor-sharp wit in response to your receding hairline jibe, and here it is...smelly pooh-bum!
I'm sorry but you asked for it. Invite retribution from the Noel Coward of the forum and you get what you deserve (sniffs haughtily andf shuts down computer with an elegant jab of his little finger). ;)
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Just realised I have my Babylon 5 (not 9 !) confused with my Farscape.... I really need to sleep more :'(
Sci-fi isn't my bag really... I like whodunnits best ;D
Have vague recollection of Northern Exposure but never followed it properly.
How delightful it is to find oneself in the company of like-minded folks... even if we are all certifiable.... they have to catch us first, huh? :P
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Maggi, speaking of who-dunnits, did you watch that (1980s ?) classic political Cold War who-dunnit, "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" with that wonderful performance by Alec Guinness as George Smiley?
I was reminded of it by a newspaper editorial today about the increasing effects on our civil freedoms of the "war on terror", which quoted George Smiley as saying in the aforesaid series:" We've given up far too many freedoms in order to be free."
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Dammit! Really must read my posts before I post them! Had to correct four typos in that last one after it appeared on the forum! Up too late last night formulating my razor-sharp riposte to Lesley's receding hairline jibe. :)
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Double dammit! Missed the "to late" in that last post, which should have been "too late". I'm just to tired this monring.
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Double dammit! Missed the "to late" in that last post, which should have been "too late". I'm just to tired this monring.
Actually this atfernoon Martin. I suspect you are suffering from too much Northern Exposure [i.e. to the SRGC Forum] ;)
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Martin and Anthony,
I don't wish to be picky, but 'monring' AND 'atfernoon' won't pass muster either!
.....And there now follows another razor-sharp riposte from each of you.....
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The 'atfernoon' was to make 'Matrin' feel at home. ;)
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Maggi, speaking of who-dunnits, did you watch that (1980s ?) classic political Cold War who-dunnit, "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" with that wonderful performance by Alec Guinness as George Smiley?
Oh, yes, I did, and loved it. Great fan of John le Carré.
We're enjoying "Spooks" on TV ......worrying how true to life the scenarios may be, though :o :-X
Don't know about 'Matrin' ... have a feeling we are all in need of Matron!
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Maggi,
At a loss as to where to post this photograph but as this section seems to be open to almost any kind of comment I thought it might suit. As as it is a 'moan, moan, moan' forum I think this might do you good.
This photograph of a rather unusual planter was taken in Sheppardstown, West Virginia recently by a friend from Maryland who was travelling in that area.
Paddy
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That's a good one, Paddy. Not sure whether to be amused about the eccentricity of the arrangement or horrified by possible evidence of nasty domestic abuse :P ::)
The suit of armour looks very real, doesn't it? Someone would steal it here, I think!
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I'm waiting with bated breath for a 'Bookerism' on Paddy's photo!
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Paddy's pic appears to be apposite in view of Martin's last comment to me. Though smelly could perhaps be replaced by perfumed or scented. And Martin, that receding hairline jibe was no joke! But as it seems to have had a deep psychological effect on you, judging from the number of references, I'll withdraw it unreservedly.
I like "Spooks" too - we're having reruns at present prior to the total breakdown and absence of anything halfway decent over the Christmas silly season. But if Smiley thought we were losing freedoms in order to be free, then, he didn't know the half of it. Our govt. slavishly follows every little paranoid demand of Geo. dubbya Bush, regarding terrorist legislation, airline security and a hundred other things. And this is a relatively left wing govt. If the other lot are elected next year, which is likely, we'll all be locked up for our own protection I imagine.
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Indeed, Lesley, I have been deeply psychologically scarred by your receding hairline jibe. As you admit responsibility, I assume that I will shortly be receiving a large cheque to cover the cost of a trip to the hair transplant clinic. Better make it about £2,000 since, as you've made very clear, there's a lot to re-cover. Otherwise, Madam, you will be hearing from my solicitors, Sue Grabbitt and Runn.
Actually, I'm not a particularly hairy type so not sure where they'll take the hair from for the transplant. I can only really think of one place where I have a lot of spare hair. Suffice it it say that next time I change my forum pic I may be sporting a particularly curly quiff in place of a high forehead.
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I'm afraid it's got to be ladies night David!
Over to you girls.....
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Lesley will get that one.......I hope!
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Of course I'll pay for your trip to the clinic Martin. Shouldn't be more than a couple of pounds if you take a bus. I'll put a Czech for that much in the post tomorrow. But since you already have a Slovak (who I'm sure ADORES your hairline) I think you should leave well alone. That other picture your words conjure up is not to be contemplated by nice-minded ladies.
It's cats that wait with bated breath David - by the mouse hole.
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Paddy, can't tell from the angle of the pic whether the plants are Brazilian? ::)
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;D ;D ;D
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Talking about mice, I've just received these pictures.
Follow the links below, you will have some explaining to do if young children are around !!
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/wisbechwheelers/srgc/micea.jpg
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/wisbechwheelers/srgc/miceb.jpg
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Alright peoples.... I take a couple of days off from active service here on the SRGC and what happens?..... you people all go off and smoke of consume something and go REALLY off the wall!! :o ::) Egads!!!!!
Some comments.....
Nice to see that "Babylon 5" was corrected after that attrocious reference to "Bablyon 9". You should be ashamed of yourself!! Blasphemy and all that.
Relatives..... I am apparently related to an "Earl Rich" who was at the signing of the Magna Carta, but have no real idea who he was. It is a distant relationship..... you know, one of those where you go back a few generations then find an interesting "wife" and follow HER family tree back to something interesting and then say it was YOUR family who is related. ;D Actually, I probably belong quite well here on the SRGC..... going back about 4 generations half of my ancestors were Scottish, then there were some English, and Irish and a West Indian in there as well. I'm a definite "bitser" (i.e bits er this and bits er that).
Statue..... I think I'll keep quiet on that one. Probably safer. I've heard of the sun shining out of...... but that is ridiculous!! ;D
Martin...... maybe you should say that you're hairy all over, then you can claim that you aren't going bald, it is just that your hair has slipped!! ;)
I think that about covers the incredibly deep and meaningful discussions of the last few days!! ::)
And to a quick moan...... Australian federal election this coming Saturday the 24th. I am SO sick of bl--dy election adverts. They're all a pack of lies and are basically a pointless waste of money and I am well and truly sick and tired of them. I will be SOOOOOOOO happy when the election is over! Although I'll be even happier if the idiot I want to win wins and the idiot I don't want to win doesn't!! Unfortunately after viewing weeks of their election adverts they've all been relegated to idiots!! <sigh>
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Martin...... maybe you should say that you're hairy all over, then you can claim that you aren't going bald, it is just that your hair has slipped!! ;)
Okay, enough with the hair! I'm not going bald. It's just a trick of the light! Actually I've always had a high forehead and the hair has receded quite a bit, but I've also had some very bad haircuts over the last year thanks to a hairdresser who listens to what you want then does what she wants. By not going for a couple of months, I've finally got her to agree to a slightly longer look! So I'll shortly be replacing my forum pic with a more up-to-date one displaying my splendiferous new afro. You have been warned. There will be fainting and swooning amongst the women and gasps of jealousy from the men. Prepare yourselves!
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Martin,
Mine's receding as well, so I'm qualified to talk about it!! ;D I keep telling you that the picture of my dog Elf is SO much more photogenic than I am.... there are reasons for this!! ::)
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There's a singular lack of activity on the forum tonight - is this something to do with the seed lists having been delivered? :D
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Or were we all watching football? :D :-X :-X
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Some of us are here. ;D
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At least we can go to Switzerland this summer and be spared the alcohol induced antics of those fine English 'supporters'....and didn't Andorra put up a splendid fight against the might of the Russian offensive?
Hey ho, perhaps we could try table tennis again?
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......or deck quoits....
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Cliff,
Maybe you could train Johnny Wilkinson to save England in other sports than Rugby? He might be the key to world sports domination!!?? :o ;D
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You could have been mean Paul and said; 'Bring back Torville and Dean' (but you would, of course, have been skating on thin ice). I believe we have an up and coming rugby team in Tonga whose great great grandparents all hail from Middlesex....just need to sort that damn paperwork out!!
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.....Anyway, let's get back to something interesting.....have you seen those beautiful images from the Chatham Islands?
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Cliff,
When have I been mean? I'll admit to some sarcasm on extremely rare ocassions, but not "mean" (unless refering to temperatures :)).
The Chatham Islands stuff is brilliant isn't it?
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Some of us are here. ;D
I'm here but I'm hiding 'till my hair grows (see, no avatar!)
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So the seed list is out? Hope it doesn't take too long to arrive down here.
I've been without internet since 9am Tuesday and am almost SUICIDAL with frustration, or was until 30 mins ago when it was finally sorted. Apparently there was an outage in the nearby splashbox (what an odd name) and in the process of fixing it, Telecom somehow lost my username and password from the system. OK for everyone else, disaster for me. It has cost about 4 hours on the phone to Telecom and I have been harbouring murderous thoughts, especially to the computerized moron who answers every call and whose throat I'd like to grab (if it had one) and heave it/her from a tenth floor window. It was only when I used an absolutely filthy obscenity, a word I've never said before, that I was finally connected to a human being.
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You didn't resort to that dreaded word; 'Englishman', did you? No wonder you got a rapid response!
So sorry you have suffered the biggest frustration of our age, 'No internet connection'....it's a bummer!
At least you have got lots to catch up on with a glass of something amber and a chocolate hobnob?
Seedlist not arrived here in Outer Mongolia either.
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Now my hair's grown a bit I can come back out of hiding. Amazing what a few bottles of hair tonic can do. Haven't been shaving either, just to enhance the effect. Let's see Lesley make fun of this forum pic!
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That's brilliant Martin. How could I make fun of that? You look exactly like the young man who works for me at the Market each Saturday. I'll take a pic if he'll let me. I hope you have a patent on that stuff. At least half the male Forumists could use it profitably.
I certainly don't wish to suggest you have any other area due for slight improvement, but the pic almost gives the impression of your having crossed eyes. This impression could be the result of my own failing eyesight, so PLEASE don't take it personally. I can't enlarge the avatar for a better look.
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Looks a bit like John Lennon in Yellow Submarine to me.....
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Look's like you should be playing for Croatia with a style like that ;D. My sister in law sent me the following:
TRIBUTES are being paid to Scotland this morning after the entire country laughed itself to death.
The alarm was first raised at around 10pm last night as thousands of phone calls and text messages went unanswered.
Small groups of volunteers from Berwick-Upon-Tweed and Carlisle ventured north just after midnight only to find houses full of dead people gathered around still blaring television sets.
By dawn, as RAF helicopters flew over deserted city streets, it was clear that the whole country had suffered a catastrophic abdominal rupture.
Wayne Hayes, a special constable from Northumberland, said: "We went into one house in Dunbar and found three men sitting on the sofa with huge smiles on their faces, still holding cans of 70 shilling. They seemed to be at peace."
He added: "In a house near Edinburgh we found a man face down on the living room floor with his trousers and pants round his knees.
"It seems he may have been showing his bare buttocks to the television when he keeled over."
Roy Hobbs, a civil engineer from Northampton, said: "I got a call from my friend Ian in Stirling at about 9.50pm.
"He was already laughing when I answered the phone, but after about 25 minutes of the most vigorous and uncontrollable hilarity, everything suddenly went very quiet."
Moving tributes are already being placed along the Scotland-England border with many mourners opting to leave a simple bag of chips or a deep fried bunch of flowers
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I certainly don't wish to suggest you have any other area due for slight improvement, but the pic almost gives the impression of your having crossed eyes.
Lesley, sorry about the crossed eyes. My new virile uber-hirsuteness has attracted females from miles around. While one distracted me by taking my photo, the others ripped my clothes off and had their wicked ways with my nether regions just out of shot.
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Like it ,Anthony. Could have happend up here but fortunately we don't have a telly. :'(
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Martin, if your nether regions are just out of shot you could have other serious problems as well. My sympathies.
As for the football - they say WE'RE obsessed!
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Anyone notice the name of the newest member of this wonderful Forum; S McClaren? Appears he is recently retired with masses of time on his hands....experienced with pansies but ready to try some european climbers. Seeking advice from Scottish members in particular, but tips from any source accepted. His problem areas are very damp grass, snails and weeds.
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When it comes to footbal I definitely assume my honorary Portuguese citizenship :D It has its advantages :D
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Er.... Ok..... so why is Scotland laughing exactly?
Martin, at least with that last clothes-ripping (etc.) description you're in the right place.... this is the moan, moan, moan thread after all!! :o :P Although, judging by your avatar pic now, it isn't your chest that you need to get it off. I wouldn't spill any of that hair tonic if I were you... it could get rather uncomfortable, although you could perhaps hire yourself out to bigfoot and sasquatch photographers who are after that "perfect" photo. ;D
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Martin, if your nether regions are just out of shot you could have other serious problems as well. My sympathies.
As for the football - they say WE'RE obsessed!
Lesley, I don't want to brag but parts of my nether regions do reach almost that far up under the right conditions. Damn! Shouldn't have said that! Here come the women again!
As for the football, it's times like this that I'm especially glad I'm not that bothered about spectator sports like footie (playing is something else). Although I am greatly enjoying the despair of my football-mad neighbours - lovely bit of schadenfreude!
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Oh well Martin, just as well I'm well away or perhaps I couldn't resist.
Paul, the Scots are laughing because this was ENGLAND that died.
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Martin, I see in your avatar that you have reverted to type and I really do want to show you a hair style which I firmly believe is the one to which you must aspire. It belongs to one of my two staff at Otago Farmers' Market and is achieved by strict adherance to a diet of very late nights, garbage music, and numerous girlfriends. All these however, are counterbalanced by a penchant for vegetarian or even vegan food, only occasionally suplemented by fast fried food and copious litres of beer. Over all he (his name is Toki) is a great guy and does excellent work at the Market.
[attachthumb=1]
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Lesley, Toki looks and sounds like a fun guy. Maybe my hair will benefit from emulating his lifestyle! ;D
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Go for it Martin.
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Martin,
Hey, it's worth a try. Sounds like fun even if it doesn't work.... particularly the late nights, numerous girlfriends and copious amounts of beer!! ;D
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It's chucking it down and I can't get out so this is a chance to get a moan off my chest.
Yesterday we visited a small(ish) independent garden centre I have used for some years but haven't been there for about six months. It has developed from a nursery and although in the last few years the number of plants propagated on site had decreased somewhat, an eclectic range continued including a range of Primula from Barnhaven seed and a fairly wide choice of common perennials. I also liked it because it stocked a good brand of John Innes composts (*these always passed my jam jar test for establishing if a good quantity of loam was present) and always had packs of Dolomite Lime and ground charcoal which I use in my Auricula potting mix.
When we arrived I thought it looked different and it was; it was now a Wyevale Garden Centre (a growing chain of UK Garden Centres). Having located a member of staff I knew from previous visits I found out that the previous owners who were approaching retirement age had accepted an offer they could not refuse and had sold out. Good for them-Yes; Good for gardeners-NO.
'No Dolomite Lime or ground charcoal now' he said, 'They say it doesn't sell in sufficient quantity to make it worthwhile stocking it'
'No home grown plants either' he said 'the areas we used for propagating are being floored over for a fancy big polytunnel for shoes, clothing and expensive garden furniture. All of the plants we stock now are brought in by vast lorries and many of them from Europe'
'None of your John Innes either' he said 'We are only allowed to stock Westland products now'. (an inferior range of very expensive composts!)
'I'm leaving on Friday' he said 'I've worked here for 20 years but there's no enjoyment now'
So, my late New Year Resolutions are:-
1. Never use a Wyevale Garden Centre.
2. Never use a Dobbies Garden Centre. (recently taken over by Tesco, a UK supermarket concern or in other words an overblown grocers!)
3. Where ever possible buy from small independent nurseries because, if we don't, all we will be left with is the Wyvale's and Dobbies of this world selling us stuff they want to sell us (ie. with the largest possible profit element) and disguising this by telling us they are offering what the customer wants.
Rant over, and sorry to bore you. ;D
*oh-jam jar test for those not aware of it. Take a handful of compost and put it in a screw to jar. Add water and give it a shake and leave for an hour. Loam settles to bottom of jar, humous floats. If you haven't tried it, do, it's surprising how little loam is in some propriotery compost brands
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Rant over, and sorry to bore you.
No, David, just valid comment I believe. What you say is particulary applicable to those of us with specialised gardening interests, but, if we don't follow your advice... and encourage as many other people as we can to visit and patronise specialist nurseries/growers, then in the long run EVERY garden will be the poorer. I am sure we needn't shed a tear for any loss our lack of custom will mean to the conglomerates, there are always dafties who think a "Garden" is just a place to display wealth and pooor taste with all manner of unsightly plastic objects and strange furniture on their decking! :P
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I couldn't agree more. I'm sick to death of so called 'Garden Centres' that have become nothing more than remainder clothing centres that double as Santa's grottos for five months of the year. What a waste of space they are. One of our biggest independent garden centres in Newcastle has recently been taken over by this Wyevale lot, so I shall no longer be popping in there on the way back from town. I get my compost from the local allotment group. Its close by so reduces my carbon footprint, and although I confess I've never understood their local dialect rural Northumberland dialect very well, its great to be part of this co-op (small c), and long may it remain so. I notice there are more young-er folks on the allotments nowadays too, so I hope they keep on promoting them to the younger set of would be gardeners. The less I have to drive to get what I want, the better I like it.
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My cousin is the Irish rep for Westland. Their top soil is the best you can buy. Give it a try!
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Some crowd or other, I think it may be a section of one of the government departments here, make an annual appraisal of garden centres and make awards. There is a garden centre about 80 km from me which has been named the garden centre of the year for several years and yet I would drive by it and never even consider visiting. To their eternal credit though they have the honesty to display their priorities very clearly on a large sign outside the premises: "Arboretum Lifestyle and Garden Centre". Much as I abhor the loss of good garden centres and nurseries I have to admire the honesty and directness of these people. I won't be giving them my money though.
Paddy
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(Moved from a pleione thread......)
Just to throw a cat among the pigeons ( no offence meant, Smokey et al) I'll drop in here my opinion that there are, with Pleiones, as with many other plants, far too many named varieties ....many of which are extremely difficult to distinguish one from another.
There, I've said it.... light blue touch paper and retire................... ::)
(Sorry, Paul, heating broken down here and chocolate running out... I couldn't help myself... :P )
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Just to throw a cat among the pigeons ( no offence meant, Smokey et al) I'll drop in here my opinion that there are, with Pleiones, as with many other plants, far too many named varieties ....many of which are extremely difficult to distinguish one from another.
There, I've said it.... light blue touch paper and retire................... ::)
If you are going to light big fireworks and then duck under the porch roof Maggi...then I might join you if I may....?
Has the SRGC suddenly transformed itself into the Scottish Bulb Growers Club.....as the last three thousand postings (barring, of course, those infernal and interminable 'Dolomite' images) have all been about snowdrops, narcissus and assorted underground storage organs (no offence intended....I just like to stir the grounds to make the coffee taste sweeter)?
:D :D :D
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Ah, Cliff, surely you have noticed, even at AGS shows, the vast number of bulbs on display in rec ent years? The SRGC has been becoming the Scottish underground storage organ club for years now.... but no-one has come up with a catchy enough acronym yet! I have several explanations for this phenomenon.....firstly, peopleare becoming increasingly aware of the vast number of great bulbs around and are capitalising on that... secondly, bulb lovers seem to be even more outgoing and gregarious than the average SRGC Member ( and that IS saying something!) and so they are especially willing to share their experiences etc. With the best will in the world, when was the last time we had much input from the cushion-loving fraternity ? There are plenty of them out there, I know, but where are they when it comes to discussing their successes and failures... not here and not in many other places, either, as far as I can tell. It alll comes down to the fact that it is the bulb lovers who are active and so the bias appears.... it might easily be redressed but that remedy lies in the hands of others........ ???
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Maggi,
It seems the cold and the chocolate shortage has not affected your critical brain activity... ;D
Having said this, let me fully endorse your statements - only two remarks :
- talking about "named varieties" - I may be somewhat biassed but I think that with Pleiones, so far, it's already "bad", but still somewhat "under control" I would say. The hybrid list on Paul's site is a great asset there. For other genus', it's even far more out of control... mind you, I'm not thinking of anything in particular ::)
- and as for bulbs in general, I have (definitely under the influence of this wonderful forum) become much more interested in them myself over the last few years... and it's getting worse. ??? don't know where it will end... However as you so rightfully say, I would also very much applaud more postings on other, non bulbous, true, old fashioned alpines, cushions and others... :)
Maybe this discussion should be moved to the "moaning" thread... ;)
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There, I've said it.... light blue touch paper and retire...
and there was me thinking your New Years Resolution was to be mellow Maggie ;D
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Oh, Brian, you noticed! OOPS!
Luc, Yes, I think I will move this to the Moaning thread!
M
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Maggi,
- and as for bulbs in general, I have (definitely under the influence of this wonderful forum) become much more interested in them myself over the last few years... and it's getting worse. ??? don't know where it will end...
Well Maggi if you put this discussion into the Moaning thread, that's o.k. with me.
For myself (Luc's quote) I must say that since I was about 15 years old I hated "bulbs"!
Because I had to work with them. We planted them in mostly cold, windy and often rainy weather.
In spring we had to weed them when cold, then cut all the flowers of after a week of flowering en we had to bend down all day! Terrible! And in summer when other boys went swimming we had to dig them out of the soil, which was very heavy work in the hot sun. And working time was of course from the first light untill dark in the evening.
And look what I'm doing now, ??? make pictures and sent them into the Forum. :) :)But still I don't plant many in the garden! There are enough around here everywhere, thank God! ;D
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Not really much else to talk about at this time of the year?
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You have a point there Antony ! ;D
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Not really much else to talk about at this time of the year?
Even the aphids seem asleep, Anthony ::)
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Even the aphids seem asleep,
Yes, they may SEEM asleep.. but they are only waiting for you to turn your back and then they will be active and eating :P
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Not so the scale and mealy bug...these nasties never sleep! (At least inside...)
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Maggi would you like a bar of Czech/Slovak chocolate? Dark chocolate with nuts, fruit and jelly/gelatin
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Really, Mark, what a silly question.... is
the Aberdeen woman fat? er, um... is a fifteen pound robin fat? ;) ::)
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Just to throw a cat among the pigeons ( no offence meant, Smokey et al) I'll drop in here my opinion that there are, with Pleiones, as with many other plants, far too many named varieties ....many of which are extremely difficult to distinguish one from another.
There, I've said it.... light blue touch paper and retire................... ::)
Has the SRGC suddenly transformed itself into the Scottish Bulb Growers Club.....as the last three thousand postings (barring, of course, those infernal and interminable 'Dolomite' images) have all been about snowdrops, narcissus and assorted underground storage organs (no offence intended....I just like to stir the grounds to make the coffee taste sweeter)?
:D :D :D
It's all the Bulb Despot's fault. Without the Bulb Logs, half the world would never have HEARD of bulbs.
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Maggi I'll send it this week but I've already had a nibble or four
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It's all the Bulb Despot's fault. Without the Bulb Logs, half the world would never have HEARD of bulbs.
Lesley, when I speak for myself, I joined the Forum about 5 or 6 years ago, ??? mostly because of alpines.
But I still love it, maybe despite, or better because of the BD!
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Maggi I'll send it this week but I've already had a nibble or four
That's okay, Mark, at least I'll know not to complain to the post office about mice in the sorting office!
It would be great if we could have some of the growers of say, Dionysias and of the classic Alpines sharing their experiences with us some more though, wouldn't it? I'm thinking of the kinds of plants that probably need alpine-house culture and can pose a real challenge to grow ....think how good it would be for newbies to have some practical advice on those plants. It seems to me that those folks are the ones who are least likely to share their secrets... it's a pity :'(
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COMPUTER MOANS. I decided to replace my old pc as it seemed to be failing so I invested in a state of the art model -Quad processor, 8Gb RAM, and 1500 Gb hard drives. It arrived 3 days before Christmas and went back after two hours as the power supply failed. Whem I got it back then I had to figure out what Windows Vista was all about. I then discovered that my photo editing programs did not work, neither did my dvd burner software, my scanner nor printer. A windows update done remotely by Microsoft knocked out my sound system. It took me 5 days to get an internet connection to work after about 8 hours worth of calls to India !!. Then I discovered that I could not carry over my saved emails from the old computer and the same thing happened with my internet favourites. I have now to try and get back on to certain email sites and notify them of my new email address.
Unfortunately I had downloaded some family pictures of the grandchildren onto the computer, cleared them off my camera and I now cannot get them on to a disc to save them. Talking to the support staff from the manufacturer is like speaking to someone fluent in Mandarin Chinese - basically as it is a "software problem" you are on your own. They all seem to imagine that we have degrees in computer science and understand all the terminology of computerspeak. Could you imagine buying a car, being given the keys and various bits and pieces of the fuel system, steering and no handbook to help you. That's what buying a computer is like.
Having been like a bull with third degree piles for two weeks, I have decided that I will take it to a local pc specialist and let them sort it out as anything I try seems to make it worse. Stick to windows XP as it is a lot less hassle and all gadgets work on it. On a cheerier note, the weather here has been lousy for weeks -rain-rain and still more. At least the Bulb show is only 4 weeks away and our first Snowdrops and Hellibores are out with the Camellias showing fat buds.
End of rant
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TC
Thats a jolly good rant - I actually felt better after reading it ;D
I know what you mean about Vista ... but it does have some redeeming features. Not being able to load my old photo software is the biggest pain though >:(
Rain here too - and guess who's biking to work this week? :'(
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My sympathies Tom, they are all I can offer I'm afraid.
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I send my sympathies, too, Tom but I can also offer a consoling hug when I see you in Dunblane... of course I realise this may not be of much comfort to you,but at least it shows empathy! ::)
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Hope is on the horizon. When all else fails find someone who knows what they are doing. A local computer repair firm, who repaired my last one, will sort it for me for a reasonable sum of money. My problem is that the machine I have is geared to run on a 64 bit system and most software suppliers have not yet written or produced drivers to cope with this - are you with me?
Its like buying a car to be told that we have not yet built roads to drive it on.
We were just about ready to go out and the bucketing rain has started again. I think Scotland could make a fortune by exporting bulk tankers of high quality water to the rest of the world. So, I will just have to stay in and amuse myself with playing my new guitar. I am also taking up the banjo again - after 35 years -although I will need to make some minor repairs to it. After looking up some sites on the net, I discovered that I may have a highly collectable model. Cindy has decided that we are going out for a walk -around TKmax in town. I feel my credit card wants to hide !
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Hope is on the horizon. When all else fails find someone who knows what they are doing. A local computer repair firm, who repaired my last one, will sort it for me for a reasonable sum of money. My problem is that the machine I have is geared to run on a 64 bit system and most software suppliers have not yet written or produced drivers to cope with this - are you with me?
Its like buying a car to be told that we have not yet built roads to drive it on.
I bought a first digital camera for my daughter, for Christmas. It had a carry case included in the package so it didn't occur to me that there was no SD card included. When Susan told me and I went back to find out why and get one, I was told there is usually not a card included. It has to be bought separately. I thought then - and told the girl in the shop - it's a bit like buying a car then being told I'll have to buy the motor separately, or the wheels, so I can drive it.
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Actually it's like buying a new car and expecting the tank to be full of gas...
The motor's there, you just couldn't make it go...
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Actually my wife's laptop has Windows Vista and I have Windows XP Pro and we seem to be able to transfer data via pen or CD without any problems, in both directions. :-\
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Lesley,
I bought a camera recently which didn't include a lens or a memory card.
Paddy
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That's a coincidence Paddy because last year I bought a memory card and lens that didn't include a camera! ::) Mind you, Vivienne has just bought a Canon printer which didn't include a cable. The same site (Amazon) advertised the cable for £0.01. Free postage for the printer, but not much change out of a fiver for the postage on cable as it was coming from a different vendor. >:(
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I just got my AGS seed request back, which isn't itself a cause for moaning quite the reverse. However two of the packets got withheld by AQIS, which is. One packet (a cyclamen) because AQIS aren't quite up to date with their naming and the other because it's a hybrid primula and someone dropped the 'x' from the name. It would be nice, now that bio-fortress Australia has been instituted, if they'd spend a little money on making it run smoothly.
The other part of my gripe is with the person at the AGS who received my request since, forseeing that there might be a problem, I included a typwritten list with the synonym & the acceptable form of the primula name and asked that it be included with my seeds to forestall AQIS.
Sometimes you just can't win.
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We in New Zealand are REQUIRED to include a list of all the seeds we order from the seedlists and do so accordingly, though it takes ages to type the list of numbers with their relevant names for every possible selection we make. They need double-checking too, as MAF isn't at all happy if a name doesn't correspond with the number on the seedlist, which they have aquired in the meantime.
Last year and this, the AGS packers didn't enclose the list I'd sent them, even though I'd carefully written "for attention Hort Inspector, Port of Entry, NZ" and specifically asked that the list be returned with the seeds. Instead, both years, and for surplus seed which I ordered last year for the 1st time in 20 years, they included another copy of the seedlist itself. Since Roger and I get one each and with the surplus one, as well as those included with our separate seed orders, that meant we had 5 copies of the seedlist. One would have been plenty. It also meant that instead of checking our seeds against our own list, the hort inspectors had to look up each number in the AGS seedlist to see if what we'd ordered was permitted. It must have taken ages longer than a quick tick off our own list and they'd enclosed a note with the seed saying that I must have a list of seeds I'd ordered, sent with the seeds.
As you say Rob, we can't win.
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It would be nice if the AGS could enclose lists when requested - just on the off-chance that we know a little more than them. Certainly the SRGC manage to do so. But then my SRGC request, despite having a separate typewritten list, came through uninspected - I should have imported the cyclamen seed through them.
As for our quarantine service here in Oz, since they rely on the goodwill and honesty of the importer for it to work it's in their interest to try and avoid inconvenience for obvious reasons.
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Since we're all moaning about Seed confiscations here I might as well add that as predicted the AQIS officer couldn't find "Iris Californian Hybrids" on the "Allowed List" and confiscated the seeds which I presume were the ones Kristel or Diane had sent to the SRGC exchange! just as well that Diane sent some to me (and paul) privately!
cheers
fermi
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Actually it's like buying a new car and expecting the tank to be full of gas...
Actually, Carlo, when (on the very rare occasion) Ian buys a car, he demands that it DOES come with a full tank included in the price... Fine Scot that he is!
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Actually, Carlo, when (on the very rare occasion) Ian buys a car, he demands that it DOES come with a full tank included in the price... Fine Scot that he is!
Well, my husband bought a new car this summer, and he was so happy, he didn't even think about gas... Sat in to drive home... no problem for a while, but... suddenly the car stopped on the highway... :D
He had to phone our neighbour to come and give some gas, because the next filling station was far away. :D :D
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Now this is a MEGA computer moan! Ian is barely out of the country on his way to NZ and the start button of the pc has broken ! YIKES!!! Yes, okay, I can access the forum with the laptop, as I am at this very minute, BUT if I don't get the pc fixed then the next four weeks' Bulb Logs are stuck inside the ruddy thing! Thank goodness this week's one is already sent through to Fred.
I would run away and join the circus if there was still one of those about with lions and tigers so I could stick my head in mouth of one and hope for a quick end! AAARRRGGHH!!
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Maggi,
This happened to me a few years ago, at work with a machine that wasn't worth spending money on. This is what I did - it is possible to remove the front of the processor, perhaps there are some screws involved or else some tabs which have to be depressed to release the front. You will then probably find that what is broked is the back of the button, the part which reaches from the button to the real switch on the processor. Turn on the computer by pressing the switch - should be an obvious hole or spot on the front of the processor, obviously directly in from where the button was situated on the front piece -with the tip of a pencil/biro. The computer should be on now. Replace the front of the processor; the button will probably have fallen out on you; leave it out and place a length of tape across the hole which the button occupied so that you cannot turn the computer off again. Leave it on permanently.
There is a chance that you may be able to repair the button using superglue or the like and reassembling the front piece with the button back in place and resume working as normal.
Of course, there was the story I heard many years ago when attending a training day on computing. It was related by a chap who worked on telephone technical support. A lady rang and said her new computer would not work. He asked her if she had pushed the button - the one on the processor and the one on the monitor. She replied that she had. He asked her to check if the processor was connected to the monitor, detailed description of what the cable like, where it would be connected etc. Again, all was fine. Several other checks were suggested and carried out without any success. Eventually, he asked her to check that she had it plugged it to the mains. She said that would be difficult as the socket was down at the back of the table. He suggested she pull out the table and look. She did but reported that she couldn't see the socket. He asked why and she told him that she had no light because there was an electricity failure. He patiently explained that there was only one thing left for her to do. He asked if she still had the boxes and packing that came with the computer. She had. He told her to pack up the computer and bring it back to the shop in which she had purchased it, to lob it straight up onto the counter. 'And what will I tell them was wrong?' she asked, to which he replied, 'Tell them that you have spoken to the people on technical support and that they told you that you were too f...ing stupid to have a computer.'
True story!
Good luck, Paddy
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Maggi, I do find, in the case of mal-functioning electronic objects, that a good kick sometimes has the desired effect. I have to admit, though, that sometimes it doesn't ???
Apart from that you have my sympathies.
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I think the dodgy machine is new enough to be worth a proper repair, Paddy, Though your suggestion seems useful. I must confess to being horribly ignorant in the matters of connecting and disconnecting these things, in general, so just undoing the ruddy thing from all its peripheral bits and bobs will be a trial, too! And this from a woman who always carries a screwdriver, too. Pathetic, isn't it?
Just as well the BD gave me a reminder of how to connect the laptop to the telephone router wotsit before he left or I'd be sitting now trying to plug it into a carrier pigeon.. :-X :o
"Not, he said, that I'm expecting any problems with the pc..." Yeah, right!
I should have known that something was going to break down we've had the cooker and the gas pump... there HAD to be a third thing :(
TSK! TSK! :P :-[
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Maggi,
What I suggested should not do any damage.
The machine at work was left with the tape across the hole previously occupied by the power button because it was not worth spending money on it. You can do this as a stopgap measure; it should do no damage and you don't have to disconnect any cables, connections or anything else. You simply want access to the front of the processor. Taking the front off and putting it back on is a regular procedure in repair shops and does no damage to the machine.
Have a go; if it all goes down the toilet I am going to deny all responsibility, return to this posting and delete it all.
Paddy
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Yes, Paddy, I may pluck up courage to have a go. It was the unfixing everything if I need to take the machine to the repairman that I was anxious about! However, I'm waiting to hear if a friend of a friend can come to have a look... he does know what he's doing so my :-\ ill-informed interference may not be needed!
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JOY OF JOYS!! I was just looking for something else in the files on the laptop and what do I find? BD has got the files for the BulbLogs while he is away on the laptop, too. I didn't realie that! Panic over, I can now relax knowing that I'm not going to have thousands of desperate BulbLoggers after my blood for depriving them of their weekly fix. Phew, that was a close call. :o ;)
Should have known that Ian would have had them backed up elswhere...after all, he's off to NZ with five different storage versions of his talks!! ;) He's a belt and braces sort of chap, is Ian... 8)
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Lol, Maggi. I do sympathize with you. Never fails does it? Hope your friend can sort it out for you.
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TSK! TSK! :P :-[
Maggi does this mean, what I think it might mean?
Or is it scottish for: "Lucky me" ;D
BTW, now everything seems ok, reading your last message.. Congratulations with such a good and foreseeing husband.
Cheers,
Luit
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Maggi does this mean, what I think it might mean?
Tsk tsk means Bother! What a nuisance!
You are right, Luit, I have the BEST husband...I do hope he will return to me eventually!
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Thanks Maggi
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Apart from that you have my sympathies.
What use are those David? In circumstances like these, she needs chocolate.
Sorry Maggi, when Ian meets me, he can re-assure you that you have no need to worry. In the girth-measuring stakes, I'd win, hands down.
Paddy, David and anyone else, keep your mouths shut.
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When you meet Ian you'll be amazed, Lesley, if the lad were any thinner he wouldn't be there!
Get Ann to point him out to you, she may have a patterned carpet and you might not spot him!! ::)
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What did I say now? And I wasn't even thinking of saying anything. In fact, I am sitting quietly eating supper watching Ireland V Wales from 1984.
Ian = a pull-through for a shotgun?
Paddy
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Ian = a pull-through for a shotgun?
He'd clean the barrel very well, if he had on a thick enough woolly jumper, Paddy.
watching Ireland V Wales from 1984
You're very slow to catch up on your videos, Paddy... hope you win!
Night night!
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When you meet Ian you'll be amazed, Lesley, if the lad were any thinner he wouldn't be there!
Get Ann to point him out to you, she may have a patterned carpet and you might not spot him!! ::)
Well, depends on the pattern perhaps. Hopefully not stripes. But is he spotty?. Will I spot him among spots?
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Maggi,
Wale V Ireland - went to bed, too late!
Paddy
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Lesley, I am happy to assure you that the BD is not spotty - he is small but perfectly formed 8)
Depending on what kind of garish odd socks he is wearing, you might have trouble finding him on almost any pattern!
Just as well that Ian and Jean and Jim Wyllie were flying out of Heathrow yesterday, frightful holdups today because of the crashed jet from Beijing. Eveyone off it safely, though, nothing major in the way of injuries.
I am delighted to be able to report that I am able to communicate with you once more via a newly repaired pc, which I am much happier to be able to do because the antivirus protection on the laptop has expired and is out of date.
A million thanks are due to (my sister-in-law's next door neighbour ) DAN, a prince among men and worth his weight in gold, for coming to my resue. Sadly, I'm a little short of his weight in gold but I made a tangible expression of my gratitude with a bottle of Scottish amber Nectar.
He knows LOTS about computers as well as being a Head-Hunter... and there aren't many of those in Aberdeen :o
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Yessss!!! I've finally finished the illustrations for my new book and at last I can sleep after a week of getting to bed at 2 or 3 a.m. every night! Bliss!
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Just realised it's nearly 2 a.m. again. Oh well, maybe I can sleep in if the kids don't want pancakes in the morning!
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pancakes in the morning
I'll be right round! 8)
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pancakes in the morning
I'll be right round! 8)
Yup! Most Sunday mornings - my secret is to put some yoghurt in the batter along with the flour, milk and eggs; it makes the pancakes lighter and less tough. Sometimes I'll use thick creamy Greek yoghurt, which is even better. Then smothered with Green and Black's organic chocolate and hazlenut spread, rolled up in the Slovak fashion and served with sliced bananas and more yoghurt (ideally whipped cream, but I want to live to see the kids grow up!)
But I didn't wake up in time today so Ivi made them toast and they hate me.
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I make mine the Canadian way, with crispy smoked bacon, blueberries in the pancakes and topped with melted butter and maple syrup - yummy!
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@ Maggi :o
Did you know that Toblerone has 100 birthday .....they have a big celebration in Bern / Swizzera !
Have you not a invitation ???
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Best pancake ever - under the Eiffel Tower, banana, whipped cream and chocolate sauce.
Paddy
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Did you know that Toblerone has 100 birthday .....they have a big celebration in Bern / Swizzera !
Have you not a invitation
This is a complete surprise to me, Hans! And Toblerone is one of Ian's favourites! 8)
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::) Maggi ;D
Maybe should Ian go to Bern and give them a lecture .....
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Maybe should Ian go to Bern and give them a lecture .....
That is an excellent idea... he can tell them how he trains with Toblerone to make him strong for growing Bulbs..... ;)
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I make mine the Canadian way, with crispy smoked bacon, blueberries in the pancakes and topped with melted butter and maple syrup - yummy!
Yuk. :P Pancakes, to my mind, should be either sweet or savory, not both: so either smokey bacon OR blueberries, butter and maple syrup.
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So, Anthony, are you not a fan of duck with orange, or even better, plum sauce or raspberry sauce... this last is the speciality of Alan Newton... it is a truly scrummy combination, I can promise you! Food of the Gods and no mistake 8)
And what about pork and apples, lamb and redcurrant jelly, ham and peaches ????.... oh, gawd, must go now... seem to have come over very hungry all of a sudden... byee!
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I have to say that I don't often rant! However after getting lost in Tottenham (North central London) last night (I was trying to get to Harringay to pick my wife up after a course) I need to vent my spleen.
It was raining, dark and very, very busy. None of the streets had names (if I could have seen them in the dark!) My normally placid approach to life was seriously disturbed by the whole experience. It would have been bad if I had not got lost but the hopeless feeling as I confronted each left or right decision drove me almost to despair. Needless to say whenever I did manage to find somewhere to pull over and consult the road atlas I was usually going in completely the wrong direction. I did eventually extricate myself but Jacinta had been standing in the rain for 90 minutes by the time I arrived. NEVER AGAIN!!! Why on earth does anyone choose to live in these concrete and neon jungles?
...............Rhetorical question - please don't answer
Now back in the wide open spaces of East Anglia I feel much better :)
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So, Anthony, are you not a fan of duck with orange, or even better, plum sauce or raspberry sauce... this last is the speciality of Alan Newton... it is a truly scrummy combination, I can promise you! Food of the Gods and no mistake 8)
And what about pork and apples, lamb and redcurrant jelly, ham and peaches ????.... oh, gawd, must go now... seem to have come over very hungry all of a sudden... byee!
Wot's duck got to do with pancakes Maggi? ::)
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Oh dear, Tony,
I'd suggest a SAT NAV thing, but you might end up driving up a railway line or into a river, as one keeps reading in the papers.. :P
I expect that once Jacinta was home, dry and warm again, SHE felt a lot better, too :)
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Wot's duck got to do with pancakes Maggi?
Quite a lot when we're talking crispy duck from our favourite Chinese takeaway... DELICIOUS and served with plum sauce :D
I was, however, widening the discussion to the subject of savoury dishes with sweet accompaniments... you know, curry and sweet chutney, for instance...... ''s'truth, is that thunder I hear? Nah, my tummy is rumbling :-[
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Following Carlo's excellent lesson in optimism in the weather thread earlier... I am pulling myself together and getting over my late evening feelings of hungry desperation by remembering that I do, in fact , have a plumb duck breast fillet sitting in the fridge, waiting to become a scrummy meal.... I must keep my strength up in the absence of the BD, you know ::) Downside is I have no raspberries in the freezer to make Alan's sauce... Drat and double drat >:(
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Hold the duck Maggi. We'll give the BD some fresh raspberries to take home (along with a Toblerone of course, if that's a favourite of his).
Aussies and NZers eat many different fruits with many other things - meats, cheese etc. I remember Tony Hall, when he was here, being horrified at sandwiches with smoked chicken, brie and cranberry sauce, a great favourite combo of mine. and he couldn't bring himself to eat chicken with pineapple.
Ian phoned me yesterday at lunchtime. Lovely to hear him with that delightful Scottish accent. The weather is holding for his mountain trip, for now at least, but rain is forecast for the south later in the day.I'd rather have it here. I'm frightened to go from home for a long weekend. There will be plant deaths for sure.
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Glad to hear he's made contact with you Lesley, he'll see you on Wednesday, won't he, before you all go north for the conference?
Ian has been lucky that this timing of such a long trip away coincides with a weather period which should mean that little needs doing in the bulb houses... of course, since I am here, it 's all taken care off but, unless the weather stays really warm and bright for a longer period, then all I really have to do is admire the flowers and watch for aphids! And encourage the Tropaeolum azureum shoots to twine up their driftwood support instead of roaming off in all directions, looking for flowers to strangle :(
There are Trop. tricolorum shoots escaping through the tiniest gaps in the glass, into the cold outside... amazing how they cope with the frost! We try to keep the Trop. azureum far enough away from any escape routes, which is most likely why it then does impressions of the Boston Strangler!
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By the way, Lesley, no point in giving the BD raspberries to take anywhere... he'll have 'em scoffed in minutes... he can put away a pound of rasps in the time it takes me to say, "those look good" :o
Give him rasps and toblerone and he'll probably elope with you! >:(
Are you aware out there of the fine custom ( I believe from Yorkshire) of enjoying cheese with rich fruit cake? Very tasty... I favour Wensleydale or Cheshire cheese myself for this delicacy :)
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Across the pond I think they have their bacon with the pancakes, as in alongside them on the plate, rather than in them. And the pancakes are more like Scots pancakes or drop pancakes.
Mmmmm. Duck. The best duck around here is cooked by a frenchwoman at a restaurant across the valley from us, slow-cooked in the oven with French prunes until the meat's falling off the bones. She does a cracking boeuf en daube too. And her French fish soup is to die for.
Sorry Maggi. We're not doing you any favours here, are we?!
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Sorry Maggi. We're not doing you any favours here, are we?!
Well, Martin, my first reaction was NO, you're not but then I thought, YES, I have prunes... so, duck and prunes it is! Yippee!
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So, if you could all arrange to behave yourselves and not get into any bother around my lunchtime tomorrow, I would be most grateful ;)
My lunchtime is likely to be around 12.30pm by the way... just for your information. I'll leave you all to make the time zone corrections for wherever you are in the world!!
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Wot's duck got to do with pancakes Maggi?
Quite a lot when we're talking crispy duck from our favourite Chinese takeaway... DELICIOUS and served with plum sauce :D
I was, however, widening the discussion to the subject of savoury dishes with sweet accompaniments... you know, curry and sweet chutney, for instance...... ''s'truth, is that thunder I hear? Nah, my tummy is rumbling :-[
Now you're talking Maggi. I lurve aromayic crispy duck. :) Oh, and duck a l'orange; lamb with red currant jelly; paté with Cumberland sauce; lemon chicken and also turkey with cranberry sauce........but pancakes with bacon and blueberries. Can't think which of the two accompaniments are being wasted the most? :P Mind you, I have this urge to try it. ::) :-\ ;) I will also add prunes to the duck, and I have cooked it with blueberries too and we have mango chutney with poppadoms and pakora as well as with curry. One of my favourite curries is Chicken Nepal which is very like Pasinda and has lychees in it. No restaurant cooks it like the India Gate in Dunblane. Beats that British invention Chicken Tikka Masala hands down.
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Mind you, I have this urge to try it.
That's the spirit!
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I've modified my post in light of recent posts. Anyone see that load of crap (well two loads, actually) on Jamie Oliver's programme tonight, and for goodness sake, what was Freddy Kruger doing on it?
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Didn't see the programmes, Anthony... find Jamie Oliver's manner somewhat irritating :P
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Give him rasps and toblerone and he'll probably elope with you! >:(
Are you aware out there of the fine custom ( I believe from Yorkshire) of enjoying cheese with rich fruit cake? Very tasty... I favour Wensleydale or Cheshire cheese myself for this delicacy :)
Do I dare take that risk? Although, with my rasps and choc and his bulbs, sounds like a match made in heaven to me. ;D But I suspect you're safe Maggi. I won't be at the Market again before going to Lincoln but I do pass my best soft fruit vendor on the way up, so maybe....?
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My father, whose parents were Aberdonian, ate cheese with fruit cake and also with apricot jam on his scones or toast.
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Good old Yorkshire tradition eating a slice of Wensleydale on Christmas cake. Yum Yum! :)
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These favourite food combinations:
Duck with cherry sauce served on celeriac and potato mash.
Cheese, particularly a blue cheese, with quince or damson cheese (actually a very well set jam)
Paddy
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My mum used to like sausage and marmalade on her toast.
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These favourite food combinations:
Duck with cherry sauce served on celeriac and potato mash.
Paddy
Celeriac and potato mash is one of my specialities - a great way to vary the basic mashed spuds recipe. Another variation I try often is to fry some chopped onions or leeks in olive oil and/or butter and mix them into the mashed spuds (often along with celeriac) chucking in a bit of crushed garlic also livens up the mash mix. Using spuds and swede also works well. And I often don't bother to mash the spuds/celeriac/swedes - it's fashionable to just 'crush' them - ie just mash them up a bit with a fork - or (truth be told) lumpy mash. What the hell, if it's fashionable and saves work, I'm all for it! Oh, and always, always lots and lots of fresh ground black pepper mixed in. Now I'm hungry. Midnight snack!!! One o'clock in the morning snack!!!
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My mum used to like sausage and marmalade on her toast.
Just noticed this post, Tony. Sausage on toast?! And marmalade? Now there's a bizarre midnight snack worth experimenting with when I have the munchies.
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We are all Toblerone lovers, and it is a Christmas tradition to try and find a way of disguising dad's compulsory 'toe bone' so he can't guess what it is from the shape. A favourite of ours is Toblerone melted with cream and served in little cups with fresh fruit to dip in to it. Well - it is good for you (most of it)! :P
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In Tuscany they serve a very mature and hard sheeps cheese with marmalade.
Interesting.
Paddy
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Ye'll be all having haggis with champit tatties and bashed neeps washed down with a good malt on Friday I hope? 8) (If you mix neeps (swede :-\) and tatties together you have 'clapshot'.)
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and I thought I understood English ??? ::) ??? ::)
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me too ???
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Thanks for the support Chris ;D
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Ye'll be all having haggis with champit tatties and bashed neeps washed down with a good malt on Friday I hope? 8) (If you mix neeps (swede :-\) and tatties together you have 'clapshot'.)
....and him a Yorkshireman as well! ;D
http://www.ivillage.co.uk/food/tools/recipefinder/display_recipe/0,,6140,00.html
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....and him a Yorkshireman as well!
Actually, David, we're very pleased at how well young Darby has assimilated ::)
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....and him a Yorkshireman as well!
Actually, David, we're very pleased at how well young Darby has assimilated ::)
Turncoat, I say. He should stick to tripe and onions stewed in milk. That's the stuff for Yorkshiremen. Having said that I couldn't stomach it!
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Thankfully, dishes with tripe are not among those passed on by Ian's wonderful Yorkshire Granny... and his Mum would shoot anyone who suggested she even knew of the existence of such things :-[
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Wee James is playing his trumpet at the Dunblane Centre's first Burns Supper next week.
....and him a Yorkshireman as well!
Actually, David, we're very pleased at how well young Darby has assimilated ::)
I was actually younger than James when our family moved to Scotland.
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Good old Yorkshire tradition eating a slice of Wensleydale on Christmas cake. Yum Yum! :)
Nearly missed this one, just catching up with things after a power cut furred up my transistors so to speak (well whatever it was cost me an arm and a leg to put right after 15 minutes work by a chap who knows about these things).
So, is there any other way to eat Christmas cake?????
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Wee James is playing his trumpet at the Dunblane Centre's first Burns Supper next week. ....and him a Yorkshireman as well!
Actually, David, we're very pleased at how well young Darby has assimilated ::)
I was actually younger than James when our family moved to Scotland.
Ah, but come the Revolution you won't qualify for a passport, but they would probably let you back into Yorkshire.
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Ah, but come the Revolution you won't qualify for a passport, but they would probably let you back into Yorkshire.
Of course he'll get a passport.... he's the father of Scots born children :D
And, though I don't know where Vivienne is from.... she has red hair! Automatic qualification, plus the mother of said Scots weans.... 8)
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....and him a Yorkshireman as well!
Actually, David, we're very pleased at how well young Darby has assimilated ::)
Maggi, as the Chinese girl said to the stamp collector: "Philately will get you everywhere".
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Okay, I'll confess, Anthony.... since you are slighter older than I, I thought it would make us BOTH look good if I stuck with the "young" tag. ::)
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Ah, but come the Revolution you won't qualify for a passport, but they would probably let you back into Yorkshire.
Of course he'll get a passport.... he's the father of Scots born children :D
And, though I don't know where Vivienne is from.... she has red hair! Automatic qualification, plus the mother of said Scots weans.... 8)
Vivienne is from the Scottish borders - her parents were married in Hutton not far from Duns - but the nearest maternity hospital was in Berwick so techincally she was also born in England!
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Okay, I'll confess, Anthony.... since you are slighter older than I, I thought it would make us BOTH look good if I stuck with the "young" tag. ::)
;D ;D ;D
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Well, in that case, it's just as well about the red hair and the children, eh? I thought there had to be good Scots' blood there with that hair 8)
Come to think of it, Berwick will likely be annexed, anyhow!
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and I thought I understood English ??? ::) ??? ::)
Luc,
Don't be concerned..... he's from Scotland, and they speak Scotlandish, not English. ;) Only vague similarities as far as I can tell. You have to remember as well that the Scottish language is so diverse that virtually neighbouring villages in some places can't understand each other. If THEY can't understand each other then what the heck chance do the rest of us have!! ;D
But we still love them of course, particularly those that do moderate this wonderful forum!! (Suck! Suck! Suck! ;D).
;)
Modified later to fix spelling mistake
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Thanks for giving my moral a boost Paul ! :-\
I needed that.... ;D
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Actually, people from other countries find it easier to understand a well spoken Scottish accent as it tends to reflect the spelling of the word e.g. Sterling and Stirling are pronounced differently here and Derby is closer to the American pronunciation. We also (one of my pet hates, especialy on radio and TV) don't mispronounce words by dropping syllables or adding letters such as properly ("proply"); drawings ("drawrings") to give two examples. We don't all speak like Burns but try understanding local lingo in any area of any country but your own and you're in trouble. I work in Falkirk and even after nearly 30 years I sometimes have trouble understanding. A chip butty becomes a "roll on chips"; a jam sandwich becomes a "piece on jam" and in Glesga becomes a "jeelie piece", and yes folks, after our last house extension was completed our builder (from Denny)said "we're no awa tae bide awa", indicating he'd be back to fix any snags.
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Don't you worry Anthony - we all looove the Scottish accent ! 8)
(Taggart is one of my favourite whodunnits) ;D
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we all looove the Scottish accent ! (ftp://we all looove the Scottish accent !)
Thought it's a language. :-\
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Nobody has had a good moan for nearly six months so let me put the matter to rights with two of them, both, in a way, concerning garden centres.
First up-Clay Pots.
This is my Primula re-potting time and as many of my plants are quite small, or the larger ones have an odd offset or so, I needed to boost my supply of three inch clay pots. I must have tried at least half a dozen garden centres and can't find what I need anywhere. There are loads of imported clay pots about and I find the four inch kind perfectly adequate but the three inch kind are only half as deep as the four inch kind and much to shallow for Primula growing and in my view not much good for growing anything. WHY!! When you buy a three inch plastic pot (when you can get them, only Sankeys make them now) they are just as deep as the four inch pots. Do these people know anything about gardening.
Second up-Sand and Grit.
Bulb re-potting time is coming closer so I need to get in more sand and grit. Can I find DRY sand and grit anywhere? You bet your sweet life I can't. Every bag I pick up, and this includes also bags of compost, weighs about half as much again as it should. Reason:- they are all stored out in the weather and have just about as much water in them as they have sand, grit or compost. I even had a go at the manager of one garden centre who ventured the opinion that given the price of water in the UK he ought to be putting his prices up substantially. He had no idea at all that some gardeners actually buy sand and grit to add to loam based compost to provide a free draining potting medium-he thought everyone bought grit to make concrete and sand to may sand pits for children! God help us!
There I feel better now ;D
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Good to be back here. I sympathise with you David and am able to help NOW. I have hundreds of old 3" clay pots which no-one here uses any more but I can't bring myself to heave them out. They are very sturdy and frost-proof (locally made, not Italian or Taiwanese) and are good and deep. If you're willing to pay the freight (which I estimate to be around $50,000 by airmail), you can have the lot for free.
I see the Forum is slow this morning, around the world apparently. Certainly it is here, and this thread is, appropriately, the only one that has opened in less than 3 minutes (almost immediately in fact). I'll try the others later. So that's my moan for the day.
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David,
When you repot your auriculas, do you always split them up a lot? Some of mine have really clumped up a lot, and I was told recently that they all need splitting to one 'carrot' per pot, is this true?
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Lesley, I will PM you.
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David,
When you repot your auriculas, do you always split them up a lot? Some of mine have really clumped up a lot, and I was told recently that they all need splitting to one 'carrot' per pot, is this true?
Depends what you want to achieve Chris. Plants I grow under glass I always take off any offsets at re-potting time and those with roots I pot up and grow on (I don't bother with un-rooted offsets these days). This means I always have a supply of new plants coming along to replace the old ones as they get to the end of their flowering days, or use at plant sales or swap with other growers. Those I grow in the garden as Border Auriculas I leave to clump up and only split them when they start to outgrow their site. You can leave the ones under glass if you want to but I think an Auricula in a pot looks better as a single crown plant.
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Thanks for the help David. Was my instinct to split the good ones. Think the ones I'm not as keen on will go out like you say.
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David has PM'd me and suggested I mis-typed the cost of sending my clay pots to the UK. I promise you, not at all. The $50,000 while a joke, is based on the cost of recent small packages to the northern hemisphere. Just about cheaper to charter my own plane now, than rely on NZ Post! :'(
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So we can expect a visit then Lesley?
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Any day now 8)
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Anthony how do you say Sterling and Stirling? I found the Ranunculus I promised you
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Sterling is pronounced 'air' as in stair. Stirling is 'ir' as in stir. What's that to do with ranunculus or Dunblane? ;)
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I called into B&Q yesterday to get a few Begonia bonfire,outside the front entrance there were 13 trolleys of bedding plants all dying from lack of water. I went into the garden dept and about half of the plants there were in much the same condition. Thought they would have known better. I left without making a purchase. There is never a water shortage in Ireland,as a matter fact we have far too much of it for my liking.
Michael.
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Michael, you now qualify for membership of my 'Don't buy anything ever again from B&Q Club. Mebership is for life and is free ;D
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David, I have just become a life member, and I have added Homebase for good measure.
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'Twas not a perfect day.
As I studied my breakfast bowl of Weetabix, with rain hammering at the windows, I wondered at the similarities between the mush I had before me and the policies of our esteemed Government. As the shower was otherwise occupied I wasted precious minutes of my life doodling with my biro over a picture of Gordon Brown in the morning paper. A little moustache.-Yes! it's Charlie Chaplin. A little larger moustache. Yes! it's Stalin. A little larger moustache and a pair of specs. Yes! I've got it, it's Groucho Marx.
A voice disturbed my ramblings. 'What are you doing today love'. Gazing at the rain, still hammering, 'bugger all by the looks of it' I replied 'or I might just walk up the road towards Isambard Kingdom Brunel's viaduct and consider jumping off it'. 'I'm just going upstairs' she said. 'Why' I said. 'To check the policies and see if suicide invalidates them' she said.
I took my shower and turned to leave it. Not for the first time, I failed to raise my right leg sufficiently to clear the bath and finished in a somewhat inelegant heap on the bathroom floor accompanied by shower rail and shower curtain. Expletives rained. 'The policies cover accidents' she said.
The rain eased to a drizzle. I put on my Kagoul and went out into the garden to take a couple of pictures. There it was descending fast, already clothing Brunel's masterpiece, a dreaded Dartmoor mist. 'Have you got the phone' I said. 'Why' she said. 'I want to ring the BBC to see if they are interested in filming "The Hound of the Baskervilles" this afternoon because they can use my garden to do the shooting'.
Ah! I thought, I shall put my Kagoul back on and walk down to the Post Office I have a small parcel to post, and did so. When I arrived at the Post Office I found myself with Kagoul, but without said parcel and wallet both of which I had put down on the kitchen table in order to put on Kagoul.
When I finally acheived my posting ambitions and got back home-'I've made some buns' she said. 'Coconut buns'. 'I don't like coconut' I said. 'Gareth does' (my son who works in London) she said 'and he's home tomorrow for a couple of days'.
'What are we having for tea' I said. 'Stew and dumplings' she said. 'My favourite' I said. 'I didn't put it on until I was sure you weren't coming home via the Viaduct' she said.
I bought a Lottery ticket whilst I was out. Will I win? Fat chance.
'Twas not a perfect day, but the stew was nice.
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;D ;D ;D
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Bless you, David, your tale of woe has served to cheer the rest of us up, no end! :-*
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Well, we all do have days like this David, but it all could have been avoided if you had refrained from making weetabix mush in the first place. That's enough to give anyone a scunner at the day. I have mine (Weetbix here) slit down the middles, and spread with butter (marg at a pinch) and marmite. Much more appetizing. :P
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Well, we all do have days like this David, but it all could have been avoided if you had refrained from making weetabix mush in the first place. That's enough to give anyone a scunner at the day. I have mine (Weetbix here) slit down the middles, and spread with butter (marg at a pinch) and marmite. Much more appetizing. :P
when I eat weetabix ( not often) ....I like to eat 'em fast, before they get soggy.... :P
Had never even thought of splitting them but now you've put the idea in my head, I'll have to try that.... and the marmite thing :-[ :-\
Lesley, isn't "scunner" a wonderful word? Good Scots word, indeed!
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David,
You definitely didn't have a good day by the sound of it. Hope tomorrow improves. Bit of a chortle here at your expense though. Sorry.
Tell you're wife she's a gem!! ;D
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when I eat weetabix ( not often) ....I like to eat 'em fast, before they get soggy.... :P
Lesley, isn't "scunner" a wonderful word? Good Scots word, indeed!
Which is WHY I never have 'em with milk. Soggy cereals are DISGUSTING!
Yes, Maggi, I like "scunner" too. Seem to be taking one at more and more things lately. Creeping old age I suppose.
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What an interesting discussion on weetabix. I start the day with two and some bran sprinked on them(I thought this was for rabbits but have been assured it is good for me), although I would prefer a full fat fry up. I am not allowed that for three reasons,firstly my health,secondly Gordons attack on my pension in his attempts to get me to join the fuel poverty group means I cannot afford it and the third I have forgotten.
Anyway I float mine in milk until they turn into a slushy soup and eat it with a spoon.This will be good practice for the future for when I have lost my teeth and can suck it up a straw.
I am writing this because yet again it is pouring with rain and gardening is impossible.
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My technique is similar to Maggi's. I eat them one at a time in a bowl, immediately after pouring the milk on them. Hate them soggy.....
Not so sure about the word 'scunner' though, my brother (poor thing) lives in Scunthorpe and would not take kindly to it I reckon. What does it mean in 'Scottish' then?
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Well, we all do have days like this David, but it all could have been avoided if you had refrained from making weetabix mush in the first place. That's enough to give anyone a scunner at the day. I have mine (Weetbix here) slit down the middles, and spread with butter (marg at a pinch) and marmite. Much more appetizing. :P
Well, when you don't have the teeth................... ;D I thought it was all Vegemite in your part of the world, or is that just in Oz?
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What an interesting discussion on weetabix. I start the day with two and some bran sprinked on them(I thought this was for rabbits but have been assured it is good for me), although I would prefer a full fat fry up. I am not allowed that for three reasons,firstly my health,secondly Gordons attack on my pension in his attempts to get me to join the fuel poverty group means I cannot afford it and the third I have forgotten.
Anyway I float mine in milk until they turn into a slushy soup and eat it with a spoon.This will be good practice for the future for when I have lost my teeth and can suck it up a straw.
I am writing this because yet again it is pouring with rain and gardening is impossible.
Tony, don't you find that these days there seems to be far more media interest in the natural bodily functions that follow food, rather than concentration on the preparation of food in the first place. Natural bodily functions........... there I go again, further visions of Government policies!
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My technique is similar to Maggi's. I eat them one at a time in a bowl, immediately after pouring the milk on them. Hate them soggy.....
Not so sure about the word 'scunner' though, my brother (poor thing) lives in Scunthorpe and would not take kindly to it I reckon. What does it mean in 'Scottish' then?
As someone looking in the this discussion on weetabix, it does raise the question - if they are such trouble to eat crispy or you don't like them soggy - why eat them at all? ;) Just beause the cereal companies have spent millions trying to tell you they are good breakfast food doesn't mean you have to believe them. Always remember the story that there is more nutrition in the box than the contents! (btw - it's not true, just an urban myth)
Chris - the Nac Mac Feegles use scunner to mean 'an unpleasant person', at least according to the glossary in the book . . . . is that the current use in Scotland?
Sue
Sue
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Had never even thought of splitting them but now you've put the idea in my head, I'll have to try that.... and the marmite thing
I'm surprised you hadn't thought of Nutella chocolate spread Maggie ;D
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I would use the word 'scunnered' to mean very surprised/shocked/gobsmacked/'well, who'd have thought it' etc.
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Had never even thought of splitting them but now you've put the idea in my head, I'll have to try that.... and the marmite thing
I'm surprised you hadn't thought of Nutella chocolate spread Maggie ;D
Surprisingly, Brian, I find that just too sweet ! :P
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Scunner is one of those great Scots words with many meanings... none of them good!
It can be a verb, noun or adjective, in its various forms.....it can have degrees os seriousness.... denoting mild or quite strong feelings.....let's have some examples....
"he's a richt scunner" can mean anything from "that chap has an irritating manner" or "he makes an nuisance of himself " to "I'd like to kill him", depending on the vehemence it is uttered.
"that's an awfa scunner" = "how bothersome/tedious/irritating" "what a waste of time"
"Ah cudna be scunnered" = "I found myself unable to raise any enthusiam for the task"
"'at's an afa scunnerin' job" = " that is indeed a troublesome and uneviable task"
I could go on ( nothing new there, then) but these few examples, will, I trust, serve to enlighten yousomewhat on the richness of the Scots tongue.
To bring us back to David's finely written description of his "bad day", it is undoubtedly true that it was truely a scunner.
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I would use the word 'scunnered' to mean very surprised/shocked/gobsmacked/'well, who'd have thought it' etc.
David... that's not right... you want "dumfoonert" for your meaning! ( from dumbfounded, of course)
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I am fair scunnered at this rain. :( Non-stop now since the middle of the night.
Susan
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It's not like that here, Susan.... every half hour it eases for six minutes.... just long enough for us to think it is improving, before tipping it down again.....constant pouring would be a bit better in that hopes are not raised then!
David, given your take on the word, what would you have thought was meant when someone called you a flamin' scunner ::) ;)
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Since the huge down pour on June 20th that broke the 10 week drought I think we've had rain almost every day. On the plus side it has been over 20c most days. Right now it's 25c
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Wonder if someone visiting from Scotland, saw the steel works and made a comment that gave rise to the name of the town then? There are very few old buildings in the town, other than the few in the villages that were merged into the town proper, so it is a relatively new place I guess. Never thought about it before now....
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Still raining here in Aberdeen so I thought I would grasp the opportunity to test out Lesley's tip for Weetabix , split down the middle, srpread with butter and Marmite ...... dear me, things must be dire...... anyway, this is what it looks like...
[attach=1]
I thinkI may have been a bit heavy-handed with the Marmite... I often am, so I'll remove a bit of that before tasting....
here goes.........
wellllllll.......it is certainly different. :-\ I'm no sure that I would leap out of my chair some day, thinking that just what I fancied for a snack was marmite on buttered weetabix but, on the other hand... if I were craving a slice of toast with mamite and there was no bread left, then, I might just do it again .
Thanks for the suggestion, Lesley but I wouldn't count on making too much money from sales of your cookbook on this example though! :-[
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Chritine, a wikipedia entry says this about derivation of Scunthorpe: "The town appears in the Domesday Book (1086) as Escumetorp, which is Old Norse for "Skuma's homestead", a site which is believed to be in the town centre close to where the present-day Market Hill is located."
No idea how correct that might be, but , hey, it beats a Scottish connection!!
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Whatever its origins Scunthorpe is a strange place. I had to visit a convent there once and was lost. I stopped at a bus stop and asked a couple of locals for directions but could not understand a word of the reply. I rang the nuns and asked them to send me a guiding angel which they did.
Thought I would type this during our latest storm. It is hot and humid and just awful. The problem with this hot weather is that it encourages the locals in Chorley to strip of and exhibit their bodies. Not a good idea,they clearly do not eat weetabix unless it is a full fat variety disguised as a large meat pie to be stuffed in as they walk down the street.
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I had to visit a convent there once and was lost.
Tony, what an interesting life you must lead :-\
It is far from humid here.... it is flipping perishing... and that's just INSIDE the house. :(
I just took Lily Dog out, to deliver my day lodger, Figo the Spaniel, home and not only wore padded rain jacket but also an alpaca scarf!
(alpaca scarf all the way from S. America courtesy of the Doctors Bainbridge,don't you know!! Haven't heard how the alpaca is managing without the scarf ???)
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Still raining here in Aberdeen so I thought I would grasp the opportunity to test out Lesley's tip for Weetabix , split down the middle, srpread with butter and Marmite ...... dear me, things must be dire...... anyway, this is what it looks like...
(Attachment Link)
I thinkI may have been a bit heavy-handed with the Marmite... I often am, so I'll remove a bit of that before tasting....
here goes.........
wellllllll.......it is certainly different. :-\ I'm no sure that I would leap out of my chair some day, thinking that just what I fancied for a snack was marmite on buttered weetabix but, on the other hand... if I were craving a slice of toast with mamite and there was no bread left, then, I might just do it again .
Thanks for the suggestion, Lesley but I wouldn't count on making too much money from sales of your cookbook on this example though! :-[
Maggi, as Ian has a pint or two of Yorkshire blood how is it that the Young household eats proper Weetabix which, of course is stable enough to be split? In the Nicholson household we use the much cheaper Tesco equivalent of Weetabix which, if anyone attempted to split it, apart from with a laser, finishes up all over the kitchen floor in micro bits.
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Well David, I must confess that I generally prefer to avoid "own brand" stuff for some things... cereals being one.... Kelloggs etc are nicer, I think....so please, folks, don't bother telling me they're all made in the same factory... I don't care, it's a question of perception, perhaps!
It does seem, I reckon, that from your assertion re the collapsability of Tesco's wheaten-biscuity-thingies
you too have been passing some time in trying Lesley's suggestion out for yourself, eh? Finished cleaning the floor, yet? ;D
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The weetabix and marmite topping looks straight from the Vicar of Dibley. It stands comparison with Letitia's recipes such as strawberry cheesecake with anchovy topping !
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My technique is similar to Maggi's. I eat them one at a time in a bowl, immediately after pouring the milk on them. Hate them soggy.....
Not so sure about the word 'scunner' though, my brother (poor thing) lives in Scunthorpe and would not take kindly to it I reckon. What does it mean in 'Scottish' then?
I went to Scunthorpe once. It was enough!
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Heard at the weekend about the joys of cheese and jam sandwiches....... :-\
Have I told you before about my pal Lorna's rhubarb and potato soup? Yes, seriously, she did make such a dish... it was unspeakably awful and is now, I believe, being put to hideous use in torture chambers of the world's dictators. Luckily, Ian and I and her (then!!) husband, survived. It was a close run thing, I tell you. :-[ :o
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Jam sandwiches with a good hunk of Cheddar on the side are one of my favourites. I think it's a Yorkshire thing, as is Christmas cake with cheese. Scrumptious! Well we could never afford the meat you know ;D
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I think it's a Yorkshire thing, as is Christmas cake with cheese.
Yes, Ian's grandparents taught me the rich fruit cake and cheese combo.... very tasty, I agree.... but jam is so squishy..... :-\
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Cheese and ham as well as cheese and jam are great what is the problem?
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"Scunner", to me is an objection, irritation, prejudice or similar, something I don't like or want. My Collins dictionary says scunner n (Scot)- a feeling of absolute loathing or disgust; abhorrance; violent prejudice against; the person or object exciting such a feeling; v.t. to nauseate; to disgust; to sicken; (etc) [O.E. scunian, to loathe.
Yes, that's weetbix with milk all right.
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Actually we have good porridge for breakfast at this time of year, made with rolled oats. Your marmite looks a bit slimier than mine Maggi, more like vegemite. The latter is an Oz thing really, though they're interchangeable.
Here's my version, displayed on my genuine Royal Doulton China with the periwinkle - no, sorry, autumn leaf pattern.
[attachthumb=1]
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I give up, I'm off for a cheese and jam sandwich
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Well, what an interesting day you lot have had. The things you learn here on the forums..... the ins and outs of breakfast cereals (and that certain methods of ins will result in outs if they're too soggy! ;)), the fact that poor old David doesn't have a handy laser in his kitchen for cutting the weetabix in half down the middle (how unfortunate for you) and, at the risk of setting the poor email programs that get this into apopletics, that Maggi's definiteion of Scunner is approximately the word "Bugger" in many, but not all, senses of the word... and Lesley's isn't! And the start of a Dr Seuss book is in the making...... Cheese and Jam, Cheese and Ham, I think I'll have Green eggs and Spam?
What more is there to learn on this wonderful topic? ;D
Oh yeah.... vegemite is supposed to be an Australian thing but I think it is awful!! :o It and Marmite are just dreadful. Reminds me of what I would imagine the bowel scrapings of some small rodent would taste like!! :o :o :o Nutella isn't too bad though. ;) :D
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Oh yeah.... vegemite is supposed to be an Australian thing but I think it is awful!! :o It and Marmite are just dreadful....Nutella isn't too bad though. ;) :D
Bad news, Paul,
guess what we'll be serving for breakfast when you visit!
cheers
fermi
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Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!! :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
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Better bring your own Paul. Now at Otto's I shall be having.......... or maybe Tim will take me out for breakfast. :-*
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I don't know, if I'm being threatened with vegemite I might just have to find a motel somewhere instead. ;)
I tend to travel with a fair bit of my own food anyway, due to some food allergies. Might have to start listing vegemite on there just to play it safe!! ;D
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Nevermind, Paul,
there's always toast with jam and cheese!
My sister has brought us some Perada(guava cheese - a bit like quince cheese/paste but tastier) from Goa. there maybe some left by the time you get here!
cheers
fermi
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Fermi,
You can't think much of it then, if there's still going to be any left in a month's time!! ;) ;D I know I'm dreadful when I find something I really like... never lives for long after that. A bit like Maggi and Chocolate I'd hazard? :P
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fermi are You saying they have the jam and the cheese pre mixed?
Else it sounds very interesting :)
else for people with a sweet tooth I can recommend the Brasilian way of having a jam on the pizza with sweeter cheese on as desert pizza. Great. They also use something like quince but I think it is called something like guarana and are a bit sweeter but I have a bad memory for name. We have used quince and even apple quince mixed on pizza. It is a bit like warm jam and cheese sandwich or a saltier danish, Great :)
Interesting how moans is more about food than anything else :)
Kind regards
Joakim
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I was a bit shocked on Tuesday on a visit to the local garden centre to buy some grit. The shelves where the fertilisers and pesticides usually sit were full of Christmas decorations. When I got back to the till with my purchases no-one was around. I found three members of staff hanging up tinsel and other long traily bits for sale. They sent the member of staff who usually worked upstairs in the non gardening stuff back to the till with me. She didn't know where to find the price and had to shout for help. At least I did get the grit I had gone for.
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A local outlet centre has had Christmas stuff for sale for about a months now. My local garden centre is hard at it for their big open night next month. They will make more on their open night than the whole Christmas period.
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Can I make a plea here that there be a compulsory field that new members have to fill in to say where in the world they are before they can start posting? It is so hard sometimes to figure out what people are on about when we don't know where they are, its much more important than knowing names and suchlike and would put things in context when reading posts. What do others think?
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Good idea, Christine... I will ask Fred if this can be done.
It's a pity that repeated pleas for folks to do this have failed in many cases.... perhaps Fred may be able to make a compulsory field for new members...... what about the existing ones, though ::) :-\
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Christine
I am with you on this one. ;D ;D ;D
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Absolutely Christine, full marks for innovation 8) 8)
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Possibly one problem is that some people feel the need to protect their anonymity on the Internet but I do agree it is much easier when you know who you are talking to and where they do their gardening. As far as anonymity is concerned I really don't think using my proper name and details on the Forum has had any adverse effect whatsoever (well apart from the world and his lad knowing how verbose I am ;D )
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well apart from the world and his lad knowing how verbose I am
You and me both, eh, David? :-[ ;D ;D :o ;D
I know that some prefer a pseudonym for security reasons.... fair enough, but it can't be a terrific threat to security to give a region and say, if one were to style oneself Nefertiti from Benghazi, surely ?........ there have to be easier ways for folks to steal one's identity ::) :-X ???
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;D glad I'm not alone in this then.... hope our dear friend Fred can do something. Its one thing to have a pseudonym and not know the proper name etc, but quite another to have to guess where the person is coming from when asking questions on our forum, or indeed commenting. But it is also fascinating to me sometimes to find that in completely different places, conditions can be quite similar to mine, and vice versa.
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Friends, Fred tells me that it is not feasible to make a location field compulsory in the profile section.
We must content ourselves with continued efforts to ask Forumists making posts without such info if they will be so good as to add their location to their signature bars.
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Oh well, you tried, Maggi. If Fred can't do it, no one can.... what a shame.
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Did try Maggi but it hasn't worked. Will try again!
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Roma, you have done it... and added a super pic of the Fell ponies..... thank you!
Just what we need from others, too!! 8)
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Maggi,
Sorry, I don't have any pictures of Fell ponies.... you'll just have to live with the pic of Elfinraer!! besides, if everyone had pics of Fell ponies we wouldn't be able to tell everyone apart! ;D ;)
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Back in the (southern) autumn I bought 50 Iris x Sindpers from a local wholesale nursery, with the intention of potting them individually and selling them in flower. I've done it before several times, from the nursery's previous owner. This was my first business with the new owner.
When they arrived they were soft, many were mouldy and only 2 of the 50 still had their storage roots attached. I should have sent them straight back but didn't, hoping to retrieve them. I did complain though and was told the roots were removed so THEY could make new bulbs from them.
I planted the lot in the garden and about half came up, with a couple of miserable flowers in July. Now 6 more are in flower - and they are I. bucharica! I'm about to complain again!
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Lesley,
I don't blame you!! I would be too. Do you normally have dealings with them for other things?
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Give'm hell Lesley ! >:( >:(
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Back in the (southern) autumn I bought 50 Iris x Sindpers from a local wholesale nursery ... and they are I. bucharica! I'm about to complain again!
It's not only NZ Lesley. I bought 'Sindpers' across the ditch, to find that it was not. It has yet to flower but I suspect bucharica too :-\
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They used to be Blue Mountain Gardens (an offshoot of Blue Mountain Nurseries) and I bought 'Sindpers' and Frit imperialis by the hundreds from the former owner John Hughes, to send to Marcus and for my own nursery but since they changed hands 2 years ago, these are the first I've bought.
Ashley, they export to Europe in large quantities, tulip bulbs to Holland (!) - for out-of-season flowers I think - and to the UK so it's quite likely that what you have bought from England has come from the same place as mine. They also export F. imperialis and lilies.
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Roma, you have done it... and added a super pic of the Fell ponies..... thank you!
Just what we need from others, too!! 8)
Quite unlike the fell beasts in LOTR. ;)
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They used to be Blue Mountain Gardens (an offshoot of Blue Mountain Nurseries) and I bought 'Sindpers' and Frit imperialis by the hundreds from the former owner John Hughes, to send to Marcus and for my own nursery but since they changed hands 2 years ago, these are the first I've bought.
Ashley, they export to Europe in large quantities, tulip bulbs to Holland (!) - for out-of-season flowers I think - and to the UK so it's quite likely that what you have bought from England has come from the same place as mine. They also export F. imperialis and lilies.
No it was YOUR ditch I was talking about Lesley :) Ah, so it was also YOUR fault that what MH supplied me as 'Sindpers' wasn't :o ::) ;D
In fact I got mine about 18 months ago so it's possible that he had continued to buy in from this source after it changed hands (and standards too apparently :'().
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Ashley,
Have you notified Marcus? He has always replaced any of the (rare) mistakes that happen. It's easy for something to be mishandled, particularly with a fair client list, but the true measure is the response when a mishandling occurs. I have always found Marcus exemplary in this regard, replacing things without a problem. I'm sure he'll be most upset if he finds out that there have major mixups in his supplies, but hopefully yours is just a one-off handling error, instead of a major problem like Lesley has had. My fingers are very much crossed!!
If you haven't already, contact him and let him know once you know what it is.
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You're absolutely right Paul.
No, I'm not moaning (despite the thread ;)), nor even whinging (since I have the wrong passport ::) ;D).
However I've not contacted Marcus about this yet, partly because I'm curious to see what it turns out to be.
On the contrary Marcus was most helpful, even going to the considerable trouble of obtaining Tasmanian wild seed for me that I couldn't find commercially.
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;D ;D ;D
By the way Ashley, I have 20 Euros left after my break in Spain, can you recommend a bank? :P
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Just hold on to them David; they might be worth a lot more soon ;)
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;D ;D ;D
By the way Ashley, I have 20 Euros left after my break in Spain, can you recommend a bank? :P
You could lend them to Bush and his mates David. Seems they're scrambling for every penny at present.
Ashley, I've sent 3 lots over to Marcus from BM and if it's happening now, I wouldn't be surprised it it has been happening for a couple of years. I would therefore expect the mistake to be theirs in the first place, rather than Marcus's. I too, have found him to be very careful and the one ID mistake he sent me was rectified the following season, and more added as well by way of compensation.
Short PM to you on the way.
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;D ;D ;D
By the way Ashley, I have 20 Euros left after my break in Spain, can you recommend a bank? :P
You could lend them to Bush and his mates David. Seems they're scrambling for every penny at present.
Has he any mates left??
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;D ;D ;D
By the way Ashley, I have 20 Euros left after my break in Spain, can you recommend a bank? :P
You could lend them to Bush and his mates David. Seems they're scrambling for every penny at present.
Ashley, I've sent 3 lots over to Marcus from BM and if it's happening now, I wouldn't be surprised it it has been happening for a couple of years. I would therefore expect the mistake to be theirs in the first place, rather than Marcus's. I too, have found him to be very careful and the one ID mistake he sent me was rectified the following season, and more added as well by way of compensation.
Short PM to you on the way.
I'm taking my mum to Barcelona on the 11th...... ;D [It would have been my parent;s 60th wedding anniversary last month.]
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Here is a crocus from Northern Greece which has ten petals. I did think it was pulchellus but I am confused by the anthers.I am always confused.If only it had been a galanthus I would not be sat here worrying if the RBS was going bust.
...so said Tony Willis in a crcus thread.... so I thought that I would distract him, and perhapd others, with this newsflash,just received from Arthur Nicholls, who obviously is a devotee of 24hour news........
News Announcement re world Banking crisis:
Following the problems with Lehmann Bros and the sub-prime lending market in the USA uncertainty has now hit Japan.
In the last 7 days Origami Bank has folded, Sumo Bank has gone belly up, and
Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches.
Yesterday, it was announced that Karaoke Bank is up for sale and will likely go for a song, while today shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived.
While Samurai Bank is soldiering on following sharp cutbacks, Ninja Bank is reported to have taken a hit, although they remain in the black.
Furthermore, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop, and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal.
Now that should give us all a wee laugh, I hope.... thanks, Arthur!
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excellent! I will copy it and send it around the world
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Kamikaze Maggie You will get bad marks in Japanese. ;D
Göte
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:D :D :D
Do we know of any Japanese forumists ??? ::) :-X
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Ah so! ;D
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oops! Sorry !
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My web sites are hosted by the same people as this web site. I can tell with a few clicks where the people who visit my web site come from
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;D ;D ;D
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I know it's a serious situation but I can't help having a very warm feeling about Banks having their g*****s squeezed! :P
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I know it's a serious situation but I can't help having a very warm feeling about Banks having their g*****s squeezed! :P
Its true to say the people at the top are stupid and grasping but lots of people with families are there just doing a good days work not making millions and are not in goverment jobs with index linked pensions which insulates them from the rest of us. The one thing that makes me smile when I read those comments is that everybody will feel the freeze however smug. The saving grace is that both Gordon and Alistair are Scottish and so will make sure RBS at least is saved.Always remember that they paid a lot of those profits in tax which helped fund the gross overspending of the goverment
Thanks for the laugh Maggie
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Thanks from me too. Arthur sent it here as well.
I accept fully that bank staff in general are good people, working concientiously as we all try to do, and living on reasonable wages/salaries but it can't be denied that many of their leaders are greedy to an unimaginably obscene degree. A news item last night on our TV, and from the States, said that the man who headed the failed Lehmann Bros Bank was before a (Senate?) committee trying to justify having taken 1/4 TRILLION dollars from the bank in the last 8 years, for his personal use. Many banks as policy charge their customers exhorbitant fees because they can. ANZ (Australia and New Zealand Bank) here in NZ charges at least 2-3% more on basic lending and mortgages than it does its Australian customers simply because all NZ banks (except one, very recent bank and a major success story) are now owned overseas and have no local competition. We and many others have changed or are changing, to our new (somewhat micky mouse-named) Kiwibank. But when we have a change of govt in a month's time, as seems inevitable, that bank too, will be sold off to foreign ownership, though the likely new leader has said he won't do so in the first 3 years. Yeah, right.
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I shouldn't even BE here. I had 6 cubic metres of new potting mix arrive this morning, nicely mixed to my own recipe. Better go out and pot something! ???
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Lesley I agree that that creep from Lehmann's who was giving evidence last night was everthing I hate about finance but he is not the one with a mortgage and a family to support who will be losing his job. When we say how much we hate banks we have to remember those people in for example Halifax or Bradford who will be unemployed. Also when they are in work they are spending money in the local community and keeping businesses going.
RBS and HBOS are the two largest employers in Scotland. I laugh when I think the CEO of RBS got his knighthood for services to banking.I wonder if he will give it back.
What really gets me is the goverments holier than thou attitude when they were happy to fuel vast increases in spending and the regulators they put in place let it all happen. Any fool could have seen this problem coming.
Maggie I deleted the political bit that followed!!
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I know it's a serious situation but I can't help having a very warm feeling about Banks having their g*****s squeezed! :P
What bugs me is that the US and the UK governments seem to be getting off scot free in this whole financial fiasco, while they point accusing fingers at the financial institutions.
It was the US and UK governments that deregulated the financial industry then sat back and watched the credit/housing bubble grow to what was blatantly obviously unsustainable levels - because it kept the US and UK economies growing and kept voters happy as they saw the (illusory) values of their houses rocketing.
They could have slowed or even stopped the credit/housing bubble ages ago but they sat back and watched as banks and building societies offered loans of 110% of house purchase prices, self-certification of earnings for loan applications with no proof of ability to repay, arguably immoral and exploitative targeting of low-income people (in the US, mainly black and hispanic people - whose homes are now being repossesed on a massive scale) who couldn't really afford to take on mortagages but were conned into it by low starting interest rates, etc.
And the political leaders are now acting like it was nothing to do with them, like they didn't know what was going on and couldn't do anything about it.
Grrrrrrrr!
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Oh, and then there were all those endless bloody TV programmes about property - buy it, renovate it, buy another one, make money, buy it and rent it, buy one abroad, make more money - that helped fuel the housing bubble.
I feel sorry for anyone who bought a house in the UK in the last couple of years, but at least we may now (finally) see overinflated house prices drop back towards a level where young families can get an affordable home (NOT, NOT, NOT that God-awful phrase, 'a foot on the housing ladder' or a 'first step into the housing market' AAAARGH!)
P.S. I have no personal axe to grind. I don't work in banking, I have zilch savings, and my house is losing value daily (and I don't mind). :)
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I absolutely agree with everything you both, Tony, Martin, say. We here too and it seems around the world have been thoroughly conned into huge mortgages which we can't afford (not me personally, thank goodness, very happy with our small 3 bed, 1 bath etc) and are being kicked badly now as a result. But it may mean eventually that, as you said Martin, young families who've resisted the urge so far, are able to buy houses at reasonable prices. I really don't have much sympathy with the greedies who've pushed up prices way beyond the reach of "ordinary" people by buying 2, 3, 4 etc on their ruddy "ladder" in order to make money by pushing house values up falsely. I believe we should have a capital gains tax on housing other than the "lived in" house. We've even had cases here of 18 year olds borrowing for this purpose, kids still in school or at 'varsity.
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I phoned and asked my financial advisor if he had installed seat belts on all the office chairs. He said no. He said instead he ordered the windows locked and no more lunches out on the ledge.
johnw
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Thanks John for bringing us back to our non-political senses but you mustn't blame us/me for feeling something of that lovely German word, schadenfreude for the idiots who over-indulged and now have indigestion ::)
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well said Martin!
This problem affects everybody and it is self inflicted but I expect we will survive.
I was going to jump out of the bedroom window yesterday but a number of things stopped me
there were some nice plants underneath which wolud have been damaged
there was a very nice dinner cooking
I would only have broken my legs which would be no help.
I have looked and I have a small collection of alliums which will add some flavour to the crocus stew.
I think Maggie may have to change my whatever its called under my name from wandering star to blackhole.
Having a new roof on the house today and so oh well of to look at some nice flowers in the greenhouse out of the way.
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I know it's a serious situation but I can't help having a very warm feeling about Banks having their g*****s squeezed! :P
Is that being goolish? ::)
Not for nothing are these city types called merchant bankers! RBS's troubles started when they absorbed the Halifax and now both have been taken over by the Toytown bank. How are the mighty fallen. :-[
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People will always do the possible and try to be as sucessful as possible.
They will also judge opportunities and risks for themselves before risks for other people.
In The US (and I think the UK) you can start a limited company without any cash at all.
It is possible to say that the share capital is X billions but not pay a cent. This means that the chain of responsibility is very weak. The owners do not risk any money.
In Sweden, Germany, Switzerland and many others you must get the share capital paid before you are up and running and there are minimum requirements
No Swedish limited company (Aktiebolag) can start without having 100.000 SEK in cash in the bank.
This capital must be there at all times. Working capital is created by selling the sahres above nomina value.
If the capital of the company falls below the nominal issued share capital, the
board of directors must take immediate action .- raise more capital or liquidate. The idea is that the paid up share capital always shall be available to pay the creditors.
If they do not - the directors answer with their PRIVATE wealth for the losses of the company. There is no need for the prosecution to show evidence of negligence. The balance sheet is proof.
This means that a Swedish bank director thinks twice before issuing sub-prime loans.
The US diectors not only issued sub-prime loans. They sold these loans on to European banks as prime loans which is fraud.
So much about the reasons for the debacle.
I think that we will not face such a desaster as in 1930. The central banks and the govermnments are filling up with cash and lowered interest rates in a way that nobody did then.
Göte
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Now the questions about Japanese members.
Perhaps we should try to advertise the forum to Japanese gardeners.
There are a lot of plants out there and there is a lot of knowledge.
Many Japanes are unfortunately very reluctant to express themselves in English.
However, if we were to e-mail to those who have English-language homepages about plants and suggest a visit to the forum perhaps we would gain some valuable members.
Göte
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Your first of these two posts says everything that SHOULD be happening here and elsewhere Gote, but is not. The Swedish have a much more responsible attitude to other people's money.
Your second post is an excellent idea.
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Göte as You know companies makes great losses ending in collapses of the company in Sweden as well and that is without the board being asked for the money! The asset was not worth 100 million as they thought just 20 million and that is that. Having 100 000 on the bank does not help that much after that.
The Swedish banks were very close to go belly up some 15 years ago when they overvalued houses and properties to high interests and then when the ones with the loan could not pay the rent they value was much less when the bank wanted to sell.
They got out of that by asking more money of there shareholders as well as the state garrnteed the money of the people in normal accounts (maybe for a fee that the banks have to pay?) and more importantly the bank made there own property companies so that they could have there bad loans to themselves. Later on the stockholders got these property companies and it was a good deal for the stockholders.
Swedish banks also are very tightly connected to many of the big companies so that they can help each other. Through their stock owners and by owning stocks of each other. The banks have been more carefulle after that I think.
Most European banks seem to survive and if the US can hold there banks under the arms then the crize will calm even if properties will go down in value. Redo the loans into normal loans so that people can pay them back or at least pay the interest and by that keep their homes until better times. That would slow the crice down and save the people with loans and not the companies with the bad loans. Maybe it would save both?
Did not the same happen in US 15 years ago when there was a lot of Japanese companies that saw their US assets going down in value enormously?
History seems to repeat itself!! It is just variations around the same theme.!!
Just my humble opinion.
Great idea with more Japanese growers. They do excell in some plants in perticular like hepatica :o :o :o :o amongst others.
Kind regards
Joakim
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Now the questions about Japanese members.
Perhaps we should try to advertise the forum to Japanese gardeners.
There are a lot of plants out there and there is a lot of knowledge.
Many Japanes are unfortunately very reluctant to express themselves in English.
However, if we were to e-mail to those who have English-language homepages about plants and suggest a visit to the forum perhaps we would gain some valuable members.
Göte
Göte, this is a good suggestion and I would encourage anyone who knows of such a Japanese person/ website to contact them with details of this SRGC site and Forum.
When Fred has given us statistics for visitors to the SRC website, it has proved that the range of countries using the site is indeed VERY GREAT.... but I am not sure how we can do much to encourage those visitors to become more involved than they want to be!!??
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Not for nothing are these city types called merchant bankers! RBS's troubles started when they absorbed the Halifax and now both have been taken over by the Toytown bank. How are the mighty fallen. :-[
Regrettably incorrect RBS did not take over the Halifax it was Bank of Scotland that joined with it.RBS foolishly bought ABN Amrow at the top of the market when it had delusions of grandeur.
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Sorry, my bank is RBS and I put that in instead of her older sister B o S. :-[
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Anthony
all I can say is what a great choice of bank,you clearly have taste.
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Found this site which is helpful :
http://www.moneyfacts.co.uk/Savings/articles/who-owns-whom-listings.aspx
It is scarey to see just how many joint ventures there are out there :o :'( :o.....
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Maggie
life can be scary, just think of all the others-food companies and there multiple brands, cars which are all made by just a few companies and badged differently
As a minnow in the scheme of things with no influence (thats me I am referring to)perhaps the best thing is just to let all it pass by and enjoy life as much as possible.
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perhaps the best thing is just to let all it pass by and enjoy life as much as possible.
Tony, that is the best possible advice for any and all occasions... it is certainly a motto I subscribe to myself 8) :D :D :D ::) :-*...... along with : dont' let the barstewards get you down! :o ;)
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Found this site which is helpful :
http://www.moneyfacts.co.uk/Savings/articles/who-owns-whom-listings.aspx
It is scary to see just how many joint ventures there are out there :o :'( :o.....
Maggi, I just had a look at this website and as a good Dutchman there was one line,
when scrolling down, that my eye fell on immediately:
How to earn an extra £1,000!
When reading the following lines I can say that there is a great chance you lost the £20,000 :'( :'(
Investing £20,000 in the best buy Icesave savings account would give you £1,187.48 in gross interest, compared to £187.50 gross interest if you invested the money in the Alliance & Leicester
I heard that at least 120.000 put their 20.000 or 40.000 € to this bank on Iceland.
(Approx. 1.4 Bn. € )
edit: I meant Dutch people
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Oh my goodness... what a thought! I too have heard on TV that there are a great many investors outwith the poor Icelanders, who have their money in this bank. :'(
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perhaps the best thing is just to let all it pass by and enjoy life as much as possible.
Tony, that is the best possible advice for any and all occasions... it is certainly a motto I subscribe to myself 8) :D :D :D ::) :-*...... along with : dont' let the barstewards get you down! :o ;)
My favourite personal life motto, and one that I recommend highly to all forumists, is: Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean the bastards aren't out to get you.
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Oh my goodness... what a thought! I too have heard on TV that there are a great many investors outwith the poor Icelanders, who have their money in this bank. :'(
I'm one of them. Like the cod we've been both frozen & battered. The Icelandic compensation schemes turn out to be not worth the computer screens they are displayed on. Thank God for the Dutch.
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Well Gerry, if you've been both frozen and battered...then it's time to get fried.
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Jacobs or Mc'vities are the only banks that I use,and they are 100% guaranteed. I check them every night before I get into bed. If they were good enough for our former minister for finance, they are good enough for me.
(For formists from countries where these names are not familiar, they refer to biscuit tins kept under the bed.)
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Oh my goodness... what a thought! I too have heard on TV that there are a great many investors outwith the poor Icelanders, who have their money in this bank. :'(
I'm one of them. Like the cod we've been both frozen & battered. The Icelandic compensation schemes turn out to be not worth the computer screens they are displayed on. Thank God for the Dutch.
Isn't the UK government promising to compensate UK holders of Icelandic retail savings accounts? I understand it'll take a while to get though.
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Jacobs or Mc'vities are the only banks that I use,and they are 100% guaranteed. I check them every night before I get into bed. If they were good enough for our former minister for finance, they are good enough for me.
(For formists from countries where these names are not familiar, they refer to biscuit tins kept under the bed.)
And when exactly was it you said you'd be away for a few days, Michael? :D
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Well Gerry, if you've been both frozen and battered...then it's time to get fried.
Carlo - you're right. Now's the time. That's why I'm feeling hot under the collar.
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Martin, I forgot to mention that the boxes are empty at the moment.
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I spent it all on house renovations,and I don't have a mortgage so I can't loose any of it.
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I like Martin's life motto, very apposite.
Our NZ consumer advocate TV programme "Fair Go" frequently reminds us that if a deal sounds too good to be true, it IS. But so many people continue to be sucked in by apparently foolproof schemes to make quick money.
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The local authority I work for has the motto: "every expense spared". The school motto is: "it wuznae me".
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Just a reminder of the smaller irritations in life.
We went shopping and as so often we ended up in the fast food section afterwards.
This time MC Donalds did have their special. "M" that had been sold out in at least two places before.
I ordered 2 and got two ones after just a few minutes waiting.
They were very juicy and more than expected so first I thought they were deep fried in oil rather then fried but the juice was not that warm. I realized that they had put lard on the bread and tat if You wait long enough i melts and if You wait even longer it becomes solid once again.
Lard is usually made of pig fat and even though I have no restriction in my diet of medical or religious reasons I still think that that should be stated some where. It was not even stated on the package. My wife refused to eat the salad left in the box since it was full of fat. Not what I call health food :( After reading what they promised it sounded quite nice and healthy. Eating fries and drinking Fanta made it less healthy so I may not have much reason to complain.
Just a small reminder for me that I have so much to be thankful for since this is my major complaint :) :)
Kind regards
Joakim
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Like the cod we've been both frozen & battered.
Cod? What cod? They went the way of Lehmann Bros. here years ago. Another story of greed and battering.
johnw
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I guess the cod's had his chips then?
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I guess the cod's had his chips then?
Anthony - Tongues 'n cheeks?
johnw
(http://www.funtrivia.com/en/subtopics/Traditional-Newfoundland-Nosh-and-Libations-217391.html)
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It is surprisingly difficult to buy an ox tongue nowadays, almost impossible, an oxtail. :'( Apparently these and other interesting bits are not returned to the beast's owner when it is slaughtered but kept as a perk by the abbatoirs. If I want one, I have to ask my butcher to order - and buy back - one for me, even though it was his in the first place, courtesy the ox of course. We know of the dog with two tails: an ox with two would be even better. :D Pork cheeks are very good too!
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Joke. The Americans have George Bush, Johnny Cash, Bob Hope and Stevie Wonder. We have Brian Cowan (the PM) No cash, No Hope and No Bloody wonder
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;D ;D ;D
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Joakim,
'Aktiebolagslagen' says that you must immediately make a 'kontrollbalans' if not 50% of the total share capital or 100.000 whatever is the larger is available as "Eget kapital". Otherwise you as a director, are personally responsible for the company deficit. 100.000 is not a big deal. In Germany it is 500,000 Euro for an Aktiengesellshaft. However, these figures are minimum for starting new companies. To give an example: Volovo AB cannot let the Eget kapital fall below SEK 1 277 052 100 (Yes over a billion) and that pays quite a number of peanuts.
No law can prevent bad business decisions or crashing markets but in this case it makes sure that the directors cannot run the capital down to zero. A value representing at least half the stock of shares must be there to help paying the creditors.
Göte
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Göte You are quite right about the need for liquidation but that may also mean that there are not enough money left to pay the debt.
Volvo is a huge company and yet the own capital is just over 4300 sek per car produced annually so that is in some way peanuts. :) Just realised that Volvo AB is not making cars only trucks and I do not know that number but I think it is around 100000 so then it would be some 13500 sek per truck annually produced as their own capital
I saw on a MC Donalds reciept that they have the "own Capital" written on all so that You know what strength they have.
It is a tricky thing this and luckely we do not see that many big crashes in Sweden. Maybe the laws have some effect in this I do not know.
Kind regards
Joakim
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Lesley,
I see no oxtails here either but I think that the reason is that very few know how to use them and thus next to nobody would buy. Also it takes some five hours to cook. The scare of mad cow disease might even have made them illegal in some countries.
It is the same with tongue. Many people (including my grown up daughters who will lead that on to my four grandchildren) refuse to eat it. We usually cook one at Christmas.
Another piece that is rarely seen nowadays is heart.
I think that hearts and tounges end up as sausages, hamburgers and possibly in food for dogs and cats.
As usual it is the consumer's i.e. our fault. :(
Bon appetit
Göte
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You are right Gote, about many (especially younger) people not wanting to eat "offal," such a shame as it generally has great flavour compared with the dearer parts of an animal. It all depends on the cooking.
Farmers' markets here in NZ are doing much to reverse this trend though, and I buy all my meat at the market I manage.
Tongue is a wonderful filling for sandwiches, along with mustard or pickles and a lettuce leaf or two. I must admit to leaving heart to someone's cat, but liver, kidneys and the like - and sweetbreads are wonderful meals. I'd better be careful here in case I'm making someone feel ill.
Mercifully, we never had mad cow disease here in New Zealand though at least one person has been known to call me a mad cow. 8)
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Why do we in the UK continue this archane practice of putting back the clocks by one hour earlier today-what on earth does it acheive? Apart from, that is, the odd day I'm able to get out in the garden I have to pack up at 1630 or earlier >:( >:(
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David you can always get out an hour earlier mornings :D ;D
Derek
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David you can always get out an hour earlier mornings :D ;D
Derek
Spoken like a true masochist. :)
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David you can always get out an hour earlier mornings :D ;D
Derek
Derek, those young gardeners need their beautysleep in the morning ;D ;D
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Too right they do, I gave up 'earlies' on the day I retired and these days, having read the paper over a leisurely breakfast, and had a nice leisurely shower, I'm usually seen in the vicinity of the greenhouse around 1000 hours before a break for coffee and biscuits at 1115. As I've said many times, retirement's a wonderful institution; the money's not as good, but boy oh boy the hours take some beating 8)
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I too gave up 'earlies' on the day I retired David ... I now lie in until 6.10am EVERY morning without fail!
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Cliff, I'm a couple of hours later than you-do you have trouble sleeping? ;D
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So that means we're now THIRTEEN hours ahead of you lot, and the Aussies are ELEVEN.
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Why do we in the UK continue this archane practice of putting back the clocks by one hour earlier today-what on earth does it acheive? Apart from, that is, the odd day I'm able to get out in the garden I have to pack up at 1630 or earlier >:( >:(
It's so my kids don't have to go to school in the dark!
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OK Anthony, I can accept that. So, let me amend, slightly, my original assertion. Why do we in England continue this archane practice...........................? ;D
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Why do we in the UK continue this archane practice of putting back the clocks by one hour earlier today-what on earth does it acheive? Apart from, that is, the odd day I'm able to get out in the garden I have to pack up at 1630 or earlier >:( >:(
It's so my kids don't have to go to school in the dark!
But the children still have to come home in the dark through winter... what's the difference... in most of Scotland it is dark at both ends of the school day in winter.....I wonder the kids aren't evolving to be born with headlamps on....( which is, of course, why famers wear such large caps..... ;)
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Do you think our emerging bulbs are enjoying the brighter mornings?
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But the children still have to come home in the dark through winter... what's the difference... in most of Scotland it is dark at both ends of the school day in winter.....I wonder the kids aren't evolving to be born with headlamps on....( which is, of course, why famers wear such large caps..... ;)
Ah, but they come home at an earlier time than the rushhour traffic, unlike in the morning.
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Ah, but they come home at an earlier time than the rushhour traffic, unlike in the morning.
Well, yes, I do see that if they walk 8)..... but with the number of kids being driven to school around here, the bulk of the traffic is the schoolrun anyway.... masses of Mum's with chelsea tractors :-X :P
When school hols are on, roads are amazingly quiet. ::)
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Today, for the first time, James accepted a lift to school from Vivienne! Normally he walks or cycles the two miles. Unless he has something on after school, he walks home. I find it bizarr the number of primary school kids, who can have no more than a mile to walk, get lifts. At least in Dunblane, unless your kids are nice but dim and go to private school to keep them away from the hoi polloi, there is only one secondary school.
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There is a play school a few doors down from where I live. One morning my son was coming to visit and he saw a woman put a child in a 4 x 4 and driving it two doors down to the play school. Just 35 yards. ??? He was shocked,but I wasn't
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The rationale for driving modern kids to school, even very short distances, is that if they have to walk or cycle on their own, they're certain to be molested/kidnapped by the millions of nasty people who live or prowl in the neighbourhood.
I walked when very young, about 2 miles then cycled when old enough. My mother walked two miles from the age of 6 then rowed a boat across a river then walked more miles to get to her school but that was back in the 1914-1920 period. Then she went off to boarding school and lived in.
Re daylight saving, I know an elderly lady who each year, as DS starts, says "more sunshine for the dear flowers." :)
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My usual path for walking the dog takes past a doctors house with a nice big garden. Today he had employed a landscape company to trim the hedges and tidy up for the winter,and they did just that. All the hedges were neatly trimmed and all the shrubs in the shrub border were trimmed into nice round balls, squares, or rectangles, according to the size of the plants. Now! why was I never taught how to do that when I was getting my horticultural training? :'( Maybe it is the Space age or the computer age and I have been left behind. ??? ??? ???
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O, my goodness, Michael, how horrible! I know exactly what you mean by this type of "pruning"... it is increasingly seen here too... it is just awful.....taes no account of the grwoth/flowering patterns of the plants at all... it is an abomination and no mistake.....what I have discovered, and what makes it even worse in my mind. is that the term for this method of plant massacre and butchery is " cloud pruning" ..... I ask you!??!! Never heard such rubbish!
I do know about "real cloud prunig... it produces the wonderful effects of great age and beauty in bonsai trees, and has been carefully practised for centuries by genuine gardeners who understand their plants.........AAARRGHH! I have every sympathy for your distress in seeing this travesty and applaud your humour in telling us about it!!
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By the way, if the daft new "pruning" methods described above by Michael don't upset you enough, I hope you have noted Fred's post in the Members' section, regarding the likely "Down-time" tomorrow of the Forum: this is to allow a change to a new server.... in an attempt to get the Forum working at a proper speed and efficinecy once more. Fred wrote in : Up And Running Again on: Today at 04:59:29 PM Last post by admin
"Please note that the forum will likely go down tomorrow (30th Oct) around 11 AM and won't be back on until evening."
So, don't panic if you can't get your forum fix for a few hours..... it will all be worth it in the end :-X
Perhaps the weather will be warm and dry and we can enjoy some time out in the garden...... ::) ;)
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Maggi,cloud pruning sounds about right,whoever thought up that idea had their head well and truly in the clouds. Probably cloud cuckoo land.
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Maggi,cloud pruning sounds about right,whoever thought up that idea had their head well and truly in the clouds. Probably cloud cuckoo land.
Yup, that's about it!
Can't belive how ugly this effect is....... I wonder if they think it's a modern take on topiary for the masses??!! :P
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Maggi, I have just thought of a good business idea,the perfect no maintenance garden for people who like those little clipped buns in their garden. Make those square,round, and rectangle shrubs from recycled plastic and plant them in the garden. Then they could set them in concrete and cover that with grit. Hey presto, no maintenance. The rain would wash the plants and keep them clean and fresh looking and no need to hire a landscape contractor to do the pruning. :)
I might mention it to the Doctor tomorrow on my past. I will hide the dog just in case. ;D
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Could even make some with flowers on them, for the people who want a plant that flowers all year with no maintenance.You know the type. I am sure you have been asked for those many times. ;D
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What a coincidence ... I spoke to the local Housing Executive about this on Monday. They are spending £1000s greening Antrim's housing areas. Last week all the shrubberies in my town were butchered by a landscaping company who came in with, and I quote, "the lowest price for the job". They whacked back roses, Forsythia, forest flames, sarcocca, spotted laurels, rhododendrons ..... and the list goes on. He said to me "what would you have me do?" I suggested for the possible 10s of thousands they spend annually they should employ a real gardener and a small team. His reply was they arent taking on anymore staff! He did tell me the budget for the next 5 years for plants is huge and most will be spent on bulbs and specimen trees to stop vandals uprooting them. My answer was how long will these trees take to root, will you stake them properly and who will water them? They will be staked using two posts and a cross bar, not watered. I suggested species bulbs/corms that should be grass that is left uncut for at least 6 weeks. He said he has to buy from the cheapest source and to cut his grass. I suggested I would give him free advice and he asked if I had a degree in horticulture.
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Perhaps the doctor is a frustrated topiarist?
Maggi, at 9.30am Thursday (probably 8.30pm Tues to you) the Forum's wording just fine. Maybe it's tonight there will be problems (for us down under).
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Michael, what do you think the doctor might do to your dog? I admit Roger has been clipping our dog severely over recent days when he (the dog) will let him, but he (Roger) has still managed to retain the basic dog shape underneath. ;D
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Save all that carbon dioxide pollution these trees and bushes produce at night. ;) Wasn't it Ronald Reagan who suggested that trees cause more pollution in America than cars? My goodness that man was a genious! ::) The thickness of two short planks comes to mind.
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Only two, Anthony??
In some areas of town the grass is being left to grow because of council cutbacks... this has resulted in lovely areas with tall ( up to two feet (60cms) grasses which are really very attractive.... there have been HUGE complaints from people who say they can't walk their dogs through it and the kids can't play in it....what utter tosh! I don't know any dog or child who wouldn't enjoy playing in such a meadow... :-X
Elsewhere in town there are petitions to have street trees cut down because their roots are causing the pavements to rise ......if sensible types of tree had been planted in the first place it wouldn't be an issue.
In a street near us, young Cotoneaster trees have been planted at intervals all along the road....they are staked and surrounded by a sturdy weld-mesh cage to a height of about 165 cms ( around 5ft 6 inches or so)..........every week another one or two has had its top broken off at the height of the mesh...some little scruffbag is coming along and snapping them off. Some nights he either has a chum with him, or he has had extra vitamins that day, because he snaps more than one.....whole neighbourhood would like to get their hands on the little ratbag.......and, yes, I would put money on it being a "him" .....sue me, why dontcha! :P
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I with you Maggi. I would coat the trees in a mixture of axle grease and broken glass with a touch of something evil smelling and bacterialogically rich in it. If that didn't cure them it would......? :P
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On the subject of vandalism, our village has had trouble all summer with a vandal who systematically pulled out all the decent plants from our public planters on Friday nights. We speculated on visitors to the prison, kids and so on. We even started to think of having someone out there on Friday nights to find out who it was. After some time we found out it was a bloke in the next village who was not very bright, who was selling them to make money to go down the local pub. Everything is now lovely again....
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If you need a perfect lawn, Green concrete or tarmac is the answer. ;D
It will also fit the council's budget for upkeep ;D
I recall newly planted trees in Tokyo. They were staked with four sturdy inwards sloping poles connected by a sturdy square. (I cannot find the picture now). I have also seen gardeners prune pine trees in the Himejii castle garden. They had spread a tarpaulin on the ground and were sitting two meters above ground taking out the top party of this years shoots leaving a limited number of needles. Of course this is the homeland of bonsai. 8)
A friend of mine (who sometimes posts on the forums) had a 2m magnolia stolen a couple of years ago. The late Hepatica expert Severin Schlyter once found his stolen hepaticas for sale but could not prove that they were his. I never show my garden to groups. There is usually a thief amongst them. >:(
Göte
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One of my neighbours has Christmas decorations up inside and outside!!!
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One of my neighbours has Christmas decorations up inside and outside!!!
We have ... I suppose we should have taken them down by now! :)
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We have ... I suppose we should have taken them down by now!
;D ;D ;D
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when I bought my garden I had the fun task of throwing away all the plastic honesty seed heads the batty previous owner had planted in the flower beds - if I remember rightly some of them had glitter on them so I suppose they might have been christmas decorations. . . . . .
Sue
PS that was after I'd thrown away the black plastic bags she used to mark the edges of the flower beds
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Sue, how was the INSIDE of the house decorated? Or dare I ask that ::) :o
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well since you ask there were a large number of mirror tiles on one wall of the sitting room, the wall paper throughout the house was a dull silver anaglypta type, she'd knocked the wall through between the dining room and the sitting room and had painted the stubs of the wall and across the floor where the wall had been in a colour I can only describe as 'fresh cowpat brown' (I can be ruder about the colour!) with stenciled sweet peas on it - they did not help. Oh and the front door had been bought at a car boot sale and no effort made to fit it to the door frame. Needless to say, none of the above now exists.
Sue
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well since you ask there were a large number of mirror tiles on one wall of the sitting room, the wall paper throughout the house was a dull silver anaglypta type, she'd knocked the wall through between the dining room and the sitting room and had painted the stubs of the wall and across the floor where the wall had been in a colour I can only describe as 'fresh cowpat brown' (I can be ruder about the colour!) with stenciled sweet peas on it - they did not help. Oh and the front door had been bought at a car boot sale and no effort made to fit it to the door frame. Needless to say, none of the above now exists.
Sue
Ah well Sue ... all good things must come to an end ... at least you could enjoy them for a short while!
What else attracted you to the property?
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Donald sodding Trump. AAAAARGH!!! >:( Sorry, this may not mean much to overseas forumists. The Scots will know what I mean.
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I guess he got what he wanted? I havent heard anything today.
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I guess he got what he wanted? I havent heard anything today.
Yep. 2,000 acre new golf course/8-storey hotel/timeshare development at Aberdeen, partly on an SSSI sand dunes site. Even his own ecologists joined Scottish National Heritage in warning that at least part of the development as planned would be 'unecessarily destructive' to the Site of Special Scientific Interest. But he wanted it as planned and the powers that be have said okay for 'economic reasons' (as in grab the money and run).
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7707792.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7707792.stm)
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Ah well Sue ... all good things must come to an end ... at least you could enjoy them for a short while!
What else attracted you to the property?
well there was the size of the garden and the fact that I can sit in it and not hear a car, friendly neighbours and a local wood with red squirrels - what more do you need?
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I was only joking Sue ... I'm sure your house, garden and location are beautiful. :-* :-* :-*
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I was only joking Sue ... I'm sure your house, garden and location are beautiful. :-* :-* :-*
I'm not so sure..... don't you remember those green gloves Sue was knitting , Cliff????? :P ::) ;)
(See here: http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1705.0 reply/post no. 5 ......)
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Donald sodding Trump. AAAAARGH!!! >:( Sorry, this may not mean much to overseas forumists. The Scots will know what I mean.
Just wait a little time for memories to fade and see how many of the decision makers have non executive directorships. Go into politics and make money!
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Donald sodding Trump. AAAAARGH!!! >:( Sorry, this may not mean much to overseas forumists. The Scots will know what I mean.
Martin,
One of our golf courses is a last remnant of unimproved native grassland and a refuge for several otherwise threatened orchids. One can only hope....
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Wasn't there a colony of rare sedge (Carex sp.) at the Swilcan Bridge, St Andrews Old Course that was wiped out by enthusiastic greens people before the last Open there?
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Just received this from a friend who found it in another forum.... it was posted in the forum pages of the Pacific Bulb Society by Carolyn Craft, who was, in turn passing it on........in the sprit of helping forumists, I think it MUST be repeated here......most of us need all the help we can get!!..........
„Ring, ring...Hello! and welcome to the Gardener's Psychiatric hotline.
If you are buying plants, yet have no space or time to plant them, you are
obsessive-compulsive. Please press 1 repeatedly.
If you want someone else to do the digging, you are co-dependent. Please
ask someone to press 2.
If you will plant anything and everything, you have multiple personalities.
Please press 3, 4, and 5.
If you are sure the sun, rain, bugs, and plant diseases are out to get you,
you are paranoid delusional. We know who you are and what you want..just
stay on the line so we can trace the call.
If you are sure the flowers are talking to you, listen carefully and a
little voice will tell you which button to press.
If you can't throw away a plant, even if it is dying, you are
manic-depressive and it doesn't matter which button you press.
If you think your garden is being attacked by evil spirits, press 6-6-6.
If you continue to plant only flowers with fragrance, you are nasally
fixated. Please press the scratch-and-sniff button.
If you occasionally hallucinate and know that this year your garden is going
to look as good or better than Martha Stewart's please be aware that the
thing you are now holding to the side of your head is alive and is about to
bite your ear.“
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Dear Maggie, thank you, we all need a good laugh, it seems like we have many forms of madness amongst gardeners well I have them all and live very happily knowing that .Out in the big wide world the powers that be who are supposed to look after the interest of the world well that is definately another real form of madness, cheers Ian the Christie kind.
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I used to wonder why didn't we get (Earl Haig Fund) poppies with a leaf. Now I realise that our poppies are more botanically correct.
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Dear Maggi,
The piece you quote is OK but it has left Clare & I arguing over which is who between us! (Did that make sense?) ::)
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If you concentrate on mini-gardens then press the miniscule button on the base ...
If you live with a mini-gardener then press the eject button! :D
[/color]
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Cheers Buttercup ;D
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I once got my diagnose:
"HORTOMANIAC! "
is what a friend called me.
Göte
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My wife calls my friends and I "Garden-o-philes". :o ;)
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I've been called 'a hardcore' gardener before now. . .
Sue
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Friends,
Outdoor Entertainment can be arranged both in the winter and the summer season. Special moments can be shared in the garden with our families and friends, which become memories and are cherished throughout our life. So, it’s a great idea to transform our ordinary garden, patio or deck into an extraordinary one. It takes a few hours to spruce up our outdoor space in giving it a wonderful look. It needs to be remembered that the key for having success in outdoor entertainment is in proper planning. There are some useful tips, which should be kept in mind before progressing.
One of the most essential ingredients in creating our Entertaining Stage is the comfortable and elegant sitting/lounge area. It needs to accommodate everything including with some delicious food items, good books and also our favorite cocktail.
One also has to make sure to include a tilt-able sunscreen umbrella, varieties of adjustable chairs, an expandable outdoor-table along with numerous folding side tables, and several loungers.
Personal accessories like seat cushions, lanterns, and rusticated garden ornaments should also include in our Entertaining Area. Inclusion of these accessories usually provides a stimulating and beautiful view as if like a piece of heaven.
Edited by the Moderator to remove website url. Blatant advertising >:(
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Now if there is anything in life I would really like it's a personalised seat cushion :P I've read some 'twaddle' in my life but the above takes some bettering!
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It wouldn't leave much room for troughs would it? Our idea of entertainment in the garden is trying to carry a new frame from the shed to its new position without falling in the pond.
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Friends, we are not too happy with folks who register for the forum just to use it for advertising purposes, but in this case, I think the reaction already shown says it all! ::) ;)
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Three hurrays for our Global Moderator !!! ;D ;D
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When you are decorating the downstairs loo and waiting for the paper to soak it is quite entertaining(or really sad) to look at all the grammatical errors.There are probably several in this but no matter.
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Tony, MORE decorating? What a palace you must live in ::) 8)?
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Maggie its just to keep warm and in favour, as the garden has turned into my own private swamp there is not much I can do out there.
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Now if there is anything in life I would really like it's a personalised seat cushion :P I've read some 'twaddle' in my life but the above takes some bettering!
Well David, I could probably live without this, but I'm really keen on the "rusticated garden ornaments" (personalised of course) though I'm worried as to how they would fit with my "elegant sitting/lounge area". Gardens are so difficult to get right.
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Fair enough, Tony, a man's gotta do.... and so on. I have managed to hike the temperature in here up to 17 degrees, so no need to resort to heavy indoor labour meantime.... though, at this very moment, a Fire Engine has arrived outside, lights flashing.... Ian must have tweaked the setttings on the ruddy fire alarm again... what that lad won't do to save money :-\
Ah, no need for panic... call out is to one of the houses across the road.... making toast again I expect..... fire brigade comes to them very quickly, must be direct connection because of Sheltered housing status of those houses.
Gerry,
when the weather is good ( very good) , I am willing to come visit and sit about in your garden for the price of a bed and a biscuit or two... you won't get a better rusticated garden ornament than me, honest injun!
David, having just got the BD personalised shoes for his birthday, I really cannot comment in an unbiased fashion about the twaddle!
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I take it this person has had their bottom smacked and is now on the naughty step? ???
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I take it this person has had their bottom smacked and is now on the naughty step? ???
Anthony, I try not to resort to physical violence :-X The naughty step can be a little crowded sometimes - you can probably come off it now ::)
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Thanks to Moderator for the above removal. Best way to cope with the text above is to ridicule it.
I'm heartened to learn that UK newspapers have bad grammar and the like. Thought it was only ours that really are the PITS in this respect, and likewise in some of what should be our better quality magazines, such as "The Listener." Call themselves journalists! Most seem barely to have coped with basic English at all nowadays. :o
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Lesley - 'The Listener'? Surely this cannot be the literate & cultivated BBC journal from way back living on in the Southern Hemisphere?
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We have just received a council publication, in colour, which has an article on recycling and our three bin system. Apparently non-recyclable waste must go in the "gray" bin!!!!! :o >:(
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Lesley - 'The Listener'? Surely this cannot be the literate & cultivated BBC journal from way back living on in the Southern Hemisphere?
Oh, I DO hope so.... it'd be about the only literate & cultivated part of the modern BBC.......apart from the Beechgrove Potting Shed on BBC Radio Scotland on Sundays at 12.05pm, of course ;D
You should hear the absolute drivel and filth that is peedled on a programme that runs at the same time as the Potting Shed (The band is "split".... our programme is broadcast on FM while the truly awful sports-based ( i.e. football) programme goes out on digital and medium wave.) There is a version on Saturdays which we have had the misfortune to catch parts of when driving home from a show and this version of Sunday, marketed as their "Sunday Supplement" contains the most sorry claptrap imaginable. How do I know this, I hear you ask, since I am busy answering the phones for the Potting Shed? Well, it is seemingly beyongd the BBC to pay for two phone lines, or for a device which offers a "for the Potting Shed press 1, for Off the Ball press 2" option, so I answer the phones for the other programme too.... I can tell it is full of filth , racism, bigotry, and general crassness because of the things from the programme quoted to me by the callers.... some are, (bless 'em, there're on a hiding to nothing) phoning to complain, but the majority are ringing to chime in with their lewd stories and bigoted remembrances......I tell you, it has to be heard to be believed... and this continuing in the wake of the Ross/Brand scandal..... mind you, the pair of numpties presenting the programme are REALLY cheap in comparison to the famous two, so I can only think that someone in the BEEB hierarchy is happy that he's getting a great deal for his dumbing down campaign! ::) :P :-X :'( >:( >:(
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If we are on random subjects and television in general can I add the following that drive me nuts.
Newsreaders who now need to stand up whilst reading the news.
Editors of News Bulletins who think my mind is so addled that I am unable to understand an item without pictures. I can understand, for example, a story about stormy weather without the need to see the same library pictures of storm waves breaking over The Cobb at Lyme Regis that I have seen umpteen times before.
Programmes about Z list celebrities.
Programmes with Z list celebrities in them, especially those including dancing and supposed jungles in Oz
Programmes with the dregs of humanity locked up in houses.
Programmes with Z list celebrities locked up in houses.
Programmes with actors and actresses getting emotional about each other's achievements (or non-achievements!)
Programmes made by Russel Brand, Jonathon Ross and that odd Irish dwarf whose name I can never remember.
The fact that I have to pay the BBC whether or not I watch, or listen to the drivel available.
That virtually every member of the BBC staff, and his lad, appeared to be in that big country over the pond at the time they had an election and what's the betting that very few of the USA equivalents will make it over here when Broon decides to call it a day.
.... and I could go on all night.
It is not for nothing that my kids frequently call me Victor Meldrew. ;D
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Hey - we've now sneakily got ourselves TWO 'Moan, moan moan' topics! ;D
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...but I was disappointed to see the ban on 'blatant advertising' just when I was about to offer my services as.......
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..and if we are thinking of the 'moan,moan...' was I the only one sufficiently depraved to see Maggi's unfortunate progression from 'million' to 'billion' to
a certain South American country? (modesty prevents me from being more explicit!).
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..and if we are thinking of the 'moan,moan...' was I the only one sufficiently depraved to see Maggi's unfortunate progression from 'million' to 'billion' to
a certain South American country? (modesty prevents me from being more explicit!).
Giles, you do me a great mis-service... the perpetrators of this supposed naughtiness where one Anthony D ( well known for spending time on the naughty step) and Lesley Cox.....another, almost as tricky....but I am innocent, (First time for everything , I suspect)..........innocent I tell you!! Innocent as those Smoothies they keep advertising......
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It wiznae me! :-[ A big boy done it and ran away! :P
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Anthony, what on earth is the photo in your side bar, please.... my ageing eyes are not able to discern the text, which I think I spot..........what are you up to, Lad?
I believe I can see " I think......" what comes next ? .... "therefore I shop" ...one of my personal favourite tenets of belief....... or "I know where to get really good chocolate at below wholesale prices".... which would be even better.... ::) ???
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It's a doodle from Darwin's note book of 1837 showing his earliest illustration of 'the tree of life'.
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I like that doodle.
1837, eh? So .......just before he had his evening meal.... I love these intimate details from the lives of the great and good.
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and Lesley Cox.....another, almost as tricky....
Age is a terrible thing. I probably AM guilty - always seem to be, but if only I could remember what I'm guilty OF! ???
Yes Gerry, our own version, but the very magazine of which you speak (with some longing?). I like it for the music of course, and for the only informed political comment we get (frequently with tongue firmly in cheek) and with theatre, art, books etc as well as some jolly good cartoons. Visiting Australian friends look at it with envy.
May I add to David's list please? Programmes (from UK) about people who are bullied into buying clothes they don't want, (I did like that whatizname the chef called his plump pigs Trinny and Susannah ;D) programmes about people who should NEVER be seen without their clothes on, people who DON'T look 10 years younger in 10 days, and a dozen more of that ilk. Not to mention our own "public" broadcast TV channel which on the day's main news broadcast, after in item about the world's current economic problems, a further item about the new PM's new cabinet, ranks 3rd in world significance and importance, an item about the fact that Angelina Jolie regards her family as very important in her life. Hello?
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Not that I don't agree... I most certainly do... we get the same kind of "formats" from our local TV stations, but this thread does need to be moved to the moan moan moan thread !!!!! ;D ;D ;D
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It's a doodle from Darwin's note book of 1837 showing his earliest illustration of 'the tree of life'.
I had to go out last night to a retirement do and so did not see it until this morning. It looks more like the veins on some of my ex colleagues noses
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Yes Gerry, our own version, but the very magazine of which you speak (with some longing?). I like it for the music of course, and for the only informed political comment we get (frequently with tongue firmly in cheek) and with theatre, art, books etc as well as some jolly good cartoons. Visiting Australian friends look at it with envy.
Yes Lesley, I speak with longing & envy. It's impossible to imagine the BBC producing anything like it today. I was introduced to it by one of my teachers over 50 years ago & I continued to read it regularly for years. Over time it gradually deteriorated & when it folded in the early 90s it was a mere shadow of its former self. Sad.
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Not that I don't agree... I most certainly do... we get the same kind of "formats" from our local TV stations, but this thread does need to be moved to the moan moan moan thread !!!!! ;D ;D ;D
Of course you're right Luc (and Maggi has achieved that small miracle for us :D) it's just that the moan we want to have is relevant NOW and somehow loses its punch when we start looking for somewhere else to put it.
Gerry, I think ours has been going for many years, (1939, I just phoned their office, so 70 next year). It's published nowadays by one of the big (Australian) newspaper companies but is very independant editorially and is probably the best magazine we can get here, except Time which I rarely have time to read thoroughly every week. I guess I've been getting the Listener for about 40 years.
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Well here's a totally non horticultural moan. NZ's test cricketers, the Black Caps, have completed a totally shameful two test performance against Australia who, admittedly were fired up after their losses to India. Our batsmen are lacking in that nice old-fashioned word, "guts," and crumble en masse at the first hint of a turning ball or an extra km of speed. They are playing like new-to-the-game club cricketers. For those of us who, in spite of every discouragement, still love the game in its longest form, their recent performances are bitterly disappointing.
They are to play the West Indies in Dunedin in a few days and I hope to attend on at least two days, but in truth, I'd be better to hope for rain throughout so at least my garden and the surrounding farm and market garden land could benefit. >:(
Here endeth.....
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>...NZ's test cricketers, the Black Caps...<
Wow. Cricket playing chickadees!
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They are playing like new-to-the-game club cricketers...
...or England! ;)
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They may as well be Carlo!
We are rated 8th out of 10 of the test-playing nations now, only Zimbabwe and Bangaladesh below us. I think the West Indies are 7th.
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Yes, but that's what rooting for the underdog is all about...
What fun is it if they win all the time?
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Yes, but that's what rooting for the underdog is all about...
What fun is it if they win all the time?
Well, from the point of view of the Scottish Cricket Team, or the Scottish Football team.... I really wouldn't know, Carlo :-[ :P
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Lesley, look on the bright side. Both NZ rugby teams are doing exceedingly well. The league team are world champions, having beaten the only other team to have claimed that title in 19 tournaments and the union team have just won a grand slam against the home nations - something the Aussies didn't manage!
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Thanks for trying to cheer me up Anthony. I had something to post on the "YES!!! "I'm so Happy" thread but I'm so unhappy I can't remember what it was! :'(
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I suppose that when one of those beastly, unrelated, advertising posts appears, such as the recent instrument string one, the best we can do is ignore it totally, knowing that Maggi will very soon remove it.
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Lesley, you should be happy, as I am, that these stray adverts do not appear very often! ;D
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They may as well be Carlo!
We are rated 8th out of 10 of the test-playing nations now, only Zimbabwe and Bangaladesh below us. I think the West Indies are 7th.
No greetin' Lesley, the only way is UP ;D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55CW4LkG0QA
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I am indeed Maggi.
David, NZ cricket? whatever makes you think so. :'( Beautiful teeth though 8) and I wish I could make my hair like that.
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David I'm impressed you know your dance music
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Thanks for trying to cheer me up Anthony. I had something to post on the "YES!!! "I'm so Happy" thread but I'm so unhappy I can't remember what it was! :'(
Everytime I tried to open that thread the entire website shut down!
That hasn't happened before; is someone trying to tell us something???
cheers
fermi
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David I'm impressed you know your dance music
Mark, I can still 'strut my stuff' provided I'm well fortified!! ;D
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David I'm impressed you know your dance music
Mark, I can still 'strut my stuff' provided I'm well fortified!! ;D
Shouldn't that be fiftified, David ... ? (and am I being uncharacteristically generous at that)? ;D
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David I'm impressed you know your dance music
Mark, I can still 'strut my stuff' provided I'm well fortified!! ;D
Shouldn't that be fiftified, David ... ? (and am I being uncharacteristically generous at that)? ;D
..... generous to a fault Cliff.
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This is a moan against myself as I can't find the small thread in which I had some seed to share, from Marcus Harvey. Doesn't seem to be in either the seed section or the General Forum so here we go. I just wanted to say that all the packets (25!) have been posted this morning. I'd be pleased if those who receive them would let me know when they arrive, so I can give a pat on the back to the Post Office. It's a funny time of year after all.
I think I remembered everyone and the first requesters at least got all or most of what they wanted. Latter ones had some gaps in their requests. I ran out of seed envelopes by the time I'd finished the crocuses and colchicums so the frits are in little tissue parcels.
I do wish everyone success with them. In the past I have always found Marcus's collected and homegrown seed to be of excellent quality. A couple of mistakes on my part, due to not reading Marcus writing clearly. Colchicum corsicum is C. cretense and Fritillaria citrina is F. carica. They are correctly labelled in the packets.
Happy New Year everyone. :D
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Lesley dont get upset it happens to me all the time. I went upstairs this afternoon to do something and when I got there I couldnt remember ???
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This is a moan against myself as I can't find the small thread in which I had some seed to share, from Marcus Harvey.
Lesley, the easy way to do it is to go into your own profile (by clicking on your name, or on the Profile tab at the top of the page), then going to 'Show the last posts of this person' then you will find your posting.
its on the following link
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2791.msg66577#msg66577
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Thanks Diane,
I'd not looked at that link before. My God! 268 pages! I should be banned!
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Lesley,
It's in the "Plants Wanted" section. Third topic.
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Seeds to give away = plants wanted? Wonder how it got there?
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No point asking US... you're the one that created it. ;D ;)
We have things in our house that have been carefully put away so that we don't lose them.... and never seen again. I reckon that in at least a few places there are interdimensional portals from the interiors of draws and cupboards that open out into places unknown. There must be a BIG pile of things at the end of those portals by now, because the amount of things that we've put away to keep safe and never seen again is truly astounding!!
So your filing something slightly wrong is not that bad!! :D
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Some tools have the ability to use these portals or wormholes even without any cupboard. Adjustable spanners and 13mm spanners to give a couple of examples.
However, there is an alternative theory. In short:
The adjustable spanner is the larval stadium of the wire coat hanger.
When the spanner is old enough it crawls away into hiding and turns into an invisible chrysalis.
Later it emerges as the imago i.e. the coat hanger.
Happy New Year everybody
Göte
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Some tools have the ability to use these portals or wormholes even without any cupboard. Adjustable spanners and 13mm spanners to give a couple of example.
The adjustable spanner is the larval stadium of the wire coat hanger.
When the spanner is old enough it crawls away into hiding and turns into an invisible chrysalis.
I would like to believe you Gote ... but it's a wrench! ;)
Adjustable spanners do possess jaws ... perhaps they just eat themselves?
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That is another theory. perhaps the adjustables eat the fixed??
Göte
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What joy,11.30pm on New Years Eve and the central heating boiler died.
It is a bracing 7c in the lounge after the coldest night of the winter so far.Takes me back to my childhood with ice on the windows.
No engineer until tomorrow and then I expect it will be a wait for parts.
I was worried about the gas bills now its whether my clivia's will be alright.
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Tony, hope you warded off the chill with an extra drop or two of the amber liquid and that you get your parts quickly.
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David
I was already warmed up which is why I did not notice it had gone off.
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It is a bracing 7c in the lounge
Luxury, b****y luxury! I'll be down for a heat!
No, I jest, most times I can get this room up to 14 degrees :P
Look on the bright side: What a bit of luck you are in England, Tony... fat chance of an engineer before next Wednesday up here... let alone parts!
Fingers crossed for a change in the weather to aid your warming until repairs are effected .....suggest retreat to bed with flask of tea, sandwiches and wooly hat. :-*
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....... and more amber liquid!!
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....... and more amber liquid!!
That would be the TEA, then ?
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Not likely!!!!
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Lesley dont get upset it happens to me all the time. I went upstairs this afternoon to do something and when I got there I couldnt remember ???
Mark,
you're obviously at the age when you have to think about the hereafter. You walk into a room and say to yourself "Now what am I here after?"
;D ;D ;D
cheers
fermi
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Hahaha , I can relate to that!!
Don't know why I am laughing ???
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I am in the process of importing bulbs/corms from Marcus Harvey in Tasmania. This year I decided to go for broke and include irises in my order, knowing that for Iris I have to have an import permit and they have to go into post-entry quarantine - though Heaven knows why. They don't, I imagine pose any greater environmental risk than Crocus or Narcissus. Tulipa has the same stipulation attached.
Anyway, I duly went to the ERMA website and downloaded an application for Permit to Import form and find that the Permit will cost $105. It's a lot for the 8 bulbs I wished to import but "what the hell" I thought. Then, because I no longer have a quarantine facility I phoned my friend Denis Hughes at Blue Mountain Nurseries who has a facility available to the public. "I doubt if you'll want to" he said. "It works out at thousands of dollars for each importation." The bulbs have to be inspected in quarantine at least twice, then a third time prior to release. There used to be an inspector in Dunedin then later, not in Dn but still one in Christchurch. Now, the inspector flies down from Wellington to Invercargill, hires a rental car to drive the hour or so to Blue Mountain Nurseries, inspects, drives back to Invercargill, stays overnight in a hotel then flies back to Wellington. At least 3 times in a 12 month period.
So - no irises from Marcus.
I've sent an email to ERMA (through their website) asking if there's any way I can import my 8 bulbs without all these hassles and costs. So far my email has come back to me as if I, myself have sent it. There's no indication that ERMA have received it and it certainly hasn't been answered.
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Good job you didn't really want them, Lesley!! :D Stick with Ranunculus semiverticillatus ... now that WOULD be worth it!
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That sounds like quite a story, Lesley. I thought we had all the beaurocrats, but that one really takes the cake, and we all know you know a thing or two about cakes too ;D
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Paul, do you thing that the flying chairs at the Australian open will pose any threat to the low cost Airlines.? ;D
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I doubt they will Michael, only to low flying airlines. :)
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A so called friend sent me this today entitled things to look forward to. Its what worries me
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You're a gardener Ian, we never run out of things to do only time to do them ;D
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David I also fish and enjoy walking and I am still working a little but there are still moments like this and there is the fear and even the guilt :-\
I am trying to make myself busy today continuing a job I started some weeks ago which is to organise 10,000 or so digital photos and to discard as many as I can. Decisions decisions ::) Nearly done
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I am trying to make myself busy today continuing a job I started some weeks ago which is to organise 10,000 or so digital photos and to discard as many as I can. Decisions decisions ::) Nearly done
PLEASE DON'T FEEL GUILTY, IAN ... I have over sixty thousand digital images to sort through ... may I expect you anytime? :D
Can't seem to find any time, what with child-minding, lecture preparations and general idling ...
Sue says I should learn to cook, clean and shop! What ... at my age!!!! I'll be sixty before she knows it.
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All my photos are organised as I go along ;D. I have 77GB of photos neatly stored on my hard drive
Weekly I run a slide show and delete all those that are not perfect.
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Cliff sixty you don't look a day older than ........................... (answers on a postcard) By the way we are going back to the Dollies this year - how about you and Sue?
Mark If I were to delete all the ones that weren't perfect it would be easy DELETE ALL ::)
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I have a small moan to make, specifically about a couple of our Forumists. Won't name them though.
Why do you type out your text with no capital letters? It is more difficult to read as the text seems not to be divided into proper sentences even though there is usually some punctuation. It is also just darned lazy.
There. That's done.
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I have a small moan to make, specifically about a couple of our Forumists. Won't name them though.
Why do you type out your text with no capital letters? It is more difficult to read as the text seems not to be divided into proper sentences even though there is usually some punctuation. It is also just darned lazy.
There. That's done.
Right out of my heart Lesley!
For people not grown up with English, like many Forumists are, it is even more difficult to read.
But for me it's very simple. after trying a few times, I just don't read such messages anymore
because I don't like to stare to texts where are the sentences hard to find.
I even have difficulties with texts where ' i ' is used for ' I ' , but maybe I am too old(fashioned)
to follow this?
But maybe I'm to lazy for that?? ::) ::) :-X
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Well Luit, if you are old-fashioned so am I and happy with it. I truly deplore the rubbishing of the English language. I believe even the Oxford Dictionary finds split infinitives acceptable nowadays, common usage being the only criterion of correctness. To my mind, every time we accept such apparently small or unimportant down-grades, we say, in effect, that the lowest standard is what should be achieved and that a high stand is not worth attaining. If this is so with our language then it is so in every aspect of our lives.
A recent article in our "Listener" magazine was about how New Zealanders in particular have mangled their mother tongue to the extent that even English speakers from outside NZ find us impossible to understand. I'm sure that it all comes down to laziness in the end, and failure to correct bad spelling, grammar and syntax in our school system.
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That's it! A SIN TAX for the school system..... the revenue from that could solve the country's fiscal problems at a stroke. 8) I'll vote for it!
[attach=1]
[attach=2]
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Lesley,a teacher told me recently that they are now accepting text message lingo in some schools,but he would not correct any exercise written in text lingo.
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I believe it Michael. It is some years since NZ universities required students to spell sulphur as sulfur or sulfer, apparantly as Americans do. It will be si-ki-atry next! (By the way, what is lingo? ;D)
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I'm all for the sin tax Maggi. So long as I am asked to list the sins. It could apply in all walks of life not just the schools. Of course it wouldn't include the consumption of alcohol, but just about everything else. ;D
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(By the way, what is lingo? )
That would be a vernacular, Lesley, a patois or jargon........ ;)
The Sin Tax was MY idea Lesley, so I get to choose the sins ;D......... it's a LONG list, I can tell you >:(
Naturally, those who use far too many exclamation marks will not be punished under my regime, though other transgressions will be tackled...... then, as time permits, I'll get on to those idiots who use their phones while driving..... and ...... and.......
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.....and the congenital idiots who make my classroom life a misery. >:(
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(By the way, what is lingo? )
That would be a vernacular, Lesley, a patois or jargon........ ;)
I know Maggi, I know (by jingo!)
I don't suppose over indulgence will be on the list will it? couldn't cope with that.
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A recent article in our "Listener" magazine was about how New Zealanders in particular have mangled their mother tongue to the extent that even English speakers from outside NZ find us impossible to understand. I'm sure that it all comes down to laziness in the end, and failure to correct bad spelling, grammar and syntax in our school system.
I'm not sayin' nuffink! ;D
The Sin Tax was MY idea Lesley, so I get to choose the sins ;D......... it's a LONG list, I can tell you >:(
Naturally, those who use far too many exclamation marks will not be punished under my regime, though other transgressions will be tackled...... then, as time permits, I'll get on to those idiots who use their phones while driving..... and ...... and.......
I always thought that Sin Tax was what you put in the plate in Church! ;D
Thank goodness excessive exclaimers are exempt! ;) Hopefully Maggi will have more luck catching those idiots using phones while driving as the police only seem to catch them on TV shows! >:(
cheers
fermi
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Well I suppose because so few of us go to church nowadays, that leaves plenty opportunities for Maggi to collect. After all, our various guilt complexes have to have some resolution somewhere.
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I always thought that Sin Tax was what you put in the plate in Church! ;D
cheers
fermi
You must be very virtuous if a plate is sufficient. In our churches they stick around a bag on a pole ;D
Göte
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I always thought that Sin Tax was what you put in the plate in Church! ;D
cheers
fermi
You must be very virtuous if a plate is sufficient. In our churches they stick around a bag on a pole ;D
Göte
Plates in the Cathedral here.
Lesley,a teacher told me recently that they are now accepting text message lingo in some schools, but he would not correct any exercise written in text lingo.
We don't accept text speak at our school, or in the Scottish exam system. Microsoft Word has a lot to answer for adding capital letters to words in documents and correcting spelling. These people are shown up when they move out of 'Word'. I despair. :(
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You are not alone Anthony.
In my part of the world it is the accepted wisdom that those who influence the language should always use the most childish and simplified babble possible. The idea is that nobody should "show off" their erudition, thereby intimidating the less fortunate. What these (censored censored) morons do not understand is that they deem the public to be unable to learn and/or think. Only they are intelligent enough but they must (crocodile tears - is there a smily for that?) lower themselves to the level of Profanum Vulgus and simplify. The acceptance of simplifying is the bane of the language.
Most Swedish readers have difficulty in understanding Swedish of the 17th century. Most cannot read a runic stone (11th C) at all. An educated Chinese can read and love poetry that is from the 7th C. (sometimes much older) This is because they did not (until recently) simplify their script. They did simplify their pronounciation to the degree when the word written 'li' in romanizated form in one of the four tones used has over 25 different meanings - each written differently using the Chinese script.
I am old enough to have seen the plural forms of the Swedish verb disappear; so did the conjunctive forms. The imperative forms are only left in old songs and today few realize what they are.
You have lost 'thou' and I assume many other refinements that I as an outsider do not see.
The words meaning 'work' and 'talk' have been replaced by 'job' and 'chat' We used to use different words for talking with a serious meaning and chatting socially - no more. Again for the anti-snobbish reasons. An anti-snob is in fact the worst kind of snob. "I know and understand but you do not so I am gracious enough to lower myself to your level" I think hypocrisy is the word.
:'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
Göte
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After I retired I attended college to learn computing,word,etc. which upto that time I had not been involved with.My PA was taking a degree in computer studies and so it was not necessary for me to be able to use the machine.Lazy I know!
At college myself, together with the other oldies on the course used punctuation in our work such as commas and colons. We were told that punctuation was no longer used apart from a full stop and if we used it in the examination we would be failed as not up to standard.It is not my strongest point but I do still try.
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After I retired I attended college to learn computing,word,etc. which upto that time I had not been involved with.My PA was taking a degree in computer studies and so it was not necessary for me to be able to use the machine.Lazy I know!
At college myself, together with the other oldies on the course used punctuation in our work such as commas and colons. We were told that punctuation was no longer used apart from a full stop and if we used it in the examination we would be failed as not up to standard.It is not my strongest point but I do still try.
Good grief! I still use proper punctuation and grammar - damn Word for trying to Americanise everything >:( - and on another set of boards had a long rant re. my inability to understand the communications of some posters due to their inability to write English!
A friend's son always maintained he did not need to know how to spell as his computer corrected everything for him. He then went off to Brazil for the better part of a year and used their internet cafés to communicate. Well, guess what, a Brazilian computer can't check English spelling! I used to import his text into a Word doc. and run spell checker on it to make it easier to read... even then the grammar and punctuation was dire :(
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And of course Word doesn't recognize context so that right is right even when one means write. So the person reading this rubbish thinks, rightly, that the person writing is an uneducated clutz anyway. Right?
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Talking of thee and thou. You should see what they have done to classic hymns in CH4 - the latest edition of the Church (of Scotland) Hymnary. I await their version of Shakespear (now how did he spell his name? ::))
As my grandmother used to say: "all the world's queer except thee and me, and even thee!"
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And of course Word doesn't recognize context so that right is right even when one means write. So the person reading this rubbish thinks, rightly, that the person writing is an uneducated clutz anyway. Right?
Right ;D
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wright
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As my grandmother used to say: "all the world's queer except thee and me, and even thee!"
or "They're all out of step but our Johnnie."
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Well Luit, if you are old-fashioned so am I and happy with it. I truly deplore the rubbishing of the English language. I believe even the Oxford Dictionary finds split infinitives acceptable nowadays, common usage being the only criterion of correctness
Let me help you sleep at night, Lesley, instead of lying awake sleepless with worry over split infintives!
In point of fact, the split infinitive has a long and honorable history in English. Even Shakespeare used it on occasion. Eric Partridge summarized the situation this way in his Usage & Abusage: "Avoid the split infinitive wherever possible; but if it is the clearest and the most natural construction, use it boldly. The angels are on our side."
Partridge offers examples where splitting the infinitive is the only way to avoid ambiguity, vagueness, and circumlocution.
I haven't the patience to go searching for it, but I'm sure that Otto Jespersen has many historical examples in his A Modern English Grammar on Historical Principles.
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Well thanks for that help Rodger, with my sleep problems. Any solution for last night's? I kept seeing in my mind this series of little lawns, each planted with crocus, or cyclamen or narcissus or Fritillaria meleagris, the whole lot to be over-planted with Gentiana sino-ornata, for autumn flowers. Can't make up my mind which to tackle first. :D I guess I have to boldly go, and stick a pin in the list.
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Lesley - and to think I got worried about my dreams... ;D ;D ;D
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I believe it Michael. It is some years since NZ universities required students to spell sulphur as sulfur or sulfer, apparantly as Americans do. It will be si-ki-atry next! (By the way, what is lingo? ;D)
I've only just seen this. I'm impressed that NZ universities still have requirements. I remember when I was teaching & I criticised a student for her poor spelling & grammar. She complained to her personal tutor (a relatively young chap) who confronted me & told me I should not concern myself with trivia. (The imperialistic spell check on this site insists I should write 'criticize' in the American fashion).
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I believe it Michael. It is some years since NZ universities required students to spell sulphur as sulfur or sulfer, apparently as Americans do. It will be si-ki-atry next! (By the way, what is lingo? ;D)
I've only just seen this. I'm impressed that NZ universities still have requirements. I remember when I was teaching & I criticised a student for her poor spelling & grammar. She complained to her personal tutor (a relatively young chap) who confronted me & told me I should not concern myself with trivia. (The imperialistic spell check on this site insists I should write 'criticize' in the American fashion).
My daughter Lucy is doing grade 3 on piano and violin next month (she's 9 and in P5, as her birthday is March) and James (he's 12 and in S1) is doing grade 4 on the trumpet. (I don't know what these equate to in the Australian system they have adopted in England where "year 1" is actually 2nd year of primary school ::)) Grade 4 is now the standard for Higher music (S5 exam - Highers are the standard Scottish national exams kids take for university entrance - they usually take 5 from e.g. Maths, English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, French, Geography, History, Modern Studies, Art, Music, Accounts etc). When I did Higher music the standard was grade 7 (Associated Board) and not only did we do keyboard harmony, but had to do written 3 part harmony too! Now the kids don't even need to be able to read music! At least the Biology still maintains some sort of standard, although we no longer require the kids to know the intermediate compounds in respiration! The exam covers all the knowledge learning outcomes, not like some subjects where you can get an A pass (nae stars, sorry) by knowing three 10ths of five 8ths of b***er all. ::)
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I believe it Michael. It is some years since NZ universities required students to spell sulphur as sulfur or sulfer, apparantly as Americans do. It will be si-ki-atry next! (By the way, what is lingo? ;D)
I've only just seen this. I'm impressed that NZ universities still have requirements. I remember when I was teaching & I criticised a student for her poor spelling & grammar. She complained to her personal tutor (a relatively young chap) who confronted me & told me I should not concern myself with trivia. (The imperialistic spell check on this site insists I should write 'criticize' in the American fashion).
You can set Word to spellcheck according to UK-spelling and even Zimbabwe-spelling or Malaysia-spelling. Of course Zimbabwe-spelling would be imperialistic. So If you are dubious about your own spelling write in Word and import. Somehow I am glad that the spellchecker is using US-English rather than Gaelic. ;D
It is of course not trivia to be able to write reasonably well. The reaction from a reader/employer/examiner is "If they cannot even spell what else is wrong?". I have observed that most of the intellectual gigants are able to write a language that is easy to understand even when they write about very esoteric subjects. Also their lectures tend to be very transparent.
Göte
PS
apparantly ??? ???
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Anthony,
Please excuse me for perhaps saying the obvious - as a teacher you probably already have made these reflections.
I suggest you buy sheet music, of a suitable degree of difficulty, to music your offspring loves, and point out that they can find what they need there.
My own realization of the importance of sheet music was at a relative tender age. After having seen 'Hoffman' I found the sheet music to the barcarolle and very laboriously learnt to play it.
I have noted that some newer music (Beatles is an example) is rhythmically complicated to a degree that most fans never notice. A study of the sheet music will reveal many of these things.
In 'Memory' (Cats) bar #7 is in 10/8 and bar #8 is 12/8; bar #9 is 6/8. This of course completely upsets anyone who is using an "electronic drummer". (perhaps intended by Mr Lloyd Webber ;))
The fact that it is a kind of "Waltz" is already difficult to understand by many.
I think that knowledge of this type could be used as oneupmanship by young students needing a pretext for learning reading sheet music.
Göte
PS
I refused to change barcarolle to 'barcarole' >:(
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You can set Word to spellcheck according to UK-spelling and even Zimbabwe-spelling or Malaysia-spelling. Of course Zimbabwe-spelling would be imperialistic. So If you are dubious about your own spelling write in Word and import. Somehow I am glad that the spellchecker is using US-English rather than Gaelic. ;D
Göte
PS
apparantly ??? ???
I have attempted to do this but STILL get American spelling queries from Word. The use of 'z' instead of 's' in words like realise just looks plain wrong to me ??? ::) ???
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Anthony,
Please excuse me for perhaps saying the obvious - as a teacher you probably already have made these reflections.
I suggest you buy sheet music, of a suitable degree of difficulty, to music your offspring loves, and point out that they can find what they need there.
My own realization of the importance of sheet music was at a relative tender age. After having seen 'Hoffman' I found the sheet music to the barcarolle and very laboriously learnt to play it.
I have noted that some newer music (Beatles is an example) is rhythmically complicated to a degree that most fans never notice. A study of the sheet music will reveal many of these things.
In 'Memory' (Cats) bar #7 is in 10/8 and bar #8 is 12/8; bar #9 is 6/8. This of course completely upsets anyone who is using an "electronic drummer". (perhaps intended by Mr Lloyd Webber ;))
The fact that it is a kind of "Waltz" is already difficult to understand by many.
I think that knowledge of this type could be used as oneupmanship by young students needing a pretext for learning reading sheet music.
Göte
PS
I refused to change barcarolle to 'barcarole' >:(
The children have music lessons and both can sight-read music. Lucy is well past playing Hoffman's barcarolle on both piano and violin. Two Sunday's ago she, as a member of the Cathedral trebles choir, was singing Haydn's St Nicholas Mass (we didn't do the Credo) during the service. Last Sunday the trebles (all 8 of them) sang an anthem on their own, accompanied by the piano, and no microphones! It sounded angelic. Not like that horrendous noise that purports to be music on things like the record 'Food, Glorious Food' where accuracy is ignored, and perhaps, even frowned upon! :( All the kids do is shout horribly.::)
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Göte
PS
apparantly
.... I believe you meant to correct that to apparently ? ::)
Carol, nice new photo, I expect you can see us better now, eh?
I believe there is, quite rightly, a difference between the way we speak and the way we write.... that is to say, "write" in more formal applications, work, study and so on. In the context of a forum such as this, the emphasis is more on an informal intercourse between friends, so, in my opinion, a more informal tone is appropriate in most instances. In an international forum there are, naturally, other constraints regarding making oneself inderstood by those who are not fully conversant with idiomatic use of English.
My own difficulty comes because I am a lousy typist , with a keyboard missing the painted identification on half the keys ::) :-X
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....and I have to belt the letter 'v' because it is stuck. ::)
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My period is my biggest problem, have to really whack it ???
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Well, there's no answer to that. ;D ;)
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;D ;D
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Well, there's no answer to that. ;D ;)
We could trade!!! ;D
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Moan of the day: sore knees after spending almost two days removing two large patches of crocosmias which had been left to their own devices for several years. I now have about 4 square metres of planting space. First into this will be Anemone nemerosa 'Lady Doneraile' a variety of Irish origin, very strong grower, 25cm tall, large white flowers held upwards.
Typing: a good decision I made 35 years ago was to take the time to learn to touch type. Maggi, it doesn't matter if the letters have become worn off the keys!
Paddy
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........and next year remember to remove 4m2 of crocosmia which has returned. ;D
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Anthony,
You should be posting this in I am so happy. :)
These are good news indeed and you make me feel a little better too.
I got the wrong impression from your post.
Göte
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Carol,
I have attempted to do this but STILL get American spelling queries from Word. The use of 'z' instead of 's' in words like realise just looks plain wrong to me ??? ::) ???
There are two levels to this. The individual document can be set to a certain spelling dictionary - I think even the individual paragraph can be set to it.
However you can also set your preferences to a certain dictionary and this is a default thing. As soon as the program thinks that you start a new section, it might default back to the preferred dictionary.
I am not quite sure what will apply in your case but you should have a template called 'normal.dot' that stores your preferences.
Every time you start a new blank document, Words loads normal.dot with all settings of font, indents, paper size and so on. I assume you can set this template to whatever dictionary you want to use. If so that will be assumed to be the standard. I am not sure and different versions of word may differ but it is well worth poking around this area.
You can set word to find out which language you are using. It will recognize that English is not German but but I doubt that it will discern between different variations of English.
I hope I am right and I hope I am helpful :)
Göte
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........and next year remember to remove 4m2 of crocosmia which has returned. ;D
Hereabouts the standard measure for crocosmia is m3 ;D because the strings of corms go down so deep and profusely :-\.
Either you need to be incredibly thorough Paddy or Lady Doneraile needs to be incredibly tough ;). So best of luck to you both.
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Ashley, Anthony,
I was incredibly thorough, hands and knees stuff with a hand fork after the initial major lift out with a garden fork. Then I went back and went through it all again; then I dug in three loads of compost, one at a time so as to give me an opportunity to spot any corms missed; then I dug in three loads of leafmould and then I planted the anemone, transplanted some snowdrops and planted out some Arisaema.
And now I must wait and keep my fingers crossed.
Paddy
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Hi Paddy,
Please let us know, a year from now, that indeed none of them returned. I've tried several times, hands and knees, to get rid of them but they just don't want to leave my sandy soil!
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Carol,
I have attempted to do this but STILL get American spelling queries from Word. The use of 'z' instead of 's' in words like realise just looks plain wrong to me ??? ::) ???
There are two levels to this. The individual document can be set to a certain spelling dictionary - I think even the individual paragraph can be set to it.
However you can also set your preferences to a certain dictionary and this is a default thing. As soon as the program thinks that you start a new section, it might default back to the preferred dictionary.
I am not quite sure what will apply in your case but you should have a template called 'normal.dot' that stores your preferences.
Every time you start a new blank document, Words loads normal.dot with all settings of font, indents, paper size and so on. I assume you can set this template to whatever dictionary you want to use. If so that will be assumed to be the standard. I am not sure and different versions of word may differ but it is well worth poking around this area.
You can set word to find out which language you are using. It will recognize that English is not German but but I doubt that it will discern between different variations of English.
I hope I am right and I hope I am helpful :)
Göte
MS Word does distinguish between the various versions of 'English'. Just go to tools, click 'language' and then 'set language' and you will see, but you then have to save the settings and they'll be like that for evermore. Word on my computer rejects American spellings.
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I have noted that some newer music (Beatles is an example) is rhythmically complicated to a degree that most fans never notice. A study of the sheet music will reveal many of these things.
In 'Memory' (Cats) bar #7 is in 10/8 and bar #8 is 12/8; bar #9 is 6/8. This of course completely upsets anyone who is using an "electronic drummer". (perhaps intended by Mr Lloyd Webber ;))
The fact that it is a kind of "Waltz" is already difficult to understand by many.
What I always found particularly difficult was when one has to play different time signatures in each hand, as in, e.g. one of Chopin's 3 Opus Posthumus Etudes (can't remember which one at present and when I went to play the disc, found it absent from its box. Where the heck has it gone?) in which the right hand plays 3/4 while the left plays 4/4. These three little pieces are deceptively difficult, while sounding easy. But then, my name's not Martha. :)
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I have another video clip, sent by another forumist which is even worse than TH's one, Lesley, I'll send it to you when I find it!
In the meantime, I will print here the text of another "driving" email I got from my Brother in Law, Bill.......
"This morning on the Freeway,
I looked over to my left and there was a
Woman
In a brand new
Holden Calaise
Doing 110 kms per hr
With her
Face up next to her
Rear view mirror
Putting on her eyeliner.
I looked away
For a couple seconds !
And when I looked back she was
Halfway over in my lane,
Still working on that makeup.
As a man,
I don't scare easily.
But she scared me so much;
I dropped
My electric shaver,
Which knocked
The meat pie
Out of my other hand.
In all
The confusion of trying
To straighten out the car
Using my knees against
The steering wheel,
It knocked
My Mobile phone
Away from my ear
Which fell
Into the coffee
Between my legs,
Splashed,
And burned
Big Jim and the Twins,
Ruined the darn phone,
Soaked my trousers,
And disconnected an
Important call.
b***dy women drivers!! "
Bill sends me a few of these funnies... ::)
P. S. I don't drive.....well, maybe just the BD round the bend!!
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I'll give Bill hell about this one next time I see him at the Market
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I'll give Bill hell about this one next time I see him at the Market
Nah, don't be mean to him, he has a really bad shoulder, he needs sympathy!
Right, after midnight, so I'm off to bed.... BBC tomorrow. Night , All!
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I have noted that some newer music (Beatles is an example) is rhythmically complicated to a degree that most fans never notice. A study of the sheet music will reveal many of these things.
In 'Memory' (Cats) bar #7 is in 10/8 and bar #8 is 12/8; bar #9 is 6/8. This of course completely upsets anyone who is using an "electronic drummer". (perhaps intended by Mr Lloyd Webber ;))
The fact that it is a kind of "Waltz" is already difficult to understand by many.
What I always found particularly difficult was when one has to play different time signatures in each hand, as in, e.g. one of Chopin's 3 Opus Posthumus Etudes (can't remember which one at present and when I went to play the disc, found it absent from its box. Where the heck has it gone?) in which the right hand plays 3/4 while the left plays 4/4. These three little pieces are deceptively difficult, while sounding easy. But then, my name's not Martha. :)
For 3s against 4s 'Honky Tonk Train Blues' by Meade "Lux" Lewis and recorded by Joe Loss is great fun on the piano.
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I'll give Bill hell about this one next time I see him at the Market
Nah, don't be mean to him, he has a really bad shoulder, he needs sympathy!
Right, after midnight, so I'm off to bed.... BBC tomorrow. Night , All!
He can have mine to cry on if he likes and if Anne doesn't mind.
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Well... both David & I tend to assume it is a woman or a grumpy old fart driving in front of us if they are driving in an erratic manner. Driving home from the council meeting yesterday the driver of the car in front was speeding up to 60 then slowing back down to 40 then... When I managed to safely overtake it was a grumpy old fart :D
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I hope you didn't get caught on camera Carol? ::)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdPSoPAsahU
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I'll give Bill hell about this one next time I see him at the Market
Nah, don't be mean to him, he has a really bad shoulder, he needs sympathy!
Right, after midnight, so I'm off to bed.... BBC tomorrow. Night , All!
He can have mine to cry on if he likes and if Anne doesn't mind.
Why should I mind?
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I hope you didn't get caught on camera Carol? ::)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdPSoPAsahU
Wasn't speeding - didn't need to ;D
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I'll give Bill hell about this one next time I see him at the Market
Nah, don't be mean to him, he has a really bad shoulder, he needs sympathy!
Right, after midnight, so I'm off to bed.... BBC tomorrow. Night , All!
He can have mine to cry on if he likes and if Anne doesn't mind.
Why should I mind?
You wouldn't mind, I'm sure, the Ann who might, but won't, is my sister Ann in New Zealand :D
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Ah, the famous Ann Other. ;D
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::)
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I'll give Bill hell about this one next time I see him at the Market
Nah, don't be mean to him, he has a really bad shoulder, he needs sympathy!
Right, after midnight, so I'm off to bed.... BBC tomorrow. Night , All!
He can have mine to cry on if he likes and if Anne doesn't mind.
Why should I mind?
I think I mean Ann. :D
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I'll give Bill hell about this one next time I see him at the Market
Nah, don't be mean to him, he has a really bad shoulder, he needs sympathy!
Right, after midnight, so I'm off to bed.... BBC tomorrow. Night , All!
He can have mine to cry on if he likes and if Anne doesn't mind.
Why should I mind?
I think I mean Ann. :D
Totally confused but that is normal... ??? ??? ???
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I'll give Bill hell about this one next time I see him at the Market
Nah, don't be mean to him, he has a really bad shoulder, he needs sympathy!
Right, after midnight, so I'm off to bed.... BBC tomorrow. Night , All!
He can have mine to cry on if he likes and if Anne doesn't mind.
Why should I mind?
I think I mean Ann. :D
Totally confused but that is normal... ??? ??? ???
Right - Here we go - Maggi's brother-in-law Bill sent her the joke above. Bill's wife is Ann. Ann is Maggi's sister. Bill and Ann live here in Dunedin and I know them both. Said I'd give Bill hell. Maggi said don't, I said he could cry on my shoulder if Anne didn't mind but I should have said Ann, not Anne. Anne (Wright) right? said why would I (she) mind, Maggi said you (she) wouldn't but Ann who might won't, Annethony tried to introduce Ann other altogether and... etc etc.....Now we're ALL confused. Time for coffee and a prozac.
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SNFAU ;D
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O.M.G. ;D ;D ;D ::)
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Our local supermarket,part of a large chain of stores, has for the last two months in their fruit and veg dept. 20 plants of Boxwood (Buxus)
in 30cm pots. some round balls and some pyramids. Dead. Dead. Dead. Dead as a Dodo. I informed the assistant manager who said he would Remove them,he did not. A few days later I informed the Manager who brought me to the F & V dept. manager and he said he would remove them. Guess what!, they are still on sale two weeks later, and they are still DEAD ??? ??? ??? ??? ???
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Michael,
Atleast be reassured that they knew what Box plants were.
Last Summer at my local Sainsburys I took a bag of broad beans to the check out, only for the lady at the till to hold them up in the air, stare at them,
and ask 'What are these?'
re. earlier entries OMG/SNFAU - can get in to problems with these, for me LOL always meant 'little old lady', but now know otherwise.
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Many years ago I went into a delicatessen in Polmont, about 3 miles from Falkirk, to get some food for the animals we used to keep in the school pets' club. Although we didn't keep hamsters, this was in a big bag labelled 'Hamster mix'. They sold rabbit mix too, but the shop was mostly fresh and dried fruit and veg, plus herbs, spices pickles jams etc. Typical delicatessen fare. I spent a few minutes gazing at the hamster mix as there was something not quite right. I decided to take a much closer look. It was crawling with Australian spider beetle. I pointed this out and the bag was duly removed. It was back, complete with live cargo, the following week. I never went back to the shop.
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Spring is not the best of seasons,
Colds and 'flu are two good reasons;
Wind and rain and other sorrow,
Warm today and cold tomorrow.
Here's a Chinese proverb:
"All gardeners know better than other gardeners".
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re. earlier entries OMG/SNFAU - can get in to problems with these, for me LOL always meant 'little old lady', but now know otherwise.
Not sure what SNFAU means but I've been told that SNAFU means Situation Normal All F...ouled Up ;D
Anthony,
those were obvious "Boomerang" beetles which is why they returned!
cheers
fermi
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Not sure what SNFAU means but I've been told that SNAFU means Situation Normal All F...ouled Up ;D
fermi
Fermi - Situation Normal All F...ked UP is what I understand it to mean :o
One work colleague was a royal pain the the ass... got to the point that every time he appeared we said FONRIB - F Off Now Russell I'm Busy
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You don't know what you've got til its gone.... On Tuesday I dug out some blackthorn roots with my trowel and then had to get the shovel to them as well. Put all the bits in the trug along with a lot of other stuff and carted it off to the green recycling bin. Next day, I went out to do a bit more tidying up, and couldn't find my trowel. I must have put it in the trug and thrown it into the recycling bin. Trouble was, Wednesday morning, before I'd had chance to find out that's what I'd done, yes, you guessed it :-\ they came and emptied the bins. I've had this trusty trowel for about 30 years, its made of thicker stainless steel than any I've seen for purchase these days, it never let me down, even when I mistreated it, and the handle was really good wood. I got it when I was still in Canada, so it travelled across the Atlantic with our possessions all those years ago. Now its composting, or perhaps its even chewed up the composting machinery, who knows, anyway, I no longer have it. So I thought I'd see if I could find another like it on the internet. No luck. The closest I came to it was a Corona comfort trowel or a Rumford Gardener Pro. Both are from American sources and no UK suppliers that don't want to rip you off for a pile of money. Can't even get them shipped from the US to Canada where I could pick them up when I go in May. So I've had to settle for a much less satisfactory one for now, but I'm going to find a way to get around this embargo on exporting such things!!!!
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Chris, I really like the remarkably cheap ones that B&Q had, about £3. They were very strong stainless steel with soft rubberised handles, nicely shaped and seemingly impossible to bend. Although I bought 2 each of the forks and trowels, they all went walkies somewhere, probably because the handles were nicely camouflaged in green and a little yellow. The good news is that Morrison's seem to be doing the same ones for £3 each but with bright PINK handles. I know - embarrassing - but much easier to spot when left in the garden. I'm going to buy 3 of each, and I bet I don't lose any!
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I think a 14k gold ring I wore on my right hand went via my mum's garden waste bin too. :'(
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. . . a Corona comfort trowel . . . Can't even get them shipped from the US to Canada where I could pick them up when I go in May
Corona trowels are fairly readily available here on Vancouver Island and, presumably, elsewhere in Canada.
As Tarzan frequently said to Jane, where there is life there is hope.
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The closest I came to it was a Corona comfort trowel or a Rumford Gardener Pro. Both are from American sources and no UK suppliers that don't want to rip you off for a pile of money. Can't even get them shipped from the US to Canada where I could pick them up when I go in May. So I've had to settle for a much less satisfactory one for now, but I'm going to find a way to get around this embargo on exporting such things!!!!
Chris - The company I work for sells Corona. If you get me the code (30101?) I will see if they have one in stock and can send it to you.
PM me your address and I'll let you know how much it will cost to send.
johnw
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Hi John and Rodger,
Yes, that's the code for the one I want! I'm coming to Canada to visit my daughter in Abbotsford in May, and will be stopping off in Toronto on each journey. If either you or Rodger know of a stockist in either Burlington, Hamilton, Barrie or Abbotsford, I will be in all of those places in June and could get one. They certainly look closest to the one I've lost in style and size, though mine had a wooden handle instead, but that doesn't matter a jot, its the sharp blade - I have been able to chop through two inch tree roots with the other as I troweled along - and the actual shape I'm after, along with strength and durability. Every single one I've ever bought here in the UK have bent whilst I've been digging something tough, only this one was strong enough to withstand my wear and tear on it. Wonderful news though, that they are available in Canada, I looked on Home Depot and Canadian Tire sites for them before I posted to this group.
Thanks for your help!
Anne - I'll take a look at Morrison's when I go to Alnwick this week... thanks for the tip ... it might do for now at least. Took a quick look in Newcastle today at Lewises and then Wilkinsons, but all have this peculiar shape with a stem coming out of the handle down to the blade, and none look very sturdy for the sort of digging I tend to do. I have one that has this design already, and I know it was not cheap, bought for me as a gift by my brother a few years ago, and I'm having to press it into use, but I notice it is already starting to bend at that weak spot. The one I lost had a very stout stainless steel scoop and the part that fits to the handle was all one solid piece of metal, no welded bits at all.
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Anyone watch Gardener's World last night and shares my view that what should have been an interesting programme about plants and plants people was utterly subsumed by The Beebs preoccupation with 'celebrity'.
Was it really necessary to have Ms Klein charging round the country in an elderly car, exuding false bonhomie at every cross road, and doing a 'Who Do You Think You Are' at the same time.
Or am I just (and happily so!) a grumpy old man? ;D
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Davis ,I agree with you 100%, all people and no plants.( Now there are two grumpy old men ;D)
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The very reason I took the decision NOT to watch it, David. This preoccupation the TV has with all celebrities, making them out to be some new fangled 'Gods' leaves me cold. Feel the same about the Billy Connolly programmes across the north of Canada too. Glad David Attenbrough decided not to appear in his series, Nature's Great Events - good on him! It is long time to return to the "voice of God" approach to documentary style, and have programming that is actually *about* the subject and not *about* the presenter. Ditto most newscasts for that matter. How much longer are we going to have to endure a newsreader interviewing a news reporter about a subject, instead of turning to actual experts in the field? In my experience, news reporters rely on press releases and press officers for their soundbites and don't actually know anything much in depth about the subject they are reporting on. There are a few execptions to this, but only a few....
Ok, ok, I'll get off my soapbox now... :-\
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I didn't get much chance to watch TV last night. Hoovering, bathrooms, picking James up from BB. Didn't even see much of Red Nose day on BBC1, although our non-uniform day was a great success at school in Falkirk, and we raise hundreds of pounds for Comic Relief. £57 million+ on the night was an awesome result! Chance for everyone to get rid of their tie!
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The very reason I took the decision NOT to watch it, David. This preoccupation the TV has with all celebrities, making them out to be some new fangled 'Gods' leaves me cold. Feel the same about the Billy Connolly programmes across the north of Canada too. Glad David Attenbrough decided not to appear in his series, Nature's Great Events - good on him! It is long time to return to the "voice of God" approach to documentary style, and have programming that is actually *about* the subject and not *about* the presenter. Ditto most newscasts for that matter. How much longer are we going to have to endure a newsreader interviewing a news reporter about a subject, instead of turning to actual experts in the field? In my experience, news reporters rely on press releases and press officers for their soundbites and don't actually know anything much in depth about the subject they are reporting on. There are a few execptions to this, but only a few....
Ok, ok, I'll get off my soapbox now... :-\
Chris, my son is a Press Officer and would share your view that reporters these days have little understanding of the subjects they are supposed to be reporting on. In fact he often has to 'dumb down' releases in order to better ensure they are understood.
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Was my occupation too, before I retired....
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If either you or Rodger know of a stockist in either Burlington, Hamilton, Barrie or Abbotsford, I will be in all of those places in June and could get one.
Look in Buckerfield's, the feed-and-seed chain. That's where I've seen (and bought) Corona trowels. There should be a Buckerfield's in Abbotsford or close nearby.
I will warn you that Corona trowels are cast aluminum, and while they're good quality, if you try to pry with them (esp. with the long tapered fern trowel), they will snap, lifetime warranty notwithstanding.
For cutting roots you unearth, buy a "drywall knife", really a short saw blade with wooden handle. Look in building supply places.
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Thanks for the tip Rodger, I'll ask my daughter if they have a Buckerfields in Abbotsford, they should have. Cheers
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I think a 14k gold ring I wore on my right hand went via my mum's garden waste bin too. :'(
My father lost his wedding ring in the potato field. Many years later - after his death - it turned up again in the field. It is a smallish field that gave us new potatoes in the summer only.
I know this sounds like an urban legend but itis quite true.
Someday someone might find it.
Göte
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How much longer are we going to have to endure a newsreader interviewing a news reporter about a subject, instead of turning to actual experts in the field? In my experience, news reporters rely on press releases and press officers for their soundbites and don't actually know anything much in depth about the subject they are reporting on. There are a few exceptions to this, but only a few....
Ok, ok, I'll get off my soapbox now... :-\
That means the soapbox is free to climb ;)
The reason is of course that it is vastly quicker and less expensive to interview a staff reporter than an expert. Then the reporter is unlikely to say something "difficult" that profanum vulgus i.e. we would be puzzled about. That would of course be catastrophic. If we get puzzled we might read a book on the subject rather than be ogling a screen. :-\
We have a British "garden program" on the Swedish TV just now. It is not about gardens it is about the frustrations of coming into or not into the yellow book. Like ALL other programs today it is all about "Human relations" Even a program about how to build hot-rods is about feelings between the builders rather than about the subject matter. >:( >:(
Soapbox free again.
Göte
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I think we certainly could start a new website - one for grumpy old men. We certainly would have plenty of material for criticism and could do so most willingly.
Gardening on television - Ha! Reminds me of an interview I heard some years ago about a radio presenter who had an Irish dancing programme on the RADIO! One would probably see as much dancing there as gardening on the television.
Paddy
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I think we certainly could start a new website - one for grumpy old men. We certainly would have plenty of material for criticism and could do so most willingly.
Gardening on television - Ha! Reminds me of an interview I heard some years ago about a radio presenter who had an Irish dancing programme on the RADIO! One would probably see as much dancing there as gardening on the television.
Paddy
Speaking as one of the grumpiest women I know, I demand to be included in this website >:(
Ian has a great idea for a radio programme which he keeps putting to the BBC: belly dancing and juggling.... they say his budget is too high :-X
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;D
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I think we certainly could start a new website - one for grumpy old men. We certainly would have plenty of material for criticism and could do so most willingly.
Paddy
You are right there certainly is plenty of material but perhaps there always has been.
I work hard at not being a grumpy old man,just go in the garden or greenhouse and look at your plants(the living ones) and think lifes okay.
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Please I need to moan,
It's March 19th, the bulbs all started flowering and we are now in the middle of our second heaviest snowfall of the winter, 48 hours with little respite! last year twas sunny and warm and balmy, this year is cold and white!
My neighbours want to plant their tomatoes which they do in March, but this year no tomatoes and their garlic rots in the ground!
One is pale and white, cold, cooped up and a little overweight from too much winter fare!
Ahhhhh better out than in...Thanks! ;D
P.s picture is 10 minutes old!
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Mmmm, yes, Chris, beautiful but just TOO MUCH at this time!
It is cold here today... barely making 6 degrees with a biting wind .... talked to Mark Smyth in N. Ireland who told me it was 15 or 16 degreees and just lovely.... Grrrr!!
Yes, better to get these things off your peelly-wally chest! :P
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It's been cold here too, Maggi. We are supposed to get better weather tomorrow and Saturday on the Eastern side anyway, here's hoping. With my trusty new trowel in hand, I shall venture forth to test it out!
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Too warm here, and no rain. Everything is absolutely covered in yellow pine pollen - my blue car is almost green! Whinge, whinge ... >:( >:(
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Wall to wall sunshine here all week with 16c .17c.and 18c. Not good for the bulbs in the alpine house. Tooooo warm tooooo early.
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Michael
I would gladly swap you weather for ours - it turned very chilly about 15.30 and I am sure we will have another frost tonight.
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I think we certainly could start a new website - one for grumpy old men. We certainly would have plenty of material for criticism and could do so most willingly.
Paddy
Speaking as one of the grumpiest women I know, I demand to be included in this website >:(
David & I would certainly have the credentials to join :D
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I think we certainly could start a new website - one for grumpy old men. We certainly would have plenty of material for criticism and could do so most willingly.
I'm with Maggi on this. Old women are QUITE as grumpy as old men, and to suggest otherwise is discriminatory. (I'd put a Grin thingy in here, but then you might think I'm not serious about it (not grin thingy).
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I agree with you completely, Lesley.
Paddy
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I think a 14k gold ring I wore on my right hand went via my mum's garden waste bin too. :'(
My father lost his wedding ring in the potato field. Many years later - after his death - it turned up again in the field. It is a smallish field that gave us new potatoes in the summer only.
I know this sounds like an urban legend but it is quite true.
Someday someone might find it.
Göte
I lost my wedding ring on my honeymoon in Bali. It just slipped off while I was snorkelling. I spent a couple of hours hunting for it, snorkelling off a canoe I'd borrowed, but there are so many nooks and crannies in coral. Got another one made by Graeme Stewart the silversmith in the High Street in Dunblane. He'd vowed never to make another like it as it is in the shape of a snake made of the three colours of 18c gold!
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Arg!!! Last week we had day time temperature of 14C in the shade and David was gardening in t-shirt and baggy shorts... plants we had hoped to take to Stirling Show were out and over in a blink! Yesterday it got colder and today it is barely above freezing, howling gales (which means with wind chill it is below freezing), sleet, hail and snow showers. The wee bulbs in the garden are anything but happy... and neither is himself!
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Just been to the garden centre for a bale of peat,I use about one a year. None to be seen so I enquired, only to find they have decided to help save the world and stopped stocking it. Not bright enough to stop stocking peat based ericaceous compost so clearly a political gesture.
I expect I will drive aimlessly around using fossil fuel until I find one still selling it
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Tony thats because garden centres must be peat free by 2010
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Thanks Mark,on a day when I feel like kicking somebody or just jumping out of the window that makes me feel no better.
Here it is still only March 2009
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I expect I will drive aimlessly around using fossil fuel until I find one still selling it
For peat's sake!!! :D
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Thanks Mark,on a day when I feel like kicking somebody or just jumping out of the window that makes me feel no better.
Here it is still only March 2009
Regretting buying that bungalow now, are you, Tony?? :o ;)
Have a bar of chocolate, it works for me... ::)
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thanks Maggi had a chocolate biscuit and you made me smile.Can a 60+ male have PMT, I think that's what it must be.
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PMT ? Pre-Malteser-Trauma.... of course! 'Tis a widespread syndrome, easily enough cured, though ;D
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I was about to suggest Peat Merchandising Tantrum, but you beat me to it dear Mrs Y. ;D
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B&Q and Homebase here have big bales of peat.
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thanks Maggi had a chocolate biscuit and you made me smile.Can a 60+ male have PMT, I think that's what it must be.
Tony - just wait until you are 70! The fuse gets shorter by the month.
No garden centre round here stocks peat. I suggest you try a local nursery who may sell you a bale. Alternatively, a horticultural wholesaler.
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Mark, B&Q here were pleased to announce they are peat free (again except for ericaceous compost) I will get some!
I have spent the afternoon repotting using John Innes from the garden centre which seems to be loam free.
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I have spent the afternoon repotting using John Innes from the garden centre which seems to be loam free.
;D ;D ;D
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Mark, B&Q here were pleased to announce they are peat free (again except for ericaceous compost) I will get some!
I have spent the afternoon repotting using John Innes from the garden centre which seems to be loam free.
I use multi-purpose compost instead of peat. J Arthur Bowers John Innes is the best available locally, some mixes are as you report, loam free :( Silt, sand and lumpy sedge peat >:( >:(
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Mark, B&Q here were pleased to announce they are peat free (again except for ericaceous compost) I will get some!
I have spent the afternoon repotting using John Innes from the garden centre which seems to be loam free.
I use multi-purpose compost instead of peat. J Arthur Bowers John Innes is the best available locally, some mixes are as you report, loam free :( Silt, sand and lumpy sedge peat >:( >:(
I also use J Arthur Bowers JI. It's the best available here too - but that's not saying much. If this contains real loam I'll eat my crocus (roasted).
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We have not used peat (from choice) for years and managed very well without it.
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Mark, B&Q here were pleased to announce they are peat free (again except for ericaceous compost) I will get some!
I have spent the afternoon repotting using John Innes from the garden centre which seems to be loam free.
I use multi-purpose compost instead of peat. J Arthur Bowers John Innes is the best available locally, some mixes are as you report, loam free :( Silt, sand and lumpy sedge peat >:( >:(
I also use J Arthur Bowers JI. It's the best available here too - but that's not saying much. If this contains real loam I'll eat my crocus (roasted).
J Arthur Bowers John Innes is the one I use too, best of a bad lot I've found. Some time ago Paul Cumbleton, in his Wisley Log, showed a pic of the John Innes they use which is sourced from a firm in Wells, Somerset, and it looked very good stuff. The firm is F A Smith and the brand name is 'Green Ore', I can't lay my hands on the phone number for the moment. I did ring them and they didn't appear to have a wide distribution network, certainly no retailers in Devon, but said I could pick some up from their works if I wanted. Haven't yet made the trip but intend to do so.
I wouldn't mind being 'peat free' as long as I'm left to make up my own mind. It's when Nanny State makes my mind up for me that galls me, and of course this encourages me to go in the entirely opposite direction.
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Grdener's World just started on BBC2 is coincidently and peat based programme
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Mark, B&Q here were pleased to announce they are peat free (again except for ericaceous compost) I will get some!
I have spent the afternoon repotting using John Innes from the garden centre which seems to be loam free.
I use multi-purpose compost instead of peat. J Arthur Bowers John Innes is the best available locally, some mixes are as you report, loam free :( Silt, sand and lumpy sedge peat >:( >:(
I also use J Arthur Bowers JI. It's the best available here too - but that's not saying much. If this contains real loam I'll eat my crocus (roasted).
J Arthur Bowers John Innes is the one I use too, best of a bad lot I've found. Some time ago Paul Cumbleton, in his Wisley Log, showed a pic of the John Innes they use which is sourced from a firm in Wells, Somerset, and it looked very good stuff. The firm is F A Smith and the brand name is 'Green Ore', I can't lay my hands on the phone number for the moment. I did ring them and they didn't appear to have a wide distribution network, certainly no retailers in Devon, but said I could pick some up from their works if I wanted. Haven't yet made the trip but intend to do so.
Kath Dryden recommended 'Green Ore' at a Frit Group meeting some years ago & gave a source near her (this may be available on the Frit Group website). Subsequent to this, I obtained a bag - I can't remember how - & very good it was. Much more 'substantial' than any other I've seen, it might even have contained something like real loam.
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Nothing mentioned on the Frit Group Web Site Gerry.
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Nothing mentioned on the Frit Group Web Site Gerry.
David - I've just looked. Go to 'Information' then 'Articles' then 'KD on cultivation'. The info is in the note at the end of the article.
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Quote from David Nicholson
I wouldn't mind being 'peat free' as long as I'm left to make up my own mind. It's when Nanny State makes my mind up for me that galls me, and of course this encourages me to go in the entirely opposite direction.
[/quote]
David
that is just what I think.
I also thought the programme was very interesting and useful
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Quote from David Nicholson
I wouldn't mind being 'peat free' as long as I'm left to make up my own mind. It's when Nanny State makes my mind up for me that galls me, and of course this encourages me to go in the entirely opposite direction.
David
that is just what I think.
In Australia potting mixes are all based on composted bark as far as I can see. Peat is available but is pretty pricey so is reserved for propagating and bog gardens and hypertufa trough-making ;D
I found peat based potting mixes very difficult to deal with when I lived in the US in the late '90s.
cheers
fermi
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I wouldn't mind being 'peat free' as long as I'm left to make up my own mind. It's when Nanny State makes my mind up for me that galls me, and of course this encourages me to go in the entirely opposite direction.
Do you included environmental groups in your 'Nanny State' David? :-\
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Gardener's World special
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00jgzfj/Gardeners_World_Specials_2009_For_Peats_Sake/ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00jgzfj/Gardeners_World_Specials_2009_For_Peats_Sake/)
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Great joy,I obtained a bale today,and a spare for the future.
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Great joy,I obtained a bale today,and a spare for the future.
So your moan now needs to move to the 'I'm so happy thread'?
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Right I have a SERIOUS moan - as you know we recently had our windows replaced. Up until now we have been most impressed with the firm. I've just had a phone call from a company that makes window blinds... guess how they got our phone number? At no point were we asked if it was okay to pass on our details - had we been asked the answer would have been 'No'. I recognise that businesses are struggling but I hate being cold called >:(
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So you're not interested in a blind date then Carol? ;)
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I'm not keen on being cold-called.... I'm even less keen on being cold .......and it's flippin' freezing here again.
AND we lose an hour tonight AND I have to do two online course on DataProtection or some such at the BBC tomorrow before the programme. AND what's the betting the hot drinks machine will have broken down again????? Arrrgh!! >:( :'(
I'd go to bed now...but I won't sleep........ mump, mump,moan, moan! I'm having a definite "Eeyore" moment :P
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So you're not interested in a blind date then Carol? ;)
Well, you'll have noticed Carol's wearing her specs more often......... ;)
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So you're not interested in a blind date then Carol? ;)
Well, you'll have noticed Carol's wearing her specs more often......... ;)
That's 'cause if I take them off I have to remember where I left them ???
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I wouldn't mind being 'peat free' as long as I'm left to make up my own mind. It's when Nanny State makes my mind up for me that galls me, and of course this encourages me to go in the entirely opposite direction.
Do you included environmental groups in your 'Nanny State' David? :-\
I include anyone in my definition of 'Nanny State' who tries to interfere with my right to make up my own mind. So the "Eco Warriers" are firmly part of my definition. I don't, because I'm not 'Nanny State' try to enforce my view on anyone ;D
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Does that include Mrs. N., David? :D
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There are always exceptions Cliff when a quiet life overrules everything else ;D
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There are always exceptions Cliff when a quiet life overrules everything else ;D
Coward ;) ;D
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There are always exceptions Cliff when a quiet life overrules everything else ;D
Coward ;) ;D
Survivor!! ;)
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10/10 for the latter ;D
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I have spent the afternoon repotting using John Innes from the garden centre which seems to be loam free.
I’ve just been looking at the website of the John Innes Manufacturers Association: http://www.johninnes.info/
Apparently, manufacturers can join the association & receive a ‘Seal of Approval’. It’s not clear whether this association is any different to the various ‘Associations’ whose logos cover the vehicles of many builders.
The website also tells us that these days it is too laborious to manufacture JI in the traditional way & extolls the virtues of the modern versions. I imagine this is designed to reassure consumers. I can’t say I feel reassured.
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The website also tells us that these days it is too laborious to manufacture JI in the traditional way & extolls the virtues of the modern versions. I imagine this is designed to reassure consumers. I can’t say I feel reassured.
Me neither !
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We consider ourselves to be 95% organic in the garden, even as far as using an 'organic' insect spray to combat greenfly in the greenhouse. Just lately I have noticed that some of the more tender aquilegia have leaves that appear to be burnt. The spray is a year or two old and I am wondering if the ingredients are breaking down and turning into an acid!!!! (Organic weed killer is an acid - we don't bother with this anymore). Anyway, garden centre today and we bought a spray of chemical nasty for the little beasts. 94.5%.
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I have noticed the leaves of some of my Ophrys spp. turn black at the tips and some others are chloritic. Is this a Ph problem or a lack of N or Mg? It doesn't affect all the plants in one pot.
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I have noticed the leaves of some of my Ophrys spp. turn black at the tips and some others are chloritic. Is this a Ph problem or a lack of N or Mg? It doesn't affect all the plants in one pot.
I have the same problem and have not solved it. I thought it was because I grow them too cold and damp.
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From today we have the great joy of having the content of all our emails, skype conversations and web sites visited recorded and kept available for access by 600 government agencies. The government say it is an EU directive but in fact it was ours that put forward the proposal in the first instance
I wonder if they will do a recovery disc in the event of me having a computer failure?
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George Orwell ?? ??? ::) :o
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George Orwell ?? ??? ::) :o
I do not think even he could have dreamt up the measures we now have to save us from ourselves.
Later in the year all the records are going to be moved from the ISP's to a new super database.I wonder if we will get sent targetted government advertising when they know what we look at on the internet.Offers of Foreign Office postings to good plant collecting areas?
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It's o.k. Tony ... somebody is bound to leave the hard disc on a bus.
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I suggest we add a copyright logo to all of our emails.
At least then we can charge them if they are used! ;D
JohnnyD
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When I used to write to East Germany before the wall came down I always imagined the Stasi sitting there reading my letters thinking the plant names were a code and trying to figure it out. I wonder if the the local council who read my emails will think the same.
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When I used to write to East Germany before the wall came down I always imagined the Stasi sitting there reading my letters thinking the plant names were a code and trying to figure it out
I wonder that about the general reader and our jokes.... especially Anthony's ;D ::) Good practice in vernacular conversation though, eh?
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When I used to write to East Germany before the wall came down I always imagined the Stasi sitting there reading my letters thinking the plant names were a code and trying to figure it out
I wonder that about the general reader and our jokes.... especially Anthony's ;D ::) Good practice in vernacular conversation though, eh?
I don't take life too seriously, after all, no one gets out alive.
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I don't take life too seriously, after all, no one gets out alive.
Very true! Very true... but you're right, there's no point in whingeing is there? :)
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I don't take life too seriously, after all, no one gets out alive.
Oh blast! I was really hoping..... ???
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Did anyone see Gardeners World last Friday? Toby the new presenter said something stupid - as far as I know. He said something like - did you know daffodils follow the sun from east to west. What a load crap. When grown in the open ground they face south. That's what mine do anyway and that's why bulbs for shows are turned to make sure the flowers open facing all directions.
Did anyone see the farmer on TV who was planning to make her farm more environmentally friendly? In the programme they visited a wood. The editor slipped in various birds including a firecrest Regulus ignicapillus. They arent a British bird. They also showed a robin with a song dubbed over the top. That's Ok except it was the call of a swallow.
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Mark
I have lost count of the number of times in films on the TV that the call of a Great Northern Diver has been used when something "spooky" is about to occur.
The problem being that it is usually in a country that the birds never live in or visit. Likewise the Kookaburra's call is often used in scenes in the African jungle. I think I heard it in an old Tarzan film.
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That sort of thing (misplaced bird calls in sound tracks) drives me mad! Willow ptarmigan is another whose call sometimes adds atmosphere to jungle scenes...
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Mmmmm Daffodils face South. Mine mostly face North! Which is good as that means they face the house. I suppose it might have something to do with them growing on a steep North facing slope. I'd conclude that daffodils face the light or, possibly the heat as was amply demonstrated by a sunflower which faced North an dclearly preferred the heat coming from the back of the house instead of facing the sun. There's more to this than meets the eye (whichever way your looking) ???
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Did anyone see Gardeners World last Friday? Toby the new presenter said something stupid - as far as I know. He said something like - did you know daffodils follow the sun from east to west. What a load crap. When grown in the open ground they face south. That's what mine do anyway and that's why bulbs for shows are turned to make sure the flowers open facing all directions.
Did anyone see the farmer on TV who was planning to make her farm more environmentally friendly? In the programme they visited a wood. The editor slipped in various birds including a firecrest Regulus ignicapillus. They arent a British bird. They also showed a robin with a song dubbed over the top. That's Ok except it was the call of a swallow.
Actually, the firecrest is a British bird Mark.
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Did anyone read the wonderful Arthur Ransome books, including "Great Northern?" I still go back to them occasionally.
My little moan today concerns the search facility on the Forum. I've never had much joy with it but when I'm looking today for references to Saponaria, all I get is "You probably mean Sonora." No, I don't! >:(
Also discovered in the October 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere thread that many images posted by Heinie, in South Africa (but not all) have a label in the space saying "This image or video has been removed or deleted. Photobucket." What's that about?
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My little moan today concerns the search facility on the Forum. I've never had much joy with it but when I'm looking today for references to Saponaria, all I get is "You probably mean Sonora." No, I don't! >:(
I have found that if you do a search when you have a thread open it will only search that thread. If you want to do a wider search, make sure that you are on the home page then it should search everything.
The 'did you mean...' predictions can be hilarious. As if anyone would want to search for 'Pulsating vulgar is' :o :)
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Vivien, your suggestion that the search only worked for the thread you have open, unless one searches from the main page puzzled me and I just tried it.... from this page, for Saponaria and got 20 results, Lesley!! !"it" also asked me if I was looking for Sonora, but it gave me 20references,too. ;D
The removed photobucket pix are a disappointment.... an issue raised a while ago ( there's a thread on the subject... http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2851.0 ) and I tried to contact everyone who uses this method to ask them to repost pix if they could in another format and also not to use these links which are liable to change, "go away" or what ever.... but not everyone responds :'( :-\ :-X
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Thanks Vivien, I have tried that but had similar hilarious results and nothing of what I wanted. It seems to be one day you're lucky and another, you're not. As for pulsating vulgarly..... Well, it would be, wouldn't it? ;D
Maggi I read the thread about Photobucket at the time but never having heard of it and being a computer dunce anyway, really didn't know what it was all about. I certainly do now. Thanks.
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The 'did you mean...' predictions can be hilarious. As if anyone would want to search for 'Pulsating vulgar is' :o :)
Oooh, sounds interesting. I think I'll try it.
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More bad news on the jobs front, of particular interest to growers of alpine plants.....This extract from today's issue of Horticulture Week Daily ( sic)...
Administrators appointed to sell Whiterigg Alpines
by Magda Ibrahim
HortWeek.com
09 April 2009
The largest alpine grower in the UK - Whiterigg Alpines - has appointed administrators to sell the business and assets.
Paul Flint and Brian Green from KPMG Restructuring in Manchester have been appointed joint administrators of Whiterigg Alpines Limited, the Chorley-based grower and supplier of alpine rockery plants.
The business, which employs 91 people at its Lancashire base and has a turnover of circa £4.5m, is the largest alpine plant grower in the UK.
Whiterigg Alpines supplies more than 200 garden centres around the country, including Wyevale.
The business continues to trade with the existing workforce under the control of the joint administrators while a buyer is sought for the business and assets.
KPMG Manchester associate partner Paul Flint said: "As we are now entering one of the busiest parts of the year for companies in the horticulture industry, we will be working closely with the existing workforce at Whiterigg Alpines to trade the business as a going concern. We would encourage any parties who may be interested in acquiring the business and its assets to contact us as soon as possible."
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Maggi
that is terrible it is just down the road from where I live. We had not heard but the local paper is not out yet. I feel sorry for the employees there is just no work around here and lots of businesses are closing.
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I wonder if they supply a local nursery who then supply local garden centres?
Anthony This was new to to me but I would guess the chances of it being on the farm in question is slim
(c) RSPB web site
"This tiny, restless jewel of a bird vies with the goldcrest for the title of the UK's smallest bird. It is now an established breeding species, although only in very small numbers. It differs from a goldcrest in having brighter green upperparts, whiter underparts and a fiery orange crown stripe with broad whitish eyebrow stripe, and below that a short black stripe through the eye. Its small breeding population makes it an Amber List species.
Where to see them
Breeds mainly in south-east England and passage birds are seen largely on the east and south coasts. Best looked for in bushes and trees, especially conifers, often in the company of goldcrests.
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My little moan today concerns the search facility on the Forum. I've never had much joy with it but when I'm looking today for references to Saponaria, all I get is "You probably mean Sonora." No, I don't! >:(
Lesley,
I rarely if ever use the search facility any more, as even from the main page I get a fraction of the actual results it should be getting. Obviously it works fine for a couple of people, but it most definitely does NOT work right for me (as I have said before), to the point where I no longer bother using it at all because I can't trust it. ::) A real shame as it means that the forum isn't the wonderful reference resource it could be. :o
I guess the only other possibility is that whenever we need to search for something we just send the request to Maggi. I am guessing that the search facility must work differently for those with administrator capabilities at least, because for me if I search from within a topic it only searches that topic, yet for Maggi it works for the whole forum. And as we've said before in the admin area..... Maggi seems to get much better results for the same search than we do. ;D So Maggi could become not only the administator but also the search-master-general for the forums. ;) :-* :-* She's already infinitely invaluable, but that would make her doubly so (although can infinite be doubled? ;))
OK, I'll stop rambling now. ::)
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Vivien, your suggestion that the search only worked for the thread you have open, unless one searches from the main page puzzled me and I just tried it.... from this page, for Saponaria and got 20 results, Lesley!! !"it" also asked me if I was looking for Sonora, but it gave me 20references,too. ;D
Maggi, when I search for Saponaria I get 4 references and with Sonora I get 4 references too.
So, there must be something different between "the whole Forum" when searching, and you in the "admin area" , like Paul suggests.
I also tried "saxifraga"and got 6 pages with references and "saxifrage gave 4 pages as result.
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I rarely if ever use the search facility any more, as even from the main page I get a fraction of the actual results it should be getting.
Paul,
Remember to check what level you're at in the Forum 'tree' before you attempt to search. Searches seem to run 'downstream' only. Therefore if you're already within a particular thread then the Search is restricted to that thread only, whereas if you search from the top level or 'trunk' then the results span all the downstream threads. That said, I don't understand either how search results are ordered or limited in number :-\
Apologies: I'm more or less repeating what Vivien said already further up :-[.
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Ashley,
I only ever usually tried searches from back at the main page, because I realise that wherever in the hierarchy you are is where the search starts and only moves downwards. But I still found that the results varied from time to time for the same search, and that there were things I KNOW were posted that weren't in there, and on occasions I searched them out and found them myself just to prove to myself it wasn't my imagination. ;D ;)
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Sorry Paul. Obviously you've tested this more thoroughly than I have.
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As a recent convert to the Transmutium theory- here is the plant i obtained as Lupinus breweri in a well known seed exchange- what a stunner eh? ;) It sets prodigious amounts of seed then dies- I won't be entering it to seed exchanges as L.breweri. By the way the flowers look huge in the pic- they are maybe 3 or 4mm in real life!
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Ashley,
What in the world are you apologising for? There definitely is no need. I only know because I came across the problem a while back and found it extremely frustrating (to put it mildly). I'm happy for any input or ideas as to how to make it work for me, so there is no need for any apology. 8)
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My little moan today concerns the search facility on the Forum. I've never had much joy with it but when I'm looking today for references to Saponaria, all I get is "You probably mean Sonora." No, I don't! >:(
Lesley,
I rarely if ever use the search facility any more, as even from the main page I get a fraction of the actual results it should be getting. Obviously it works fine for a couple of people, but it most definitely does NOT work right for me (as I have said before), to the point where I no longer bother using it at all because I can't trust it. ::)
I guess the only other possibility is that whenever we need to search for something we just send the request to Maggi. I am guessing that the search facility must work differently for those with administrator capabilities at least, because for me if I search from within a topic it only searches that topic, yet for Maggi it works for the whole forum. And as we've said before in the admin area..... Maggi seems to get much better results for the same search than we do. ;D So Maggi could become not only the administator but also the search-master-general for the forums. ;) :-* :-* She's already infinitely invaluable, but that would make her doubly so (although can infinite be doubled? ;))
OK, I'll stop rambling now. ::)
I am sorry that some of you find that the forums search system does not work well for you . I agree it can be somewhat erratic but I have just tried the "saponaria "search again..... looged out, so just using the search function in a "gust" guest capacity and I got the 20 results I did before . I am pretty certain that the result was not simply coming from the cache. There is no doubt that there can be variations in results because of some anomalies, as Luit points out..... when we can refer to both saxifraga and saxifrage, then there will be differing results. Try as I might, I cannot check every post for spelling and correct same......if a reference has been made where a typo exists, it will not show up as we would expect in a search.
If you try a search and don't find what you're looking for, by all means send the query to me and I will attempt to help.
Remember, the impossible I do right away, miracles may take a little longer! ;D
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Those searchy gusts must work wonders in the North.
Force 8 and rising, as we used to say on an evening out.
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Those searchy gusts must work wonders in the North.
Force 8 and rising, as we used to say on an evening out.
John, you do make me giggle .... sorry for the typo.... I did of course mean in a "guest " capacity!!! Just shows, doesn't it, how easy it is to get a mistake in things!! :-[ ;D ;D
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Aaah, now I do understand what you meant Maggi. After looking in the dictionary for "gust" I gave up.... ??? ;D ;D
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Hi Maggie,
At least here once you realise an error, you get a friendly jibe and a chance to amend the error, (If indeed it is relevant). In that other place it is all tablets of stone once the button is pushed. Although we are trying to soften the boundaries.
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We do try to make this place as accessible as possible, John.....just like other parts of this Club which brings so many devotees of the wild plants of the world together in this virtual meeting space.
I read that efforts are suggested to make some improvements to the AGS discussion area to make it more user friendly. There is no difficulty here in using the name of the "other place" of course :) : No-one in this place has any antipathy to our sister society or would imagine that membership and participation in both organisations was anything other than a good thing........ a fact evidenced by the very large number of folks who have membership of both clubs. The two have differing approaches, of course....for instance the SRGC is not at all intrigued by the "League Tables" which appear to hold great appeal for AGS exhibitors ....at the SRGC AGM, the names of those awarded the trophies for most points in Section I and II are read out..... it seems that there is very little interest in the matter beyond congratulationg the winners! Every task in the SRGC is done by volunteers while the AGS has employees, this also seems to affect the character of the two clubs to a considerable extent....... so, the two sisters are different.... siblings often are.....but the family is the thing. :)
I hope that all that is done by the SRGC to provide publicity and a wide audience to such AGS events as we can, shows that we have no bar to mutually beneficial discourse.
I wish every success to any project to enliven the AGS discussion area : it could only ( in my personal opinion as an AGS member) be of benefit to the society to offer more interactivity, in all matters, to the membership.
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Maggi,
As always, my sentiments exactly...not forgetting NARGS of course.
I suspect if we ever did a cross reference on every member we would find that a large percentage of our core members belong to all three.(and a good deal more). It would be interesting to see to what extent that was true for each of the three. I suspect anyone in Britain who has been a member of either for over 20 years is a member of the other. I've been in both since 1983(first owned garden) and a life member of Nargs since the time when the $exchange made it an obvious choice.
I have no problem with league tables or anything else as such, indeed, it's a joy to see a perfectly grown plant, and something that you seldom see outside these "Inner" circles of plant lovers. I would just like to see positive progress being made for inclusivity, which at times can appear difficult to drive. The family being the thing, I am concerned that the AGS can sometimes be seen to drive towards the older members of the family rather than bringing focus to the younger and perhaps crucially the more IT literate and international aspects of the plantaholics and great gardeners that comprise our current core and potential membership.
I welcome the mutually beneficial discourse and have seen a willingness in the AGS to tackle some of the issues, I am certainly open to any suggestions to take things forward and will continue to try to do so.
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I have no problem with league tables or anything else as such, indeed, it's a joy to see a perfectly grown plant, and something that you seldom see outside these "Inner" circles of plant lovers.
I don't mean to suggest that I have an issue with the League Tables ....of course not, it is just an illustration of the differing emphases placed on activities.... here there is more interest in the actual, wonderful plants... especially to see photos of them and the shows in general from those thousands of members who can never attend such events. The joy of seeing pix of brimming show benches, full of colour and ably demonstrating the skill of the exhibitors is a great delight .....the League tables may be rather more limited in their appeal, that's all! No section on cakes, for example!! ;D
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No section on pubs either and I am not sure that your list of league tables cannot be complete without one.
At the pub in Stockton yesterday, as well as attendance by at least 20 exhibitors, we had excellent service :), good grub :D, and a really good laugh. ;D ;D ;D
While I agree that it is the plants which make it a good show they are surely matched by the company in which they are found, and it can be a long day without such a break.
Your reference to AGS and all things cooperative is much appreciated Maggi. I do hope that efforts to see a better response to the AGS website is not in vain. Either way we will still have SRGC thanks goodness.
Johnnie
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Um... what's a "league table"?
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Um... what's a "league table"?
Paul, I'm glad I wasn't the only one wondering ???
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Well, you know in football,( even Aussie football??!!) where the teams play in leagues?.... there are tables to record their progress up and down..... the AGS website has a similar table to show the current status of exhibitors through a show season.... showing how many firsts, second and third prizes have been won.... thus a "league table" is a shorthand reference to that table.... more formally called a "results page" , I think.
All good fun for those with a competitive nature, to spur them on, I daresay. ;) Perhaps it should be run in conjunction with a table showing petrol prices? ::) ;D
Perhaps performance tables would be a good name.... we have them in the UK to show how schools perform, hospitals etc.... I'm sure you do too?
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Maggi, it sounds like the honour board in schools with all the past dux's ( not sure what the plural of dux is?), hmmm well there you go, the plural is duces ???
So what happens at the end of the season, does the winner receive a special award?
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Yes, Helen, in both clubs the winner gets a trophy for a year ..... 8)
In the SRGC,for the Open section the trophy is, ...guess what... the AGS Salver!! It was a gift to the SRGC for a club anniversary ( 50 years, maybe, I don't recall offhand).... really lovely silver salver, about 20cms across.... very pretty thing..... and for the Section II, which is our "beginner" section,this award is newer and the Trophy is the Rutland Salver .... though I cannot for the life of me remember why it has this name :-\
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Thanks Maggi.
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Thanks for the explanation Maggi.
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The Rutland Salver is named after the Pub (Hotel) where the idea of SRGC was first discussed. The building is at the west end of Princes St between Shandwick Place and Lothian Road. Signs of my miss spent youth. When I 1st met Jim he worked from an office in Rutland Sq. It was the local for him and his palls.
Jean
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Hello Jean,
Any chance someone might have a picture of the Rutland Salver?
Isn't it nice that conversations can bring back good memories :)
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Hmm. there will be onesomewhere, I'm sure. After ourtime in Section II ...the Shaw's won it... they may have a pic.
The AGS salver has been in our hot little hands on numerous occasions ..... the former SRGC Record Keeper told us that no-one had ever won it on each occasion with so many points.... but in those days such things were not even stated at the awarding of the trophy! Must have a photo somewhere..... :-\
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Maggi,
It seems to me, the holder of such a wonder must be the 'Royalty' of the alpine/rock gardeners world. ;D ;D ;D
You must have pics squirrelled away, I would have zillions if it had been in my hot little hands!!
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I remember a "real" photo we had years ago of all that years' booty on a table together..... where to find it, that's the question, in this paper mountain that passes for home??!!
I found an article the Shaws wrote about winning the Rutland... no pic of the actual salver though!! :-[
( in the Rock Garden, the journal of January 2004. No. 112 page 79
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Maggi, you're a peach, am off to look it up and have a read!! ;D
Took me awhile, I got diverted by Mary McMurtie, what an amazing woman and a fantastic life ;D ;D ;D
( she also looks familiar, I wonder how old she was when that picture was taken)
I really enjoyed David's article too, ( I wish there were farmer's fileld piles around here ) but now I have to ask, what is a 50/50 stall ?? ???
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Paul...League Tables
http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/shows/results/shows2009/Open_Section.html
Who has most points from the shows. League Table Open Section...
Maggiepie,
50:50 stall.
At a show there is always a members sales table, you bring your spare seedlings and propagation material....they are sold off at very reasonable prices, you get 50% and the show organisers get 50%. A win win win situation buyer, seller, and local group putting the work into making the show possible.
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Thanks for that snippet of information, Jean. Might have known it was named after a pub. Typical SRGC!
As for a picture of the salver, it never occured to me to photograph it Maggie(pie), and we will never win it again.
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Maggi perhaps we should line the three trophies up at the AGM and take a pix of them before Ian C hands them out again :)
No we wont. can't, win the Rutland again... the betting is on which Edinburgh member will win this year as an Edinburgh member has won for the past three years... hum perhaps they need handicapping ;) ::)
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League Tables are all very nice if you are up near the top, but what about the poor souls at the bottom! Will they suffer the same fate as Luton Town (kicked out of the football league today because they will be the bottom club).
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Maggiepie,
50:50 stall.
At a show there is always a members sales table, you bring your spare seedlings and propagation material....they are sold off at very reasonable prices, you get 50% and the show organisers get 50%. A win win win situation buyer, seller, and local group putting the work into making the show possible.
Thanks John, that sounds like an excellent idea :)
David, I am surprised someone didn't take a pic of you and Carol beaming over the salver, bit of a shame really. :(
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We just don't make a big deal of these things, Helen.....it's not like it was cake.... we always photograph the cakes!!
This is the best I can manage meantime....
[attach=1]
Here are three of the Salvers awarded at the AGM......
Hmmm..... I've just realised that the Salver Ian was presented with at the last AGM was the Golden Jubilee Salver, which was the gift of the AGS for the SRGC Fiftieth anniversdary in 1983... .....I think it is the one on the front left. Front right is the one for most first prize points in Section I.... won last year by Cyril, and the back right is the Rutland, I think. The President gets a salver to keep while he is in office , too. Since we have the lovely AGS salver here, I'll give it a clean and take ots photo tomorrow! Must look up all these things properly.... The Plantsman of the Year Trophy is also called the AGS Salver, so that's where the confusion comes in. :-\ :-[
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We just don't make a big deal of these things, Helen.....it's not like it was cake.... we always photograph the cakes!!
This is the best I can manage meantime....
:-\ :-[
Maggi, If there is a league table then it's a big deal ;D
Were salvers originally chosen for the trophy rather than cups to make it easier to serve cake on them?
I look forward to seeing a close up of the one in your possession at the moment. ;D
With cake ;)
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But that's the point, Helen... the AGS has a league table, with everyone able to see what is happening through the year....in the SRGC we know that at the end of the year you find out who has won it, many congratulations.... end of story.... I guess we're just not so competitive .... we like to win, but it's not the biggest deal for us!
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Maggi, stick me in the corner for awhile, I didn't take in your
The Plantsman of the Year Trophy is also called the AGS Salver, so that's where the confusion comes in
I really should read more before I hit send!! ::) ::) ::)
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David, I am surprised someone didn't take a pic of you and Carol beaming over the salver, bit of a shame really. :(
Helen there wasn't the digital photography to the same extent then... now every trophy winner gets their pix taken :)
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Maggie, make sure that you don't use flash after you have polished the trophy ;D
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David, I am surprised someone didn't take a pic of you and Carol beaming over the salver, bit of a shame really. :(
Helen there wasn't the digital photography to the same extent then... now every trophy winner gets their pix taken :)
Carol, the world certainly has changed with the advent of digicams and personal computers, I guess it doesn't take long to take such things for granted.
I couldn't survive without my digicam, computer or PVR :)
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An update on the dead Buxus in the local supermarket.
A new manager was appointed three weeks ago who was obviously a smart lad, and he knew that plants need water. He promptly removed the dead plants from the sales area for two weeks, and returned them yesterday, well watered, but still Dead
??? ??? ??? ??? ??? I just love smart supermarket managers. ;D ;D ;D
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Carol, the world certainly has changed with the advent of digicams and personal computers, I guess it doesn't take long to take such things for granted.
I couldn't survive without my digicam, computer or PVR :)
To be honest I'm happy not to have a pix of David & I with the Rutland... now if we ever get a Forrest medal it will be a different matter :)
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An update on the dead Buxus in the local supermarket.
A new manager was appointed three weeks ago who was obviously a smart lad, and he knew that plants need water. He promptly removed the dead plants from the sales area for two weeks, and returned them yesterday, well watered, but still Dead
??? ??? ??? ??? ??? I just love smart supermarket managers. ;D ;D ;D
This saga has been making me laugh so much- thanks.
Sad to say it reminds me of the many times I worked in 'Garden Centres' in the past.
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Priceless..... he was obviously management material, eh?
Bit similar to this sorry tale.... Last weekend at a national radio broadcasting station..... question asked prior to programme by Senior Producer ..... about annual herbs.... How many would come up the next year? :P
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Bit similar to this sorry tale.... Last weekend at a national radio broadcasting station..... question asked prior to programme by Senior Producer ..... about annual herbs.... How many would come up the next year? :P
Oh dear... and I can guess exactly which broadcasting company that was... ;D ;D ;D
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Was the question asked to you Maggi?
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Question put to very experienced female TV gardener, in preparation for her planned discourse on annual herbs! Said gardener spells her Carol with an "e" :-X
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Well I do hope the response was withering!
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Maybe I am stupid but some plants reported as "annuals" do survive so lets hope that the producer had that knowledge and was not just plain stupid.
Annuals in Portugal and annuals in Sweden are different I think. Maybe they are not annuals if they sometimes somewhere come back? I am not thinking of non hardy plants but tricks to get plants to live longer by not allowing them to set seeds helps some to live an extra year. This does not work for all ofcourse.
Regarding the search facility
Maybe the search failure has something to do what browser (internet program) one use. I generally never finds things with the search but have to search my self for it. The latter digs up old gems so it is not all bad.
Kind regards
Joakim
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Question put to very experienced female TV gardener, in preparation for her planned discourse on annual herbs! Said gardener spells her Carol with an "e" :-X
Say no more the delightful Ms B :D I'm sure she was very gentle with him - which is more than Mrs Doctor Carole B would have been :o
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Maybe I am stupid but some plants reported as "annuals" do survive so lets hope that the producer had that knowledge and was not just plain stupid.
Joakim
Joakim some annuals can survive it is true - but not herbs, at least so far as I know ;)
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I HATE mice:
this is what's left of a lot of the crocusses in my garden after what looks like an extended family of mice passed through it:
(Sorry for the bad quality of the photo but I was a bit angry)
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Looks as though they were pretty hungry Wim >:(
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Update on the dead Buxus. Folks the joke is on me :-[ :-[ :-[
Believe it or not the new manager is after selling 15 of the dead Buxus at €20 each,there are just 4 left. Because they were inside and not exposed to the weather the leaves just dried up but were still green,they had not yet turned brown and only about 50% fell off, they looked like artificial plastic plants.
Now what I want to know,who is the fool?,the manager for selling dead plants, or the customers for buying them. Surely that is an offense to deliberately deceive customers even if they are partly to blame because of their own ignorance. The managers did know that they were dead because I informed them on three occasions. ??? ??? ??? ???
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My sympathy Wim- we have been there too, but with voles. We found that voles don't like to dig too deep and don't like digging through a stone top dressing. If you ever have the heart to replant crocus, these 2 facts are worth bearing in mind.
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Update on the dead Buxus. Folks the joke is on me :-[ :-[ :-[
The managers did know that they were dead because I informed them on three occasions. ??? ??? ??? ???
Michael, that is just plain awful, don't the plants come with a guarantee for a year or two?
I am also shocked at the €20 price tag, they must have been very big plants??
Wim, I feel for you, maybe you need to get a cat or two ;)
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Simon, it could have been voles too but I thought they would eat the plants from under the ground, these plants were dug out and eaten from the top.
Helen, I like cats but since I'm allergic to them I can't keep them, maybe I could keep a couple of owls ;)
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Wim, that is so tragic. You will have to go for mouse traps or some kind of bait. You CAN'T go on with this happening, and it will again, now they know about the crocuses.
Michael, the manager is criminal, the customers foolish. The manager should be reported to the fair trading people, or whatever equivilent you have in the Republic. In NZ a product - including plants - must be true to its ID and fit for the purpose for which it was bought.
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Helen, I like cats but since I'm allergic to them I can't keep them, maybe I could keep a couple of owls ;)
Wim, bad luck you are allergic to cats, my younger daughter would love to have a cat but unfortunately, her hub is allergic too.
From what I gather, it is the saliva that causes the allergy.
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Lesley,
I've put some bait near to the mice holes I found so I hope they like that more than the Crocus bulbs.
Helen,
it's the saliva that does it indeed and the skin can make you allergic too, but it's the same protein that is responsible for the reaction.
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I find the mice and voles tend to eat different things in different years, once they get a taste for a particular think they will devour all of it.
Anemones one year, hellebore buds the next, Corydalis the next, trillium and paris the next...that was too much...now I feed them malteasers.....as that's the easiest way to bait a little snapper trap. They never tire of chocolate....they never learn either...temptation is too much.
???They must all be female Mice!!???
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oooh John, you're treading on a slippery slope with that last statement. :o ;D
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I find the mice and voles tend to eat different things in different years, once they get a taste for a particular think they will devour all of it.
Anemones one year, hellebore buds the next, Corydalis the next, trillium and paris the next...that was too much...now I feed them malteasers.....as that's the easiest way to bait a little snapper trap. They never tire of chocolate....they never learn either...temptation is too much.
???They must all be female Mice!!???
This is also my observation. Since I have mice from the forest (Yes they dig from above) I try to remember putting a metal net above bulbs like crocus and corydalis. If the net prevents them from getting at the first bulbs they will not touch the others. The net should be metal, about 6 mm opening at least 1 cm below ground at all times and the sides should be bent down some 5 cm so they from small upside down cages. This also ensures that bulbs are not mixed up. Unfortunately I cannot do that with my self sown corydalis. So I also try to catch them. I use sunflower seed as bait in plastic traps. However, it is important to put cages over the traps so that birds do not get killed. When the invasion comes (which is soon) I take a couple of mice daily for one to two weeks. The invasion usually follows the same route. It must look like a highway from the mouse level.
Voles tunnel and I have previously described how to get at them.
Göte
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[quote
They never tire of chocolate....they never learn either...temptation is too much.
???They must all be female Mice!!???
[/quote]
They certainly have much in common with certain female members of this Forum. ;D
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Without admitting to any particular vice/s, I would like to say
in my defence that I have never eaten a crocus bulb ;D
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So, chocolate would be the bait one would have to use to trap Maggi's. ;)
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But only the certain well-bred, garden loving, what-would-we-do-without-them Maggi's. :-* They're the only ones with a sufficiently trained palate to be attracted to chocolate!! ;)
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Without admitting to any particular vice/s, I would like to say in my defence that I have never eaten a crocus bulb ;D
I tried a Crocus cancellatus on a mountainside in Turkey just for the experience-not good eaten raw
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Too Late,
Over the week-end, they've snaffled two whole tubs of Anemones.
Characteristic 3 " of stubble left.
Now where are those malteasers!
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It does not work, or maybe it's because I was expelled from Sunday school at age seven !
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It does not work, or maybe it's because I was expelled from Sunday school at age seven !
Damn!
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I'm sure I can't be the only person in the world with a rather slow dialup connection to the internet using an analogue telephone exchange. It would be great if we could all go back to small thumbnail pics, which people can choose to open, rather than the huge pics that 'time out' everything on the page by the time they have opened!
Come on give the rest of us a chance to decide what we want to make bigger!
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Simon,
Most photographs seem to be posted in the smaller size with the option of enlarging them if you wish. I have seen some which appear immediately as large format and do not understand why they were posted in this manner.
Certainly the smaller format would suit you better.
Paddy
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Glad you agree Paddy. We are having connection problems just now, which means our connection is slower than usual.
I also noticed that large format pics open first, with the text, even if they are at the bottom of the page, which means the thumbnails higher up sometimes fail to open. They also open with the main text when I am replying, using up unnecessary bandwidth :(
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I have checked and it does seem that the photos loaded from Photobucket and other host servers are the most likely to be shown in previews, summaries, etc. : I have asked in the Website Developments Thread ( because there was further talk on this subject there) if those using such upload systems would perhaps consider changing. For those of us who have posted some full size pix, we'll go back to the thumbnails in future. :-X
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Many thanks Maggi, the thumbnail format makes the site much faster to use and stops the local GSM server from timing us out! One day we will get ADSL, I chant this mantra often but it hasn't happened yet!
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Bloody flu and viruses.... they should be banned!! As mentioned elsewhere I have been struggling with one the last couple of days (and as also mentioned there, I have not been to Mexico or had any relations with pigs, so no associated jokes please! ;)). To add insult to injury I have just got back from sitting a test on nursery plant production (I am doing a Horticultural Degree). Of course I HAD to get this flu just when a test was about to happen. ::) Thankfully I well and truly passed the test, but made far more difficult by the fact my head felt a bit like it was stuffed with cotton wool! ::) Moan, moan, whinge, whinge, mutter, mutter...... :-X
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Hi Paul
Well done on passing the test even if you did feel grotty... David & I are going to wear face masks to Aberdeen if this flu takes off ;D
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Hi Paul
Well done on passing the test even if you did feel grotty... David & I are going to wear face masks to Aberdeen if this flu takes off ;D
The mask in your new avatar seems very appropriate Carol !! Don't know about the effectiveness though ... ??? ::) :-\
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Luc,
I was going to say exactly the same thing.... it does rather look like she's wearing a lovely floral mask in her new avatar, doesn't it? :P
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A brief moan here..... can people please include their country in their signatures? Most already have, but there are a number of signatures that include cities and areas etc, but no country. There are a couple of people I have only been able to work out by comments within their postings (And even then I am not sure the next time I try to remember it ;)), and others that I still have no idea. It would be a big help.
Thanks. 8)
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The original pictures for Carols' new avatar were taken yesterday on her birthday outing to Ullapool. They are in Leckmelm Gardens, a couple of miles before Ullapool. The gardens are well worth visiting at this time for the rhodies.
Rhododendron loderi 'King George'. We were impressed by the size of the blooms.
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Congratulations Paul and get better soon!
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Luc,
I was going to say exactly the same thing.... it does rather look like she's wearing a lovely floral mask in her new avatar, doesn't it? :P
A wonderful floral mask Luc & Paul - a rhododendron with blooms 17cm in diameter! Not the most glamourous of avatars but typically of me with my nose in a flower bloom!
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Carol: truly amazing how your new hairdo matches the Loderi buds.... now that IS stylish 8)
Chris...... re 'today you are'........ wouldn't you be better off spreading the manure first, THEN the bark?? ???
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Ahhhh, observant as well as wise! ;) Bark for one area of the garden, manure for another. The manure is to put on my Rhubarb, though I apprecaite some prefer custard :D The old ones are the best! ::)
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Carol: truly amazing how your new hairdo matches the Loderi buds.... now that IS stylish 8)
You'll see the new hairstyle firsthand at Aberdeen Show Maggi, figured that the 60th B Day required a new me ;D
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A brief moan here..... can people please include their country in their signatures? Most already have, but there are a number of signatures that include cities and areas etc, but no country. There are a couple of people I have only been able to work out by comments within their postings (And even then I am not sure the next time I try to remember it ;)), and others that I still have no idea. It would be a big help.
Thanks. 8)
Just assume Scotland unless is says to the contrary Paul. It works for our stamps. ;D
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So I take it your stamps don't actually have Scotland on them then?
And thanks to those who have added their country to their signature. One I have already noted I was wrong on.... I don't know exactly where I thought they were but it wasn't Bulgaria!! :o I'm glad I asked! ;)
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Many congratulations Paul on passing your horticultural test - was it specific to Australian plants?
Swine flu now here in Switzerland with recorded cases and a box of samples burst open on a train just to cheer us all up (they say the accident won't have an effect on the public travelling on the train :o ) I suppose the next thing it will end up on a roundabout somewhere ???
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How can that possibly happen in the most efficient country in the known universe, Robin? Probably a non-Swiss who caused the upset? :D
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How can that possibly happen in the most efficient country in the known universe, Robin? Probably a non-Swiss who caused the upset? :D
Exactly Cliff, the trains run on the dot and the guard makes a personal apology if it there is a one second delay but it seems that even the Swiss are subject to human error on trains at least...what on earth was someone travelling with live swine flu samples like this doing on public transport????
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Many congratulations Paul on passing your horticultural test - was it specific to Australian plants?
Robin,
No, it was on nursery practices... well actually on various types of plants (indoor plants, ferns, bonsai, annuals etc) in their production in preparation for sale / outdoor display. 8)
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So I take it your stamps don't actually have Scotland on them then?
Of course they do. They give us a piece of blue paper and a white pen and we put our cross on it!
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::) :P
;)
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So I take it your stamps don't actually have Scotland on them then?
Of course they do. They give us a piece of blue paper and a white pen and we put our cross on it!
This is a bit insulting isn't it? Some of you may actually know how to sign your names. ;D
Since this is my 5000th post, I can report that I did make a celebratory cake last night and was all set to photograph it then cut it for Forum distribution. However, somehow I managed to drop it before I put the frosting on - to the bench fortunately, not the floor - so it wasn't fit for human viewing. This morning I took the larger pieces to my staff at work and Roger and I are still eating the crumby bits, in dessert bowls. Just for the record, it was a chocolate/orange marble cake with a choc frosting and tastes jolly good.
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Yeah, sure Lesley... you accidentally dropped it!! ;)
:-* :-*
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I DID, I DID.
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Bloody flu and viruses....
This Mexican 'flu ain't up to much. ::) From the people I'e seen chatting on their phones in quarantine it isn't even as bad as a cold! The test for 'flu is easy. "There's a twenty pound note on the front lawn. It's yours if you go and get it.!" Well, if you've got the 'flu you won't because you can't move! I've had the 'flu once in 1982. Never again! 'Flu is a whole body experience I don't ever want to repeat. I had to be taken home from school as I had collapsed. Spent two weeks in bed, and it was the Christmas holidays!
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Anthony,
Tell that to the people who have died of it!! :o :o :o :o
Personally, I think that the strain that has "escaped" isn't as major as the one that has done the damage in Mexico, or else it has diluted somewhere along the line and mutated into something a little less dangerous. :-\
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Thousands of people die from winter 'flu every year. The number of people in Mexico who have died from it changes up and down by the day. These people will have had no treatment and low resistance to the virus.
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Thousands of people die from winter 'flu every year. The number of people in Mexico who have died from it changes up and down by the day. These people will have had no treatment and low resistance to the virus.
Exactly the point - no treatment - and we have, aren't we lucky thanks to research and availability? There have been some severe flu viruses around this winter and friends in the UK have ended up in hospital. When I breathe in the clean mountain air here I thank my lucky stars.
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I have never had the 'flu
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Nor me.
I wonder how far 'over the top' news reporting helps to generate a state of feeling un-well? Having so far been able to avoid both bird and swine flue I'm now fearful about the duck billed platypus variety!
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Me neither but the three of us almost certainly will now. Sod's law.
On April 25th when a plane came into Auckland from Los Angeles, with around 30 students who were home from a trip to Mexico, about half had symtems and a few have been confirmed since then with swine flu but all are now recovered from what seemed a very mild dose of flu. Yet over the next couple of days, the BCC reported that NZers were just about dropping like flies (maybe not quite in those words). Thought the Beeb would have been a bit more responsible.
Apparently the Canadians have reported that a herd of pigs has tested positive for the swine flu virus. The Egyptians, who have no cases, are about to slaughter 360,000 pigs "just in case." They are Christian pigs, not Muslim.
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It's really sickening (... ::)) to see how some authorities and the media are handling this whole matter... >:(
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It has been to many Hollywood movies about this so they over react. (Or practice IF the next one would be dangerous).
A bit of practice is good but scaring the public is not good.
Hope all gets well soon.
Kind regards
Joakim
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My nephew is married to Anna, who is Mexican. She's getting a lot of bad feelings from people as can be seen from her quote on Facebook.
"Making this clear... Im mexican without virus, is that difficult to understand? People can be very ignorant!"
All due to media hype?
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The authorities in Egypt are using it as an extremely thinly disguised excuse to rid the country of pigs. >:(
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This cartoon received in an email......
click to enlarge the picture
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Has Gardener's World lost the plot? Beechgrove is a better watch these days
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BBC Points of View Forum posts are very critical of the new set up for Gardener's World .
I don't bother with it myself. :P
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I totally agree Mark.
I received this from Oz!
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Love that one. for the record, NZ has had 5 confirmed cases of swine flu, four now fully well and back at school, the 5th close to that.
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I received this from Oz!
Funny, Anthony, the version we got had an extra word ;D
cheers
fermi
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Thanks, Anthony, I had a good chuckle over that one!
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"There's a twenty pound note on the front lawn. It's yours if you go and get it.!" Well, if you've got the 'flu you won't because you can't move! I've had the 'flu once in 1982.
Forget the £20 note definition, Anthony, the real definition of flu is "if you've got it you think you're dying, and when you're getting over it, you wish you had died". Anyone who has had flu will know what I mean.
Maureen
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Fermi,
I was thinking the same thing about the extra word in the version I saw of the Pooh cartoon. There's a second cartoon in that "series" as well. Plus assorted jokes around of course.... such as...
I called the Swine Flu hotline today. All I got was crackling.
::) ::)
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;D ;D ;D
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It's the 9th of May and it is cold, windy and raining. I am seriously cheesed off. >:(
The garden really needs rain but the very windy weather has beendrying it all off as soon as we get it. The ground isn't getting properly wet around the umbrellas that are disguised as Rhodos in my garden, yet the lawn at my neighbour's house, where I am spending quite a bit of time caring for her childrens' pet rabbits, is soggy and slippery :P The rain means it is really too horrible to play on the trampoline. The bunnies are making a right mess of the lawn :'(
The immediate next door neighbour ( to the neighbour with the bunnies) ( well the chap renting the property) has just had a satellite dish fixed on the wall of his house extension which is inside the boundary of my friend's garden and I'm sure she will be angry with me for not putting a stop to that, when she returns from 2weeks with most of her extended family, plus her four small children, in San Diego, twleve miles away from Mexico.
Feeling moany..... you bet I am! :(
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.....I shouldn't laugh too much, as it makes my sunburn hurt !! ;D ;D 8)
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We had rain all day today (third day in a row) and the garden is a swamp. My wheelbarrow rain gauge is half full in less than a week! Now it is dark and virtually cloudless so I expect frost! ::)
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.....I shouldn't laugh too much, as it makes my sunburn hurt !! ;D ;D 8)
Oh Giles, that is cruel. But I like it !! ;D ;D
Autumn, sunny here as well, although a bit breezy today. ::)
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The rain means it is really too horrible to play on the trampoline.
When you do get a chance, Maggi, can we come round and enjoy the spectacle?
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Anne,
I'd sort of noted that myself, too. ;)
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The rain means it is really too horrible to play on the trampoline.
When you do get a chance, Maggi, can we come round and enjoy the spectacle?
I want to have a shotty too!
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Maggie, can you arrange to hire the trampoline for Saturday morning so that we can nip up during Judging? :o
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Winter has arrived in NZ with snow on the ground here this morning. Very cold weekend and more to come we're told. But the ground is at last getting some decent moisture. Pity it's too cold now to keep growth going. Might take Diane's Cardiocrinum seed out of the fridge and into the big outdoors.
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Is snow this early 'normal' where you are Lesley?
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It's raining down ants in the chalet :o :o :o
A colony has decided to venture out from a nest in the wooden beams and they are everywhere - can't sit still for a second
::).....
Flashback to when I was about 5 sitting in the heather by a loch having a picnic - was told to stop fidgeting, sit still and eat my bap properly......a few seconds later I was covered in red ants, biting me everywhere....as few seconds later I was dunked in the loch ;D
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Is snow this early 'normal' where you are Lesley?
No Simon, this is really early. Most forecasters have been predicting an early winter and with a good fall in the South Island mountains, the ski field people are rubbing their hands in glee. Usually we don't get snow that stays around until late June or July, going on until September if the skiers are lucky. I get three or four falls here, usually of 5 or 10 cms and they rarely stay more than a day or two at most.
I planted a large (1.5 metre high) Lonicera hildebrandiana against my house a couple of days ago. The leaves will go but the plant should be OK. My mother grew an enormous plant of the Burmese honeysuckle along a long verandah and it lasted for ever, probably still there actually.
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The genus Vancouveria and I seem to have some kind of very weird love-hate relationship going on.
For starters, in this garden, I've never been able to establish V. hexandra, though in many local gardens it's a pest that is nearly impossible to eradicate. It grew well in my old garden, 20⁺ years ago, but here the best performance was growth for a few years followed by a slow decline and ultimate disappearance. Oddly enough, Ranunuculus ficaria 'Brazen Hussy', which is a pest in some gardens, also fails here, though other cultivars of R. ficaria do well enough.
The other two vancouverias, V. chrysantha and V. planipetala, survive, but don't grow vigorously. I must add that V. chrysantha did once set seed, believe it or not!
This morning I decided to lift a bit of each and pot it up as the first step toward distributing these plants more widely. The golden vancouveria was well behaved and allowed me, on my third try, to lift a growing point that actually had roots. The redwood ivy (V. planipetala), on the other hand, resolutely refused to provide anything better than a long rootless stolon with a tuft of leaves at one end. I potted it up anyway, but I am not optimistic.
I guess it's just an example of the sheer perversity of nature.
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The genus Vancouveria and I seem to have some kind of very weird love-hate relationship going on.
For starters, in this garden, I've never been able to establish V. hexandra, though in many local gardens it's a pest that is nearly impossible to eradicate. It grew well in my old garden, 20⁺ years ago, but here the best performance was growth for a few years followed by a slow decline and ultimate disappearance. Oddly enough, Ranunuculus ficaria 'Brazen Hussy', which is a pest in some gardens, also fails here, though other cultivars of R. ficaria do well enough.
The other two vancouverias, V. chrysantha and V. planipetala, survive, but don't grow vigorously. I must add that V. chrysantha did once set seed, believe it or not!
This morning I decided to lift a bit of each and pot it up as the first step toward distributing these plants more widely. The golden vancouveria was well behaved and allowed me, on my third try, to lift a growing point that actually had roots. The redwood ivy (V. planipetala), on the other hand, resolutely refused to provide anything better than a long rootless stolon with a tuft of leaves at one end. I potted it up anyway, but I am not optimistic.
I guess it's just an example of the sheer perversity of nature.
Same here Rodger. V. hexandra was ramapant here in a bed of nasty worn out soil. When I re-made the bed with compost etc I re-planted a few pieces and it gave up the ghost. In another garden it is a tidy little clump.
V. planipeta merely exists. V. chrysantha we have not dared to put out yet.
johnw
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Bah, bleedin' humbug..... the darn flu is back at me again. ::) Thought it was over and it has kept resurfacing all week. Go to work for a few hours and have to come home and sleep the afternoon. And I'm supposed to have got seed together to send off to Tasmania but it just hasn't happened. Arrrrrrrrgggggh!!
(moan, moan, moan!)
(grumble, grumble!)
(Pfffffft!)
:o :o :'(
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Paul,
Never mind, I hear Taswegians can be quite understanding.
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Virtual mountain air to speed you recovery :)
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;D ;D ;D Thanks Robin. 8)
And Yes, this particular Taswegian has been VERY patient so far.
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Be a devil Paul, say what you mean maybe you'll get it off your chest? ;D
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Now I'm confused? ??? Or are you referring to a chest cold? I'm obviously not thinking at my usual speed and I can't work that one out. :o
I should also mention (as another moan) that feeling like crap on Wednesday I got to Tafe and opened up my notes to discover that I had a test that evening, and I didn't even realise it. :o Thank goodness I knew my pests and diseases pretty well. Those bits we have already got marks for I passed, and I'm fairly confident about the rest. Was a bit of a sinking feeling when I realised we had a test, let me tell you!! :-[
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Why is it that when it is Aberdeen Show the weather is bloody awful! It is always clod and this year the met office has put out a severe weather warning for Aberdeenshire... Maggi I need to be handed a mug of hot chocolate when we arrive at the hall this evening ;D
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Poor Carol, she was out of luck... when she made her post we were already leaving for the set-up and when she and David arrived through the wind and rain I was unaware that any pleas for hot chocolate had been made!
Weather is horrible and forcast for tomorrow is just as bad. It will do bad things to our visitor numbers, I fear. Entries are a bit down too, I think.... unless someone arrives unexpectedly with a truckload tomorrow morning. ::)
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Fingers crossed for your show Maggi. 8)
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Not so clod today, here! ::)
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Well it was very clod in Aberdeen yesterday Anthony but, in spite of the weather, we had a great day! Whilst the show benches were not groaning with entries the benches were filled, the plants looked good and a convivial day was had by all. The Aberdonians proved just how hardly they were by turning out in force to look at the show and, in many ways more important, buy lots of plants and enjoy the teas. No hot chocolate but a smile a mile wide from Maggi when we arrived on the Friday evening made the journey all worthwhile.
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So glad you had such support and after all the effort the results were rewarding Carol :)
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I have very happy memories of the 2007 Aberdeen Show and look forward to getting back there! :D Maybe in 2011 after the International Conference! ;D
cheers
fermi
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Please Maggi , translate clod into english for me - thanks Otto.
or if you prefer into german , Iam guessing it could be kalt .?
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Try 'klat', Otto ;D
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Sorry, Otto: this all started off with a typing error of clod for cold... and a joke has spiralled!
There is an english word "clod" too, to compound the confusion ; that means "lump" as in : a clod of earth. Though it can mean a clumsy person, also..... ah, the joys of the english language :-\ :-X ;)
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I have very happy memories of the 2007 Aberdeen Show and look forward to getting back there! :D Maybe in 2011 after the International Conference! ;D
cheers
fermi
Fermi, you and Will, and Otto will be very welcome to a bed..... anyone else will have to sleep on the floor! ;D
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I have very happy memories of the 2007 Aberdeen Show and look forward to getting back there! :D Maybe in 2011 after the International Conference! ;D
cheers
fermi
Fermi, you and Will, and Otto will be very welcome to a bed..... anyone else will have to sleep on the floor! ;D
We'll hold you to that, Maggi, but I don't think we'd fit in one bed ;D
I'm looking forward to visiting already!
cheers
fermi
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We'll hold you to that, Maggi, but I don't think we'd fit in one bed
Of course you will......... the big erythronium bed, behind the pond...... ::) ;D
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We'll hold you to that, Maggi, but I don't think we'd fit in one bed
Of course you will......... the big erythronium bed, behind the pond...... ::) ;D
Wow, 'en suite'! :D
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Well, kinda..... don't really want pishing in my fond ! ;)
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Dianella tasmanica - is it time it was repatriated?
I, for one, would wish it so. There have been two big clumps in the garden for several years. The leaves always look tatty. The flowers are insignificant. The berries are pleasant for the short while they last and then the miserable look takes over again.
Today, I removed the second clump, three wheelbarrow loads, and made my best ever use of dianella - I put it in the compost bin.
As it turns out, there is now room in that bed for...
Paddy
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Well Paddy...I've grown it here as an annual--and it was fabulous as a variegated foliage plant for underplanting, and then conveniently died during the winter. No tatty leaves here!
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We'll hold you to that, Maggi, but I don't think we'd fit in one bed ;D
I'm looking forward to visiting already!
cheers
fermi
Lucky dogs! :'(
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Carlo,
How fortunate for you. It is a good plant that dies well when it is no longer required.
Paddy
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We had a most wonderful and enjoyable time traveling around in England and North Wales the last four days !! (This should be in the I'm so happy thread really... ;D )
Until yesterday - the roads were quite busy but we got along quite well - until...., we spent 1.45 hours on the M25 in an "organised" traffic jam, just to "allow" us to pay a mere 1,50 £ at the Dartford Crossing ! >:( What a shame ! :(
It made us miss a garden open visit in Kent... :'(
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Should have come to Scotland. ;D No road tolls here, although £1.50 is quite cheap compared to travelling in continental Europe! :(
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Right on all counts Anthony ! ;D
My frustration was that for "only" 1,50 £ we had to queu for 1.45 hrs... >:(
Not that I want them to raise toll... ;D
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Hope you had a good book with you Luc.
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I'm going to KILL the little brute. This is not a moan it is a scream of horrified outrage.
While I was doing my usual morning thing on the Forum, Teddy, (Jack Russell, 5 and a half months old) was amusing himself with a package of seeds which arrived yesterday from Marcus in Tasmania. He has only eaten one packet entirely, including the little plastic bag and I have found 2 slimy seeds on the (needing to be vacuumed) carpet. The package was on the dining room table (chairs tucked well under but this morning he has discovered that if he takes a good run and a flying leap, he can just make it). Roger's blood pressure pills (I may now need them) and the bowl of bananas are untouched. My fault of course, I should have put the seeds elsewhere or kept Teddy with me or not ordered more seeds anyway.
I should be sorry for Teddy. He is very soon to be (micro)chipped and (testicularly)chopped and he'll get carsick on the way to the vet, but of all the seeds to eat!
Does anyone know if Iris sari is poisonous?
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Lesley - I can understand your rage. Reminds me of a friend I took to the Rhodo Society Christmas party one year. Someone had collected Davidia involucrata v. vilmoriniana (the hardy form) seeds for the members and placed them in a lovely bowl for all to help themselves. My Dutch friend didn't quite get the gist of the announcement, picked up the bowl and proceeded to the buffet table with them. Over the course of the evening she ate every one of the seeds and then had the audacity to complain that they weren't very good. Members were ready to chip and chop her that night. She had to go underground for several months.
Your Iris sari seeds may sprout better than ever. But where?
Poor Teddy! I always wanted a Jack Russell but know I hae me doots.
johnw
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Where? very likely in the long grass where no way would I see them.
Your story John, in turn reminds me of one in which my elderly aunt, must have been 85 at the time, returned home from a holiday with my cousin, to find that her fridge was well stocked. She thanked the neighbour kindly and said how much she'd enjoyed the luncheon sausage. Also thanked the neighbour for looking after her little dog. You guessed it, the sausage was actually a chunk of dog roll which the neighbour had bought. I don't think he told her about that.
Thinking of Teddy and his present propensity for carsickness, I thought of making him sick and hopefully retrieving the packet but I couldn't face the prospect. We've had a major row since the seed episode, over my determination for both dogs to go out while I had my lunch and Teddy's determination not to go. I won but it was harrowing for both of us, a good smack for him and a bite for me and another smack for him. However, later he came in happily and sat on my knee so we're friends again. Dogs are wonderfully forgiving.
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However, later he came in happily
What mischief had he been upto whilst he was outside, though!
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Our lovely little Elfinraer (see my avatar picture) when she was younger would go out and dig something up when she got into trouble. It happened many times, but she rarely if ever dug at other times. We also at one point had a geranium in a pot that was looking unwell.... we discovered 4 bones buried under it. Sounds normal, I hear you say, except that to get to that pot she had to jump a small fence, walk across 4 or more rows of pots, and then dig down into this particular pot. She never touched any of the other ones. I wasn't exactly pleased when I found the evidence. ;D Surprising at times that she has lived to her current 14 years of age. ;)
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Your story John, in turn reminds me of one in which my elderly aunt, must have been 85 at the time, returned home from a holiday with my cousin, to find that her fridge was well stocked. She thanked the neighbour kindly and said how much she'd enjoyed the luncheon sausage. Also thanked the neighbour for looking after her little dog. You guessed it, the sausage was actually a chunk of dog roll which the neighbour had bought. I don't think he told her about that.
And the lady who came into the garden centre one day for replacement Hippeastrums - the over-sized jumbos at $25 each. She had phoned home and asked her husband to put on the potatoes and rhutabagas before she got home. Only to find out he had cooked a pot of her jumbos from the fridge.
johnw
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Oh dear, men will do anything to avoid the cooking shift. I'll bet she hasn't asked him again. :)
Teddy did try to attack the rubbish collection truck this morning. He was brought to the door by the truck driver who asked did we want him collected too. I told him to help himself but he declined. With Cain here as well, a larger, much older dog who never wanders, Teddy too has always stayed within the boundries but he has become very independant this last month. His little operation will, I hope, fix any inclination to explore outside our 2 acres. I hope he gets over the car sickness as it means he can't go so many places. But he is a great digger and I'm having to put pieces of chicken netting over new plantings of bearded irises and some tulips bulbs this week. My mother used to put the possums she shot under a new grape or passion vine and we always had superb fruit.
I know the word, rhutabaga, but what actually IS it? I mean what kind of a vegetable. I've always imagined something like Jerusalem artichokes.
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Talking of possums (the Australians we DON'T love), while many schools raise funds with sponsored runs, cake stalls and a hundred other ways, (does ANY government fully fund its education system to the proper degree?) last weekend, one North Island school had a possum shoot in the native bush around their small town. The kids are all farming or country brought up and are well aquained with firearms and even 8 and 10 year olds shot a lot, all properly supervised by teachers and parents of course. The fur from the possums was collected (you really don't want to see the possums in the de-furring machine) and at $5 per possum for its fur, the school raised over $5000. That's a lot of possums who will no longer feed on the rata and pohutakawa trees. (Metrosideros species.) The school had a fun day in conjunction, with, among other things, a possum-tossing competition. Needless-to-say, city folks were deeply offended at this and proclaimed it "politically incorrect." God help us!
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Remaining with a somewhat gory subject, in Central Otago which in parts looks very like the wilder parts of Afghanistan, there is an annual Great Easter Bunny Shoot. I think around 25,000 rabbits were shot this year. While at the beginning it was a local event, with the farmers and run-holders whose land was infested doing the dirty deed (they work in teams of 4 or 5), the event has become famous and is now a world-wide thing, with teams coming from Poland one year, from the Australian and US armies and many other places. There are now so many teams registering to shoot, that they have to hold a ballot in order to keep the numbers reasonable, and for safety to be maintained. They shoot through both day and night. The men (and some women) all get to do their macho thing and the harvest makes it possible for farming in the area to remain viable.
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It's a swede, Lesley.
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Oh, a swede. Thanks. I like them very much, mashed with salt, pepper and butter and very nice roasted too.
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Oh, a swede. Thanks. I like them very much, mashed with salt, pepper and butter and very nice roasted too.
Lesley
Roasted? I have never heard of that, tell me more. By the way I called it rhutabaga when in fact we call it turnip; many elsewhere call the white purple-topped type turnips. We would never dream of boiling a Swede let alone a Hippeastrum.
johnw
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Well I wouldn't boil a Swede John but I'm happy to boil a swede. (Simmer until tender, drain well add a knob of butter and salt and pepper, and enjoy.) Here they are swedes or sometimes swede turnips but usually turnips are the smaller, very juicy white ones which I like raw or cooked. And we feed swedes to sheep as a winter crop, with predictable results. To roast, I simply peel off the outer skin, cut into pieces about the size of a roast potato and.....roast them, with the potatoes, carrots or whatever, preferably around the lamb or other meat for a lovely flavour.
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My mouth is watering with your description of turnips and butter + seasoning, Lesley.... Celeriac also makes a great addition to roasted vegetables or sliced in layers in a vegetable bake with tomato and cheese topping.... :P
My other half has been on a diet of no potatoes or carbs and I miss them so sneak in a 'feeling' of potatoes with celeriac ;D
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Celeriac is a thing which has never tempted me..... but now I get the idea from Robin of this layered cheesy bake.... I'm enthused. Thanks! :D
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OK, I can live with all these strange vegetable discussions. ;) Just so long as no-one starts spouting the virtues of Brussel Sprouts. :-X They're even worse than Avocado! :o (shudder)
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OK, I can live with all these strange vegetable discussions. ;) Just so long as no-one starts spouting the virtues of Brussel Sprouts. :-X
Have you ever tried them stir-fried with ginger and a bit of garlic Paul?
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OK, I can live with all these strange vegetable discussions. ;) Just so long as no-one starts spouting the virtues of Brussel Sprouts. :-X They're even worse than Avocado! :o (shudder)
Watch your tongue dude.. >:( >:(
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I was reading only last week of the botanists who had come up with a fantastic innovation
of a vegetable that is healthy to eat and you never have to brush your teeth again....
...BRISTLE SPROUTS! ;D
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Celeriac is a thing which has never tempted me..... but now I get the idea from Robin of this layered cheesy bake.... I'm enthused. Thanks! :D
My other half loves layers of celeriac, potatoes and onions covered with cream and dots of butter and baked until done, is fantastic and even better if you mash a few anchovies and add to the cream.
Have to say I like it too. ;D
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OK Helen,
I could live with that.
Paddy
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Speaking as an 'unfortunate' without a gall bladder and therefore unable to cope with much fat in my diet, sounds great but for me "ouch!"
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Speaking as an 'unfortunate' without a gall bladder and therefore unable to cope with much fat in my diet, sounds great but for me "ouch!"
How galling! ::)
I'm ashamed of you Paul, Brussels Sprouts are superb, (again, steamed until just done then whole or rough chopped with a dab of butter and a little salt, lots of black pepper, and avocados are food for the gods - and me. Fortunately my N.I. sister has a tree and sends me a boxful several times a year. I love them any way but best of all, halved, the stone removed, the hole filled with lemon juice and the entire surface sprinkled with salt and pepper, then the lemony, salty flesh scooped out with a spoon.
I couldn't live without potatoes either. I'd be wanting to substitute chocolate! :o
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I must try the sprouts with star anise and ginger. That sounds really good. I cooked some sprouts last night, dropped one which Teddy grabbed. He didn't eat it (it was raw) but chewed it so that I had to clean up finely minced sprout all over the kitchen and dining room. He's such a lovely wee dog. :-\
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Lesley, I'm with you, avocado is food for the gods and baby brussell sprouts are wonderful.
I love avocado in salsas, with asparagus, in salads, mashed on a chillie con carne pizza ( you don't put the avocado and sour cream on until after it is cooked), hmmmm what else, anything mexican, but maybe best of all is on a fresh bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese, vidalia onion slices and a few capers.........oh bliss!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D
.......and then there are fiddleheads which just happen to be in season at the moment ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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OK, I can live with all these strange vegetable discussions. ;) Just so long as no-one starts spouting the virtues of Brussel Sprouts. :-X They're even worse than Avocado! :o (shudder)
Paul, on the matter of Brussels Sprouts I am on your side. ;D ;D
It's for me the most terrible vegetable. ::) ::) ::)
As a young boy I had to pick them when freezing cold and afterwards I was forced to eat them too, because they are so healthy ??? ::).
(In those days you had to do what mum said. :'( )
It's at least more than 50 years ago I had to eat them, an I am still (reasonably) healthy without them. :D :D
When smelling them when they are cooked in the kitchen is enough for me to go as far as possible ::) ::)
Though I'm the only one in our family who cannot eat them ;D ;D ;D
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Remaining with a somewhat gory subject, in Central Otago which in parts looks very like the wilder parts of Afghanistan, there is an annual Great Easter Bunny Shoot. I think around 25,000 rabbits were shot this year. While at the beginning it was a local event, with the farmers and run-holders whose land was infested doing the dirty deed (they work in teams of 4 or 5), the event has become famous and is now a world-wide thing, with teams coming from Poland one year, from the Australian and US armies and many other places. There are now so many teams registering to shoot, that they have to hold a ballot in order to keep the numbers reasonable, and for safety to be maintained. They shoot through both day and night. The men (and some women) all get to do their macho thing and the harvest makes it possible for farming in the area to remain viable.
I personally think all guns should be destroyed.
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Well Anthony, the alternatives for pest animals, include some pretty filthy poisons which endanger native birds, farm dogs and others. It is not the gun which is the problem, it's the person who uses it, and his/her attitude.
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Lesley, I'm with you, avocado is food for the gods and baby brussell sprouts are wonderful.
I love avocado in salsas, with asparagus, in salads, mashed on a chillie con carne pizza ( you don't put the avocado and sour cream on until after it is cooked), hmmmm what else, anything mexican, but maybe best of all is on a fresh bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese, vidalia onion slices and a few capers.........oh bliss!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D
.......and then there are fiddleheads which just happen to be in season at the moment ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Helen - Do you deliver?
johnw
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Fiddleheads are...? Sound like something invented by Michael Leunig. :)
Never mind, Google has come up trumps.
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Croziers, Lesley. Unfurling (or still furled) fern fronds.
I thought my Brussel Sprouts comment would generate some reactions, although I am most worried by those angry looks from Luc. :o I'm sorry but I can't even stand the smell of them. I have I think twice sort of enjoyed them, but they have to be exactly the right young and fresh, and shops seem to only sell old and bitter. ::) And Avocado is green slimey stuff that just feels allwrong... urk, I don't even want to think about either of the two. Can't stand Kidneys either, for reference, although I am quite attached to my own personal ones, just not those that I would be required to eat. ;)
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I thought my Brussel Sprouts comment would generate some reactions, although I am most worried by those angry looks from Luc. :o
You should be Paul - you've hit me in my national feelings... ;D
Brussels sprouts are one of our national institutions such as the Atomium, Manneken Pis, etc...... ;D ;D ;D
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Well Anthony, the alternatives for pest animals, include some pretty filthy poisons which endanger native birds, farm dogs and others. It is not the gun which is the problem, it's the person who uses it, and his/her attitude.
Tell that to sixteen families in Dunblane. >:(
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Speaking as an 'unfortunate' without a gall bladder and therefore unable to cope with much fat in my diet, sounds great but for me "ouch!"
How galling! ::)
Lesley, you should hang your head in shame for a pun like that. :D What is it they call puns? "The lowest form of humor" I think is the right term. :P
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Helen - Do you deliver?
johnw
Might be a bit tepid by the time it gets there, John ;)
Are you enjoying the fiddlehead season?
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Lesley, you should hang your head in shame for a pun like that. :D What is it they call puns? "The lowest form of humor" I think is the right term. :P
I believe the saying I am familiar with is that "sarcasm is the lowest form of wit" ....... but I don't think this area is one of exact science!! ;D
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Well Anthony, the alternatives for pest animals, include some pretty filthy poisons which endanger native birds, farm dogs and others. It is not the gun which is the problem, it's the person who uses it, and his/her attitude.
Tell that to sixteen families in Dunblane. >:(
And many other places around rthe world Anthony, including right here in Dunedin at Aramoana. Your comment is understood but I still contend it was the men who held the guns that were the cause of all these tragedies.
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If there were no guns, Lesley.....? On Friday night I caught a snippet in and Edinburgh evening newspaper. "Toddler, aged 2, shot dead by his three year old sister after she found a gun under her parents' bed." Needless to say, it was in California.
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Unfortunately, with human nature as it is.... if there were no guns then we'd just go back to throwing rocks, slingshots etc. There's always going to be some sort of weapon for those who want to use it. ::)
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Sorry, Paul, but that statement is inane. :(
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But it still supports Lesley's comment..... that it isn't the weapon that is the problem, it is the person wielding it. THAT was the point I was trying to make. You take the guns away, they'll find something else. I too hate guns, but I don't believe a blanket removal of all guns will solve anything.
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I'm with Anthony on this one. Gun atrocities like those perpetrated in schools by disaffected pupils and ex-pupils using parents' guns, or by gun nuts who decide they want to try out their weapons on "real" targets, would be much harder to carry out using stones, clubs, knifes or even machettes. With just about any weapon other than a gun (or a hand-grenade) teachers and other bystanders have a
MUCH
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Sorry. Hit the wrong button and posted half a message there. I was going to continue... teachers and other bystanders would have a MUCH better chance of fighting off an attacker, protecting children and saving lives (with far less risk of being killed themselves) if facing any weapon other than a gun.
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Isn't it easier to fight off a gunman than to fight off a bomb, a fire, poisons, toxic gas..? I certainly don't oppose strict gun control laws, but Leslie and Paul have a valid point - there's more than just guns than can (and have been used to) kill people.
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But the people (including children) who have carried out attacks in schools have almost always used either guns or knives (or axes) rather than explosive devices, fire setting or poison gas. They've wanted to attack indivuals one after another and see their victims killed (and have their victims see them). Bombs and poison gas are more the weapons of terrorists, which is a different scenario altogether. Anthony was talking about the use of easily-obtainable guns in attacks on schoolchildren and students, something that seems to be on the increase, both in Europe and in America.
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Thomas Hamilton had enough amunition to wipe out the entire school of 500+ when he entered Dunblane Primary School in March 1996. His information was wrong, and he arrived half an hour after the entire school had been at assembly, leaving the P1 class, a PE teacher, the class teacher and a teaching assistant.
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It certainly focuses the mind when it's close to home - having had a lucky escape from another man with a mental problem + access to a firearm, Michael Ryan of the Hungerford massacre, I am all for banning of firearms but don't think it's the only solution.
Twenty minutes after filling up with petrol with our 2 children he arrived at the same petrol station and fired four shots at the owner's wife (who we knew) leaving her for dead. She sold videos of different types of challenges which were popular at the time and claims that he was affected by these and was on a mission to accomplish the task of daring to kill. She knew Michael Ryan, as a local customer, but on that day he was unresponsive to her and in another world dressed in his combat gear. He was mad about firearms as is well known and practiced at the police rifle range in Devizes - how come no one questioned his obsessive firearm behavior here?
With more and more cutbacks in the National Health Service leaving people with mental health issues unmonitored in our communities there is nowhere for them to receive the help they so badly need.
A madman/woman can be an unknown threat 'out of the blue' but we should not make it easy for them to equip themselves with deadly weapons which can kill so many in one hit.
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I had my own little grumble today but it is not significant. Like Anthony, the events in Dunblane made a huge impact though I must admit it was an impact felt from many hundreds of miles away. It was the fact that the events at Dunblane happened in what we would all have seen as a safe environment, a school, the place we would all leave our children with an easy mind that was so upsetting. It changed safety practices in my own school where, to then, we had a literally open-door policy - the front door was always open and parents and locals were free to come and go at will. We never had a problem but after "Dunblane" we (parents and teachers) changed our minds on that.
The availibility of guns will inevitably mean they will come to be in the hands of those who should never have them and their removal is something with which I would agree.
Paddy
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A very difficult issue. I have never owned a gun, but know people who do and they store them responsibly and use them responsibly for sport. One of them represents England in shooting competitions. Should they be denied the sport the excel at? Emasculating the male population at birth would virtually wipe out rape as a crime but it wouldn't be practical, would it.
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A very difficult issue.
As far as I am concerned, it is a very simple issue. Some - carefully vetted - professionals may need them to do their jobs but there is no justification whatsoever for any private individual owning a firearm. Yes, they should be denied their sport.
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I was among one of the 1st Mums to have contact with Thomas Hamilton. My son Stuart when aged about 8 brought a letter from school about a club he was setting up for young boys. Luckily a friend who was in Scouting advised us not to let him go. I was the worst mum for about a week before other who had enrolled their boys withdrew them. All hell broke loose he went round each family and was not pleasant.This was the start of his hatred of Dunblane.
The junior police in the area knew what he was like but Senior Police would remove his guns.Even if they had he could have got what he wanted in any sleazy pub between here and Glasgow. Guns are only dangerous in the wrong hands.
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Perhaps this is a subject we should all drop before it becomes too heated. There are pros and cons and each of us is entitled to an opinion. Obviously those who have been closer to the results of irresponsible firearms use will have stronger views. Perhaps in the long run, Society itself is to blame for such incidents, for its treatment of the mentally ill and other vulnerable people. Maybe there ARE people who are quite simply evil, but first they need to be identified and then, how does one deal with them? Our civilization would not permit the out-of-hand slaughter of such people. No more from me here.
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Just picking up on a phrase in Lesley's posting, "Maybe there ARE people who are quite simply evil".
Last week we had a report here in Ireland on the abuse of children in residential care over the years. It was the most horrifying reading, truly upsetting. I'm sure some of you will have heard of it and also heard of similar abuse in your own country.
It seems that evil is an unfortunate aspect of humanity.
Paddy
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Yes Paddy, I guess the report went around the world and yes, it happens everywhere. We in NZ are not exempt. I agree that the abusers in cases like these are evil in the beastliest way. Here we have a dreadful record of physical abuse against even very tiny children, and at the risk of being called "racist", I have to say that the large majority of cases are perpetrated by Maori or Pacific Island people - not exclusively, of course. While there is absolutely no excuse for such things happening, it seems to me that in most cases the level of intellegence of the abusers is not high, and perhaps this, combined with a lack of compassion and of imagination, may be a factor. But in the cases where priests individually and the Church as an institution are the abusers, this cannot be so. One is therefore left with the concept of evil.
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Lesley,
Perhaps it would be a good idea to drop this topic.
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I agree.
I hate hot weather, I also hate cold weather. Why can't weather be more like me-middle of the road, conventional, normal(!?) ;D
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Guess you'll just have to stay in bed David...
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I KNEW IT!! We've had nearly a week of good, nay, fabulously hot and sunny weather...... I was even getting a bit fed up of being so hot...... don't moan, I told myself, because this may very well be what we get as SUMMER..... and today it is much cooler, overcast with something of a coastal fog....I KNEW IT: those few days WERE SUMMER!!
On the bright side... my primulas are sitting up and looking much happier!
Now it is cooler, though, there is no excuse to just laze around in the shade and watch the garden birds..... some work may HAVE to be done :-X :P
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Still SCORCHING
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Why does the post reply feature keep prematurely posting my posts when I hit and un-hit Caps Lock?!!! I think it must be if I inadvertently hit caps lock and shift at the same time. As I was saying....still SCORCHING here but at least my Lilium chalcedonicum seem to like it and look like they may actually flower this year instead of getting botrytis. I can't wait (been waiting for years for flowers). This is in the wrong thread. We need a new thread - the I'm Just About To Be Happy thread.
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I have the distinct impression that people in other parts of the world (Paul T and Fermi down under for examble) - might not be able to suppress a sympathetic smile when they read these "complaints" about the scorching heat in Britain... ;D ;D ;D
:-X
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I'm not moaning here but my poor Teddy is. He goes this morning to the vet for removal of two small parts, and also to be microchipped. Of course he doesn't yet know about this, but he knows he didn't get his supper last night and hasn't been given breakfast this morning.
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Poor little Teddy... never mind, I bet he'll be ready for a good supper tonight, which is all he really cares about anyway!
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I'm not moaning here but my poor Teddy is. He goes this morning to the vet for removal of two small parts, and also to be microchipped. Of course he doesn't yet know about this, but he knows he didn't get his supper last night and hasn't been given breakfast this morning.
They may be small to you mate, but.......... ;D
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And. I believe, Teddy was very attached to them as is inclined to be the case.
Paddy.
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Well he won't be by now. It will be all over. He was SO GOOD when I took him down the road. He hates the car because he gets car sick but he sat still and calm and behaved perfectly for the vet when she examined him. I was really proud of him. A special treat tonight or whenever he's ready for it.
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A special treat tonight or whenever he's ready for it.
Not much chance now ... even if he IS ready for it ... !
What do they shout at tennis matches at Wimbledon? "New b---- please" :-X :-X :-X
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When I was growing up our tomcat was neutered by our shearer. One end of him *the cat, not the shearer) in a hessian sack and the other end of him being worked on. I expected him to never come near us again but from that night (literally) onwards he was the smoooziest cat, always wanting company and being so friendly. Before that he'd been a bit standoffish and scratchy. Obviously the removal calmed him down... or else he was so worried that if he wasn't nice we'd remove something else? :o ;) Ah the wonders of growing up on a farm. ;D
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These last posts have made me smile - I've had a miserable week of chicken, pig, whatever flu and anything that makes me smile is a ray of sunshine at this time - in my wife's opinion anyway. Hope you can't pass it on through the keyboard - the flu that is, not the sunshine which happens to go through just fine.
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Do hope you are feeling a lot better now, Rogan? The one consolation is you are certainly feeling happier than poor little Teddy - I suspect he might be a tad 'grizzly'! :D
I bet Roger is a bit worried, Lesley? He probably won't take too many car rides with you for a good number of weeks! :D
I've hidden the keys in our house in case Sue reads any of this.
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By the way - in Teddy's case - should this thread really be called; 'get it off your chest'? :o :o
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Cliff, it's just a suitable thread for the oddballs :P
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I wonder if a reed warbler would be angry if it knew the fat bird in its nest was a cuckoo. Well, I feel just like that poor mother bird as I have been growing a 'cuckoo' from SRGC seed labelled "Arum creticum", sown 10/2/03 and flowering for the first time! I am not happy!!! >:(
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Cliff, it's just a suitable thread for the oddballs :P
;D ;D ;D ???
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I wonder if a reed warbler would be angry if it knew the fat bird in its nest was a cuckoo. Well, I feel just like that poor mother bird as I have been growing a 'cuckoo' from SRGC seed labelled "Arum creticum", sown 10/2/03 and flowering for the first time! I am not happy!!! >:(
Maybe it holidays in Crete, Anthony? ::)
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Maybe it holidays in Crete, Anthony? ::)
Well I don't think it was a Cretan who sent in the seeds as they were from the first section of the seed list?
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Its common name is "cuckoo pint" isn't it?
Teddy is not even slightly grizzly, far from it. He came home at 5.30pm, scoffed a large bowl of tea and then started on Cain's as well. Of course he had had a painkiller tablet so wasn't feeling any ill effects. Since, he has practically wrecked the house, so pleased to be home.
I wanted to add something to Cliff's Wimbledon comment but I see others have filled the spot nicely.
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As for Roger, he doesn't take many drives with me anyway, if he can avoid them. He thinks he's a better driver. Poor fool! It is just possible that he's a better TECHNICAL driver, but I'm a better DEFENSIVE driver, so that my passengers don't arrive feeling as if they've been having a nervous breakdown. They are cool, calm and collected.
Rogan, I hope you'll soon be better too. And no, the flu and other greeblies don't travel by internet fortunately. Imagine how fast swine flu would have travelled around the world if it came by the Forum! ???
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Yesterday evening, after a quick pint in the 'Tappit Hen' (local pub, not one of those imaginary sleasey ones between here and Glasgow) I took Heidi for a walk up the hill. Had to pull one of those red rubber bands (the ones posties drop all over the place) out of her bum! >:( ::) :P
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Yesterday evening, after a quick pint in the 'Tappit Hen' (local pub, not one of those imaginary sleasey ones between here and Glasgow) I took Heidi for a walk up the hill. Had to pull one of those red rubber bands (the ones posties drop all over the place) out of her bum! >:( ::) :P
I'm really, really hoping that Heidi is your dog.
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really[/i] hoping that Heidi is your dog.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Anthony and Martin - you have just had my office chortling! ;D
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I'm really, really hoping that Heidi is your dog.
Yes ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
She seems to like eating anything except her own food. The best one was a red Christmas paper napkin. It came out totally unchanged, except that it was neatly folded. Gave my wife a real shock!
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Who would blame a dog for not eating most dog food today...dry and boring ??? The only way our dog eats it is with tempting left overs and she loves vegetables especially asparagus and beans and fruit like brambles and raspberries - in fact anything that looks/smells better because we're eating it ;D
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I suppose once the habbit has started, but the food must be pretty bad if she prefers to eat paper and rubber bands!
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Does anyone understand the way Agricultural Subsidies work within the EU? An increasing number of hay meadows here are being ploughed up as set-aside just now.
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Maybe a wider question? How does the EU work- period. (OK I'm an 'Islander') :P
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Well here the idea seems to be, that you get money from the EU to take land which was not in agricultural use out of agricultural use. I guess it isn't important to protect biodiversity as long as the price of commodities is kept artificially high.
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Does anyone understand the way Agricultural Subsidies work within the EU? An increasing number of hay meadows here are being ploughed up as set-aside just now.
Quite simple,they give farmers lots money not to work, and not to use good arable land to produce crops, while about one third of the worlds population are dying from starvation. You need a lot of education to be able to understand it,which leaves me very much in the dark. :( :( :( :( :(
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Yes great to have a system where people with lots of land and money are rewarded for doing nothing.
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Anthony and Martin - you have just had my office chortling! ;D
I think a lot more than just your office are chortling. Got a good guffaw from this neck of the woods too. ;D I was thinking "too much information, Anthony", until I read Martin's reply. Then, I was so glad Anhtony had made his comment and set Martin up for that reply. ;)
Thanks for a good laugh, guys. :-*
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The sun is shining inbetween huge drops of rain and thunder, I just saw a whirlwind of dandelion seeds being blown from the nearby field into my garden, and last night you couldn't go 5 feet out the door before being covered in hungry, biting midges... Summer's certainly arrived! ;D
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Temperature on my drive: Wednesday 3 June at 1330= 30C sun from a blue sky with not a cloud in sight.
Temperature on my drive: Saturday 6 June at 1330 = 8C rain pouring down from the greyest of skies and the central heating switched back on.
Ah! the joys of a maritime climate.
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We had torrential downpours all yesterday, which I hope did my rhodos some good and I suppose I should be glad that there has only been a little light rain today ...... but Lily and I have just been for a walk and I had to wear my winter duffle coat.... it's perishing! Lily didn't find it too cold... she was distracted by chatting up a very tall greyhound and a cute short jack russell..... that dog is a west highland slapper!
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Please can we have some rain.Its a dust bath here. Last rain 10 days ago
David
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Anthony and Martin - you have just had my office chortling! ;D
But maybe not Heidi's orifice. :)
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:P
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Anthony and Martin - you have just had my office chortling! ;D
But maybe not Heidi's orifice. :)
Very clever. ;D
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Just orifice humour John! ::) I think Lesley should wash her mouth out with chocolate? ;D
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Just orifice humour John! ::) I think Lesley should wash her mouth out with chocolate? ;D
I do it regularly Anthony. :P
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Right - who wants to talk cricket ? Nudge, nudge, wink, wink ! :) :) :) ;D ;D ;D
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I Do. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Cruel, Gentlemen, very cruel......... :'(
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All right Rogan. You win! Or rather you won - this time anyway. ;D
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Just been to get the mail and I'm not sure whether to moan, moan because it's taken so long, or be so happy because it's finally arrived. My March AGS Bulletin, that is. I know we live on the other side of the worlf but even the 18th and 19th century sailing ships didn't take THAT long. ???
What is surprising though, I hadn't even noticed that it hadn't come weeks ago. I guess that says something about the place the Forum fills in my life, when I don't realize the lack of what has always been my closest thing to a bible.
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Groan..... I am so OVER the whole Michael Jackson memorial concert/Media blitz/saturation marketing campaign. There's already a second re-run of the concert on for the day (that is the third showing I think), and some of the TV stations have cancelled all their other stuff and are just doing interviews with Joe Schmuck who happened to be outside a take-away food store that happened to have a re-run of the concert showing on their TV (or something like that ::)). Enough already!! >:(
I find that the media frenzy the last few days have done more to tarnish my memory of MJ than any of his strange antics over the years. At the moment I think I'd be happiest to never hear of him ever again. :-\
It has been a good day for catching up on stuff we'd recorded and never gotten around to viewing though, so that is a bonus. Murky and cloudy day outside, otherwise I would have been out gardening. ;) I hope everyone else is having a good day.
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Well, now that you come to mention it, Paul, the weather here is wet, wet, wet (not the pop group ;D) and it's been raining for 2 days solidly, very miserable and cold AND no butterflies - are they on a slimline time (have to careful how I phrase this!) where do they hide out I wonder?
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... very miserable and cold AND no butterflies - where do they hide out I wonder?
Prolific in the Dolomites at the moment, Robin ...
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Cliff, what a fabulous photograph of a blue butterfly in the Dolomites in peak condition - will try to see which one it is in Guy's butterfly pages - there are so many blues but I'm beginning to recognise them; nothing as special as your shot though - superb! Hope you're having good weather, lots of rain passed by here over last 2 days.
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Don't you just hate it when you encounter a name like this: Ornithogalum adseptentrionesvergentulum? I mean, what were they thinking?!
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;D ;D ;D
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Rogan,
Taxonomists are by nature and training pedantic.
Paddy
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And I bet it is just a scruffy white roadside weed?
Mind, it is probably worth putting on the show bench just for the label!
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I see it was £41.50 when it was available,nearly £1 per letter.It would not seem one that would bulk up quickly.
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Have you guys tried googling a pic of it yet? I saw it in PC's catalogue last year and it looked to be worth every penny if you like small and weird!
Try
http://www.penroc.co.za/newsletters2008/julyaug08/ornithogalumadseptentrionesvergentulo4.jpg (http://www.penroc.co.za/newsletters2008/julyaug08/ornithogalumadseptentrionesvergentulo4.jpg)
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Rogan,
Impressive name. :o :o
I always love Narcissus romieuxii ssp albidus var zainanicus forma lutescens..... for just a "hoop petticoat" daffodil. The name is definitely bigger than the plant, but I would grow it just so I could rattle the name off to people. Always gets a chuckle. 8) Not as impressive as that one word species name that I am sure my tongue would trip over. :D ;)
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It does make perfect sense though when you see its growth form. I have that Narcissus, Paul- or at least seedlings from it. ;)
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Have a look here.... http://talkingplants.blogspot.com/2009/05/whatisthelongestscientificnameforaplant.html ;D
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Our local club once went on an expedition to see "the rarest plant on Vancouver Island", a species of Githopsis. We had to drive on the usual dire gravel logging roads, then scramble first through an area that had been replanted with young firs and later thinned, leaving young, thin, dead trees scattered over the ground like the sticks used in children's games. (Pick-up sticks in the US; jackstraws in the UK?) Then up a steep rocky slope, nearly a cliff, but fortunately with lateral ledges that made the going not too bad, finally a ways along an open area of less slope.
After searching for the githopsis unsuccessfully, we settled down to eat our lunches, and at some point, someone noticed that I was sitting on top of the githopsis. Oooh, I was such a villain that day, flattening this innocent plant with my ample bottom.
As it happens, githopsis is an extremely small plant, and the flower is so small it's almost invisible. What a disappointment. Not at all garden worthy! I wish I'd sat on it more.
And that's one of the reasons I keep saying, a rock garden group is NOT a botanical group, nor is it a wildflower group, nor is it a natural history group, though we may have interests in those directions. To this day, I sometimes amuse myself by asking speakers showing slides of wild plants "but does it have any merit in the garden?"
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It depends what you mean by merit. If you are looking for showing plants, with a long fowering season, they make some 'great' plastic ones these days. Yes, I have worked in several 'garden centres', and yes, I have given this advise to people looking for a plant that flowers all year and doesn't spread too much. ::)
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Have a look here.... http://talkingplants.blogspot.com/2009/05/whatisthelongestscientificnameforaplant.html ;D
And a brilliant further link from there:
http://www.curioustaxonomy.net/puns/puns.html (http://www.curioustaxonomy.net/puns/puns.html)
This is really funny, can't believe some of these names. You need to say them out loud (and they may not work in all language pronunciations of Latin)
just a selection:
Abra cadabra (clam)
Ba humbugi (endodontoid snail)
Gelae baen, Gelae belae, (fungus beetles)
Heerz tooya (braconid)
Kamera lens (protist)
Pieza kake (mythicomyiid fly)
Pieza pi (mythicomyiid fly)
And loads more fun on this site ...
including some long names (which is where we started)
Brachyta interrogationis interrogationis var. nigrohumeralisscutellohumeroconjuncta (cerambycid)
and l-o-n-g plant names
Saxifraga aizoon var. aizoon subvar. brevifola forma multicaulis subforma surculosa
Aquilegia flabellata nana pumila alba 'Rama Lama Ding Dong'
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We had to drive on the usual dire gravel logging roads, then scramble first through an area that had been replanted with young firs and later thinned, leaving young, thin, dead trees scattered over the ground like the sticks used in children's games. (Pick-up sticks in the US; jackstraws in the UK?)
Fiddlesticks in Australia, or at least the game was called that when I was growing up last century ::)
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Re. Ornithogalum adseptentrionesvergentulum; there's an interesting article on this little Karoo ornithogalum in one of the recent IBSA (Indigenous Bulb Association of South Africa) bulletins.
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Re. Ornithogalum adseptentrionesvergentulum; there's an interesting article on this little Karoo ornithogalum in one of the recent IBSA (Indigenous Bulb Association of South Africa) bulletins.
Is there a pic of it in flower?
They missed an opportunity in not having a subspecies of aloe called Aloe aloe aloe, after all, the western lowland gorilla is Gorilla gorilla gorilla! 8)
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They missed an opportunity in not having a subspecies of aloe called Aloe aloe aloe, after all, the western lowland gorilla is Gorilla gorilla gorilla!
Then, there is the very aggressive subspecies, Guerrilla guerrilla guerilla ::)
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I believe that grows wild in the Middle East?
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I believe that grows wild in the Middle East?
Nah, lives in forests in central Africa.......
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Therefore it would be growing wild in the Middle east. ::)
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Central Africa doesn't count as Middle East in my book!
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How do monkey's make toast?
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They missed an opportunity in not having a subspecies of aloe called Aloe aloe aloe, after all, the western lowland gorilla is Gorilla gorilla gorilla! 8)
The zoologists use different rules for naming than do the botanists. The botanical rules forbid double-barreled names, but they're quite common in zoology.
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How do monkey's make toast?
okay, ::) I'll bite - how do monkey's make toast?
cheers
fermi
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"Is there a pic of it in flower?"
Yes Anthony, some good ones - I'll have to get permission from IBSA first before putting them up here though.
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Quite, Maggie, so wouldn't you be wild if you were transported from one to the other ;D
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How do monkey's make toast?
okay, ::) I'll bite - how do monkey's make toast?
cheers
fermi
Take two pieces of bread and put them under a gorilla.
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Cor blimey!! ::)
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"Is there a pic of it in flower?"
Yes Anthony, some good ones - I'll have to get permission from IBSA first before putting them up here though.
Thanks Rogan
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<groan> Anthony, you aught to be ashamed of yourself. ::)
;D ;)
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The zoologists use different rules for naming than do the botanists. The botanical rules forbid double-barreled names, but they're quite common in zoology.
and also some treble-barrelled names
One of the smallest British birds, the wren, has such
Troglodytes troglodytes troglodytes
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One thing that's had me confused is Glaucidium
Glaucidium palmatum - a rhizomatous perennial
Glaucidium capense - a small african owl
How does that work?
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One thing that's had me confused is Glaucidium
Glaucidium palmatum - a rhizomatous perennial
Glaucidium capense - a small african owl How does that work?
There's also two genera of Prunella - plant and animal:
Prunella modularis (small brown European bird - dunnock in English)
Prunella vulgaris (plant - common English name Self heal)
I'm sure there's more but I can't remember them at the moment
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What about Prunella scales?
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What about Prunella scales?
Off the richter scale in sense of humour ;D
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One thing that's had me confused is Glaucidium
Glaucidium palmatum - a rhizomatous perennial
Glaucidium capense - a small african owl
How does that work?
Check the dictionary:
owl, n. A feathered animal indistinguishable from a rhizomatous perennial, bearing lavender flowers in spring, and with a curved hooked beak.
That's from the New Collegiate Nonsentionary.
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One thing that's had me confused is Glaucidium
Glaucidium palmatum - a rhizomatous perennial
Glaucidium capense - a small african owl
How does that work?
Check the dictionary:
owl, n. A feathered animal indistinguishable from a rhizomatous perennial, bearing lavender flowers in spring, and with a curved hooked beak.
That's from the New Collegiate Nonsentionary.
An august publication, Rodger, which ought ot be in every (mad) house! ;D
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Ah, but Maggi.... .if it is an august publication, how can he be reading it already? It's only july!! ;D ;D
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Ah, but Maggi.... .if it is an august publication, how can he be reading it already? It's only july!! ;D ;D
Dear me, you Aussies can be dim.... it's from LAST year..... innit??!!
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I think Paul was being wide, not obtuse Maggi? ::)
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I think Paul was being wide, not obtuse Maggi? ::)
Don't think so, Anthony...... he told me he'd been on a reducing plan
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Er, Excuse me..... why am I being discussed "behind my back" so to speak? I just walk in on a discussion about me!! I'm angling for a response here. ;)
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Sounds fishy, Paul!
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Oh dear, David. With a line like that this conversation could be sinkering to a new low. :-X Oh well, off to the garage to tackle some potting now. ;D
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We're not trolling along the bottom just yet, Paul, but I am sure someone will bite soon.
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Yeah, and it really is so easy to get hooked on conversations like this.
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They say that the fishing is better when it is raining.
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crap fishing here then. They keep saying we're going to get some (rain that is, not fishing), and it keeps on bypassing us. ::) Frustrating. :'(
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We've had a week of more or less constant rain. :(
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Don't worry, Anthony, the forcast is for the same next week; no need to do any watering :'(
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Anthony, A bee in the sun hoping you will be in the sun soon ;)
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In reality a drone fly Eristalis tenax, a relative of the narcissus bulb fly.
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In reality a drone fly Eristalis tenax, a relative of the narcissus bulb fly.
:o :o :o - so not anything to be happy about at all - oops!
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Nothing to worry about. This fly isOK
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Yes, they are good pollinators and the larvae are aquatic (rat-tailed maggots) and indicators of polluted water.
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well that's a relief ;)
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have you noticed the Sky adverts offering a free box if you sign up?
We have been with them 18 years.
A couple of weeks ago our box died so I called the help(do not want to help) line and was told it was £65 for an engineer to come out so I said I would cancel. Oh dear the lady said if you go through to somebody else they might offer a discount. I thought okay and she then said there is a twenty minute wait so I gave up.
I tried to cancel on their on line service but naturally this did not work.I then rang to cancel and I know it is difficult to believe but I was through on the 'we do not want you to cancel 'line in about 10 seconds. Any way when I said I wanted to cance amazing to say they would repair the box for free, but I still said I would cancel.
I said the box was broken but the man on the line said I still had to pay a months cancellation and because I had paid until 1st August I still owed 10 days.
I then received a cancellation letter saying they hoped I would come back in the future because they really loved me.I cancelled my Direct Debit but today I received a threatening letter saying just because I had cancelled my Direct Debit did not mean I had cancelled my subscription and I would be charged extra for being invoiced.
Is it any wonder I left them (I may still regret it)
I had already signed up with Virgin.
A Virgin man is calling tomorrow to connect me up for TV Broadband and telephone. I have little faith in this so this note is a way of saying goodbye for the for-seeable future as I expect to be cut of and cast out into the wilderness for some time.
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Best of luck with the changeover, Tony. At least we won't need to worry if we don't hear from you for a while.... we'll know you are out howling at the moon in frustration. :P
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thanks Maggi
we have only had the 5 channels for two weeks.I do not watch much tv but not having the sports channels has driven Mrs W. mad.
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Aaaaargh!!! After going to all the trouble of exchanging pollen through the mail with Tony to cross-pollinate our Lilium chalcedonicum flowers, I go out today and find that the recent torrential rain had bent one of the chalcedonicum stems right over so the solitary flower was on the ground....and completely eaten away by a slug or snail!
I put pellets down this afternoon and am now going out with a torch and a pair of old scissors to see if I can find the culprit and exact revenge. It's not going to be pretty and may take some time.
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When I say the chalcedonicum flower was eaten away, I mean of course including the stigma and the ovary, so no chance of seed from that one. I put Tony's pollen onto both flowers, so hopefully the remaining one won't be eaten, struck by lightning or anything. It's now tied to a cane and surrounded by a sea of little blue pellets.
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Martin,
Sounds like you've been doing some study on the proper torture techniques as well. ;D
Tony,
Good luck with the reconnect. 8)
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Paul, if I find the slug responsible, it's going to die very, very slowly!
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Martin
I cannot tell if your pollen has taken yet but if so we can share the seeds. So far mine looks to have enjoyed the experience although it has not started to droop yet! With luck it will set. I have it under cover in the greenhouse.
Thanks Paul ,I have no faith but a miracle may happen.
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A halo of salt gives a good, slow death Martin! :P
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A halo of salt gives a good, slow death Martin! :P
I think a violent death is called for Anthony. Maybe the salt first, then the scissors...
Tony, thanks for the offer. My other flower had a mix of your pollen and pollen from my other flower. Hopefully it'll produce some seed. If not, I'll check back with you to see how yours did.
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I was thinking a circle of salt and left out in the sun for a really slow death.... then I remembered that we ARE talking about the UK so there wasn't much chance of there being enough sun to kill it. ;D ;D
:P
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A halo of salt gives a good, slow death Martin! :P
I think a violent death is called for Anthony. Maybe the salt first, then the scissors...
If you really want to torture the poor thing then hold the salt and start with freshly ground Tellicherry black pepper. Salt & scissors later to end its mental anguish.
johnw
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You'd never guess that you are all quite nice blokes really.... you sound like a bunch of mass murderers on here! :o
Which reminds me..... must put Provado on shopping list...... flippin' vine weevils in my rhodos.....
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You'd never guess that you are all quite nice blokes really.... you sound like a bunch of mass murderers on here! :o
Which reminds me..... must put Provado on shopping list...... flippin' vine weevils in my rhodos.....
Are you telling us you don't enjoy the satisfying crunch of a weevil under foot? ;)
johnw
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so many, sad, "lesser of two weevils" jokes are running through my head. I'm resisting, but it is difficult. :-[
:P
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Are you telling us you don't enjoy the satisfying crunch of a weevil under foot?
Real men (and women) just crunch 'em between thumb and index finger. Don't be so squeamish.
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Well... real men/women who like to wash their hands a lot, anyway. ;D I hope you don't do the hands on approach to slugs as well Rodger. Gooey!! :-X
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Well... real men/women who like to wash their hands a lot, anyway. ;D I hope you don't do the hands on approach to slugs as well Rodger. Gooey!! :-X
Slugs get a hands-on treatment too, but not in the sense I think you mean. I pick them up with my fingers and drop them in a tub of soapy water at night. When the tub is full of slugs, caterpillars, and weevils, into the house and flush it all down the toilet.
Gooey is the right word. Slug slime is very difficult to wash off!
I've tried wearing thin rubber gloves that you can throw away, but they dull the sense of touch too much.
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I pick them up with my fingers and drop them in a tub of soapy water at night. When the tub is full of slugs, caterpillars, and weevils, into the house and flush it all down the toilet.
So now someone else is frothing at the mouth over slugs and snails - in the sewer ;D
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I have just been putting Broad Bean stalks through the shredder en-rout to the compost bin. I did not bother to take the nice big snails off the leaves first!!!
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I pick them up with my fingers and drop them in a tub of soapy water at night. When the tub is full of slugs, caterpillars, and weevils, into the house and flush it all down the toilet.
So now someone else is frothing at the mouth over slugs and snails - in the sewer ;D
It's like the legendary alligators in the sewers of New York: in the sewers of Victoria, BC, there are garden slugs twelve feet long, each able to strip a mature Douglas fir of its needles in a single night.
I hope you believe me, because I have a bridge I want to sell you.
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;D ;D ;D ;)
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joining virgin
Well all I can say is it is as bad as I thought it might be.
The tv and telephone are okay but the broadband router does not work and I have spent an expensive half hour on the phone to India. The router only connects within 6feet of the pc,well it did at first,now it will not connect at all. The lady in India who was delightful told me she had tested it and it is working fine.I had to say that if that was the case I would not be on the phone to her. My bt one works all over the house.
You might wonder how I am posting this and it is because bt have not cut me of yet.
I have 28 days to cancel and if it is not sorted then its back to bt and sky.
The moral to this story is act in haste and repent at leisure.
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Whilst you're considering what to do about Virgin not accepting things are wrong, and that they are in the clear, this is the response circulating on You Tube to United's unwillingness to accept responsibility for damage to luggage in transit!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo
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An update on my Virgin problem
As you will see I am online and in fact broadband is working well. The difficulty is that Virgin supplied a wireless router which is suitable for a small flat (one minutes research on the net revealed this) and whilst I do not live in a stately home I have quite a large house. The router will only connect using wireless at a few feet and in direct line of sight to the pc a situation confirmed to me by my call to India. Given that the router is in the lounge, the laptop in the dining room, the pc upstairs and the printer in another room upstairs this is a problem. Did I discuss its suitability and positioning with the engineer, of course, and he said it would work perfectly
So how is it working you might wonder. Well I am using Lesley’s laptop connected by a short Ethernet cable to the modem which is behind the TV. This means I have to lie down on the floor behind the TV which is not the best solution. I have sent Virgin a letter asking will somebody please speak to me. Believe it or not their customer care,a difficult concept to understand I know, is only 30 miles away in Manchester
BT have now cut me of which is quite reasonable but Sky are hounding me for £13 final payment even though the system has been broken for four weeks. Being retired one has time between the potting to be as awkward as possible with all these people.
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.........and I bet your are thoroughly enjoying it Tony (being awkward I mean, not computing behind the TV) ;D I bet there's a max exodus at the call centre as soon as the name 'Mr Willis' is announced.
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My new connection is with Sky Broadband which is great running currently at 54Mbps - is that good?
Major problem is with the telephone - still with BT. There is a load hiss on the line that isnt there when I unplug the internet do-da. I too phoned India and got hold of someone I couldnt understand so I hung up and tried again. The next person was OK until he said "for security reasons please answer these questions". I told him no and after some argument told him the problem. "The hiss is because you have not put the filters in the primary phone socket" Which I had done and then tried the extension. I told him it goes away when I turn off the hub. "Try another filter" he said. I had already have! "Try unplugging the internet and wait a few minutes" I shouted it gets turned off during phone calls. I asked to speak to someone in the UK and he said it wasnt possible but he would get an engineer to phone me. 10 days on and I'm still waiting
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David
my sister has just told me I am a b......rd but I told her she must be one herself as hopefully we have the same parents.
Mark we had the same problem and it was a fault on the telephone line,a bad connection at the pole. BT kept testing and saying it was fine. I said I needed an engineer and they kept saying I would have to pay if the fault was with my equiptment. I kept saying that was fine and we went round in an endless loop.The difficulty is that they cannot understand that when you need an engineer you need one and the question of payment is not really the issue.I offered to pay in advance! Needless to say it was a problem with their bits
It seems the problem with all these companies is they think cost is the biggest issue to their customers. I have never tried to get things done cheaply,I want good service and the job done well. This seems an impossible concept to them.
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The last time I was put through to a call centre in India was when I was stopping with AOL and I am sure they went out to feed the Elephants half way through as there was a long period of silence, what these firms do not seem to understand is if you are old and have bad hearing like me it is bad enough trying to phone in England but India even though they think they are speaking good English the accent make it difficult, even though I was married to a German girl and could understand her and her Friends
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...............It seems the problem with all these companies is they think cost is the biggest issue to their customers. I have never tried to get things done cheaply,I want good service and the job done well. This seems an impossible concept to them.
I hope it's not just an age thing but it seems to me that the term "service" is a concept that is not understood in virtually all aspects of society these days and certainly in the goods and services sectors the only concept that is understood is "profit, profit, profit".
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Moan!
Groan!
Grumble!
Bitch!
Complain!
[And what brought that on? wonder the troops.]
Trying to collect seed of Bellis rotundifolia caerulescens. That's what. To be more precise, trying to clean the seed!
Pluck a dried flower head and you get a mixture of dried petals, dried anthers, and (hopefully) seed. Microscopic seed that will pass through my next to finest sieve, but not my finest. Try the time honored technique of gently, ever so gently, blowing the chaff away and you wonder how much of the sound seed is getting carried away on your breath.
Madness, I tell you, madness. Insanity. Frustration.
Does anyone have any secret, special technique to use in cases like this?
[The attached photo does not accurately represent the delicate blue of the flowers, showing it as a pale rose-pink.]
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Bonjour Roger,
I work on white paper sheets.
With seeds on a sheet, I slowly drop seeds in the shieve placed on an other sheet, turning the paper sheet to keep as shaff as possible on the it.
Usualy the seeds rool faster than shaff. A good part of dust and shaff will stay on paper sheet. A good part of shaff will stay in shieve, if slowly shaked.
I repeat again and again until I can't do more.
It's need patience, but give good result.
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Sympathies to any Forumists suffering with Swine Flu ...... I hope you are all following medical advice and will soon be better.
I know there is some conflicting advice around about best protocol to comabat the infection, but I have just received this message from my friend Isobel , which I thought important to pass on to you all ...........
If you receive an e-mail from the
Department of Health
telling you not to eat
tinned pork
because of
swine flu..............
Ignore it.
It's just spam.
[attach=1]
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I tried to get through on the Swine Flue help line, but all I got was crackling :P
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After a night out on the town a friend was stuck in bed with wine flu ;D ;D ;D
The pigs are hysterical Maggi - I take it they are all sows with handbags!
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They had to have handbags, Robin... everyone knows you cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.......
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It seems like the GPs will definitely have their snouts in the trough when it comes to vaccinations. According to the news they will be getting nearly 8 quid to administer each injection, which amounts to a pay rise of £27,000! I didn't think they were qualified and had to get the practice nurses to do that job? ::)
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..........it isn't until this appeared outside my house that I realised it's comic potential........
..(very reasonable rates; OAP's half price on Wednesdays. :P)
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I hadn't imagined you living in such a district Giles. :D
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Two for the price of one - I could feel sorry for the OAP!
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A lot of folks are having to diversify in these harsh economic times.... I personally applaud those who show such entrepreneurial traits........ ::) ;D
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Reminds me of when (definitely not PC) Seamus was trying to explain to Mick the way traffic lights work. Well, he said, when the red light is on communists can go trhough; and when the green light is on, us good people can go threough. Mick thought on this for a while and said: them b'd orange men don't get long do they?
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;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Göte
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I hope you believe me, because I have a bridge I want to sell you.
So YOU are the guy who bought London Bridge believing it to be Tower Bridge ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Göte
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They had to have handbags, Robin... everyone knows you cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.......
I thought everyone was aware that quite some years ago, a bunch of industrial chemists in the US figured out a way to convert pigs' ears into an artificial silk, made a batch, and had a purse crocheted from the results. Their object, the falsification of that old saw.
Better living through chemisty indeed!
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Wasn't it Freddy Rolls that proved that pigs can fly?
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I don't know, you wave goodbye to your wife as she takes the kids home to 'visit relatives' in Slovakia for a couple of weeks, and the next thing you know she's posting pics on her facebook page showing her obviously in some kind of Slovak Special Forces training camp! I knew there was something odd about that woman the day I met her!
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I don't know, you wave goodbye to your wife as she takes the kids home to 'visit relatives' in Slovakia for a couple of weeks, and the next thing you know she's posting pics on her facebook page showing her obviously in some kind of Slovak Special Forces training camp! I knew there was something odd about that woman the day I met her!
Actually, looking at my profile pic along with this pic of Ivi, we're probably in deep doo-doo if the security services do see this. I wonder if they serve free lunches on U.S. special rendition flights?
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Note to any British security services who might be watching: Just joking!
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I wouldn't worry to much about the security forces Martin, it's that bloke Bertram Anderson she's seeing on the sly! ;D
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You mean E B Anderson is actually alive and well and living in Slovakia after all this time?
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More and more worrying. They've obviousy got the kids too!
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;D ;D ;D
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Well, the family are back from Slovakia and insist they weren't at any kind of training camp. But they did tell me a joke that's doing the rounds in Slovakia re. increasing tensions between Russia and some of its neighbours, including some former Warsaw Pact states like Poland and Ukraine, and Russian/NATO tensions:
It's about a Slovak optimist, a Slovak Pessimist and a Slovak realist. The Slovak optimist is learning English, the pessimist is learning Russian, and the realist is learning to shoot.
I suppose it takes a long time to forget so many years of effective Russian occupation following the Prague Spring in 68.
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I like it!
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I used to tune in to the yes I'm so happy thread if I needed cheering up .... but the best laughs are definitely in the moan moan moan thread :D
Keep up the good work one and all!
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You mean E B Anderson is actually alive and well and living in Slovakia after all this time?
On the assumption that we have some younger members who don't recognize the name "E. B. Anderson", a few words.
Anderson was a very eminent English rock gardener, and a specialist in small bulbs. He wrote seven books:
Rock Gardens (RHS-Penguin Handbook)
Camellias
Dwarf Bulbs for the Rock Garden
Gardening on Chalk and Limestone
Hardy Bulbs 1 (RHS-Penguin Handbook)
Seven Gardens or Sixty Years of Gardening (posthumous)
The small rock garden (Pan "Small Garden" series)
The two on bulbs, in my opinion, laid the foundation of the modern enthusiasm for dwarf bulbs, a foundation on which Brian Mathew erected his famous book "Dwarf Bulbs" and really got the ball rolling. Patrick Synge's "Collins Guide to Bulbs" is from about the same time as Anderson's two bulb titles, but did not have the same influence.
Anderson organized and ran the first AGS seed exchanges around 1950; as a bulb connoisseur, he issued a fatwa against the contribution of seed of Tullipa sprengeri because of its weedy tendencies!
His books are all long out of print but second hand copies are readily available, and well worth acquiring.
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He was also a wonderful correspondent to a newly addicted NZ teenager, in the 1960s.
And of course was the breeder of Iris 'Katharine Hodgkin' (Iris histrioides 'Major' x I. winogradowii, though he recorded the cross as I. danfordiae as the pollen parent), named for the wife of his friend Eliot Hodgkin
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This is fascinating stuff. 8)
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[quote author=Lesley Cox
And of course was the breeder of Iris 'Katharine Hodgkin' (Iris histrioides 'Major' x I. winogradowii, though he recorded the cross as I. danfordiae as the pollen parent), named for the wife of his friend Eliot Hodgkin
[/quote]
And this is how it looked here this morning after a light frost.
Cheers dave
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And very nice it looked when I saw it this morning with the little Cladonia lichen in the background though I think Dave's garden will look even better when all of his 7,500 trilliums come into bloom. :)
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David
You are a bit too heavy with your figure of 7500--let me correct that straight away........
7499 ;D ;D ;D
Cheers dave.
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hi, I just cannot found the right place!!
I take up some Hungarian poems in English on my site
and here is some ladscape to know better my place
My apologies, but I had to smile at the typo "ladscape". That is what a couple of selfish yobs are doing to the woodland paths near me and also the public footpath up to Sheriffmuir from Dunblane. They are digging up turf and rearranging it, along with various logs, and pushed over dead trees to make a bicycle 'steeplechase' course that runs for miles. It makes walking the dog in the evening at this time of year treacherous! >:( I contacted the police but they didn't want to know. :( When I suggested walkers and joggers could trip over these in the dark. The reply was everyone carries a torch and would see them! Hands up those people who have seen a jogger with a torch? No-one? Thought so! I guess the seat at the other end of the phone was too comfortable? ::) A jogger (without a torch) and I dismantled one stretch, but the two idiots were back the next day as I saw them walking down from the woods with a big shovel. The names were given to Central Scotland police, but I got the feeling I was punching fog as they were not interested, so lads, feel free to destroy the countryside. You have Central Scotland police's blessing.
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Went into Dunblane to visit the bank. Nothing unusual in that, you may think? I then spotted a local 'worthy' standing with a bag of clothes outside the dry cleaners opposite the bank. He pointed to the sign on the door: "Closed Monday 7/9/09 due to bank holiday"! My next visit was the Post Office to post some packets of plants and seeds. Yes, you've guessed. The Post Office was closed due to bank holiday! Funny that, as last Monday we had no post to day we did, and the box opposite my house has been emptied twice today already! Today is NOT a bank holiday, but the schools are shut. It is not even a council holiday as our bin was emptied! Very curious. ::)
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Went into Dunblane to visit the bank. Nothing unusual in that, you may think? I then spotted a local 'worthy' standing with a bag of clothes outside the dry cleaners opposite the bank. He pointed to the sign on the door: "Closed Monday 7/9/09 due to bank holiday"! My next visit was the Post Office to post some packets of plants and seeds. Yes, you've guessed. The Post Office was closed due to bank holiday! Funny that, as last Monday we had no post to day we did, and the box opposite my house has been emptied twice today already! Today is NOT a bank holiday, but the schools are shut. It is not even a council holiday as our bin was emptied! Very curious. ::)
Anthony
Is it not Labour Day in the UK? It is a holiday here, everything is closed and not even a newspaper today.
Do you have a Labour Day? I suppose you don't have a Victoria Day there either!
johnw
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[/quote]
Anthony
Is it not Labour Day in the UK? It is a holiday here, everything is closed and not even a newspaper today.
Do you have a Labour Day? I suppose you don't have a Victoria Day there either!
johnw
[/quote]
Every day is a Labour day here until June next year!
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That is annoying Anthony... and somewhat puzzling.... here is what I found on the subject:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/01/bankholidays
Scottish Bank Holidays '09
New Year's Day January 1
Second of January - January 2
Good Friday - April 10
Early May Bank Holiday - May 4
Spring Bank Holiday - May 25
Summer Bank Holiday - August 3
St Andrews Day - November 30
Christmas Day - December 25
Boxing Day - December 26
No mention there of any September dates at all! Ian has just gone to the Post Office... we'll see how that pans out here in Aberdeen!
It is quite usual here, of course, for the banks to be open on local holidays when the shops may be closed and the schools, too, only to be closed when all the shops are open! This is because in Scotland Bank Holidays are seldom general Public Holidays as they are in England. :P
http://www.big-yoy.co.uk/spreadsheets/holiday/bank_holiday_dates.php dates for 2010
June next year your retirement target, is it Tony? ::) ;D
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Quite so Maggi. School's always have a September weekend in Central Scotland, though different areas often choose different weekends. Clackmannanshire is next weekend, I think? Interesting to see if the new one (St Andrew's day) is given to us? When my grandfather ran a subpostoffice in Huddersfield, Good Friday was the only day that they closed so they could all go to the Post Office dance.
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June next year your retirement target, is it Tony? ::) ;D
If only I was that young again!
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June next year your retirement target, is it Tony? ::) ;D
If only I was that young again!
Ah!! Right... well in that case, do I deduce correctly that you were making a comment on the date for a General Election?
(I'll get there in the end!)
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June next year your retirement target, is it Tony? ::) ;D
If only I was that young again!
Ah!! Right... well in that case, do I deduce correctly that you were making a comment on the date for a General Election?
(I'll get there in the end!)
I think you got there
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Only 183 school days to go until the summer holidays. ;D
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Only 183 school days to go until the summer holidays. ;D
.... and you a professional educationalist Anthony :o ;D
Glad to see you changed your avatar, the previous one made you look old(er)
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Every day is a Labour day here until June next year!
My money is in May Tony 8)
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Have my glasses failed me?
Is it my computer?
The print size on the Forum has suddenly dropped to about 8. I can hardly read it. What has happened?
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Must be your specs Shelagh, mine's OK!!
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Shelagh,click on VIEW at the top of the screen and then click on zoom in. that should fix it.
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Have my glasses failed me? Is it my computer? The print size on the Forum has suddenly dropped to about 8. I can hardly read it. What has happened?
I don't know about Internet Exploder (as it is referred to by its closest enemies), but Firefox allows you to zoom text both larger and smaller. Ctrl- to zoom out (make text smaller); Ctrl+ to zoom in (make text larger); Ctrl0 [zero key on the numeric keypad or the top row of the keyboard] to restore display to default. Perhaps you have zoomed out by accident? Try pressing CTRL then the zero key and see if that sets things to rights.
Incidentally, Firefox under View > Zoom has a selection "Zoom Text Only" which you can toggle on or off. If it's off, it zooms the entire webpage in and out. I only noticed this recently and am trying out zooming the entire webpage.
PS: those are the + and - keys on the numeric keypad that zoom you in and out.
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Suburban gardens 'play vital role'.... so says a Press Association report
1 hour 41 mins ago ;
Suburban backyards play a vital role in preserving Britain's animals and plants, it has been claimed.
Researchers who surveyed 61 gardens in Sheffield between 1999 and 2002 discovered an "astonishing diversity" of flora and fauna.
And small gardens made as important a contribution as large ones, and contained a far richer range of life than modern farms.
The scientists identified 1,166 types of plants - equivalent to more than two thirds of native British flora - and 700 species of invertebrates.
On average, 42% of plants were home-grown British with many more originating from other countries including Asia and North America.
Dr Ken Thompson, from the University of Sheffield, who led the BUGS study, said: "If you are comparing gardens with an equivalent area of modern intensive farming, then gardens are much, much better in terms of everything you measure, whether it is spiders, bugs or birds.
"It's a slightly heretical thing to say, but most farmland would be improved by having a housing estate build on it, from a biodiversity perspective."
Speaking at the British Science Festival at the University of Surrey in Guildford, Dr Thompson gave a number of tips for improving a garden's wildlife habitability.
He said: "The top thing is to grow more, big shrubs and trees, which massively increase the volume of vegetation in your garden. A lot of vegetation means a lot of places to live and a lot of stuff to eat.
"Other things include dig a pond, don't be too tidy, don't be in a hurry to clear up everything when it stops flowering, and don't Hoover up the last leaf. Just leave a bit of stuff lying around."
Well, well, what a surprise.... who'd have guessed that, eh? :o ::) ::) :P
I thought everyone knew that our gardens were valuable oases.... 8)
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We don't have bank holidays as such but each province has its own anniversary day celebrating (?what). These are confusing because depending when it is, some provinces take that day off with schools, banks, POs etc closed and other tack their day onto Easter or something making THAT holiday almost interminable, especially when, like Anthony, I have packed several plants for posting and have to take them home and undo then repack them.
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Thanks Michael, it worked a treat.
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Every day is a Labour day here until June next year!
My money is in May Tony 8)
I hope I do not have to wait that long!
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Ah, there you are , Art, did your birthday go well? Is the decorating all finished now.... we've missed you!
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I need some extra long bolts to finish putting louvres in my green house. The postage is £5 for 20 screws. I emailed to ask why and got no answer
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my neighbour has all Christmas decorations up in and out. At least it's not as early as last year. 31st October 2008 ::)
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Alright, end of November I'd accept, but the end of October? They obviously don't live in my area..... you run the risk of the Sulphur Crested Cockatoos "investigating" the Christmas decorations even when you put them up in December. End of October would give them nearly 2 months to play before the event itself. I wonder how many lights/tinsel/anythign they can chew would be destroyed by Christmas itself. ;D
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Message from God
One day, God was looking down at earth,
and saw all the misbehaving that was going on.
So he called one of his angels to go to Earth.
When he returned, the angel told God,
'Yes, it is bad on Earth; 95% are misbehaving,
and only 5% are not'.
God thought for a moment and said,
'Maybe I should send down another angel,
to get a second opinion'!
So, God called another angel, & sent him to Earth too.
When the angel returned, he went to God & said,
'Yes, it's true. The Earth is in decline;
95% are misbehaving, but 5% are being good.'
God was not pleased. So he decided to e-mail the
5% who were good, because,
he wanted to encourage them, give them
a little something, to help them keep going !
Do you know what the e-mail said ?
No ?
Okay, just checking with you.
I didn't get one either ...
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nor me :'(
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The Bulb Despot's message read; "Go forth and instruct - take chocolate from those that crave it - give special shoes to those that are unshod - preserve yonder erythroniums for the good of mankind - rid the universe of snowdrop envy and the white lust - praise ye the great guitar pickers of the world - and ensure affordable spirits and wine are available for the next great conference in the holy land.
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I got the message Maggi and Mark. It just said "you can't beat' em so why don't you join 'em?" I'm doing that.
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I ordered some seed from Jelitto. (nothing untoward about that).
They seem to send things by DHL which is trackable. (handy eh?)
Monday morning: parcel in Hannover.
Monday afternoon: parcel arrives Paris (ok, can almost understand that).
Tuesday morning: parcel arrives Newark (yes folks, that's Newark NJ, not Newark Notts >:( )
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Good grief! Poor you, Giles..... I suggest restful music and strong hot chocolate to calm your quite understandable rage.
What's the betting the package finally arrives when you are at home waiting for it.... but the driver doesn't ring the bell but sticks that dreaded "you were out" card though the letterbox anyway? :'( >:(
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......don't even think about it...........
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This week a delivery of bulbs arrived at my house. Not for me but a forum member. That's OK. A card is stuck in the door frame saying "package on door step". I saw the package before the card.
A few years ago a package left Beeches Nursery to come to my address. It came to my house via Norway and took 6 weeks to arrive! Why Parcel Force sent it to Norway we never found out
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It's called 'cold stratification', Mark.
You probably had to pay extra ;D
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Giles what would happen if US customs destroyed your order.
Have you used this company before now? How do you rate them?
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I had an e-mail today from a Chinese publishers to apologise for the delay in delivery of a book - the heavy snows in China had delayed the transportation from printers to distribution centre. I was assured that the book would be with me very shortly. Good service.
Paddy
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...and it (cold stratification) is not happening to YOUR package, Giles. I'm an hour from Newark, NJ and it's a lovely 57F here right now...
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I think that some of the DHL workers must have served their apprenticeship with an Airline Co. That's why they know how to send the parcels to the wrong destination.
Brendan Grace,an Irish commedian tells a story about going on holidays, when he asked the check-in girl to send one suitcase to Paris,one to Berlin and one to Madrid, she said, oh! we can't do that, and he replied, you did it the last time I was going on holidays.
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;D LOL
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Not happen now, Michael, you can only take one suitcase, if your lucky!
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One suitcase full of plants ;D
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I ordered some seed from Jelitto. (nothing untoward about that).
They seem to send things by DHL which is trackable. (handy eh?)
Monday morning: parcel in Hannover.
Monday afternoon: parcel arrives Paris (ok, can almost understand that).
Tuesday morning: parcel arrives Newark (yes folks, that's Newark NJ, not Newark Notts >:( )
I wouldn't touch DHL with a ten foot pole. Bunch of muppets! Tried to charge me VAT on home made Christmas presents from the USA that had an insurance value put on the package. Even gave me an account number. I've never used them so how I can have an account beats me! ::) I never paid, told them why, and eventually they got the hint. I still get parcels sent via these idiots, but the last one took the scone! They tried to deliver it to my house. Needless to say there was nobody in, so they took it back to the depot (Perth, some 30 miles away). I had to either collect it in person or have it redirected. I said the latter and gave my school address (Falkirk). "No can do. That's in the Edinburgh area and we don't deliver to Falkirk from Perth!" Useless twatts! >:(
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I sent a package of paper documents to Pensylvannia many months ago. Should have taken a direct flight to Los Angeles then across the States to the eastern side. They arrived after about 6 months, by way of several Asian addresses. Just as well they weren't plants.
But last week I had a phone call (I always get them from insurance companies, people wanting donations or to sweep the chimneys just as I'm cooking dinner and I tend to be a bit abrupt with most.) from a natural health product company saying I was on their records as having ordered something called Natural B. No, I said, you've got the wrong person. Oh no, she replied and gave my address as well. I can't imagine how you came by that, I haven't ordered any such thing and I don't want it. Well we can't cancel the order she said, you'll have to take it. NO, I said and eventually told her to b....r off. Last I heard of it, but yesterday my daughter told me she had ordered and paid for, a product called Natural Bee, bee pollen tablets which she thought should help my arthritic knees and also residual pain from my recent surgery. Oh God. My poor Susan is left to try and contact the company and pick up the pieces.
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Lesley,
Oh dear!! :o At least your daughter could have told you when she ordered it!! ::)
Giles,
I've had seed come from America via Austria.... the old "al" in the middle of the name "Australia" obviously didn't quite matter to whoever directed that one on it's way. Good luck in receiving it eventually, hopefully still in good condition.
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I once sent a letter to "Dublin Farm" - no prizes for guessing what happened next! ::)
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Stuart Pawley of the Seed Exchange has just got a parcel from Irleland which missed the UK part of his address... it's been to Australia! :-X
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Makes you wonder if there is a lost mail mountain somewhere.
When I was last in USA I forgot a 35mm camera lens. It was mailed to me but UK customs took it. I got a phone call to say they wanted VAT on the item. I said it's my lens and it was bought in the UK. "Can you prove it? Do you have a recepit?" They did eventually give it to me.
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Mark, lenses and cameras used to have an import sticker on them to indicate that they had been imported to the UK by the seller and duty paid. It was a gold thing. I don't see it on any of my new cameras, or did I dream it?
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As someone who was in the Customs and Excise for 40 years, maybe I could defend the indefensible
Mark's incident with the UK Customs is quite typical. From the Depts. point of view, they do not know if it is an undeclared import or returned goods. The only proof is a receipt or details of where the item was obtained. Normally, for low value items, an official declaration as to ownership will be accepted. For higher value items,the Dept. has access to the records of all goods imported into the UK including serial numbers. These records can be checked to the original importer. I can remember stickers on items of camera equipment but they had no official cognizance. They could easily be taken off and put on another item. I think it was the importer's idea to show that they were not"Grey"imports
It is an unfortunate fact of life that there are many crooks trying to get round the system and the innocent can be inconvenienced because of this.
I can remember in my days checking VAT the number of "honest" people I dealt with - their words - not mine. What a surprise I used to get when I discovered large amounts of undeclared cash in the business, claims for speedboats, household goods and lavish entertainment expenses etc !!!
However, to be fair, they were only doing what a good percentage of our politicians were up to.
I can remember one time I was out on a Vat inspection and the boss was out. When I asked for the books, the office girl asked which set did I want. I asked for both sets. They made interesting reading. The picture on his face when he arrived was worth seeing !
Anyway, it's great to be out of it. Dealing with crooks on a daily basis sours your outlook on your fellowman
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I can remember in my days checking VAT the number of "honest" people I dealt with - their words - not mine. What a surprise I used to get when I discovered large amounts of undeclared cash in the business, claims for speedboats, household goods and lavish entertainment expenses etc !!!
However, to be fair, they were only doing what a good percentage of our politicians were up to.
I can remember one time I was out on a Vat inspection and the boss was out. When I asked for the books, the office girl asked which set did I want. I asked for both sets. They made interesting reading. The picture on his face when he arrived was worth seeing !
Anyway, it's great to be out of it. Dealing with crooks on a daily basis sours your outlook on your fellowman
Makes my occasional Biro pen seem so insignificant! :(
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In the days when I had dealings with HM Customs and Excise, to make VAT returns and have occasional routine VAT inspections, I always found the Inspectors very helpful. Willing to explain a new regulation and so on : their job is to enforce the regulations and find cheats.... that's fair enough, so if you are doing your bit, they're not a problem to you, or so I found!!
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I see in the Computer thread that there are more gripes with dodgey machinery, Martin R has printer probs...... I can sympathise with that..... a laptop keeled over last week and Despot put it in for repair ... £120 to fix.
Am I just being ( and this is a RHETORICAL QUESTION!!) a miserable old bag,
[attach=1]
when I say I have more than a sneaking suspicion that for the like of printers, there is so much planned obsolescence that it is a veritable goldmine for the manufacturers? :P The ink for printers is very costly, then there are the discontinued models, of cartridge, printer itself... the list goes on.... :'(
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Yes Maggie, and if my printer disease is terminal I've got 4 spare cartridges which will, without doubt, not fit any new printer currently on sale. Anyone want to buy some ink...going cheap!
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Yes Maggie, and if my printer disease is terminal I've got 4 spare cartridges which will, without doubt, not fit any new printer currently on sale. Anyone want to buy some ink...going cheap!
See! That's exactly what I mean.... goes from bad to worse! >:(
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Not just the ink cartridges the photo paper has to be compatible with the printer as well - I have a Canon S800 and stocks of ink and paper but the printer is not up to the job ::) Wondering what to do....I do prefer inkjet but Laser is cheaper in the long run...
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I use a Canon S900 photoprinter about 5 years old and recently had to replace the print head at a cost of £80. I gave up on the Canon's own inks when I discovered that the bulk of all printer inks came from a factory in Hong Kong !. I use jet tec cartridges which I buy from the Cartridge People on-line
One Canon cartridge would cost £10.96 whilst the compatible cartridges are £4.98 for two. I have printed about 300 A4 size prints in the last few months and I can see no difference using the cheaper ones. I also use their photopaper gloss heavyweight A4 at £5.98 for 40 sheets. If I was printing to archive standard then I would possibly use original inks and top of the range paper but the paper and inks I currently use are very satisfactory.
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I recently bought a new printer for Mel to use. The printer cost about £37 on offer. Having priced the 2 cartridges up at over £40 its cheaper to throw the printer away when the ink runs out. How does that work?
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Mick
Try the compatible ones sold by 7dayshop.com. ;)
Eric
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I will use compatible ones Eric, just dont see how they can justify charging more for 'branded' cartridges than for the whole printer including cartridges.
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I will use compatible ones Eric, just dont see how they can justify charging more for 'branded' cartridges than for the whole printer including cartridges.
Hi Mick
I once purchased an expensive Canon printer and to replace all six canon cartridges worked out at about £75 >:( >:( >:( ,as you say this really is not on.
Eric
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Anthony, mentioning a biro I was once given a mass produced pen as a fee for a lecture. That was my early days when I used to stoopidly say "give me what you think"
More recently I had a phone call from Mr/s X asking for a lecture list and a cost. A few days later "Will you create a lecture for us showing unusual bulbs and will you come for nothing?" 90 miles return and I think go away and jump. Next day "will you come for half your fee". I decline and s/he says we will not be having you.
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And he/she probably thinks YOU will be the one to suffer because they won't be having you Mark. ???
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I see in the Computer thread that there are more gripes with dodgey machinery, Martin R has printer probs...... I can sympathise with that..... a laptop keeled over last week and Despot put it in for repair ... £120 to fix.
Am I just being ( and this is a RHETORICAL QUESTION!!) a miserable old bag,
Maggi, where would we be without rhetorical questions?
Mick, I suspect your printer for £37 came without ink cartridges? I may be wrong, but they usually do now?
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My £45 printer came with ink
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What make Mark? My Epson didn't and neither did Vivienne's Canon.
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Ian bought a laser printer (Black and white) for the local Group's printing... it came with a toner wotsit or whatever it has :-\... new ones cost £50 I think. Bulky, plain looking thing, but it's fast and no, I'm not talking about me....
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Perhaps we should rename you "Miss Toner" Maggi? Are you into Tutti Fruity ice cream? ;D
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Anthony,
If you're going to call her "Miss Toner", I think you'll have to attribute a month name to her as well? It sounds like a name for a calender girl anyway. :o
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Not that crazy about Tutti-frutti ice cream... I prefer vanilla ...... and if I were by some horrendous happening, ever to be a calendar girl.... I'd have to be Miss Behaving.
Paul, did you get the TV series, Tutti-Frutti over there? It 's from 1987.... but I think it was due to be shown again here... or maybe just has been.... because it was very popular.
Starred Robbie Coltrane and Emma Thompson, among others..... "Miss Toner" was the secretary/sidekick of Eddie Clockerty, played by Richard Wilson http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/789683/index.html It was written by the wonderful John Byrne.
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Maggi,
If it was here a couple of years after that (which is usually the case), I would have been a computing nerd at University, so I wouldn't have seen it. Can't say I've even heard of it.
Wouldn't you be Miss Misbehaving? Miss Behaving sounds far too angelic for a chocolate addict such as yourself. :P :-* :-*
Maybe you'd just be in the Miss Chocolate calendar, and arrange to be the Easter Bunny in the calendar..... of course that would mean that no-one else got any chocolate, anywhere in the world, for Easter. ;)
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We Global Moderators have to Behave, Paul, if that's what we want others to do.... so I think I'll stick with Miss Behaving...... I like the idea of the Easter Bunny, though...... ALL the chocolate in the world, eh?
I'll make preparations......
[attach=1]
..though there may be competitors for the job......
[attach=2]
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Mick, I suspect your printer for £37 came without ink cartridges? I may be wrong, but they usually do now?
Anthony cartridges were included, well I havent bought any yet and shes using it, no connecting cable included though. 'They assume that you already have one, but you can have one for half price if bought with printer.' Do you take the risk you've got one that fits at home?
Don't get me going on this one. Why do all makes of mobile phone have a different charger and you get a new one with every phone whether you need it or not? Anybody want a drawer full of phone chargers?
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Tutti-frutti? I saw them in a shop this morning. Maybe I'll go back and buy a packet.
Anthony my printer is an Epson. Cartridges are a scandelous price but there is anow a shop 10 miles away who sell copies, in 4 colours, for £5 each.
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Anthony my printer is an Epson. Cartridges are a scandelous price but there is anow a shop 10 miles away who sell copies, in 4 colours, for £5 each.
I have now had 2 Epson printers over the last ten years or so. I chose Epson because the compatible cartridges are CHEAP. My current printer is a cheap Epson that I have had about 5 years, it is a workhorse and frequently has to print hundreds of copies for AGS seed exchange and Local group work. I just bought black cartridges at £14 for ten. Colour cartridges are £22 for ten. Each cartridge does well over a hundred copies, so I usually reckon on 1p a page (black). Prices do vary a lot, depending on the model
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Not that crazy about Tutti-frutti ice cream... I prefer vanilla ...... and if I were by some horrendous happening, ever to be a calendar girl.... I'd have to be Miss Behaving.
Paul, did you get the TV series, Tutti-Frutti over there? It 's from 1987.... but I think it was due to be shown again here... or maybe just has been.... because it was very popular.
Starred Robbie Coltrane and Emma Thompson, among others..... "Miss Toner" was the secretary/sidekick of Eddie Clockerty, played by Richard Wilson http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/789683/index.html It was written by the wonderful John Byrne.
Maggi, it's out on DVD. It launched the careers of the above stars and is rightly a classic.
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Don't get me going on this one. Why do all makes of mobile phone have a different charger and you get a new one with every phone whether you need it or not? Anybody want a drawer full of phone chargers?
Yes, and when your dog eats the darned thing, it costs a fortune to replace it. Or if the phone's a couple of years old, you can't get a new charger anyway. Have to get a phone with ANOTHER new charger.
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Okay, you pressed one of my buttons with this.... whay is is near impossible to get replacement mobile phone batteries.... they stop haolding the charge properly and it is so hard to source new ones..... you get told.... why not replace the phone, is alomst as cheap.... yes, but I've only just workded out how to use the one I've got, and the newer ones are so small I can't see the ruddy phone, never mind see and use the buttons and read the text ..... and don't tell me to get new specs because every time I "drop in- appointments are not always necessary" I find that they are too busy and Yes, an appointment is necessary, so when I have time I phone for an appointment and there isn't one any time I can manage to be there....... moan, moan, moan.......
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And the phone is so small that if you drop it in the garden or lose it somewhere, it is never seen again. >:(
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Did you know that all new printers come with ink cartridges only half full, and they cannot be refilled.
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That I could believe.
Michael I hear Jim Almond was excellent on Saturday and Sunday
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I just heard from Susan Tindall that a good time was had by all at the Termonfeckin weekend.... I'm not moaning that I wasn't there.......
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Maggi we will have to have you two over this way again
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Also heard great reports on the weekend; our travels are restricted as youngest is in exam year, long schooldays and little spare time.
Paddy
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Mark, Jim Almond was excellent and very funny,I didn't fall asleep once during his lecture, :)
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What was I doing in one of his photos? It must have been a sneaky shot.
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Mark, Jim Almond was excellent and very funny,I didn't fall asleep once during his lecture,
I need to get out more!
Here's the opening scene for Tutti Frutti, and an excerpt with Miss Toner:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTBjLLCdSBc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBNV7DrbeFY
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You may remember that back in August I helped judge private gardens in an every growing village near me. Last night was the prize giving where I gave a lecture on the gardens. It was the first time in the 10s of years that a judge showed the gardens. On Monday I was asked what I wanted in payment. I said at least £100 for the two days work and the presentation. And what did I get last night? A diary. grrrrrr. Next year I'm busy!
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Maybe the cheque is in the post, Mark... on in the pages of the Diary...... :D ::)
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Mark You should learn to agree on price first and say "yes" only later. Else You have not much to say about what You get.
This could have been written in a much funnier way with dual meanings but since Christmas is not to far away I am trying to behave. :P ::)
Kind regards
Joakim
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It has taught me a lesson
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Till the next time.
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Very true Arthur
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Anyone else noticed how quiet it is at the moment without dear Robin? :(
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Yep Cliff !
She's sadly missed ! ;)
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She may start a new thread on her return - a walk in the UK.
Paddy
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I got a lovely card from her today..... 8)
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Grumpy old man 1 - 0 PC 'thinks it owns the' world
Called at the well known computer store for some paper tonight.( ???I know but it was on the way home and I needed some special card tonight).
The assistant scanned the purchase in and then said:
"Can I have your name and address please."
"What do you want that for?"
"It must be for the guarantee."
"You guarantee paper now? Against what exactly, fire?"
He then tried to bypass the request on the computer/till. 2 managers later and I was entered as Mr Xx from postcode the same as the store then it wanted my house number.
If they want to try and steal my personal details they should at least have a way out of it when they get caught.
Surprised they didn't try to sell me extended warranty, they do on everything else.
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;D ;D ;D
Surely they must have more than one grumpy old man in your neck of the woods Mick?
I'm grumpy tonight because I want to be in one place, but have to be two others instead! :(
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That's clever of you Anthony, if you manage to pull it off. ;D
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That's clever of you Anthony, if you manage to pull it off. ;D
The one place I wanted to be occupied more time that the two places I had to be. Simples.
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I moved from a HP inkjet to a HP laser because of the ink cost. The HP inkjet was not as good as my old Canon Inkjet. The prints were less good and it could not print envelopes properly since the software placed the printing in the wrong place.
The bonus, which I did not realize at the time, was that I could use a much cheaper paper or rather that the cheap paper I was using anyway, gave much better results.
It seems that the toner does not creep into the paper in the same way as the ink does and that gives more "depth" in the colours.
Backside is that I cannot use cheap refills since the toner comes with the cylinder. (meaning that there is no cylinder cleaning by an expensive pro)
Cheers
Göte
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When I went to have my Swine flu jab, the surgery looked remarkably bare - there were no toys for the kids to play with, and all magazines had been banished. Apparently Health & Safety at work.
Has anyone else encountered this?
My first thought was - do we close Public Libraries? ???
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I left magazines in my health centre this week and their tables have magazines on them
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Ours have them ... but only periodically! :D
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:D ::) :D
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You'd better watch out, Cliff. I reckon the puns are getting so bad now that Maggi is keeping a journal!! ;)
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My first thought was - do we close Public Libraries?
No need, Art: so few people can read nowadays there are never enough people in a Library to constitute a health threat. :'(
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My first thought was - do we close Public Libraries?
No need, Art: so few people can read nowadays there are never enough people in a Library to constitute a health threat. :'(
Maggi is not libraries for lending DVD and CD? Or maybe having some unknown IP address for Your internet obscure use?
For the first two You don not need to read so there is room for some people in the libraries.
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Yes, Joakim, in our libraries you can use the internet - free- also there are CDs DVDs to borrow.... the place is still not as busy as I wish it would be! I wish every library were full of happy people!!
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Yes, Joakim, in our libraries you can use the internet - free- also there are CDs DVDs to borrow.... the place is still not as busy as I wish it would be! I wish every library were full of happy people!!
Plenty of room in the world for more happy 'Bookers', eh Maggi? :D
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When I went to have my Swine flu jab, the surgery looked remarkably bare - there were no toys for the kids to play with, and all magazines had been banished. Apparently Health & Safety at work.
Has anyone else encountered this?
My first thought was - do we close Public Libraries? ???
I had an appointment with my skin specialist 2 weeks ago, first thing I noticed when I arrived was the bareness of the waiting room.
All the reading material had gone, even the racks that held them.
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When I went to have my Swine flu jab, the surgery looked remarkably bare - there were no toys for the kids to play with, and all magazines had been banished. Apparently Health & Safety at work.
Has anyone else encountered this?
I have, but it is a pointless exercise pandering to a group of people called 'Zealots' who are afraid of infection. Where do you sit? What do you open the doors with?
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Not much point in being afraid of infection at my doc's. There are 8 doc's in the practice so there are often two dozen or more people waiting and at least some must have an infection of some kind, that's liable to be passed along. I always have to wait and always take a book but there are still magazines and toys both in the waiting area and in the doc's room. I think we're all paranoid about infections now, with advertising that 99.9% of germs are killed with this or that cleaner. The human race has withstood every kind of plague and disaster and no doubt will continue to do so.
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Quick note for Maggi. I've thought better of having the rant I was about to let fly with.
Edit by Maggi : ...for which I thank you, Lesley!
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I have to say that our libraries in Dunedin at least are always very well patronized, with queues at the checkouts (there are some self service thingys now as well) and I often have to wait for people to move away before I can access the thrillers. Perhaps we read more? It is a fact apparently, that NZers buy more books, per head of population, than people from any other country. A statistic I'm happy to live with.
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One of my colleagues was at two book launches recently: the completing of the Edinburgh Edition of Scott's Waverley Novels (David Hewitt is his father-in-law) http://www.euppublishing.com/series/eewn?cookieSet=1 and the other night at the launch of "Mma Ramotswe's Cookbook: The No.1 book for African delicacies". Apparently Mopani worms were served at the launch! :P
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........................."Mma Ramotswe's..................
Who??
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........................."Mma Ramotswe's..................
David, where have you been.....she runs the No 1 ladies Detective Agency ::)
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I really haven't the faintest clue on this Martin ???
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A series of books by Alexander McCall Smith, an Edinburgh based author about a traditionally built lady in Botswana who runs a private detective agency. His Edinburgh based books are also humoruous. Worth a read.
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Made into a TV series David.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ladies/
Not watched it myself either.
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What a wonderful expression "traditionally built" is. ;D
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I did mention this to Mrs N. today who's reponse was "It was on the box, you missed it, but you would have thought it was dreadfull"
Did anyone else watch the few hours of Alan Bennett's stuff on Beeb 2 last night and earlier this evening? I'm told that after a few single malts I do a passable impression of Patricia Routledge in her "Talking Heads" ;D
Sorry to those conditioned to reading only "Moans" here obviously second comment should be on "Happy" thread.
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What a wonderful expression "traditionally built" is. ;D
Maggi and I are traditionally built too. ;D
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And folk complain about Ryanair !
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Oh well, if that's a bit uncomfortable you can now have a 6 minute space flight with Branson for a mere $200,000!
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Am I imagining this or did dear Mr Nicholson post an item about his love and passion for all things Christmassy (to which Michael and others added their yuletide support)?
Well, I'm afraid I can't locate the topic, but I did so want to contribute this little piece by the WONDERFUL Tom Lehrer ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSlpCBek1_M&feature=related
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Cliff
I think I started it on 'I'm so happy'
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Am I imagining this or did dear Mr Nicholson post an item about his love and passion for all things Christmassy (to which Michael and others added their yuletide support)?
Well, I'm afraid I can't locate the topic, but I did so want to contribute this little piece by the WONDERFUL Tom Lehrer ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSlpCBek1_M&feature=related
I must listen to more Tom Lehrer. This summed up my feelings in a nutshell - Brazil or Macadamia of course :) 8) :)
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Cliff
I think I started it on 'I'm so happy'
My apologies Arthur ... Ti's the season to be jolly ... embarrassed! Ho! Ho! Ho! :D
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Maybe Maggi should introduce a sanity clause?
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Am I imagining this or did dear Mr Nicholson post an item about his love and passion for all things Christmassy (to which Michael and others added their yuletide support)?
Well, I'm afraid I can't locate the topic, but I did so want to contribute this little piece by the WONDERFUL Tom Lehrer ...
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;
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Maybe Maggi should introduce a sanity clause?
You can't a fool a me there ain't no sanity clause..... ;D
Groucho/Chico in A Night at the Opera (movie)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-zR2pM_S5U
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Of course there's a sanity clause. Who else fills the stockings the night before?
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Of course there's a sanity clause. Who else fills the stockings the night before?
That'll be the mental elf, Lesley! --- or the rain dear! (or even the rude oaf)? D
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You win Cliff. :) Why ever did I think I might have the last word - one day? ::)
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Of course there's a sanity clause. Who else fills the stockings the night before?
That'll be the mental elf, Lesley! --- or the rain dear! (or even the rude oaf)? D
Ah, yes, Rude Old Near Enuff, the bally dangler... what a star he was....
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I saw that man in the paper. I cant see if the guy beside him had his oxygen mask on his face :-X
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I saw that man in the paper. I cant see if the guy beside him had his oxygen mask on his face :-X
What, Rude Old Near Enuff, the bally dangler?
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Quite, Anthony, that can't be right........Rude Old Near Enuff, the bally dangler, would need more than oxygen, he's been dead for years, poor soul :'(
If you mean the chap sitting next to the LARGE person on the aeroplane, Mark, then no, it's just that he has a beard and that, with the background of the head rest cover of the seat in front , gives that impression of a face mask.......maybe I can put off getting those new specs just a little longer....? ;)
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I saw a programme recently called 'LAX' or similar based in an LA airport. The ground staff are allowed to turn away people who they feel could be a in the way in an emergency
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I saw a programme recently called 'LAX' or similar based in an LA airport. The ground staff are allowed to turn away people who they feel could be a in the way in an emergency
Crumbs, that would be most of them Mark! :P
We had the misfortune to take a British Midland flight from Heathrow to Edinburgh (on our way back from Bali in 2004, we'd been bumped off a flight to Glasgow as our booked seats had been taken by passengers from an earlier cancelled flight. We had to rebook the Edinburgh flights). We sat in front of two stewardesses who bitched for the duration of the flight, except for the two minutes when one said to a lady who'd been trying to get some attention "I heard you the first time....and the second.....and the third....and the fourth. No, we don't have any hot drinks on this flight and no we don't have any blankets!"
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Anthony some airlines will pay you if you offer your seat to those waiting from a cancelled flight. I wonder if I can try this with Ryanair? ;D
There is a row brewing over here because Belfast City Airport wants to extend their runway by .5km / .3 mile to allow larger planes to land/take off. That's OK except the extension will destroy a nature reserve
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Some years ago a friend was waiting to board a flight from New York to Dublin when he was approached and told the plane was overbooked and if he would be willing to delay his flight until the following morning so as to accommodate those travelling with children. He agreed, was put up in a nice hotel overnight and given a flight token before departure the following morning. This token took him to Hawaii the following year.
Paddy
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Anthony some airlines will pay you if you offer your seat to those waiting from a cancelled flight. I wonder if I can try this with Ryanair? ;D
There is a row brewing over here because Belfast City Airport wants to extend their runway by .5km / .3 mile to allow larger planes to land/take off. That's OK except the extension will destroy a nature reserve
We got £200, but ended up in Edinburgh not Glasgow. Fortunately, we had friends coming to pick us up, and not only is Edinburgh closer, our fight was an hour earlier. :) Still doesn't excuse them.
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Omigod! I discover that Teddy has found a French connection in the form of l'escargots! He came in through the hole in the wall (his special door) this morning, carrying in his mouth, a large snail. I hoped it was a long dead one or just an empty shell but when I managed to get it from him, found it was plump and very much alive. WE DON'T HAVE SNAILS HERE! In the 20 years that Roger and I have lived in this and our previous garden, I have never seen a single snail and precious few slugs. But we have a new neighbour who is building a house and in the meantime, he and his wife have placed a number of tubs and pots of assorted plants, along with a container of whatever, along their side of the boundry fence. They are currently living near where I lived 20 and more years ago and there were masses of snails there and I have this utterly terryfying feeling that they have brought some into this area in their plants. We've met them; they're nice people and we'll share a drink or two over the holiday period but if I see another snail..... neighbourly relations could deteriorate rapidly.
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Lesley,
encourage Teddy to release his "inner poodle" and devour the crunchy little snacks! ;D
Otherwise invest in a large packet of blue pellets and "snail houses" to keep Teddy from temptation.
cheers
fermi
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The little brute crunched all right, until he had all the shell off and then left the slimy body on the sittingroom carpet. Still I love him though :D.
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I can only hope that in the recent, and much publicised, train(s) breakdown in the Eurotunnel that the trains actually broke down in the British half of the tunnel. I would hate the French to be in a position to usurp the British tradition of being completely unable to organise any kind of public transportation system between the months of September through to May!
Am I the only one who would have credited any reputable engineer/design engineer with the intelligence to realise (a) it does tend to get cold in winter and (b) given this climatic certainty it does tend to be hotter inside a 20 odd mile concrete structure buried God knows how many meters deep in the earth ???
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;D ;D ;D
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You need a boundary of pellets between you and them
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You need a boundary of pellets between you and them
What? Between us and the French? :o
Have you never heard of the Auld Alliance, Mark? ;D
p.s. Not the pub in Paris!
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;D ;D ;D
I take it that civil engineering and international politics are possibly not on Mark's hit list? ;D
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WE DON'T HAVE SNAILS HERE!
From what you say, Lesley, it sounds like you DO have snails now.
In your shoes, I'd give my neighbors a large box of slug pellets for Christmas. As well as install a cordon sanitaire of pellets between them and you.
Theoretically, we don't have snails here, barring two non-destructive native species. Our agricultural authorities believe this fairy tale. But we do in fact have the European ground snail in some parts of the city, likely brought in on plants smuggled in from the US because legal importation is so afflicted with bureaucratic rules and regulations that smuggling is really the only feasible method of importation.
Sadly, one of the infested sites is the garden of a gentleman who sells plants out of the back of his truck at horticultural meetings. I once pointed out to him that unless he was taking considerable precautions, he was happily spreading snails far and wide about the city. This produced the usual wide eyed "deer in the headlights" look that ignoramuses adopt when the errors of their ways are mentioned.
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Cats!
I was sowing seeds yesterday, and as I prepared each pot, they went into a flat outside. I placed the flat up on a bench on my patio in the (mistaken) belief that this would keep them out of the way of harm.
Moan, groan, grumble, bitch, complain: it wasn't to be so. A few hours later, several of the pots had quite deep paw prints in them, probably from my fat cat Gypsy investigating Something New. Grrrrrrr. At 18 lb, Gypsy's a pretty hefty cat and her paw prints go deep.
Now I know to put a second flat over the pots to protect them from feline curiosity.
Cats!
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Holy moly, Rodger, your cat is a big as my dog! :o ::)
I am reminded of ye olde saying..... "is a fifteen pound Robin fat?" :-X
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Holy moly, Rodger, your cat is a big as my dog! :o ::)
It's as big as my WIFE!!! ;D
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Holy moly, Rodger, your cat is a big as my dog! :o ::)
I am reminded of ye olde saying..... "is a fifteen pound Robin fat?" :-X
After my charming little fluffy white cat, Lily, had to be put down at the end of September (an extremely distressing event which still causes tears on occasion - yes, I am a softy), I adopted a mother-daughter pair from Salmon Arm, BC (http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=50.69624,-119.281311&spn=0.096557,0.220413&z=12). Their owner had to go into a care home because of ill health and had to give up her cats. Her daughter, who lives here in Victoria, arranged for them to be flown down.
Gypsy is an 18 lb love-bug, her daughter Cuddles a 10 lb I'm-not-quite-sure-of-you-yet kind of cat.
Yes, Gypsy is grossly overweight, but I'm hopeful that now that she's no longer cooped up in a small mobile home, she will gradually lose the excess poundage. In Salmon Arm, they couldn't be let outside because they'd have been eaten by the coyotes.
I used to have another 18 pounder of a cat, Shadow, but he was solid muscle, not fat like Gypsy.
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While I am on a rant this is one that really gets to me.
About 10 years ago I noticed teenaged girls would state something and the last word in the sentence was always intoned as a question. Within a few years all teens seemed to be doing it.
Last week on the radio a young scientist was being interviewed and he was doing it too. It drives me absolutely bats. Is this a North American phenomenom or is it rampant worldwide and in other languages? A summer employee at work did it ad nauseum and I would always stop him and "answer" the "question". He got confused a bit but never did get it, I got bored with it all.
Yee gads. (BTW - Where's the happy face with bulging eyeballs and hair shooting up straight in the air?)
johnw
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Oh yes, I'll join you in this particular rant John. In fact, I thought it was a peculiarly NZ/Australian phenomenon, the upward inflection of the voice at the end of just about every sentence even though no question is being asked, but as if implied, is the question "do you know what I mean?" or "isn't that so?" Drives me mad too but it happens ALL the time here not only with teenagers but with just about everyone. At the risk of being called elitist or a snob, I'd suggest it is most prevalent among those whose education is less than the best. At least half the population of New Zealand is only semi-literate. :o
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Oh yes, I'll join you in this particular rant John.
Lesley - I must be getting stupider. It never occured to me that those teenager 10 years ago would grow up someday and continue the practice, even amongst the educated. I almost dropped when I heard that otherwise perfectly articulate scientist doing it. I wonder how he defended his thesis and the reaction of the judging panel?
Does this mean "eh?" - the Anglo Canadian n'est-ce pas -is on its way out?
johnw
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New Zealanders (many of them, present company excepted) use "eh?" on its own when they didn't hear or didn't understand, as others may use "sorry?" or even "what?" but they use "eh" at the end of a whole sentence for God knows what reason, and, oddly, NOT with the upward inflection. "I'm going to the moveies tonight, eh" or "that's really gross, eh." When I've moaned about the standards of modern NZers' speech, grammar etc, I've been told that it's a healthy sign of a living and developing language. Maybe so but why are all such developments on a rapid journey toward the lowest common denominator, rather than the highest? Are we all so disgracefully lazy?
I believe even the Oxford Dictionary finds split infinitives acceptable now. They may be acceptable to them but NOT TO ME.
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Yes Lesley, anyone with split infinitives should see a doctor for treatment immediately. They can be very painful. ;D
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Oh yes, I'll join you in this particular rant John. In fact, I thought it was a peculiarly NZ/Australian phenomenon, the upward inflection of the voice at the end of just about every sentence even though no question is being asked, but as if implied, is the question "do you know what I mean?" or "isn't that so?" Drives me mad too but it happens ALL the time here not only with teenagers but with just about everyone. At the risk of being called elitist or a snob, I'd suggest it is most prevalent among those whose education is less than the best. At least half the population of New Zealand is only semi-literate. :o
It is a strange phenomenon. When I first heard it (about 10 years ago) I thought it sounded like a NZ accent. I heard a radio programme about it a while ago, it's called "upspeak"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upspeak (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upspeak)
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New Zealanders (many of them, present company excepted) use "eh?" on its own when they didn't hear or didn't understand, as others may use "sorry?" or even "what?" but they use "eh" at the end of a whole sentence for God knows what reason, and, oddly, NOT with the upward inflection. "I'm going to the moveies tonight, eh" or "that's really gross, eh." When I've moaned about the standards of modern NZers' speech, grammar etc, I've been told that it's a healthy sign of a living and developing language. Maybe so but why are all such developments on a rapid journey toward the lowest common denominator, rather than the highest? Are we all so disgracefully lazy?
I believe even the Oxford Dictionary finds split infinitives acceptable now. They may be acceptable to them but NOT TO ME.
My father had a quick and painful solutionto the use of 'eh ?' or 'what ?',it was a quick slap and the phrase 'speak properley or not at all.
My current hate as well as the two mentioned is 'journey' Whatever somebody is doing they are on a journey. The BBC has picked it up and I just want to kick the screen when I hear it.
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While I am on a rant this is one that really gets to me.
About 10 years ago I noticed teenaged girls would state something and the last word in the sentence was always intoned as a question. Within a few years all teens seemed to be doing it.
Last week on the radio a young scientist was being interviewed and he was doing it too. It drives me absolutely bats. Is this a North American phenomenom or is it rampant worldwide and in other languages?
johnw
Young women and girls here do it, John. Very widespread and incredibly annoying! I believe it originates with those ubiquitous Australian TV soaps.
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Hey, don't blame us!! :o :o
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Yee gads. (BTW - Where's the happy face with bulging eyeballs and hair shooting up straight in the air?)
johnw
It's here: [attach=1]
or you may prefer: [attach=2]
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Hey, don't blame us!! :o :o
Sorry, Paul. But I think that in the UK that's considered to be the commonly accepted source of the rising, questioning inflection at the end of sentences amongst younger people. It started with my 21-year-old daughter's generation but seems to now be being passed on down the generation as my ten year old daughter is now picking it up from some of her friends (despite our best efforts to stop her). It seems to be more prevalent amongst young women and girls than with young men and boys.
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Martin,
Well of course you lot are going to blame the colonies, aren't you? >:(
:P :P
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It seems to be more prevalent amongst young women and girls than with young men and boys.
That might, in my opinion, be attributed to the fact that many young men and boys have a great tendency to be monsyllabic ..... hard to get much inflection in a low frequency grunt ! :P
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That might, in my opinion, be attributed to the fact that many young men and boys have a great tendency to be monsyllabic ..... hard to get much inflection in a low frequency grunt ! :P
:) I have to bite my tongue not to respond to that... (Bad dirty mind) :) ;D
No sentence ends which are intoned as a question in Dutch though...
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That might, in my opinion, be attributed to the fact that many young men and boys have a great tendency to be monsyllabic ..... hard to get much inflection in a low frequency grunt ! :P
:) I have to bite my tongue not to respond to that... (Bad dirty mind) :) ;D
No sentence ends which are intoned as a question in Dutch though...
;D ;D
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I'm biting my tongue too Wim.
I'll have you know Maggi that I'm as good at monosyllabic grunts as a man half my age!
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I spent a couple of days last weekend in Belfast where I heard lots of eh.
Blame Home and Away with the Neighbours! Barbie is a common word here now also and not referring to Barbie unless macho men are now playing with Barbie
The funny side of going out ... 5 of us were in a well known Belfast night club. I said look how many kids are in here. One girl heard me, turned round and said in broadest Belfast accent "Aren't you a bit old to be in here?" :-X I said how old do you think I am and she said over 30. Happy days! ;D
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It's here: (Attachment Link)
Maggi - I see you give the smiley a very short haircut with me in mind. (statement)
johnw
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Maybe the eh will replace the extremely annoying Norn Iron sentence ending "but"
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Thanks for that link Diane.
HRT disorder it will be from now on.
johnw
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The kids in my class don't say "eh" they say "what" (pronounced whet). My reply is "who let the duck in"?
My particular beef listening to the radio or TV is missing out syllables. i.e. not pronouncing words "prop(er)ly". Words like Draw(r)ing; adapt(at)ion; particu(lar)ly (letter in brackets added or deleted) etc. etc.
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The more educated can be annoying as well . Ever hear the CEOs giving their annual reports, "year on year", and "going forward" Have they discovered some way of going back in time? :). And what does year on year mean? :)
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Anthony if you were teaching over here you wouldnt be asked what or whet but whaa? and plural of you is yous. In the Glens a ewe is a yo.
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My particular beef listening to the radio or TV is missing out syllables. i.e. not pronouncing words "prop(er)ly". Words like Draw(r)ing; adapt(at)ion; particu(lar)ly (letter in brackets added or deleted) etc. etc.
"Adaption" (written as well as spoken) was very common among biology students when I retired nearly 10 years ago. I imagine it is now practically universal. It was not unknown among some of their younger teachers.
My own pet peeve is the confusion between 'overestimate' & 'underestimate' - widespread on BBC Radio.
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My pet hate...thank you Anthony for reminding me, is the (r) in drawing, and any other word with W in it including law. Why can't the English speak their own language >:(. Our Oxford English Dictionary even puts the r in in their pronunciation guide!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I could scream..........................Or perhaps I'll just call them all numptyheids.
What's more they have the cheek to laugh when I say worum for those best friends of the gardener.
Phew...that was cathartic
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I could add a whole lot to those above but for now will content myself (have to leave for work in a few mins, a very big, extra pre-Christmas Market day) with adding to Anthony's lot, lib'ry and Feb'ry. What's so silly about the latter is that those determined NOT to abbreviate the word, carefully say Febuary.
John, you know, of course, that HRT is the cure for something quite different. :o
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lib'ry and Feb'ry :-X :-[
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John, you know, of course, that HRT is the cure for something quite different. :o
Right, but it might be a cure for them too. ;D
Better switch to HRI syndrome.
johnw
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Time for some Norn Iron speak
flower - flar
power - par
tower - tar
water - wa'er
butter - bu'er
think - 'hink
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..... and the number of major drug dealers and major criminals seeking to launder their ill-gotten gains $13.25 at a time must be HUGE, huh??? ::)
Banks are infuriating places..... I don't know whether to be relieved or even more irritated that they seem to be as bad everywhere. I was asked to prove who I was when paying a cheque, made out to me, by me, into a savings account in my name.
Why? I ask.....
It's to protect against fraud, says the little twerp behind the counter.... He didn't seem to grasp that if I wished to perpetrate a fraud then the scenario I was enacting was not a very good way to go about it.... What thief pays a cheque to herself from an account of her own, into another account in her name? :o :-X
My chum went to the bank the other day to draw some cash. She went in and asked to withdraw the money from her savings account.....
you can't she was told....
why not, she asks...
well, we can't ID you for that account, because you have it set up for telephone banking !
well, give me a phone, she says!
no, you'll have to fill in a form to transfer it to your current account and draw it from there.
So a long form has to be filled in, which includes the question.... what do you want the money for ?..... a query posed, imperiously, by the bank employee..... cue raise of 80 points in my chum's blood pressure.....remember this is HER money..... I think the bank employee will be out of intensive care by the new year! :-\
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Maggi, my wife went into a local bank to draw some cash from an account she had for 30 years, and was only round the corner from a restaurant that she owned. The teller asked her for ID and would not give her the cash without it,I had to go home and get her passport. I opened the door of the bank and fired the passport at the teller missing her by inches. My wife got the cash, and the teller got an earbashing from me.
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You may blame the banks which is quite fashionable but really it is that arm of the Government which failed to save us from the financial crisis- the FSA which is to blame.It is they who have introduced lots of irritating rules the banks have to follow in their obsession with money laundering. If they had spent more time in looking at large issues instead of myriads of little ones we might not be in the mess we are.
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Mark,
Is the word Fly (and other words ending in a y) flattened to Fla (or flar) as well (I seem to hear that now a lot, just laziness in pronouncing the language, mixed with americanisation of english)? If so, then a sentence by a pilot such as "I'll fly by the water tower" becomes hilarious..... I'll fla ba the wa'er tar. :o :o I doubt I'd understand a word after hearing that for a while. Then again, I've been asked many times where I came from in England, because I was taught to pronounce words proper-like!! ;D During University it was commented on a number of times. I don't think I currently have quite as clipped a pronunciation as I used to though, eh? ;)
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Paul have you heard yourself on TV or radio?
We say fly
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Mark,
No, i'm not famous enough to be on TV or radio. You'd be a judge of what sort of accent I have, given that we've spoken on the phone. I am aware that I do not pronounce words as clearly as I used to...... I'm much lazier now than when I was younger. ;D ;D
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Something that really bugs me is when even BBC newsreaders drop the 'g' from the end of 'ing' endings. Apparently it's 'Estuary English' - something to do with areas around the Thames estuary - like doin' and seein' and thinkin' and comin'.... >:(
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I have noticed the number of people complaining about the way other people use the English language. One thing worth bearing in mind is historically which is the correct pronunciation of a word after all your own way may have been considered wrong in the past before becoming acceptable.
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On the subject of government bureaucracies from the Exchange thread (moved here) here's a good one.
Back in August a good friend who has lived here since 1968 and has not taken out Canadian citizenship decided she had better get on to renewing her Dutch (EU) passport which was to expire at the end of October. She phoned the Dutch consulate here and got a recorded announcement saying "We regret to inform you the consulate has closed down, please call the following number for matters concerning passport renewals". She called the number and after an hour's wait found out she was calling Washington, DC. She was told that she had to come to Washington to be fingerprinted and apply for her passport there. She told them they were mad. After calling The Hague several times she was told she might be able go to Ottawa to be fingerprinted. She called the Dutch Embassy in Ottawa and was told there was no way around it but she could do it in Ottawa, there was simply no one reliable to do the fingerprinting in Halifax! Furthermore they were open only three days a week 9 am -1 pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday, better stay 2 nights just in case. Well she blew her stack but in the end phoned the airline and booked flights (circa $500), then booked a hotel room for two nights online. She calmed down but within a week she got an email saying "we hope you can re-book your flight as we will be closed the day of your appointment as your computer system is being upgraded". This time she went ballistic all to no avail. The $500 for airfare AND the hotel deposit was lost. She had to re-book a flight now at $700 and the only hotel available was the Chateau Laurier $200+ a night. Well she finally made it to Ottawa, arrived at the embassy address they gave her only to find out they had given her the wrong street number. Back in another cab to the correct address to find they gave her the wrong tower number and the wrong floor 2 instead of 22. At the ambassor's office she was told her photograph was .5mm too small and she would have to have it re-done, no problem as there was a photographer just a half an hour's walk down the street. She stormed into the assitant ambassor's office and caused such a stir they called for the official limo and drove her to the photographer's. Returning she was told she should have the passport within 3 weeks. Three weeks later back home she had to cancel an appointment due to the weather, that was lucky as the courier arrived with her passport, an hour later and she would have been gone. I got a frantic email when she read the notice on the courier pack, it said if this passport is not successfully delivered and signed for by the consignee it is to be returned immediately to Ottawa and can only be collected by the consignee in person.
Needless to say she is not the only one going through this ordeal. Students with no money have had to spend countless dollars travelling to Ottawa for their passports. My friend has been in touch with the ombudsman overseeing the fiasco in The Hague. (By the way her niece in Friesland travelled to the Hague 7 times before she got her passport.) Last week she had a call from the ambassador himself, impeccable Dutch and perfectly cool and slick telling her she possibly may not even need a passport if she doesn't intend to travel. My friend, highly prone to hysteria, remained as cool as a cucumber and finished off by telling him he should read some Kafka if he has a moment.
Total bill - almost $2000.
Oh, by the way, her passport photo is a perfect representation of her state of mind the day it was done.
johnw
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phew!
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I drop the g :o :-X :-[
Paul I could imagine you on Neighbours ;D
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I drop the g :o :-X :-[
Paul I could imagine you on Neighbours ;D
I hadn't noticed, Mark. :)
What I meant was that it bugs me when people on TV, especially news anchors, drop the g as an affectation. Apparently it's very fashionable in London these days to deliberately drop the g. Not sure why.
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I drop the g :o :-X :-[
Paul I could imagine you on Neighbours ;D
I don't have a problem with people dropping the g as part of their normal, eg regional, speech pattern. It just grates when I see and hear a BBC reporter or news anchor who you just know is obviously public school educated and/or Oxford/Cambridge graduated, very middle class, deliberately dropping the g as an affectation. Like "look at me, I drop my gs. I've got street cred." It just sounds so false.
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When are we , as keen gardeners going to get Joe Public to recognise that one of our favourite flowers is Anemone not ANENOME?, Then we must work on those who believe that a donkey says," Hee Haw" and get them to listen carefully to the beast who always says " HAAAW Hehaw, hehaw, hehaaaw"
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I drop the g :o :-X :-[
Paul I could imagine you on Neighbours ;D
I don't have a problem with people dropping the g as part of their normal, eg regional, speech pattern. It just grates when I see and hear a BBC reporter or news anchor who you just know is obviously public school educated and/or Oxford/Cambridge graduated, very middle class, deliberately dropping the g as an affectation. Like "look at me, I drop my gs. I've got street cred." It just sounds so false.
This is like the current ruling political class dropping t in words to sound like their working class voters even though they have been to Public School ,University and never had a job outside of a political party.
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When are we , as keen gardeners going to get Joe Public to recognise that one of our favourite flowers is Anemone not ANENOME?, Then we must work on those who believe that a donkey says," Hee Haw" and get them to listen carefully to the beast who always says " HAAAW Hehaw, hehaw, hehaaaw"
Does 'e a'ways do that Gwen? ( I know hee haw about donkeys)
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John, I'd bet that if your Dutch friend were to commit a burglary and be caught, there'd be plenty finger-printing facilites in Halifax. Why don't the embassies subcontract to the Police dept? ;D
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Blin'kin' ridiculous state of affairs John! My fiasco at the Glasgow passport office, when trying to get a replacement passport for our son James, was just a minor blip compared with that! We were recommended by our Post Office to go to a certain photographic shop in Stirling as they were guaranteed to produce the correct image. The photo failed on several counts - too small an image and a visible shadow being the major ones. I had to phone home and get Vivienne to put James on the next Glasgow train, collect him at Queen Street railway station, return to the passport office and get his picture taken in one of those 'Mickey Mouse' photo booths. The result passed muster and we got the passport!
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It took me three attempts to get my passport application accepted last week. They didn't like the background colour of the photo, then they said my eyes were in the wrong place!!! :o
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Fancy that! And I can vouch for the fact that Anne's eyes are, in fact, neatly on either side of her nose.... just like everybody else's ...... wonder where they're meant to be?
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Maybe they thought that she worked in a Bank and should have had eyes in the back of her head to keep a watch on the top brass. ;D ;D ;D
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;D ;D ;D
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John, I'd bet that if your Dutch friend were to commit a burglary and be caught, there'd be plenty finger-printing facilites in Halifax. Why don't the embassies subcontract to the Police dept? ;D
Especially if it were the Dutch consulate that was broken into! ;D Yes indeed, subcontract or have an embassy staffer visit the provinces for a day every few months.
Anne - I trust you did not move your eyes, they are perfectly lovely as they are.
johnw - drizzle, rain fog and grey the day long.
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I drop the g :o :-X :-[
Paul I could imagine you on Neighbours ;D
Mark,
Nah, I'm not young and pretty enough. Hmmm.... then again, there's always the evil older guy in every soap opera isn't there? Or I could be the father in a new family that moved into the neighbourhood....... except still not pretty enough. ::) ;D ;D
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More bad news on the jobs front, of particular interest to growers of alpine plants.....This extract from today's issue of Horticulture Week Daily ( sic)...
Administrators appointed to sell Whiterigg Alpines
by Magda Ibrahim
HortWeek.com
09 April 2009
The largest alpine grower in the UK - Whiterigg Alpines - has appointed administrators to sell the business and assets.
Paul Flint and Brian Green from KPMG Restructuring in Manchester have been appointed joint administrators of Whiterigg Alpines Limited, the Chorley-based grower and supplier of alpine rockery plants.
The business, which employs 91 people at its Lancashire base and has a turnover of circa £4.5m, is the largest alpine plant grower in the UK.
Whiterigg Alpines supplies more than 200 garden centres around the country, including Wyevale.
The business continues to trade with the existing workforce under the control of the joint administrators while a buyer is sought for the business and assets.
KPMG Manchester associate partner Paul Flint said: "As we are now entering one of the busiest parts of the year for companies in the horticulture industry, we will be working closely with the existing workforce at Whiterigg Alpines to trade the business as a going concern. We would encourage any parties who may be interested in acquiring the business and its assets to contact us as soon as possible."
MERRY CHRISTMAS … I’m very doubtful about that.
see:
http://www.hortweek.com/news/bulletin/dailybulletin/article/974844/?DCMP=EMC-
(http://www.hortweek.com/news/bulletin/dailybulletin/article/974844/?DCMP=EMC-)
I feel very sorry for the working people there, who believed they have a steady job since in August Mr. W. bought back this nursery and is driving in his brand new BMW through half of Europe :-[ :-[ :'(
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A banker is a person who lends you an umbrella but takes it back if it starts to rain.
What I read is that the business needs cash to finance the immediate deliveries and the banks refuse or procrastinate.
I have a guy who owns me 25.000 in royalties. He has sold the full next year's production and needs to have stock in the yard when the spring rush sets in but the bank will not lend him money using his present stock as collateral in spite of the present stock being sold to a reputable customer with delivery and payment to be in the spring.
His liquidity is low since he last year expanded the production facillities in order to cope with demand.
So. The bank does not finance his planned build up of stock so he cannot pay my peanuts.
A thriving business with a certain future is being held up by bankers who gladly lend to anybody who wants to buy another flat TV set.
UNCHEERS
Göte
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Poor me My electrics failed completely at 1600 on Christmas Eve. My neighbours were very helpful and I used their phone to book an emergency service (24hr 365 days) Went back to my house to await the man who did not come.
My neighbours knocked on the door at 0900 and invited me to have toast and tea. Phoned the emergency company and they said "Tried to phone my neighbours but had taken down their number incorrectly" Could not get anyone to come out today - 365 days cover ??? ??? - but could book someone to come 0900 Boxing Day. I grabbed the opportunity, packed some food and descended on my sister for the rest of the day. At least I am warm, hot food and can help her with some furniture moving - an ill wind etc.
I hope the electrics can be fixed - think it is the main circuit breaker in the fuse box and will probably need a more modern box fitted - as the second test against S Africa starts tomorrow and there is football to be seen. ;D
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Oh, Arthur, what a pest..... thank goodness you were able to decamp to your sister's.
So much for paying a premium for 365 day service! :P
I had a cooker blow up one Christmas eve but an utterly charming and very good looking young French engineer came out to fix it, so that wasn't as bad as it might have been! ;)
My head cold kept reasonably well behaved for most of the day but lost the plot after a walk in the cold this afternoon and I am on my second box of tissues today now so I'm going to give up and crawl off to bed ..... I'm not even feeling well enough for some sweeties..... so you can tell it's serious!
I was fit enough to scoff a superb lunch , cooked by Ian, which we enjoyed in the company of our pal Helen but now my nose has got the better of me and I must surrender to it! So, to those of you with shares in a paper tissue company, congratulations on this year end boom!! :P
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Maggi
Look after yourself - after all Christmas is only a rehearsal for the big event ;)
Arthur
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The roe deer are at it again. I bought 3 nice Erica carnea in 1 litre pots intending to pot them together in a bigger pot to give to my brother's girl friend for Christmas. The frost came and the pots got frozen so I decided to keep them for myself and give her a basket of hyacinths instead. On Tuesday I noticed they had been well trimmed. I even saw a deer in the garden that day about 8.30 am in daylight. Euonymus is also on the menu.
I have the Cyclamen hederifolium under the lounge window protected with wire netting this year. Last winter the leaves were eaten before they hardly had time to feed the tubers. The silver leaves went first. Are they tastier or just easier to see in the dark?
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Roma,
Depending on the laws in your area re self-harvesting.... Venison is very tasty!! ;)
Maggi,
Good luck with getting over the cold. Not fun at the best of times, but even more miserable over holidays. :'(
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Roe is particularly (or, as they say on the wireless, "particuly") tasty! So different from red deer meat.
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I see the top dogs of Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac who started this whole damed financial fiasco have awarded themselves massive salaries/bonuses again. Why are they still even walking the earth? What else could be expected from a couple of companies with such names?
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Maggi
Look after yourself - after all Christmas is only a rehearsal for the big event ;)
Arthur
Thanks, Art :-* ...... I take it you refer to the Dunblane Early Bulb Day? The highlight of my year!!
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I watched "Bridge to Terabithia" and was gob-smacked to see the teacher in the film on her mobile phone whilst driving! :o What a shocking example to set children. Our council employees have been told it is a sackable offence if caught (it incurs a £60 and three points on the driving license in the UK). Irresponsible and almost as stupid as those ipod zombies you see cycling along pavements. >:(
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I watched "Bridge to Terabithia" and was gob-smacked to see the teacher in the film on her mobile phone whilst driving! :o What a shocking example to set children. Our council employees have been told it is a sackable offence if caught (it incurs a £60 and three points on the driving license in the UK). Irresponsible and almost as stupid as those ipod zombies you see cycling along pavements. >:(
Anthony - Barry Starling told us that when he was in NW Yunnan on a certain mountain he decided to leave the group behind and go higher. He was on a path and ahead he spotted a Buddhist monk. He was bedecked in orange robes, head was bowed in prayer and hands folded in front as he walked along. Barry decided to follow him at a very slow pace rather than disturb his state. Barry was losing precious time but at this point the path narrowed with a precipitous drop to one side so he could not pass him. Finally he got fed up and decided to pass him anyway and head up higher. As he passed he found out he spied a Blackberry, the monk had been text-messaging like mad the whole time. Maybe not as dangerous as in a car but he could have walked over a cliff. 8)
johnw
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Roma couldnt you install garden centre type invisble beam alarms to scare the deer?
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Maggi
Look after yourself - after all Christmas is only a rehearsal for the big event ;)
Arthur
Thanks, Art :-* ...... I take it you refer to the Dunblane Early Bulb Day? The highlight of my year!!
No No - the big H ;)
Power back on today - will send you pm with details both tragic and funny.
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No No - the big H
Harvest Festival? Surely that's not for months??! ::)
We don't bother with Hogmanay if that's your meaning....would require the BD to stay up too long past his bedtime! ;D ;D
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I dont bother either. I stay in or go to visit friends with kids ebcause they cant go out anymore.
I was with these friends last weekend where the oldest child, aged 5, knows me as Big Mark because his father is also Mark but I'm taller. Scarily he kept calling me daddy :o
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Scarily he kept calling me daddy
By 'eck! I hope there's not often a clue!!????!!
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OK Christmas is over and I feel like a huge Christmas pudding, why couldn't I have been born thin, its not fair I get so much boxes of chocolate's as gifts and I cant refuse them as somebody has taken the time to gift wrap them and deliver them to me, so I cant waste them can I.
OK I know I don't have to eat them all in a few days ;D ;D ;D but I haven't got any will power ::)
Angie :)
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Mark,
I can understand the scarily bit. :o Kind of disturbing coming from a 5 year old, as they can usually tell adults apart by then. You sure there isn't something you're not telling us? ;D ;D ;)
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I know who said " It is a wise father that know his own child" but I'm sure someone also said it the other way around but who? Better look into it Mark
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I have, on occasion and by mistake, I assure you, been called dad by a pupil. :o
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Anthony, what do you say back?
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I just raise my eyebrows and smile. No point in making any comment as the colour of the pupil's face usually speaks for me. ;D
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its not fair I get so much boxes of chocolate's as gifts and I cant refuse them as somebody has taken the time to gift wrap them and deliver them to me, so I cant waste them can I.
OK I know I don't have to eat them all in a few days ;D ;D ;D but I haven't got any will power ::)
Angie :)
But Angie,
you live in Aberdeen and Maggi runs a service for the safe disposal of such unwanted gifts! ;D ;D ;D
Otherwise you can send them here!
cheers
fermi
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Hi, Fermi.... Happy New Year!
I would, of course, offer to help Angie with her choc problems but for two reasons.... one) she and Derek were out in their new land-rover the other day and it broke down.... I would not wish to be responsible for them sitting another few hours in the cold waiting for a tow home and two) I did say to Luit in October that I would try not to eat quite so much chocolate....he thinks I eat too much... this mind you, after he had given me a large box of chocs!! :-\
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its not fair I get so much boxes of chocolate's as gifts and I cant refuse them as somebody has taken the time to gift wrap them and deliver them to me, so I cant waste them can I.
OK I know I don't have to eat them all in a few days ;D ;D ;D but I haven't got any will power ::)
Angie :)
But Angie,
you live in Aberdeen and Maggi runs a service for the safe disposal of such unwanted gifts! ;D ;D ;D
Otherwise you can send them here!
cheers
fermi
Fermi all chocolates all gone now ;D would have easily shared with Maggi but I can imagine she will be at the point of no more chocolates please ::
Maggi is so much like me, we don't need to much out of life just some comfort food to help us through our cold winter and the occasional piece of jewellery to brighten up our day and I ;D.
Thanks Fermi of thinking of a way to solve my chocolate problem :)now have you any ideas about my weight problem caused by these chocolates ;D ;D
Angie :)
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all shops/stores in my area out of salt grrrrrr but on a positive side the road servive brought a yellow salt container for my street. As soon as it is filled it's emptied in minutes. There is salt storage unit in my town but they are no longer allowing the public to take salt.
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These handy yellow salt/grit boxes are customarily sited in places where the road/ pavement may need attention. How sad to see these opportunists now queueing in cars to fill bags and buckets to take away for personal use. OK the shops may have run out or charge good money but this is surely dishonest Moan Moan Moan It is a classic example of the 'every man for himself ' ethic I fear Then again , maybe these folk are adaptable survivors and devil take the hindmost
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I'm shocked by your posting Gwen - where is the community spirit and why do people feel it is their right to take what is provided for communal use? I have to say that in the Swiss Alps this would never happen but then the commune works hard to make everything function even during this snowy, icy, treacherous weather, with mountain roads cleared continuously during the day until late - perhaps it is the feeling of 'not knowing' whether there will be local council help that drives people to steal from the pot provided for their own use, it's a sad inditement anyway. :-\
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The difference between here and Scotland is our paths are not salted and in estates the roads are not done unless there is a main road runs through it. My brother had to take a spade to his drive to break the ice
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My grandmother used to put ash from her coal fire onto the ice on her path- it didn't melt the ice but helped her get some grip while she cleared the steps from her council house up to the main road.
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I remember that Simon - well, it was my Dad then. Our pavements haven't been cleared (the one pavement gritter we had over a week ago on one footpath failed to have any effect) so my children's walk to school tomorrow (Wednesday for me) is going to be interesting. Even the road past the house, which goes past the primary school entrance, is still covered in freezing slush, even though there have been gritters round yesterday and today.
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There is a special walk we have learned here for walking on the black ice formed by trampled slush in the towns. You barely lift your feet off the ground and don't put them too far in front- takes ages to get anywhere but it's better than falling over. Something to learn from a country where a gritted sidewalk is a luxury. ;)
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That's all very well Simon, as long as the roads and pavements are flat. We are all hills here in Dunblane so standing is a problem. ??? No black ice here as the snow has been flattened and frozen, so it is very white and slippery. Curiously, if you clear the snow off the paths and someone slips you are liable whereas if you don't you aren't.
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When I was young when the weather was so cold we would have made ice slides on roads buy throwing down buckets of water. Kids dont do it here any more
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HI Simon. We have commercials on television here that address this type of walk. They are for an ice
melting product and humoruosly say "walk like a penguin" It is -6C now and thursday night supposed to
reach maybe -20C for low. Won't see above freezing for at least another 8 days. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
John B
Kansas USA Same latitude as Spain and Turkey
There is a special walk we have learned here for walking on the black ice formed by trampled slush in the towns. You barely lift your feet off the ground and don't put them too far in front- takes ages to get anywhere but it's better than falling over. Something to learn from a country where a gritted sidewalk is a luxury. ;)
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Hi, Fermi.... Happy New Year!
I would, of course, offer to help Angie with her choc problems but for two reasons.... one) she and Derek were out in their new land-rover the other day and it broke down.... I would not wish to be responsible for them sitting another few hours in the cold waiting for a tow home and two) I did say to Luit in October that I would try not to eat quite so much chocolate....he thinks I eat too much... this mind you, after he had given me a large box of chocs!! :-\
Maggi,
If you actually ate all the chocolate that is alluded to on this forum you'd end up needing your own postcode/zipcode in no time. ::) And we'd lose you to a heart attack in no time, something I don't even want to think about. :o
So let's try it a bit in moderation shall we? We want you to stay around, if you don't mind us being so selfish. ;D ;D ;D
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I haven't seen a flat pavement since I was in the Uk. Local Authorities here clearly do not accept liability for accidents and 50 years of neglect means it is often easier to walk on the road even in summer. Pavements are full of holes from collapsed drains and I have seen reports of cars vanishing into collapsed manholes. The penguin walk does work up hill, though it is trickier downhill, and there are certainly plenty of hills and mountains here. Maybe the UK government should recruit some bulgarian pensioners to do masterclasses in walking on ice- wow an idea for a new reality TV show! Am I onto a winner? "Walking on Ice"- with Ant and Dec. 25PoundSterling per week would go a long way here- it's as much as a monthly pension!
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................Ant and Dec.....................
Who, I for one would willingly permanently export to Bulgaria, but only if Siberia refused to take them!
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;D ;D ;D
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Just saw a Marks and Spencer ad on TV for New Years Eve parties. They are in very early for 2010/11
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................Ant and Dec.....................
Who, I for one would willingly permanently export to Bulgaria, but only if Siberia refused to take them!
Sadly, we have our own home grown versions ;)
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God, there can't be more than two of them surely? :(
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There is David, haven't you seen Jedward, ;D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnyAUXx40tU
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It's like boybands- once you have one, you be sure there'll be more!
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Also, once you've seen one you've seen them all! They're all mime artists anyway.
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There is David, haven't you seen Jedward, ;D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnyAUXx40tU
Until your Link Michael I hadn't. Now I have seen it I really think the world is going mad!!
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I agree. :(
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................Ant and Dec.....................
Who, I for one would willingly permanently export to Bulgaria, but only if Siberia refused to take them!
What has Siberia done to upset you David?
We too have local versions of any beastly reality show that's around. Who doesn't nowadays? My particular bugbear for the last 3 years has been "Piha Rescue" about the Piha (west coast of Auckland) surf life-saving club. How many times do you need to see idiots being pulled from the surf for their own good, to know how its done and that it happens 50 times daily? A mere 3 and a half million so far, it seems. TV programmers haven't caught on yet that for the 99.989% of us who don't surf, this programme is B....y BORING!!!
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Lesley,
Many years ago I spent time as a lifeguard - what boredom! So how an interesting television programme could be made about the subject is beyond my imagination. For entertainment we would bet on how long it would take some particular twit to get into difficulties - the ones who insisted on doing something they were advised was dangerous. The subsequent "rescue" was geared to inflict as much suffering as possible while getting the fool to safety.
First rule of the lifeguard? - Don't get wet.
Paddy
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Paddy, this programme is in maybe its 8th or 10th series! Two episodes of the 1st would have been more than enough. >:(
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First rule of the lifeguard? - Don't get wet.
Paddy
I have a former colleague who is a lifeguard. His club is based in Cumbernauld, which is about as far away from the sea as you can get in Scotland. ;D
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Had the NZ programme makers heard of the success of "Baywatch" and it's eyecandy cast and thought to jump on that bandwgon? Sounds like they failed miserably if that was the case! :D
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and two) I did say to Luit in October that I would try not to eat quite so much chocolate....he thinks I eat too much...
Dear Maggi, I dare to object to this strongly, because I did not say these words, OOOOOH, I wouldn’t dare, would I ?? :-* :-*
this mind you, after he had given me a large box of chocs!! :-\
And you did the only right thing with that box Maggi and went around the whole party till the box was rather empty ;D ;D ;D
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OOOOOH, I wouldn’t dare, would I ??
Oooh, yes, you would................ you did!
But it was for my own good and I love you still. :-*
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OOOOOH, I wouldn’t dare, would I ??
Oooh, yes, you would................ you did!
Oh dear, if this is right, I should get worried about my brains... ??? ::) ::)
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I believe Baywatch was on here some years ago. Not a programme I ever watched.
I did a small favour for one of my vendor's boyfriends (I mean the boyfriend of one of my vendors :))over the holidays and last Saturday was given a "thank you" in the form of a box of Belgian Guylian seashells. Dark chocs, with a sort of soft, strawberry flavoured nougat inside. Scumptious. Roger had one but that's all. The rest, as they say, is silence.
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The latest political speak on the news this morning, three times on the one news bulletin. "We are where we are" I bet most of you didn't know that. Where would we be without politician's to keep us informed and up to date.?
"We are where we are", "Going forward","Year on year",I feel the words of a song coming on here. :)
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I did a small favour for one of my vendor's boyfriends (I mean the boyfriend of one of my vendors :))over the holidays and last Saturday was given a "thank you" in the form of a box of Belgian Guylian seashells. Dark chocs, with a sort of soft, strawberry flavoured nougat inside. Scumptious. Roger had one but that's all. The rest, as they say, is silence.
Lesley, were the seashells like these?
My mother in law is totally addicted to these chocolates, she goes through dozens of boxes each year.
I don't think these are dark chocolate though, I wonder if they make different types for different countries.
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a box of Belgian Guylian seashells. Dark chocs, with a sort of soft, strawberry flavoured nougat inside. Scumptious.
Definitely a boyfriend with good taste Lesley !
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Those are readily available here, Helen.... I know the former President, the Kind Ian Christie, is partial to them; but I've never seen a type with a filling other than those praline/truffle types..... the thought of a strawberry filling is yummy, Lesley!
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but I've never seen a type with a filling other than those praline/truffle types..... the thought of a strawberry filling is yummy, Lesley!
Same here Maggi but I don't think I would like the strawberry filling.
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Yes Helen, the shells were the same but dark choc instead of the whirly white and brown combo. There were 20 in the box. I eat these too and love them but they're solid choc, aren't they. I should have saved one of mine to photograph tho' I can find another box, I'm sure. I loathe the pink, so-called strawberry fondant stuff that's in some chocs, but this filling was really delicious and a perfect mix with the choc.
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Are we about to open the hundredth page of moans?? :o
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Aha!!!
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Are we about to open the hundredth page of moans?? :o
Anne, if I didn't work so hard to contain my contributions to this thread, we'd be at page 4567, never mind 100!
Today I saw a halfwit driving on a snowy road,sliding around but still on her mobile phone ....... no, I shall resist...... :-X
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Are we about to open the hundredth page of moans?? :o
Today I saw a halfwit driving on a snowy road,sliding around but still on her mobile phone ....... no, I shall resist...... :-X
Perhaps she was ringing her spin doctor? ;D ;D ;D
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;D ;D ;D
I see there's no stopping you in 2010 either Cliff !! ;)
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One hundred pages of moans and seventy seven of being happy.
What does that say of us?
Paddy
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We're human and part of our basic biology is that the bad aspects of life make a greater impact on us, we remember them, and hopefully learn from them and so avoid them in the future ;)
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We're human and part of our basic biology is that the bad aspects of life make a greater impact on us, we remember them, and hopefully learn from them and so avoid them in the future ;)
Hence no mirrors in the Booker household! :D
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Hence no mirrors in the Booker household!
But plenty of reflections and collections for the Booker Prized photography 8)
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I reckon there must be a large percentage of posts in amongst all these "Moans" which are actually not moans at all.... it seems we often divert to a good point... or three, after a moan is raised! :D
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100 pages of moans? If that gets out people will think we're a totally different kind of web site...
a Baaaaaad website...
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100 pages of moans? If that gets out people will think we're a totally different kind of web site...
a Baaaaaad website...
Not necessarily....... ;)
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100 pages of moans? If that gets out people will think we're a totally different kind of web site...
a Baaaaaad website...
We also post a great many 'Oohs', 'Aahs', 'Phews' and 'Cors'! :D
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Moaning about the weather is perfectly acceptable - you can't please everyone all of the time can you?
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Well, I've got to get a moan in on page 100.................why has everyone else got loads of snow and we only have less than an inch.............life just isn't fair :( No chance of building a decent snowman here.
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There you are, Martin has confirmed 101% that moaning about the weather is crucial to our well being ;)
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We haven't got any yet,not as much as one snowflake. :(
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Surely that's why we have weather at all? To give us something to moan at, rather than beating up our dogs and neighbours. ???
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One hundred pages of moans and seventy seven of being happy.
What does that say of us?
Paddy
Paddy,
I think the thousands of other pages on our enjoyment of plants says far more of us. ;D There is a LOT of being happy in those topics. 8)
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And my moan......
One of our fried chicken companies (called KFC) has had to pull an advert they put on our televisions (Australia only, not international) because the US complained that it offended them because of their racial preconceptions about African Americans and fried chicken. It was only ever meant for Australian television, it is not offensive to viewers here in Australia, but now we're (Australia in general) being branded as racist for showing an advert in our own country that if taken out of context, put into another countries racism views, and twisted about a bit then becomes offensive to them. Does that mean that we can not show any advertisements for beef because there are countries in the world where the cow is sacred? If we have to adhere to what the US has just forced on us, then it means we have to check every countries beliefs before anything is advertised in our own country.
How lame is that? Really sad that people can't keep their own racism to themselves and allow for the fact that others don't have the same degree of racism in their countries. ::)
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You'll have to give us details. Remember, Paul, the world is a smaller place these days and KFC is American. I reluctantly have to say it sells there nearest thing fast food chains can get to food.
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No black ice here as the snow has been flattened and frozen, so it is very white and slippery. Curiously, if you clear the snow off the paths and someone slips you are liable whereas if you don't you aren't.
Meant to say this before.....a Scottish Government Minister ( can't remember which one, they all look/sound the same) said on TV the other night that this was an urban myth with no basis in law....... he was telling us we should all be out shovelling!
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Maggi,
Here is a BBC article about clearing snow.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8443745.stm
Mick
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My Dad was shovelling the snow off the steps at my Grannie's (his mother-in-law) hotel steps in South Parade in 1963. A car stopped and the occupant rolled down his window and asked "can you show me the way to Oldham?" Ever helpful, my Dad adjusted his shovel and said "some 'old 'em like this and some 'old 'em like this!" He did suggest the route to take and advised the driver to be quick as they would be closing the road later.
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Maggi,
Here is a BBC article about clearing snow.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8443745.stm
Mick
Thanks, Mick....so even in England it is thought that a legal comeback is unlikely.
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Maggie, it was Alex Salmond himself who said that you would not get prosecuted if you cleared the public pavement.
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Was it? It seems he was addressing that subject in the article cited but I know him so I would have thought I'd remember ......thought it was one of the ones with specs? :P
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Out here in Belgium, the law requires you to clean the pavement of snow... Just heard on the news that the city of Antwerp has been fining 100 € to those who don't comply... (after issuing a warning first)...
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This evening our area ( 100.000 households) was without electricity for 2 1/2 hours. I must have had the feeling before, because brought some extra wood
for the stove today. Strong N. E. winds but only -2, so nothing to worry about. Other parts of Holland have lots of snow blowing on the roads and almost no traffic on the roads.
Very romantic with a lot of candle light and a fire in the stove.... ;D ;D :D
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The only problem was that I was resizing pictures of a Flower Show I made this week but that was impossible.
So watch out for them hopefully tomorrow?
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The only problem was that I was resizing pictures of a Flower Show I made this week but that was impossible.
So watch out for them hopefully tomorrow?
We promise not to moan if we have to wait, Luit ;)
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My Liliums have cooked!!!!!! My poor Liliums. Many of my potted Liliums, burgeoning with buds (or in some cases open flowers) cooked today I think. Buds are a burnt brown in top, flowers are flopping. So many wonderful flowers that will never open. :'( :'( All it took was a couple of days of 37oC-ish and then today's 39oC (was forecast 37oC). Tomorrow and Tuesday are forecast 38oC. Absolutely awful, as so dry. Just can't keep the water up to the pots in this weather. :o
Still, probably much worse in some of our other readers gardens...... Victoria and South Australia I think had lots of 41oC forecasts today I think. Otto mentioned that he had that forecast for today when I was talking to him on the phone yesterday. :(
My poor Liliums..... :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
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Got this today from Vivienne's cousin in South Australia. It was 5.30 p.m. and 43oC when she sent it.
FIRE BAN & FIRE DANGER RATING ADVICE FOR 11 JANUARY
Issued at: 4:30PM on Sunday, 10 January 2010
TOTAL FIRE BANS
Media and the public are advised that TOTAL FIRE BANS have been declared for
Monday, 11 January 2010 in the following Fire Ban Districts:
Adelaide Metropolitan - Extreme
Mount Lofty Ranges- Catastrophic
Kangaroo Island- Catastrophic
Mid North- Catastrophic
Yorke Peninsula- Catastrophic
Murraylands- Catastrophic
Riverland- Extreme
Upper South East- Catastrophic
Lower South East- Catastrophic
Flinders- Extreme
North East Pastoral- Severe
Eastern Eyre Peninsula- Catastrophic
North West Pastoral- Severe
Lower Eyre Peninsula- Catastrophic
West Coast- Catastrophic
Where Total Fire Bans have been declared, very hazardous fire weather
conditions are predicted.
The Total Fire Ban will apply for 24 hours from midnight tonight to midnight
tomorrow.
The CFS recommends that you implement your Bushfire Survival Plan.
FIRE DANGER RATINGS
Where fire ban districts have a forecast fire danger rating of Catastrophic,
well prepared, well constructed and defended homes may not be safe during a
fire. To ensure your survival you should leave tonight or early tomorrow
morning.
Where fire ban districts have a forecast fire danger rating of Extreme, only
well prepared, well constructed and actively defended houses are likely to
offer safety during a fire.
Where fire ban districts have a forecast fire danger rating of Severe, well
prepared and actively defended houses can offer safety during a fire
If you don?t have a plan to ensure your survival, leaving early before a
fire starts is your safest option.
Landowners are asked to adhere to local harvest codes of practice which are
available from your local council.
Landowners are also asked to ensure that any burn-off activities conducted
today are fully extinguished before midnight tonight.
Agencies are advised to activate their Total Fire Ban procedures in
preparation for these predicted fire weather conditions.
For further information contact the Bushfire Information Hotline on 1300 362
361 or visit cfs.sa.gov.au
Email ID: 582370
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Many, many comiserations Paul! ( sorry no emoticon for sombre reflection )
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What I find utterly incredible about the Australian fire warning notice, is that all these bans are for 24 hrs and seem to be reassessed each day. In NZ where the fire dangers are nothing like so extreme, when a fire ban is put in place it is usually for the whole summer, no exceptions, unless as very rarely happens, there is major rainfall within a banned area. 41C was forecast for Melbourne today, 44 for Adelaide, according to our own forecast. After our own we get predicted weather for Australia and the Pacific islands, probably for the benefit of travellers. It makes me almost weep for my Australian friends.
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Paul, I'm truly sorry about your lovely lilies. I guess it means no decent flowers until next year now. In my long experience, almost all plants can cope with extreme heat provided their compost is moist. I've found hostas and primulas, rhododendrons, and other small ericaceous plants will cope with temps in the highest 30s if they were well watered the night before while at another time if they have become a bit dry, they're fine if the temps are in the 20s, but hit 30s and the leaves go brown and crisp in hours. Once the leaves of rhodos have browned, they are lost. I've no doubt too that lilies in pots would likewise need constant moisture to survive the hot Canberra temps. They would maybe cope better if planted in the garden?
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Lesley,
It's a space thing, garden-wise. ::) I've not had this happen before like this, enmasse as yesterday. I have a feeling that the official 39 was perhaps a bit higher than that in my back yard yesterday. We have watering restrictions that make it difficult to water outside of our alloted times, but I tend to wander around with a watering can from our tank when necessary. I obviously didn't give them enough, even then.
Thanks Chris.
Anthony, I cannot even begin to think about 44. Hopefully I'll never have to here, although the way it is going in recent years I think the chances are definitely increasing.
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We've just had our third day of 40oC in a row! We could use some of that snow you guys have in abundance over in the NH! Just pack it in large boxes and post'em over ;D ;D ;D
Paul,
commiserations on the liliums. I won't see the flowers on a couple of our new ones till next year :-\ but some have still managed to open a bloom or two (I'll try to post some pics to the Lilium thread)
cheers
fermi
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Fermi,
Not good temp-wise. We ended up with just over 38 again today. Forecast the same for tomorrow. Some of the Lilium buds have recovered, but some definitely will never open properly. I'm watering them from the tank morning and evening now, just to keep them going as long as possible for next year's stores. Thankfully many of them have already finished. I have lots of photos, but haven't processed for uploading. Working evenings has messed up my body clock somewhat and I am tired all the time...... hopefully I'll adjust one of these weeks. ;D
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I'm too uncomfortable at 27C, I can't begin to imagine what 43C feels like. I wish I could send you some snow.
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Fermi, Snow here is finally starting to melt and temperatures are above freezing but I can easily gather some of our snow and post it but only if you share some of your lovely weather with us, joking apart its just nice to hear and see whats happening on the other side of the world.
Paul sorry to hear about your plants, ours are frozen to death and yours are cooked with the heat, all we need is to be somewhere in the middle and we all would be happy.
Angie :)
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Temperatures didn't drop below 26oC overnight - not good for trying to sleep without air-conditioning!
Today's it's got to 36oC so far -better than another 40o I suppose ;D - and there is a mild cool change due this evening.
Some of the lilium pics :
[attachthumb=1][attachthumb=2]
[attachthumb=3]
:'( :'( :'(
cheers
fermi
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Ouch, Fermi. Similar to a few things I see in my back yard at present.
Already got to 39.1oC so far today officially for Canberra..... about 15 minutes ago. I expect it to get warmer still I think..... it's only 3:50pm and often our hottest time is closer to 5pm. ::)
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Ouch, Fermi. Similar to a few things I see in my back yard at present.
Already got to 39.1oC so far today officially for Canberra..... about 15 minutes ago. I expect it to get warmer still I think..... it's only 3:50pm and often our hottest time is closer to 5pm. ::)
Paul , it got to 42 here in Olinda just after 4pm yesterday , but i sprayed the choicer Primulas ,Gentians , Androsaces , Paraquilegias etc several times during the day -and so far all look fine . A clump of Lilium chalcedonicum in bloom in the open garden also looks untouched . Probably my Onco Irises might enjoy the heat .
But now the cool change has arrived - so hopefully a good night's sleep .
otto
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While looking for a suitable potting mix for my Dianthus gallicus plants, I came across this site:
http://www.plant-supplies.com/plants/dianthusgallicus.htm
There is a lot of uninformative BS on the internet, but this one is the winner! All you ever wanted to know on photosynthesis, hummingbirds, fragrant flowers....it's all there!!! Chapeau!!!
A click to the contact-page shows that someone calling himself a professor is the genius behind this crap:
http://www.plant-supplies.com/admin/contact_us.htm
Please, "Professor" Roocroft, stop this nonsense and either read a good basic book on plants or go and sell tupperware or I don't care what, but leave the plants to those who really care!
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So where does all this come from? There seem to be NZ website links (for me anyway,) as well as UK, Australian and the Roocroft man is apparently in South Africa, and also stuff from the USA.
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If think the must have software that inserts plant names into a standard format. I get lots of these deadends when trying to find information about Bulgarian Flora I haven't heard of before. You can be sure that B&TWorldseeds will be somewhere in my search returns, telling me if I want seed of 'this species' I can add my name to their email list. ::)
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Two ways to deal with the B&TWorldseeds and Professor Roocrofts of the world: One, complain directly to them, tell them that while they may think they are being oh so clever, they are in fact pissing off a lot of people. It's no way to do business, pissing off your potential customers.
Two, complain to Google about "keyword stuffing". Make sure you give a reasonably representative sample of false hits from each site you complain about. Google takes a very dim view of attempts to jigger its search results and with luck will respond by dropping the offending sites way down the list of hits you get. Unfortunately, in my experience it's very difficult to find an email address or link through which you can complain to Google, at least if you don't have a Google account.
The cynics among us may think complaining is pointless, but the squeaky wheel does get the grease.
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.
.
The cynics among us may think complaining is pointless, but the squeaky wheel does get the grease.
The squeaky wheel may get the grease,but it is also the first to be replaced.
bye Ray
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If think the must have software that inserts plant names into a standard format. (.......)
That's probably also the case here. The poor soul may never have seen D. gallicus, or Jersey Pink, or Oeillet des Dunes. ;)
I wrote a polite, but explicit email to our much admired "professor". No response... :o
Now going back to things that matter
Hans
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Last week I showed a video clip from across the pond to my first year class (12 year olds). Before that they were perfectly happy knowing that those great big revolving propeller things on the surrounding hills are called wind turbines. Now they think they are called turbans and the head wear used by Sikhs also generate electricity. :(
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The Man that does the hedge trimming for the neighbours has progressed to pruning trees. today he pruned the tree in the first pic. :o the next two are of a tree he did earlier in the year. He is improving all the time ;D ;D ;D
Sorry the second pic is out of focus but I had to take it on the run because I didn't want then to see me taking it.
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My first head of department would say to a pupil who was behaving rather silly by saying "what a prune". ;D
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Living in the mountains has advantages, pure air, sunshine but it only takes one visitor to import a virus - I wonder if a crocus feels the same when attacked :o
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One of our more right wing parlimentarians has excelled even his normal nazi-style stupidity by suggesting that parents who abuse their childredn should be paid money, $5000 was mentioned, to have themselves sterilized. I have nothing good to say about child abusers, but this is ridiculous. If they wanted to do that they have contraception and vasectomy available anyway. Next thing, he'll be offering cash to homosexuals and Jews to have themselves sterilized too. The man's a bl...y disgrace.
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Unfortunately our right wing politicians are (mostly) too clever. They only think these things and before you know it they get elected. Alas, people have short memories. I was at a parent information evening at James's school. We walked past the row of disabled spaces, which was full. Not one car had a disabled sticker, and the sad thing is these people think they have a right to park there. A selfish society (oxymoron) led by these greedy politicians and the merchant *ankers who try to justify their bonuses by saying they are worth it and you need to reward talent or it will go elsewhere. I say eff off then. A trained gerbil to do most of the work these plonkers get paid millions to do!
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How stupid can I be, or maybe I shouldn't say that ::). My mum and me would have had a good laugh at this but since my mum is no longer with me I thought I would share this with you and give you the laugh. I wonder if I am the only person that has done this.
My Boophane bulb, which I was wandering will it ever start growing, got some good advice from Darren and moved it into the house on a sunny window sill but still nothing them I noticed small green bumps on it and thought to myself that's not right and I think you might guess the rest. :-[
Angie :)
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ROTFLOL
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OOOOPPPPSS, Angie! Ah, well, you know now
Your dear Mum would have loved that...... hope she's having a good laugh at this .... mind you, I'm sure you are not the first or the last person to plant something upside down. :D I remember when we got some arisaema tubers one time... we could not work out which way they went, so we planted them sidways and let them work it out for themselves... which they did, eventually! ;D
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At least it had grown. I couldn't believe it had grown as it was planted deep in the pot. I have re-potted it and today the leafs have turned a shade of pink, wonder if I should just cut them off. I did think to myself how silly can I be.
Angie :)
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No, don't cut the leaves off, they will be okay soon and help get the plant growing to make roots.
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Oh Angie, even I have never done that!!! Maggi's right, don't cut the leaves. Gradually they'll green up.
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Thanks Maggi and Lesley. I wont cut the leaves off . I wouldn't have thought that the leaves could green up. I cant believe that the leaves managed to grow in the soil, I suppose the bulb wasn't willing to die so I better look after him now.
Nice to hear that I am not the only one to plant things upside down.
Angie :)
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Good luck, Angie, don't be hard on yourself......I'm sure you will nurse your Boophane bulb back into good health - it certainly has the will to live :) Perhaps it was heading for the skies down under ::)
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Thanks Robin, yes I think it was heading home. It must have been thinking to itself Oh I have heard that Scotland doesn't get much sun but this is ridiculous, its dark here all the time. Poor bulb :'(
Angie :)
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Three people (me, and my two daughters) sharing one digital camera, now that's something to moan about. Usually it works out ok, but this morning, on this glorious warm crystal blue-sky day, some of the crocus clumps are at their peak, I went looking for the digital camera but discovered that my daughter borrowed it for her outing to the city (Boston) all day... grrrrr! >:(
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Angie, I think your plant may need a south window to green up fast
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But be careful not to let it get burnt. That pale foliage will be very tender and soft.
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Three people (me, and my two daughters) sharing one digital camera, now that's something to moan about. Usually it works out ok, but this morning, on this glorious warm crystal blue-sky day, some of the crocus clumps are at their peak, I went looking for the digital camera but discovered that my daughter borrowed it for her outing to the city (Boston) all day... grrrrr! >:(
I share your pain, Mark. I am the only one in the family without a digital camera. When I want to borrow one I am always given the one with flat batteries and no memory card >:( >:(
The snowdrops and crocuses are flopping here now as we have sun and a warm wind drying them out.
I bought a little pot of Crocus 'Prins Claus' at the Loughborough Show the other week after your postings mentioned that they were fragrant :)
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I share your pain, Mark. I am the only one in the family without a digital camera. When I want to borrow one I am always given the one with flat batteries and no memory card >:( >:(
The snowdrops and crocuses are flopping here now as we have sun and a warm wind drying them out.
I bought a little pot of Crocus 'Prins Claus' at the Loughborough Show the other week after your postings mentioned that they were fragrant :)
I'm getting lots of self-sown seedlings from Prins Claus, with lots of variability but with the similar general coloration, and the hybrids are also fragrant. I have some C. chrysanthus seedlings of many colors, just snifted a posie of white ones that look akin to Miss Vain, but I have to concur with Mark S's characterization of the flowers smelling of dung!
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Grrrr! >:(
Stepped out of my front door this morning to find my 10 year old pot grown CDIP halfway up the street and all the soil tipped out on the way. Had a note through the door from a neighbour who had gone out to work at 3am and chased a bloke off who was dragging it away.
A right bloody mess I had to clear up before work and now have to repot a BIG palm that probrably can't stay out the front any more due to the idiots in the world and will take up valuable space out back.
Bloody thieving scum! :(
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Now, John, you know you should have sympathy for the miscreant, who likely comes from a broken home and was only trying to take the plant as a belated Mothering Sunday gift to his sick old mum....... :P :-X
By the way, what is a CDIP ? ???
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My thought too, Maggi
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soil drying out, snowdrops almost over, crocus almost over, iris retics like paper after opening on Monday ......
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By the way, what is a CDIP ? ???
D'oh! As I was walking back from the shops I thought "I wonder if anyone knows what a CIDP is" - and then got home and checked my post to see that my dyslexia has struck to confuse matters even more! ::) Sorry :-[
I meant CIDP = Canary Island Date Palm. As tall as me - 4ft accross - weighs A LOT - and is dangerously spikey. But that damn thief poor deprived youth still managed to drag it 100 yrds. :-X
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By the way, what is a CDIP ? ???
I meant CIDP = Canary Island Date Palm.
P.S. I meant by Canary Island Date Palm = Phoenix canariensis ;)
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Thanks, John.
You can get pot anchors, if you have some ground to affix the pot to and not just hard standing.... would that protect it in future, do you think?
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Now, John, you know you should have sympathy for the miscreant, who likely comes from a broken home and was only trying to take the plant as a belated Mothering Sunday gift to his sick old mum....... :P :-X
By the way, what is a CDIP ? ???
Maggi you always see the best in people.
My mum got all her bonsai's stolen from her back garden the local paper did a article and funnily enough she got them all back someone had spotted them in there neighbours garden. The lady that had them said her six year old son found them. Funny thing was i could hardly lift them, that six year old must have been really strong.
Mark and Lesley that's for the advice, the leaves of my Boophane are starting to turn green, cant believe that :o
Angie :)
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Funny thing was I could hardly lift them, that six year old must have been really strong.
Yeah, it's the National Health Orange Juice that builds the little blighters up! :P ;)
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National Health Orange Juice? That's going back a bit I remember it well. Didn't think you would Maggi :P
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Maggi,you forgot about the Cod liver oil. ;D
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David wrote: National Health Orange Juice? That's going back a bit I remember it well. Didn't think you would Maggi
My great grannie told me about it, David! :D
Maggi,you forgot about the Cod liver oil. ;D
No, Michael, if the toe-rag who tried to pinch John's plant had had cod liver oil he'd have succeeded in getting further than 100 yards with it!
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David wrote: National Health Orange Juice? That's going back a bit I remember it well. Didn't think you would Maggi
My great grannie told me about it, David! :D
:-X
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Have you thought of growing Aciphyllas John? A. aurea would be the best to start with, in a thick band round the base of the palm. >:(
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I fantasize about land mines for this purpose.
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Now, John, you know you should have sympathy for the miscreant, who likely comes from a broken home and was only trying to take the plant as a belated Mothering Sunday gift to his sick old mum....... :P :-X
Aye right!>:(
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I took today off work to get plants ready for Hexham tomorrow but have been stuck indoors all day because the blokes installing the new gas main have needed access on and off all day so I can't go down the garden! So this is my revenge - picture taken a few moments ago from the window next to the computer (note his right hand...):
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As Basil Brush would say Boom! Boom!
My moan is my plants are ready for Hexham but my back has chosen this week to tell me it needs a rest and some TLC so I'm not going to make it. Big pots of Sempervivum and bad backs are not a happy combination :(
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Bad news Guys!
I hear Stan da Prato can't make it to Hexham either because he is running the spring show of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society this weekend at the RBGEdinburgh. ( Caley Show)
I hope that photo is only needed to send to the Gas Board for revenge, Darren, for the foolishness of smoking near a gas main and not for evidence in the court case when your street gets blown to smithereens! :-X
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He must be the guy they send to test for leaks, Darren. ::)
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Not really a moan but was there any need!?
What comes in a box this big?
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just these ::)
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What, just one banana ???
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He's unemployed, David, he can only afford one banana.... don't be so cruel :-X
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He can afford N. 'Candlepower', poor pensioner me can't :( ;D
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The size of the box was crazy compared to the black label contents. The banana was only to let people see the size of the box.
Who says I bought Candlepower?
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Lucky man-you had it given?
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Not sure wether to laugh or cry,but Lewis Hamilton got busted by the cops here for hoon driving and had his car impounded till Monday.bye Ray
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Perhaps the sender was just making sure they had enough room to grow whilst they were en-route? 8)
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Possibly, Anthony
Ray just saw it on the news. He was fish-tailing which I assume was making the back end of the car shake side to side
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Can I swear?
My 'king bank has sent me 3 'king letters to tell me I'm over my limit by 70p / €1!!!!
I know I have no money and this now makes me £75.70 over my limit.
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Write to your bank and ask for:-
1) evidence, in black and white that you had been made aware of these charges if you were to exceed your limit.
2) request their justification, in writing, for the level of the charges.
3) take any reponses to your local Citizen's Advice Bureaux if you have one, if you do not have one write to the Banking Ombudsman, sending copies of what you have received from the Bank.
4) Nils illigitimus carborundum.
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He can afford N. 'Candlepower', poor pensioner me can't :( ;D
But you probably have electricity David. ;D
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He can afford N. 'Candlepower', poor pensioner me can't :( ;D
But you probably have electricity David. ;D
Perhaps animal magnetism too?
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He can afford N. 'Candlepower', poor pensioner me can't :( ;D
But you probably have electricity David. ;D
Powewrful response Lesly :P
Perhaps animal magnetism too?
in spades ;D
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Of course I know about bank charges but for 70p!
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This morning I watched bad boys walk on the emerging daffodils in the grass outside the house. No attempt to step over. grrrrrrrr
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It's the amount of litter they leave behind that infuriates me. My son James is going on a school Geography trip to Switzerland in June. At a parents' night last week his teachers emphasized the "don't drop litter" point. "The Swiss don't drop litter. If you drop litter, they will know who has dropped it as the Swiss don't drop litter! THEY WILL KNOW IT WAS YOU!!!!! I am embarrassed at the amount of litter dropped by children and adults alike (just look at the right hand side of any motorway exit slip - children don't drive; it's the drivers who drop the litter). These same people then have the gall to blame the council for the mess! Some of our kids even think it is there duty to drop litter as "it's the cleaners job and they wouldn't have a job if there was no litter". >:(
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Can I swear?
My 'king bank has sent me 3 'king letters to tell me I'm over my limit by 70p / €1!!!!
I know I have no money and this now makes me £75.70 over my limit.
If you knew you had no money why did you go over your limit? The word limit is self explantory
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I wish I could get £75 to write three letters!
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I wish I could get £75 to write three letters!
Well, they manage it in America, Anthony, by means of these three letters: I.R.S. ;D but in the UK you might need four letters: H.M.R.C. ;) :D :P
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Went over to my greenhouse just to get out of the house for a wee while, cheer me up a bit I thought, and to my suprise my greenhouse heater was on ,here we are at the end of March and my greenhouse still needs its heater. Who said build the biggest greenhouse you can >:(,only joking I love my greenhouse but I could love it evenmore if that heater wasn't on all the time. If you hear that someone has shot themselves in Aberdeen you will know its me and my electric bill has finally landed on my doorstep .::)
Angie :)
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What are you growing that really 'needs' heat at the end of March, Angie?
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What are you growing that really 'needs' heat at the end of March, Angie?
Well I am trying to keep my greenhouse at around 5c for my South African bulbs, Haemanthus mostly.
I was thinking maybe I might buy a smaller greenhouse for bulbs that require a higher temperature or maybe I should divide the one I have into two compartments or I should not think about what it costs to heat my greenhouse, or move down south where it is warmer. See I can never make my mind up.
This is why i find this forum so much help, its great to hear and see what others have done and learn from your expertise.
Angie :)
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My Haemanthus seedlings have had to manage on a frost stat this year, so just around 0oC.
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Thanks for that Angie. It would be interesting to hear what lows Darren's plants are subjected to at this time of year?
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or maybe I should divide the one I have into two compartments
Angie, this is what I did a while ago in the UK and it worked really well for growing seeds, keeping plants frost free and at the same time using the other end to push things on and then for tomatoes...where is your greenhouse positioned? Planting outside with bay, or some such, can give added protection from wind. It would be great to see some photos of your set up as I miss growing and working in a greenhouse and would enjoy your experiences from a distance :)
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Why not try a small lean-to/conservatory against the house, Angie? The house wall will provide a little of the heat.
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Robin when this snow goes away I will take some pictures of the greenhouse and see if you have suggestions. I do love the greenhouse but I think since this winter has been so cold my heater has been on more than I would have liked. I am a true Scot, don't like to throw money away if I can help.
I suppose I look at everyones plants on this forum and wonder where I go wrong, but I am only a novice and people on this forum have so much knowledge so I suppose I cant expect to grow plants like they have.
Maybe one day I will get it right I hope it doesn't take long as I am 54 this year so time is running out ::).
I maybe could offer holiday breaks for alpine members, pick there brain when they are here but there is another problem there..I cant cook so bed and breakfast is out , see how hopless I am.
Will post pictures soon.
David that's a good idea.
Angie :)
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Don't dare say that about 'time running out' again, Angie! To some of us 54 year old females are mere babes ;)
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Becoming aware of my ability to mis-type words, usually hitting two keys at once, I have taken to using the 'spell check' facility provided by the forum. Can anyone tell me what a 'fermale' is?? The spell checker was quite happy to accept it!
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In Lancashire, David, it might be a blond gentleman :P
Angie, don't ever think about moving away from home ;D Maybe heating part of your greenhouse for very tender plants, lined out with bubble wrap first, would be more cost effective.
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David,don't depend too much on the spell check, this will go through it with no problems.
Eye halve a spelling chequer.
I halve a spelling chequer,
It came with my pea sea,
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye cannot sea.
When eye strike a quay, right a word,
I weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar wright
It shows me strait aweigh.
As soon as a mist ache is maid
I nose bee fore two late
And eye can put the error rite
Its rarely, rarely grate.
I've run this poem threw it
I'm shore your pleased two no,
Its letter perfect in it's weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.
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Microsoft Word has a lot to answer for. I regularly get emails with wrong spelling, no punctuation or even capital letters because these are flagged up or even inserted on Word.
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I suppose I look at everyones plants on this forum and wonder where I go wrong, but I am only a novice and people on this forum have so much knowledge so I suppose I cant expect to grow plants like they have.
Angie :)
Angie - these pictures are for your eyes only, don't let anyone else look or I shall probably get drummed out of the forum for cruelty to plants or something... Just so you know that we are not all experts on this forum I'm posting pics of my lean-to as it is pre spring clean (and actually hasn't had a good spring clean for ?? years!). The plants inside are not all as dead as they look but I do tend to get irrational obsessions with things like brugmansias which really need cossetting not leaving to take their chance under a leaky and unheated glass roof. The lean-to is against the dining room French doors and they don't have curtains so it gets the lost heat from the house. It got down to -4 C in here over the winter (-8 in the garden), normally those few extra degrees and protection from the wind/rain are enough to keep many things going but this winter was cold for so long I've probably gambled and lost with many things....
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Angie, as Gail says, we all are on a learning curve whatever stage we're at or whatever our foibles ;) So I am really looking forward to seeing some photos of your South African bulbs and Meconopsis when they start to grow and will undoubtedly learn a lot from you as I have never grown either :D
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Angie
its nice to have a young lady on the forum. Costs are important to me too and I have put a heating cable in a plunge. The plunge is lined at the bottom and sides with polystyrene and I have constructed a box on top which has the sides and top made of bubble wrap.The top is hinged and I only put it down when it is frosty. The thermostat on the cable is set to 5c and rarely comes on. I have two of these and attach pictures.
Elegant not very,effective very.
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Becoming aware of my ability to mis-type words, usually hitting two keys at once, I have taken to using the 'spell check' facility provided by the forum. Can anyone tell me what a 'fermale' is?? The spell checker was quite happy to accept it!
David
I am not a brainest of people and I have heard that from 50 onwards the brain and body slows down really quickly so I am trying to learn so much now while I can ::) as for spelling here is what happened to me. My late mum and I was so happy when I got a computer we thought we could read and see all the plants that we had and also learn how to look after them, one plant was Xanthorrhoea which I never new how to spell so I said to my mum well its common name is black boy so I put this name into the computer and i think you can guess what came up, my face went so red thankfully it was my mum I was with, we laughed about this for a long time. I am a bit more carerfull now.
Angie :)
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Gail
I like your greenhouse and to think that you don't even have to go out in the cold to see if your plants are doing ok. I have been reading your posts and I think that you are more of an expert than you say Gail. I just wish I had got a greenhouse years ago. Thanks for posting pictures of your greenhouse. :)
Tony
I like the set up that you have. I think this would work for me .Another job on my husband list ;D thanks for taking the time to show me your set up.
I read plenty of books but nothing beats being shown something that works. Like I have said many times before its great that everybody is willing to share there ideas and knowledge, thanks everyone.
Angie :)
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Hi Angie,
As has already been said: 0-1 C is adequate for most South African bulbs. One mistake I made was to buy a cheap fan heater which has a thermostat with a minimum of 6C. This is far higher than needed so I bought an external thermostat to control it at 1C. This unfortunately means the air circulation fan does not run unless the heater is on.
If temporary night frost down to -3C is forecast I will not even switch the heater on, just close the greenhouse up at dusk. The glass will keep out anything this low for a little while at least. The greenhouse is permanently lined with 5cm thick polystyrene on the north side - with mirrors on top to reflect light back in, though the white polystyrene would do a good job of this on it's own. The north side of the roof has permanent bubble plastic The gable ends (east & west) have permanent bubble plastic too. The south side is kept clear to let in as much winter light as possible. If frost below -4 is forecast then I put up bubble plastic here too. Basically you can mummify every part of your greenhouse except the south side.
During the worst of this winter, even at 6am when it was -9 outside, the heater did not run constantly and I have not now switched it on for over a month. Our winter electricity bill arrived last week :'( but neither of us died of shock. :)
Tony's option is a good one. I once had a heater fail at -4 and woke to find the foliage on everything frozen solid (I touched a lachenalia leaf and it snapped!). But everything recovered because the pots and bulbs did not freeze through. A soil warming cable with the extra protection of a blanket over your plants on the colder nights would suit most things. I don't use this option myself because I don't like to freeze when I visit my plants! ;D
Other options I have considered: A thermal screen - basically a horizontal blind pulled across above bench level so you are not heating the roof space. Sounds a fiddle plus I don't like to think of what might happen should it dislodge and cover a fan heater during the night.. There has been a mention on the BCSS forum about air-sourced heat pumps being adapted for greenhouse use and in the long term this may be a good option but the initial capital outlay would be significant. Ground-sourced ones would be better but even more expensive to set up.
Things to bear in mind: I cannot be sure that plants are unaffected by constant low temps. I am now sure that I don't get viable seed on Gladiolus maculatus because it flowers at Christmas and my temperatures are too low for proper embryo development. Also you must avoid excess moisture if temps are constantly poor - some Moraea especially will rot at the neck given the slightest excuse! A plunged clay pot is best for these.
Hope this hasn't confused you further and best of luck!
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Becoming aware of my ability to mis-type words, usually hitting two keys at once, I have taken to using the 'spell check' facility provided by the forum. Can anyone tell me what a 'fermale' is?? The spell checker was quite happy to accept it!
David
I am not a brainest of people and I have heard that from 50 onwards the brain and body slows down really quickly so I am trying to learn so much now while I can ::) as for spelling here is what happened to me. My late mum and I was so happy when I got a computer we thought we could read and see all the plants that we had and also learn how to look after them, one plant was Xanthorrhoea which I never new how to spell so I said to my mum well its common name is black boy so I put this name into the computer and i think you can guess what came up, my face went so red thankfully it was my mum I was with, we laughed about this for a long time. I am a bit more carerfull now.
Angie :)
Angie, I find that I get the letters of words correct, just not in the correct odrer. ;D
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Hi Darren
Thank you for all this information. I am glad to hear that your winter bill wasn't to scary for you both.
My husband took a roll of silver sheeting home so for next year I could cover the north wall which is concrete blocks with polystyrene sheeting and then put the silver sheeting on top of this. I did double wrap the roof with bubble sheeting.
I know this has been a really long and cold winter this year and maybe it wont be as bad next year but just in case I will be more prepared for the minus temperatures next time.
I think maybe I am trying to keep the temperature a bit to high for my South African bulbs and sometimes I go into the greenhouse and the fan is on and the temperature is reading 8c, it was set to keep at 5c. I will purchase a external thermostat.
I hope after all this I will get my south African bulbs to flower there would be nothing more disappointing paying to keep them cosy and they don't pay me back by flowering.
Thanks Darren and everyone else for the advice.
Angie :)
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Just saw the rant about litter. The school kids gather at the shop across the way before school waiting for the deli counter to open. They buy sausages and sausage rolls. Outside the shop there is a bin and up the steps there is another. First thing they do is take the food out of the bag which gets dropped on the ground. As they make their way towards my house and the path that leads through the estate they drop the wrapper of the food and the polystyrene burger box. Any item can be thrown in to the gardens. I told the headmaster but the b*****d wont come to see the problem.
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Litter - we have much the same problem Mark. But I guess it goes with the territory and hopefully all the folk passing by makes us a lower risk for break-ins than if we were in a quiet cul-de-sac. While picking up the litter I also weed, which means the front garden has many fewer weeds than might otherwise be the case ::) AND I have TWICE found a £10 note while picking up the litter :o :) which makes it all the more worth while!
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If you're really bothered by it Mark, gather it up every day for a week or so then deliver it to the headmaster's office at the school. ;D
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That's a really good idea Lesley!
I wish I could collect up all the noise & swearing I hear from the Lancaster Grammar School(s) kids on my bus home and deliver that to their head teacher. Some days I have to get off and walk the last two miles home because I can't stand the noise any longer. Funny thing is that the bus drivers seem too scared to say anything but are often very grumpy with the Uni students who are unfailingly polite and well behaved!
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Just saw the rant about litter. The school kids gather at the shop across the way before school waiting for the deli counter to open. They buy sausages and sausage rolls. Outside the shop there is a bin and up the steps there is another. First thing they do is take the food out of the bag which gets dropped on the ground. As they make their way towards my house and the path that leads through the estate they drop the wrapper of the food and the polystyrene burger box. Any item can be thrown in to the gardens. I told the headmaster but the b*****d wont come to see the problem.
I would collect as much as possible in black bags, deposit them outside either the school or the deli counter (just as culpable) AFTER weakening the bottom of the bags to such an extent that the bags split open upon lifting ... then telephone the headmaster to say that you have solved your problem yourself. :D
Sorry folks, I replied to Mark's problem without reading your follow-up posts!
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That's a really good idea Lesley!
I wish I could collect up all the noise & swearing I hear from the Lancaster Grammar School(s) kids on my bus home and deliver that to their head teacher. Some days I have to get off and walk the last two miles home because I can't stand the noise any longer. Funny thing is that the bus drivers seem too scared to say anything but are often very grumpy with the Uni students who are unfailingly polite and well behaved!
I wonder if those polite Uni students once attended Lancaster Grammar, Darren? ???
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As a retired headmaster - on the question of litter: lay off the headmaster. S/he has responsibility for the pupils while they are on the school premises. You seem to me to be one step away from requiring the headmaster insist that they eat their greens, go to bed on time etc. These children have parents and it is their parents who have legal responsibility for them. The headmaster is an easily identified target for your anger but is not responsible.
I was fortunate that there was no shop near our school; the nearest being about three miles away.
Paddy
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You make a good point Cliff - one of my friends is an alumnus of both and is a really considerate individual.
Paddy - you are right of course. When I was at school we were always told that when wearing the uniform we were ambassadors of the school and that they would act on any bad behaviour reported to them involving pupils in uniform, inside or outside of school. I guess things have changed.
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Darren,
I always told the children they were ambassadors for their home and should behave accordingly. In a very small rural community, that carried far more weight than saying they were ambassadors of the school. Tales would be carried home and reputations made or destroyed very easily.
More importantly, parents took a very strong interest in their children and would tolerate no misbehaviour from them at school and a word from the headmaster on misbehaviour, a very rare occurrence, had what seemed like miraculous effects.
Paddy
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We were told the same
last summer school kids were sitting on the wall beside the green house. I saw some pushing and carrying on and went out to ask them to move because one of them could fall backwards and have their head and neck severely damged by broken glass. The answer was f off and go talk to you plants!
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watching "Animal 24/7" this morning there was a very piece with a buzzard flying in the background. It was calling like crow. LOL
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As a retired headmaster - on the question of litter: lay off the headmaster. S/he has responsibility for the pupils while they are on the school premises. You seem to me to be one step away from requiring the headmaster insist that they eat their greens, go to bed on time etc. These children have parents and it is their parents who have legal responsibility for them. The headmaster is an easily identified target for your anger but is not responsible.
I was fortunate that there was no shop near our school; the nearest being about three miles away.
Paddy
I'm with you on that one Paddy. At school we are fighting a losing battle as it is the parents who create the little monsters in the first place. By the time they get to school age their habits are already formed. I had one of the little scrotes fire a paper clip at me this morning. It took one principal teacher and a depute to extract a confession! Could have take someone's eye out!
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As a retired headmaster - on the question of litter: lay off the headmaster. S/he has responsibility for the pupils while they are on the school premises. You seem to me to be one step away from requiring the headmaster insist that they eat their greens, go to bed on time etc. These children have parents and it is their parents who have legal responsibility for them. The headmaster is an easily identified target for your anger but is not responsible.
I was fortunate that there was no shop near our school; the nearest being about three miles away.
Paddy
I'm with you on that one Paddy. At school we are fighting a losing battle as it is the parents who create the little monsters in the first place. By the time they get to school age their habits are already formed. I had one of the little scrotes fire a paper clip at me this morning. It took one principal teacher and a depute to extract a confession! Could have take someone's eye out!
Bring back the Cane ,Slipper , Belt and all the other things we were hit with .
That should sort them out. If not, National Service later will . ;)
Eric
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When I was a school I would never have have spoken back to my teacher let alone throw something at them.
I was brought up in a poor household but both my late parents brought me up to respect my teachers. I never got the cane but I did get lines once for forgetting my homework ( see even then my memory wasn't good ) ::)
I am grateful to my late parents bringing me up this way. I think about others before I think of myself. Its a pity the young ones don't think like that, we would all be living in a nicer place.
Angie :)
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Cliff, you are really EVIL, with the weakened bottom idea! ;D
Paddy, you are right of course about the parents being the ultimate responsible people. The youngsters are frequently permitted to treat their own homes as rubbish dumps, with no protest from their elders. In NZ, the law says that parents are responsible for their kids until they enter the school gates but in reverse, the SCHOOL is responsible for the behaviour and the safety of children until they reach their homes again. I don't see how the school can stop a car mowing down some kid, or the kid strewing garbage over the footpath near his home, but so the law stands, here anyway.
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Paddy - you are right of course. When I was at school we were always told that when wearing the uniform we were ambassadors of the school and that they would act on any bad behaviour reported to them involving pupils in uniform, inside or outside of school. I guess things have changed.
My daughters high school still has uniform for exactly the reasons Darren highlights. She was recently called to the Headmasters office alng with all the others who us ethe 28 Bus. The reason? A letter from a member of the public.
Incidentally what does it say about this place when the Happy thread has 31,000 reads while the Moan thread has nearly 60,000 ???
So what was Ruth called in to hear?
The lady wanted to let the school know that she was most impressed with how polite and well behaved the pupils from this school were. Never loud or rude ... a credit to the school. It's not all doom and gloom out here you know!
I'm not so good at moaning - this should be in the Happy thread really.
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Now in NZ, it is illegal to SMACK one's child!! Yes, really. This was a private member's bill with the laudable but totally useless intention of stopping the violence against children, which has led to brutal beatings, torture and death and which truly horrify the whole nation, yet which continues no matter what penalties are imposed. In particular those of the Samoan community are guilty though it does cover all ethnic groups in the country.
My very late grandmother told the story of how, on a tram in the days when Dunedin had a tram system, she gave my juvenile father a good walloping for rudeness to a fellow passenger. He was 5 or 6 at the time. A close by young woman said to my Gran, "That's very bad to smack a child. Have you never heard of child psychology?" My Gran replied, Yes, but this is quicker." :D
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When I was a school I would never have have spoken back to my teacher let alone throw something at them.
I was brought up in a poor household but both my late parents brought me up to respect my teachers. I never got the cane but I did get lines once for forgetting my homework ( see even then my memory wasn't good ) ::)
I am grateful to my late parents bringing me up this way. I think about others before I think of myself. Its a pity the young ones don't think like that, we would all be living in a nicer place.
Angie :)
Some of us are still doing it the old way!
Funnily enough Ruth got a detention for forgetting her homework this week. Not lines but she had to write a letter to her parents explaining why she was in detention. Two copies ... one for the school and one posted to us! She has resolved to be better organised :)
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The bottom line is.... it is all down to 'Respect'. Respect for the neighbourhood you live in, the people that live there and ultimately for your place within the community. To me there is no single place to lay the blame for the "I don't care, so I'll do what I want" syndrome. People are only considerate if they feel wanted and part of the whole and sadly society is becoming more and more fragmented and it's hard to see how we can rebuild 'Values' that are part of happy communities.
Showing a good example is hard work whilst children are growing up and you have to be around or peer pressure takes over.....it's always been there goading on to see how far children dare to challenge 'Authority', parental or otherwise. However children are not born to throw rubbish in the street or verbally abuse their elders, they learn it from the world that surrounds them and so we have to find new ways to educate and pass on 'Values' that we value and decide what is most important to all of us and actively show where the boundary stops and behaviour is not acceptable.
Funnily enough Ruth got a detention for forgetting her homework this week. Not lines but she had to write a letter to her parents explaining why she was in detention. Two copies ... one for the school and one posted to us! She has resolved to be better organised
It seems an age ago but I remember it as if I was standing there six years old and in trouble - at school that day I had been called into the Head for being cheeky in the playground - it could affect our class group achievements for that week and let them down - at the same time, behind my back, I was holding the knitted poodle dog, "Gruffy", that was given to the child with the best table manners over one month! I decided to tell my Mother the bad news first - she was angry and disappointed - then I showed her Gruffy and she was surprised and pleased - I wanted her approval and she gave it, balancing both judgements to come to a conclusion and so she encouraged the achievement and reprimanded the momentary blip and I understood the word "Fair"
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I got caned on my first day at Grammar along with almost every other boy. Our school wasn't finished so all classes were on the third floor with teachers moving between classes instead of us, The playground was tarmaced but there were still mounds of soil to the side. The boys split in to two groups and had a massive 'fight' hurling clods of soil at each other. The playground was a mess and that's why we got caned.
I also got caned another time for taking a walk along the stream, that ran along one side of the school, to see what wildlife I could find.
I also got slapped many times on the a$$ with OXO the table tennis bat. OXO was written on the bat with chalk and when we got hit on the a$$, trousers up, it left OXO on our trousers for all to see.
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I never recall being "slapped" or caned while in primary school and attended a post-primary school in the mid sixties where it just never happened.
Paddy
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The bottom line is.... it is all down to 'Respect'. Respect for the neighbourhood you live in, the people that live there and ultimately for your place within the community. To me there is no single place to lay the blame for the "I don't care, so I'll do what I want" syndrome. People are only considerate if they feel wanted and part of the whole and sadly society is becoming more and more fragmented and it's hard to see how we can rebuild 'Values' that are part of happy communities.
Showing a good example is hard work whilst children are growing up and you have to be around or peer pressure takes over.....it's always been there goading on to see how far children dare to challenge 'Authority', parental or otherwise. However children are not born to throw rubbish in the street or verbally abuse their elders, they learn it from the world that surrounds them and so we have to find new ways to educate and pass on 'Values' that we value and decide what is most important to all of us and actively show where the boundary stops and behaviour is not acceptable.
Yes Robin. You put it very well. Our girls both go to 'Faith' schools (why is the education minister so much against them?) which come with 'Values' and 'Respect' (for others and for self) 'added' to the standard curriculum. There is a strong sense of community in both schools and while no-where is problem free these days, we feel lucky to be invloved.
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Our school has a uniform policy, and it is enforced. Any pupil without a tie is given one for the day. Apart from improving discipline, which it does, it improves security. Any stranger can be immediately identified.
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Whilst I 100% agree that values and respect have to be acquired through both the home and the school I also am 100% against faith schools, partly due to my beliefs but also partly because I think it is socially unacceptable, creating and reinforcing artificial social boundaries. Having been brought up in the West of Scotland, I have seen how they can reinforce the worst aspects of relations between people of different versions of one faith. We need to develop an inclusive, cohesive society which celebrates mutual respect and diverse beliefs.
I'd better stop now as I've strayed into politics & religion in one post, the two things best avoided!!!!
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Just caught two young girls breaking off the daffodil flowers outside the garden. I shouted, they jumped, one said "I didn't mean it" and the other laughed
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I find it difficult to remember a day at school that I didn't get caned, not with a real cane but a stick cut from the hedge. Sometimes I had to go out and cut the the stick for my own punishment. We got caned for talking in class , or getting sums and spellings wrong. One morning at 9-30am I had got 18 slaps with the cane ,nine on each hand, because one of the girls was throwing grass sods at some children that were going to another school, and I wouldn't tell who it was. As I was the the oldest boy in the school at the time I had to take the punishment.
I still shudder when I think of that school but at least now I am very disciplined, it works.
I also had to walk two and a half miles to and from school each day, no 4 x 4s then.
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We had a woodwork teacher who, if you cut yourself during a class would first patch you up, then give you several strokes of the belt for being stupid. It didn't work, I still cut myself doing DIY jobs.
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;D ;D ;D
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We need to develop an inclusive, cohesive society which celebrates mutual respect and diverse beliefs.
I can agree with that Martin ... its what they encourage at our schools.
Like you I will now exit from debate on religion and politics.
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;D ;D ;D
Only a teacher could find that amusing ::)
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My uncles always talk about being sent to the hedge to choose their own sally rod. Sally rod is a willow stick
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;D ;D ;D
Only a teacher could find that amusing ::)
Just shows that no amount of corporal punishment can cure stupidity, which is one of the reasons it was rightly outlawed. It never cured my stupidity! Put me off a couple of teachers and prevented me from doing subject I wished I'd done - namely geography!
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Not trying to top yours Michael, but back in 1915 when my mother started school at the age of 7, she had to walk 5 miles by herself, then row a boat across a sometimes very swift river, then walk another two miles and catch a school bus. After school, the whole process in reverse. Her Dad took her in a pony cart on the very wet days, as far as the boat ramp. The year she left primary school to go to a girls' boarding school in Dunedin, the local council built a bridge which cut out all but the bus ride. ???
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Not trying to top yours Michael, but back in 1915 when my mother started school at the age of 7, she had to walk 5 miles by herself, then row a boat across a sometimes very swift river, then walk another two miles and catch a school bus. After school, the whole process in reverse. Her Dad took her in a pony cart on the very wet days, as far as the boat ramp. The year she left primary school to go to a girls' boarding school in Dunedin, the local council built a bridge which cut out all but the bus ride. ???
:o :o :o
None would walk a mile now would they.
Eric
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Back in 1962/63 we were staying in Huddersfield while our house in Stirling was being built. I usually walked from South Parade up the hill to Spring Grove primary, but sometimes I stayed in Long Lane, Dalton on the other side of town and I caught the trolley bus to school. The conductor charged me a penny, then expected me to get off at the nearest school. He finally got exasperated and asked me which primary school I did go to. When I told him his retort was: "that's a tuppeny fair!" My son James goes to the same school my wife teaches in. It's a good half hour walk and there is a bus, however, he usually walks with his pals. He's never taken the bus, which is £1.20 return, but does sometimes get a lift with his mum!
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There is a playschool about 100yds from our house, and one morning my son was passing when he saw a woman four houses down (about 60yds) put a child in a 4 x 4 and drive it to the playschool. He was shocked, I was not surprised at all.
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We have a neighbour who lives, maybe, half a mile out of the village and has three young children of different ages. Everyday she walks them all down to the primary school for the eldest then, an hour later, she is back with the middle one for pre-school. This is reversed in the afternoon. She does this walk along a single track road with no pavement at a busy time (school run) regardless of the weather.
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From the "Irish Independent" yesterday:
Girl arrested for doodling on desk
Saturday April 03 2010
A 12-year-old girl who was hauled out of her New York school in handcuffs for doodling on her desk has started legal action against the city over her arrest.
A lawyer for Alexa Gonzalez filed legal papers seeking 1 million dollars (£658,000) in damages, saying the girl, from Queens, was subjected to overly harsh treatment.
Alexa was arrested at her junior high school in February after scribbling "I love my friends Abby and Faith" on her desk with an erasable marker pen.
Her family's lawyer says school officials over-reacted by calling the police.
The Department of Education acknowledges the arrest was a mistake. The city's legal department has declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Press Association
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Saw that Paddy, thought it was just a tad excessive!
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I have it on good authority that it takes James 45 minutes to walk to school.
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Could someone send us some rain!? 19.5c yesterday making bulbs unhappy. Daffs withering after a few days open. Tulips short lived also. This is what happened last year and then May to September rain, rain and more rain.
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Spitting here just now with 10oC. Yesterday we had a very cold wind so temperature never got higher than 15oC.
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Could someone send us some rain!? 19.5c yesterday making bulbs unhappy. Daffs withering after a few days open. Tulips short lived also. This is what happened last year and then May to September rain, rain and more rain.
Wait your turn. You've just had a winter for Heaven's sake. It's bone dry here after a drought summer and apparently a drought autumn and winter are expected too. I'm buying water!!!
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Moan, moan, moan - the Callery Pears are in bloom here. >:( :P :-X :-\
About 20 years ago I planted 3 Pyrus calleryana 'Chanticleer' trees near the roadway edge of my property, this cultivar more narrow growing than the overplanted Bradford Pear (P. calleryana 'Bradford'). Visit 20 web site regarding Pyrus calleryana, 20 nursery listings, or dip into any of the better known books on trees; all sing the many virtues of this tree, here's an example:
'Chanticleer' pear was found during the 1950s on streets in Cleveland, Ohio (USA) and noted for it's desirable characteristics. The pear was commercially introduced in 1965 by famous Scanlon Nursery and calling it the 'Chanticleer' Pear. It has since become one of the most wanted trees by municipal arborists. The tree shows a white flowering magnificence in the spring and its plum fall color tinged with claret makes it a popular fall plant.
Yet one little inconvenient fact rarely gets a mention, the flower exude a powerful unbearable stench, like that of carrion on a hot day mixed in with burning rubber :o :o :o The first year the trees flowered, after detecting a mysterious stench near the road, I assumed it to be a dead animal, so I went and got a shovel to dispose of a yet-to-be-found carcass, but one was not to be found; moving closer to the trees I realized the beautiful snow white trees were to blame! If I wanted such a offensive stench I would've planted a hedge of Amophophallus ;D As it is now, I cannot work in the front yard when the trees are in bloom, so overbearing is the reek.
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I thought it was time to moan.
In one hour from now I should be meeting 'SRGC member Michael' on day two of a holiday in Madeira. Guess what?...... I am still in the UK because of the 'ash cloud'. And even worse - I will probably have to go to work this week instead! :o ::)
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John, think how much worse it could be. You could already be in Madeira and stranded there enduring the sunshine for another week!! ;D
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Today I woke to fine snow on the moors just above Pitlochry and its raining/sleet down in the town!
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We got home just ahead of the rain and the clag coming down on the Dava Moor, Julia. I am glad that we did not delay as the rain splashing on the dust on the car was smearing quite badly.
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Warm and sunny here today. ;D
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Mark, is the pear a variety grown for its fruit? If so, the stench will attract pollinators I suppose. Like carrion crows or something similar. ;D
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A warm welcome Julia to the Forum, which I'm sure you know very well, and of course are so well known to Scottish members of SRGC. But we, the other bit, know your name well from numerous mentions of workshops etc at Pitlochry. It's great that you have joined the posters. ;D
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Mark, is the pear a variety grown for its fruit? If so, the stench will attract pollinators I suppose. Like carrion crows or something similar. ;D
No, Callery Pear trees only make rudimentary "pears", just tiny round fleshy things just big enough to envelope the seeds, not pear fruit in the true sense. The trees do become heavily laden with these squishy little fruits, which birds gobble down late in the season. So here again, a tree promoted extensively as a "street tree" along roads, avenues, plazas, etc., which fails to consider that the flowers stink to high heaven, and then in late fall to early winter, make a mess under the trees from the mushy falling fruits.
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About 20 years ago I planted 3 Pyrus calleryana 'Chanticleer'
Yet one little inconvenient fact rarely gets a mention, the flower exude a powerful unbearable stench, like that of carrion on a hot day mixed in with burning rubber :o :o :o The first year the trees flowered, after detecting a mysterious stench near the road, I assumed it to be a dead animal, so I went and got a shovel to dispose of a yet-to-be-found carcass, but one was not to be found; moving closer to the trees I realized the beautiful snow white trees were to blame! If I wanted such a offensive stench I would've planted a hedge of Amophophallus ;D As it is now, I cannot work in the front yard when the trees are in bloom, so overbearing is the reek.
Mark, why didn't you turf the trees after the first year if they stink so much??
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Mark, why didn't you turf the trees after the first year if they stink so much??
Ah, Helen... the very question we were all longing to ask! ;D
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Mark, why didn't you turf the trees after the first year if they stink so much??
What does "turf the trees" mean? ???
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What does "turf the trees" mean? ???
Chuck them out , get rid of them ;)
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{1. To spread with turf: turfed the front yard.}
2. Chiefly British Slang To displace or eject.
3. Slang To kill: "These guys can't . . . make sure nobody gets turfed" (Scott Turow)
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Maggi, I love slang, although I have had to stop using it most of the time as nobody around here understands it. :(
It's interesting to note that a lot of words I had thought of as Oz slang turns out to be British.
I have done my best to spread the use of the word 'stickybeak' throughout North America as well as parts of Europe, I think it is my favourite word ;D
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Maggi, I love slang, although I have had to stop using it most of the time as nobody around here understands it. :(
It's interesting to note that a lot of words I had thought of as Oz slang turns out to be British.
I have done my best to spread the use of the word 'stickybeak' throughout North America as well as parts of Europe, I think it is my favourite word ;D
Aha! You have me there with "stickybeak", Helen... I'll make a guess.....: nosey, impertinently curious?
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Turf it out can also be used
Stickybeak is 1920's from Australia and NZ, according to my book, for someone who is nosey.
Turf - very interesting - sex in open air, criminals patch, late 1800s for prostitution, turf it - sleep out doors, turf it - keep quiet, turf up - quit a job, turf out - throw out, eject on to grass
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12 members of our school staff stuck in various parts of the world - including our head teacher, who is still in Oz!
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Aha! You have me there with "stickybeak", Helen... I'll make a guess.....: nosey, impertinently curious?
Yep!
Stickybeak is used more as an affectionate term these days, at least that's how I use it, when someone is really curious about something rather than being a busybody.
My cat is one of the great stickybeaks, she has to know everything that goes on in her domain.
Anthony, I suspect your head teacher isn't trying to jump the queue to get on the first flight home. ;D
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Maggi, I love slang, although I have had to stop using it most of the time as nobody around here understands it. :(
It's interesting to note that a lot of words I had thought of as Oz slang turns out to be British.
I have done my best to spread the use of the word 'stickybeak' throughout North America as well as parts of Europe, I think it is my favourite word ;D
Helen - if you love slang you probably already know the classic 'A Dictionary of Slang' by Eric Partridge. If not, I recommend it (though it doesn't require either a dictionary or much imagination to guess what most of the terms refer to). The current version seems to be 'A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English' by Eric Partridge and Paul Beale.
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Does anyone know if ALITAGS (Andrew Grace) are still in business. I placed an order last week and paid with visa but got no confirmation email, and nothing deducted from my account. I put an enquiry on their website which appears to be working OK, and got no reply. I ordered from them last year without any problems.
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Michael,
They are still in business. I ordered from them a few weeks ago and have received delivery of the order.
Paddy
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Thanks Paddy.
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This is when one of the demi-gods from Mount Olympus (or the demi-goddess Maggi) transfers these two posts from the Moan x 3 thread to the Happy thread. ;D (Yes, I did take James and his cousin to see 'Clash of the Titans' and yes I did enjoy it. 8))
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Just been reading the RHS website and noted that yet again The National Botanic Garden is in financial difficulty. We've been there twice and on both occasions we arrived at opening time and left at closing - we thought the whole venture was simoply superb, well laid out, informative and (apart from an expensive restuarant and very poor shop) a great day out. If you are down in Carmartenshire - and location is a problem for low visitor numbers - please go and see it, it wuld be acrying shame if it were to fail. I've attached the RHS news statement:
"The National Botanic Garden of Wales is facing an independent funding review after a predicted drop in visitor numbers forced it to ask the Welsh Assembly for extra money.
Minister for Heritage Alun Ffred Jones asked for the assessment after the Assembly agreed to provide the Botanic Garden with another £250,000 to cover what it described as 'projected cash-flow difficulties during 2010'. The review will look into the Garden's current finances, its future financial prospects and its governance arrangements. It is expected to be completed this summer.
The director of the gardens, Rosetta Plummer, welcomed the review, saying it had been agreed as part of an earlier financial arrangement in 2008.
'The Garden welcomes the opportunity to demonstrate the significant steps forward it has taken, and is taking,' she said."
I suppose that this isn't really a moan but rather a desire to see a jolly good venture succeed.
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Hello,
so I am home from over the ocean - it was a sort time to see everything I wanted. I visited Havre de Grace a fairy small town at the Susquhanna river, the Botanical Garden in Pittsburg, New York-Manhattan, went to see the Fantom of the opera on Broadway - I had a chance to visit the Cochran house in Dowson town, Pennsylvania
you can see my journey here /bur Washington DC and New York still missing/
http://arykana.lapunk.hu/?modul=galeria (http://arykana.lapunk.hu/?modul=galeria)
Erika, I think this is a happy post.... so I have moved it to the Happy place!! ;)
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Gerry, thanks for the tip, I will keep my eye out for the book. :)
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I rarely have moans about the garden, it's generally a pleasant respite no matter what I'm doing... but today I spent three hours hand weeding sour sobs (Oxalis pes caprae) from the front lawn. It's extremely tedious because I have to get every single tiny plant out or the wretched things proliferate.
The only thing that keeps me going is the fact that when we bought this house and garden 10 years ago i would fill wheelbarrows with the wretched things and now there are very few left except for those in the lawn.. which I left till last because I could behead the little monsters by mowing so I didn't have to put up with their bright yellow faces taunting me. Now I just keep going back to the lawn and weeding the little blighters out and reminding myself that in another three or so years I should see the last of them! (O. pes caprae grows from bulbils which are generally very hard to extract so it's basically a war of attrition - I keep pulling out the plants with as much root as possible until the bulbils are exhausted the ratio of smaller and smaller plants suggests that I'm getting the upper hand! Roundup can be used when there's nothing else at risk but in established beds, or lawn, hand weeding is the only option available to home gardeners.)
It is a reminder that it's important to be very careful about the plants we introduce to continents such as Australia.. so few of the weeds I deal with are actually natives. Somebody at some stage probably thought O. pes caprae would be a lovely garden plant for Australian gardens.. and it would be if it wasn't a complete thug.
Anita
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The Lily beetles have appeared >:( >:( >:(
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The Lily beetles have appeared >:( >:( >:(
Yes they have. Even this year, where I am home everyday (unemployed), and first thing I do each day (or do twice a day) is inspect all Fritillarias for Lily Beetle. Even in just one day's time, after snapping this photo of F. meleagris in good form, the next day 3 mating pair of lily beetles destroyed all three flowers; one they ate right through the stem and the flower fell off. >:( >:( >:(
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The Lily beetles have appeared >:( >:( >:(
so has the Provado!
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So where do the beetles come from? Are they like Topsy?
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So where do the beetles come from? Are they like Topsy?
??? ??? So, what is topsy?
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Topsy, who said "I just growed" when asked where she came from. Can't remember what the story was but an old American children's story.
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So where do the beetles come from? Are they like Topsy?
They sleep overwinter in the debris/top layer of soil. Spring warmth will wake them up. Many insects sleep over wilter as adults. Our early butterflies do the same in crevices of trees or barns or similar places.
Göte
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The spring honeymoon is over... this being the earliest spring season I can remember, we've been without a frost in about 6 weeks, plants are WAY AHEAD of normal growth. They got whacked last night with a hard freeze. Large clumps of Kirengoshoma palmata look as if they are yardsticks draped in black tissue paper. Two yard-high seedlings of a Korean form of Magnolia sieboldii, shows some sad limpid foliage, but I suspect it'll recover. Saruma henryi, which was in flower, looked like melted candlesticks this morning, but have begun to right themselves up. And Magnolia 'Golden Gift', which I posted on this forum just a couple days ago, all petals browned (creating kind of an orange color :o)... although I'm sure no permanent damage other than a quick end to the floral display. The Epimediums look fine... back to dabbing some pollen.
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What rotten luck Mark. Hope everything recovers. Glad to hear the Epimediums are okay, what a collection.
We are about 2-3 weeks ahead and no doubt we are not out of the woods yet. There have been rhodos out for since 10 April here and the Magnolia stellatas and x loebneris about town are at peak. It will be a memorable freeze if it materializes here.
johnw
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Mark hope you didn't have to much damage with that late frost, here in Aberdeen we are always praying that we don't get a late frost as it causes so much damage, last year all my acer trees were looking lovely then we had a few days of hard frost, it was so depressing.
So far everything is looking lovely and fresh.
I have to go away for the weekend with my husband and friends. Going to Mallaig in the west coast of Scotland and I wish I wasn't everything in the garden is lovely. Its only for three days but l would rather stay here and enjoy my Trillium's. What a moan I am but I don't like golf >:(
I wonder if there is any plant nurseries over there that I could sneak away to.
Angie :)
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Mark hope you didn't have to much damage with that late frost, here in Aberdeen we are always praying that we don't get a late frost as it causes so much damage, last year all my acer trees were looking lovely then we had a few days of hard frost, it was so depressing.
So far everything is looking lovely and fresh.
Angie :)
The damage was more extensive than I first thought, it took a couple days to show evidence of damage on some plants. Those magnolias with leaves out and more fully developed looked limp at first, but in a couple days they've turned black. It is sad looking, although in the long run, I'm sure all will recover. The plant that took it the hardest is Kirengoshoma palmata... funny enough, the day before the frost I took a photo of the plant, as I like the look of the foliage that shows whitish veining and glow to the newest terminal leaves. So, here's the before and after. I only have a small plant of the other species, K. koreana, it it wasn't touched by the frost.
Angie, I hope you're able to do some nearby nursery surfing while on your 3-day outing; I agree, I hate to be pulled away from the garden in spring when so much is going on... worth moaning about!
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Mark Kirengoshoma is such a lovely plant, mine has yellow flowers and they are just like wax. I love it. Sometimes it has been blacked right to the ground but it always comes back for me.. a plant well worth having.
Enjoying all your posting, you have so much lovely plants to show us all and your Epimendiums are fantastic I only had the one but since i have been looking at your collection I have bought a few more, thanks to you.
Angie :)
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"They've arrived" I said.
"What have arrived and where?" she said.
"Self service tills down at the garden centre (correction: leisure and garden centre)" I said. "I just popped down to get some Sulphate of Potash, of course they didn't have it, no call for it the manager chappie said"
"I saw in the local paper they'd appointed a new manager seems he came from Marks and Spencers" she said.
"Bloody typical" I said. "Bloke does five years behind the knicker counter at Marks and qualifies to run a garden centre, no wonder they didn't have Sulphate of Potash. I could have bought a fleece jacket though in umpteen different colours, or a dinner service, or enough fish food to fuel Noah's Ark for a month, but stuff for gardeners-no".
"I said to the manager bloke-do I get the stuff any cheaper if I put it through the self service till myself?" No sir (or he may have meant cur!) he said. "Well I might just as well have one of your staff put stuff through the conventional till for me then"
"Why did you have to be so awkward?" she said.
"It's in my nature" I said. "The manager chappie said that customer wanted self service tills so I asked if he had stood at the door questioning them all. He said he hadn't but self service was the direction the retail sector was going in". "It might well be" I said. "But that doesn't mean I have to go along with it. I've refused to use the damned things at Tesco and I wont use them here as well. How many jobs have gone as a result of self service tills coming in"
"He didn't answer me though, just walked away" I said.
"I'm not really surprised" she said. "Are you going to do anything in the garden today, or will you just spend your time assessing the profitability of the retail industry?".
"If I'd been Prime Minister........................" I said.
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;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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I tried out the self service check out at my local Asda. I put a bottle of Grenadine syrup through the scanner and the lights went on. Assistant required to confirm sale. I was told that alcohol could not be put through the self service. I then pointed out that Grenadine is a non-alcoholic syrup so why was I stopped ? At 68 am I too young to be trusted with non-alcoholic beverages. All I got was a blank look and the catch-all explanation...." it's the computer"
B&Q are just as bad. A packet of screws gave me the message -insufficient weight - assistant required. Girl punches codes into machine and sale is made.
I now look at the check-out queues and if they are busy I go to the self service, look bewildered and some nice young girl assistant comes and helps the doddery old man who cannot understand modern technology - but he can do arithmetic !
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I'm going to vote for David Nicholson on Thursday ;D Anybody but these politicians.... Sick of them getting their fingers caught in the public till....
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I'm going to vote for David Nicholson on Thursday ;D Anybody but these politicians.... Sick of them getting their fingers caught in the public till....
David who?
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I absolutely insist that in order to be permitted to remain a Forumist, David Nicholson be required to start and maintain regularly, a blog type thingy similar to the post above, and with lots of conversations between him and Mrs N, assorted shopkeepers, politicians and the local dogs and pubkeepers. It will confirm that we, as rock gardeners, are the only truly sane and sensible people on earth.
As an aside, we are able to put alcoholic bottles through the self service lines but they have to be approved by a lethergic girl who stands around picking at her fingernails for the remaining time as we shove though the bananas and washing powder.
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Here, here, I just love the British humour in spite of the weird logic pervading today ;D
DAVID NICHOLSON for PM everything would be sorted in an orderly fashion and our interests would be fully satisfied with more hard earned money to spend on the growing economy we would wish for in our gardens :D
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I'm fed up with this long drawn out process. I despair when I see rich people, who's incomes have have sky rocketed, moaning about paying a wee bit of extra tax to maintain education and health at its current underfunded levels so they can have their house and yacht in Spain.
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I'll second that Lesley ::)
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Glad you enjoyed the ramblings of a tortured soul folks ;D
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People, you may know that we need a new PM as well as our government has fallen once again.
Can we borrow David N. please.
As I believe he neither speaks Dutch nor French, there wouldn't even be a linguistic problem !! ;D ;D
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Je m'appelle David. :P
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You joined the French AA David? ;)
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As a humble "Islander" in order to keep everyone happy I'd have to drink vin rouge in pints; wheat beer in halves and advocaat ????? Well, I suppose it I could wash me feet in it? :o
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Not a snowball's chance in yon place of me washing my feet with it David. You'd never get it off! ;D
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Or maybe if David were to start a something like that above, Forumists in turn, those who wished, could add to it in similar vein, each continuing where the last left off and so making up a totally nonsensical story over time. Come on David. Don't leave me floundering here. ???
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Or maybe if David were to start a something like that above, Forumists in turn, those who wished, could add to it in similar vein, each continuing where the last left off and so making up a totally nonsensical story over time. Come on David. Don't leave me floundering here. ???
Lesley, I like the idea. One of our family games with our two daughters, is to start a drawing, then each person takes a turn at adding stuff to the drawing... it is usually funny and unpredictable. This concept might be better placed in the I'm so Happy thread, as it invariably leads to fun and happiness, rather than moaning. ;D
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Or maybe if David were to start a something like that above, Forumists in turn, those who wished, could add to it in similar vein, each continuing where the last left off and so making up a totally nonsensical story over time. Come on David. Don't leave me floundering here. ???
That's a variant of the old game of 'Consequences' isn't it? Wouldn't really work online.
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I absolutely insist that in order to be permitted to remain a Forumist, David Nicholson be required to start and maintain regularly, a blog type thingy similar to the post above, and with lots of conversations between him and Mrs N, assorted shopkeepers, politicians and the local dogs and pubkeepers. It will confirm that we, as rock gardeners, are the only truly sane and sensible people on earth.
As an aside, we are able to put alcoholic bottles through the self service lines but they have to be approved by a lethergic girl who stands around picking at her fingernails for the remaining time as we shove though the bananas and washing powder.
Well, if you insist Lesley ;D Provided it's OK to the Boss (Maggi) I'll start a thread called "Ramblings of a Tortured Soul" and when I next 'convert' one of our eclectic breakfast/lunchtime conversations that's where I'll put it. As I've said elsewhere life is a bit hectic at present so can't promise to maintain it all that regularly at the moment.
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I'll look forward to it David. It doesn't need to be very long, just a couple of sentences if you like?
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Come on David. Don't leave me floundering here. ???
Floundering? It's lobsters I'm after, not flounders.....
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I'm not moaning here but spitting, swearing, cursing and tearing my hair out. >:( >:( >:(
A very generous Forumist has sent me a parcel with seed of 10 different Corydalis species. The packet arrived yesterday but only 2 packets were present. Nothing wrong with the names, all permitted, but according to the hort inspector in Auckland, the other 8 showed signs of fungal attack. I guess there may have been a little mould, but I'm not prepared to take her word for it and have sent an email asking for photographic evidence. I doubt if I'll get it though. In line with current MAF policy, I can have the seed destroyed (no cost), returned ($76) or the fungus identified and treated ($398.30 per species). >:( >:( >:(
It would not surprise me if the hort inspector concerned (and I know most of their names by now), had just started work the day before, is short-sighted to a degree that she can't tell her elbow from a hole in the ground and had had a row with her boyfriend so was feeling bloody-minded anyway. >:( >:( >:(
I am also writing to the minister of Ag and Forestry complaining about the costs for returning an item of seed. If I send up a padded envelope with the correct postage and a customs sticker attached, it will cost me about $5 tops. All they'll have to do is put the seed in the envelope and push it into a postbox. So where does the $76 come in? >:( >:( >:(
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A couple of days ago I posted the Tulipa Toyota must have been a runaway at the show. I should have shut up. Today it was my Toyota Matrix, uncontrolled acceleration - the last time I saw the speedometer it was over 140 km / hr. Now in the shop with attendants looking quite shocked. The form to fill out is entitled "Alleged Unintended Acceration".
johnw
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Crikey, John, I wasn't expecting your joke ( which Ian and I enjoyed very much) to come back and attack you. I guess yourToyota model was not one of those recalled earlier to address the fault we have heard so much about..... though if I owned any Toyota I'd be pretty worried.... thank goodness you did not have a crash and are in a fit state to send the wretched vehicle for investigation.
But, after such a potentially catastrophic mishap, are you ever going to really trust the car again?
I have found myself eyeing up approaching cars when crossing the road in case they might be Toyotas with a "mind of their own".... wondering if they will stop at the traffic lights...... I'm getting quite a persecution complex about them.... started when this fault was first in the news and a tiny Toyota bounced onto the pavement near me when I was coming out of the post office...... I think it was simply a useless driver who should have been relieved of their licence but the seed of doubt was sown.... :-[ :-\
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Maggi - It was quite hair-raising. I was in the centre passing lane and intended to pull in behind a truck after passing a car. Not a chance as I realized the car was accelerating. There was a car behind me so I could not slam on the brakes. After passing the truck on a solid line at the crest of a hill the truck slowed down and I tried slamming on the brakes while putting the car in neutral, the tachometer went to max. The trucker blew his horn as I'm sure he thought I was mad. Only by poking my foot underneath was I able to free the locked pedal. I had experienced this 3 or 4 times with a previous Matrix but always blamed the floor mat.
This car WAS in for the "fix" about 6 or 8 weeks ago!
Not amused.
johnw
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While I would not want to experience such a thing as John did, it doesn't seem justified to look askance at Toyotas, particularly, in this regard. Despite the media assassination of Toyota, here's some food for thought - Toyota ranks 17th down in the list of
alleged* incidences of "unintended acceleration" complaints...
http://www.autoobserver.com/2010/02/toyota-ranks-17th-for-nhtsa-customer-complaints-edmundscom-analysis-shows.html
*Oh, there's a word the media seems to have ceased to use, preferring instead to report anything and everything "straight from the horse's mouth", without verification or research. ???
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Crumbs, Lori, I thought for a moment that there were all sorts of cars careering around like John's vehicle... but on closer inspection of your 'alleged' poll of
"alleged incidences of "unintended acceleration" " I see that this appears to be a list of all complaints about car types, not just of the unintended acceleration problem.
John... then the incident is doubly awful.Even luckier than I thought that you are in a fit state to be annoyed!
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John... then the incident is doubly awful.Even luckier than I thought that you are in a fit state to be annoyed!
My previous Matrix was bought by a colleague at work. She also bought the car I had before that - a Toyota Sienna - and still has it. That car had a checkered background, the spare tire suddenly dropped off the under-carriage in the midst of heavy high speed traffic. I didn't know why there was chaos behind me that day, I knew something mighty large was crashing underneath. I was told the incident was a fluke. Now the Sienna is in on a recall for that very reason. Toyota told me I had to get a replacement donut tire as a standard tire was too large. A donut tire is $700 ($900 installed / balanced etc inc. taxes) so I went without for more than a year. One day I went in for servicing and a new attendant said that car does not take a donut tire! When Jens Nielsen was here we all got locked in it and couldn't get out - something to do with the electrics of the sliding door - we were about to climb out the windows when the locks popped up.
The VW bug was my first car, a VW will be my next though the Toyotas never had engine or transmission problems. Every car has a good story if you live to tell it.
johnw
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Mea culpa, Maggi - I should have read it more carefully. I hereby swear off expressing an opinion on any controversial subject, plant-related or not! ;D
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John, I thought you Canadians spelled words like 'tyre' correctly? ;D
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Mea culpa, Maggi - I should have read it more carefully. I hereby swear off expressing an opinion on any controversial subject, plant-related or not! ;D
Just sprinkle "allegedly" through any post, Lori, that should cover you! ;D ;D ;)
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Mea culpa, Maggi - I should have read it more carefully. I hereby swear off expressing an opinion on any controversial subject, plant-related or not! ;D
Me too Lori, I'm always landing in hot water. ???
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As you might guess Toyota blames the mat. I have a meeting with the big wigs tomorrow. If you see smoke on the horizon it's not Eyjafjoell. How can the spring mechanism in the pedal not counteract the weight of a relatively light mat on the floor? The mat is not bolted to the floor. Argh!
johnw
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But here I go again though. I was interested to hear the speech this morning of the new UK Prime Minister, both thoughtful and rousing and calculated to bring all Brits to their feet cheering at the good governance to come. He (forgotten his name already) talked about getting things done and doing them honorably, retstoring trust in the political system etc. Then, cynic that I am, wondered how long it would be until it was realized here was a full and tempting trough into which their political noses could be pushed. :'(
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Best wishes for your meeting John, and congratulations for spelling out the name of Iceland's volcano. Not a single one of our radio or TV commentators or newsreaders has had the courage to attempt to pronounce it. But nor have I. :D
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Actually Lesley, it is Eyjafjallajokull, and apparently it is pronounced like this http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/Eyjafjallaj%C3%B6kull.ogg ;D
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I'm not convinced by that rendition of the name, Anthony..... I heard Anna Magnusson (daughter of Magnus, sister of Sally) repeating it on the radio the other morning and it wasn't like that!!Her Icelandic connections are pretty good so I was prepared to believe her! Not that I could say it myself, you understand :-\ ;D
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Come on, guys, it's not that bad... ;D What about Tetaumatawhakatangihangakoauaotamatea-urehaeaturipukapihimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuaakitanarahu on New Zealand or Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch?
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Well the link Anthony gave me won't open at all so even Wikipedia is having difficulties. Re the Maori name from NZ, it is just a matter of phonetics really so not too difficult and even I can say gogogoch (as in loch, not lock) ;D ;D ;D
I have only just learned to cope with the Finnish names of both the Concert Master and the Conductor of NZ Symphony Orchestra, :) both really nice guys, as I discovered recently over a glass of wine.
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If you can ignore the moronic ad at the start, this is much more better: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/pronounce-eyjafjallajokull-10392613
Now to start learning Māori!
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Best wishes for your meeting John
We'll the meeting with Toyota is over. The mat may be the culprit. Under the pedal there is a small recessed square depression. The lower end of the pedal when fully depressed goes into it and when it does it pushes the rubber mat down into it which locks the pedal in the depression. Still I am apprehensive.
They did offer me a guaranteed new replacement.
johnw
LA SEULE TOYOTA N'AYANT PAS ÉTÉ RAPPELÉE...!!!
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Oh, I don't know..... if there's a stampede..... isn't that unintended acceleration? :o :P
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Thanks Anthony, that was useful - and the ad didn't come up for me.
Love the Cowrolla. ;D
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The lower end of the pedal when fully depressed goes into it and when it does it pushes the rubber mat down into it which locks the pedal in the depression.
Well, if you men will drive with your foot flat to the floor..... ???
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I wish the powers that be here would hurry up and raise the driving age. They've been promising to raise it from 17 to 18 for years. It would certainly lower the death toll and perhaps my insurance premiums? ::)
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Oh, I don't know..... if there's a stampede..... isn't that unintended acceleration? :o :P
And worse, if the wind is blowing in the wrong direction you might get the same reception as at the car dealer's.
johnw
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Anthony the driving age here is just 15! and only now after so many needless deaths not only of the 15 year olds but the others whom they take out, is the Govt starting to think seriously about raising it - to 16! There is a very strong rural lobby against raising because kids would have to be driven to sports and other stuff in the country, long drives often, for busy parents. But I think it will happen this time. The drinking age is 18, lowered from 20 about 10 years ago because the (woman) Prime Minister of the time saw it as a way to catch the 18 year old votes, in the pending general election. NZ has had the worst binge drinking record among teenagers ever since with 12 and 13 year olds ending up comatose in hospital. A 16 year old boy died this last weekend, after slogging back a bottle of vodka, pinched from his parents' home. The drinking age may well go up to 20 again but of course students are dead against that. The current PM is being ambivilent about it, likewise because he'll lose that vote next year.
Having said all that, no way will insurance premiums go DOWN whatever is done to make driving safer. It's not in the nature of insurance companies, or power companies or..or..or.. to lower prices.
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Having said all that, no way will insurance premiums go DOWN whatever is done to make driving safer. It's not in the nature of insurance companies, or power companies or..or..or.. to lower prices.
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Well that's true enough Lesley I have just received my insurance renewal :o and its up again and they are now saying that I need to fit a tracker in my car. Now what will that cost ::) ::)
Angie :)
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I think the argument that parents would have to drive their children all over the place is pretty weak. They have to drive them when they are younger than 15 so what's the difference? My children have music lessons, hockey, tennis, athletics, choir practice etc. Sometimes we share cars with other parents, but not for music lessons. It also allows you to take an interest in your offsprings' hobbies or sports.
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This year my insurance fell by £152!! :o
I went to compare the meercat and top of the pile was the Post Office. My renewel was £350 with a local company. PO was £198 for exactly the same. I phoned my insurance company and asked if they would match the PO quote and they said "would you stay with us for £260" and I said of course I love your company - NOT.
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Result Mark! 8)
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Anthony, I think the argument is valid but still think the driving age is far too young in NZ. Valid because at 15 a lot of rural kids are playing high grade rugby with coaching two nights a week as well as Saturday games and often those practices and games are 100kms or more away from home, so it's a lot for parents to do. I just think they should live with it if they want their kids to take part in those activities. There was a time a few years back when virtually all of NZ's All Black rugby guys were off farms. Now most seem to be at university or from a law practice. ???
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I love my two dogs, I really do and to be truthful I don't know which is responsible, but I'd hazzard a guess, knowing his love of digging. Last week I potted a number of bulbs and included in the mix, some bone flour as fertilizer. They are all outside as everything is. Today I find half a dozen pots are all over the place, the bulbs and labels scattered and in general a nasty mess to sort out. I'll have to put some chicken netting over the whole lot.
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Anthony, I think the argument is valid but still think the driving age is far too young in NZ. Valid because at 15 a lot of rural kids are playing high grade rugby with coaching two nights a week as well as Saturday games and often those practices and games are 100kms or more away from home, so it's a lot for parents to do. I just think they should live with it if they want their kids to take part in those activities. There was a time a few years back when virtually all of NZ's All Black rugby guys were off farms. Now most seem to be at university or from a law practice. ???
Same here Lesley, but of course in Scotland we don't have high grade rugby. I think we have farms here though. ::) I'm surprised, considering the high accident rate, the car insurance premiums for 15/16 year haven't priced most of them off the road?
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Another failure of the system here is that car insurance is not compulsory, not even third party insurance so that if some idiot kid smashes your car, you have no cover except from your own company who then have to go after the other person, often unsuccessfully and so premiuns go up again. Insurance companies are pushing third party in their advertising but until it is compulsory, the problem will go on.
My own car was written off back in 1997 in a side-on crash, from an elderly woman who went through a STOP sign. I could see her talking to her companion and waving her arms about to emphasize her point and I think she simply didn't see the sign at all. She hit me broadside on the passenger side and thankfully I only had bruised ribs where the seatbelt got me. She had a broken arm and collarbone and spent some time in hospital. Buit she was 87 years old and I had a call from the police who said they should charge her with reckless driving causing injury and did I really want to have this elderly lady end up with a criminal record. If I was prepared to forego the charge, they would make sure her licence was withdrawn and she wouldn't be on the road again. Seemed reasonable so I agreed to that. But because she wasn't going to drive again and because her car was elderly and not worth much, she refused to make a claim which meant that I couldn't get insurance from her company. In the finish I had to threaten to sue her to get the insurance. After about 6 months the police rang me again and said she had taken a defensive driving course and was re-issued with her licence! I was flabbergasted! There are several drivers in NZ who are 100 years old or more. Not sure that I'm happy about that.
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As for not having high grade rugby in Scotland, all I can say about that is ;D ;D ;D.
I believe that in 2011 we in Dunedin are to be hosts to the Scottish team for the World Cup. They will be very welcome here.
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I've only seen one in my garden but a friend half a mile away has killed (or tried to kill) over a dozen lily beetles. They seem to be spreading rapidly!:(
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Vigilance is the key Anthony, every time you pass look at the plants that can be attacked, it is most satisfying when you find them mating and can get rid of them before they have had a chance to lay the eggs. I am pleased to say that, at the moment, the Fritillaries that were attacked earlier are now free of beetles and the lilies don't look too bad either, none killed yesterday and only two the day before. By writing this I am probably inviting a heavy infestation ::)
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Touch wood Brian !! ;D
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I cant believe l got a parking ticket today. I was up doing a members garden who is ill and cant manage his garden anymore. I saw the traffic warden go past my car and I smiled at him ( wish I never now ) I was never far away from my car not more than ten feet at anytime oh that's a lie I took shelter from the rain for ten minutes that's when they made there move. l thought the car was OK as it was tucked in off the double yellow lines at there garden gate.
But what gets me so mad is if the traffic warden could have said to me is this your car I would have had to go home and not finish what l thought was a good deed. I cant believe how greedy these traffic wardens are, OK l better stop before l upset myself.
Boy this forum is great, my mum would have got all this but as she isn't with me anymore its great that I can tell someone. I am starting to calm down already. I wont tell our member what happened its just between us few :-X
Angie :)
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My sympathies Angie, I've had 3 parking tickets in the last month, meetings running way over time. You're right, we can let off steam here without getting "give it a rest" looks from others in the household.
We have mostly those pay and display ticket things now, in the city proper, and they give out a little ticket to say when your time is up. My car is FULL of the darned things so I'm gradually filling a plastic grocery carrybag with them and when there are enough I plan to go and empty them on the floor of Reception at Dunedin City Council, giving back what is theirs.
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Yes Lesley I instally felt better after venting my anger. I have a husband ( Derek ) but he seems to be never off the golf courses lately so I couldn't speak to him. When he started golf everyone said you will be a golf widow and how right they were.
Our parking fines are a fixed penalty of £60 or £30 if you pay within 14 days. I thought if I wasn't on the double yellow lines i would be ok but my back tyre was a little on the line, need a smaller car. Never mind I said to my husband they are not spoiling my day. I enjoyed doing our members garden and hopefully I will see what I can arrange with the Aberdeen council to allow me to park there and finish of there garden.
Angie :)
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I would like to ask your help, specially if a layer - but a strong personality will work
One of my acquittance ordered some plant from the plants@glasshouseworks.com, she payed them and never got them, they not send back the money, even they not answer her for a while - could you make them a bit afraid? Not because the money, because it not too nice thing to do this with somebody who cannot speak any English, and cannot have any experience to get them under law.
I would be very thank full for this. - If somebody willing to help me in this case, I will send the whole e-mail records
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An update: Erika sent me the info about her friend's order and I contacted the company. it turns out they are having problems with the expense of shipping to Hungary for the amounts they quoted previously but I am now told Erika's friend has the payment refunded to her.... we'll be checking to see if that does happen!! ;)
M
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Good Lord Angie, I'd be pretty upset with a parking fine like that! Ours are $10NZ which is about 2 GBpounds, 50 pence! Not only that, it has to be paid within a month and if not, you get a reminder notice with a further month. After that it goes to court where $30 costs are added.
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Lesley I sent my cheque of today with a little letter saying a what my thoughts were :-X I wish it was only £2.50 think I could have got myself a nice plant for that money, Still like I said I am not letting them ruin the day. Felt better after I had a HUGE cake of chocolate and then a icecream.
My husband said when he came home well at least I wont have to hear you say " I haven't had a parking fine anymore" ::), he has had a few over the years but being in construction and trying to unload timber causes a lot of problems with traffic wardens.
Angie :)
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Lesley, NZ$10 is a lot more that £2.50! More like a fiver! ::)
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I haven't looked at this subject for awhile but thought I would say that here in Oz the driving age is 16 which I like as we live 20ks from the nearest decent sized town. With 8 children I will say that the boys have been the worst for speeding and accidents. On an L plate the kids can't go over 80ks but I believe it is being raised to 100ks. They then have their P plates for twelve months. If they drive with any alcohol in their systems they lose their Ps. Most of the kids nowadays nominate a driver who will not drink at all. This seems to work really well. One of our daughters was caught cutting a corner slightly (the police car was behind her!) and she had to have her Ps for another 12 months - so no infringements are allowed.
When I was rearended by a drink driver many years ago because the other guy had insurance but would not pay the excess we lost out completely. If he had had no insurance we could have received a couple of thousand to fix my car. he was not at the address he gave either.
When I rearended someone a few years later ( I can see both sides now) I had to pay out so much as we only had third party and no comprehensive.
Many young drivers around here have lost their lives and most times it has been speed.
As my children have taken after school jobs from about 14 I have done much driving and staying awake long hours or going to bed and getting up when they ring to be picked up. Yes I do have a partner but I seem to be the one who picks them up after work.
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If you draw a graph with age along the X axis and number of accidents up the Y axis it is inversely proportional, or perhaps a curved slope, i.e. the graph slopes down with the slope possibly becoming more level as age increase. Lowering the driving age does not shift the slope to the left, it increases the height of the left hand end increasing the number of accidents out of all proportion to the number of drivers. I see enough 17 year old lunatics on our roads without adding 16 year old lunatics to the batch. :-\
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You're right Anthony, my sums have deserted me, yet again. The NZ dollar is worth about 43p to buy, at present.
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oh what fun to be able to groan publicly........I have already done this on Alpine-L earlier this year, but a double-groan is even better....
There was a virtual explosion of rodents in eastern North American this year---and in one fell swoop one day this summer, every single planting of Fitillaria, species Tulips, hardy Gladiolus and some Liliums disappeared from the garden before I even had time to set the traps.
The culprits were chipmunks---hundreds of them on these 8 acres--I will not tell you what the numbers were after that eventful day!!!!
The worst part of course is that all the plants in question were seed grown (so you know how many years were invested in this), and they not only took mature plantings, but also dug through the hundreds of seedling pots still in the sand plunge bed.
Do I have the energy or the time to start over with these?
Kristl
Kristl, your post RINGS TRUE for me, this year I am overrun moreso than ever with chipmunks. My wife and teenage daughters think they're adorable. I believe otherwise. After sowing Epimedium seed, for which I spent weeks manually hybridizing each and every flower for weeks, if I leave a flat of sown seedlings for even 1/2 hour without protection, they're as good as gone, all dug up when I come back after just 30 minutes. All flats must be covered with wire mesh... I bought more wire mesh today.
Seed pods on Tulipa bifloriformis were all half eaten today, very little left. One of four precious pods of my Jeffersonia dyphylla x dubia cross was totally eaten today. So, as of this weekend, starts Chipmunk Relocation Plan. I use a Have-a-Heart trap to catch them safely (they're very easy to trap... peanut butter and various nuts), then I relocate them several miles away. I've been chided big time for this practice, yet I have neighbors who go unchided for their chipmunk control efforts, which means catching them followed by a not-so-successful swim in a barrel of water :-\. One day last year, I caught 12 chipmunks in one day, put them in a barrel with leaves and food at the bottom (not water filled), and them relocated them. The rest of the summer was relatively chipmunk free. I intend on doing the same this weekend. I have only begun to describe the damage of their activities.
I can barely walk around the garden without tripping on this vermin running around everywhere. And of course, their incessant "chipping" sound when you're near.
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And now for my little groan,having returned home within the last couple of days after spending 2 weeks travelling through France into Germany then down to Bavaria for the International Mini Meeting,We arrive home only to find I no longer have any Guiness left,just what I fancied after drinking wine and Pils,saw an add on the television and in the daily paper,Tesco's had it on offer,so pop down to get my 3 crates for £20 or so I thought,pick up my 3 crates and get to the till,that will be £57 please sir,so explain the situation ,saw it on the tv and in the paper,Firstly told not to believe everything that I read,and then that the offer was on crates of 10 cans,and not the crates of 18 cans that they have on the shelf ,and that they had sold out of all the 10 can crates,so I suggested to the wife that we go to Asda,at that point I was told that they may have some in tomorrow,and could they take my phone number to let me know when it came in
Grrrrrrrrrrr rant over,.........Phew feel a little better now.......must be an age thing ;)
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Nils illigitimus carborundum Chas!
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Can someone invent a pair of loppers with an 'undo' button? For the last 6 years I've been training my redcurrant bush to a quadruple cordon, up the sides of a metre cube shape. Removing some unwanted growth from the centre, I missed (it was hidden in the leaves, honest) and lopped off one of the arms. Oops.
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Been there. Torn that t-shirt. :-[
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Hello Maggie,
I would like to tell that Gabriella did not get the money back, it is 9 days already
Erika
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Hello Maggie,
I would like to tell that Gabriella did not get the money back, it is 9 days already
Erika
Erika, I will send you a personal message.
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This is what greeted me as I walked up the garden path this morning.
My biggest Koi without a head. :(
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Hello Maggie,
I would like to tell that Gabriella did not get the money back, it is 9 days already
Erika
Erika,
Did you and Maggi get it sorted out?
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This is what greeted me as I walked up the garden path this morning.
My biggest Koi without a head. :(
So sad, they are such beautiful fish, John - what took it do you think? Strange it ate just the head ???
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Hello Maggie,
I would like to tell that Gabriella did not get the money back, it is 9 days already
Erika
Erika,
Did you and Maggi get it sorted out?
This refers back to a friend of Erika's who ordered plants last year from Glasshouse Works in the USA and did not receive the plant, a refund or an explanation in reply to her enquiries.
The website is Glasshouse Works in the USA
https://www.glasshouseworks.com
and correspondence is with a (?subsidiary/partner) www.exoticplants.com
No, Paul, we did not sort it out... :'(
I wrote to Tom at Exotic Plants, who apologised for the problem in not sending the plants, saying that the carriage costs were too high and greater than that which had been charged so they had stopped shipping to Hungary and promising a refund.
He later said a refund had been made to Gabriella and repeats that, though no money has been received by her. >:(
I get the impression that while he is making conciliatory 'noises' he is content that someone in the UK and Hungary who are dis-satisfied with his company are not of any great importance.... :-X :P
Not a happy experience of using that website for Gabriella, ... and I wouldn't be giving them any business, that's for sure.
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About twenty years ago around this time of year I was grubbing in the garden and completely covered in muck. I was in a bit of a rush as I was going to a concert that night. I heard footsteps coming down the driveway and thought great, who now. To my shock and disbelief it was Canadian contralto Maureen Forrester and pianist friend who I was naming a Rhododendron kaempferi for. They were on their way to the concert hall nearby for that very concert. She stood in the garden before that azalea as if the gods were descending from Valhalla. No words were necessary. That night she sang Carl Loewe's "Ach neige, du Schmerzensreiche", there was not a dry eye in the house. Maureen Forrester died yesterday in Toronto at the age of 79. Another great one gone.
That lied seems a fitting tribute and starts at minute 3:35 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQwTiWp-PXA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQwTiWp-PXA)
johnw
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What an incredibly fortunate memory to have of Maureen Forrester John, a treasure for your lifetime. Her name is not familiar to me but your link provides a good idea of her brilliance. I hope she liked her rhododendron. :)
Funnily enough, just two days after John's note above, our own radio Concert programme, mentioned Maureen Forrester's death and gave a short biography of her career, then played some music from her; beautiful recordings of Schubert lieder. Knowing of our Forumist connection made the item of much greater interest to me. She certainly had a glorious voice.
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Hello Maggie,
I would like to tell that Gabriella did not get the money back, it is 9 days already
Erika
Erika,
Did you and Maggi get it sorted out?
This refers back to a friend of Erika's who ordered plants last year from Glasshouse Works in the USA and did not receive the plant, a refund or an explanation in reply to her enquiries.
The website is Glasshouse Works in the USA
https://www.glasshouseworks.com
and correspondence is with a (?subsidiary/partner) www.exoticplants.com
No, Paul, we did not sort it out... :'(
I wrote to Tom at Exotic Plants, who apologised for the problem in not sending the plants, saying that the carriage costs were too high and greater than that which had been charged so they had stopped shipping to Hungary and promising a refund.
He later said a refund had been made to Gabriella and repeats that, though no money has been received by her. >:(
I get the impression that while he is making conciliatory 'noises' he is content that someone in the UK and Hungary who are dis-satisfied with his company are not of any great importance.... :-X :P
Not a happy experience of using that website for Gabriella, ... and I wouldn't be giving them any business, that's for sure.
She still did not get any answer or money back
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Hello Maggie,
I would like to tell that Gabriella did not get the money back, it is 9 days already
Erika
Erika,
Did you and Maggi get it sorted out?
This refers back to a friend of Erika's who ordered plants last year from Glasshouse Works in the USA and did not receive the plant, a refund or an explanation in reply to her enquiries.
The website is Glasshouse Works in the USA
https://www.glasshouseworks.com
and correspondence is with a (?subsidiary/partner) www.exoticplants.com
No, Paul, we did not sort it out... :'(
I wrote to Tom at Exotic Plants, who apologised for the problem in not sending the plants, saying that the carriage costs were too high and greater than that which had been charged so they had stopped shipping to Hungary and promising a refund.
He later said a refund had been made to Gabriella and repeats that, though no money has been received by her. >:(
I get the impression that while he is making conciliatory 'noises' he is content that someone in the UK and Hungary who are dis-satisfied with his company are not of any great importance.... :-X :P
Not a happy experience of using that website for Gabriella, ... and I wouldn't be giving them any business, that's for sure.
She still did not get any answer or money back
I had sent another email to Tom at Verizon/ ExoticPlants/Glasshouse Works, to ask what the situation was for Gabriella's refind:
Toaday I received this email:
"Your message
To: tom@exoticplants.com
Subject: Order with Glasshouse Works (# 380810)
Sent: 5/26/2010 10:47 AM
was deleted on 6/26/2010 10:36 AM."
So, no help there then! I'd avoid these companies.... pity Gabriella had to learn the hard way that there are unscrupulous traders out there.
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this is the most dirty thing to do
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this is the most dirty thing to do
Well, we have discovered that Tom is no gentleman and that GlassHouse Works are not to be trusted...... I hope no other forumists are caught out by these people.
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this is the most dirty thing to do
Well, we have discovered that Tom is no gentleman and that GlassHouse Works are not to be trusted...... I hope no other forumists are caught out by these people.
Time for forumists to get active and send him an email on their thoughts, also that friends far and wide in the plantworld will be advised.
johnw
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The Glasshouse Works company seems to spread itself over a number of names . ....
Exotic Plants.com
Rare Plants.com
Gardening by mail.com
Fantastic Gardens.com
none of which names seem appropriate in the circumstances! :-X
My emails and Gabriella's were to/from tom@exoticplants.com
but this one was used too , in reply...
plants@glasshouseworks.com
Glasshouse Works Church Street PO Box 97 Stewart OH 45778-0097
Telephone 740 662 2142
Fax 740 662 2120
Website maintained by Thomas Winn - I don't know if this is the "Tom" of the emails.... probably is.
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That's odd. The note I posted above about Maureen Forrester and her mention on our radio, was just a minute ago yet it has come up on the previous page, connected to the original post from JohnW.
Perhaps I pressed Modify instead of quote. ???
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That's odd. The note I posted above about Maureen Forrester and her mention on our radio
Lesley
Just wait till you hear her Mahler! ::)
johnw
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Thanks John. I'll go looking. Marbecks, the only decent classical music store in the country, and where I get most of my discs online, has just opened a branch in Dunedin. ;D
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It's now July 1st and today the country goes totally to the dogs! It is the introduction of the govt's precious Emissions Trading Scheme. EVERYTHING goes up in price: petrol, electricity, car registration, taxes on hundreds of things (including alcohol) and so on. As well, public transport costs are rising, local govt. taxes are up and many firms are taking the opportunity to slam on some extra profit taking, as if we won't notice. It seems all the millions from these rises are to go to farmers to encourage them to plant more trees. GST rises to 15% in October and our PM says "that's all right, everyone will have personal tax cuts in place at the same time." He'll have an extra $400 per week in his pocket. So far as I can work out there may be an extra $2 or $3 in mine, to pay for all this. My Telecom phone bill has also gone up this month too, nothing to do with ETS, just they want more to pay their CEO whose tax cut amounts to another quarter million a year in his pocket.
No, I'm not feeling suicidal, but I AM feeling murderous. Where do I start? >:( >:( >:(
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GST rises to 15% in October
Lesley - Here as well, but as of midnight tonight.
johnw
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My commiserations John. I don't know how the Brits can live with 17.5%VAT and talk of it going up to 20%. That basic stuff costs all that much extra as a tax, along with all the various people involved in making, growing it getting a share of profit, is a ruddy disgrace. One reason why I like my Farmers' Market. At least the guys who grow the apples and cabbages, or raise the beef, get the lion's share of what the buyer pays.
We pay GST on absolutely EVERYTHING with the exception of rent and mortgages, and financial transactions through banks. Every food item, for instance, is taxed.
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I sure hope our Govt. doesn't read these posts and increase our GST which is 10% - only a matter of time I guess.
Paying whopping big paypackets for CEOs etc is morally wrong when others towards the bottom and at the bottom are stressing out to pay bills or live on the streets.
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Dear Governments of the Rest of the World,
Here in Scandinavia, general VAT is 25%. This seems grossly unfair and we suggest you all follow suit (is it true that your citizens are complaining?).
Yours etc
P.S. Be prepared for suggestions of Scandinavian-style wages...
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Every food item, for instance, is taxed.
Lesley - Here groceries, prescription drugs and clothing (under $100 so no Armanis here) are exempt. Before the GST (now called the HST or BST - harmonized or blended sales tax = provincial hospital tax + GST) tax we paid 10% +5% then it was reduced to 13%. Those with lower incomes get quaterly rebates and that will be increased substantially starting today. A fact of life now and it has helped tremendously to pay down the debt and has put Canada in an enviable financial position. It is however a huge accounting nightmare for businesses as they have to claim GST they have been charged by suppliers against what they charge customers and pay the difference regularly to the Feds.
johnw
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Lord, Stephen, 25%. That's iniquitous. I don't know anything of Scandinavian wages but ours are said to be about 30% less than Australians' and there's this paranoic determination of Govt and unions to raise ours to their levels by extra production and whatever. But housing and much else is very expensive in Australia compared with here.
I think it is morally wrong that when there are increases in saleries or pay rates, it is always as a percentage rather than set amounts. Inevitably, the richer you are, the more is handed out to you. (e.g Telecom Boss who gets more than anyone else in NZ in spite of some major stuff ups recently) Those who do the handing out seem to imagine that if you have almost nothing, you don't need it anyway. If you are unemployed or living on an invalid benefit or whatever, your loaf of bread and litre of petrol costs the same as it does for Telecom's boss. If it seems I have a particular down on Paul Reynolds, CEO of Telecom, you're probably right. He's a tall, good-looking Scotsman as it happens but after massive advertising for a new high speed, multipurpose mobile telephone, network (XT) which was supposed to do everything but wash the dishes and make the beds (yes, discriminatory against yours truly) and getting in Richard (the hampster) Hammond from the UK to advertise it, the whole thing turned to custard and went on the blink for days, then again and again. This started back in February and my son is still having problems with his. Next we see Reynolds on the telly wandering (in very expensive sports gear) up and down one of the more remote and protected rivers, casting flies (badly) and exhorting us all to give the XT network a go. I find the whole ad offensive considering what his network has cost businesses and individuals over months now. Oh yes, did I mention my phone bill has just increased?
Re prescription drugs, almost all items now cost the consumer no more than $3 per item. They're heavily subsidised by govt (but still include GST) and after you've had 20 items in a twelve month period, they're free until the end of that 12 months. Can't complain about that.
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P.S. Be prepared for suggestions of Scandinavian-style wages...
Do share Stephen.
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No VAT on most food, children's clothes, most books, household fuel only 5%, and a number of other exemptions for items considered "essentials". Also, small businesses with a fairly low turnover don't have to register to pay, and charge, VAT which may allow them to charge lower prices.
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Our govt has always put exempting some items in the "too hard" basket, regardless that other govts are able to cope with it. There has been talk of exempting fresh fruit and vegetables in an attempt to encourage people to eat more healthily but it hasn't happened. I like that books are exempt. ;D Not here, but our local University Bookshop gives 10% discount on everything (they only sell cards and books) to members of Dn Public Library.
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I have to correct Iann's remarks that there is no VAT on most foods, children's clothes, public transport etc. They are charged with VAT at zero percent and are not exempt from Vat. The advantage of zero rating is that it enables a business to claim back VAT on their allowable business expenses.
Farmers are zero rated for the production of livestock, grain, fruit and vegetables. This enables them to reclaim VAT on farm machinery,commercial vehicles, power, fertiliser and any other standard rated goods used in their business. This is a very simplistic explanation of UK VAT- the devil is in the detail.
Exempt means that your goods or services are not chargeable with VAT and that no VAT can be reclaimed on the goods or services incurred in their manufacture or provision.
I had the misfortune to work as a VAT Officer for 15 years before they let me out so I have some experience in the subject - which thankfully is fading with my memory !!!
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We differ here too Tom. We may claim back GST paid on PRODUCTION costs but not on CAPITAL costs. I made the mistake, when at the beginning of the NZ GST regime of reclaiming all GST involved in my little nursery (including the construction of a tunnel house and a shade house) and when IRD did a GST audit, I had to repay quite a lot of money that I had claimed wrongly. I was very lucky that GST has only been on the books for about a year and not only the public but the IRD too, were feeling their way somewhat so while I had to repay what they said I owed, I wasn't given penalties or prosecuted etc. I could claim the GST I'd paid on labels, pots, potting mix but not on the frames, houses etc as they were capital not production. (We also pay GST on labour costs). Now, a small business is not required to be GST-registered if annual turmover is less than $40,000. It was $30,000 when I was doing it. But of course if you're not registered, even if very small, you can't claim legitimate GST payment you've made.
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Hi Lesley,
I hear that your pollies have been rorting the allowances system and their punishment is to have a pay rise! :o
cheers
fermi
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Well of course Fermi. That is to be expected. They're pollies after all! Some, including the Finance Minister (who would like to be PM but hasn't enough support yet to get his knife out, and who was deposed as PM in the last round of conservatives, likewise by a knife in the back), was getting a massive housing allowance, to live in a Wellington house he himself owned! Tip of the iceberg. I think the pay rise is to be 10%
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Antrim Borough Council landscapers were working on a near by roundabout today. They dug out the lovely shrub Potentillas and the grasses. They also trimmed the Phormiums in to not so nice oval balls
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Lucky you Mark. It sounds as if your Council landscape workers have all the usual knowledge, skills and aesthetic appreciation of their kind. :o
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All have been taught in the same school of landscaping where they leant how to cut shrubs in the shape of balls, ovals and flat tops
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All have been taught in the same school of landscaping where they leant how to cut shrubs in the shape of balls, ovals and flat tops
You pay peanuts you get monkeys. In Falkirk the council workers are told to spray weed killer on the edge of paths (and under hedges). They actually spray the edge of the grass, which in some places is now over a foot of bare earth away from the path, and increasing each year. In one place, where one path curves, some grass has regrown to form a crescent-shaped grassy island ignored by the automaton that is in charge of the spray.
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Here, they do the spraying of weeds, especially annual weeds, a couple of weeks after they have all seeded and are going to die anyway. They don't spray the young, newly growing weeds though.
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I'll post a photo of a weed killing contractor who was out the front spraying last week. Quite the opposite to what Anthony reports
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"You pay peanuts you get monkeys. In Falkirk the council workers are told to spray weed killer on the edge of paths (and under hedges). They actually spray the edge of the grass, which in some places is now over a foot of bare earth away from the path, and increasing each year. In one place, where one path curves, some grass has regrown to form a crescent-shaped grassy island ignored by the automaton that is in charge of the spray."
"Here, they do the spraying of weeds, especially annual weeds, a couple of weeks after they have all seeded and are going to die anyway. They don't spray the young, newly growing weeds though."
I thought it only happened in Africa... :P
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When I was in Texas many years ago I was amazed at the number of native wild flowers along verges. It was annoying to learn that some people treated them like weeds
Weed control by a contractor brought in by the Housing Executive
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Over the recent summer and autumn I have been gradually training myself to eat (or rather, use in cooking) chillies; first very mild then working up to the really hot kinds and over all I've succeeded quite well and now frequently add even very hot kinds to this or that dish. A couple of nights ago I chopped two finely, one red and one green and added then to an Asian-type stir fry. It was very good. But although I carefully wash my hands after chopping them, I found, when I used a tissue on my nose, or wiped hair out of my eyes, that my skin was quite badly burnt (not visibly but quite painfully). Under my fingernails, even 36 hours plus 2 showers and countless hand washes later, there is still a burning sensation and it wasn't a good idea to put my finger in my mouth to relieve it. Obviously this is something to be very careful about. But it has only happened with these last chillies, not through the previous months. Maybe at the end of the season they are much stronger?
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Lesley, also watch out for the seeds. I frequently cook Pablano peppers (mildly hot) best known in the Mexican dish Chile Relleno, and while the pepper flesh is not that potently hot, after touching or handling the seeds, I have to be careful, even after thoroughly washing my hand several times, a touch near the eye or lips can be a painful hot experience indeed. :o :o :o
I suspect even with chillies, the seeds are much more potent than the pepper flesh.
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Over the recent summer and autumn I have been gradually training myself to eat (or rather, use in cooking) chillies; first very mild then working up to the really hot kinds and over all I've succeeded quite well and now frequently add even very hot kinds to this or that dish.
A Lancashire lad begs the question; 'Why'?
Imagine what these infidels are doing to your stomach lining - stick to carrots, please! :D
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A Lancashire lad begs the question; 'Why'?
A hundred million Sichuanese might be able tell you. ;D
johnw
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Lesley, also watch out for the seeds. I frequently cook Pablano peppers (mildly hot) best known in the Mexican dish Chile Relleno, and while the pepper flesh is not that potently hot, after touching or handling the seeds, I have to be careful, even after thoroughly washing my hand several times, a touch near the eye or lips can be a painful hot experience indeed. :o :o :o
I suspect even with chillies, the seeds are much more potent than the pepper flesh.
Seeds are much hotter. Many recipes say to discard the seeds to reduce the heat. Last week I was snipping dry Facing Heaven Chilies in half and inadvertently wiped an inch or two below my eye, it stung for an hour. The chilies themselves are hot but quite edible with a smokey taste.
johnw
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How plants shouldnt be sent in the post
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A Lancashire lad begs the question; 'Why'?
A hundred million Sichuanese might be able tell you. ;D
johnw
Possibly eaten to enhance the taste of chow (and I don't mean 'food'). ::)
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Over the recent summer and autumn I have been gradually training myself to eat (or rather, use in cooking) chillies; first very mild then working up to the really hot kinds and over all I've succeeded quite well and now frequently add even very hot kinds to this or that dish.
A Lancashire lad begs the question; 'Why'?
Imagine what these infidels are doing to your stomach lining - stick to carrots, please! :D
Stick to carrots and turn orange! ;D
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Possibly eaten to enhance the taste of chow (and I don't mean 'food'). ::)
Cliff - You're barking up the wrong tree. I consider Sichuan Cuisine one of the world's greatest. Our second authentic Sichuan restaurant opened up here this month - excellent.
johnw
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Lesley, you should wear gloves when you are handling hot chillies.
I know the pain of chilli burn.
We have been growing habaneros the last few years as well as others and last year we had lots of chillies. We ended up buying a dehydrator. Unfortunately, we were using it inside the house, bad idea.
The fumes were very bad. Had to take it out to the garage to finish.
If you are now enjoying hot chillies, you must try jamaican jerk chicken. It has the most fantastic flavours.
We make triple batches and freeze them in the marinade, just have to thaw and cook when you want some ( which is often)
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Jamaican jerk chicken - yeh man. From a half oil drum barbecue in Papine market!
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I find the easiest way to prepare chillies without the suffering the burning sensation is to get Darren to do the cooking. ;D
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Helen - Sounds great, would you post the Jamaican jerk Chicken recipe? I picked up a scad of Mexican dried peppers in variety at Kalustyan's in NYC last autumn and could use a good recipe or two. It's a wonderful store by the way - http://www.kalustyans.com/
johnw
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John, will post the recipe to cook's corner.
Thanks for the link, my daughter will be in NYC at the end of August but unfortunately it will be after she has left our place.
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I find the easiest way to prepare chillies without the suffering the burning sensation is to get Darren to do the cooking. ;D
Sound advice Susan. If only I could persuade Roger!
Thanks for the advice from everyone here, (except Cliff ;D). I think I was my own worst enemy as I did, in fact, scrape out the seeds with my finger nail instead of the tip of a knife. Asking for trouble. I started with chillies this summer because the ones at the market were so beautiful and I had a small bowl of different sizes and shapes on my kitchen bench. Stands to reason I'd cut up and cook some. No regrets, the lesson is well learned. Now that they're finished at the market, I'm missing them.
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I took a while to reply because last Thursday morning I took my hard drive for some cleaning out-type surgery (among other things they deleted 6 Gb of temporary internet files!) and to get a scrolling problem fixed as it wasn't the mouse which was the problem after all. Everything fine now but after 2 days away then 2 more days on which I found my password had vanished (from my memory) and I had been signed out with the surgery, I had to sign in again but couldn't do it. As always, Maggi and Ian to the rescue so everything back to normal and much quicker than before.
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I am rather upset by the sometimes, in my eyes, unnecessary aggressive comments in the Weekly Lisse Flower Show thread made the last days by the Onion Man.
:-[ :-[ :(
See:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4969.msg159565#msg159565 (http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4969.msg159565#msg159565)
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Luit, I am sorry for your upset.... I have made a reply there.
It is sometimes too easy to take any criticism personally.......(believe me, I know this!).... but we all know that onions can at times seem a lot more astringent when we peel them than they are when cooked in a delicious casserole! ;)
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Luit,
I don't see McMark's comments as criticising YOU! I think it's a comment on the state of misnaming throughout the gardening world. Your posting of these pics (which I certainly enjoy immensely) just helps us identify where mistakes may be being made.
Please don't take it as a reason to stop your reporting on the events at Lisse!
cheers
fermi
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Luit, I see that you cross-posted over here as well about the onion man's purported aggressiveness. I'll say again over here, that I sincerely appreciate all your effort in posting flower show reports, one of my favorite activities on this forum. My comments have to do with general nomenclatural issues facing growers and us gardeners as a whole, and such comments are in no way directed towards the forumist reporter (yourself) who so tirelessly brings these flower show postings to all of us. Looking at my matter-of-fact comments, I believe they are fair, and I hope that such comments generate constructive feedback.
Now, talk about fairness... I could have been here in this "moan, moan, moan" place maybe a half dozen times over the past year, complaining about treatment that I feel I have received on this forum a number of times, to the point I considered dropping out of the forum several times. But I stuck with it, as I fully intend to, as the wealth of information here, and level of generous activity by knowledgeable participants, makes this The Place To Be. I have not come here to complain, nor would I come here and disparage a specific forumist by name.
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I'll change direction with my minor moan ;D
Out for a walk just now I walked by a stand of raspberries laiden with ripe fruit. Have people forgotton what this fruit is? I ate them all um umm ummm
Last week out for another walk through a wood and along a river the bank there were salmonberry bushes Rubus spectabilis. Again no fruit had been eaten. A man walking by asked what I was eating, I told him, but he wouldnt try any - wimp!
Maybe fresh fruit is only available from the supermarket
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You shouldn't moan about that Mark - more for you! ;)
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Mark enjoy and don't tell anyone.. like Gail said more for you.
Angie :)
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I told a couple from across the road to go get some when they walk the dog. Both said they wouldnt eat them. The reason - "They aren't clean"
ahhhhhhhh :o
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Mark that's the problem nowadays, we are to scared to eat anything that hasn't been washed I always remember my mum saying don't eat the fruit low down, so when I pick my ready to eat fruit I take it from a bit higher ::)
Angie :)
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Last week out for another walk through a wood and along a river the bank there were salmonberry bushes Rubus spectabilis. Again no fruit had been eaten. A man walking by asked what I was eating, I told him, but he wouldnt try any - wimp!
How common are Salmonberries in the UK? Rubus spectabilis, right?
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Stephen, in my town they are in the local wood, castle garden woodland and along the river.
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I don't know salmonberry though it sounds good and I'd hesitate to eat the accessible blackberies from the roadsides because with our council staff, I'd not be sure they hadn't been sprayed in recent days. As I mentioned somewhere else, said staff tend to spray weeds when they've already seeded. Same applies to blackberry. Let it fruit and the seeds be distributed THEN do the spraying. Pillocks. I know the flourishing patch in my garden hasn't been sprayed (but should have been ::))
The "don't eat the fruit from low down" applies though. Our large English springer spaniel (Cain) does a round of the fruit each day and gobbles up the ripe ones. Foamy red saliva can be seen hanging from his mouth and from berries he has not managed to pull off. Teddy likes them too but only eats the ones I take off and give him. He doesn't help himself.
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Well it seems I'm a non-stop moaner but this is one place I can let off some steam without repercussions. (I hope!)
Yesterday I had a letter from the Chair of the Trust which employs me. This followed on from an uncomfortable phone call he'd made to me the previous day. In the letter he attempted to justify the reasoning behind the disestablishment of my position (Market Manager) which doesn't bother me too much - what's in a name? - and the creation of a new position (site co-ordinator) which I am invited to consider filling. The hours are 10 per week instead of my present 18 so my income is reduced by 40% overnight. The pay rate is the same (it is illegal to reduce a pay rate in a current contract without the consent of the employee affected) but that will change when I sign a new contract IF I CHOOSE TO DO SO. In other words, they expect I may choose NOT to do the new job and leave altogether.
Judging from the new job description, I still have to do everything I'm currently doing (the market itself as well as a lot of subsequent book keeping, meetings etc) but in 10 hours instead of 18. That would be impossible. I am permitted to meet with the personnel committee of the Trust to discuss all this and will do so, after a meeting with my solicitor.
The Trust is starting a new, midweek market in November, in a different part of Dunedin. I had hoped to have a role to play in this too but no mention is made of it, so obviously not.
We still have a large chunk of mortgage to pay and Roger will be 6 months off work very soon, following orthopaedic surgery. With no income there and mine almost halved. it's going to be a difficult time ahead.
Right, moan over.
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Oh, flippin' 'eck, Lesley, that's a downer. :(
It's never over till it's over, of course, so I'll put my optimistic hat on and say that it may all come out much better when you've had a meeting... they may just be chancing their arm......I'll keep fingers crossed, anyhow.
Chin up, Lass!
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Sorry Lesley I was hoping that your uncomfortable phone call wasn't what you were thinking it would be.
I hope everything works out for you, like Maggi said maybe once you have your meeting they will change their minds or come up with something else that would suit you better...I do hope so...my fingers and toes are crossed to
Angie :(
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Stephen, in my town they are in the local wood, castle garden woodland and along the river.
How did they get there Mark?
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Not good Lesley. Some penny saving will have to take place by the sound of it. Major bummer, particularly with Roger's ortho surgery coming up. I hope it all works out. :'(
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Sorry to hear all this Lesley. Hope your solicitor has some good advice for you (without it costing you an arm and leg to get it!)
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Anthony they were planted or escaped. I highly recommend them to eat
Doing a swift survey on Monday I came across a stand of cherry trees laiden with small very sweet cherries. Four people with me wouldnt eat them. What's going wrong with people?!
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What's going wrong with people?!
The world is going to hell in a handbasket, Mark.
Witness the scene last year..... a group of schoolchildren are being shown round a beautiful mixed orchard, full of the most glorious fruit....
..... Owner picks a sumptuous apple from the tree and askes who wants to taste it?
NO-ONE!
Not one of the kids will have a bite of the apple...
WHY? asks the bewildered grower....
"because it's been OUTSIDE"......
Give me strength! >:( :'(
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Lesley, I'm so sorry about your problems with the Market and really feel it will be their loss in cutting corners as I know you are passionate about it being well run, true to the people and produce sold there. Do hope something more realistic is put on the table with which you can negotiate a better deal. Good luck!
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Lesley,
Hope this sorts itself out to your advantage. Best wishes in your negotiations. Paddy
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Hi all ,
today I had just a new idea :
Paul ( the orakle octopus ) must be very old ( and born in England ) because the Beatles singing her song 'Octopus garden' before many many years :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgPqmRNjoTE
Now I asking :
Is Paul maybe a member here ?
...I know we have several 'Paul' but who is it ?
Any ideas are welcome
Hans 8)
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I do not think Paul is a member here, Hans (he has no bank account to pay membership and I don't think the Beatles share their money with him!) but I believe that he is a great supporter of this organisation....http://www.mcsuk.org/acatalog/Marine_Conservation__British_Marine_Life_13.html ;D
You know, I'm not so sure this octopus is really psychic....... each time I saw film of his "predictions" he was on the right hand side of his tank and went first to the box of food nearest him at that side.... I think he is not psychic, only hungry! ::) ;)
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Maggi , you are the moderator ...and you know all members ;)
I agree with you full ....he is only hungry !
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I agree with you full ....he is only hungry !
I agree too but it made a good story, didn't it? ;D
Thanks everyone, for your messages of support both here and in PMs. I had a brief meeting yesterday with my immediate boss and he knew nothing of the Trust's action but assured me he wasn't able to do any more in his time, as he would have to, if half of my off market goes down the gurgler. So it may be possible to get across the idea that necessary things won't be done if my hours are cut so drastically. We'll see.
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Sorry to hear about your problems Lesley. Cannot be of much help from here but I really do hope things will turn into the good way after all.
As we say to cheer up sometimes: Keep your ears stiff (up)!!
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So sorry to read this bad news Lesley.
To me the word "trust" obviously has another meaning than what is meant for the people taking decisions in your Market organisation. But maybe, my English isn't good enough to understand... ::) :-\ ;)
I hope this does turn out better than it looks right now Lesley !! :-*
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What's going wrong with people?!
The worlde is goingto hell in a hanbdbasket, Mark.
Witness the scene last year..... a group of schoolchildren are being shown round a beautiful mixed orchard, full of the most glorious fruit....
..... Owner picks a sumptuous apple from the tree and askes who wants to taste it?
NO-ONE!
Not one of the kids will have a bite of the apple...
WHY? asks the bewildered grower....
"because it's been OUTSIDE"......
Give me strength! >:( :'(
If you had told the same children that they must not under any circumstances pinch those apples the trees would be stripped bare! ;D
As for the world going to hell in a hand basket, it seems we are heading for the dark days of the 1980s and early 90s. Already those who have little are having it taken away to pay more to those who have too much! >:(
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EDIT BY MAGGI:
General moaning is permitted but I feel we must refrain from getting too far down political moan lines from whatever direction!
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Sorry.
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Sorry.
No need to apologise, Martin, or anyone else... just keeping the forum on an even keel!
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Today I was carrying soil to the car and the heavens opened...the car park was flooded in minutes and by the time I got my bags into the back of my motor I looked like a drowned rat... I thought this gentleman was going to ask if I wanted a hand to put the bags into the car but no he was in to much of a hurry to get into his car I suppose he was maybe worried that all that gel in his hair might be washed out.
Never mind maybe another ten years down the road they might help when they see I am starting to fail :-X
Angie :)
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He was no gentleman Angie. :o
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A neighbour of ours, with her arm in a sling, was trying to take her wheely bin into her drive when the lad next door came past on his way from school. She naturally asked if he would help. His reply was "how much is it worth?" Needless to say, she struggled on unaided! :-\
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A neighbour of ours, with her arm in a sling, was trying to take her wheely bin into her drive when the lad next door came past on his way from school. She naturally asked if he would help. His reply was "how much is it worth?" Needless to say, she struggled on unaided! :-\
Arm in a sling or not, I'd have found the strength to swing the bin in the air and clock the little twerp with it! >:(
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Today I was carrying soil to the car and the heavens opened...the car park was flooded in minutes and by the time I got my bags into the back of my motor I looked like a drowned rat... I thought this gentleman was going to ask if I wanted a hand to put the bags into the car but no he was in to much of a hurry to get into his car I suppose he was maybe worried that all that gel in his hair might be washed out.
Never mind maybe another ten years down the road they might help when they see I am starting to fail :-X
Angie :)
Perhaps he was one of the growing numbers who receive abuse from women when they try to act like a gentleman!
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he was maybe worried that all that gel in his hair might be washed out.
He's not the only one :D ::)
I do help people.
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Perhaps he was one of the growing numbers who receive abuse from women when they try to act like a gentleman!
These women tend to have moustaches and a complexion to match! :P
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Perhaps he was one of the growing numbers who receive abuse from women when they try to act like a gentleman!
[/quote]
Never :o its always nice to have a nice man help or at least offer ;D I have never heard of any woman being abusive to a gentleman, sorry to the gentleman that have been... that's sad :'( :'(
Angie :)
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Perhaps he was one of the growing numbers who receive abuse from women when they try to act like a gentleman!
Silly women. I'll accept any help I can get. ;D
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Unexpectedly got today free to get on with my bulbs, but there's a huge fire on the business park behind us where a hazardous waste transfer station has been exploding since four o'clock this morning and we are all being told to stay indoors with our doors and windows shut. The enormous pall of smoke containing goodness knows what is drifting across the village and even as far as York.
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I do wonder about the noxious smoke that fires can produce nowadays with the synthetic world that we live in.
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Unexpectedly got today free to get on with my bulbs, but there's a huge fire on the business park behind us where a hazardous waste transfer station has been exploding since four o'clock this morning and we are all being told to stay indoors with our doors and windows shut. The enormous pall of smoke containing goodness knows what is drifting across the village and even as far as York.
More time for the Forum perhaps then Anne?
I have been wondering a lot about how Olga is getting on in Moscow, and our other Russian Forumists. Their situation at present seems quite dire with so many people dying of smoke related problems. And now the nuclear facilities are at risk as well. I hope we can hear soon that our friends at least, are safe.
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As noted in the Miniature Hosta thread, several Forumists are experiencing difficuly times for one reason or another. Always having had to be careful with money, I've usually been able to wangle a bottle of wine or a concert ticket with a little juggling. Now, I'm actually having to make a list of "luxuries" that I can do without. The bottle of wine is the first to go. I wonder what other Forumists would consider to be dispensable, given the appropriate circumstances? The bad thing about NOT smoking and gamblind is that I can't give them up!
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Cuban cigars only when on holidays.
Paddy
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I wonder what other Forumists would consider to be dispensable, given the appropriate circumstances?
Any food in layers of packaging, every household in the UK spends a fortune on packaging without even knowing it.....
We've given up wine Lesley and I don't miss it as much as i thought I would so good luck. Do hope things work out for you.
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We've given up caviar on Thursdays and a new car every month ... and our footman only gets a replacement uniform twice a year. Austerity is a terrible place ... like Blackpool! :D
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It seems you are instituting austerity measures with an even handed approach, Cliff. ;)
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We have Costa coffee outlets at work so I'd give up my coffee and my morning pain au raisin but my Friday morning bacon & egg roll is considered a necessity.
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If I could temporarily give up breathing, I could get back out in the garden. The fire site is still smouldering and the wind has swung in our direction. I've a group coming on Monday and the place is a mess because I've been concentrating on propagating the bulbs. That'll teach me to leave things till the last minute.
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Good coffee will be the last to go, for me. New clothes went years ago. Someone asked me the other day where was the bin I got my coat from?
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I wonder what other Forumists would consider to be dispensable, given the appropriate circumstances?
Nearly 11 months out of work does wonders to inspire frugality... a life lesson that will persist even after (hopefully) finding new work, though I live a modest life style to begin with.
Give up wine? Never, but cut consumption (sip....lonnNNNGGGGGG_pause....sip), give up fine premium wine, buy only half-way decent bargain wine.
Stop going to the movie theater (costs ~ $40 for family of 4, just for tickets), borrow movies from local libraries instead, that is, until the financial crisis in various US States and local communities closes many libraries (it's happening here, this year we voted down a measure to close down our town library to save money ::) ).
New clothes, forget about it. New running shoes, forget about it.
Ordering plants and seeds, forget about it.
Coffee? Switch over to tea (my wife, I've been a long-times tea drinker), much cheaper than coffee.
Magazine subscriptions - all allowed to expire.
Run the air conditioner - only when above 90 F (32.2 C) and humid.
Eating out - change from once weekly to RARELY. If dining out, order wisely... share entrees, order only appetizers, most chain restaurants have "side dishes" that can be ordered that are ridiculously cheap... share an appetizer and order a couple sides, that's dinner! No wine ordered at a restaurant, water will do please.
Avoid unnecessary or frivolous driving. Try to gang errands together for efficient gas usage. Do anything to avoid the auto repair shop.
Grocery bills, this is often a family's largest expenditure, it is for us. Lots of things can be done here.
-- give up beef. My wife makes awesome beef stew, but when beef is ~$7 US a pound, that is 7x more than chicken at ~$1/lb.
I used to grill filet mignon steaks in summer ($16/lb), but now... forget about it, turkey burgers will do.
-- no "prepared" types of frozen or refrigerated meals, the cost per pound on these is very high compared to buying whole foods.
-- find a grocery store where store brands are not only cheaper, but also good quality. We save 30-50% by buying store brand.
-- only buy fruit when reasonable, on sale, or in season. Same thing with some veggies.
Being frugal is a fine art. I'm going to try some of Cliff's austerity measures too, I think we've been blowing the budget with all that caviar. ;D
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Lesley, Oleg has been in Scotland for the last couple of weeks so no chance of him overheating :)
Susan
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I wonder what other Forumists would consider to be dispensable, given the appropriate circumstances?
I suppose its down to priorities,the car is having its 162000 mile service on Wednesday and looks a bit tired and its driver is usually a bit worn looking as well, although with not as many rust spots, but is sat typing this with a nice glass of Australian Chardonnay which I think will be followed by a second
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Well I was hoping to keep on the footman but as he's to have the foot operated on soon, I may decide to abandon him to his fate. :o
Chicken at $1 (even US) a pound? Wow! Its about 4 to 8 times that here, (we measure in kilos, so between $5 and $18 a kg, depending on the cut). Free range chicken will be twice as much again. Worth remembering is that - according to assorted wine writers - French wine is 5% superb and 95% undrinkable while, they say, NZ wine is 10% superb and 90% very drinkable. Much the same for Australians.
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Lesley, Oleg has been in Scotland for the last couple of weeks so no chance of him overheating :)
Susan
Well that's good to hear Susan though I guess he'll get some shocks when he goes home. I hope we hear from Olga soon that she is OK.
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Well I was hoping to keep on the footman but as he's to have the foot operated on soon, I may decide to abandon him to his fate. :o
Chicken at $1 (even US) a pound? Wow! Its about 4 to 8 times that here, (we measure in kilos, so between $5 and $18 a kg, depending on the cut). Free range chicken will be twice as much again. Worth remembering is that - according to assorted wine writers - French wine is 5% superb and 95% undrinkable while, they say, NZ wine is 10% superb and 90% very drinkable. Much the same for Australians.
Sometimes, when there are special sales, we get chicken at 69 cents per US pound (~2/3rd one US dollar). Chicken at the very low prices are whole chickens, or whole breasts or leg quarters, which apparently doesn't sell as much any more because no one wants to truly cook and deal with a whole chicken or major chicken parts, but there's a huge market for the special select cut chicken, such as skinless & boneless chicken tenders that can go for $3-$5 lb. Free range chickens, you have to free-range your wallet to purchase.
Love Australian wines, syrahs in particular, and of course NZ Pinot Noirs, but I could hardly afford the Pinot even when I was working. Also, many Spanish wines are highly drinkable and some good bargains. Only buying cheaper domestic (California) varieties currently while I'm on a budget.
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Good to see you're back on line Lesley. Thought you might be still on the Hutt!!
Your only consolation is that it did it to us before it got to you.
Chicken is the budget choice here at $7 - $10 per kilo for choicest breasts compared with $18 - $25 per kilo for beef and lamb.
Nobody sells mutton any more.
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Good to see you're back on line Lesley. Thought you might be still on the Hutt!!
Your only consolation is that it did it to us before it got to you.
Short attenton span is a sign of Alzheimer's I believe, but mine must be REALLY short as I've totally lost this... ???
Oh, now I get it, the 1200 odd who were trapped on Mt Hutt a couple of nights ago? No I wasn't up there, never did go skiing and not much summer mountaineering nowadays either. But I know that road very well and there have been numerous cars blown right off it in the strong nor'west wings. Two Australian women were killed when their car went over a few years ago. The ski people were right to close the road with gusts to 200 kms per hour. It must have been a fun night for all, or maybe not. They learned what sardines in a tin felt like. The chef and his staff did a brilliant job feeding all those when usually they don't have overnighters at all so far as I know.
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This weekend I went for my usual country walk with Heidi to discover the environmental vandals have sprayed weed killer over the wild flowers that used to make my walks a joy. In some places two metres from the edge of the rough forestry roads have been sprayed. Moronic! >:( The last of the automata did not die out when the dinosaurs became extinct! :'( Most of these verges are bordering woodland and, in my book, it is totally inappropriate to destroy the environment like this! At least litter can be picked up and strimmed verges regrow, but not this. Only the grass will survive. Everything else is dead!
The first pic shows one of the borders with buttercups and orchids taken in July. The next seven show various views on sections of the track after spraying, including a very dead orchid! The last two pics, also taken yesterday with knapweed in flower, have not been sprayed as they are on a footpath not readily accessible to an industrial weed sprayer. They show what the sprayed verges should look like.
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Nice Weimaraner :)
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Anthony,
This is similar to a practice here which annoys me for the same reasons you mention above. New roadways must, it seems, have tidy verges and miles and miles of native plants are sprayed off to achieve this result.
How beautiful it is to see a large long patch of, for example, Hemp Agrimony (a species of eupatorium which would add to any garden) along the side of a road and how terrible to return a week or so later and find it has been killed.
Like Anthony, when I walk I am constantly looking at the wild flowers along the route and find it very interesting and enjoyable and bemoan their loss.
Paddy
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Is your Local Council responsible for this? Would The Forestry Commission do this? :o
What mindless carnage, wildlife living in the road verges must have been devastated too, effecting bird/insect life as well :o
I have to say I have only ever seen verges like this cut. How can it be more economical to spray as it is nearly the end of the growing season?
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How stupid can one be ??? ::) :( >:(
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I know it would be time consuming and probably frustrating, but can you Anthony, and others like minded start a campaign of letter writing to locals papers, couuncil, radio stations etc and start some community debate going? Some results have been achieved here by so doing, and getting on board local land owners who can "covenant" to keep their verges and wilder spots in their natural condition. Takes time, but worth doing, surely.
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What's with Paypal??? For weeks I've been getting unsolicited emails telling me my Paypal account is at risk, or being hacked, or on the verge of expiry or urgently in need of updating or a dozen other things. I DON'T HAVE AND NEVER HAD a Paypal account. There's nowhere to tell them to cease and desist and if they don't stop immediately I'll open a Facebook account specifically to tell them (publicly) to B....r OFF!!
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What's with Paypal??? For weeks I've been getting unsolicited emails telling me my Paypal account is at risk, or being hacked, or on the verge of expiry or urgently in need of updating or a dozen other things. I DON'T HAVE AND NEVER HAD a Paypal account. There's nowhere to tell them to cease and desist and if they don't stop immediately I'll open a Facebook account specifically to tell them (publicly) to B....r OFF!!
It'll be a phishing scam.
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What's with Paypal??? For weeks I've been getting unsolicited emails telling me my Paypal account is at risk, or being hacked, or on the verge of expiry or urgently in need of updating or a dozen other things. I DON'T HAVE AND NEVER HAD a Paypal account. There's nowhere to tell them to cease and desist and if they don't stop immediately I'll open a Facebook account specifically to tell them (publicly) to B....r OFF!!
It's got nothing to do with PayPal, Lesley - these are spam emails "phishing" for those with paypal accounts to try to fool them into giving their details.... like with the same sort of emails that fly about telling us that our accounts with Bloggs' Bank/ Building Society etc have been similalrly interfered with. All spoof, spam, assorted drivel. The hope is that their trick will catch someone with an account and net them a catch....Delete and forget!
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Thanks. This stuff is supposed to be caught by my security system. I even got one today from NZ Inland Revenue Dept (IRS in the States).
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Thanks. This stuff is supposed to be caught by my security system. I even got one today from NZ Inland Revenue Dept (IRS in the States).
Can't depend on any of these systems. The fact is, lots and lots of spam/scams/hoaxes will get through (and heaven forbid; viruses). As an active computer user in the year 2010, one needs to be savvy and very aware of the constant barrage of spam, spoofs, and hoaxed emails... asking you to click here or supply your login credentials to this site or that. This unsavory side of computing has become very much part of the norm.
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Well I've certainly become aware of all the trash Mark and I never reply ot click on anything I don't know the sender, Forumists for instance but one might expect one's government's biggest dept (IRD) not to do such junk.
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Well... only last week I received a friendly mail informing me I had won a huge amount of money (in a lottery I had never heard of). All I had to do was mail my bankdetails and the money would follow... ::) ::) ::)
Why wasn't this true ?? ??? ;D ;)
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The latest scam here is getting an e-mail from someone you know (because the scammers have hacked into their system or something) asking for money as they've had to rush off overseas for a family crisis and they can't use their credit cards for some reason. They supply details for a Western Union account and ask you to send money asap! Because it comes from someone you know you might think its legitimate but again just a scam and your friend has to change e-mail accounts!
cheers
fermi
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I've put the $3000 in the post Fermi and I hope your second cousin can purchase her release from those Somali pirates as soon as possible!
... And I'm so sorry to hear about your porcupine farm going bankrupt (the economic bubble has definitely burst), I will send another cheque on Tuesday along with our bank details as requested.
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Why wasn't this true ?? ??? ;D ;)
How do you know that Luc?? Did you try it ;D ;D ;D
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......... I have a failed porcupine farm too :-X
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......... I have a failed porcupine farm too :-X
That's just spineless!!! :D
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I ought to be able to think of a suitable reply but the only ones coming to mind are ones I really couldn't post here! ;D
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I ought to be able to think of a suitable reply but the only ones coming to mind are ones I really couldn't post here! ;D
A clever replies takes quill. :D
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I'm still thinking-maybe hedgehogging my bets?
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8.30 p.m. Monday.
Lucy: "Dad. I have team building at Beecraigs Country Park tomorrow and I need a packerd lunch."
Dad: "I'm sure there's plenty of food to make a sandwich in the fridge."
Lucy: "Can I have a meal deal from Tesco?"
Dad checks calendar as he had heard on the news it was a bank holiday. Calendar says "bank holiday (not Scotland)".
Dad: "Okay, we'll pop over to Tesco".
Sign outside Tesco Metro Dunblane "closing at 8 p.m. due to bank holiday".
We then drove to Stirling to find the supermarkets there were also closed! Which part of "NOT SCOTLAND" don't they understand!??? >:(
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Today I thought to myself my age is starting to show...I bought a new petrol lawnmower and I find it hard to keep up with, it goes to fast for my liking, do you think they do lawnmowers for the elderly ::)
Angie :)
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I have an electric mower (Flymo Chevron - a rotary cutter with grass collector) and it certainly doesn't go too fast. I had hoped it would wear out so I could get a petrol mower, but after 23 years it is still cutting the grass! :-\
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Well Anthony that's pretty good 23 years and still going strong...when and if ever it dies on you don't buy at petrol Hayter lawnmower unless you want to walk at a very fast pace.
Angie.
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I'm with you, Angie. I have to canter after mine.
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I'm with you, Angie. I have to canter after mine.
I wonder if there is anyway of slowing it down , I said to my husband it's faster than the old one , he replied you must be imagining that, needless to say he never cuts the grass.
Angie :)
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Just a gentle moan ...
I have just noticed that each member of this magnificent forum can ascertain exactly how many minutes they have spent on these pages since they joined way back in the mists of time ... view Home Page under your Hello message ...
... and to my chagrin I have discovered that I have spent ONE MONTH of my life on these pages!!!
It could, of course, be worse ... I could have spent it in Alcatraz!!! ;D ;D ;D
Total time logged in: 30 days, 23 hours and 48 minutes.
May we enquire what your logged-in time is Maggi? :D
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Surely this should be in the happy thread? :) There are many worse ways of spending your time.
(Says she who feels guilty about her 7 days, 17hours and 26 mins!)
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Mine is 60 days - 3 hrs and 12 minutes.... :o :o 8) :-X
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174 days, 3 hours and 35 minutes....... but who's counting! ;D
And after all it is is part of my "job description" to be here :D
In my next quiet moment I'm going to work out what that could have earned me in gainful employment at minimum wage ..... though that is likely something a volunteer should never do in case of suffering shock! ;D
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Surely this should be in the happy thread? :) There are many worse ways of spending your time.
(Says she who feels guilty about her 7 days, 17hours and 26 mins!)
I quite agree, Gail.... it is reason to be happy., not guilty.... at the moment the Forum stats are :
161337 Posts in 4936 Topics by 1304 Members....... now how could it be a waste of effort to spend time communicating with like-minded folk and gaining access to the accumulated knowledge and expertise that is gathered here?
If one spent the time in a library, would that be considered a waste, surely not... and there is both education and and human interaction to be gained here in one happy place..... wash away your guilt... get real my Friends.... this is the place to be. Half of the info in these pages cannot be found in any book, however great the library... these are real people with real experiences.... it doesn't get any better than this!
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174 days, 3 hours and 35 minutes....... but who's counting! ;D
And after all it is is part of my "job description" to be here :D
In my next quiet moment I'm going to work out what that could have earned me in gainful employment at minimum wage ..... though that is likely something a volunteer should never do in case of suffering shock! ;D
Don't forget evenings count as overtime at time and a half and weekends are double time! ;D
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Just a gentle moan ...
I have just noticed that each member of this magnificent forum can ascertain exactly how many minutes they have spent on these pages since they joined way back in the mists of time ... view Home Page under your Hello message ...
... and to my chagrin I have discovered that I have spent ONE MONTH of my life on these pages!!!
It could, of course, be worse ... I could have spent it in Alcatraz!!! ;D ;D ;D
Total time logged in: 30 days, 23 hours and 48 minutes.
May we enquire what your logged-in time is Maggi? :D
I am glad that you all have spent so much time on this forum, you have made me smile, laugh, and envy you all. So here's all to you reaching a grand old age and keeping me happy.
My time 14 days 19 hrs and 27 min...forgot to mention I have learnt more from this forum than any book
Thanks to you all.
Angie :)
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Well bored bored and bored again i've ruptured my Achilles tendon again on a run so can't do a thing.I think i might make a few hundred more plant tags,Maggie that was a fantastic tip all (well most)my pots look uniform now instead of different tags everywhere.
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Sorry to hear about the Achilles tendon, Davey.
Happy the labels from venetian blinds tip was useful.
There's always the Old Forum Archive to keep you in reading material if you've exhausted the 4939 topics in this Forum, you know........... ;)
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37 - 6 - 31.
Those are my vital statistics, not my time on the Forum. ;D
I'll have to look for Venetian slats because now that Staedtler has stopped their Pancolor pen (because of the alcohol content I think) there's no pen that makes for a permanent name. The replacement Lumicolor lasts only 2 months where the other lasted up to 5 years. Ordinary pencil is otherwise the best but that doesn't work well on plastic labels.
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Just a gentle moan ...
I have just noticed that each member of this magnificent forum can ascertain exactly how many minutes they have spent on these pages since they joined way back in the mists of time ... view Home Page under your Hello message ...
... and to my chagrin I have discovered that I have spent ONE MONTH of my life on these pages!!!
It could, of course, be worse ... I could have spent it in Alcatraz!!! ;D ;D ;D
Total time logged in: 30 days, 23 hours and 48 minutes.
May we enquire what your logged-in time is Maggi? :D
Cliff,
Take a look at the top of every page....... next to my avatar there is a Total Time Logged In field, which displays that information. Or is that just one of my settings? I'm up to 82 days, 5 hours and 17 minutes, and I really haven't contributed much at all in the last 7 months.... so imagine what it COULD have been. :o :o
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Grand final of the AFL here today ended in a draw,I am smiling because Collingwood didn't win and sad because St Kilda didn't ,so they will be back next Saturday to do it all again.So all those involed in putting this game on will be laughing all the way to the bank.bye Ray
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Well pissed off tonight. Tried to find a 'clipart' pic of a virus. Showed me hundreds of picturs of poorly drawn computers and one virus with a smiley face (why does a certain mouse come to mind? ???). I then tried a different approach and typed "cell". Millions of pictures of mobile phones. Having to resort to Google images! :-X
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Went to the Post Office today to get an International Money Order and was told by the staff that they are no longer available in Australia.They used to cost $8.00, now have to get a bank draft which cost $25.00
bye Ray
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Went to the Post Office today to get an International Money Order and was told by the staff that they are no longer available in Australia.They used to cost $8.00, now have to get a bank draft which cost $25.00
bye Ray
Daylight robbery, Ray and all the more despicable for being legal! :P
I use Paypal and though I know this system has its detractors (which system doesn't?!!) I have found this to be a great boon in making international payments.
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Ray,
Not good to hear at all. :'( I have found paypal very useful, if you're dealing with someone who uses it..... very fast and efficient, and certainly not costing an extra $25 for the privilege. ::)
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I'm a bit tempted by Paypal except that over the last 3 or 4 months they have sent me at least 100 "phishing" messages saying my account is being used improperly by someone else or is about to run out or other rubbish when I have no such account. All that has put me right off.
Some of our banks (the Australian owned ones), charge $25 for a draft but my bank charges $15. I pay be credit card where possible.
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Paid my sub to the Frit Group recently - the $15 dollar fee for raising the funds in sterling virtually doubled the cost of the sub. How I wish they would open a paypal account.
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I've had no problems with PayPal (touch wood)....... yet....! Instant payment from anywhere on the planet. Last month I sold a choochoo on Ebay. It is starting a new life in Tasmania. ;D
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I'm a bit tempted by Paypal except that over the last 3 or 4 months they have sent me at least 100 "phishing" messages saying my account is being used improperly by someone else or is about to run out or other rubbish when I have no such account. All that has put me right off.
Hi Lesley, the phishing messages did not come from Paypal. They tell you that if you receive rubbish in their name, to forward it to spoof@paypal.com and they will deal with it. You may be better off adjusting your email filter. :) I find paypal extremely useful, relatively cheap and very efficient. :)
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Luc, I have to confess that I don't know how to change or where to find, my email filter. Totally useless in most regards when in front of a computer.
Rob, I paid my Frit Group sub by buying a 20GBP bank note and using the extra for my seed application. I can buy up to 100 pounds for the cost of a $NZ6 commision and would have bought the whole 100 against further subs or seeds except that I'm hard up at present. I do it this way each year and have never had it go astray, carefully wrapped in a double sheet of white paper.
We also here, have the option of paying this particular sub as the exact amount to Doreen Mear who is currently secretary of our frit grp, and she pays the lot with her own UK bank cheque as she keeps funds in the UK, travelling back there frequently, as she does.
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Maren, please forgive me. I don't know why I called you Luc. Must have seen his name somewhere out of the corner of my eye. Mind you, a nice person to be mistaken for. :D
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;D ;D ;D
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I do have a Paypal account but it is not much good if the person/company you are dealing with has not signed up for it.
Hi Lesley,I did look at the idea of getting the currency of the country where I wanted to send the money,but the bank wanted $30 fee.
With one company in the UK I sent them $200.00 and they deduct from this fund as required and this is working OK,but probably would not work with big companies.bye Ray
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I'm a bit tempted by Paypal except that over the last 3 or 4 months they have sent me at least 100 "phishing" messages saying my account is being used improperly by someone else or is about to run out or other rubbish when I have no such account. All that has put me right off.
Some of our banks (the Australian owned ones), charge $25 for a draft but my bank charges $15. I pay be credit card where possible.
But Lesley, it is not Paypal per se who is sending the phisihing emails but sneaky swines trying to fool you into giving info...... we get these too, purporting to be from Paypal, as we do from just about every banking service in the world, none of which we have any connection with, but it is easy enough to tell the difference between genuine emails form Paypal or any other company. Obviously if one has an account with a company who claims to be contacting you, you must be ultra cautious, but the fact that spammers use these companies to front their scams is a measure of the widespread success of the company... which makes the spammers efforts worthwhile.
It is why the SRGC site is targeted by spammers....( who take a good proportion of my time to keep at bay).... we are a site with very heavy traffic and terrific 'google' ratings so those lowlifes want to cash in on our success.
And yes, we are making enquiries about having an SRGC Paypal account and yes, I know we could reduce the anti-spammer work by all sorts of means.... but the first of those would be to restrict use of the site to SRGC Members only and that would defeat the whole object of the Forum!
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I would go to the pst office and get cash in the currency and send registered mail. You are then covered.
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I'm a bit tempted by Paypal except that over the last 3 or 4 months they have sent me at least 100 "phishing" messages saying my account is being used improperly by someone else or is about to run out or other rubbish when I have no such account. All that has put me right off.
Some of our banks (the Australian owned ones), charge $25 for a draft but my bank charges $15. I pay be credit card where possible.
Obviously if one has an account with a company who claims to be contacting you, you must be ultra cautious, but the fact that spammers use these companies to front their scams is a measure of the widespread success of the company... which makes the spammers efforts worthwhile.
NO financial institution ever sends an email asking you to update ,log in from a link within the email or to reset your account. This is not rocket science they just do not do it.
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NO financial institution ever sends an email asking you to update ,log in from a link within the email or to reset your account. This is not rocket science they just do not do it.
Exactly!
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Thanks everyone for the comments. Since I'm not totally stupid, I NEVER reply to anyone whom I don't know or have a reason to expect email from them. Of course this includes so called Paypal, banks, IRS etc.
let alone the Nigerians who have billions to distribute, especially to me and the lotteries who just happen to have selected my email address at random.
Ray, we complain about the Aussie bank charges inflicted on their NZ branches and by and large, they are much higher than applied within Ausralia, especially for home loans, overdraft facilities, lines of credit etc but a $30 fee to buy currency is outrageous. As I said, we pay a commision of $6NZ for up to 100 GB pounds and 1% of the amount over that, that is bought. So to buy 250GBP would cost me $7.50NZ. That's quite bearable though there is a small risk in sending bank notes in the post. For some reason (Anthony) NZ Post won't register items to be sent overseas and anyway it is illegal to send money or anything with a value that can be exchanged for money, such as a lottery ticket, in the post. But we do it all the time of course. My grandson doesn't want an amount paid into his bank, he wants the money NOW please Grandma! ;D
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Get this, a new trend on opening NEW saving/checking accounts in some American banks, is to only make them accessible electonically, they are so-called e-accounts. My wife just opened up one of these new-fangled accounts for my 18-year old daughter. Here's the kicker, with one of these accounts, if she were to walk up to a bank teller to deposit a check in person, there is a $9 charge TO DEPOSIT MONEY??? ::) Apparently the incentive is to force all money transactions to be done electronically, or via the ATM machines... but never use an in-person teller to make a deposit.
Existing accounts are not subject to this stupid fee (well, at least they aren't yet). All new basic accounts are using this model.
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I would be changing bank if I had to pay to deposit a cheque. No wonder there have been over a million complaints to Lloyds Banking Group this year already! The banks and bankers caused the global meltdown but we are paying, and it seems, paying them, and in triplicate, too! >:(
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someone at work is doing their best to get me out by telling lies ....
"Mark was asked to leave the food hall because he was making a nuisance of himself asking for free food"
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someone at work is doing their best to get me out by telling lies ....
"Mark was asked to leave the food hall because he was making a nuisance of himself asking for free food"
Crumbs! :o :o :o
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That is despicable Mark. I hope you can find the culprit and make it known to the powers that be that you are behaving properly. ::)
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someone at work is doing their best to get me out by telling lies ....
"Mark was asked to leave the food hall because he was making a nuisance of himself asking for free food"
Oh Mark that's not good, hope you find out who this trouble maker is.
Angie :)
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My supervisor wont say and I'm sure he must have gone to the store manager or assistant manager. Should I go to the manager?
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Hi Mark,
your company must have a complaints procedure. Try this first (in writing) or else you will be accused of flaunting the rules. I know it takes time but if you want to stay with that outfit, it might be worth sticking to the proscribed process - unless you know someone you can trust ??? ??? ???
By the way, are you as handsome as you look in your picture?? :D
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It is why the SRGC site is targeted by spammers....( who take a good proportion of my time to keep at bay).... we are a site with very heavy traffic and terrific 'google' ratings so those lowlifes want to cash in on our success.
Hi Maggi,
I can appreciate that you spend a lot of time zapping the SPAM. It's difficult to imagine how much there is when you don't see it. Work done quietly is hardly ever not noticed. Please blow your horn from time to time. It reminds us why we think you are rather special and how much we do appreciate the way run this ship. :) :) :) :) :)
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By the way, are you as handsome as you look in your picture?? :D
Thanks but you will have to ask someone else to be the judge
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Maren Mark is as handsome as his picture shows, no airbrushing there. Looks and a nice personality as well. Maybe Mark there is your problem, somebody is probally jealous.
Hope you get it sorted out I worked with someone for fifteen years and from day one they never liked me. I didn't care as I worked with twenty three men and got on great with them all. Forgot to mention she was female.
Angie :)
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It is why the SRGC site is targeted by spammers....( who take a good proportion of my time to keep at bay).... we are a site with very heavy traffic and terrific 'google' ratings so those lowlifes want to cash in on our success.
Hi Maggi,
I can appreciate that you spend a lot of time zapping the SPAM. It's difficult to imagine how much there is when you don't see it. Work done quietly is hardly ever not noticed. Please blow your horn from time to time. It reminds us why we think you are rather special and how much we do appreciate the way run this ship. :) :) :) :) :)
Maren, you are most kind to appreciate the work put in to keep the forum going, thank you! I do know that my efforts are recognised and appreciated by the Forumists...( and the Lurkers!) and it is my belief that the website and Forum are so important in keeping members of the Club connected in a positive way and allowing a wide dissemination of our shared enthusiasm for plants that make every effort on the part of your SRGC WebTeam to be worth gold and diamonds in support for the SRGC.
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......every effort on the part of your SRGC WebTeam to be worth gold and diamonds in support for the SRGC.
Of course, Maggi, take your pick.
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Ooooh! Nice offer, Maren!! :-*
Off now to enjoy Discussion Weekend..... loking forward to seeing lots of Forumists there.
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Maren, that would make great cyp medium. Any spare that I could try? 8)
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Anthony,
That's a new spin on trying to get people to hand you jewels...... tell them you're wanting it for Cypripedium potting. ;D ;D
Mark,
I hope you sort it out. You definitely need to follow it up, if it going to affect you in the future. Don't let the mongrel get away with it. >:(
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Maren, that would make great cyp medium. Any spare that I could try? 8)
Anthony, 'fraid all used up. Now if you were to buy a potted cypripedium at my next show, who knows what you could find ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)
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Maggi is like a big diamond, she sparkles all the time.
Hope everyone has a great time at the discussion weekend, next time I am just going to go even if it is by myself. :'(Hope to see loads of pictures.
I have come to the stage of life that l would prefer a cypripedium rather than a diamond.
Angie :)
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Hi Angie,
I've never been at the stage when I wanted a diamond. In a ring they ladder your tights and on a bracelet, they scratch your desk as you move your mouse. Give me a cypripedium any time. ;D ;D ;D
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Maren when my mum was ill she said you have first pick of my rings, my mum loved her jewellery. My answer to her was can You leave me your Austrailian grass tree, she just laughed. I got the grass tree and her rings. I love the grass tree so much and it growing really well I think my mum new how much I loved this plant so she is looking after it for me. Now all I have to do is try and flower it.
I think all my friends think I am mad, but gardening and growing plants mean the world to me . I will never have the expertise that all you have but I am learning a little everyday on this forum and that's thanks to everyone that takes the time to answer my silly questions.
Angie :)
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I got the solitaire Diamond engagement ring, not my wife (hers was a combination of Amethyst and Diamonds). The setting of mine means that there are no points exposed to ladder my stockings (well, if I were actually to wear stockings, which is not a usual occurrence for me ;D). So I must say that I am very happy to have received a diamond ring! ;) I'm rather fond of the future wife that came with it as well. 8)
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Paul glad to hear that you don't wear stockings .I like how you said " I'm rather fond of the future wife that came with it as well", that's so nice.
There one thing for sure a diamond is forever a plant on the other hand may not last that long especially if it's one that I have ::) :-X
Angie :)
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Paul, are "my wife" and "the future wife" different people? :-\
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I wondered if I should change the tense between the two sentences, when I realised it didn't match (also saved trying to work out whether to use Fiance' or Affianced etc). No, they're one and the same. I was just commenting on the lady that came with the engagement ring being rather nice..... we've been married for 14.5 years or so now. 8)
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I never had a diamond, never had a ring, but we are merried 27 years and 9 months
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I gave my engagement ring to my daughter when she turned 25 but still have the beautiful solitaire diamond which was my mother's engagement ring and the emerald and 2 diamond which my Grandad gave to Grandma when he had a particularly good wool cheque one year. (Grand piano came the same way, not a baby but smaller than a concert) I wear the rings when I go anywhere halfway posh because, as one of Georgette Heyer's rather vulgar heroines said, "if I dont wear them, who's to know I have them?"
Saturday would have been my 45th wedding anniversary if Allan were still alive.
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(Grand piano came the same way, not a baby but smaller than a concert)
That would be a studio grand; same here. Not something you give away!
The incredible heat wave of the last week has finally ended. It was hot and steamy here combined with fog. Little rain though.
johnw
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Spanner in the works to finish off our lovely weekend with 150 of our closest Friends at the SRGC weekend.... phone call on Sunday evening to say that Poppy was very restless and being sick..... :o :-\ :'(
Poppy the Dog reacted badly to her first time away from us since we got her.... she has only spent a day with friends so far and she was none too keen on being seperated from me and being asked to sleep in a room with the door shut at my friend's house! The dogs are accustomed to being free to roam around our house at will and that wasn't possible at their "digs" because the house dog sleeps in an indoor closed kennel and would have been furious to have the girls stroll off and leave him in the night..... result, one very upset Poppy, crying piteously all night, who has reacted to the stress by throwing up regularly. She seems relaxed now and has had some boiled rice which seems to be "staying down". Poor Poppy, she is such a Mummy's girl....... some further training will need to be undertaken before the Eigth International Conference in Nottingham next April...... :-\
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Poor Poppy, I hope she comes right very soon. An animal in distress is a terrible thing.
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She's had a few little snacks of boiled rice and is sleeping peacefully, Lesley, thank you. I do think she was just stressed out ....we must remember the last time she lost contact with her "folk" she lost her family of 13 years....us taking off for the weekend must have been more frightening for her than we imagined, poor little sausage, even though she was with people she knows, only 100 yards down the road. :-\
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Hope Poppy is back to normal, I bet you have spoiled her rotten now that you are back, how many cuddles has she had from you and Ian.
Angie :)
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I think she's not too bad now , Angela. She was a bit sick first thing today but then wanted some breakfast and has managed to keep all her food down for the rest of the day and she's been for a couple of little walks. Seems okay. She's curled by my side right now on her big beanbag on top of old pillows- a nice soft bed !
If she were younger I wouldn't be so concerned but since she's quite an old girl I think I am more anxious.
I tell you, those two small furries, Lily and Poppy, are worth their weight in diamonds to me.
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I tell you, those two small furries, Lily and Poppy, are worth their weight in diamonds to me.
Yep Maggi when they look at you with those sparkly eyes who needs diamonds.
Angie :)
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News item I spotted ,"Aberdeen has been Trumped" and not a moan from anybody :) bye Ray
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Was looking for a book to read when I remembered "The Worlds[sic] End" pub in Knaresborough (yes, expensive professional signs and they can't get the apostrophe right) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/foucalt/2577716403/) so I am now reading "Eats, Shoots and Leaves" complete with punctuation repair kit. Brilliant! ;D
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Miss plaiced apostrophe's make my hackle's rise two.
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;D ;D ;D Maid, my day Anne.
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O, U 2 stoppit! ;D
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We're just trying to put you in a comma Paul! ;D
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We're just trying to put you in a comma Paul! ;D
Sounds like you have effected his colon as well, Anthony! :D
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I'm sure the doc could hyphen it off? ::)
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I'm sure the doc could hyphen it off? ::)
Would that result in a semi-colon? No exclamation, Mark, Anthony!!!
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I think I'm going to run amoc! (That's an inverted coma, by the way!)
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*******foxes!!!!! >:(
Unfortunately I am unable to prevent foxes from entering my garden. They often defecate which is really annoying but from time to time they really make a mess. I have to put mesh in many places to stop them digging but last night even that didn't stop them. The photo below shows an area that I had recently planted some newly acquired dactylorhiza. They were duly dug up and scattered around the bed. The labels were scattered and the mesh bent and twisted. Fortunately there was no root damage. They also made a mess of a pot of Primula scotica that I had been nurturing. :'(
Graham
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That's really annoying Graham. Are they just looking for worms? I have heard people scattering holly leaves over flower beds to deter cats and dogs, but I don't think that would outfox a hungry fox?
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Graham I am sorry to see the damage the foxes have done in your garden . My house has a wood two feet away at the back and open fields at the front. I see foxes, deer and badgers nearly every day, it's been 16 years that we have lived here and I have never seen anything in the garden, well that's a lie I have had the occasional rabbit
Our friends that only live a mile down the road from me had horrendous damage caused by deer this winter.
I think myself lucky. I don't know why they don't come in could it be the dog or the noise of the water at the pond I am not sure but I am grateful whatever it is that keeps them away.
In our last house we had a heard of cows in the garden the damage was unbelievable and the farmer brought to my attention that I had no gates to keep his cattle out so first thing that went up here was gates. Hope the fox docent come back tonight.
Angie :)
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Hi Anthony,
I'm not sure what they are after. I do have mice in the garden and wonder if they can smell the nests and try digging down to them.
I once tried Berberis pruning's but regretted that when the spines fell off over the winter. It was very painful for some time after.
Graham
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Graham I am sorry to see the damage the foxes have done in your garden . My house has a wood two feet away at the back and open fields at the front. I see foxes, deer and badgers nearly every day, it's been 16 years that we have lived here and I have never seen anything in the garden, well that's a lie I have had the occasional rabbit
Our friends that only live a mile down the road from me had horrendous damage caused by deer this winter.
I think myself lucky. I don't know why they don't come in could it be the dog or the noise of the water at the pond I am not sure but I am grateful whatever it is that keeps them away.
In our last house we had a heard of cows in the garden the damage was unbelievable and the farmer brought to my attention that I had no gates to keep his cattle out so first thing that went up here was gates. Hope the fox docent come back tonight.
Angie :)
Hi Angie,
Extra mesh added for tonight but the garden is starting to look like a scrap metal merchants.
I have a similar variety of animals in the vicinity except for the deer, but its the foxes that do the most damage, followed by the grey squirrels, (I'm sure I would forgive red ones if they were around :)). You are lucky nothing enters your garden.
Graham
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I've heard it said they might dig where bonemeal has been applied. Your avatar not much use as a deterrant then?
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I've heard it said they might dig where bonemeal has been applied. Your avatar not much use as a deterrant then?
No bone meal and a bone idle dog. To be fair he is old, but if he saw a fox he would try to see it off. However, even in his fittest days he would never have caught one. Shar Pei's aren't the most agile of dogs.
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Heidi "treed" a cat on her walk today! Result! She also made a bushy-tailed rat leap off our house wall onto the bark by the children's swing and run like its life depended on it for the boundary fence!
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Dobbies Garden World got rid of me at my 8 week review after the plants manager typed an A4 page of damning comments. I think he had it in for me. His word V mine and because he was a manager I was out. He wasnt there for me to query my comments
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So sorry to hear this Mark and very frustrating for you to have no comeback. Hope you find somewhere else where they appreciate good plantsmen!
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When I heard the manager's "experience" was of Bedding at Ikea I felt that this was a bad omen. Someone who knew his asters from his echinacea must have been quite a threat. :-X
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Mark it's there loss. I was at our local Dobbies meeting a friend for coffee today and I asked if there had been cut backs as there weren't enough staff on. When they first opened there was so much staff but finding someone now that can help is like finding a needle in a haystack and there tills are just a joke. Better stop before I go on to much ( not a fan of Dobbies ) I like the wee nurseries.
Angie :)
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I'm so sorry about that Mark. Some senior staff can be so stupid. Best wishes for finding a new place soon.
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It's true about bonemeal attracting the canine fraternity. In the autumn when I potted some lachenalias (4 different but all alike in their bulbs) and some tulips, I added some bonemeal to the compost. That same night the whole lot were tipped and the bulbs scattered, as presumably the dogs (my little darlings, no foxes here) looked for some interesting body to confer with. 4 pots coming into flower now of mixed lachenalias.
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*******foxes!!!!! >:(
Unfortunately I am unable to prevent foxes from entering my garden.
Graham
Sorry to see all that damage Graham. We have foxes that come through the yard every now and then, but any garden disturbance has been rare. Twice I was surprised to find a freshly dug spot in my garden with some black feathers sticking out, and each time there was a dead crow shallowly buried there, I have heard that foxes will bury their food, not sure how true that is.
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Mark S, sincerely sorry to hear the bad news, I wish you the best to find a new position.
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There you are Graham, at least you didn't have dead crows left in exchange.
Seriously though, sorry about your job, Mark. As Angie says, it's their loss. Best wishes in finding somewhere better.
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Thanks everyone. It was brilliant while it lasted. It took a year and 3 months to get a job last time but I hope it doesnt take so long this time. Lots of staff have been contacting me to say how shocked the Dobbies employees are.
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Good to see that you're not givin' up hope Mark !
I'm sure there'll be another (and better !) job along for you ! ;)
All the best !
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Hello Mark
Sorry to hear about the job.
Hopefully my visit to you during work hours wasn't used as one of the damming comments.
Cheers Dave.
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oops coming in late here.
Thanks Dave and Luc. Dave never worry
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This happened last Saturday - October 23rd - a week earlier than last year. What's with some people?!
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AAArrrggghhhh! It's bad enough when the Garden Centres turn into Santa's Grotto on th eAugust bank holiday but.......indeed what's with some people :'( :'( :'(
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They should be taken out and shot ;D
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This happened last Saturday - October 23rd - a week earlier than last year. What's with some people?!
Looks mighty festive!
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I feel for you Mark!!
My neighbour across the road started doing her deccies a few weeks ago, only the sheds have been done so far.
Once it is finished I will post pics.
She has a HERD of reindeer not to mention santas and snowmen etc etc etc
Have told her she will bring down the power grid.
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This happened last Saturday - October 23rd - a week earlier than last year. What's with some people?!
Looks mighty festive!
Unfortunately the wrong festival for this time of year! ::) Some people need to get a life! :(
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Is it Christmas decorating time already. I maybe have it wrong :-X
Angie :)
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:-\ the witch looks familiar ;D
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That's more like it. ;D We had dozens of guisers visiting us tonight! I had carved two pumpkins (thank goodness we don't have to carve turnips any more) to the children's specifications: Tigger and a flaming car!!! ::)
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Brillant Anthony . Your other talents are showing ;D I do remember how hard the turnips were to carve but boy they are tasty ( turnip and mash ) my favorite.
Angie :)
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havent had turnips in years and it was the apple sized roots that I ate raw
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Our turnips are melon-sized, Mark. Supermarkets call them Swedes, but we know differently. ;)
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If we put our christmas lights up now, the Sulphur Crested Cockatoos would have them destroyed by Christmas. ;D They are very inquisitive (and destructive) not-so-little beasties! ;)
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Not sure whether this should be in the Moan thread or the I'm so happy thread..... I've just realised that I have now collectively spent more than 12 weeks on this forum. :o Scary eh? ::)
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Not sure whether this should be in the Moan thread or the I'm so happy thread..... I've just realised that I have now collectively spent more than 12 weeks on this forum. :o Scary eh? ::)
Paul 12 weeks :o ... all I can say I have enjoyed your postings so I think you should have put this in the happy thread. I can say I have enjoyed every minute on this forum and find instead of watching rubbish on the television I am learning all the time on the forum and when I am not learning I am having a giggle, so many of our members are so funny, always putting a smile on my face. I bet you have made so many friends and had so much fun and that's what I joined this forum for.
Keep it up, here is looking forward to your next 12 weeks :D ;D
Angie :)
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That'e terrible Paul. I've spent less than seven weeks here! You must read the posts more carefully than I do. I gloss over some and don't follow every link. ::)
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6 weeks on the forum for me ::)
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my husband's shoulder has been sprained ::) Ihave got a baby for a while :o
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Oh, your poor husband....... nothing like an injury to turn a man into a baby, for sure. :-X
I am sure anyone eating your food will be strong enough to get better very quickly, Erika! Give him our best wishes! :-*
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Oh, your poor husband....... nothing like an injury to turn a man into a baby, for sure. :-X
Maggi it doesn't have to be a injury just a wee cold turns men into babies. ;D :-X
Erika hope it gets better soon it would be really sore.
Angle :)
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It's that "y" chromosome that makes us much, much, much more susceptible to the more deleterious effects of diseases! ;D
cheers
fermi
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I just spent 2 weeks making a tailored jacket in a fiendishly difficult fabric, and even wore it before I realised I'd sewed the sleeves in back to front. ::) ???
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Oops! I did that once with a shirt for Ian. Always made waistcoats for my own outfits to save that problem. :-X
Rather than unpick everyything, I suggest to deny it is your seiwng and claim poroudly that it is a designer garment form say, John Galliano... all that avant garde fashion has weird looking tailoring... it'll pass, I'm sure ;D
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That's quite funny
Do you remember the kid rapper from waaaay back they wore their trousers back to front. You could start a new trend
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But the elbows face forwards... :-\
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Anne, can you show us a pic of the fabric?
Would love to see what fiendishly difficult fabric looks like.
Not wanting to add to your pain though!!
:(
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But the elbows face forwards... :-\
Yeah.... avant garde tailoring indeed!
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But the elbows face forwards... :-\
Yeah.... avant garde tailoring indeed!
No arm done, Anne!!! :D :D
If I was you I'd hand it back!!! :D :D
Pretend it's an army camouflage jacket ... !!! :D :D
Enough ... sorry!
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This is it. It deforms very easily because it is so loosely woven, and the edges fray if you just LOOK at them. I had triple stitched the seams, trimmed and overlocked them to try and stabilise the edges. It's taken me 6 hours to unpick the armhole seams. That'll teach me.
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It'll be harmless Anne :P
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cant find some outdoor light transformers grrrr they were here when I took 'em down
why oh why are warm white lights everywhere I want super bright white ahhhhhhhhhh
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This is it. It deforms very easily because it is so loosely woven, and the edges fray if you just LOOK at them. I had triple stitched the seams, trimmed and overlocked them to try and stabilise the edges. It's taken me 6 hours to unpick the armhole seams. That'll teach me.
Thanks for the pic, it's nothing like I was imagining.
I really like those colours.
Hope you will post a pic of the jacket when you are finished.
Will you lose any of the material from where it has been overlocked?
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But the elbows face forwards... :-\
Sounds like a useful made-to-measure concept for politician and bankers, Anne :-X :-X
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It couldn't look worse than what I did in 2000. It was the opening (by me, as President) of the Otago Alpine Garden Group's millenium celebration, a conference here in Dunedin. I was wearing very slimming and elegant new black trousers and a not new but very nice bright orange silk shirt, loose over the trousers. The guest speaker was Tony Hall from Kew and as I introduced him to the massed delegates, some from overseas, I looked down briefly to see that my carefully ironed shirt was smooth as silk on the left side in the front and that I had totally missed the right side, still crumpled and lined from the wash. Of course as soon as I noticed it, everyone else did too. :-[ :-[ :-[
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Oh, I know Tony Hall, we met at a national NARGS (ARGS at the time) meeting in Ashville, North Carolina, many years ago. He convinced me to go to a liquor store and buy a bottle of Glenfiddich to enhance social gatherings after the meetings :o
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Tony Hall ...
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=cr-Ev0D330QC&pg=PA17&lpg=PA17&dq=tony+hall+alpines&source=bl&ots=FvvL_Q1yAK&sig=F473x_mF4p-qoNns9SzdbbD3zLU&hl=en&ei=V-4DTYCsJMawhQeLj5zvBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&sqi=2&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=tony%20hall%20alpines&f=false
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Did he tell you the one about the woman in the crumpled shirt, Mark?
Thanks for the comments, guys, I thought it was rather funny too, once I got over being amazed yet again at how stupid I can be (I am normally under the misapprehension that I am of reasonable intelligence).
It'll be a while before it's repaired, as I'm having to order some more interfacing to glue the edges back together!
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Good link Cliff, Tony struck me as a "one off" kind of individual, irreverent to be sure, we hit it off pretty well. I enjoyed our 3 days of hanging out together at the conference, his ability to lip-read, even as a passenger in a car, was quite remarkable. After decades, whenever I come across a bottle of Glenfiddich in a liquor store, I can't help but think of Tony ;)
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Christmas must be coming, this email just arrived:
All employees planning to dash through the snow in a one horse open sleigh, going over the fields and laughing all the way are advised that a Risk Assessment will be required addressing the safety of an open sleigh for members of the public. This assessment must also consider whether it is appropriate to use only one horse for such a venture, particularly if passengers are of larger proportions. Please note that permission must also be obtained in writing from landowners before their fields may be entered. To avoid offending those not participating in celebrations, we would request that laughter is moderate only and not loud enough to be considered a noise nuisance.
Benches, stools and orthopaedic chairs are now available for collection by any shepherds planning or required to watch their flocks at night. While provision has also been made for remote monitoring of flocks by CCTV cameras from a centrally heated shepherd observation hut, all users of this facility are reminded that an emergency response plan must be submitted to account for known risks to the flocks. The angel of the lord is additionally reminded that, prior to shining his/her glory all around, s/he must confirm that all shepherds are wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment to account for the harmful effects of UVA, UVB and the overwhelming effects of Glory.
Following last years well publicised case, everyone is advised that Equal Opportunities legislation prohibits any comment with regard to the ruddiness of any part of Mr. R. Reindeer. Further to this, exclusion of Mr R Reindeer from reindeer games will be considered discriminatory and disciplinary action will be taken against those found guilty of this offence.
While it is acknowledged that gift bearing is a common practice in various parts of the world, particularly the Orient, everyone is reminded that the bearing of gifts is subject to Hospitality Guidelines and all gifts must be registered. This applies regardless of the individual, even royal personages. It is particularly noted that direct gifts of currency or gold are specifically precluded, while caution is advised regarding other common gifts such as aromatic resins that may evoke allergic reactions.
Finally, in the recent case of the infant found tucked up in a manger without any crib for a bed, Social Services have been advised and will be arriving shortly.
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Thanks Brian ... ;D ;D ;D ... and Season's Greetings from the Elf and Safety Executive.
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;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Tee hee - I needed that, thanks Brian!
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It's that "y" chromosome that makes us much, much, much more susceptible to the more deleterious effects of diseases! ;D
cheers
fermi
;D ;D ;D
My husband say thank you for all your wishez, he is better now, but demanding cookies and cakes for healing :o
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Thanks, Brian,
I hadn't received that one but several work-mates now have! ;D
cheers
fermi
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It's that "y" chromosome that makes us much, much, much more susceptible to the more deleterious effects of diseases! ;D
cheers
fermi
;D ;D ;D
My husband say thank you for all your wishez, he is better now, but demanding cookies and cakes for healing :o
Good to hear he is feeling better... he is quite right, of course, cookies and cakes are essential for good recovery .... especially if they are YOUR baking, Erika, I can imagine that would make anyone fit and strong.... I feel better just looking at the photos!
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Today is a bittersweet milestone. It is my 1 year anniversary on SRGC Forum, which I am grateful for, see The "I'm so happy" thread.
On the other hand, I'm reminded about the fact I spent as much time on the forum as I have, due to being unemployed, it's been 14 months so far. I'm on my "tier 2" unemployment benefit, however it is being cut short by 3 weeks (as of next week), and my eligibility for Tier 3 unemployment (13 more weeks) is suspended, all of this held up by pure politics, the Republicans in the US Congress steadfastly blocking and holding hostage any bill the President tries to pass. The legislation to extend unemployment benefits may in fact pass eventually, meanwhile there will be a definite gap in benefits, and at what cost will it be passed? Our system of government is so broken here.
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So your system is like ours Mark and I imagine like that of just about every other country in that "let's get rid of all the unemployed, the sick and injured, those who live on the streets, those with mental disabilities" and so on, but "let's do it NOW and think later about how those people are to survive." In other words, those affected are dumped by the bureaucracy (always in obedience to the god of saving money) before there are any systems in place to support them. Of course it should be the other way around. Set up the systems THEN present them with the people they're there to support. Govt, or perhaps politics, stinks.
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It is such a shame that some of our very knowledgable members are unable to find work. I hope that 2011 is a better year for them.
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Lesley, interestingly there's a report just come out that shows, from polling data, that the UK population is now even less in favour of even mild income redistribution and progressive taxation, and even more anti-benefit claimants than during the Thatcher years - due to successive governments (right and left) continuously demonising claimants as cheating scroungers, which of course is always a cheap, easy shot to take in the battle for votes; if you want to get votes without having to bother with policies, just get tough on crime and tough on benefit claimants.
58% polled in the Thatcher years thought unemployed benefit claimants generally needed to be treated more sympathetically, and now it's only 27%. And a similar drop in those who thought taxation should be progressive, so the rich pay more than the poor. Yet, ironically, more people in the poll (78% of those polled) now think that there's a serious problem with the ever-growing gap between the poor and the well-off!!! The researchers put this discrepancy down to "self interest" amongst higher earners. Oh really?
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Martin
I find both politics and reports interesting and both equally self-serving particularly in the use of statistics.
Surely in the case you quote ,given that most people fall into the poorly paid category (average income across the whole working population is only £26k and if looked at on a quartile basis most fall into the lowest) if the survey was taken over a representative section of the public then the relatively few high earners would not have been able to sway the result.
It looks to me as if the result obtained was the one wanted
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Interesting point. Perhaps what happens to some extent in such surveys is that a lot of people who are actually around or below average earnings don't realise that they are, consider themselves to be relatively high earners with a lot to lose and reply accordingly. I think the average (or mean? never sure which is which exactly) household income was recently given as about £36,000, which when I've mentioned it to friends and family has surprised them - especially those with household incomes below £36,000 who thought they were doing okay for themselves.
The point I found most interesting was the huge drop in the numbers feeling that benefit claimants deserve to be dealt with more sympathetically, which is less directly related to the respondent's own income and taxation level, and I would think is more reflective of a general mood in the country, and one that successive governments have helped create with the way they talk about claimants and use that quite cynically to win votes.
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the latest figures for 2010 are as follows
'The difference between the median level of full-time earnings in the public sector (£554 per week) and the private sector (£473 per week) widened over the year to April 2010, following annual increases of 3.0 per cent and 2.0 per cent respectively.'
Total income is a different matter as many lower paid workers qualify for benefits which bring this up to a higher level.
An unemployed single woman in Chorley with three children was reported last month to be receive benefits of £36000 a year net. She said she needed a job on £60000 to make it worthwhile going to work.
That is not a criticism just a reported fact.She seemed a thoroughly decent person who was caught by the system.
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Thanks for those figures, Tony. Is median the same as mean? I understand the difference between the average income (everyone's income divided by the number of people) and the mean income (the income at which 50% earn more and 50% earn less) but what confuses me is when politicians say average, do they mean average or mean? It seems to vary according to whether they want it to be larger or smaller.
I wonder sometimes when the politicians and the press find people on benefits getting so much money just how few people there are like that. The people I know on benefits - unemployment, long-term disability etc - all seem to be getting much less than that. Is it perhaps a reflection of housing costs? I think that's one reason the government are targeting housing benefit for cuts - because the huge rises in property values also pushed up rents to extraordinary levels.
Just checked, by the way, and the survey was the annual British Social Attitudes Survey done by the National Centre for Social Research. They point out that the change in attitudes to benefit claimants indicated by the survey occurred mainly during Labour administrations.
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Not even sure I should be commenting on the UK now that I don't live there....and the US isn't any better....but in response to Tony's observation about the lady from Chorley, I remember a TV show many, many years ago when, from a group of unemployed people, one participant said it wasn't worth getting out of bed for under 200GBP per week (10,400 GBP per annum). So this isn't something new. This has been going on for years and with the acceptance of numerous governments.
Having been out of work on 4 occasions in the past 40 years....through no fault of my own...I sympathize with the genuine people who cannot obtain work at a decent rate of pay. I have absolutely no sympathy for the ones who turn up for their unemployment check in BMWs....or do they even have to turn up these days?
How any country can even hope to regain a work ethic when they pay people not to work is beyond me. (36 Grand to look after 3 kids.......you've got to be kidding !!!!!)
Still - trying to find jobs for 3 million unemployed rocket scientists is a tall order for any country.
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She had a newer car than mine,needed it to take the kids to school. Mine went over 170,000 miles this weekend and I just hope it lasts a bit longer.
Life has its up and downs-I stood in the garden frozen at 2am this morning hoping to see the meteor shower and it was cloudy,on the plus side I had left the electric blanket on which had got hot enough to fry me when I got into bed.
I am back of to the flowers now.
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I think we'd all agree with that, Alan. The trouble is that politicians (of left or right) always use the worst examples, and in the end people deserving of genuine sympathy suffer when benefits are cut across the board. I feel it's a bit like the criminal justice system - it's best to have a fair system based on decent principles even if that means a few people will always get away with things they shouldn't. And talking of getting away with things, I'd love to see a government of any political hue (or better still the international community in unison) prepared to get serious about tackling major tax evasion, where some huge companies can get away with paying ridiculously low levels of tax.
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..and no doubt the kids had the absolute necessities of life. iPad, iPod, iPhone etc.
And if she had a car to take the kids to school...what the hell was she doing all day long? Not looking for work, that's obvious.
And who pays for this? The British taxpayer as always. And it's refreshing to know that the children are getting a good education....so they can learn from their mother how to beat the system. Wonderful.
OK Mr. Obama...I need a word. Why can't we have something like this in the States?
Martin....I agree that it's always the worst cases that show up and that's why I said I sympathize with the needy. But this has been going on for years and the government does nothing about it. I absolutely abhor the criminal acts of the so called "student protestors" but no one is listening to the people any more.
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Tony's gone off back to his plants and I have to get back to work, but first a quick whinge about BT - Hurry up and fix my phone! Over a week recently without broadband thanks to BT and now a week without a phone while their engineer takes his sweet time getting round to visiting! I'm getting reet fed up with talking to people in India about what kind of phone sockets I have, whether things are plug into the 'master socket', if I'm sure the things I'm plugging in are working okay and plugged into the electrical supply, etc, etc. Just come and see for yourselves then go to the exchange/junction box and fix your rubbish wiring....again!!!
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Same here Tony . Reported our line was down on the 1st December after we had thunder and lighting, did it on-line thinking this would be better than trying to get through to them. Everyday I get a email saying still working on fault. Today I called and after twenty eight minutes got to speak to a nice lady that said sorry but it will be the end of the week before a engineer will be able to see to the job. I explained that my husband is trying to run a small business and it's hard enough at this time of year but she said there are 400 other repairs to be carried out before he gets to us. Anybody want to take a bet that he doesn't manage to get to us before the end of the week.
Maybe they need to employ some more people, by the sounds of it there are plenty of people out there that are unemployed and need a job.
Angle :)
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Lots to think about in the above posts and in general, everything said, applies here too. Our average income per household is a lot less but things cost a lot less here. I remember when in the UK and "ordinary" alpine plant at a nursery was about 3 GBpounds, about $3 here and the pound was worth about 2 1/2 dollars. Similar differences for a pint and a baked potato in a pub.
What is very noticeable is the cost of housing now relative to say 10 years ago. Our last Labour govt had a policy of keeping rentals for low income families at not more than 25% of income. It is now, in the majority of cases at least 50% and in many cases up to 80% so that the remaining income can't feed the family. With a conservative govt, especially the previous one, the catch cry of "market rates" was the be all and end all, no matter that it destroyed many families and gave NZ one of the highest rates of child poverty in the OECD, a shameful statistic in the eyes of most NZers.
But yes, there will always be those who know how to milk the system whatever it is, and likewise there will always be the rich who are determined to become richer regardless of whoever else suffers as a result.
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I was listening to the radio in the car the other evening. An education minister was trying to justify the removal of the £30/week EMA payments (paid to the children over 16 in the poorest families so they remain in education). He said they'd interviewed a large number of these children and 90% said they'd still go to school (or college) if the payment didn't exist, so they are cutting it and targetting the 10% who wouldn't!
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The situation re. housing costs is similar here, Lesley. Rentals for social housing have been pushed up to pretty much the same as market rates, so for someone unemployed with say three children needing a three or four bedroom house the total amount of benefits they get will include a very large chunk for housing costs which, if it's for rented accommodation, doesn't go into their pocket but goes straight to the local council or into the pocket of a private landlord. Market rates for rented property are very high, especially in cities, because they're been driven up by high property price rises.
And it can be difficult for single parents (of whom there are rising numbers partly due to the soaring divorce rates) to get back to work when childcare costs are so high. Many women with children find that almost everything they would earn at work would be absorbed by paying for childcare., so they'd be working just to pay someone else to bring up their children in their absence. Not an ideal situation. Trouble is we have a very fragmented society with people moving around a lot, so many people don't live near enough to other family members (e.g. granny and grandad) who in the past might have been expected to do free childcare.
Also, I think it's easy to lose touch with what things cost and how much people need to keep a family going these days. They reckon you need well over £30,000 a year coming into the household if you have two or three kids, and that on average to get that income both partners have to go out to work. The average household income quoted by the government recently is £36,000 - the average first wage being about £24,000 and the second (usually the woman's!) income being on average half of that at around £12,000. But there are a hell of a lot of people on a lot less than that. The worst off tend to be young single people who can't find work (and there's very little work around for young people in the current recession) who often have to live on something like £50 a week. And now people on disability allowances are being called in en mass for "re-assessment" by benefits staff who have apparently been told to ignore doctors' assessments on disability and make up their own (totally unqualified) minds, to try to get the benefits bill down.
The big question is, all the people that the government want to "help" back into work - where will they find jobs after a major recession and while huge job cuts are happening as a result of government spending cuts?
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Very well put Martin, although I am in a different Country the situation is almost exactly the same, the only difference here is that the Banks are robbing all the Money. Once upon a time somebody used to Rob the odd Bank occasionally,now the Banks are robbing everybody for the next 5 years.
Some of the senior staff in one bank have gone to court looking payment of a total of 40 million in bonuses,the Government agreed but then had to back down because of a backlash from the public, the staff have now gone back to court. We await the outcome with interest as the drama continues.
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As Michael said above, the bank have put Ireland into huge debt and the government are bailing them out using, among other sources, the national pension fund. So, after paying for my pension for 36 years it is now being reduced by the government to pay for someone else's stupidity and greed. And, this latest reduction is on top of two previous levies which are being deducted from my pension. Needless to say, I am not happy.
Paddy
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:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
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January sales.
This bl**dy january sale lark is doing my head in..
went to boots, they don't sell boots,
went to currys, they don't sell curry,
went to selfridges, they don't sell fridges,
and that Virgin Megastore, what a bl**dy let down that was... :D ::) :D ::)
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I like it Michael ;D
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This bl**dy january sale lark is doing my head in..
went to boots, they don't sell boots,
went to currys, they don't sell curry,
went to selfridges, they don't sell fridges,
and that Virgin Megastore, what a bl**dy let down that was... :D ::) :D ::)
That appeals to me too Michael ;D ;D ;D
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;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D