Chatback #16

[Aberdeenplotter]

Two first for me at the allotment today.

The first first was discovering that the local sparrow population had started feasting on my show pea plants. That made me steal a bit of my fruit cage and to get nets fixed. Little besoms.

The second first was discovering that some of my cauliflower plants have succumbed to the maggot of the cabbage root fly. I always but always cut squares of carpet underlay, I then cut from the centre of the square to the middle of an edge and then fit the square around the stem of my brassica plant. The theory is that instead of laying it's eggs in the soil adjacent to the stem of the plant, the fly lays its eggs on the underlay and the eggs then dessicate instead of hatching. My theory is that this year, the carpet underlay has been bone dry at the time the eggs were laid instead of being damp. The fly has then looked for a damp spot and layed its eggs in the slot in the underlay close to the soil and the bleeding maggots have hatched.

anyone got an alternative theory?

[burnie]

Over a year and a half ago I was whizzed into my local hospital with a nasty painful Gall Bladder, after a weeks stay the surgeon said, "we'll see you in about 6 weeks and take that out". As I'm now on the waiting list and was told I'd be contacted within the 12 weeks, I thought I'd ring them as I'd heard nothing yet. " that letter is a standard letter you got, just a political target we don't bother with"
"Oh, but I thought my pre op medical was only valid for the 12 weeks" I replied, "No they now are valid for 6 months" was the reply. Now I have an illness that is more of an inconvenience than a really serious issue(unless it takes a turn for the worse, then it could be blue flashing lights job), but the pre-op check is for things like weight(for anesthetic purposes), blood pressure(are you fit for the op) and sorting out blood supply for standby should something go wrong, how can that still be accurate after 6 months? I know the NHS is in terminal decline and I guess the staff morale must be at rock bottom, but this is now likely to push me into my third year of waiting for a bit of keyhole surgery that should be done as a day patient, I don't even need a bed!!
I shall now book plenty of holidays that I have been holding off from doing, bound to get called in then.

[Jay22]

Nothing on the same scale as you burnie but it took me a month from first phoning for a doctors appointment for my shoulder to get to see one. She sent me for an X-ray and suggested I get physiotherapy. The X-ray was done less than an hour from leaving the surgery and going to hospital! Great you may think but here’s the rub...results will take 6 weeks and I won’t get a physio appointment for at least 5 months. As I am in a lot of pain I paid for a private physio appointment but what if you can’t afford to? It’s worrying the way things are going in the NHS.

[noviceveggrower]

Morning everyone. Had quite a bit of rain last night so going to potter down to the allotment for a bit.
Have a good day everyone

[Mr Bones]

Morning all. The odd spit and spot of rain here but not enough to even damp the plaggy patio chairs.

Have a good day

[Thelma Sanders]

Mornings!
Feels cold with the breeze as well as cloud, but still no rain. Were forecast some overnight, but it didn't happen....

Picked a few vases of dahlias and roses, last night, as didn't want rain to spoil them - so at least the house looks cheerful

Have a good'un and hope the weather suits your plans for the day

[Snoop Puss]

Couldn't sleep so got up very early and pottered round, bit of tidying up, bit of watering. Now half asleep. Might just have to go for a mid-morning nap.

Hope you're all doing OK.

[bramble]

Good morning all.
We have a lovely sunny morni g so I am off out for a walk in the park,
After that I will probably go to the library.
Free day today, so playing it by ear.
Have a good day all.

[Nicos]

Mornin n'alln'all
*hands up.....guess who is hogging the rain?...meeeee
Nice sploshy stuff.
Lets hope this goes deeper into the soil than the last lot!
The temps have dropped dramatically here -I even needed a fleece to sit out in the garden last night.

Didn't end up swimming yesterday...got grabbed by both sets of gite guests wanting to know where to visit on a rainy day....could we book à restaurent...etc etc.

So...am off now!... just hope the lifeguard has a decent brolly

See ya later peeps -enjoy your day....

[Cadalot]

Morning Crew - Its cool and raining here and there was no visit to the allotment for me this morning, and as I goofed off pickling beetroots yesterday I'm in catch up mode today, just having a coffee and surf to see what's happening on the vine before I get into the next job on my list for today.

Have a great day everyone

[lottie dolly]

Good afternoon all,cooler here,no rain,so thinking about trying to do sumat outside,am board and frustrated,got more things to organise before next years growing season,a bit at a time with care should help,take care JAY,Bgood2yourselfs

[Nicos]

Had a fantastic swim followed by an absolute bargain from L!dls.
10lbs organic tomatoes, 1kg seedless grapes, box of peaches,2kg organic carrots, 2 packs of 3mixed peppers...all for €1
Very little needed cutting off either!
Yipppeeee

Oh and talking of being cooler , I checked on the way home and it's 21C cooler than it was at this time 2days ago!
It does make you wonder how plants cope...they'll all go and do something weird now no doubt

[Florence Fennel]

Evening All Just checking in, in case you missed me!

[Nicos]

Please tell me you weren't stuck in bed all day waiting for your breakfast cuppa?

[rary]

Good evening, was out early this morning walking the dog and there was a cold wind blowing, but after we had been to the coffee morning I took the boy's for a long walk and the Sun was out and it we as a nice comfortable warmth, while out I was teaching the boy's various things that I did when I was their age, and showing them where the rabbits run into the grass, where a Fox travels through the trees and where there is a possible badger's den, suddenly they are realising there might be fun out walking instead of sitting playing with electronic games, here's hoping.
Well enjoy your day tomorrow and be patient it will be the weekend. Goodnight