What are you all up to
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I'm with you Debs. Fruit and Veg garden every time.
Hope you are going to be able to get away to your Static soon. Sounds like you could do with some "me time".
We have a field that was up to recently used for the local Football team. At the edge of the village. Farmer still owns it. He's now applied for planning permission. He has to pull down the changing rooms (wooden) and plough the field to prove its agricultural land whereby planning permission will be easier to obtain! OK he doesn't grow crops as he's a sheep farmer so no food production lost, well not directly, but the last thing the village needs is more housing. The primary school is over subscribed and the infrastructure can't cope with traffic volume at present. No more room at town Surgeries either.
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I grew up in Shropshire and the veg garden was about 1 acre and everything was grown and very rarely did we buy fruit and veg except for oranges and bananas and they were a treat, have grow a lot of veg over the years but ground here is awful but do grown in small raised beds, a friend of ours does not grow any food thinks it is a waste of time and buys her fruit and veg at the market in Cahors and of course bio all year around and said yesterday it was minus 3 but market was busy.
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Buy local and buy well, the big supermarkets have ruined production incentives but many want cheap food so it's a problem for all. OH upped his garden production during lockdown, it's been hard work and he curses "going away" as it's always when things need looking after.
(We have been known to take salad leaves in boxes away with us.) As for turnips, to be honest I'm not a fan and they also get confused with neeps which I do like occasionally. I listened to a curried turnip recipe being produced on BH Radio 4 this morning, interesting!
Locally things are changing, sheep stock are being increased but the one dairy farm keeps going too so all the surrounding fields are for animal feed one way or another, maize, corn and grass. The main crop for humans to eat round here is potatoes and our local £5 bag from a Duchy farm has lasted all winter, still going strong....they are a real saving and very good quality as long as you don't mind eating the same type of potato. Buy British if you can.
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That reminded me of when I had the allotment Brue, we always took salad stuff with us in the caravan. I used to grow lots of different varieties of tomato, one year I’d picked a lot before we went away but some not ripe so we had tomatoes in varying stages of ripeness lined up in all of the caravan windows and on the table by the window in the awning.
I didn’t hear the MPs statement re turnips but, back in the day we did eat what was produced here and in season it never did us any harm, in fact most of us probably ate healthier. It won’t hurt anyone to go without salad for a few weeks in winter, I do think we get spoilt for choice, nice but not necessary.
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Yes, we are utterly spoilt in terms of year round choice nowadays, and the stranglehold the big supermarkets have on things has been a ticking time bomb for years. It’s not a big issue for me personally, as I don’t actually like fresh tomatoes (love tinned ones though, weird I know) but OH loves them. Cucumber is a rare buy, every now and then, and we loathe bagged salad as it’s just mush after a day.
We are just back from our dog walk round local ancient woodland. Jeep is piled high with fallen wood, all nicely matured and dried out, great for stove. Just a bit of cutting and stacking to do now….
Brue, did you see the plant offer I posted down in Gardening thread?
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I think some of you are being a bit unfair on supermarkets. They meet a demand for what the public want, if that demand wasn't there they wouldn't stock things. That's what successful businesses do.
As far as turnips are concerned I am not sure I have knowingly eaten them? There is also a confusion in our household as Margaret (from the North East) calls a swede a turnip. I like swede, especially mashed with carrot.
David
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Only 2 more days and it is officially spring Robsail
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I agree to a certain extent, yes they are catering (or should that be capitulating) to the greater demand, but the real question is, to what long term problems? It’s long been an issue that food producers of all kinds don’t get much return for their efforts, dairy farmers being a particular concern. Cheap gluts of products, short shelf life, heavy reliance upon imported products, computers controlling stocks on a daily basis do not add up to robust food stocks.
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I too heard the turnip recipe on BH this morning. Seemed to contain more onion than turnip! I use turnip in roasted root veg, but don't eat it alone. I love swede, mashed with pepper or mashed with carrot. Both freeze well.
Been watching Rick Stein Cornwall and he was doing salad with winter leaves, nothing/very little youd find in a supermarket. Looked delicious. Next village to us has wonderful proper greengrocers. Buy as much or as little as you want. That's choice. I do like tomatoes and eat them most days, cucumber too. I remember having to buy them Christmas Eve, they were a treat, from the green grocer's given in a paper brown bag and they were soft and had to be carried home with the greatest care! We've certainly come a long way in that respect. Also washing dirty celery, oh such cold hands! Don't see it these days 😪
Been a beautiful sunny cold day here. Gave myself the day off. Dinner will be a scrappy affair, egg on toast or soup.....
Good to hear spring has reached Scotland Robsail. I don't think spring is here until the equinox, but meteorological spring starts on 1st. Our new garden has loads of snowdrops bit no crocus, will rectify that for next spring. Loads of daffodils too.
Our village magazine arrived today, our resident botanist says snowdrops should be split every year, or 2nd year, when dormant - but as she pointed out you then can't find them 🤔. So once the flowers are over reduce to groups of 3 to 5 bulbs. She has a wonderful show of them in the churchyard which haven't been done for a few years, covid and last years very dry spring so looking for volunteers.....
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I was brought up with a large garden 75% of it was veg, fruit 20% and 5% flowers. We had raspberry, strawberries, gooseberry, blackberry's and rhubarb all were picked and surplus bottled or made into jam. Our neighbours had apple and pear trees so some trading was done.
Veg was grown all year round, potato's, swede, leeks, onions, peas, broad beans, runner beans, carrots, cauli, brussels and salad crops etc.
My maternal grandad was a miner so always had a garden + allotment. I used to love going and helping him when on school holidays, I was allowed to eat the peas straight from the pod 😊 still like doing that. I've always grown veg but since we have been going overseas can no longer do that, I do miss it. Nothing better than walking outside to collect dinner.
Lovely sunny warmish day here today. Had a nice walk this afternoon, no hat needed. Started sorting a few clothes out for packing.
Fruit and veg in this country are much cheaper than in France and Spain, maybe we should pay more to the growers then we might not get shortages.
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I like to see snowdrops in drifts but not keen to have them in the garden. Reading about splitting bulbs, we have bluebells - tons of them, bluebells everywhere. I once found a few, can’t remember planting them, split them and now we have a garden full. For a few years we had none, not one, then we realised the visiting deer ate them all. Since we put up high wire fences to keep them out, although we still do get the odd one that jumps over, the bluebells cover the garden. So be careful what you split up.
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I split up the snowdrops and the crocus every few years, just as they have finished while I can still find them.
Despite planting them in groups I still get lots just spread around, if it's not the cats scratching the up and spreading them it's the birds pulling them up and dropping them. We now have some on the grass outside our front garden.
I used to have lots of narcissus but they seem to fail after awhile as do the tulips. I think if we get a very wet and cold winter that's the problem.
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Just catching up with the last couple of days posts, so I apologise if I don't mention all those that have posted on this thread. It's good to read each of your posts.
Debs, so sorry to hear your situation, hope things improve quickly for all, and you can get away to your static for a rest.
Good to read about your new car, WN, and that you will be able to get away in your caravan in the not too distant future. Enjoy your trip to The Great Orme.
Hope all those that had coughs are getting rid of them, and feeling better.
We are back home from our latest trip, can cleared out and the majority of washing done and drying around the house at the moment. Off again on Friday for another shortish trip after more dental visits, but I might just have enough time to clean the van and car before then, weather permitting.
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I'm always glad to see the back of January and February, to be honest. The sooner it gets a bit warmer, I'll be happy.... I do like getting out in the garden, stoking up the Cadac and eating outside.... and, of course, more outings in the caravan.
David
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Good luck with your new caravan David (as mentioned elsewhere) I spent a lot of time yesterday getting sites lined up so that we can visit family before Easter. It doesn't get easier on these longer journeys!
Hope Nellie enjoys the next trip.
Did anyone see the Northern Lights last night, I hear they could be seen as far as Cornwall. Must take a look tonight, if the skies are clear.
February does seem to have gone quickly. 🌼
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Thanks Brue. Of course, now we've made the decision to go for it, we want it now and not June/July. If it doesn't arrive before our main hols, we'll have to put off handover until September! 😢😢
Our daughter is always posting pictures of the Northern Lights. I'll see if I can find the pictures in a mo.
David
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Here goes.... our daughter's (or son-in-law's) photo's taken last night from their back window (in the Outer Hebrides - Lewis with Harris) ......
David
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Not just the ' Lights ' to see there David !! Pulled the pictures up to 'very' full screen on my desk top and I'm surprised there is much detail to see because of ALL THOSE STARS
. Totally gogsmacked I have to admit. If I ever get fotos like that I check to see my lens is clean Its almost worth while setting the alarm for two o'clock in the morning but being a tired old summat please thank them "Northern Folk " for the pleasure they have given us !!Brian.
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Now to much more mundane things ! Had a bad bad day in ASDA on Saturday == succeded in locking my debit card out due to a rush of Wrong Pin--itis so had to a) use my No2 card -- the one with rust & mildew on it
then b) return to town today to visit t'bank & get things put to rights.After that was settled I took the Brave option & slowly walked home via M&S food shop & used the newly released card to pay for todays lunch etc etc AND IT WORKED
so took the even braver option & walked the rest of the way home [ another whole half mile ] just in time for the lunchtime news. That was the most depressing part of the whole thing really 
.Still everything appears to be going well now -- no coughs, sneezes, panting or needing to stop for a pause so even took the bad news about the Ducato probably needing a new engine in my stride . Hope Brue and all the other 'patients' are feeling at least as chirpy as wot I is
!!
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Thanks Brian..... and, of course, I've had to reduce the size down to 500kb ibmn order to post it here.... I downloaded them from Ruth's Facebook I'll pass on your comments
The thing is, photos of the Northern Lights come through so often. However, when we go up to visit - usually late August - we've not been lucky enough to see them 'in the flesh'.... Perhaps one day.
David
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I'm always getting PIN numbers mixed up.... I think mainly because we don't use numbers so often these days. So many times we can just wave the card at the machine and it does it's job without the need for a number. I always ask fo a receipt though... to remind me how much I've spent
I do sometimes use the self service point at our local Co-Op and the machine sometimes doesn't give out a receipt. It's a pain, as I end up by having to flag down an assistant. The trouble with not getting a receipt is that you have no proof you have paid. I could be going through the door and be stopped by a 'colleague' and I have no proof that I have paid (other than showing them a total debit from my online bank transactions, which I'm not happy to do). Mind you, most of the staff do know me, so I'm quite unlikely to be challenged.... but it's the principle!!! 😆😆😆
David
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Beautiful photos indeed David. Thanks.
I had to put my card into the reader today and use my pin number as it asked for it. My bank seems to do that after so many uses. MiL insists on using hers on a regular basis as she's seriously worried that at her age she will forget.
Physio today, who wants me to have an x-ray on my wrist so going to have to arrange that through the surgery. Otherwise it was a good session and as she only sees me once every 3 weeks she can tell the improvements.
Mrs.WN laid low with a heavy cold, doing her very best to keep it away from me, bless her.
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Optician today, no new lenses needed.
Also, at OH and DD's request, I had a hearing test. Hearing OK, so apparently I am just not bothering to pay attention to what is going on around me/what is being said to me. A common problem according to the lady who tested me!
OH and DD agreed, so apparently I am just being very annoying!
Not sure what I am supposed to do about that.
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Sorry to read that your M/H needs a new engine, ABM, hope you can get it sorted out and it isn't too expensive.
Hope your OH is soon over her heavy cold, WN, and fingers crossed that you don't catch it from her. Prospective her our best wishes for a speedy recovery. Hope that the x-ray doesn't reveal anything nasty.
Lovely photos, David, your family up in the Islands are very fortunate in having such clear dark skies. Hope you get your new van before the summer is over.
I was able to get the caravan cleaned outside and the hoovering done inside too. We have Flyte a good wash this afternoon, boy did he need it!!😁 With a bit of luck I might get the car washed tomorrow and the rest of the inside of the van cleaned too.
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Brian must concentrate on doing the laundry 
