52 Week Challenge - week by week through 2013

[Sheneval]

Funny you should say that - that's what Jim said after he made me turn my hat round and tightened the face mask up - now I know what the man in the iron mask felt like

I also had a shot of the ride on mower today - now I know why it is so popular - much easier than digging and a very pleasant occupation once you get the hang of it

[veggiechicken]

Yes - a definite improvement - and I don't mean the mowing

[Sheneval]

I think whoever designed it was a bit of a sadist and had studied medieval torture implements - to tighten it you turn a control knob on the helmet at the back of your head - (originally I was going to leave out 'on the helmet' but knew the type of response I would get)

[Glutton4...]

Shen you'll do your back in with that strimmer harness! Go buy a St!hl one, and read the bit of paper that comes with it, so you fit it correctly, with the weight around your hips. Please!

[Sheneval]

G4 - You are quite correct - it was very heavy particularly about the shoulders and I was experiencing quite a bit of pain so I stopped after about 40 minutes and swapped with Jim who had the ride on mower up until that point.

I am unfamiliar with the harness you refer to but will goggle it and get the cost - I am sure I can persuade them to buy one as the strimmer will be used far more now they have agreed to strim the neglected plots rather than use Glysophate.

Thanks very much for the advice - much appreciated

[Glutton4...]

I've spent many many hours strapped to a big petrol strimmer - with an ill-fitting harness you'll do yourself damage.

http://www.stihl.co.uk/STIHL-Product...rt-harness.asp

Not cheap, but neither is a new back!

[Sheneval]

G4 - Thanks again

[Tripmeup]

My challenge is on Saturday. I'm going on a Herbal "Myth, Magic and Medicine" day that includes a foraging walk, poetry and incense making! Apparently "Each one of us will bind our own magical intention into our own personal mixture" No, I don't know what it means either

I think I know what it means I think they are going to try and turn you into a witch
If you see a cauldron, run VC, run....

[veggiechicken]

"Stay Cool" - that's what it says on the Love Heart I've just taken from the packet
So I'm not worrying. Wish I knew a spell to turn these disgusting sweets into a bar of chocolate Maybe I'll be able to do that next week

[Tripmeup]

Picture of brassicas planted out from challenge a few weeks ago...
Picture of progress ( if u call it that) on frame for brassicas... Last weeks challenge..

This week's is to finish potting up my cucumbers and do some proof reading...

[Hazel at the Hill]

I think I know what it means I think they are going to try and turn you into a witch
If you see a cauldron, run VC, run....

What do you mean 'turn you into a witch'.......

*ducks

[veggiechicken]

Be very very careful, Hazel, I shall be cackling over a special potion soon

[Tripmeup]

Be very very careful, Hazel, I shall be cackling over a special potion soon

Imagine all the seeds from the VSP thrown in a cauldron and VC swirling them around and around with her specially adapted stirrer made from pallets (without a drill )
,,,and to finish the spell some of those weird things she grows from mushy celery etc

[bramble]

Delighted to say I finished my challenge for this week.
Did the flora womens mini marathon.
This is the biggest womens marathon in the world.
40,000 women took to the streets of Dublin yesterday in blistering sunshine.
This was my first time but definitely won't be my last.
A fantastic day.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Week 23 Challenge

Clear out the Kitchen Cupboards

My brilliant kitchen has only been here for a couple of years, and so is still pretty shiny and new to me. Given that this is the case, you'd think that there was a limited amount of stuff that I'd built up, but every now and again I find a cake tin that hasn't seen action since the kitchen was installed; and the number of times I move the dust covered pasta maker to one side to reach something else...

I coupled the thought that I ought to to have a sort out with the idea of going through the cookery books I'd accumulated, and then what about the pots and packets that might be out of date; and before I knew it I had a Challenge on my hands.
Taking everything out of each cupboard in turn, I separated the contents into 'keep' and 'chuck'; wiped the cupboard down, inside and out, and put all the 'keeps' back in.



I learned some interesting facts about sell by dates - I can understand herbs and spices loosing there potency over time, but really, rice with a sell by date?



There's a pile of recipe books and (the more presentable) tins for the charity shop, and a clean, neat and tidy kitchen that I can be proud of once again!



So that's my week 23 Challenge: done!