I had my first archery lesson last night 7.30-9.00. It was indoors of course and really enjoyable. I have signed up for a block of four Monday evenings to add a new string to my bow (if you will excuse the pun!)  Once through the initial training I will be allowed to utilise the facility once a week at a very cheap rate!  Surprisingly, none of the 15 arrows I shot strayed from the target and I even had one in the bullseye! We were trying different distances to target and it seemed to me that the further away they were the more accurate I was (Or it may have been me getting used to the Olympic recurve bow.?)

Next week we will be shooting with sighrs, which in the back of my mind, I feel is cheating? but going forward I would have a choice of type of bow and what additions I would add to it!

I was a bit worrried because I wear glasses, but it didn't seem to interfere with accuracy and I was very pleased with the result!

I’ve just done this. 
https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/c...assessment

If anyone wants to spare 15 minutes 

I found it quite interesting.

https://justseed.com/

Lots of  seeds from different companies, brought together on one website.  Useful because you can compare prices and seed quantity for each variety. P&P is only £1.49  so it could be cheaper to buy from Just Seed than from the BigBoys.

Have a very happy birthday you lovely lady .

   

I've been puzzling how to keep track of my different plans for 2026. Please don't say  "Spreadsheet" . 

I needed to keep a Garden balance Sheet (showing what I've spent and what I've harvested); and to keep tabs on my £1 a day spend on food.  It would also be good to record any clutter that I give away or items I'm given. 

Result - I have a new, cunning Plan (I can hear you lot sniggering now. Stop it at the back).

I have found a shiny new Notebook to start me off. 
Everything I possess, money, food, seeds etc is the status quo - or Ground zero - or whatever you like to call it.

In the Notebook I will record the changes in the status guo (the Ins and Outs) that take place every day. Ins on the Right and Outs on the Left.
For example, any food I harvest, anything I'm given for FREE is an IN. 

On the OUT side is anything that leaves the house or my moneybox! 
The cost of any food (or seeds) that I buy is an OUT. 

However, any seeds that I sow from my seed stash or food that I eat from the store cupboard has NO value, it has been written off. When the seeds are sown they will be recorded as an OUT. When they grow and are harvested, they become an IN at shop value. Unless I can save seeds from them, they will need to be replaced and the cost will be an OUT.

Any clutter that I give away is an OUT with no value. 

I'm sure this is as clear as the bottom of the pond.

I watched several Great tits feeding on the camellia flowers today. I could see them from the landing window and they were unaware that I was spying on them. They seemed to be pecking at something on the yellow stamens in the centre of the flowers but I can't think what it could be. I've seen bees on the flowers recently too - that I can understand, but the birds puzzle me. Do they eat pollen?

New thread for 2026.
 2025 thread - https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2259

Anything you'd like to share - we're here to listen, laugh with you, offer a shoulder to cry on, just generally to be a friend.

2025 https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2262

Let's fill this thread with happiness in 2026. 

Here's 2025 https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.p...light=2025

Sunhat or umbrella ? Wellies or sandals?