General Chat

Not quite time for coffee ................. just had to go and get ready for when OH calls "time"!!


I noticed the first purple crocus at the bottom of the garden yesterday ......... we have a bit of a wild area with crocuses, daffodils, snowdrops etc.

The purple crocus are always the first of the 3 colours to appear.

Snowdrops are out in the front garden .......... as are the daffodils.

and the fosythia shrubs that are dotted around both back and front gardens are about to open .............. OH cut some branches for me last Monday, and the flowers were full open by Wednesday


so spring is springing .................... problem is, we could still get freezing temperatures here :-)




the clocks go forward in 2 weeks time

Congratulations on 86,000 posts Sue - incredible on GR. :-)

The bonsai maples should look fabulous when the reach full autumn colour.

I have an amazing display of winter pansies and crocus in troughs.

I am glad that you are better Sue

It has been a horrible day here as well, raining for most of the day.

we went out because I had to collect something I had bought on Ebay which was collection only. It was about half an hour from here, so we went for a pub lunch at the same time

It was nice to get back into the warm house

Hello Sylvia :-D. We must have reached and passed 86,000.....wow.

I have noticed that the garden is preparing for Autumn. I have two Japanese maple bonsai and the leaves are just starting to colour. Some of my garden shrubs have finished flowering already :-(

Enjoy your coffee Sylvia

Glad that you are both better - these mysterious bugs happen.

We have had a good winter here so far, nothing too extreme, but shouldn't speak too soon.
Basically it has been wet and windy, but nice spells too in between.

Hi all


almost time for coffee :-)



it is dry here, cloudy, but the sun is trying to shine

Yes I realise I'm much to young :-D

We are both fine now thank you - it was just one of those horrid stomach bugs that makes you feel horrible for awhile then leaves.

Hello Sue - yes the world's weather has gone mad.

How are you today? and your son? I hope you are both better.

I think you have to be elderly to have the shingles jab - so you don't qualify.

Oh dear - has the world's weather gone mad? We have had rain on and off for the last few weeks. Summer has been overcast but still warm and very humid.

I must inquire as to whether the shingles jab is here and we just don't know about it. I remember having chickenpox as a child :-(

Hello Sylvia,

Coincidentally someone on another thread is infected with the cockchafer you describe. Apparently now in the Dales.

Huia wanted three - just to be absolutely sure :-D

It was a terrible day here. Heavy rain all day, with a gale force wind.
I was supposed to go to the pub for lunch, but it was too rough, and Archie and I would have been blown away.

Local radio have been coming on with flood warnings all day, due to exceptionally high Spring tides, and water flowing off the hills into the tidal rivers.
Accompanied by the gales this is a dangerous situation.

It will cost me about $180 ........ but I may be able to claim some of it back from insurance :-)

I think it is a one off jab Huia, you didn't need three of them :-D

I had to pay $240.

I had the shingles jab about a month ago

actually, it is widespread ............... but you may know it by another name .................



Cockchafer (May-Bug) – Melolontha melolontha


Adult Cockchafers are found on and around trees and shrubs in gardens, parks, field hedgerows and woodland margins, feeding on leaves and flowers. The larvae, sometimes called rookworms, live in the soil and eat the roots of vegetables and grasses.

The Cockchafer is widespread in Europe as far north as the centre of Sweden. It is widely distributed in the UK, wherever there are deciduous trees and shrubs for the adults and nearby meadows, fields or gardens for the larvae.

The larvae, if present in large numbers, can occasionally be pests of commercial vegetable crops, pastures, and grassed amenity areas such as lawns and grass-sports facilities (e.g. golf, cricket and bowling).

Post # 85,997




we'll break the 86,000 barrier tomorrow :-)




Sue ............. I hope you and your son soon feel better.



One of our coffee freinds said she spent most of Thrusday night sitting on the loo, instead of in bed. She did do a lot of crosswords in her the book she got as a Christmas present :-)






Tec ............... I do hope that you don't get the European Cockshafer. On the other hand ............... you may have it, but also have a native enemy of it as well :-)




Take care everyone xxx

Goodnight Tec.

I am turning in as well before it gets too cold

I hope you all feel better soon Sue <3 <3

Well I have to go to bed - bored with the football now,

Sleep well Linda - enjoy the bacon butty :-D

Hope you and your son will feel better later Sue - take it easy,

Goodnight,
Tec :-)