Sunday 29 March 2009

Groundwork Day


This day keeps happening again and again.

Sheds are important and I don't have sufficient.
Little by little the digging out for the one at the end of the garden proceeds.

My little efforts reflect the big boys and their shed building.
A new Lidl/Aldi/Netto retail park something or other is being built close by.
They do the same things - but more and a lot quicker.
Set up datum lines, dig, grade, truck unwanted stuff off site and make sure the local roads don't get muddy.

I do it about 1/2 hour at a time coz any sustained labour will hurt.
They do it with big machines - I use a spade, a riddle and a bucket.

As this is a diary (can't see much other use for it) here's the latest lawn tending. 
3kg of ground limestone added as general conditioning.
pH looked a bit acid with a cheapo test kit.
My past as a chemist questions the result (the result was acid but the sampling/method/etc v suspect).
But if this city wasn't here, this would be moorland and that tends to acid.
I'm preferring "sour" to acid - maybe I should just taste it.
It's also sticky when digging it - another good indicator of sourness.
All this "evidence" points to low pH.
3kg is a middling dose.
I marked off 1m strips and scattered evenly.
Light raking to work it in a bit.
The weather forecast said winter showers late pm.
That would have been good but it didn't happen.
In theory this should be done in winter and the cold works it in.
But anytime is better than waiting.

Wednesday 18 March 2009

Working From Home

Anyone else hear this phrase from "workmates" ?


Working.
I equate it with toil, labour, no thanks, forget it...
I don't want to do it at home.

Then I do it anyway.
If you ever need evidence for debates on office hygiene.

Monday 9 March 2009

It's GrassTastic


Looking back I can't find any substantial mention of the lawn.

How odd?
For something that occupies my time and energy so much.

The garden to our house was what made it different to most that we'd seen.
Although my experience with horticulture (garden & allotment) had convinced me that;

Greenery belongs 
to somewhere else
the Countryside
to someone else
Farmers?

The lawn in question

We decided a lawn, and a lawn alone would be just the thing.
A new Opportunity to Obsess (O2O) was born.
From my Favorites/Bookmarks.

http://www.oldlawnmowerclub.co.uk/moms/mom61-brill.htm

So half the weekend has been spent aerating,scarifying and dressing with sand.
I was pleased with how much I got done and how fit I felt.

'Til Sunday morning  and I can't use my left shoulder for much.

Saturday 7 March 2009

How To Lose 23 Minutes Of Your Life

Have you ever been in a chat and no one turned up?
Sadly I have, a lot.


This is not just because I am a lonesome cowboy.
I educate online and have to host chats.
But they are often not obligatory so people seldom turn up.

I also have to establish conferencing services.
So often end up testing endlessly useless systems.

I'm sure a certain redhead remembers efforts way back when to do video stuff over dial-ups.

I've taken to singing to pass the time. 
I'd like to share the experience with you.


Geoff
07/03/2009 06:58
Hiya B**s
Geoff
07/03/2009 06:58
or maybe someone else is there?
Geoff
07:04
Blue
07:05
There's 1000s of smileys here but where's the fonts and stuff?
07:05
a line appeared
07:05
 still
07:06
 talking to myself in Uk then?
07:09
looks like it
07:10
If I had a penny for every fail it conference I'd have £3.26
07:10
it=IT
07:12
whoops tangled up in old records on the floor
07:12
chat
07:12
cahat
07:13
I'm chatting to mice elf again
07:13
Any howard deveto fans out there?
07:15
Just for you "This is a song from under the floorboards" by Magazine
07:15
I am angry I am ill and Im as ugly as sin
My irritability keeps me alive and kicking
I know the meaning of life, it doesnt help me a bit
I know beauty and I know a good thing when I see it
07:17
(join in with the choruses)
07:18
This is a song from under the floorboards
This is a song from where the wall is cracked
My force of habit, I am an insect
I have to confess Im proud as hell of that fact
07:18
I know the highest and the best
I accord them all due respect
But the brightest jewel inside of me
Glows with pleasure at my own stupidity
07:19
This is a song from under the floorboards
This is a song from where the wall is cracked
My force of habit, I am an insect
I have to confess Im proud as hell of that fact
07:20
(just the vocalist now) 
07:20
I used to make phantoms I could later chase
Images of all that could be desired
Then I got tired of counting all of these blessings
And then I just got tired
07:21
(last time all together now)
07:21
This is a song from under the floorboards
This is a song from where the wall is cracked
My force of habit, I am an insect
I have to confess Im proud as hell of that fact
07:21

07:21
Thank you
07:21
you are very kind

IT it's fucking great innit?