2024 - What I did today

Nature and I are going to fall out big time. Yesterday I found a squirrel in the fruit cage happily eating strawberries. It had chewed holes in the plastic net which I then mended and reinforced with chicken wire. I set a humane trap last night and checked it this morning. He'd only chewed another hole, avoided the trap and escaped. As it is I've reinforced all round  the bottom 8" of the net with wire mesh in previous years.  Today's job, if rain allows, is top reinforce a further 8" around the bottom, although the first holes were chest height so that might not be a solution.  Some big birds are pecking off the heads of my French marigolds too. The other strawberry patch was decimated by mice, so much so I'm considering digging them out and not bothering. 

I'm disheartened. 

Chin up Moonraker!

Yesterday I made a start at recommisioning the Fergi! It hasn't ran for at least six months so I thought I would need to invest in a new battery. I was very surprised when I turned the key that the ignition light came on so I decided to remove the battery and charge it up. It's now charged and seems fine. I wil refit battery today then drain the tank of manky petrol and after adding fresh petrol,and hopefully a bit of tinkering, will get her fired up!  Weather permitting of course as it has just started raining and thunderstorms are forecast!

Yesterday I made a start at recommisioning the Fergi! It hasn't ran for at least six months so I thought I would need to invest in a new battery. I was very surprised when I turned the key that the ignition light came on so I decided to remove the battery and charge it up. It's now charged and seems fine. I wil refit battery today then drain the tank of manky petrol and after adding fresh petrol,and hopefully a bit of tinkering, will get her fired up!  Weather permitting of course as it has just started raining and thunderstorms are forecast!

What do you plan to do with the Fergi once it starts up?

Weeded the block paving in the front garden while I waited for the new lawnmower to be delivered ( any time before 8pm). When I'd had enough of that I hung around near the back of the house and played with the dogs as I was sure they'd let me know when the delivery man arrived. Still waiting, I went into the house for something and, lo and behold, there was a big box in the porch. I've no idea how he managed to deliver it unnoticed. I@m going to give the guard dogs the sack!!
Gave it a test run this afternoon before the rain arrived.
Also did some Nettle and dock pulling at the far end of the garden.

Mowed the lawn after having a surprise sunny, dry afternoon.
Constructed a smaller A-frame with bamboo and twine to support the extra borlotti beans I sowed in pots.
Sowed additional Jacob's Cattle chitted dwarf beans to fill in the gaps where there hasn't been any sign of life yet.

Yesterday I made a start at recommisioning the Fergi! It hasn't ran for at least six months so I thought I would need to invest in a new battery. I was very surprised when I turned the key that the ignition light came on so I decided to remove the battery and charge it up. It's now charged and seems fine. I wil refit battery today then drain the tank of manky petrol and after adding fresh petrol,and hopefully a bit of tinkering, will get her fired up!  Weather permitting of course as it has just started raining and thunderstorms are forecast!

What do you plan to do with the Fergi once it starts up?

The best laid plans of mice and men dictated that the big fire up wasn't about to happen! After coupling up the battery,stopping the petrol at the tap and washing out the glass bowl the carburettor decided it was going to leak from the choke flap! I have ordered a carburettor gasket kit but I am unsure whether this will cure my problem. I then spent an hour disconnecting the carburetteor from allt he pipes and linkages, took itinside and gave it a good clean down ready for when the gasket set arrives. If I can get it sorted I should be able travel to the allotments a couple of miles away(it is road legal) and sort out any little niggles that rear there ugly head! Once sorted I can take it fishing which is abut a 10 mile trip.

Dug up some marjoram and replanted it in the "rockery" and added some lambs ears to keep it company.
Pulled up more grass and weeds so that I can get to the "bed" where I plan to plant some Squash.........then the heavens opened and I headed for the trees for shelter. The rain didn't stop so I went home to dry off.

Yesterday I made a start at recommisioning the Fergi! It hasn't ran for at least six months so I thought I would need to invest in a new battery. I was very surprised when I turned the key that the ignition light came on so I decided to remove the battery and charge it up. It's now charged and seems fine. I wil refit battery today then drain the tank of manky petrol and after adding fresh petrol,and hopefully a bit of tinkering, will get her fired up!  Weather permitting of course as it has just started raining and thunderstorms are forecast!

What do you plan to do with the Fergi once it starts up?

The best laid plans of mice and men dictated that the big fire up wasn't about to happen! After coupling up the battery,stopping the petrol at the tap and washing out the glass bowl the carburettor decided it was going to leak from the choke flap! I have ordered a carburettor gasket kit but I am unsure whether this will cure my problem. I then spent an hour disconnecting the carburetteor from allt he pipes and linkages, took itinside and gave it a good clean down ready for when the gasket set arrives. If I can get it sorted I should be able travel to the allotments a couple of miles away(it is road legal) and sort out any little niggles that rear there ugly head! Once sorted I can take it fishing which is abut a 10 mile trip.

Note to fish....beware little grey fergies 

Watered my tunnel, next doors greenhouse last day for this. Sorted a selection of sow now seeds for our neighbours as they have a new big blow away. And gave them a bag of compost and some plants.

Planted out the borlotti beans.
Planted "chocolate" sunflowers and "green eyes" rudbeckia.
Decided to sow more french beans as the ones already growing are looking rather sad due to the triple whammy of cool temperatures, slugs and pigeons.