Cybergarden: Spring into Summer

[Upwardandonward]

Here's a new thread for us.

Thank you for the still no unescorted leave here, I'm trying to take one day at a time.

I hope everyone is ok

It's good to hear from you, upward, even though you're still very restricted on the ward, and you're right about the ODAT - we can survive absolutely anything for the 24 hours, and of course, deserve a pat on the back at the end of each day. I realise they're not giving you a departure date yet, but it must be getting closer, and with any luck, this will be the last time you have to stay in.
Good idea from Merivel about getting an advocate while in hospital at least, and as I remember, there are details on how-to go about this on wall-posters. Staff must be well-used to patients having personal support, and would probably be encouraging rather than disapproving. Sometimes an outsider can understand the larger picture better than we can ourselves, and I'm sure the volunteers must be well-vetted and trained to be helpful in a practical way (like dealing with deliveries).

You did well to do so much yesterday, Merivel, and glad there was a mossy nest available afterwards.
Shame about the band sharing their (altered) opinions, but hope they still sounded good on instruments.
Glad your DH managed to avoid the deer on motorway - good bit of alert driving there, it seems - and hope daft animal has learned something about roads.

So pleased your DH managed to fix computer again; you're so lucky to have help at hand. Friend's daughter is due here soon (school holidays) to check my printer, which is same model as hers and doing unexplained stuff, so am pleased she's agreed to have a look.

to One Day At a Time. Sorry you're having to wait for scarce escorts, Upward. Is the little smoking area accessible without staff - or too full of choking fumes to be enjoyable?

Btw, shodatin I don't know much about posting bulbs - I wonder if your far more extensive horticultural knowledge extends thus far? Do you think jiffy bag with additional bubble wrap will be OK?

Sending bulbs through post, Nilgiri,I'd be inclined to wrap them in damp paper-towel then into plastic bag (blowing some air in) before putting into JiffyBag or similar. Damp should keep greenery alive without paying for cost of sending soil with them, and plastic bag should keep outer wrapper dry and whole.
They are probably not too fragile to need extra packaging. Is there anything I could send as exchange, I wonder? Plenty of spare Parsley,Feverfew & Gardeners' Delight tomato (3")seedlings if you'd like half-a-dozen of each, and seeds spare of Pak Choi, Chard, Rocket, Leeks and Spinach Beet for veg.

My printer is now fixed, thanks to friend's teenager, who seemed surprised at bog-standard cartridges and not at all surprised they'd caused problems. We live & learn.

Good to see you upward and sorry about no escorted leave yet , very stressful for you . Think one day at a time is the best approach , & know you hope you get the chance to rest & feel safer , though that may of course take a bit of time . Really hope you get a few distractions you feel up to < beagle runs up to play > < upward* starts the cybergarden patented ball - throwing machine incorporaatingd magical ball-collecting device >

Excellent points shodatin about advocates , and so pleased your friend's dd is on way to take a look at .
Yes , Dh a very careful driver ,though I know deer/ animals can catch anyone out & deer was on completely empty road & did canter off sensibly afterwards .
Have rambled in my other message about issue of singer with sometime unsavoury views , thank you for taking an interest , -he was proclaimimg v progressive ideals again yesterday .

Ah , still pleasant weather , which has I hope had a comforting effect on alls... < gratefully books mossy nest for the week >s

Uff. Didn't find your reply till I got back from the post, alas, shodatin. When I went to check the bulbs they were rather papery already, even though they were in a container in the shade over the weekend. Anyway, now in the post for your green fingers to make of them what they will - smart advice noted for next time!

Exchange sounds lovely - but need to sit down first and plan what where! We've been going for hanging tomato plants, as ground level is so dark.

Am sure shodatin's green fingers will help your bulbs flourish , Nilgiri , and it's so lovely to have plants from friends sprouting cheerfully.

Hope you've recovered from trip to PO , and that shodatin is able to watch some more good TV tonight ( am not one of the smug people who never watches- so many exciting things to see )

I expect it's too soon for you to feel up to TV yet , upward ? Perhaps some radio . Hope you will soon find you feel safer , and up to talking a little with fellow guests
s

Yikes! about deer! Thank god DH is such a good driver, Merivel. I've known so many accidents from people getting an animal through the windscreen (anything from cow to kudu).

What an incredibly busy day you had. Glad the gig was good - heh, you're right I would have guessed Morrisey or Dylan. But sounds like you had just exactly the right sort of fab time and even avoided ex-friends, hurrah.

Phew, think I should be falling into my own mossy nest now. Really need a few days' total rest, but alas have stuff happening tomorrow. It's all useful though, so I shouldn't complain.

shodatin's printer fixed - another redoubt taken in the Battle of the Objects. And another day managed for Upward, and for all of us.

Sleep well all: tomorrow we get to do it all again.

Thankyou, Nilgiri, for sending the snowdrops, and am sure they'll recover once watered into soil. It's very good of you to take time to prepare and post them, as it's just a few more spoons to find from somewhere. You're right Merivel about having plants from friends (and of course if there's anything you'd like, just let me know).
Shame the concert was spoilt by politics, and you were probably not the only people who didn';t appreciate their views. Will certainly have a look at links, as I do usually appreciate your choices, just spoonless at present.

Hope upward had a decent day, and that there are indeed some likeable people on the ward. Also hope staff have been able to accompany you out now and again, or that some of your entertainment items have been returned.

Good idea to have ball-throwing gadget for beagle, although it's probably just as happy sleeping some-where warm and comfortable, preferably with a pillow.

Waving goodnight to all - sleep well.

Hope life is improving for upward, particularly as meds take effect and voices are thing of the past. {brew]s all round as rather late start to the day.

Best wishes for spoon supply Nilgiri, and thanks again for making extra effort for post office visit with bulbs.

Hope all is well with you and family Merivel, and hope to post later today when back home.

Thank you for s , shodatin
Sorry , lost post earlier . Hope you soon have spoons replenished , shodatin , and all goes well today ( & pleease don't worry about my silly links- one is an unmelodic racket , but with funny lyrics )

Thinking of you upward whenever the time comes for doctor's rounds ,
Sorry about horrifying accidents wth huge wildlife , Nilgiri - gawping here at finding out about beautiful kudu - must be about 30 times the weight of little British deer
www.awf.org/content/wildlife/detail/kudu

You would have have every right to "complain" about having to move from mosssy nest to do good works , and sorry it comes at such a tired time
Ooh , not a Dylan fan myself but like his line in radio hosting & Christmas songs

Sorry for showing off about lovely outings when cybergardeners are currently particularly restricted < books group cybertour of places visited >

Ah , missed your post about printer being fixed by helpful young person - what a relief
early lunchtimes

Many apologies for non- working links there www.awf.org/content/wildlife/detail/kudu

Thanks for links Merivel, hope to catch up before long, but just got back from shopping and found snowdrops from Nilgiri. Am very grateful, and have soaked them which should help, but believe they need the green part to keep them alive, however shrivelled they get. Good news is that stamp is unblemished, and I cut bottom of envelope, so it's re-useable with a label! Thanks for the lovely card too, I always do well with parcels from cyberfriends. Name well-remembered too, and v. fast postal service, so thanks again.

Haven't forgotten about you, upward, just need to make a few calls now I'm back home. Hope you've been able to have a think about maybe getting an advocate while you're in hospital - pity we're too far away to visit and make sure you're managing alright. Hugs. {{{U}}}

Thank you for much needed , shodatin.

Spoonless here today, too, but did manage to get laundry out (getting it in... I'll cross that bridge when I come to it). Yesterday's Post Office trip was necessary anyway - due to moronic leccy company - so was actually very heartening to have a Really Nice reason to go as well.

Oh such a shame about lost post, Merivel. But don't be sorry about generously sharing your outings! You bring bright little vignettes of glorious full-colour life into what can be quite a monochrome existence as an Indoor Cat. 'Tis lovely!

Not a Dylan fan here, either, but a good friend is so I am sometimes forcibly "educated".

Upward, hope your day is as good as possible, and you now have some activities back.

Gah, wrong name above.

Oh no, shodatin, have I killed them?! Damn. I should have asked for step by step instructions. Moron here just thought, "bulbs, they'll be fine."

Darn it. Well there should be a next time, so will Do Better.

Will pot up bulbs tomorrow Nilgiri, after a good soak, and hope they'll grow a bit more green (to produce flowers). Snowdrops do have v.strange moving requirements, and I once gave up trying to explain to someone, who finally said they'd buy some for me next spring - I was trying to give some away actually...
Sorry have to dormouse for a bit.

< brings consoling treats and pounceable toys for beloved Indoor Cat >
Oh the housebound thing is not fair Bet your snowdrops do make it , with 8shodatin*'s care & knowledge

Kindest shodatin , of course upward knows we're thinking of her- she is the foundation of the thread - hope your rest was helpful and upward is feeling supported - that's my huge wish for now , that you will no longer feel this is your struggle to deal with largely alone

Aapologies, as ever, PC memory running low earlier
Thank you for making a fuss of my clumsy contributions , Nilgri -am trying to give us the feel of afternoons out . Hogarth's House is far smaller & more fun than this video , which is also rather fast for cybergarden eyes.. www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15584519

You enter squashed bit of garden to see a print of later tenants who used the garden to grow food .. there's a mulberry bush that was here in Hogarth's time , & the graves of the family pets are preserved

Brilliant copy of self portrait with pug , & much evidence of selflessness & fostering
Rooms are slim & quirkily-shaped - H was under 5 feet tall , everywhere is good & creaky with original panelling- have never been in such a house before
If visitors are able to , they can climb the small staircase - no lift or chair access to first floor < despairs >, but chair facilities downstairs-
Amazing little marital bedroom , where you can peek in their whitewashed wardrobe alcove & see his outfit & dressing gown . House has been bombed & recently saved from fire < goaty toes >

s
Hope you can retrieve your washing , Nilgiri < eyes own mouldering heaps > and that you're able to feel hopeful of asome improvement in strength , shodatin

Thankyou for "visit" to Hogarth's House Merivel.
Agree completely with Nilgiri (or SK) that your descriptions are really appreciated by those of us who can't get out much, and you're so kind to give us the opportunity to join in.
My DSis phoned this evening to check on health, which was kind considering her day started pre-dawn with trip to Durban (work) and she'd just arrived home at bedtime. Being able to get out/travel makes such a difference to one's life. Local friend sent me Julie Andrews' song - "Julie Andrews Turns 70"- her own version of My Favourite Things, which ends "Then I remember the great life I've had, And then I don't feel so bad", which it is suggested one should sing aloud.
Wish I knew how to link it; might cheer us up a bit.

Hope today was not too tiring Nilgiri, despite your extra duties, and another hug for upward before bedtime.

Thank yu for accompanying me round exhibits , shodatin .How I wish I could wave a wand to have us all able to make small expeditions... I hope we can find ways of easing claustrophobia & have some fun this spring indoors

I love your friend's song , shodatin -if this is the one ? Am sending this to several people I know -
musicnvideo.webs.com/events.htm

Sorry for further absence without mentioning - had a longer visit to ILs than usual - poor Dh has to ask me to go sometimes , when in need of support as am a truly unwilling grouch - then a visit to community centre, which I also wish I could teleport to the summerhouse ;a C18th building with interesting history - smuggling etc- bequeathed to local council - might be commonplace in London etc , but v unusual herebouts . This evening the chess club were still going strong at nearly 10PM

nightcaps

Ah yes , hugs to upward indeed , and group hug too

Thank you so much for cybertour and word-picture, Merivel! I've always been a fan of Hogarth's work, especially that with Dickens and Angela Burdett Coutts.

Was wondering how things were going with ILs. Your care and support and realistic practicality must be making such a difference to all. Sending strength and calm to you and DH.

at chess club still going into the night!

shodatin what a fabulous version of "My Favourite Things"! Have you managed to chirrup along with it yet, or not energetic enough at the mo? Please don't feel any need to slave over the snowdrops: I feel very bad having sent you something "broken" and in need of nurturing, costing you scarce spoons. We can try again another time... and the earth will receive them one way or other.

Upward, with your interest in evensong I wonder if you're also a singer? Although in a rather different style from Julie Andrews, perhaps? Hope today passed OK-ish.

Definitely bedtime here. Wishing everyone good, reviving rest tonight, and good days tomorrow.

Thanks for nightcaps Merivel. You do have the right song, altho mine was on a different page (and I didn't sing it out loud).
Hope your MiL is managing well, and has found some
helpers who are also friendly, am sure your DH appreciates your input in difficult situation.

Group hug indeed (and cuddle for beagle to encourage petrol-guarding). Goodnight.

Morning , all s J< beagle looks on proudly at safe petrol supplies >

Love the song & will send more Julie Andrews links to my poor targets , now I see how good they are . Bet you're a good singer, shodatin - ah yes , Nilgiri, I wonder whether upward has been involved with a choir , & hope she'll be ble to enjoy hwer music again soon

Hope you are having a bearable morning , upward < HF brings bluebells >

MilL likes the helpers, thank you,- amazing gly good result so far- but is astonished at idea that their vsitingtimes might be readjusted to her convenience . Sorry for subtle boasting about my so-called supportiveness I try to remember ILs helped shape Dh which is worrying

Hope we're not too cold - Dh did see a few moments of sleet yesterday
< places small applewood log onto gentle fire in summerhouse >

Aha , I'd forgotten about that magnificent Hogarth , Nilgiri- thank you for sending me off to fabulous internet world - btw , always delighted to see directory sites offering "email! telephone numbers! everything" for persons of previous generations
Oooh yes ,not forgetting www.dickens2012.org/