The Cybergarden - Late Summer Edition

[madmouse]

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

Gosh it's cold outside. I like sprouts, esp with chestnuts.

Hope you're warm enough inside, upward, and hope you get plenty of sprouts and chestnuts at Christmas.
Tianc always makes an effort to keep summerhouse warm and clean and .cosy, and I rarelyremember it when I have time to sit.

Know the feeling when washing's ready to hang out, tianc, but these days I just fold it up until next day (assuming there's a good forecast, of course), when I can congratulate self for getting it out bright and early, meanwhile it hides nicely in washing machine and saves wet washing display indoors. (Sluttish hint from frozen North)

Did anyone see Jamie Oliver's Christmas food programme? Bits I saw were quite good, and mainly about how to pre-prepare big dinner and relax on the day, which is exactly how I'm managing it. Today I had a bit of a trial run, (excluding most veg which is mainly still in fridge), and was delighted with tender slices of turkey in good gravy and fresh-seeming potatoes etc - I always have pre-prepared at least one stuffing separately, unless doing a boneless and stuffed bird of course. This was a huge lunch by my standards, so hope I don';t nod off and miss more of the day. (Saves pud experiment for another day)

Thanks shodatin - I think I'll have to do a post-Christmas shop for goodies :)

I tumble all my washing, just to take the edge off it as there aren't many places to hang it (outside has communal lines, not sure about that).

I'm glad that your cooking trial went well - a task itself, doing the meal. Are you doing traditional pud?

It's quite chilly now, not sure if that's from when I went out earlier, or the general temperature. Maybe turn it up in a bit.

Can't quite believe it's Monday tomorrow.

I can't wait until it's night-time...

Just returned to laptop, and hoping you're feeling warmer upward, also hoping you had a better sleep last night.

Not doing traditional pud, just a chocolate version which looks traditional, and hoping I can find something non-poisonous to decorate top - cake decoration?- but time yet.
Hope you've had a decent day and are now able to see stars outside.

Chocolate's always a good choice. Maybe sleep better tonight.

Hope everyone has a good start of the week.

At least we're due for good weather tomorrow, which always makes me feel better, particularly when driving.

Good luck for a good sleep tonight upward, it is so important, as you mentioned earlier. My problem is usually the opposite, don't wake up easily then have problems staying awake, but it's easier to cope with than insomnia, which I well remember. I got interested in astronomy through being awake so often, and still enjoy star-gazing, which is also one of the benefits of these very cold nights. (Off to put heating on for bit longer).

Goodnight all - sleep well upward.

< weaves to all , drooling at all thesucculent food >
Have been offline all day as hard drive finally killed forever by the unshakeable virus ( was very old and well overloaded ) I thought months without internet loomed , but DH had a donated hard drive in reserve , and has spent about 15 hellish hrs fiddling with old and new machines

Am still catching up , but sending best wishes for restorataive sleep , especially of course to 8upward*

Practice run sounds delicious , shodatin

How amazing that your approach has cured DP of his sprout aversion , Tianc . I do love them , and crave chestnuts all year round

( shodatin , my mum & dad reminisced fondly about the sellers of hot chestut sellers in France - did you ever eat any ? )

Peaceful night to us all < turns out fairy lights only when last cybergardener to bed has glimpsed them > .

Eek at your computer travails, hob. You must be shattered. So glad to see you have triumphed over technology in time for goodnights.

Ha ha, sluttish hint gratefully received, shodatin! Wet laundry now in cold room, awaiting sun or any space on the clothes horse tomorrow. (No tumble drier, but can't complain as can hide clothes horse in spare room.)

Trial dinner sounds yummy! Chocolate pud... who could say no?

Hope you've warmed up now in bed Upward. It's been cold to the bone here too? Hope today was better apart from icicle-isation.

shodatin did you know that Caroline Herschel, sister of the Astronomer Royal William Herschel, found her ink frozen in the bottle as she recorded observations with her brother on a night like tonight?

I found that happened to me when I first started the meds - can be just as frustrating as not sleeping shodatinAstronomy sounds a great hobby for insomniacs.

I'm glad your dh got the computer sorted, must have been anxiety inducing.

I am thinking of getting some vacuum pack chestnuts after Christmas (to spread the nice food out).

I did warm up thanks tianc - it was more the shock of being cold whilst wearing outdoor gear.

Hope we're seeing rain now instead of next weekend

Morning all - whatever happened to the good weather forecast? Feel embarrassed about suggesting leaving wet clothes now, tianc [blush)

You are so lucky with DH, hob, how wonderful to have someone who saves spares then spends time fixing, am so pleased we still have your company here. I do remember French chestnut sellers, but didn't eat any due to economy drive at the time - now I buy dried /tinned year round, and as upward suggests, after Christmas vaccuum packs too.

Didn't know about the Herschels, tianc, but not surprised. I remember the pre-central-heating days, with ice patterns on inside of bedroom windows, which is probably why I no longer mind the cold in short periods.

Thanks for telling me about sleepiness, upward, it doesn't seem too bad now. Hope you had a good night and feel calm and capable this morning.

I'm awake but tired - maybe I will try curling up for a bit. Today's 'treat' is quite bad really - after eights are doing straws this year that are essentially a long piece of the mint fondant coated in dark chocolate, and 4 are 97 kcal, which is a good calorie value for treats - not banning anything outright does seem to work for me.

Hope everyone's having a good day

Interesting news about the mint straws upward, and I tend to limit anything sweet (mainly yoghurts and choc I think) to around 100 cal, and then think of half as about right, so I could have two! Or be sensible and have one only of course, so it's good news, and glad the system works for you, you've done so well. Hope you managed small nap this p.m. as I gather they;re actually good for one.

Have had a busy day - lunch with old friend at her house, which was lovely, then home (too early) for new helper, who got a tremendous amount done as well as bringing a surprise cake for us to have at break-time - lovely but am really tired now, having completed absolutely final food for freezer, wiped worst of farm mud off my car lights and remembered put bin out ready for morning. Sad that I can remember when I'd also be able to fit in a couple of social occasions, walk dog have bath do washing and prepare a meal without even slowing down.

Hope everyone else has had a good day, at least it's been warmer here.

< adds warmed moss to upward's nestbox> Sorry so tired , upward , and that I missed your having got soaked & cold

After Eight straws sound a very good value treat , and so good to hear you allowing yourself some . I recommend chestnuts all year round as shodatin does , surprisingy satisfying , like nice brown mushrooms - odd connection to make I know

Aw , isn't that always the way shodatin , that when one reaches a destination , the famous local treats are not easily affordable
.
Yes indeed shodatin , you can imagine how grateful I am for DH , and I don't take a moment for granted ... you cannot imagine what would have happened to me if he hadn't steadfastly & cheerfully supported me over the the years , as I have some sort of social anxiety / communication difficulty ( despite him being as comfortable dealing with outside agencies as you say your DP is , Tianc - don't you think the sales people etc can "smell" someone sensitive they can try to bully ) . I try to stick up for him in turn with family etc

Thank you so much for taking the trouble to ask your friend about Imp powder , DH amazed such a product exists- will get some and enjoy results ! Maybe clothes on horse will dry quicker ... I feel a bit of your pain with indoor drying , Tiancbut in winter I do resort to part drying in tumbledrier as house cold & heavier items stay soggy , but is disgustingly eco unfriendly . Love your tip shodatin for feeling virtuous when hang out washing early next day !
Apreciate also idea of spare bottle and preparing dinner < marks place for food chat >

Have had a (painless) increase of health condition over recent week or so so am falling behind on thread as engage in Battle of the Objects and try to finally send some cards and emails this week

mulled apple juice and upward's magic
wholemeal gingerbread / low fat festive bread
hmmmm , we oght to have loaf / cake made with prunes on our festive table

I'm sorry to hear that you're being affected by health condition, hob Happy to lend a hand with the objects if needed.

Thanks for the and gingerbread. That sounds awfully busy yet nice, shodatin

Maybe I should have found a coat earlier.

Sorry missed your post shodatin .- what a lot has been achieved today , and how lovely you have tea break with helper

Really feel for you about the huge shrinkage in stamina / abilities . The only thing I can say is thatl ots of us can empathise . Though I'm lucky still to fit in fun things , it's always at the expense of some very basic chore that a self -respecting person would do instead ! I will be back later with long -delayed beagle tale (which you won't have energy to read till tomorrow ) and I will dig out some archeaeolology type links for you to see if enjoyable

Thank you so much , upward - I have very little to complain about , but find it hard to understand explain why I achieve so little with my time Your help with objects is already improving matters here

Perhaps you were still feeling the chill as weather has become so damp ? Round here it still feels realy cold as it's that dampness that "gets in yer bones"

btw I know what you mean about communal washing lines - can be fine when you know all your neighbours , but feels a bit iffy when new in a complex of flats . ( especially the actual venturing into the communal area )

Now to try to get living room more orderly < switches on Christmas films to speed hopeless task >
< finds upward has already done half the work >

< gratefully clinks communal tankards of hot mulled juice with all >

Sorry , a "freeze" meant last two posts arrived very late

Good luck with the living room...and more generally with pacing over Christmas.

last half of the comment was for everyone.

I seem to have missed the part about upward getting wet - so sorry to hear this, it's always so very miserable
and so much worse than just being cold. This must have some connection with buying a coat - sorry but have definitely lost something . When I returned to laptop after few hours, could not get internet connection and hub lights had changed colour, but am surprised some post/s seem to be missing. Hope you're now feeling warm and dry anyway (and hope all computers are behaving from now on).

Have waited patiently for latest beagle tale , hob, so no hurry at all now, and hope you're not too tired at present as you seem to do a great deal, particularly in an unselfish way, not surprising you have to rest.

Now feeling hungry for mulled applejuice and refreshments, but RL soup will do instead.

I'm not sure I did say about getting wet (can't see it when I look). I forgot my coat when I went out today, not sure why.

I do have laptop problems, unfortunately, despite turning it off earlier. It's making a "working" noise, and way too hot near fan, so will turn off again and say "goodnight", hoping to get some help tomorrow. Sleep well all.

p.s; Glad you're ok upward.

So sorry upward and shodatin , my confusion , thinking I'd missed / misread a post about upward having got damp outdoors as well as cold ... foggy brain today .

Thank you for encouragemeing us to stick ( more or less) to pacing , upward , and hope you finally sleep better tonigh t. So sorry laptop problems , shodatin Wish I knew how to advise

Went to late opening ( and empty) shop for a gift , and was longer than expected ... still haven't managed sensible things like a proper meal and it's a new day already ! Will keep trying to catch up with thread

Hope Tianc had largely good day- your Christmas rose sounds beautiful & hope it blooms again this winter

I notice a regular poster asking for opinions on whether she should get a beagle ....
Peaceful night to all
< refills spare hot water bottles for waskeful gardeners >