Back in the garden

Addendum.
I posted the In the garden post and now see the print colour is hardy readable. Hope you can see it betterthan I can, but with my colour vision it is a struggle.That was another mistake.

Back in the garden

I am afraid that we are back in the garden today as I have done nothing exciting.

The border however remains quite colourful as we nearly reach the end of August'

My first try with growing Tomatoes is showing quite a heavy crop. Slow however to ripen however. Only one in this picture as you can see.

However it is back to intermitent showers. At least I do not have to water the pots.

Earlier this year I planted bedding Dahlias at Rhona and Jon's. The next time I was round they were all reduced to skeleton leafs. Jon claimed that something just ate then overnight, and it came out of the ground. I said pull the other one. However yesterday I saw that one I had planted in a pot was not looking well. I sprinkled slug pellets yesterday and.

This morning on my rounds this was what I saw. Lots of slug yuck and dying bodies. AND THEY HAD COME OUt OF THE POT SOIL. Not a pretty sight before breakfast. Sorry folk!Sorry Jon.

Perhaps they were in last years compost and it had not heated enough to kill the eggs.

To the woods

I am hoping this will appear above a blog I have just published. Now when I check I see that the opening paragraph has not appeared. I think I am getting too old for this game

It should read.
To the Woods
We have lived here for thirteen years and it is only five minutes walk to where the Right of Way and countryside paths start as indicated by the sign post. However I have never yet walked them. I saw recently that a lot of dog walkers crossed the style and disappeared over the fields. I asked one could I make a circular walk of it or was it out and return.? You can was the answer or get to the Forest Way path. Today I had my first walk.

To the woods

We have lived here for thirteen years and it is only five minutes walk from our house to the countryside. However I have never tried walking over the paths crossing the fields as indicated by this right of way sign. I asked a dog walker if I could make a circular walk and was told yes.You can get to the Forest Way path. I climbed over the style and headed for the far side of the field. Seeing a dog walker in the distance I headed after him to the woods

I emerged some time later and could see our local parish church which is a good landmark Along the way I dould see that the Brambles were ripening. Took me back to my childhood and picking them to make Bramble Jelly. We got very colour full mouths from those that we ate'

One for the basket and two for me'
. Then I found I was at the Forest Way cycle track. This uses the old railway track bed.

Very popular with familys and safe for the little ones and their bikes

I had nearly completed my circle
Just a short way down the road I passed daughter Rhona's road end. House with the white garage and son Hugh's car parked in front of the door.

That is all till I do something else!

Saga of the hedge


Recently I saw a portable hedge trimmer in a shop in town. This has a re chargeable battery in the handle so no long extension power cables need be laid on the public footpath. It is also quite light and can be used single handed.One hand for the trimming and one to hold onto the hedge! It also has an extending handle for extra reach.

As shown previously however the hedge is high so the last thing I need is to have a dizy spell while up the ladder. I made a start with the sides standing on the ground, but then the weather caused a delay.

It was in this state for a day or two. Short back and sides but scruffy on top.

Today I thought lets get on with it and get the job finished. Stop procrastinating.

I think that it looks a lot more presentable, so it is now job over for another year.

This is what the passing bus passengers will now see if it stops at the stop which is just out of shot top right.It even looks reasonably level. Before the far end took a turn up as there were some thick branches there. I had to take a small saw to them.

CJ ooutside

Going up to town my lane comes out opposite CJ,s Coffee Bar. This stands for Chris and Julie and we know them both..They have also now started a Guest house for tourists. This has a four star rating already.Premises used to be Jon's accountants office.

Standing outside however was a strange camper van. At least it's number plate was strange for rural Sussex.Being naturally nosy I went closer and pulled out my ever ready pocket camera and took this shot.Not sure if he is friendly or not.Just look at those teeth. Maybe he is just an American showing off his orthodontistry.

I was so engrossed by this that I almost did not see the councils daily effort to clean up trash on the pavement bearing down on me. Guess he thought I was trash. This was just outside Rhona and Margarets favourite watering hole Cafe Nero.

And to think Iain and Louise have just taken off an American holiday.The Americans have come here to vist us. Must have passed on the way.

East Grinstead has quite an attractive centre when you take the time to look around.

The council sponser an initative to encourage businesses to have floral displays. These are some which I pictured recently. The council, in the early morning, send round a water trailer and a long watering lance to give them a daily drink