O of course
Your day apart from gardening
- Thread starter Logan
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Car Blue Badges, anyone have them?
I've had one for my wife for about 40 years because she has MS. She's entitled "in perpetuity." Over time the
renewal of these has become more difficult. I'm not against that, as some people who aren't entitled try to get one.
But it became a bit of nightmare for those who were entitled.
Every two years or whatever, we had to queue up at the town hall, then later the public library, bring all the documentation, then she had to sit in front of a screen whilst the clerk or whatever took a photo of her. It could take an hour. But today I received an e-mail from Trafford Council reminding me the current badge expires on 11th November and would need renewing.
I thought "here we go again," but further down the e-mail it said "apply on-line."
So I did, just a question of confirming all her details, it even said it would use the last photo (they always wanted a new one before). So job done.
They could have done it this way a decade ago if they tried.
They e-mailed me this early as badges can take 12 weeks to arrive!
I've had one for my wife for about 40 years because she has MS. She's entitled "in perpetuity." Over time the
renewal of these has become more difficult. I'm not against that, as some people who aren't entitled try to get one.
But it became a bit of nightmare for those who were entitled.
Every two years or whatever, we had to queue up at the town hall, then later the public library, bring all the documentation, then she had to sit in front of a screen whilst the clerk or whatever took a photo of her. It could take an hour. But today I received an e-mail from Trafford Council reminding me the current badge expires on 11th November and would need renewing.
I thought "here we go again," but further down the e-mail it said "apply on-line."
So I did, just a question of confirming all her details, it even said it would use the last photo (they always wanted a new one before). So job done.
They could have done it this way a decade ago if they tried.
They e-mailed me this early as badges can take 12 weeks to arrive!
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We went and picked up our click and collect this morning and then we went to Old Comp and visited the gardens. It is not huge, but it is a lovely place and we have been back several times. This time the house was being worked on and covered in scaffolding, but it is not open and though it makes a lovely backdrop that is all. We had tea in the tea room's garden and were visited by the resident robin and walked around the garden before buying a couple of salvias on the way out.
There was a curious large bush come small tree at one point which had a five point , ribbed , lanceate leaf and was bearing fruit which, from a distance, looked like potatoes. About the right size and brown colour. I took some photos on my phone so I am going to have to find out how to post them.
There was a curious large bush come small tree at one point which had a five point , ribbed , lanceate leaf and was bearing fruit which, from a distance, looked like potatoes. About the right size and brown colour. I took some photos on my phone so I am going to have to find out how to post them.
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The weather has curtailed some gardening for at least a couple of weeks, apart from an hour or so every few days. Likewise, I've played little golf due to the weather, I won't go if it's raining and sometimes when it's not, the course has been closed due to the conditions, like for the last three days.
Each year, I need the exercise to help lose the weight I put on over Christmas.
So I've had to go on a special diet and I've successfully lost nearly half a stone in two weeks.
I can recommend it to anyone wanting to lose a bit of weight.
The diet is called, "Eat less and cut out alcohol!"
Each year, I need the exercise to help lose the weight I put on over Christmas.
So I've had to go on a special diet and I've successfully lost nearly half a stone in two weeks.
I can recommend it to anyone wanting to lose a bit of weight.
The diet is called, "Eat less and cut out alcohol!"
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Was just at my doctors for yearly physical. Lost 5 lbs from last year. My diet is continued task of leaf removal, burns calories fast, it is an ongoing task even in the winter, as long as its dry out, I can bundle up and do several hours.
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I gave four pairs of secateurs a clean, sharpen and oil.
Threw one pair away as it was unrepairable.
Some secateurs can't be dismantled.
Threw one pair away as it was unrepairable.
Some secateurs can't be dismantled.
I attended church.
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Australian Open Tennis 2023
This started today. I'm recording it on Eurosport overnight. I'll pick and choose what I'll watch. It's on two channels.
First up on Eurosport was 20 year-old Emma Raducanu v 27 year-old Tamara Korpatsch, who Emma had beaten in three sets last year in Germany.
After a nervy start, having broken her opponent in the first game, then lost her's to love, it got to 3-3, but then she went on to win in straight sets. 6-3, 6-2.
Big disparity there, Korpatch has earned $777,000 in her career, Raducanu in a couple of years,$18,000,000.
Raducanu now ranked 76, Korpatsch 77.
There was no sign of the ankle injury which caused her to retire from another competition two weeks ago. She looked very fit and the spectators loved her.
This started today. I'm recording it on Eurosport overnight. I'll pick and choose what I'll watch. It's on two channels.
First up on Eurosport was 20 year-old Emma Raducanu v 27 year-old Tamara Korpatsch, who Emma had beaten in three sets last year in Germany.
After a nervy start, having broken her opponent in the first game, then lost her's to love, it got to 3-3, but then she went on to win in straight sets. 6-3, 6-2.
Big disparity there, Korpatch has earned $777,000 in her career, Raducanu in a couple of years,$18,000,000.
Raducanu now ranked 76, Korpatsch 77.
There was no sign of the ankle injury which caused her to retire from another competition two weeks ago. She looked very fit and the spectators loved her.
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Just inside stuff. always something to do or clean. also packing for airplane trip to Gulfport, Mississippi. pulling out some lighter clothes to take with. probably need a pedicure as I probably will wear sandals . Visiting Nephew and his family. There is a promise to go fishing, I hope. And going to visit the town called Laura , Mississippi---where that HGTV Home Town is filmed.
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Started on a major job. The renovation of our small bathroom.
It was re-tiled twenty years ago and I fitted a new bath and the unit.
But ten years ago we had the bath removed, a new basin and furniture installed and a walk in shower fitted, as it was more convenient due to my wife's disability.
Fortunately, I had some spare tiles and managed to get a few more from Topps.
I re-did the silicone around the tray four years ago. But now it no longer looks like this and the tiles need re-grouting in places.
So today I made a start. I washed down the ceiling and all the tiles. That's really the biggest job.
I need to get a tool from Screwfix to remove the sealant and help apply new silicone. Plus new grout and clear and white silicone. I can get that on the way home from golf tomorrow. I'll have to score out some of the old discoloured grout, so I can apply new.
I've also bought this stuff. You apply it over the grout to stop it discolouring.
With a bit of luck, it will all be done by the week-end.
It was re-tiled twenty years ago and I fitted a new bath and the unit.
But ten years ago we had the bath removed, a new basin and furniture installed and a walk in shower fitted, as it was more convenient due to my wife's disability.
Fortunately, I had some spare tiles and managed to get a few more from Topps.
I re-did the silicone around the tray four years ago. But now it no longer looks like this and the tiles need re-grouting in places.
So today I made a start. I washed down the ceiling and all the tiles. That's really the biggest job.
I need to get a tool from Screwfix to remove the sealant and help apply new silicone. Plus new grout and clear and white silicone. I can get that on the way home from golf tomorrow. I'll have to score out some of the old discoloured grout, so I can apply new.
I've also bought this stuff. You apply it over the grout to stop it discolouring.
With a bit of luck, it will all be done by the week-end.
Last edited:
- Joined
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I've been sorting out a problem with our Joseph Joseph waste bin. A few e-mails going back and forth today.
We bought one of their bins a few years ago from QVC. My wife got sold on it as it compacted the rubbish. There's a handle you push down that compresses whatever you have in the bin. What they don't tell you, is as you pull the handle back up some of the rubbish just follows it up again.
It was on special offer, around, £100.
It had a soft-close lid. Unfortunately, the mechanism packed up a few weeks ago which meant as soon as you took your foot off the pedal, the lid slammed shut. There's a filter under the lid and the "trauma" of the lid shutting with a bang meant it ended up in the trash, so I had to use tape to keep it in place.
Anyway, I dismantled the base and took out the soft-close mechanism, photographed it and sent it to Joseph Joseph, asking if it were possible to get a replacement.
I sent two follow-up e-mails as I got no reply.
I gave it up as a waste of time a couple of weeks ago, but then last week I got a response and despite me not being able to find the proof of purchase they wanted, (I may have registered the guarantee), they said in this instance, they'd help me out, but they needed to know the model number, I couldn't find one, all I could do was send a photo of the actual bin.
This was enough. Today I received an e-mail to tell me they were replacing it, not the mechanism, the whole bin! They're £199 now!
www.josephjoseph.com/products/titan-30l-trash-compactor-stainless-steel
We bought one of their bins a few years ago from QVC. My wife got sold on it as it compacted the rubbish. There's a handle you push down that compresses whatever you have in the bin. What they don't tell you, is as you pull the handle back up some of the rubbish just follows it up again.
It was on special offer, around, £100.
It had a soft-close lid. Unfortunately, the mechanism packed up a few weeks ago which meant as soon as you took your foot off the pedal, the lid slammed shut. There's a filter under the lid and the "trauma" of the lid shutting with a bang meant it ended up in the trash, so I had to use tape to keep it in place.
Anyway, I dismantled the base and took out the soft-close mechanism, photographed it and sent it to Joseph Joseph, asking if it were possible to get a replacement.
I sent two follow-up e-mails as I got no reply.
I gave it up as a waste of time a couple of weeks ago, but then last week I got a response and despite me not being able to find the proof of purchase they wanted, (I may have registered the guarantee), they said in this instance, they'd help me out, but they needed to know the model number, I couldn't find one, all I could do was send a photo of the actual bin.
This was enough. Today I received an e-mail to tell me they were replacing it, not the mechanism, the whole bin! They're £199 now!
www.josephjoseph.com/products/titan-30l-trash-compactor-stainless-steel
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I started on the shower today, scoring out all the old discoloured grout and making a key for new grout in other areas.
It took about two hours. It was a bit of a pain as I had to keep spraying the walls with the shower head to soften the grout.
For the lower areas, to get at them, I had to sit on the floor of the shower
Fortunately, when I finished, I was in the shower wet through but I was still able to have a shower!
That's it for the day. I'll let the walls dry out overnight.
Tomorrow I'll tackle the re-grouting and on Sunday replace the silicone.
It took about two hours. It was a bit of a pain as I had to keep spraying the walls with the shower head to soften the grout.
For the lower areas, to get at them, I had to sit on the floor of the shower
Fortunately, when I finished, I was in the shower wet through but I was still able to have a shower!
That's it for the day. I'll let the walls dry out overnight.
Tomorrow I'll tackle the re-grouting and on Sunday replace the silicone.
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Persistence pay, Sean. Now, what could you use the old bin for?
- Joined
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Persistence pay, Sean. Now, what could you use the old bin for?
Well, I've always a plan..
The bin arrived this afternoon.
The old one has been re-used.
It's the one nearest the door. It will be used for plastics and glass.
We were using a smaller bin for that, but I was for ever having to empty it, (milk cartons, not wine bottles!)
We've not used that door very often since we've had to separate our trash. It's the only spare space in our small kitchen.
I've realised why the supplier had seemed quite generous. According to what was on the carton, they come with a ten year guarantee.
The original couldn't have been much more than four or five years old.
- Joined
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I finished the bathroom this afternoon.
Fortunately, after I cleaned it, the ceiling didn't need re-painting
The re-grouting has been done and the silicone replaced.
I also took off the seals around the doors as they were a bit grubby at the very bottom and it is impossible to get at them when they're in place. They've discoloured with age, but you can't do anything about that, other than replace them. I cleaned all the edges of the glass while they were off.
As I tend to say about a lot of things these days, as did my father even when he was younger than I. "This should see me out!"
Fortunately, after I cleaned it, the ceiling didn't need re-painting
The re-grouting has been done and the silicone replaced.
I also took off the seals around the doors as they were a bit grubby at the very bottom and it is impossible to get at them when they're in place. They've discoloured with age, but you can't do anything about that, other than replace them. I cleaned all the edges of the glass while they were off.
As I tend to say about a lot of things these days, as did my father even when he was younger than I. "This should see me out!"