Wildfood campsite

[Seatallan Profile]

I have my own nature expert living with me in the house at the moment. Having a peaceful cup of tea in the garden isn't possible now as she is continually pointing out birds that are visiting, or can hear their songs. I still have no idea what a goldcrest sounds like, but she hears them all the time

I'm a bit the same Patsy. Being a country child, like Suffs I grew up knowing most bird songs and I'm pretty good on wild flowers too. I get very excited when I hear or see something unfamiliar. It's been such fun exploring a new local manor since we moved to Cumbria and to see what's different as the seasons pass.

Have a happy and sunny day all

[Badger's Mate Profile]

I still have no idea what a goldcrest sounds like, but she hears them all the time

You might not be able to hear them Pat. They are very high-pitched and get more difficult to pick up as the years roll on. I can still hear them if they're close by.

[Earthmaiden Profile]

A gem indeed Scully (I just love being retired and being able to waste half an hour with no guilt ). I'm a huge fan of illuminated manuscripts and always try to catch related programmes and exhibitions. It would be so interesting to fully understand the Medieval mindset.

Those Greek-style pastries sound wonderful. Just the kind of reason I don't go to Lidl very often .

I decided to drive further afield for my walk today and go to a quiet village where I know a nice walk under shady trees. It was lovely to see the downs again and the walk was great because I found a bridle path which turned it into a circular walk through woods near a nice little river. Very happy.

Off to sweep the garden paved area now. I have had a damp bag of weeds on there for ages but now I've finished the Big Early Summer weed and trim I've tucked them away until I can face going to the tip later in the year (yes, I have got a compost bin but this isn't stuff I want to put in there). The ground should have dried overnight. How I would love a really good path vacuum cleaner (not worth it for such a small space).

Did your garden centre visit go well Chinch? If so, I'll let F. know. She had vouchers for her birthday but it was just after lockdown started!

[halfateabag Profile]

Here in Wiltshire over the last 13 years I have only heard a cuckoo twice for a couple of cuckoo's, until this year..... I have heard it every day for the last fortnight - mostly early morning. We have 3 sets of blackbirds had territory wars over our lawns earlier in the Spring..... they also know when the cats get locked in and come and feast on lawn fodder without any squabbling now. They are desperate for us to turn on the water feature - don't have bird baths as the pigeons disgrace themselves in it

It transpires that he has not been watering the blueberries They slipped off his radar. They are now weeded and well watered but may survive with TLC.

Mange tout are a foot high and the french beans have finally poked their heads up. Sweetcorn seedlings planted this morning. Hurrah I have 5 pak choi through too. No beetroot though, I think the seeds were from 2015. Must get on with the tomato seedlings tomorrow...

[ChinchillaLady Profile]

Not really EM, they have got the social distancing sussed, but they didnt have much in the way of bedding and were unsure if they would get any more in, some nice shrubs and perennials though. Hope F is keeping o.k, I thought of her as I drove past the end of her road.

I have heard a cuckoo most days recently.

[halfateabag Profile]

I found this quite astounding.....https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52815286

[Seatallan Profile]

Wonderful!!

We've heard cuckoos around here too but I think that's usual. Used to hear them occasionally down near the river when we still lived in Reading but not frequently.

[Suffs Profile]

We get plenty of cuckoos around here too Chinch ...

[smitch Profile]

Back from the vets, we had Nelly put to sleep It was the right thing to do but I’m feeling very sad.

The water saga rumbles on, I’ll spare the details but we’re no nearer to a solution and OH has emailed the chief exec

Really not keen on the warm weather today, am far too warm. Luckily the front yard at the vets where I had to wait is nice and shady.

[Seatallan Profile]

Oh Smitch... so sorry....

[oat Profile]

So sorry Smitch.

[aero280 Profile]

Sorry to hear about Nelly. Always sad to lose a pet.

If you have any questions about the water, I'll be happy to make suggestions. But be aware that I retired 10 years ago!!

Last week I mentioned the problem with the steam iron. A bit of investigation showed that the later version of the iron had a slightly different tank. Philips specifically didn't include it on their list f spares, but I took a chance, based on the photo. It arrived this afternoon. It fits and the iron is steaming!!

We now have a light blue steam iron with a purple water tank. It cost £17 delivered, from Poland, it turns out...

[ChinchillaLady Profile]

Poor Nelly Smitch, you are going through tough times with your furry friends at the moment

[smitch Profile]

Thanks everyone. It is the only downside of keeping rats, they’re very delicate and prone to illness.

Aero, they haven’t even found where the water is coming from yet someone came out to dig in a different spot last week. He said he thought that it was under our wall and that another team would come back to look on our side. We heard nothing further, then my OH spoke to the water company who said they’d closed the case as it was on our property

There is water pouring down the street, the footpath is soaked and full of puddles and we’re still having issues with pressure in our supply.

[Suffs Profile]

Smitch sorry about Nelly.
Hope they sort your water out PDQ.

[herbidacious Profile]

I am so sorry, smitch.

[aero280 Profile]

If your water leak is on your property, then, sadly, it's up to you to fix it.

Do you have a meter in the road at the stopcock? If so, you are paying for the wasted water. Do you have a local area Facebook group? They may be able to recommend someone who can fix it. In my experience, local builders aren't specialists and plumbers don't like digging and getting muddy!! The local water company ought to have a short list of specialists too.

If it's really bad, you should be able to hear it with a listening stick. Any length of wood or metal could be used. Put one end on the ground at points along the line of the pipe and listen at the other. A bit like a stethoscope. If you are lucky you will hear a hissing noise getting louder the nearer you get, but it's most likely to be near where the water appears above the ground.

Does your insurance cover it? If so, they may have a contractor who would do the work.

Do any neighbours have pressure issues? If so, it may be a mains problem and not yours after all.

[smitch Profile]

Our water meter is under our sink.

The first team said it was on our side but the other corner of the garden. We then paid a company to dig our side and they couldn’t find anything. The water company then said it was our neighbours garden.

They sent someone else out to dig, but they couldn’t find the leak so they left. Someone else came to fill the hole in, then nothing.

We called the water company, who sent someone out with dowsing rods. He thought the leak was on their side but behind our garden rather than next door. Another gang came out and dug where our supply pipe is and said it is definitely our supply as the leak stops when they turn the stopcock.

One guy came into the garden with listening rods, said he thought it was under our wall and that someone would be out with a consent form to dig in our garden.

We heard nothing further until OH contacted them on Twitter, when they said it the case had been closed as it is on our side.

At this point my OH contacted the chief exec as no one told us where things were up to and we’ve already paid our own workmen to dig in the garden once based on their advice.

The whole thing is ridiculous.

[Earthmaiden Profile]

Smitch, so very sorry to hear about Nelly .

You should get a pretty prompt response by going to the CEO. Certainly was the case with our water company. If it is established to your satisfaction that it is on your side and that the supply pipe only serves your property they may offer to pass it to the department which deals with customer side leaks, don't forget to ask if there are schemes going where they might do one repair free. They should be keen to get leak repairs done to keep leakage figures down.

Excellent news re the iron aero!

I started writing this an hour ago then got a phone call from someone I didn't much want to speak to who talks a lot.

Thanks Chinch! F. doing fine but maybe I won't recommend garden centre just yet!

'night all!

[slimpersoninside Profile]

Sorry to hear about Nelly Smitch.