I'm not saying my life has been taken over by weather watching, but obviously when one is employed in an outdoor pursuit of some kind it helps that it's not too muddy or inclement out there. Don't get me wrong I am actually rather fond of mud but it does get in the way when attempting things like digging - sticks to the tools you see. I like to run my fingers through the earth and have not too much left on said digits. When it's claggy like it is now, not good.
The reason I devote a blog to this most British of topics, i e weather, is because I started to take a big interest in the BBC weather website to kind of help me gauge what work I can partake in the coming week(s). I have noticed that this not a science, should be, but it isn't. Basically the predictive side is impossible, which most be a hinderance when one thinks that it is called "Weather Forecasting". For example, not two weeks ago during the snow, it was predicted that we here in lovely Tring would NOT be getting any substantial amounts. We got at least eight inches. Question is, what the hell is substantial?
This week, it had been predicted, last Friday, that Monday would be sunny and Tuesday dull with some rain. Monday was dull with some rain, Tuesday dull with rain and some sun.
Now I'm not complaining, not really, but when my job wholly depends on keeping an eye on the weather to gauge exactly what I could do to earn an honest penny or two or three, it would be nice to be able to plan ahead with some sort of confidence. The way we get weather - and this is across the whole of humanity, not just the UK - is, quite frankly, crap with a capital "C".
I have a theory and this is what my theory is, a-hem, here comes my theory in just a mo, a-hem. My theory is and it is my own theory what I have thought up myself. A-hem, my theory regarding the aforementioned subject of weather forecasting is: THERE IS ACTUALLY TOO MUCH SCIENCE ATTACHED TO IT! The satellite pictures, while fascinating, seem to have confused the poor little fellas (and gells) who stand in front of those maps pressing their delightful little thumbs on that button thing they use. Too much information has totally bollocksed the art of predicting what the weather will do.
However, without BBC weather we would not have Rob McElwee gracing our screens as per this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EUVnBN19Uc
He is a genius!
Anyway, anyone want a garden make-over?
Thursday, 13 January 2011
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Is there really that much water in the sky?
Apparently there is...
So today was spent tacking Finlay's train set down to the board and making sure it works when connected and tho! It does! Sometimes I surprise myself, electrics aren't usually my thing but even I couldn't get this wrong...
Now we have to start building the "landscape" and buildings. It will be called Trington Green, in honour of Trumpton & Camberwick Green et al. Can't wait to get started. Thinking of setting it up as a constituency for parliament (a rotten borough perhaps) and standing unopposed or maybe making myself a lord without portfolio or is it cross dresser? Anyway, here's hoping the wet doesn't go on for too long 'cos I can see myself getting carried away with this - quite literally carried away by the men in the white jackets.
I have a wall to finish at one of my clients, just the finishing touches and also got some land to clear at the same place, but this weather is not conducive to mixing cement. Hopefully next week will improve a bit and then off we go! But maybe I'm just putting excuses in the way.
So today was spent tacking Finlay's train set down to the board and making sure it works when connected and tho! It does! Sometimes I surprise myself, electrics aren't usually my thing but even I couldn't get this wrong...
Now we have to start building the "landscape" and buildings. It will be called Trington Green, in honour of Trumpton & Camberwick Green et al. Can't wait to get started. Thinking of setting it up as a constituency for parliament (a rotten borough perhaps) and standing unopposed or maybe making myself a lord without portfolio or is it cross dresser? Anyway, here's hoping the wet doesn't go on for too long 'cos I can see myself getting carried away with this - quite literally carried away by the men in the white jackets.
I have a wall to finish at one of my clients, just the finishing touches and also got some land to clear at the same place, but this weather is not conducive to mixing cement. Hopefully next week will improve a bit and then off we go! But maybe I'm just putting excuses in the way.
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Another successful day
Lagged the outdoor pipe that got frozen during the bad weather and de-slipped the slippery pathway. Plus I actually didn't slip over again today (must stop mentioning my accident-proneness as I think I am probably tempting fate a little bit toooooo much!)
My last two accidents were rather spectacular though. First one was in the garden, my own garden, attempting to put in a new fence post. It was in an awkward position (no really) and I had to use a small lump hammer to get at the spike support I was using. As I brought my hand down a branch of the buddleia I was underneath deflected the blow onto my thumb. I crushed it, fracturing the top bone completely down the middle and had to have an emergency operation the following Tuesday (it was Saturday when I did it). It was an ugly sight...
The second accident was very spectacular. I was up in the loft and the ladder gave way under neath me, I pushed myself away from the stairs behind me fearing a serious back injury, but the attic door swung back and, as I went to grab the attic opening, the tracks for the now missing ladder cut deep divots the full length of my arms. I was knocked out too. A year of physio later and my shoulder was ok-ish again and I have some pretty good scars on my wrists - I look like a failed suicide!
So, I guess what I'm saying is, I always take it easy out there in the gardening world now, my livelihood depends on it.
My last two accidents were rather spectacular though. First one was in the garden, my own garden, attempting to put in a new fence post. It was in an awkward position (no really) and I had to use a small lump hammer to get at the spike support I was using. As I brought my hand down a branch of the buddleia I was underneath deflected the blow onto my thumb. I crushed it, fracturing the top bone completely down the middle and had to have an emergency operation the following Tuesday (it was Saturday when I did it). It was an ugly sight...
The second accident was very spectacular. I was up in the loft and the ladder gave way under neath me, I pushed myself away from the stairs behind me fearing a serious back injury, but the attic door swung back and, as I went to grab the attic opening, the tracks for the now missing ladder cut deep divots the full length of my arms. I was knocked out too. A year of physio later and my shoulder was ok-ish again and I have some pretty good scars on my wrists - I look like a failed suicide!
So, I guess what I'm saying is, I always take it easy out there in the gardening world now, my livelihood depends on it.
Monday, 10 January 2011
Oh joy!
Back at work clearing paths and blasting walls with the Karcher, what a joy to behold. Green slime (algae) covered walls turned back into white walls, lovely. Only thing was the tap connector snapped and I had to go get a new one. Must have suffered in the cold weather I reckon, so I got a brass one.
I have to say I rather like algae and mosses in their place, but on pathways it can be very dangerous, especially when you're prone to accidents - like me! Slipping over is a daily hazard and I can not tell you how much I need to think to make sure I don't do it. Even with non-slip (yeah right) rubber soles or grips with the tack of an octopus, I have the potential to fall. Pretty secure today though... (shouldn't have said that.)
Tomorrow, I'll be clearing the paths of the green stuff. It'll probably carry over into next week, as Pat & Brian's is a big garden (see previous blog) with a lot path.
Need to find an insulation cover for an outdoor pipe too. Tried several places and no one seems to do it any more. There is an excellent old fashioned DIY shop in Berkhamsted that will probably be able to help. They're Indian, unfathomably helpful and the shop is chocker block with everything you need and a lot of what you don't need too. It's heaven, I love browsing in there and could spend a fortune, bit like stationery shops. (What is it about stationery that makes me think, "Wow, I don't need that stacking system, but it really looks like I should!"?)
As I say, oh the joy of my work. I would never have said that a mere two years ago, heavy sigh...
I have to say I rather like algae and mosses in their place, but on pathways it can be very dangerous, especially when you're prone to accidents - like me! Slipping over is a daily hazard and I can not tell you how much I need to think to make sure I don't do it. Even with non-slip (yeah right) rubber soles or grips with the tack of an octopus, I have the potential to fall. Pretty secure today though... (shouldn't have said that.)
Tomorrow, I'll be clearing the paths of the green stuff. It'll probably carry over into next week, as Pat & Brian's is a big garden (see previous blog) with a lot path.
Need to find an insulation cover for an outdoor pipe too. Tried several places and no one seems to do it any more. There is an excellent old fashioned DIY shop in Berkhamsted that will probably be able to help. They're Indian, unfathomably helpful and the shop is chocker block with everything you need and a lot of what you don't need too. It's heaven, I love browsing in there and could spend a fortune, bit like stationery shops. (What is it about stationery that makes me think, "Wow, I don't need that stacking system, but it really looks like I should!"?)
As I say, oh the joy of my work. I would never have said that a mere two years ago, heavy sigh...
Friday, 7 January 2011
Not really garden related, but...
...am over the moon about thrashing the Aussies. You see having spent 3 years there as a kid (67-70) I had a mildly rough time attempting to settle. So I got good at sport, swimming, cricket and the piece de resistance, Aussie Rules Football. The little white pom became an Ocker over night, but when asked if I would play for Australia or England/Britain if I ever got good enough, I said, "England/GB all the way!" As did my brother, who was actually more likely to be good enough - he was an excellent swimmer.
So when "we" beat them Ozzies at anything, but especially cricket I love, love, love it! Andrew Strauss and the boys are etched on my heart forever. Winning at home is good, but winning down under is massive!
Anyhoo, gardening. In Oz we had the standard sized garden for new builds in Perth, a third of an acre. We had over 60 trees in it and one of the first real gardening jobs I ever did was to cut down about half of them and leave a big clump on one side, while planting a buffalo grass lawn on the other. That is, me at 10, my brother, 13 and me dear ol' dad. We built a windy path around the trees and a patio with a brick built bar-bee - not one cent spent on any of the material, we just "borrowed" it from the building sites dotted around our house, how awful was that? How I wish we had some pictures of that house, it was such a beautiful garden when we left it, all too early after only 28 months of living there.
I will try to find some pictures on-line, you never know!
PS: back to work properly on Monday, thankfully. Back to my favourite garden, as per this:
So when "we" beat them Ozzies at anything, but especially cricket I love, love, love it! Andrew Strauss and the boys are etched on my heart forever. Winning at home is good, but winning down under is massive!
Anyhoo, gardening. In Oz we had the standard sized garden for new builds in Perth, a third of an acre. We had over 60 trees in it and one of the first real gardening jobs I ever did was to cut down about half of them and leave a big clump on one side, while planting a buffalo grass lawn on the other. That is, me at 10, my brother, 13 and me dear ol' dad. We built a windy path around the trees and a patio with a brick built bar-bee - not one cent spent on any of the material, we just "borrowed" it from the building sites dotted around our house, how awful was that? How I wish we had some pictures of that house, it was such a beautiful garden when we left it, all too early after only 28 months of living there.
I will try to find some pictures on-line, you never know!
PS: back to work properly on Monday, thankfully. Back to my favourite garden, as per this:
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Rabbits and chickens sorted...
...got the kale and some brussels tops too. All very happy, but Henry, the rabbit's dad, is missing - haven't seen him for two days now. Bit worrying...
Have a look:
<a href="http://www.bizwiki.co.uk/gardening/1635445/simon-murray-garden-services.htm">http://www.bizwiki.co.uk/gardening/1635445/simon-murray-garden-services.htm</a>
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