no subject

[peteryoung]

A very happy birthday to bohemiancoast.

In other news, I haven't been online for around a week, and with my computer screen at home refusing to work I was also unable to get at my e-mails without forking out cash for a crap wi-fi connection at a local cafe.

So, many thanks to dougs, who came round this morning and donated a smaller Compaq screen to keep me going until I get a decent wireless connection at home, after which I will be doing just about everything on my laptop.

The trip to Bangkok and Sydney went well (apart from crap weather everywhere) and the knee is holding up OK but still needs to be stronger; at the moment it's fine for walking on but little else, and swimming and cycling have now become must-do.

And I now have about 6 months of gardening to catch up on, the thought of which just depresses me. It's not so much a garden any more, just a large random collection of weeds and brambles that now require some serious slash and burn. I love the smell of napalm in the morning.

Comments

[alexmc.livejournal.com]

Do you want me to try and salvage any garden implements from my Dad such as a strimmer or hedge trimmer. He is having a clear out.

[peteyoung.livejournal.com]

My sister is coming round tomorrow with that kind of stuff and we'll be attacking the triffids all afternoon. And thanks for getting the ball rolling with the screen.

[alexmc.livejournal.com]

I also have a couple of old wireless routers but I think I might just buy you a new one and call it an SFPoD expense.

[daveon.livejournal.com]

Ugh! Sounds awful. I suggest hiring a heavy duty powered cutting tool - at least it would be fun to play with even if you don't need it!

[peteyoung.livejournal.com]

It would probably end up being a self-inflicted chainsaw massacre. I never trust myself with anything larger than an electric drill, and even the lawnmower gets put to work on average only twice a year.

[alexmc.livejournal.com]

Do you have experience of such things? I need to chop about ten concrete paving slabs.

[daveon.livejournal.com]

I've hired Kangos before which are basically mini-electric "pneumatic" drills. Any tool hire place will do it for you. Based on my experience, don't waste time with the smaller ones - go for something bigger than you think you need.

I had to break up my yard in Preston and it was a nightmare with a small one.

I had to break up my yard

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Not a phrase you'd see in American English! Although that does remind me of a concluding statement I saw in a blog post that would make a nice lino: "Lawn *is* pavement!"

[voidampersand.livejournal.com]

A young person with a wrecking bar does the job too. I remember having a lot of fun breaking up the old concrete patio in my parent's back yard. Wham!

[alexmc.livejournal.com]

I actually need them cut rather than broken up. I want a channel made.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Once you get started on teh garden, you'll feel much better about it. It's one of those jobs that is relxing once you actually start it.

[peteyoung.livejournal.com]

Yes, but as far as gardening is concerned I've made too many false starts after 15 years of living here. If my grandfather were alive he'd be at it every day.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Time past is irrelevant with gardens. I'd been here more than 15 years before we put in a pond and I planted raspberries and lots of other big changes. I simply grew into gardening and started to do it for love rather than as a chore.

[nolley.livejournal.com]

Napalm = Vaseline & petrol and do you want explosives?

[peteyoung.livejournal.com]

Hmm, you could make an interesting rockery out of the ugly concrete wall at the end of the garden... OK mate, you've got the gig.

[spikeiowa.livejournal.com]

Well now you've got the garden where you want it -- just about anything will be an improvement! Try to relax a bit and enjoy the great outdoors. And don't worry about details -- you're not laying out a fanzine, after all!