The forecast is good for the weekend so let's hope that we have a nice day tomorrow as we start the clean-up of Knocknagow. We visited her last weekend and admired the new JCB engine, but I couldn't help look at all the activity of spiders and the accumulation of dust and dirt from the winter. The paint is coming off the deck so I'm going to have to do a cleaning job so that I can re-paint it. I might try the jet-spray implement I used to clean our patio.
Ian has headed to Dublin to go to his first Quaker committee meeting. He has done a huge amount of work in preparation for it as he is on a mission to make the Irish Quaker web-site more user-friendly.
I know have 3 friends on Facebook! The number is growing rapidly. Paddy McKee rang out of the blue yesterday and he has a presence on Facebook. It was great to hear from him.
I'm half-listening to the evening news on RTE. It is very depressing, with new legislation being suggested to tackle gang-land crime, and discussion on the government's attempts to tax us out of house and home. Christy Moore is due to be on the Late Late Show, so I may watch it for once.
Brian was in Dublin meeting someone today and came across an Italian shop so has stocked up on essential supplies. Loads of pasta and rice, an interesting lemon liqueur (I'm sure it would make ice cream tasty), and some nice bikkies were included in the spoils of his shopping.
Friday 17 April 2009
Sunday 5 April 2009
Rows and rows
I have had a planting weekend. There is now a row of beetroot beside the parsnips, and spinach beside the beetroots. In the greenhouse I've planted seeds of leeks, cabbage, sweet corn and marigolds. And somewhere else in the garden I put some lettuce seeds. Not all of these will grow, but I'm ever hopeful.
I'm fed up of the junk in front of the shed at the front of the house, but I'm not sure what to do with it. However, I got around to tidying it and have now planted the old shower tray with bits and pieces that may product some colour and deflect from the rubble around it.
Nobody will notice it, so I have to explain here all the cleaning I did this morning. I took down pictures and cleaned around all of the living room. You'd be amazed at the places that dirt gathers. Even the couch is now clean so that guests might actually be able to sit on it if we remove the dog cover.
Ian is livening up the house and is putting a lot of work into the Irish Quaker web site. I'm looking forward to seeing the results of his efforts go live.
I'm fed up of the junk in front of the shed at the front of the house, but I'm not sure what to do with it. However, I got around to tidying it and have now planted the old shower tray with bits and pieces that may product some colour and deflect from the rubble around it.
Nobody will notice it, so I have to explain here all the cleaning I did this morning. I took down pictures and cleaned around all of the living room. You'd be amazed at the places that dirt gathers. Even the couch is now clean so that guests might actually be able to sit on it if we remove the dog cover.
Ian is livening up the house and is putting a lot of work into the Irish Quaker web site. I'm looking forward to seeing the results of his efforts go live.
Wednesday 1 April 2009
No hope for the kids
Ian and Carolan haven't a hope... Their parents both get themselves into trouble by acting on causes or paths that aren't necessarily the most popular. b has just been accused of being a "journalist looking backward" in an article to be published in Afloat. I'm not sure what to make of that description. Is he a journalist? Does he know how to look backward? Hmm.
Anyway, he is currently doing something unheard of in the history of Brian-kind. He is hoovering the floor in our bedroom. The house must be very dirty! I'll have to do some cleaning this weekend or we'll let ourselves down when the rest of the family returns home for Easter. Ian comes home on Friday, but hopefully he won't notice too much, and will be too polite to comment if he does (for fear that he might be asked to help with the cleaning).
On Monday evening I optimistically planted some parnsip seeds, fully believing the weather forecast that said the next few days were going to be warm. I also put in a row of sugar peas, though they will survive as they are already a couple of inches tall because I grew them first in the greenhouse.
The range of birds visiting our garden is amazing at the moment. They are of all colours, shapes and sizes, though mainly small and of the tit family. None have yet nested in Ian's nest-box, and I'm wondering whether I ought to be putting something in it to encourage them.
Poor old Ian is struggling through the last day of his assignments. Spare a thought for him, as we should all remember what it is like. The last one I did was about 25 years ago, and I still remember it with dread.
Anyway, he is currently doing something unheard of in the history of Brian-kind. He is hoovering the floor in our bedroom. The house must be very dirty! I'll have to do some cleaning this weekend or we'll let ourselves down when the rest of the family returns home for Easter. Ian comes home on Friday, but hopefully he won't notice too much, and will be too polite to comment if he does (for fear that he might be asked to help with the cleaning).
On Monday evening I optimistically planted some parnsip seeds, fully believing the weather forecast that said the next few days were going to be warm. I also put in a row of sugar peas, though they will survive as they are already a couple of inches tall because I grew them first in the greenhouse.
The range of birds visiting our garden is amazing at the moment. They are of all colours, shapes and sizes, though mainly small and of the tit family. None have yet nested in Ian's nest-box, and I'm wondering whether I ought to be putting something in it to encourage them.
Poor old Ian is struggling through the last day of his assignments. Spare a thought for him, as we should all remember what it is like. The last one I did was about 25 years ago, and I still remember it with dread.
Sunday 29 March 2009
Tired today
It's Sunday again. The dogs are lying down stretched out on floors and chairs. Leavy occasionally opens her eye just to check that I'm not doing anything untoward, or that she isn't missing out on anything. I wish I had that ability to nap. I'm feeling very tired after yesterday's committee meetings, in addition to "losing" one hour overnight due to the change to summer time.
It looks as if I'll be able to offer both broccoli and leeks from the garden to any family member that comes here over Easter. The broccoli tastes very good even in an uncooked state. I still need to learn how to have food in the garden all year. Mind you, one of the strawberry plants I have in the greenhouse is in flower, and others look close to it, so I might have strawberries available well in advance of the strawberry season (well, 2 or 3 maybe).
The birds are very active on the bird tables this afternoon. There is a robin sitting on one of the posts nearby, surveying all around, and lots of other little twitterers. It's drizzling, and a generally uninspiring day.
It looks as if I'll be able to offer both broccoli and leeks from the garden to any family member that comes here over Easter. The broccoli tastes very good even in an uncooked state. I still need to learn how to have food in the garden all year. Mind you, one of the strawberry plants I have in the greenhouse is in flower, and others look close to it, so I might have strawberries available well in advance of the strawberry season (well, 2 or 3 maybe).
The birds are very active on the bird tables this afternoon. There is a robin sitting on one of the posts nearby, surveying all around, and lots of other little twitterers. It's drizzling, and a generally uninspiring day.
Monday 23 March 2009
Remember me?
Hello, remember me... I've been to London and back since I last blogged, and had a lovely time. We visited Kew Gardens, and the best part was getting to say hello to Carolan and Ian. They're great!
Anyway, now we have won the 6-nations cup, and so the whole world is coming out of a depression. We're able to ignore the fact that our government is about to fleece us through its new budget, the economy has fallen down around us, and there has been another plane crash today. The sun is shining (well, it's not) and all is well with the world.
Gotta go now - it's Newtown week, so it's committees or meetings most of the week. Only 2 more meetings to go as chair of School Committee. Think of all the free time I'll have. What will I do? I'm even tempted by the special offer in the Castle Oaks leisure centre, but that may be going too far.
Anyway, now we have won the 6-nations cup, and so the whole world is coming out of a depression. We're able to ignore the fact that our government is about to fleece us through its new budget, the economy has fallen down around us, and there has been another plane crash today. The sun is shining (well, it's not) and all is well with the world.
Gotta go now - it's Newtown week, so it's committees or meetings most of the week. Only 2 more meetings to go as chair of School Committee. Think of all the free time I'll have. What will I do? I'm even tempted by the special offer in the Castle Oaks leisure centre, but that may be going too far.
Sunday 8 March 2009
Lazy day
It's been a lazy sort of a day. Carolan and Andy were here for the weekend but headed off at c.11am this morning back to Londinium. The dogs were so exhausted by their visit that they spent the day sleeping. Unfortunately they have started to wake up now and seem to feel that they have missed out on a walk. They have! Oh, well, maybe they haven't as B has just appeared in hat and coat. Maybe they sensed this was happening and that was why they were so excited.
Anyway, the weather has been so mixed that it is hard to know whether we are heading into summer or winter. We have had 3 seasons today - the one we haven't had yet is summer, mainly due to low temperature rather than lack of sun.
It was lovely to have Carolan and Andy here. We rang Ian yesterday to wish him happy birthday. I'm looking forward to seeing him next weekend in London.
Anyway, the weather has been so mixed that it is hard to know whether we are heading into summer or winter. We have had 3 seasons today - the one we haven't had yet is summer, mainly due to low temperature rather than lack of sun.
It was lovely to have Carolan and Andy here. We rang Ian yesterday to wish him happy birthday. I'm looking forward to seeing him next weekend in London.
Sunday 1 March 2009
Sunny day
I planted some seeds today, marking the start of the growing season. I planted them in pots in my greenhouse, but I hope that they will pop up nicely and just in time for the warmer weather we'll get in the next month or so. I've planted about 4 varieties of tomatoes, 1 variety of cucumber, aubergines (I've never tried them before), and some peas. I also transplanted some strawberries into pots that are big enough for them to grow into full-blown plants. I acquired a pottery planter thingy that allows 10 plants to poke out of it in different directions at different levels, and the rest have gone into conventional pots. I'm keeping them in the greenhouse for the moment but may put them outside as it gets milder.
The trouble about having a weekend with nothing on is that it allows me to realise how tired I am. I'm not sure I can face going into work tomorrow..... however, I will.
The trouble about having a weekend with nothing on is that it allows me to realise how tired I am. I'm not sure I can face going into work tomorrow..... however, I will.
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