The Cybergarden - Late Summer Edition

[madmouse]

Sorry been unfaithful, lots going on. But making myself useful - here's your new thread x

Hope you enjoy the time away hob, and that MIL improves, it's always worrying (and time-consuming) when family are in hospital.

The trout does sound good, upward, and thanks for telling me your subject; which seems to be similar to No.1 Niece, who is also not a doctor but I can never remember where she's at,( a bit behind due to years of health problems), apart from recently handing over a thesis and now taking on a research kind of job at a foreign university. I'm very proud of her for getting so far on bursaries (parents not encouraging), despite major health problems.
I can understand why the subject is so interesting, and why you're wanting to be involved again, so best of luck and I'm sure you'll be OK.

It's a beautiful morning here, even grotty gardening jobs (usually avoided on Sundays) went quickly, ready for massive clean-up /plant-out with friend tomorrow.

She sounds like she's done really well for herself, shodatin

I hope it continued to be nice in your neck of the woods, I got soaked this evening (but on the plus side it's the first time I've been out in the evening since 2010). I hope nobody else got drenched today.

(hot choc for me, but various teas, coffees, horlicks, infusions etc in the summerhouse).

Hot choc for me too upward, and I hope the heater was put on earlier (of course, it's on a temperature-switch being a cyber-heater). Such a shame you got wet this evening, and I hope you've managed to get into something dry.
It was brave to try going out in the evening again, and I do hope it was worthwhile and enjoyable. We've had light rain since about 4p.m., just enough to be a nuisance, so I'm glad I did some garden-clearing while it was dry and hope the recently-emptied containers have had a bit of a rinse.

Hope tianc is keeping well, and not suffering from overdoing-it again.

Will say "goodnight" now, as I've a surgery appointment in the morning (MOT-type thing) and would prefer not to be tired.
Hope everyone has a refreshing sleep without interruptions.

Oh sorry to hear about your MIL, hob. Do hope she improves soon.

And many apologies, missed goodnights last night. What a gorgeous idea to have a Mid-Autumn/Harvest festival, shodatin! Especially if we get to have mooncakes, mmm yes please! An acquired taste and a little goes a long way, but rather fine with a good pot of .

I still adore your moon-gazing rabbit story. Oddly the rabbit-in-the-moon is the only shape I've ever been able to see there. This is the one I see, tho other people seem to have more complicated lunar bunnies.

Yikes, Upward, hope you weren't stuck too long in wet clothes. at lemon trout, tho. I'm afraid I'm still giggling at shodatin's trout dinner transmogrifying into a simple sandwich. Tiddly fish-scaling would have been... fun to watch!

I bow before HF's dedication in boundary-patrolling and snow-prancing, hob. In fact, I think I just bow before her. The whole "I was worshipped in Ancient Egypt, you know" routine is so hard to resist - especially from HF's kohl-lined eyes. Hope your busy day was OK and you're not too tired.

And thank you shodatin, very restful here, recovering from the last few "hectic" weeks. Your weekend sounds wonderfully productive. Hope your big plant out goes well tomorrow. Will PM you re blue thistles; sadly pak choi here would just mean fatter slugs...

Anyway, very definitely bed time. Sleep well all, and here's to good days for all tomorrow.

Morning all, and many thanks to Tianc for showing me how the rabbit looks on the moon. I've yet to try moon-cakes, but if a few million Chinese eat them, must be OK, particularly as you suggest in small quantities.

Sorry you think the slugs would get the pak choi - you're probably right, but I find I'm relying a lot on hob's suggestion to plant in containers, and will try to remember to use Vaseline on the edges as a deterrent, as well as usual egg shells scattered around. As so many have germinated, I'll also put some in the (very) raised bed affair in the back of a bush - it's guerilla warfare here against slugs.

Another beautiful day here, and am pleased I managed to rise early for appointment as we have rain due later. Must go now, will leave a tray set up with upward's assorted ingredients for s, and hope to get back later today.

Such a shame that gardening friend/helper phoned earlier to cancel today due to bad cold - we both think it's anti-social to pass them on- so have only done small amount outside today, spending time taming winter curtains with renewed linings instead. It's a polite fiction that I garden these days, being rather limited by myself, but am glad I did some at the weekend (before bin-men collect tomorrow).
Also glad I had the annual check-up this morning, as they are giving the first appointments for this season's flu - am assuming that's not what I had a few weeks ago, and it seems I'm still "at risk" and should have the jab this year.
Four o'clock, so tea-time and I'll put the kettle on, and before I forget, I'll give the summer-house a spray with my new anti-spider aerosol, which should make doorways and windows etc. smell of horse-chestnuts, which they don't like, so stay out.
(My DH bought the last aerosol, so must be at least 19 years ago. I normally avoid buying them, but in this case I made an exception).

Oh dear, what a shame to lose a day's gardening. Very sensible not to share your colds around tho. That's good news that you have your flu jab sorted. And you've reminded me to nudge DPabout his - he assumed he was no longer on the list last year, but it turns out the surgery just weren't notifying people.

Watching with interest to see if anti-spider aerosol works...

Hi Tianc It seems the surgery is not notifying people here either, and I just happened to see it this morning. Good idea to nag DP a bit, reminding him just how horrible it is to be ill, and how lucky we are to have the choice (and how horrible it is to have man-flu in the house).

Aerosol doesn't smell very nice, nothing like Badedas in fact, but it came from our local "cheap shop" for £1.99, much less than I'd seen it advertised, so seemed worth a go. It repelled me the first morning - a week ago- and am still spider-free despite the season and having windows open, so seems to be working.

Mm, spider-repellent might turn out to be DP-repellent if it's smelly. Dilemma!

Well done on getting winter curtains done, shodatin. The clocks haven't yet gone back, but there seem to be so many preparing-for-winter jobs to be done. I suppose this means the attic and more bloomin' insulating for me. Not this week, as I'm still a tad wobbly.

hob thinking of your family and your MIL today. Fingers crossed for you that things are going as well as can be expected.

Upward hope you've had no ill-effects from yesterday's drenching, and that you didn't get tipped on again today.

kizzie, madmouse, NanaNina, butterpie and friends, make yourself comfortable round the stove. We have flumpy cushions and a windowseat!

Morning lovely people - so many fabulous posts to catch up with ...I've never heard of spider repellant , and hope you find it safe to use around Dp , Tianc.
shodatin , so sorry to see from the date of your DH's spider - displeasing purchase that you have had such a long time without his amusing company ... you have had a great deal to cope with .

Thank you all so much for your good wishes for MIL- dh very touched . Unfortunately she's been in ad out of hospital for some years now , with diagnosis changing ( lung infections etc ). She & FIL won't accept a SS assessment & struggle on ... that needs to change , & we keep trying different strategies- perhaps the hospital social worker would have a word .

Am still catching up with thread .Sorry your lovely gardening day had to be postponed shodatin , but very impressed by all the preparation for winter .
Really hope you have a good day , upward - you sound very upbeat in recent posts .

I know it seems awful to go away when MIL so poorly , but she's fed up with company and dh found a lovely new tomb of relatives - by - marriage . We also saw an all - time favourite veteraan musician in concert , which was total bliss - soppy feelgood songs ( incidentally he is a longtime coper - with of very severe mh difficulties) .

Sorry for bad English - rushing off for hospital appt for routine checks

< HF revels in Tianc's understanding & appreciation & ( she's still pleased with shodatin too for saying she sounds beautiful a little whle ago ) >

Many thanks for hot chocolate, Tianc, and for autumn-cleaning our summerhouse. Am only part-way through curtain project, unfortunately, and understand about your on-going insulation project/s - we need a break from them sometimes!

Spider-spray had stopped smelling by next day, and is supposedly effective for about 3 weeks (indoors). This is where I admit real phobia and confess to taping up the bath over-flow, as well as keeping plugs in where possible.

Hope you get better news for MIL, hob, and appreciate the difficulties for family long-term from other friends. "...lovely new tomb of relatives..." indeed!
I suppose that is an exciting find, and am pleased for your DH if it's raising his spirits. Am remembering our amazement when friend from Ireland spent summer holidays travelling round country to clean up old graves, but we're all different of course.
Just wondering if we could persuade Her Felinity to take up guard duties in summerhouse against the spiders; how does she feel about the species, or about guard duties in general, or even about being persuaded?

Hope your routine checks were OK hob, and not too unpleasant. I had mine yesterday, and we're all pleased with BP again.
Hope there was some good news about your MIL also - was it the same hospital?

Hey Upward, we haven't seen you for a day or two. Hope that means you're busy with good things.

Good but exhausting day here, with more distant relatives on Skype - and they're calling again tomorrow. I really didn't want to start my contact with new people by whining on that I can't do this and can't do that and am a feeble little flower, but I think I'll have to train them not to tire me too much.

Another one smiling at the "lovely new tomb of relatives", hob. By the way, given the anxieties to do with health care workers that you mentioned before, may I award you the chocolate biscuit of courage for all you're doing for MIL? As well as for coping with the routine checks. Hope all well with that, and that MIL recovers well from this bout and and starts to adjust.

shodatin glad you had such positive news about your BP. Spider-repellent definitely a key part of BP-management strategy, if you're anything like me!

Loving this idea of luring HF into anti-arachnid patrols.

OK, that wasn't a good thing to talk about at bedtime ? I'll have to shake the covers out now, just in case!

Hope we all sleep well, or at least get some good rest.

Morning all, and commiserations to Tianc about the Skyping relatives - I have some who wear me out, and these days I just tell them, ie "I lose my voice when tired, so will have to keep it short", then "I'll have to let you do the talking for the last few minutes" and no-one's been offended yet (altho they do sometimes rabbit on anyway).
Someone else here wondering about upward this week, and hoping all is well, particularly after the soaking at the weekend, and being out at night again. It's difficult being short of energy, and remembering to pace oneself; hope you're OK ( and the other regulars who have not posted for a while, hope you're just happily busy elsewhere)

I'm definitely better than I was - the change in weather meant I spent 6 hours looking for winter pjs , because I didn't pack for my move, I don't know where things are. Also they aren't discharging me until next week (just wish they'd given a good reason for it, as they say I'm much better too!)

I think people are right re: pacing being tough sometimes.

Thinking of you all

Ah, yes, finding things after people have been helpful... Indeed. Commiserations. Hope you managed to dig out your winter jimjams, Upward, from whatever creative place they had been filed.

So does this mean you now have a discharge date? And you'll be flying solo from next week?! Wow. Hope you'll still get lots of support for all those practical things like taking tabs on time and eating regularly ? or whichever are your particular bugbears.

Thank you shodatin ? I really am an old misery-guts for whinging about lovely people having the temerity to want to actually speak to me, aren't I? Those sound like good coping tricks, I really must get a grip on this stuff. I used to get quite wound up when I'd explained nicely that I could only talk for 5 mins, and 20 mins later the caller hadn't yet paused for breath. I should put a bit more energy into managing them and actually just cut across to say, "Lovely to hear from you but I am tired now. Thanks so much for calling. "

And I'm actually the worst culprit, because it's so nice so be in touch with people and I push on when I shouldn't. Anyway, this morning went well, and I'm now up to my oxters in things I've promised to send people. [idiot emoticon]

Hope hob and extended family are OK, and MIL at least stable.

Very early bed here, as tomorrow probably also busy (unless workman fortuitously cancels).

Night night all, and hope we all sleep like logs!

Good news about being discharged next week upward, and we think you're much improved in health too. Have you made any plans for next week I wonder, as there will be so much free time available after discharge (am assuming here; you may have to spend more hours looking for stuff someone else tidied away.) Congratulations on recovery anyway, and please don't try to do too much just because you're being discharged.

Sorry didn't finish my post earlier & missed some of you , but was hospital visiting etc
Very impressed by your efforts today , upward , & very glad you're pleased to be being discharged soon , though agree with hopes that you won't overeach yourself - you sound so busy in recent days & hope that's positive .

Glad your BP is back down , shodatin ,& thank you for telling of your friend's holidays touring Irish cemeteries - bliss to dh

Thank you & Tianc for your very good work keeping thread going so entertainingly for upward

Sympathies here too re the Skyping relatives , Tianc , & excellent suggestions from shodatin as to dealing with rabbiting people .

HF is very enthusiastic about anti - arachnid patrols , as she finds then delightfully challenging prey < averts eyes > She has changed her early tactic of pointedly doing the opposite of what her humans are requesting , & is now amenable to persuasion

< bakes large batch of Tianc's special recipe chocolate biscuits of courage to go round , with gooiest ones reserved for upward >

Had productive & fun day yesterday but have been too tired to post till now , really sorry . Had a lovely wander round town with my Mum & found good things in charity shops ... also saw an incidence of "hate crime" which amazed me ( young teenager showing off to friends but scary for targeted person ... onlookers did berate youth , who looked ashamed )

Thanks once again for asking after MIL . The current thinking is that she's had active TB for years now , poor woman , but the hospital can't be certain so are treating her for it on the balance of probabilities .( & screening close contacts - v grateful for the NHS, considering the position of people affected by TB elsewhere in the world )

There are strong antibiotics being used , & a few other treatments , but the damage to her system is done now - very sad for dh & SIL . Hospital social worker came to ask how they're managing at home & MIL claims to have told her they aren't doing too well , so we'll see if they contact her again , or we'll follow it up .

Thank you so much for my unmerited award Tianc < frames biscuit> but it's trying to fathom PIL which is tricky - the HCPs can't do enough for MIL , which is wonderful

< HF nuzzles Tianc & shodatin for their superior understanding of feline magnificence > < hops onto upward's bed for celebratory flips >

Hope kizzie & madmouse are OK this week... peaceful night , all

so sorry for unmanageably long post( with typos ) - must split into small chunks

I did wonder, hob, whether HF might be one of those contrary cats, but seems she's outgrown that stage, which is really good news, likewise her experience of mouse patrols. Am always pleased to have a green solution - much better than an aerosol - until she gets bored and goes home for a nap.

Hope your DH's family get some help, now there is a proper diagnosis at last, and that MIL starts to feel better very soon.

Very tired, so will say "goodnight", with thanks to tianc for hot choc.

Good Morning All! Another beautiful, sunny morning and no rain due in this dry little corner s in right places> and hoping everyone else is having a good start to the day.

Gorgeous morning here too shodatin , & hope it held out for you & that you've recovered well from last night's exhaustion .

You certainly understand cat psychology ! HF goes wild trying to catch spiders < Puss posts herself at spider entry points in shodatin's home >
< purrs at feeling so appreciated >

Hope upward has a good day ( sorry , forgot to cheer at you having night out last week - delighted to see that )
all round

Many thanks once again from dh too for good wishes for MIL & family

Am well recovered thanks, and hope everyone else is. Thanks also for , which I forget so often, having water-glass at elbow . The only thing I understand about cats is their independance, which should not be under-estimated, although I'm sure you know all about that, managing good communication with HF over the years. (Remembering Tianc would probably appreciate some guarding of spider-entrances too; wonders if HF can recommend any friends or relations in North of England, suitably trained to dispose of spiders, of course, and not those over-enthusiastic youngsters who
think spiders make suitable gifts for people, particularly with a few legs missing.

Thanks for the and hot choc and biscuits, shodatin and TIANC and hob Spider disposing cats sound good, as opposed to those that offer spiders, dead birds and vermin in general.

I'm sorry to hear about your MiL hob

I've negotiated to finish day hosp tomorrow, I definitely have things I should be doing at home.

I hope everyone has a good night!