tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36086987323150598612024-03-14T05:14:57.304+00:00Growing upThis blog is all about the trials of an amateur kitchen gardener in Bristol, UK. If to be lazy is to be immature, then to grow your own food is surely the peak of maturity?
Time to 'man up' and live the Good LifeHapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.comBlogger236125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-60663450668370294462018-02-04T17:40:00.000+00:002018-02-04T17:40:23.128+00:00Growing Pains<span style="font-size: large;">Arrrggh, I just want to grow things!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm feeling the pressure to keep up with you Instagram gardeners, defying winter to chit potatoes and nurture your seedlings! Meanwhile, my garden remains hungover from a busy Autumn where all sense of order and tidiness went out the shed window!</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qKicn8VwlJA/WndEyY94U2I/AAAAAAAAB6w/nx0IyMRZHFsX36IK-oZPMvvFQhPZsXSvgCLcBGAs/s1600/vsco-photo-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1065" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qKicn8VwlJA/WndEyY94U2I/AAAAAAAAB6w/nx0IyMRZHFsX36IK-oZPMvvFQhPZsXSvgCLcBGAs/s400/vsco-photo-2.jpg" width="266" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Facing the old dilemma of 'where to start' I didn't feel I could start my seeds until I'd prepared my grow house, which I couldn't do until it was dry enough to take the waste to the tip, which I couldn't do until I had enough time to get to the tip, which I didn't have...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yet I also know that if you don't start now it's like turning up to the 100m final 10 seconds late - race over. The beauty of winter in the garden is that nothing grows. No weeds, no seeds. Not unless you put some actual care and effort in, to get the soil warm, keep a bit of moisture and also check every 5 minutes in case nothing is growing...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last weekend I'd had enough of this procrastination, and took 30 minutes away from what I was meant to be doing to get in the garden and do, well, what I deep down feel I am meant to be doing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Weird isn't it, how when you get over the inertia and start doing something you know you love, that you get absorbed in it and could keep going for ever. Unfortunately, the sun didn't see it that way and started to make a dash behind the hills. But readers, I am proud that I managed to clear the grow house, plant me some chillis and peas, beetroots and bean and make a tentative start to this year's growing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I also did the classic tidying up trick we all know so well...put it in a pile somewhere else!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-13829045142030853922018-01-22T20:22:00.000+00:002018-01-22T20:22:29.331+00:00Rats can fly!<span style="font-size: large;">Well, perhaps not fly but jump much further than I thought. They can even climb trees! I really didn't know that rats could climb trees until to my astonishment I saw one in our cherry tree, trying to figure out which branch would take it to the prized peanuts, hanging tantalisingly just out of paw's reach (do rats have paws?). In fact, I wouldn't put it past them to fly if it meant reaching their next meal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And so begins the latest chapter in my mission to keep bird food for the birds that need it (see my first ever blog post <a href="https://tomskitchengarden.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/angry-birds.html" target="_blank">Angry. Birds</a>).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But no, the pigeons continue their graceless flaps knocking feisty robins out of their orbit, throwing seeds left right, up and down and then feasting on the morsels they've unceremoniously dumped on the grass. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So at Christmas my feeder frustration was dissipated with this spherical beauty. Ha, nothing but a fleet footed finch could land on this and secure its peanut prize... my pigeon rage relented and there was enough food for all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Until I saw a rat, 'perched' with its heavy a*** drooping over the side of the ceramic feeder. Now, I know that rats are possibly misunderstood, make good pets and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratatouille_(film)" target="_blank">cook a damn good French meal </a>but the only misunderstanding here is on the rats part! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And so began the fun and games. I tried moving the feeder away from anything that gave it a leg up, but turns out a rat can even balance on and climb lavender, and crawl up the slender stick! I lathered the stick in vaseline to thwart its greasy paws only to see the rat launch itself at least 20 feet (well, maybe a tad less than that), land perfectly on the swaying feeder, and with the core strength of a gymnast, hold steady whilst it tucked in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The only solution has been to take the feeder out of action, causing the desperate fiend to engage its astonishing tree climbing skills. So far, it's not made it to the hanging feeder but this story isn't over yet...grrrr</span><br />
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<br />Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-89846088278751447442018-01-14T15:56:00.003+00:002018-01-14T15:56:41.379+00:00Vampire weekendGarlic<br />
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Love the stuff, and the few times I've successfully grown a bulb or two I've been chuffed to bits. No matter that the bulbs were tiny and lacked a bit of punch they still felt like a triumph!<br />
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So it's with excitement that I've got me some bulbs to plant this winter. I'd totally forgotten you can plant at this time of year, but on over-hearing a competitive conversation between some keen growers in a cafe (<i>"I've got my garlic in" "Mine have germinated" "Mine germinated before Christmas last year"</i>...) I thought it about time to get my gloves on too.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ODgZTbUnlbA/Wlt8I-we6aI/AAAAAAAAB5w/WWcyiEepOhslI29937277Qe6ck5th1paQCLcBGAs/s1600/pic%2B2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="436" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ODgZTbUnlbA/Wlt8I-we6aI/AAAAAAAAB5w/WWcyiEepOhslI29937277Qe6ck5th1paQCLcBGAs/s200/pic%2B2.jpeg" width="150" /></a>Having moved away from Bristol into the Gloucestershire countryside (well, Stroud with views of the countryside!), I miss my favourite garden centre down at Riverside. Thankfully, rowing takes me back to town on a Sunday morning and I've made it my mission to head to Riverside after every row to pick up something, anything, just to get my hit and stop me becoming an armchair gardener (that would be taking hapless to the extreme!)<br />
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The great thing about doing that is it reminds you what you should be preparing for. A good garden shop hits you between the eyes with a 'must have / you know you want it' goody before you've had time to think 'basket or compost trolley', knowing full well you really actually shouldn't have either because your week's wages will be gone before you've even reached the seed packet bit.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z65fYmJPV1I/Wlt8dXTCajI/AAAAAAAAB50/3J1CjPzSmZ4I5dNWxOUCf1p2s7Bhf6QKgCLcBGAs/s1600/garlic%2B2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="436" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z65fYmJPV1I/Wlt8dXTCajI/AAAAAAAAB50/3J1CjPzSmZ4I5dNWxOUCf1p2s7Bhf6QKgCLcBGAs/s200/garlic%2B2.jpeg" width="150" /></a>True to form, my arms were laden with first earlies potatoes and no basket before my eyes had even set on the onions... Conscious that I've not started preparing any ground for potatoes I think I'm going to be very late for my earlies!<br />
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That's for another day though. This weekend I'm all about the garlic, and will soon have this beauty broken up and staked into the ground, with Dracula quaking in his cloak!<br />
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I think I've got enough to keep the Count at bay for another year, and probably enough onions to keep plenty of other people at bay too...<br />
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<br />Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-20597780958110906812018-01-07T21:11:00.002+00:002018-01-07T21:11:29.704+00:00From Concrete Courtyard to the Hanging Gardens of Stroud...<span style="font-size: large;">Windowsill herbs have been a 'must have' for home cooks ever since Jamie Oliver bish-bash-boshed his way onto our screens nearly 20 years ago (yep, we're / I'm that old). </span><div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Having spent that long trying to get my own herbs to grow there's no chance Oliver had the time or patience for his perfect bouquet week after week! Even a decent sized window-sill isn't enough to give you that basil hit more than a handful of times and sorry but that's just not enough to satisfy any self-respecting 30-something foodie addict's pesto consumption (not that I make pesto, or have much long to call myself 30-something!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pointless growing them at the allotment, herbs are a spontaneous thing. Even growing herbs out in planters in the back garden hasn't been much good either, fumbling around in the dark to snip my rosemary, tripping up / down the outside steps just so my roast potatoes can be overpowered. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I realised I needed something new...</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C99wHDaKqSc/WlKMEGpvs7I/AAAAAAAAB5Y/hWi39GSZAgAvQVt--WYDsf8pIzQSiZE-ACLcBGAs/s1600/Blog%2Bpic%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C99wHDaKqSc/WlKMEGpvs7I/AAAAAAAAB5Y/hWi39GSZAgAvQVt--WYDsf8pIzQSiZE-ACLcBGAs/s320/Blog%2Bpic%2B2.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last summer I hit upon the idea of a trellis in the courtyard to cover the unsightly concrete breeze-blocks keeping us from our neighbours on which to hang my herbs (PS for history buffs, the courtyard used to run the full length of the terrace of 6 old weavers cottages so that they could stretch out the cloth!). </span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gw4Nz4XDCC4/WlKL7yCidgI/AAAAAAAAB5U/cwbmNruk2CUUd4bvVpL_vnvvoVetcoAxQCLcBGAs/s1600/Blog%2Bpic%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gw4Nz4XDCC4/WlKL7yCidgI/AAAAAAAAB5U/cwbmNruk2CUUd4bvVpL_vnvvoVetcoAxQCLcBGAs/s320/Blog%2Bpic%2B1.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">Coupled with some cheap metal containers, wire and a drill, I managed to create a hanging collection of herbs in easy reach. All I needed to do was nip out to satisfy my dill craving and all would be well in the world. Except the dill and the rest of them had a little difficulty growing, mostly due to under / over watering, gathering moss or drying out. Still I can't get the knack.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not to be put off, 2018 is the year of the courtyard collection and today I'm back on it, potting up a new selection. Watch this space to see if they flourish or flounder...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It may be a bit cold out for now, but come spring I hope my fledgling herb garden will come to life, but naturally any advice on keeping the herbs alive gratefully received!</span></div>
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Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-18205436918139982242015-03-08T15:08:00.001+00:002015-03-08T15:08:23.618+00:00Hocus crocus<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Spring guarantees a cliché</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Has it sprung? Have you seen the first sign? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You'll know it's happening when the snowdrops appear, daffodils show a glimpse of yellow, someone sits outside a pub in a t-shirt...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I approach that first glistening snowdrop with dread. It means things are going to get out of control pretty damn quickly. It starts with the weeds, then the bugs, all creeping up on you like a cheat on sports day taking small steps to get a head start.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It seems unfair. My poor chilli seeds have been sat on the window sill, my peas in the grow house, chives sown in a pot, hoping that they'll take the hint from the daffodils and get cracking. But it seems none of them have done. All lifeless and hibernating. It's as if they can't even hear the noise from the tables outside the pub next door...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Perhaps I need something else to signal that the race has started. Maybe I've become a little too down hearted about spring, despite a big of effort this year to get things going. As it happens, a little spell was cast on me this week down in Devon. Walking down the steps to a jetty, my eye took to a bold flower defying the cut-throat wind. A crocus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'd almost forgotten about this flower, and given I know so few flowers I really have no excuse to forget any. Strong, confident and clearly quick off the mark, I think this is the flower I and my sluggish plants need to get ahead of those dastardly interloping weeds.</span></div>
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Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-33309540325505766792015-02-22T20:40:00.000+00:002015-02-22T20:40:39.085+00:00Chit lit<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is a tale about commitment. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today I rekindled my love affair with the humble potato, one that started a long time ago when my heart was taken by a fiendish roast, but which has never flourished into the garden.</span><div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-00dqor8gj54/VOo9QpSSMGI/AAAAAAAABpw/ZwXIP1uFYgI/s1600/PICT1786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-00dqor8gj54/VOo9QpSSMGI/AAAAAAAABpw/ZwXIP1uFYgI/s1600/PICT1786.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In truth, me and po</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">tatoes have never been apart, and I could often be found indulging in a creamy mash. Or chips. But rarely have I had the commitment to grow and stick to my own. Just the once before in fact and it didn't last, blight set in and I only got a small crop. I thought about growing them again but something to do with the temptation of other veg that freed up the bed quickly - beans, radish, you know the crunchy types - led me astray.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But now I've grown up, moved on. Now I have a proper kitchen...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And so potatoes, roast potatoes in particular, have taken hold. my Sundays are all about perfecting a roast chicken's best friend. I've tried all the tips - and I don't buy the goose fat myth - a good par boil, steam dry and roughing in the pan, high heat and oil, mmmm, the perfect roast...sorry, day dreaming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Four weeks ago I took the plunge and bought my seed potatoes, ready to 'chit'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A strange word, chitting. Reading gardening books it implies a technique, a deliberate careful method to get the best potatoes. To me a chitted potato is no different to that neglected spud at the bottom of the vegetable rack. But still, I took the care to find suitable egg boxes to house them and checked their progress every day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've learnt a lot in four weeks, based on the advice of others. 'Don't put them by the window, they need to be in the dark'. 'Don't put them in the dark there, they make the kitchen look untidy'... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Feeling unwanted, the poor things took a while to show any enthusiasm to wake up, but I stuck with them and finally in the last 10 days the shoots showed real promise. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last week I prepared their space in the raised bed, today I increased the depth with more top soil, and planted out a row of 6.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My only worry is that they're a bit shallow. In the raised bed I mean. Despite the extra soil, the bottom of the bed is probably only 5cm deep. I fear they'll realise that for all my commitment, they may not hang around!</span></div>
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Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-84433502066832795302014-12-05T14:16:00.004+00:002014-12-05T14:16:57.364+00:00George's marvellous medicine<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm looking for a cure to that apparently male affliction - the desire for a shed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I personally think it's an affliction more universal than some would have us believe, so this may all sound familiar...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I first noticed a problem when I felt a pang of pain. I was carting my larger tools off to a temporary home, 5 miles away at my girlfriend's father's garage. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It felt wrong. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How can you call your spade a spade when it can't hear you?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With forks banned from the house as though mud corrupts, there was no chance of me cradling my strimmer and its blades of grass, still clinging on to the base months after its last use. Everything big had to go.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The second symptom came on my now regular walks through the Gloucestershire commons; the 5 valleys that surround Stroud and the National Trust land at its heights. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a truly beautiful part of the world with a landscape of deep valleys and winding lanes that hide not only gorgeous cottages and grand homes but sheds. Lots of sheds. Not a weekend walk goes by when my girlfriend and I don't share a romantic whisper of 'I like the colour of that shed.' </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0m_nsJj89Uw/VIG7a_xhV2I/AAAAAAAABoY/gLbqiVygpoU/s1600/IMG_5307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0m_nsJj89Uw/VIG7a_xhV2I/AAAAAAAABoY/gLbqiVygpoU/s1600/IMG_5307.jpg" height="400" width="337" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Two-tone</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HHs9HX7El28/VIG7koyJ9BI/AAAAAAAABok/nEJu1wRSCTk/s1600/IMG_5308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HHs9HX7El28/VIG7koyJ9BI/AAAAAAAABok/nEJu1wRSCTk/s1600/IMG_5308.JPG" height="281" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The 5 Valleys standard paint-job</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ltF5YfA_3M/VIG7uY94xhI/AAAAAAAABow/YsG1zFzTjRE/s1600/IMG_5350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ltF5YfA_3M/VIG7uY94xhI/AAAAAAAABow/YsG1zFzTjRE/s1600/IMG_5350.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Is this a shed?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally, when it became clear I was wandering through the cottage looking for somewhere to lay my hat, a space that I could call my own, she said 'get a shed'. I'm sure we've all been, or will be there </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">one day,</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> but that sense of excitement on realising that your own shed is now within the realms of possibility allows you to make that instant leap from melancholy to madness...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enter George. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WFOXdS1jN5Y/VIG7vALh7PI/AAAAAAAABo0/-w4jQnHKfMs/s1600/IMG_5368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WFOXdS1jN5Y/VIG7vALh7PI/AAAAAAAABo0/-w4jQnHKfMs/s1600/IMG_5368.jpg" height="400" width="317" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pin the shed on the garden...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the time of writing, 8pm on Thursday nights tools are downed and the TV is on for <a href="http://www.channel4.com/programmes/george-clarkes-amazing-spaces/on-demand" target="_blank">George Clarke's amazing spaces</a>. Here you can watch magic happen. People take the smallest, strangest spaces often with just the change in their pocket and more drive than you find in a North American cattle ranch, they create (as the title suggests) Amazing Spaces.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well give me some of that! I'm addicted / cured depending on how you view this. In my head, my shed is now the place of envy. Painted, kitted out and open for garden business. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In reality though, I still need to decide where to put it and how big it can be. Unfortunately, I'm not sure the garden is big enough to take my ideas, so any advice on where I can put a shed here are very welcome</span></span><br />
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<br />Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-17075753257208984032014-11-15T11:34:00.000+00:002014-11-15T11:34:01.970+00:00Buried pleasure<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'd forgotten how to garden.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not that I'd ever come close to mastering it in the first place. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm in a new garden now, one that had stolen my attention over the milder months and has become my home. I've said farewell to my small Victorian walled haven and swapped it a view from an old weaver's cottage looking out to Laurie Lee country, nearby allotments mocking me as I'm drawn to the valley beyond.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is a tale of woeful horticultural neglect to come one day soon, but for now I just wanted to share the spoils of the one tiny bit of gardening I did manage in the last 12 months:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LdeGSdALBxA/VGc2L5YT55I/AAAAAAAABnU/h9nWMfjTXZg/s1600/DSCF2688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LdeGSdALBxA/VGc2L5YT55I/AAAAAAAABnU/h9nWMfjTXZg/s1600/DSCF2688.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, even one afternoon building a small raised bed, planting a few seeds and then wandering off as if growing food was that easy has shown me that it can be, well, that easy. Oh, ok this may only be a red onion and beetroot among the weeds (yeah they look the same to me too), but perhaps tiny steps back into it and I'll soon be back on form. A bit more weeding here, an allotment there (you know it, they're only over the road...)</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wgt-2FHds9E/VGc2VdJBuFI/AAAAAAAABnc/NNiD6GpL8yw/s1600/DSCF2692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wgt-2FHds9E/VGc2VdJBuFI/AAAAAAAABnc/NNiD6GpL8yw/s1600/DSCF2692.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But if it's this easy to get excited by it, and growing a spot of root veg seems so simple it begs the question, why is gardening so damn hard!?</span></div>
Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-41093830238531752352013-12-13T20:01:00.000+00:002013-12-13T20:01:24.216+00:00Hi, I'm an Australian lady...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Such are the subtleties of language, the slightest inflection or letter can alter the meaning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My Spanish extends no further than a traditional Brit abroad - "por favor", "gracias" and of course "cerveza". So it was with some (in)trepidation that my friend James and I approached our home stay with a Costa Rican family, tucked away in the mountain village of Mollejones. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not that we had much time for nerves or trepidation before our arrival. In the telling of this story I've jumped ahead a few days from the start taking you to the day of a 65 km cycling 'epic'. Epic in the bad sense, oh yes it's probably a good thing my Spanish is basic, lest a tirade of Iberian cursing pierce this most tranquil community.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't know if you've ever ridden up a mountain in heat and humidity? If you have, you'll understand those moments of pain that shoot through your legs with every turn of the pedal that propels you but an inch a time.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_fv26CavZFM/UqtexJ2q6mI/AAAAAAAABiQ/XjvAN2JSUzk/s1600/DSCF1289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_fv26CavZFM/UqtexJ2q6mI/AAAAAAAABiQ/XjvAN2JSUzk/s1600/DSCF1289.JPG" height="640" width="576" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"We're all broken inside"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Suppose you have conquered such a climb, enjoyed the pause at the top, snap the group with forced smiles - we're loving this honestly - a banana perhaps and then the freefall downhill to reach the valley below. Maybe you have called it a day, rested your buttocks on something more comfortable than a razor seat?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For us, it was merely a warm up for the next climb to our midday restaurant. Those shots of pain giving way to more psychological challenges. The inner child defiance ('I don't want to play anymore'), the knowledge of the hours ahead with little prospect of comfort of a hotel at the end. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rb_uGBLKWxo/UqtfOmXz_8I/AAAAAAAABiU/uouBmKk08KY/s1600/IMG_3292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rb_uGBLKWxo/UqtfOmXz_8I/AAAAAAAABiU/uouBmKk08KY/s1600/IMG_3292.jpg" height="320" width="288" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Instead there was the prospect an evening of awkward British politeness in the company of a family to whom Mr Bean is most likely found on a menu with Mrs Rice.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Actually, thank goodness then for lunch. Yes there was beans and rice, of the most nourishing kind, accompanied by the sort of vista that makes you realise that the value of a reward is intrinsically linked to the effort you put in. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I earned this view.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qx20vp1OfmY/UqtfUpJ3dUI/AAAAAAAABic/QpSOATsaBQ4/s1600/DSCF1326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qx20vp1OfmY/UqtfUpJ3dUI/AAAAAAAABic/QpSOATsaBQ4/s1600/DSCF1326.JPG" height="400" width="360" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DnTDZhGwMcI/Uqtkz1CN2zI/AAAAAAAABjM/Wp8qBZt__JE/s1600/DSCF1309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DnTDZhGwMcI/Uqtkz1CN2zI/AAAAAAAABjM/Wp8qBZt__JE/s1600/DSCF1309.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was here that one of the Australian contingent, Kate, tried to teach me some basic Spanish so that I could at least introduce myself. "Me llamo Tom, soy un Australiana' (we were sure the English / Aussie difference wouldn't be noticeable). Alas, apparently I should have said Australiano, much to Kate's amusement, and that of the group as the word spread that perhaps I secretly spent my weekends known as Priscilla. Oh yes, when a few days later our raft was dubbed 'the girls raft' for no other reason than a lost splash fight, it was noted that I was indeed an Australian lady.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cross dressing aside, I could have happily settled down with a cerveza and watched the hummingbirds feed on nectar. - pigeons simply don't have the same grace around my bird table at home. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fHBVXwLcVcM/UqtkUeBrIbI/AAAAAAAABjA/tJwZDO7uqAg/s1600/DSCF1323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fHBVXwLcVcM/UqtkUeBrIbI/AAAAAAAABjA/tJwZDO7uqAg/s1600/DSCF1323.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b9arg5jkNxU/UqtkS99VwqI/AAAAAAAABi8/JMIaH1n0yUI/s1600/DSCF1324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b9arg5jkNxU/UqtkS99VwqI/AAAAAAAABi8/JMIaH1n0yUI/s1600/DSCF1324.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But no, there was one more climb to go. There wasn't even the assurance that this was an easy climb. In fact, this was set to be the hardest climb of the lot. Off road, never ending beast of hill.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Growing up in Cambridge - the flatest city in England where the only hill was our school playing field conveniently used by the teachers for cross-country - everyone had a mountain bike. This particular afternoon I was finally introduced to the terrain a mountain bike was built for.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GWCQENYvCnM/UqthgaYQCtI/AAAAAAAABio/wcz0XrBtqhE/s1600/IMG_3296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GWCQENYvCnM/UqthgaYQCtI/AAAAAAAABio/wcz0XrBtqhE/s1600/IMG_3296.JPG" height="400" width="360" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ysARc15u4MI/Uqthhlm5xAI/AAAAAAAABis/eTZ9_VzL2Q0/s1600/IMG_3297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ysARc15u4MI/Uqthhlm5xAI/AAAAAAAABis/eTZ9_VzL2Q0/s1600/IMG_3297.jpg" height="400" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm afraid these photos don't do justice to the brutality of this climb. Here's just a short stretch above and below. Take me on trust that around both corners lay hell for all those who seek only leisure from two wheels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm going to leave this story here for now, the final mile is a story in its own right.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One thing I did learn though, applicable as much to gardening and life in general is that you can be faced with tasks of endurance, where the challenge appears never ending, where you fall, get up, fall, get up fall, stay down, you feel physical and emotionally broken, but when you get to the top the truth is you, once you get over the humbling sensation of what you've achieved...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">....you'll think of every lazy person you've ever known, and feel one very smug *******</span><br />
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<br />Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-55436584009922299502013-12-08T18:26:00.001+00:002013-12-08T18:33:01.469+00:00Tales from Costa Rica: #1 Why did the sloth cross the road?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">See <a href="http://tomskitchengarden.blogspot.co.uk/p/tales-from-costa-rica.html" target="_blank">Tales from Costa Rica</a> page for more</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sloths have a bad name and it's not deserved. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Meet Tico the Costa Rican sloth:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--nJTNd1kbow/UqS4EwgyiSI/AAAAAAAABh0/EDcE0_AmFIk/s1600/DSCF1163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--nJTNd1kbow/UqS4EwgyiSI/AAAAAAAABh0/EDcE0_AmFIk/s640/DSCF1163.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You may well ask yourself what a sloth has to do with gardening, and I'm sure I'll have found a tenuous link before this post is out, but just pause for a moment and reflect on your perception of a sloth...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Slow? Yes. Lazy? Almost certainly. On benefits? Without a doubt. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'd barely started my adventure when a small group of us came across this curious character. Had it not been for Don's chain snapping within seconds of leaving our starting point we would have missed this charming fellow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Indeed, I would have missed him anyway had Karen not screamed 'Sloooooooooooooth' causing us all to stop, take a break and a photo (I soon discovered this wouldn't be the last time I'd have to take a break on the bike...).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most sloths hang from trees in a little bundle. However, this go-getter decided the time was right to see if the grass, or possibly trees, were greener on the other side. He looked left, he looked right, he waited for a car to go past. Time to cross? Not just yet, got to pose for the tourists taking photos first.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It got me thinking, what would you do in this situation? Me, I took photos of the charmer with the intention of getting back on my bike and continuing my adventure. The old Costa Rican lady with a walking stick in the back of a car that pulled up, and Vito with a stick pulled from a tree, had other ideas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Before my eyes, I saw the locals carefully place a stick under the front legs and one under the hind legs, lift and cart this pampered pretend primate from one side of the road into the long grass on the other where it made like Usain Bolt on sedatives to its new home. I was so stunned and it happened so quickly I forgot to capture the moment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unfortunately for those whose chains didn't snap, this top sighting passed them by. Juan Carlos was like a patient parent to the cries of 'when are we going to see a sloth', every day until the final day - the day he said we'd see one. We'd be crawling up hills - 'do sloths hang out here?' and racing down mountains 'was that a sloth? Crash. No.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But thankfully I had this thrilling video to keep them happy until the next sloth sighting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Three garden-related things struck me about my sloth experience. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Firstly that if you don't keep your eyes open you'll miss more than you could possibly realise. It's hard sometimes, but I think the same applies to the garden. Often, I'll get totally caught up in weeding that I'll miss the cat leaving a parcel in the veg bed behind me. Or it might be a new bird quietly checking out the food on the bird table.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Secondly, that the famed Costa Rican care for their natural world was evident in the simplest of gestures. Next time I'm rushing for work, no harm in taking a bit longer to soak some bread and leave it out for the birds, or to put some slug pellets down (you know, to help the plants...).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And finally, that it's ok to be a sloth. Sure the garden may not stay as neat and tidy, but things will take care of themselves. And when you're as good looking as this, what's the rush?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-91588860917870866812013-11-10T13:18:00.001+00:002013-11-10T15:29:57.194+00:00Apple piggy<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lets face it, we all chase happiness like a toddler chases a pigeon. Fully focused yet just out of reach, except that actually in chasing we sometimes forget we're having a riot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Apples make me happy, ridiculously so. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think they were the only healthy thing I liked as a child. The wonderful children's book '<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3532205-apple-pigs">Apple Pigs</a>' is a classic in our family. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had two apple trees in our garden - cooking apples for which my parents unfortunately had little time or inclination to do much with, as would you with four tearaways and a job each to handle. All I can remember is being told to go out and pick up the rotten ones.</span></div>
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The apple tree in my garden bears the most seductive fruit. Today, I picked one to accompany my cup of tea. Everything from the accidental squelch of the the rotten fruit underfoot, to the selection of the perfectly ripe one, to slicing through the crisp flesh brought with it the sense that not only was I chasing a pigeon but I'd damn well caught the bugger, roasted it and dished it up with thick gamey gravy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The taste? Half cox, half braeburn; sweet and sharp. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the best bit? Look what's left...</span></div>
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Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-26647942168529027292013-10-06T17:17:00.000+01:002013-10-06T17:17:12.522+01:00Just desserts...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">...at least, that's all I'll be making on the back of this summer's harvest. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As you can probably tell by the lack of writing on my blog in recent months, I've not been active in the garden at all. In fact, so bad is the situation, a recent visitor to<br />
the garden proclaimed "you really are the hapless gardener..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The garden can be a daunting place at times. A close friend of mine recently moved into her new home and faced with, as she put it, "200 years worth of brambles" duly got stuck in and only retired back indoors once the cuts had sapped every drop of energy from her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I admire all you gardeners who put aside all your worries elsewhere, and embrace the challenge that is keeping your outdoors in check. I don't even have the excuse of a bad summer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But as I've discovered before, the garden can also be a very forgiving place.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f47QbK8OXs4/UlGK_tLXupI/AAAAAAAABf0/X6XGx5gX3L8/s1600/IMG_2345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f47QbK8OXs4/UlGK_tLXupI/AAAAAAAABf0/X6XGx5gX3L8/s320/IMG_2345.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have a very old apple tree and in the orange hum of autumn afternoon, its fruits have been singing. In answer to the tune I've been apple picking, using a simple technique my mum taught me - twist to see if they're ripe, one turn and they should fall neatly into the palm of your hand. It felt almost wrong to remove them from the tree, so perfect do they look hanging from every branch... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To my surprise, as I was caught up among the apple tree's tentacles I discovered that the snails hadn't eaten all my runners, not all the pears were rotten, and that even a few borlotti beans had survived my neglect to brighten up my box.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm relieved and happy with my mini harvest, I just need to figure out what to do with all this?</span></div>
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Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-60106459457359230462013-09-04T18:14:00.001+01:002013-09-04T18:14:24.031+01:00Ray ban<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bristol is getting its tan on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every flower in the city has been stripping off and flaunting its petals at the rays of the summer sun in the hope of turning a gorgeous colour with which to wow the crowds. Oh yes, beach culture has hit the garden</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But as with every beach, there are sights we'd all rather not see. Don't get me wrong now, I'm one for all types to be on show. But when there's a spot of over-indulgence at the expense of variety then it's time to step in.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eFEisOBbrr0/Uidpd_cU-VI/AAAAAAAABfU/iJlZDAQT8TY/s1600/IMG_2519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eFEisOBbrr0/Uidpd_cU-VI/AAAAAAAABfU/iJlZDAQT8TY/s320/IMG_2519.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the case of my garden it's sadly not the flowers but the dandelions, ground elder and unwelcome grasses that seem to think now's a good time to rise, shine and take over the lawn. En mass they've appeared and fought for the good spots and although it may have done them some inner good, I've had to avert my eyes. So much so that I've been avoiding the garden altogether. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I know, I know this is not how one should behave with a responsibility such as a garden. But in truth I've given up trying to manage this unruly mob. I know there are dangers in taking on the nasty ground elder, anticipating that it'll fight back vigourously. But I don't know how long I'll be caring for this particular garden and rather than tackle the root causes (ha!) I've opted for a bit of cosmetic surgery courtesy of my lawn mower.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sadly though, I've botched the job</span><br />
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<br />Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-39324133723383754272013-08-18T18:58:00.000+01:002013-08-18T18:58:05.225+01:00Burnt offerings<i><span style="font-size: large;">IF...</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">...you can keep your head when all about are losing theirs and blaming it on the heat, i</span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;">f you can trust yourself to water when all of twitter doubts you...you'll be a gardener my son.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Otherwise you'll burn your blueberries</span></i><br />
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<i>(I may have borrowed a line or two from a Mr R Kipling)</i>Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-11853906399519883522013-06-23T11:10:00.000+01:002013-06-23T11:10:56.449+01:00The first cut is the sweetest<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Salad leaves. I've written about these since day one - the rocketing cost of, um, rocket and yet the ease with which you can grow it. Last year, however, I found it not so easy. Salad bolted, rocket failed to show as the relentless rain and my fair weather tendencies got the better of me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So this year I've made a slightly more concerted effort (lets not get too involved in case it all end in heartbreak eh).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A tub of rocket and a trough of specially selected good looking leaves.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SH3DhKfUZYM/UcbH5u8S-DI/AAAAAAAABeA/W6qqO6WU16w/s1600/IMG_2268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SH3DhKfUZYM/UcbH5u8S-DI/AAAAAAAABeA/W6qqO6WU16w/s400/IMG_2268.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Turns out I'm quiet impatient. These seedlings too weeks to show their goods off. But finally they came good and this weekend I was able to harvest a medley of fresh looking munchies. All well and good when they look this crisp. I nonchalantly picked a leaf to eat turning away to attend to my steak, when I genuinely paused. The flavour of the rocket was striking, and I smiled that quiet contented smile you're allowed when you've reaped the rewards of prolonged patience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Except, there's nothing good about soggy salad:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mOjQ27zuu8o/UcbH_qoUfZI/AAAAAAAABeQ/Eq36albHp0I/s1600/IMG_2259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mOjQ27zuu8o/UcbH_qoUfZI/AAAAAAAABeQ/Eq36albHp0I/s400/IMG_2259.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uo1xeSChuNc/UcbJC2BtwhI/AAAAAAAABeg/V3aIGYBUaD0/s1600/IMG_2271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uo1xeSChuNc/UcbJC2BtwhI/AAAAAAAABeg/V3aIGYBUaD0/s320/IMG_2271.JPG" width="320" /></a>I'm normally one to scoff at the unnecessary kit peddled by chefs in their indulgent foodie shows, even if I eventually stock my kitchen with it all. But a salad spinner, oh my word is this one handy bit of plastic (thank you Wilkinson's again)!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My only problem now is that I've not planted enough salad!</span><br />
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<br />Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-62564421066381161182013-06-17T18:09:00.000+01:002013-06-17T18:09:46.053+01:00I like a bit of tilth<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm guessing that I'm not the only gardener to rue the appearance of stones, discarded petals and wind debris across carefully prepared beds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's as though the forces familiar to us all, preventing our veg from getting the finest conditions to flourish, work tirelessly through the night to present us with a bit of extra daily work that we could all do without.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I've previously mentioned, the removal of an evil russian vine, and overgrown buddleia has allowed the sunshine to reach parts I never thought it shone up, er on. Unfortunately, ground elder had spotted the opportunity to colonate, but having won that particular battle I was left with the aforementioned debris.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm sure there are vintage looking soil sifters you can pick up for a premium, or rusty freebies that would do a similar job, but for me it was a chance encounter at Wilkinson's with a plastic number that did the trick. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And so to work. It's like the opposite of panning for gold, the treasure is what falls through. And just how satisfying is it to see your bed covered in tilth? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unfortunately this kind of bed attracts cats too, so my borlotti beans are in before you can even meow.</span><br />
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<br />Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-77375637960669867012013-06-15T11:32:00.000+01:002013-06-15T11:32:06.255+01:00A hint of chilli...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today is a good day</span><br />
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<br />Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-81690796276746473982013-05-30T15:13:00.001+01:002013-05-30T15:13:32.458+01:00Bay-dream believer<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can be a bit of a dreamer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This character trait has led me into all manner of weird and wonderful situations throughout my life. In the past, I tended to get embarrassed, but now I think (hope) it simply gives my friends endless crazy stories on which to gorge and be relieved at their own sanity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the garden, however, being a dreamer is definitely a good quality. It may lead you to experiment and try things no other sane / experienced gardener would, or it may simply force you into action.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I know a lot of people who either don't have a garden, have a very small sun-denied patio or like me rent their home and have limited motivation to invest time and money. With that in mind, I've been plotting (ha) my next move and what I would like to take with me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The other day, I decided to grow my own bay tree. At £30 a pop, or an eyewatering </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.luxebc.com/groceries-c1/spice-seasoning-c81/simply-organic-bay-leaf-0-14-oz-4-g-p20673?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=simply-organic-bay-leaf-0-14-oz-4-g-size-2-x-2-x-4-5-inches-size-2-x-2-x-4-5-inches-sog-18764&utm_campaign=product+listing+ads#20673">£7.13 + £2.88 for 4g of 'organic' leaves</a>,</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> there is no way I'm going to succumb to that particular scam. I'm lucky enough to have two established bay trees in the garden here and use the leaves constantly in cooking. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Having no clue on where to start, I took the lazy option and found this video:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xrphsv_how-to-take-bay-tree-cuttings_lifestyle#.UaddaWT71qA"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How to take a Bay Tree cutting (click me) </span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Normally I'd experiment but I wanted a bit more certainty, as this could be my only chance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Having followed the video instructions, I put my cuttings in the cold frame. I didn't use any potions to encourage the root growth, nor any special compost. Just standard compost in a pot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Two weeks on and they still look alive if not necessarily growing yet. I'm guessing it might take a while for roots to form, if they ever do. Fingers crossed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next up, the apple and pear tree, to start my future orchard...</span><br />
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<br />Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-24578483878162540602013-05-25T19:27:00.005+01:002013-05-25T19:42:40.511+01:00Pigeon's treat<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For too long now, the pigeons of Clifton have been gorging on food meant for the less well off. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Too many treats!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://tomskitchengarden.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/angry-birds.html">My first ever post</a> on this blog, two years ago, lamented the presence of these guzzle guts, evolving into all-out bird war in the <a href="http://tomskitchengarden.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/battle-of-bristol.html">Battle of Bristol posts</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Basically, I'd lacked the foresight to purchase a fancy bird table, plumping for the basic model to save a bob or two. There was nothing to stop the big birds taking over. Two years and 20 pips up the heart rate scale later and 'pigeon rage' was starting to become a concern.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m0BpwtMED_Y/UaD8yZbdYZI/AAAAAAAABb4/uE7WnnQdP8k/s1600/IMG_2239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m0BpwtMED_Y/UaD8yZbdYZI/AAAAAAAABb4/uE7WnnQdP8k/s320/IMG_2239.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then, walking through the nearby communal garden I chanced upon a wonderfully amateur piece of handiwork. A hand constructed shelter to make sure only the little ones got fed. Four bent sticks and a piece of card, an urgent solution to, lets face it an urgent problem. I just don't think anyone is dealing with the ticking timebomb that is avian obesity among the more developed species. Rant over, back to the garden...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Buzzing from my <a href="http://tomskitchengarden.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/ive-been-framed.html">coldframe</a> endeavours and with a pile of sticks at home, I realised I too could go all A-team on the those pigeons' backsides. So this morning I got to work with the string and sticks, secateurs and mini saw to get the pieces I needed to construct a shelter. Something that could withstand those heavy beating wings, prevent the big beaks but still let in the mini ones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ta-da!</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DE98GFulu48/UaD_fTVgrCI/AAAAAAAABcs/5fMPg39DJHg/s1600/IMAG0294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DE98GFulu48/UaD_fTVgrCI/AAAAAAAABcs/5fMPg39DJHg/s640/IMAG0294.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes, it's a bit wonky, and perhaps the materials aren't as matching as they could be. But they locally sourced and recycled!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is very little in my gardening career to date that has filled me with such pride and satisfaction as this construction project.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For anyone interested in the construction process, I used left over bits of bay, russian vine and some random shrub, and basically experimented with a main structure until I came up with a sturdy frame sunk into four very handy drainage holes in the bird-table.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I considered horizontal sticks on the sides, but it was easier to go vertical, so I just tied them tightly to the main 'beam' (are you paying attention <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_McCloud">McLoud</a>?)</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3m4Pn643dF0/UaD84Ur-ZfI/AAAAAAAABcA/WsdKA96FzmY/s1600/IMG_2226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3m4Pn643dF0/UaD84Ur-ZfI/AAAAAAAABcA/WsdKA96FzmY/s640/IMG_2226.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The strangest thing, is that I actually found myself thinking about aesthetics, practicalities and effectivenesss. Would the pigeons find a way around this, would they land on it leading to a collapse. And, as has just been pointed out to me, having filled the drainage holes, will this simply turn into a fancy bird bath?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No matter, I'd love to know if anyone else has attempted the same and to see some pics. Let me know</span><br />
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<br />Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-42760210236552854482013-05-24T07:43:00.000+01:002013-05-25T19:44:49.802+01:00Shoots, the Runners!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the hands of a child, a bucket and spade is a source of endless fun. Well, until the little rascal gets hungry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In my hands, however, it seems the spade should never be allowed near the bucket. When I first moved here I was loaned a couple of very handy giant-sized plastic buckets. My ex used them for runner beans and suggested I could do the same.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To this day I have no idea why I used a full size spade in the bucket; no idea why I forcefully dug into the soil it once housed, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">but I do know that my aim was way off and the bucket bears the scars.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the plus size, it was one of the items left to me and this year I thought it worth trying to restore it to its former glory. Well, ok, brought back into use. This is no</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=st+pancras&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=wQefUdGxLYrM0AWo-IC4Dw&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1907&bih=734"> St Pancras (I wish we could do that with all our stations)</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A couple of weeks ago, I constructed my tripod, took two types of runner - one with red and one with white flowers, and planted 3 seeds around each cane. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I realise I'm actually really impatient with seeds, I was checking them everyday from the day of planting, hopeful but always disappointed. Until yesterday! Came home from work and 'boom'! Shoots. Yeah.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">More from these babies in coming weeks. For now, Kasabian.</span><br />
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<br />Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-14936501643845424582013-05-20T08:17:00.001+01:002014-10-31T11:09:53.541+00:00I've been framed<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">From the hand built work of art below that is my new cold frame, can you guess the cult film..?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You may recall that recently the kind and brave folk at</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span>Waltons<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">garden centre asked me to review one of their cold frames. Kind because they offered it free, brave because I'm as hapless with my DIY skills as I am my planting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I was thrilled and agreed. However, it's taken a little longer than hoped as the courier managed to make a mess of the first cold frame. I wondered what I'd got myself into, whether indeed this was a set up?! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I must say, credit where it's due - to Yasmin and her team at Waltons for the customer service, and so a exciting replacement package arrived for me the other day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, this is not Top Gear. You won't find me road testing this to destruction, hauling it across the North Sea to see if it still manages to work in the extremes of Norway. That's what Clarkson and company do isn't it? </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Crazy Stunts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Instead, over the coming weeks I'll be seeing if I've found the antidote to the typical June weather, a haven for my plants.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But first let's deal with the construction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've found gardening addictive beyond simply weeding, potting and admiring. I've discovered an inner urge to shape, create and build. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But as I mentioned, this is far from my forte. I barely own a decent saw let alone a drill.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For those of us raised on an Ikea, flat pack diet this cold frame is one step above. Now, if you're the type to shirk at such a challenge then it's time to 'man up' and get a drill. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I roped in the lovely Susie and her drill.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We started to construct it indoors on a wet Sunday afternoon. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The wood itself is good quality and looks smart (although I've not checked whether it's sustainably sourced). </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The instructions are straightforward and in no time we had the first storey up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">However, unforeseen circumstances put the project on hold for a week. Kevin McCloud would have been concerned.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This weekend though, we finished the job. Tip to those new to construction, electric screwdriver. God's gift.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Gq1Lno2MYQ/UZkXz_8d4iI/AAAAAAAABZs/SaU6NsWIjH8/s1600/IMG_2210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Gq1Lno2MYQ/UZkXz_8d4iI/AAAAAAAABZs/SaU6NsWIjH8/s640/IMG_2210.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There have been bumps and one lump (blister) along the way. We were a few screws short, (rather than loose) and we had to watch for splinters. But it was fun to construct and nothing beats triumphantly placing the finished work out there in the sun. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Naturally the triumph was delayed by disagreements about where to put it, but now it's all about the growing!</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fpX-TmDoG6g/UZkX3z-AZiI/AAAAAAAABaE/zo6HeO1fyNw/s1600/IMG_2214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fpX-TmDoG6g/UZkX3z-AZiI/AAAAAAAABaE/zo6HeO1fyNw/s640/IMG_2214.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You may recall I planted chillis recently. Well, they failed to germinate, so I've planted some new ones up, hoping the heat will give them a kick start. I'm also trying a Bay tree experiment which I'll be writing about shortly, so let's see what this baby is made of.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DjZi3FVx840/UZkX4BZxrQI/AAAAAAAABaI/GmDdgKFyGiU/s1600/IMG_2215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DjZi3FVx840/UZkX4BZxrQI/AAAAAAAABaI/GmDdgKFyGiU/s640/IMG_2215.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you're tempted already, then you can find more cold frames, wooden greenhouses and other goodies here:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Waltons</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Waltons Cold Frames</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Meanwhile, I'll be on Chilli and Bay watch...</span><br />
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<span id="goog_1838786585"></span>Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-20328035963447985552013-05-19T11:14:00.001+01:002013-05-19T11:16:23.254+01:00The joy of secateurs (part 1)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When you fall out of love with your garden, what's the first thing to go? That's right, the secs:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S4QTIx_jFyA/UZieZc7juHI/AAAAAAAABXw/BZesQ54nQS8/s1600/IMG_2196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S4QTIx_jFyA/UZieZc7juHI/AAAAAAAABXw/BZesQ54nQS8/s400/IMG_2196.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And if that goes rusty, then you're in trouble. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I may be hapless but there's no excuse for neglect. Yet, I've found it harder and harder to stay on top of the garden, to give it my attention, time and care. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gradually, fuelled by the rain and gloomy weather the weeds have assumed control, and all manner of crops have failed. Rubbish has collected, the garden left overgrown, tired and defeated.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X7IFmEAEyh8/UZifzMRN7FI/AAAAAAAABYA/kBpYRQoflr8/s1600/IMG_2167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X7IFmEAEyh8/UZifzMRN7FI/AAAAAAAABYA/kBpYRQoflr8/s640/IMG_2167.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even the cat looks at me with disappointment</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I realised this couldn't go on. Intervention was needed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I took time off work, to co-incide with 4 days of forecast sunshine (otherwise known as The British Summer).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We started slowly, the garden and me. We flitted around the edges, I cleared some weeds here and there, without making much difference. I tackled the 'lawn' and planted some radish and started to notice a difference; the trust was returning.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jpk99u5LsHw/UZiiedjbgvI/AAAAAAAABYY/wETzvoU9-g4/s1600/IMG_2174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jpk99u5LsHw/UZiiedjbgvI/AAAAAAAABYY/wETzvoU9-g4/s320/IMG_2174.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then, I went for it. I took a saw to the bloated bay tree, and hacked my way through the invasive bushes. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vjTljSlywgU/UZiidTTVXLI/AAAAAAAABYQ/4njsjxq6GFc/s1600/IMG_2188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vjTljSlywgU/UZiidTTVXLI/AAAAAAAABYQ/4njsjxq6GFc/s640/IMG_2188.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i1pTdgrMqsU/UZiiocphncI/AAAAAAAABYg/jf8pRdwzntM/s1600/IMG_2190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i1pTdgrMqsU/UZiiocphncI/AAAAAAAABYg/jf8pRdwzntM/s640/IMG_2190.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Herb corner, raspberries and the remains of the Buddleia!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The garden felt light, fresh and revived, as did I. I kicked back with a beer, chips and a bacon sandwich, and had that quiet moment of satisfaction we all know and love...still got it!</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lmJBWSuLhAI/UZilIduccyI/AAAAAAAABY8/SRQZEbXvfkk/s1600/IMG_2194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lmJBWSuLhAI/UZilIduccyI/AAAAAAAABY8/SRQZEbXvfkk/s400/IMG_2194.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-41089855447493696272013-05-18T13:24:00.000+01:002013-05-18T13:24:07.471+01:00What would you call your yellow lawnmower?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UDeNX8jF5Oo/UZdytvLmy8I/AAAAAAAABXI/ld9B_fgsebE/s1600/IMG_2200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UDeNX8jF5Oo/UZdytvLmy8I/AAAAAAAABXI/ld9B_fgsebE/s640/IMG_2200.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1331084291"></span><span id="goog_1331084292"></span><br />Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-76368730903847340692013-05-04T15:05:00.001+01:002013-05-04T15:05:18.405+01:00Book review - Reflections of a Solitary Hamster<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Overwhelmed by the burgeoning collection of 'how to garden' books, I've been in search of something a little more creative.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Despite a small number of christmas gifts guiding me to grow in small spaces, forage, perfect an allotment and perfect my herbs, I can't help but shy away from celebrity writers both established and rising. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I'm off in search of something more creative; where the garden is the inspiration beyond itself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My first discovery is an illustrated book called Reflections of a Solitary Hamster by Astrid Desbordes and Pauline Martin. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, this is no everyday hamster...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hamster is thoughtful. He asks profound questions about the world around and beyond him, like 'are there walnuts on the moon?'</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qYFOE7aIHow/UYURqtd6P0I/AAAAAAAABWM/s9nODbu1fBk/s1600/IMG_2193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qYFOE7aIHow/UYURqtd6P0I/AAAAAAAABWM/s9nODbu1fBk/s320/IMG_2193.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, as is a hamster's way, he soon enlightens us with his hamster-centric insights ("must be, otherwise what would moon hamsters eat?")</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On to the story, our protagonist has a birthday party to organise. We're treated to his everyday moral dilemas such as who is privileged enough to attend, and how can he ensure that each present meets his expectations. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And so we get to glimpse the lives of those garden creatures who orbit Hamster's world. Mole, snail and hedgehog all grappling with Hamster's whims and charm, often over a hot cup of smoked tea or through a conversation on the rocks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's as a prelude to the party that Mole invites Hamster to his garden. Kitted out in his finest gardener's straw hat, we get to see Mole's wonderful peas. Hamster is then treated to cabbage tea and a recital of 'a little masterpiece - The Reflections of a Garden Snail'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hamster yawns.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mole remains determined and plunders his garden to create the kind of garden present which only parents of children making their first recipe in the kitchen can be proud... you'll have to read the book to find out just what.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is a beautifully illustrated, subtly hilarious and thoughtful story, in which Mole stars as a wholesome and earnest gardener always keen to share the fruits of his work. I couldn't recommend it more highly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Published by <a href="http://www.geckopress.com/">Gecko press</a>, you can find it at <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reflections-Solitary-Hamster-Astrid-Desbordes/dp/1877467456/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367675092&sr=1-1&keywords=Reflections+of+a+solitary+hamster">Amazon here</a></span></div>
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Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3608698732315059861.post-73051345626902672662013-04-30T20:04:00.001+01:002013-04-30T20:04:22.847+01:00Currant fun<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So this one is for the novice fruit gardener looking to, ahem, branch out...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Where do you go once you've got strawberries under your belt? Raspberries are certainly the hipsters berry of choice, whilst the health conscious among us may plump for blueberries. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm now in my third year of what I consider to be the connoisseur's choice - blackcurrant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cast your mind back to your childhood. Ah yes, guzzling ribena in the height of summer, rejecting any attempt to ween you onto Sainsburys own-brand juice, yuk! Nothing matches the silky sweet, purple-rich nectar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, blackcurrants are nothing like this. They're complex in flavour, sharp and bitter at first but given the right companions make a classy breakfast choice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today I spotted the first sign of joys to come on my blackcurrant plant:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FvY11XCFuIU/UYAUBOe3J4I/AAAAAAAABV4/9-mUJNntT3w/s1600/IMG_2166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FvY11XCFuIU/UYAUBOe3J4I/AAAAAAAABV4/9-mUJNntT3w/s400/IMG_2166.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And just like all the best plants, one rub of the leaf releases the scent of fruit...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, I must admit, I've not been especially prolific with them, but this year looks promising already. If anyone has good recipes for blackcurrants, perhaps a recipe for a chewy sweet (Chewits, I'm looking at you here), give me a shout.</span></div>
Hapless gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03491899029088638750noreply@blogger.com1