The Cybergarden - Late Summer Edition

[madmouse]

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

Morning all, another beautiful morning too, so am hoping to do some pottering outside.
Espresso first, I think, with a tray of extras inc. optional milk and cream for anyone else who'd like a mug of "starter".

4 birthdays , upward - what a challenge . [hgrin] at shodatin's*' shockers of pressies . I've found it much harder lately to choose decent gifts as I'm often not up to date enough on trecipient's hobbies to know what they'sd really like - people often get specialist items on ebay now , & it's pointless to even try to compete with that - but am sure it's still preferable to receive a personally - chosen gift.

Tianc your totally unmerited kindness brought many a tear to my bad temepered eye & boosted my confidence no end ( have offended SIL even more wrt MIL's care ) Thank you all so much - I know write too much and have been shocked to see how egotistical I am -seeing yourself on the page is a learning experience . I hope upward doesn't feel forgotten in all my wordiness .

Hope you enjoy a potter , shodatin - beautiful here , too .< sips espresso as delicately as possible >

Christmas preparations already ...( am not Christian myself , shodatin but obviously most of my Meeting are & I enjoy enoy their celebrations , & our soppy little traditions at home ).. You are brave inviting DB at a time when he's not feeling optimistic & probably can't raise any enthusiasm - I find it's better to have very low expectations but am sure there's nothing I can teach you about making the best of these things )

Great news to hear our DN is finding her working environment more conducive -- though a sure she's working like a demon - she sounds a fine person .

Lots more to chatter about but must be trotting ( not for worthiness ,but for a bit of frivolity with DM as a celebration day for her) & will look out for Xmas gifts , thanks to you all < please look away , *Tianc > - think my Mum needs a gnome for her balcony garden ,

Hope we all have a lovely afternoon < herbal s >

Hi Hob, whatever is this stuff about you being egotistical?
It.s nonsense, even if your SIL doesn't approve of you at present, and am pleased you plan a frivolous day with DM after all the extra non-frivolities of the past few weeks.

DB invited himself for Christmas this year, a first, and to me a sign that he's recovering, so am pleased for this reason, although lacking confidence in my physical abilities, which is why I've started so early.

One of my old friends told me she'd be happy with anything as a present, and left unsaid the fact that she recycles them anyway. I've had about 25 years of old rubbish, which is why I'm less than tolerant these days.
My system for the last few years has been to collect small items over the year that I know people can use (or recycle!) and put 2-3 in a fancy container, in the hope that at least one will be welcome, and people do seem to like the recyclable bags and boxes.
As a result of the recession, people seem to be spending less on presents, or making home-made, which I think is a good thing, particularly if it avoids starting the New Year in debt.
Hope you and DM enjoy your day, and the shopping too.
(And of course she'd like a gnome...)

Yes, all the presents are for adults - thanks for the luck, I'll need it.

I can't see where you've been egotistical, hob - I see lots of you being supportive (as do shodatin and Tianc and many others).

Good news today - three weeks til I see CMHT again (unless I feel it's necessary)! Onwards and upward is definitely the theme.

It's really good news upward, that you don't need to see the team for another three weeks, and congratulations.
Looking back, I think you've done amazingly well with your recovery, and I'm really impressed and pleased for you.

I'm sure you'll manage the presents, even though four is a lot at one time. Do you ever pretend you're buying for yourself, and get something you really like?

Evening for you amazing and comforting people
Fabulous news ,upward !!!!!! What testament to the progress you 've made & we want to celebrate with you < organ strikes up > < fireworks >
< sumptuous banquet is readied > < dancer reels to a joyous jig heralding a less claustrophobic lifestyle >,
Hope this relief will in turn help you in many ways .

That is the ultimate idea for present, shodatin - you have changed my life with this suggestion ! Our family does the predictable & dull thing of only getting each other a pressie from a small list , but it does take the fun out of the busines ... now that fun will reappear , & with the pleasure of being thrifty & greener .

Hmmm , I'll look through dh's skype messages to see if I can find the site which might help you find any gift you're really stumped on , upward . ( I want to find the site for my quest too )

Was very fortunate to enjoy some glorious sushine & a look round a favourite ruin , & then cluster of charity shops with my DM , where I found a brilliant coat & a glam jacket which will just have to stretch [hgrin] . Wish I could have dragged you all out with us today .
Haven't spotted "the" gnomic One yet , shodatin , but have no doubt I will be able to present my mum with her beardy soulmate , thanks to inspiration from you

MIL may be dischrged tomorrw [hsmile] whicch would be brilliant , but am sure personal care will have to be arranged ( & should have been long since , of course )
Thank you all so much for your kind words , which mean an enormous amount to me < working on glaring faults >

Sorry for yet more typos

Am loving the wild celebrations described by hob for upwards freedom from CMHT, particularly mention of less claustrophobic lifestyle and sumptuous banquet, of course.
Grateful for too, which I still find difficult to remember.
I recently found out that there is a gnome home about two miles from here, in next village, so will be dropping in to visit one day soon. Such a shame you're so far away hob, and that gnomes generally weigh too much to put in the post.
Been told that one can purchase on a paint-your-own basis, and would like to find a tortoise if possible, to replace one I found and painted years ago for DB - it was stolen, and not something available to buy on the high street.

Time to say goodnight, and hope everyone sleeps well.

Mmm, yum, thank you for espressos, shodatin. I sneaked onto the thread earlier and grabbed one still hot, while the workman was here.

I know what you mean about planning in advance to not outstrip your physical capacities. We start Xmas food prep at least a week before, chopping and mixing and freezing or fridging whatever can be kept, even peeling and slicing the potatoes a couple of days before and storing them in water.

Upward that's great news about the CMHT! Onwards and upwards and upwards indeed. And I need to do some serious present hunting too, for a mix of adults and wee ones, so I'm taking notes from all you wise people.

But gnomes? I see no gnomes! Don't know what you're talking about, hob.

And have to agree with everyone else, what egotism or glaring faults? Other than perfectionism, generosity of soul and selfless concern for others?

Talking of which, tentative yay for possible discharge of MIL. Sounds like you're not sure if the personal care's in place yet. I do hope FIL's energies are directed that way ? can imagine he's the right person in the right place to make sure that happens, once he's decided to go for it (much harder if you're trying to coordinate from outside the household).

Bedtime here. Hope everyone has made it off the sofa and is tucked up warm. Sleep well, lovely people.

Wildly excited here to be joined in our celebrations by piratical persons as well as gnomes Can we all be in costume ? pleeeeeease ?
Can you manage a spot of facepainting on a few of we hulking grownups , shodatin ?

Did we hear you mention workmen at yours , Tianc? If so , you'll be needing another of shodtin's moreish espressos < whirr whirr goes cyber coffee machine >

Would agree it sounds a very hopeful sign that your DB has asked to come to you 2 years in a row shodatin , & am finding these tips on advance preparation brilliantly useful . We often resort to frozen foods at Christmas ( not even the expensive type either , but the sort which MNers start theads to disparage [hsmile], but would like to have the homecoked taste so must try to do more batch cooking

Find it helpful to have a contigency plan for sleepiness / flu , partly just really good prerecorded programmes , but also versions of favourite traditions eg Christmas carol services / the woodland walk can be taken on Google Map Streetview . We do sometimes have to reposition a more bustly Xmas later in the week ,or even the winter [hgrin] but do love just loafing about watching schmaltz .

Thank you Tianc , PIL v much in need of home & personal carers for ages now but many obstacles other than stress of inviting strangers into home ...agree FIL is best placed to sort we'll be prosecuted for neglect in the meantime He's up at the hospital asking the docs some hard questions as we speak .

[hgrin][hgrin] Oh what joy to find a gnome home , shodatin & I wish I could share your visit there , which will surely provide further inspiration for a PYO gnome . How lovely to know gnomes congregate to work purposefully & share their valuable experience .

Bah at thieved tortoise .. I've seen a version of this on the hight street in the past so am guessng yours was a rustic looking creature ? - haven't spotted him on the net yet but now you've mentioned it , I bet one of us will meet his twin when browsing the shops / secondhand sales & point him in your direction for the long walk to you.

< speechless for words adequate to thank you all for your kind thoughts , which are some of the most memorable & cheering I've ever received < looks at recent culprit Tianc accusingly & very gratefully >. [flowers ] >

< signs up to a life time of spider rehoming & weeding the cybergarden > < buffs orangery glass to a sparkling shine >
( off to get thicker rugs for our evenings in orangery - thank you for ideas on postbox draughtproofing on the winter warmth thread , Tianc )

Been over-doing it today, as now extremely tired, plus a bit confused about the pirates - have possibly missed a posting, as certainly get delays sometimes. Have also been a bit muddled mentioning DB recently, sorry hob, but he was not with me last Christmas, having planned to have meal with nearby friend and family and ending up in the river instead, which is, I think, why he's coming here. (Sea is nearby but no local rivers).
Will have relaxing evening and rejoin you all later, and apologies for misunderstandings.

Oh no , shodatin , incredibly sorry for the mix up . I thought you said DB asked to come to you for Christmas "again" . Am so shocked to see more of the circumstances of the day you nearly lost him &, amazed it was so comparatively recent , thinking somehow it was several years since the initial hospitalisation .
Your worry for him must have been acute all year , yet in the time you have spent on upward's thread you have brought a steady supply of wit & fun & unique experiences .

Wish you could receive some semi - formal backup during your support of DB . I imagine you wouldn't feel up to travelling to any local drop ins / support groups for relatives . Perhaps a support worker / counsellor could be of assistance ? I know you mentioned your good friend had trid to be helpful during that time .

Does seem very encouraging that DB wants to spend a potentially evocative time with you - testament to your comforting presence - & I hope you're not too nervous . ( & please don't worry about answering any of my meddling & over obvioussuggestions , just please keep an eye on your own emotional & health needs )

Sorry you're so intensely tired & hope you've enjoyed a restful evening . My apologies for inferring a pirate or two - Tianc said last night :
" But gnomes ? I see no gnomes ! Don't know what you're talking about , hob . < lowers spyglass > < re -adjusts eyepatch > "

MIL has been brought home !![hgrin] & it's brilliant so good to see her there , though she is far weaker and shakier than a couple of months ago . There's a huge list of medicines but no one dagnosis ( will ask more ) . Her feeding machine was whirring in a friendly manner , & FIL was able to reprogram it straight away when it stalled as he'd had experience of designing the electronics of such machines !

celebratory s round blazing summerhouse stove
Hope upward has had a good day , & that kizzie , madmouse , pixie NanaNina & butterpie are all well tonight

< creeps back >Tianc was of course in nautical mode there , not necessarily piratical < reboots brain >

Thanks for the explanations hob - I don't normally get so tired, and no reason at all for you to apologise. I do remember having a giggle at tiancs gnome-blindness, and you're right, I didn't make a pirate connection, but thank you for copying it out for me.

I remember a hospital nurse telling me last Christmas that they were frequently concerned about their patients' relatives needing some support too, and am sure I could have had more personal talks with them if necessary, but we seem to have done reasonably well. We're much closer too, which is wonderful after so many years of the depression disease.

Your MIL has done well too, and I'm so pleased for you and DH that she's at home at last. Being home again will be tiring at first, as upward probably experienced, and it's good that her DH is able to help. Life will be even better if they can arrange some help, and less worrying for you.

Just noticed the time, and had planned an early night to recharge tired brain, so will say a goodnight, sleep tight.

Naval mode, hob, Nelsonian, even. But 'twas an obscure reference naughtily dropped in, so sorry for confusion, and going piratical was an inspired way to take it!

But but but your MIL is home! Hallelujah! I do hope things settle in smoothly and she's good and comfortable. And I'm smiling in recognition at FIL's competence with machine after his impatience with staff about it, and his concise, pertinent questions about MIL's swallowing problems. Engineer, then? Are we related?

Here's wishing everyone a good, peaceful, reinvigorating weekend (I'm going away).

Morning all, and a "hi" for tianc's DP for kindly sending us regards. We do seem to have known each another for a long time, in fact it was DB's problems which made me concerned for someone else last year, but didn't want to make him the subject by adding details. Or worry anyone unnecessarily. Once again, everyone's good wishes are really appreciated, and am looking forward to this Christmas.
Hope upward enjoys time away from home and returns refreshed, and would like to add my thanks for details of Warm Front.
Returned to sleep after alarm this a.m., so must have needed it, however inconvenient to lose part of such a lovely day, but have almost caught up on chores now and luckily I don't seem to have missed anything/anyone.
Hope everyone else is feeling well and enjoying this late sunshine.

Hi all - humbled to see I'm still being mentioned on here despite not having posted for yonks. Hope you're all doing well. I'm doing good, life is kind of flying past a bit right now - Mousling has a proper special needs trike now, bright yellow, and is learning to pedal it. He loves it a lot :)

Evening , fabulous people ! So good to see you , madmouse ,dearly loved poster who's spent many hours enlightening encouraging others .< poor madmouse scurries off > we need fairy lights and a lantern lit feast in honour of trike -ing Mousling < puts party on hold till upward returns>

< waves to Tianc's DP & hope he's recovered from bad cold ... oh yes , would he care to suggest any bulbs to plant in the the cybergarden ?>

Thank you for being so understanding about my horrible blunder , shodatin , & am so glad you're looking forward to this Christmas - marking , as Tianc says , a new milestone & making some new memories .

It is amazing how this thread has developed , bringing so much encouragement ,friendship & hilarity , & it's very moving that such extreme times for DB & you gave rise to your being able to support others in such a sensitive & knowledgable way .

Hope upward is having a lovely time , & returns refreshed after her cheering greeting this morning . How fabulous that someone has got the Warm Homes grant already because of her thread .

A local group I belong to set up a meeting of people wanting to oppose the cuts affecting people with disabilities < about time > with many people directly affected , & many ideas . Also gave me the chance to reconnect with a couple of old friends

Hope you 've had a good day after your therapeutic lie -in , shodatin
< delicate smell of jsmine still discernible by the orangery >

Thanks for the latest news about Mouseling's trike, madmouse, am so pleased he's enjoying new toy with more speed and possibly extra liberty. Also glad to hear life is better for you these days, and hope it continues.

You're right hob, it is amazing how this thread has developed, but it's very definitely to my benefit too. You're being too generous as usual, as I thought this p.m. when
re-arranging pot of last limnanthes, still blooming and available for any bees and butterflies which may be around.
Thanks to you, I have enough for next year too, and for anyone else who's interested, so thanks again.
Big thanks for too, and yes, sleep was beneficial.

Good but very tiring day today ? went to town to frolic in the sunshine!

And here's a big tray of of all our favourite kinds to celebrate our lovely cybergarden, which today is full of so many good things!

Have a marvellous weekend away, Upward ? assuming it's that sort of weekend not just duty or work.

And madmouse, how lovely to see you, and with such great news. The cybergarden is very wheel-friendly, so mouseling can whizz his trike round in between making castles in his sandpit (remember that?).

DP is very touched at bulb request, hob, and says to me, "But you already know how I'll answer that!" Apparently you can never have too many snowdrops. He loves the fact they can do this!

Glad your day was so productive, and shodatin's both restorative and full of sunshine and incredible late blooms.

Falling asleep here, so g'night to you all, lovelies.

Another lovely day, including time spent in garden and more time spent renovating my home-made Christmas tree which was only just large enough last year when I ran out of time.One of my foreign friends going home for Christmas has requested I set it up early - must check dates, but am almost ready.
Good idea to increase snowdrop bulbs, as they come in many varieties, but have previously moved them "in the green" so not sure where to get them at this season.

Am presently planning to install a window-box outside bathroom and adjacent to front door where it can be seen without being in the way, and thinking of using grey foliages/blue-mauve flowers, partly because I have some pots in this colour and could paint a few more to increase colour while awaiting more flowers, like mini-iris, squills, gentians, violets/violas and the creeping campanulas. Any more ideas please? (although this seems a lot already for a small window).

Still tired so will say "goodnight" to all - sleep well.

shodatin that window box sounds gorgeous, and already outstripping my knowledge. The only additional thing I can think of is that silver-grey foliage plant with lovely fronds about 6 inches high. Senecio cineraria, according to magical google.

So impressed at the home-made Christmas tree ? how lovely that your friend should get to see it before she goes.

Lovely sunny day here, too ? we had lunch in the garden. And spent far too much time on yesterday's Guardian crossword, which has us still stumped right now. The weekend is ending, and we are defeated!

Hope hob, Upward, madmouse, kizzie and butterpie had good days ? Upward is away of course.

It's been so mild here, I'm not sure you'll need warming in the summerhouse ? but there's no such thing as too much tea, so I'll make a pot anyway!