The Chill Out Zone

[stevestrat]

Originally Posted by Lagetha

I recently bought the GERMANUS model from Amazon, a bit pricey at £9.99, but much better finish/quality than cheaper versions.

Rolled my own off and on for over 40 years. Went back to them when the government had the brilliant idea to ban all flavoured cigarettes. I’ve smoked menthol since the mid ‘90s, acquired a taste for them in my many trips to the Philippines, more popular there than they are here. Can’t get menthol cigarettes but can get menthol filters hence rolling my own.

[Lancpudn]

Morning all, What a grey day & rain forecast from mid-morning onwards.

[coolcat]

Originally Posted by Lancpudn

Morning all, What a grey day & rain forecast from mid-morning onwards.

Morning Ian and all.

Rain already here

[roverbarmy]

"@roverbarmy No roses out here yet but who knew how bootiful the humble sage plant was in flower just brushing past the leaves smells divine & I noticed the first tomato has set fruit on one of the greenhouse tomato plants. "


We have (due to arthritis and dodgy knees) let our front garden "re-wild" a bit, the last two years. It's a terraced affair with footpaths between (odd pavings, surrounded with small pebbles) and the paths are (more like were) separated from the terraces, by (now) rotting bits of 2" x 1". Nature has taken over and our gardening there is a quick flash over with the hedge trimmer, to allow some walking between the terraces. The wildflowers and shrubs are wonderful, encouraging all sorts of wildlife and critters! What a shame that we spent all those years trimming and preening when nature, left alone, is so beautiful!



My Suffolk Punch may become redundant if we do the same at the back!


The side area is a "Trumix" lawn for parking! (No cutting required!).

[Lancpudn]

Originally Posted by roverbarmy

"@roverbarmy No roses out here yet but who knew how bootiful the humble sage plant was in flower just brushing past the leaves smells divine & I noticed the first tomato has set fruit on one of the greenhouse tomato plants. "


We have (due to arthritis and dodgy knees) let our front garden "re-wild" a bit, the last two years. It's a terraced affair with footpaths between (odd pavings, surrounded with small pebbles) and the paths are (more like were) separated from the terraces, by (now) rotting bits of 2" x 1". Nature has taken over and our gardening there is a quick flash over with the hedge trimmer, to allow some walking between the terraces. The wildflowers and shrubs are wonderful, encouraging all sorts of wildlife and critters! What a shame that we spent all those years trimming and preening when nature, left alone, is so beautiful!



My Suffolk Punch may become redundant if we do the same at the back!


The side area is a "Trumix" lawn for parking! (No cutting required!).

I must admit this big garden is getting harder to keep in trim as the years go by, The wide front borders are getting semi-wild & I'm going to let them do their thing. I've enough with four lawns to mow plus my two greenhouses.
I used to have a Suffolk punch lawnmower, Loved that thing. I got a call from my missus one afternoon whilst I was loading reels in the Aberdeen paper mill back in the day (1980's)



A friend had left his 1962 Cadillac in our driveway for safe keeping whilst he was on holiday.
Missus drove our Camaro into the back of it coming into the drive & was frantic over it. I rang my mate who works in a body shop to have a look at it ASAP.



I was out for the week in the lorry so I rang back the next day, He said not much damage & no chrome trim damaged He said I can do it before he comes back off holiday so when I get back at the end of the week he'd done a fantastic job of repairing & spraying, I said what do I owe you & he said £50 plus that lawnmower of yours, i said go ahead take it. He'd just moved house with a lawn lol.

I told my mate what happened when he came back from Florida & he wasn't fused so all was good & it was never mentioned again. .

[Lancpudn]

The stairlift is installed & up & running. Missus is made up with it.

[stevestrat]

Originally Posted by Lancpudn

I must admit this big garden is getting harder to keep in trim as the years go by

My folks took the low maintenance option for the garden years ago, no grass. My other half is the gardener, I'm the labourer although with my lack of energy it can be a chore. Also finding I'm not good with ladders these days, no confidence, sense of balance ain't brilliant what it was.

[stevestrat]

Been slaving over a hot stove all afternoon, Ging fired a text at me when she was waiting for the bus this morning "make puto!". Puto is (are?) small sweet steamed buns with a wee bit cheese on the top. The molds are in the shed . . . . two hours later I found them at the back of the shelf under the microwave in the kitchen

Can only do five at a time in the steamer and they take 20 minutes so you can guess how long I've been at it, still more to do as well. Five at a time there should be fifteen but had to sample one

[roverbarmy]

Originally Posted by stevestrat

My folks took the low maintenance option for the garden years ago, no grass. My other half is the gardener, I'm the labourer although with my lack of energy it can be a chore. Also finding I'm not good with ladders these days, no confidence, sense of balance ain't brilliant what it was.

I don't like ladders since I fell off the stepladders! That was only two steps up and it took me months to get right. As usual, I was leaning too far over and they slipped on the tiled floor!
I bought my Suffolk Punch mower as a non-runner. New fuel and a carb clean and off it went. The head gasket went with a pop last year and it took about twenty minutes to do it! (loose head bolts! They must stretch too!) You've gotta love a stripey lawn! I treated it to crossey stripes before the holiday! (Wembley/Wimbledon style) My old Suffolk Colt was a better size for my small lawn but someone made me an offer that I couldn't refuse.