2024 - What I did today

Today I'm going to propagate the snail begonia that was Veggies surprise in the seed swap. P made sure it survived in some water whilst I was out of action. Now I need to decide what to to with it. It didn't root in water so it might be leaf cuttings laid on the compost in the hope they'll take root from the veins.

Did some more hacking in the soft fruit jungle (Strip 1). My neighbour has a dying ash tree near the fence and branches have been falling off into the soft fruit jungle - weighting down the canes and brambles. I have to extricate these branches before I can do any meaningful pruning. Luckily, the dead wood is very light and brittles so snaps easily. Trouble is the dogs think that any stick is a toy to be thrown so I don't make as much progress as I'd like.
I stopped playing when the icy rain started.

Shopping today!

Lot's of half price meat in the run up to Crimbo!

Planted a couple of leek stumps in the stumpery.
Replaced various bits and pieces that have blown over during today's strong winds. The tarpaulin over the toolstore/GH has blown off again so I weighted it down with pots and chairs, in fact anything that was to hand, to stop it blowing over the fence. No point trying to put it back on in this weather. I've covered the tools inside with their own little "roofs".
Pulled up some Vinca in Strip1.

Nothing gardeny, but baked mince pies and cheesebiscuits during the half price leccy period, 11 til 4

Played with my tomato seed collection!. Added the remains of this year's "sown" packets to the bags and boxes, plus the seed labels so that I don't have to write new ones. Then I picked out the early sowing seeds ready for when the fancy takes me. Not long now.
Also put the tarpaulin back over the roofless GH. Not sure how long it will stay in place if the wind gets up again.

Stocked up with logs for the Christmas period, although, because it's so cold I may need to re-stock soon. Until then I am doing what I told the bairns to do when they were younger "Put a jumper on"

I made the mistake of shopping in Tesvo's today! It was more like trolley dodgem cars. They have put full length glass doors on the produce isles and as soon as one is opened it causes a trolley back up.
The queues to get served were down the isles with people having to wade into the queues to shopi in the same iskes. Total carnage!

I had a little list but gave up after a while and was just glad to get home!

They put those glass doors in Morrisons earlier this year. It causes problems when one person wants to open a door because the door folds back over the next door. Its particularly bad in the corner where the YS items are.
I went to Aldi and Morries today. Both had full car parks. I stocked up on cheap veg - Morries had free carrots for reindeer.

Not much outdoors, just righting plant pots and collecting twigs and branches from the lawn and netting.

I hate to admit it, but I shouldn't be allowed out without a responsible adult or carer and that doesn't include P.
Shopping yesterday for last minute bits and bobs was very stressful. Lidl's shelves were empty, Tesco was heaving and queueing to park. It was getting stressful. P suggested topping up fuel as it was cheaper there than elsewhere. This wasn't part of my well thought out plan, that was going to pot minute by minute, but I agreed. Whilst topping up the tank I spied a parking space so kept an eye on it hoping it would still be free when I'd finished. Long story short, got home had lunch, set off out again but car wouldn't start and when it did it hiccuped up the road. Much scratching of heads. Eventually discovered I'd put unleaded in a diesel. The Silver submarine was in the wars again. I'd heard horrendous stories of engines ruined by the wrong fuel. Much phoning around, gnashing of teeth at how stupid I'd been. Upshot was for £195 a bloke came round that afternoon drained off the contaminated fuel, flushed through the system, followed me to the nearest petrol station to make sure the car started again, which it did. He reassured us that no lasting damage had been done, all back to normal. Phew!