The Cybergarden - Late Summer Edition

[madmouse]

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

Ooh, ! Thank you!

Really sorry you're so uncomfortable, Upward, hope that it goes off quickly, and you're able to take things sufficiently easy until it does. How frustrating as well as unpleasant for you. But I agree with shodatin, you will go back for attention if the effect seems to be lingering, won't you?

Blimey you must be a fascinating challenge to the docs, what with medications on top of the "pacemaker" thing. And I think you were saying something about guinea-pigging for the neuro folks at the JRI. Best wishes for improvements this week.

shodatin, can definitely see why you joined the writing club ? another fan here enjoying your talents! That muse is a flighty crittur, isn't she? She definitely downs tools here when tired!

Completely agree with hob that we would feel privileged to listen, when it's the right time. BTW, I know you said confidentiality isn't a problem, but don't forget you can also namechange and start a separate thread if that's ever appropriate.

And hob, of course that goes for you too ? it sounds like shodatin's specialist knowledge may be just what you need. I'm a bit worried you mention physical safety, tho. I so hope that isn't an issue for you or your relative. If it is, please don't wait to go to the police!

Oh, let me come back to our beautiful, safe garden! Think I'll find some rugs to flumph under for a bit of peaceful star-gazing. Might get to hear that nightingale again, and there's always the lovely music of the little fountain. Bliss!

Another beautiful morning here (makes tray of , mainly espressos as now considered 'good-for-you' but a few more calming choices included). Have decided to do this week's shop today in larger sea-side town, which will no doubt be buzzing for the next week or so, due to wonderful weather forecast.
Hope everyone else is able to enjoy lovely weather, and has time to do a bit of relaxation in the sun at some time.

Ooh, hope it's not too late in the day for espresso now!

Beautiful weather here, too. Nice to have a bit of variety with your shopping trips ? I hope you got there before the crowds this morning!

Anther one hoping you got a bit of sunshine & holiday atmosphere , shodatin , without the full force of the crowds . I noticed a huge queue of people today for the seaside tourbus ... I love a sunny September dayl

Am still catching up , sorry - what a paradise you you paint , Tianc , stargazing whilst listening to the water - music , with Her Magnificence & maybe even a nightingale serenade < hypnotised > I 'll store those images in my mind as a calming meditation .

Really , really wishing for your discomfort to ease , upward,so you can enjoy everyday pleasures rather than feel groggy / sleep .

Thank you so very much for the concern , shodatin & Tianc , and I do intend to continue strategies to ensure access to relative in times of illness & such , by involving official types where possible < long haul >

I really relate to that sense you mention of lacking imagination , shodatin, & have in the past tried exercises to change this , as I'm sure you have . Thing is , I really don't get the sense that you do lack same < truly >

Aaagh , today's medical appt very frustrating as doc wants to give me a fancy referral but for nhs to agree to it , doc needs to see a bit more obvious disability in the surgery rather than just in my everyday life ...not an uncommon problem with my (permanent) condition , & have more appts in which to come up with the goods . I'm sure you all understand , though you may be askance at my apparent fitness ... as am I

To clear my mind , I went shopping for a pressie for dear friends who are marrying on Saturday . Each bus arrived the moment I required it , the sun was blazing but the streets quiet , & then I just "knew" which shop contained the right item ... I also had a sense of my late Dad being around , & a very unusual song associated with him came on in the shop as shop lady got vase down for me , so I like to think he found the gift . ( v sorry if these notions distress or offend )

Hope we're all OK after warm day
< Refreshing cordials and flavoured fizzy waters, plus may I recommend some of this acohol free lager , even for those who found regular lager watery & nasty>

I would have sent good wishes if I'd realised you had a medical appointment today hob, as I realise these have often been difficult for you, and it seems that difficulties are continuing - such a shame. Just an idea, but do you have contact with any HCP who might be able to say something useful to GP?
It must indeed be frustrating for you, but I hope all goes right eventually.

Glad you had a good day, and enjoyed the shopping expedition, and I can't imagine anyone being distressed or offended by the connection with your Dad, which must have been a comforting experience.

Many thanks for refreshing cordial, which has reminded me to renew Lemon Barley Water for hot few days remaining.
Will say "goodnight now", and hope everyone sleeps well and peacefully.

Thank you!

Sorry today's appt was frustrating, hob. It does sound like the doc is on your side so to speak, trying to get together enough evidence to "make a case" for the referral (to his financial mgmt, I'd guess). Tedious for you to go through, but to a good end.

What a lovely shopping trip too ? and for an even more lovely reason! Wishing your friends a very special day on Saturday, surrounded by the love of all who hold them dear.

Hope your MIL is still doing OK, and things are looking better for care at home. My goodness, it's a lot in a short time that you're having to get to grips with. Glad to hear the access to relative situation can wait a bit.

Another sunny morning here, with washing-machine on as usual at this season, as you say Tianc, in the last sunshine of the year. I was too tired to sit in the sun yesterday (!) so had an hour's nap instead, and felt the difference.
Am mid-way through another seasonal job, sorting and defrosting freezer, and am pleased with self for getting on with it, although nothing interesting here.

Greeting new neighbour was important, I think, and I hope it's the start of a good relationship. One of my neighbours downsized recently because their previous place was noisy, so of course we get on well because I'm so quiet and really don't need to do anything to be popular.

Am adding my greetings to the usual garden visitors, including hob of course, who is virtually resident, and also hoping that upward is finding life easier as time goes on.

Time for an espresso, I think; will leave tray out + alternatives.

< rolls out of hedge after looong snooze ,revived by Tianc's strenghthening vibes > Amazingly hot day here too < replaces aired rugs in summerhouse >

Magnificent toil there , * shodatin < cranberry & elderflower drink > Many thanks for delicious espresso , & hope you're not too tired now .

Good grief Tianc , no strenghthening tweak juice all day - you must indeed have needed that nap . Excellent start to neighbour relationship yesterday.

We're all thinking of you , upward, hoping the physical problems are getting much better, and you can resume your sorting & interesting activities

Thank you so much Tianc for your heartfelt wedding wishes for my friends . They've been together more than 25 years but have had a lot of bereavement & other loss in recent years so their many friends want to celebrate joyously this weekend. < wonders how to transport unwieldy breakable present to reception >

Massive thanks shodatin , Tianc & upward for support with HCPs . This GP is very supportive so far & suggested I see a neurolgist specialising in my condition- indeed , to nominate one I'd like to see if nhs can fund it but needs better grounds to put forward the referral at the moment ... I have other appts related to it all , & will get referral eventually < drums fingers >.

Lots more lovely things to read on our thread but visiting hours for MIL are early so had best begone - they're keeping her in lest they get sued to puton more weight on , & caring for her very well . Don't think she'll manage without homecare though , & after years of trying to persuade ILs and SIL to accept it , I think it will all work out OK after all thank you all SO MUCH for support,and sorry for wailing & gnashing

Lovely evening to us all

Now happily rehydrated, though DP is shaking his head at me in despair.

Ran out of laundry to do today, so have had to vicariously enjoy shodatin's dancing in the sunlight. Well done on getting the freezer done, too. How very satisfying!

hob that sounds like huge progress on both fronts in the last few weeks, with both you and MIL finally starting to get the (very different) care you need. I know that doesn't change the diagnoses, but I have my fingers crossed both of you get real improvements in quality of life.

Have you decided what you're wearing on Saturday? Such excitement!

Upward hope you've been able to enjoy both the sun and your nice cool flat! I wonder if you've been able to treat yourself to evensong since moving house?

madmouse, have some of hob's delicious cordials!

kizzie, hope this week hasn't been as hectic for you as last.

And greetings to all our other visitors!

Thanks for the hob (I often drink it cold), must be the last tonight, although I wish I could stay up to accompany tianc with one of the nice fresh rugs. Did I mention I managed to get the hall rug into the washing-machine and dried today? Am definitely making the most of the sunshine, but plan to do less tomorrow.
Hope everyone has a good night.

I hope nobody suffers from the heat today.

So good to see you , upward < & thank you for thinking of our comfort when you're the one we're willing to feel much better < gets out pampass fan > what staggeringy warm weather it is, with people round here walking about dreamily.

How are you managing today , shodatin , after your wrestling wwith hall rug & apparent spring cleaning ? Hope you're enjoying rest day .

Sounds as though you were worn out yesterday , Tianc < offers further hydration > [smile} at your vigilant DP & the glorious tinkling fountain. Hope you don't have too many pressing tasks or other worries & can take some unscheduled time to relax

Thank you for always remembering to greet madmouse &kizzie*, who are strong presences here even when too busy to post -very best wishes .

Am indeed all aflounce with frivolity , fussing around wedding clothes , Tianc ... am never going to win award for taste as still dress as if in 1988 , but really ought to buy an ironing board rethink my footwear < in sunshiney whirl >

MIL seemed far better last night , though not calling for aid when really needing it, argh .. some whispers of a possible discharge date < fingers crossed >

Kind neighbours have been trying to cach a stray pussycat on nearby allotments , to take it to PDSA to check its back legs health -dh was searching for it under the stars , & this morning thinks he saw same trotting about apparently uninjured , except in pride .

< HFNC and Tianc's stout - hearted young tom awaken to restart their patrolling >

apologies for typos - obviously in need of brew]

Hello again upward, hope you're feeling better and have managed to maintain a comfortable temperature. It's just right here, inside and out, although the wildlife must have been surprised when I threw a bowl-ful of compacted ice lumps over the back garden while finishing off the garage freezer, in fact, this years' arrivals m ust have been totally baffled, having not previously seen any ice . Short break here while I forgot I was posting , including more time in garden, and now (4p.m.) a bit too hot for comfort. Hope you're still ok, in the cool part of your flat.

Such a glorious day to day! Hope we've all managed to stay "just right", like shodatin.

Certainly have here, tho maybe was a little too busy. We've had some new exterior woodwork, is my excuse, so it's hard not to seize the good days and plunge on.

Definitely bed time now tho.

Night to all. Hope we all sleep well and wake refreshed.

'Night tianc, and thankyou for strawberry granita, which is lovely. Agree it 's 'hard not to seize the good days and plunge on', and I've been doing way too much because of the weather. Hope you're not planning to do any painting of new woodwork just now, but realise how tempting it could be.

Hope everyone has a good night, and that upward is managing to sleep right through these days.

Is it safe to assume we're all resting today ? That would of course be very sensible after your extra effort , shodatin & Tianc . . Hope you're a bit less exhausted etc , upward ( having also worked hard recently at sorting in new home ) and not far off being able to "potter" a bit , but I fear the warmth may make you tire more quickly .

Sorry didn't say good morning but would have missed lift into town , where everyone seemed to be in shorts , wearing huge grin .

Poor dh still at work & busiest time of year hasn't begun yet ... he should be watering plants in the cool evening air . Am very excited to still be getting cucumbers from plot ( spiney , slug - thwarting ones ) , & dh has grown perfect late peas rather than the moth infested ones I always get .

< sets out array of berries on summerhouse table , with low - fat pouring "cream" , ditto custard , and soya icecream >

Hope kizzie and madmouse and families have a good few dayse

Congratulations to hob and her dh for wonderful late harvest, I used to love the small, hardy cucumbers, and peas are lovely (remembering Clay Jones years ago, saying what he always liked to have in the garden was a good pea).
Apologies for rude memory; must be the hot weather.
It was my intention to have a rest today, but with a chicken in the fridge and space in the freezer, I did some cooking instead.
Many thanks for berry feast, more harvest? Really yummy custard too!

Heh, shodatin you understood my inadvertently cryptic comment about woodwork! I confess I am indeed painting ? in that inefficient bit-by-bit fashion where you spend more time cleaning brushes and laying/removing dustsheets than actually working. But it won't get done otherwise and 'tis worth getting a little ill round the corners.

Very impressed by your harvest hob. That sounds awesomely productive compared to my single courgette. Will be thinking of you at the wedding tomorrow ? hope this great weather continues for it.

DP is reading over my shoulder and snickering at your "good pea", shodatin. Chicken... yummmm!

Think my black & white guard must be jolly effective, thank you hob, because we've had very few spiders so far this season. But maybe they're just waiting for me to say a foolish thing like that.

Hope your place is also an arachnid-free-zone, Upward. Or perhaps you don't mind them too much?

Another warm night. I shall turn in, thinking of the soft breeze in the cybergarden and the smell of jasmine on the air... Sleep well all.

Morning all - yet another beautiful day here, but am due at surgery for flu jab, which seems inappropriate in this weather.
My DH liked the Clay Jones quote, in fact, he seemed to suddenly wake up and take an interest in the programme -"so do I, yes, quite right Mr. Jones" when it's likely I would have missed it.
My miserable tomato crop is now explained - I used last year's seed from what must have been an F1 Hybrid, because the few fruits I got were definitely Gardeners' Delight, which were my usual variety for many years (another little gardening mystery solved).

Rabbits! (1st Oct) Hope everyone avoids the pinching and punching .

Ooh, so 'tis! Or was ? just a few minutes past. Does one say "rabbits" in return?

Hope flu jab doesn't cause any side effects, but good to know you'll have some protection this winter.

And I'm eager to know about using last year's tomato seed. I saved a few this year after murdering our tomato plant, another F1 Hybrid (Tumbler, I think) but I don't understand the implications of this. Do these produce barren offspring or something?

hob hope you've had a fabulous day, and get safely home and tucked up for a good rest tomorrow. Any chance you'll be able to take things easy for a few days after what sounds like a hectic week or two?

Upward do hope your flat is keeping its cool, and the dizziness is nearly over now.

We'll be moving back into the orangerie in a few weeks, I dare say, so making the most of the stargazing in the cybergarden.

Good (misty) morning to all! Am hoping for cooler weather since yesterday's, but can't get enthusiastic about this mist. Can't remember now about the "Rabbits", sorry, it's something from childhood.

It's about as long since I first learned about the F1s, and not all plants are the same, some don't set viable seed and some produce plants of one or both parents, so basically it's not worth using F1s, sorry. I was able to use own seed for ages because they were Gardeners' Delight and nothing tasted as good, despite small size, but now there are various F1 Hybrids from GD, and I bought one last year and saved seed in a fit of absent-mindedness.

Thanks for the view of you stargazing in the cybergarden - would have joined you but I was tired after a trip out with friend yesterday.
Hope hob had a lovely time at friends' wedding, and not too hot.

Still scorching here! My painting has been stymied by the paint drying faster than I can apply it...

Will pass on the bad news about F1s to DP, but at least that will save us tenderly nurturing little seedlings next year, planting in excitement and then blaming ourselves for our horticultural failure.