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However, the RHS website – in one of 718 results when searching “pruning roses” - does say that to renovate shrubs or roses with too many stems that have finished flowering after year two and for shrubs with flowers that bloom April – July, then it is okay to take out half the old stems that remain from pruning and prune back the other stems... Deep breath!
"Should I weed the lawn or say it is a garden?" Anon
It is noticeable that over recent days it has been very quiet during the daytime but as the sun dips lower the wildlife emerges from the hedgerows and trees, and our local squirrel, pigeons, blackbirds and robin, plus numerous chiffchaffs, wrens and sparrows become very chit-chatty and entertaining. Enjoying the cooler temperature at dusk also means we have seen some bats swooping through the trees. Over this week, the almost-full moon has been low on the horizon – a hanging heavily yellow orb, it is almost as if one could walk over the hill and step onto it! Again, it makes me appreciate that we are very fortunate to live where we do – it is a beautiful part of the world. **Funnily enough, the August edition of [the posh] magazine Gardens Illustrated has a lead article entitled “Abutilon – add a touch of the exotic”. Get me – ahead of the game!!
We are actually rather unimpressed by the current travel situation in the UK (flights being cancelled, motorways as carparks) and madness at airports, so have pretty much decided we won't be doing a 'proper' summer holiday in 2022. Boo! However, I have almost firmed up a sunny beach holiday for a year hence – just waiting for the flight days / times to be confirmed. I don’t think we will have ever been so organised - well, especially for an “ordinary” event. Does that just smack of desperation?*!
As it is, trying to organise to do anything together lately has been impossible. Again, a case of “all or nothing”. Paul has various theatre or event contracts and those can be l-o-n-g days (up to 14 hours), six days a week and, for example, he has been in London (four days) and will be in Sheffield for ten days later this month. He has also been asked about doing something in Manchester for the whole of September but there are a few questions and practicalities around that; after all, theatre is not exactly a well-paid gig anyway and there’s certainly no point if accommodation and subsistence costs aren’t realistically covered by the theatre contractor / production company. Hmm… So, therefore, I have been / am left to my own devices and hope to have a few day trips or nights away visiting friends during August. Last week I met up with some Australian friends in Bath and it was good to catch-up whilst admiring the Georgian architecture and dodging the swathe of students in mortar boards and gowns as they graduated from university. So that’s why it was a nightmare to park….! Otherwise, I am determined NOT to fall into the trap of doing any of my various school / clerk jobs, reminding myself that I am paid (a pittance) to work term-time-only and – as has been proven – loyalty is usually a one-way street. Naturally I fell at the first hurdle and spent some time last week getting things in order for the next academic year telling myself that it’ll save time and stress in the longer-term (yeah – right). I wish I could turn my brain off as it is adept at making mountains out of molehills more than ever, and that has been getting me down. However, another reason for my lack-lustre and general apathy has come to light in blood-test results received yesterday – B12 levels are very low and require medication. The annual diabetic checks are currently underway (hence the blood test) so I will get more information later this week. Still, in some ways it’s good to know that there is a definitive reason behind months of [not] “bovvered”!? However, on that note, I am definitely sick and tired of computers and on-line work and Cloud(s) and portals and social media and not-so-social-media and all the flim-flam and gubbins and therefore have decided that it’s time for a case of “step away from the key-board, Ma’am”. Therefore, here’s to the beginning of a short summer intermission! ENJOY!! |
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