The Untied Kingdom? - the British thread 2021

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  • There are still buildings in London with "Ancient Lights" written underneath the windows.
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Firenze wrote: »
    What is it with fences these days? The adjoining gardens of these houses, when we first moved here, had picket fences or hedges or elderly brick walls - but all in the height range of about 3 to 6 feet. Since the perimeter buildings are all at least two storey, a degree of overlooking is inherent. But in the last couple of years, which have seen a generational turnover in ownership, the fences have soared. I now have an 8ft down one side, and on the other they are constructing a sort of wooden Xanadu which will add about 3ft to the 7ft they already erected.

    There's definitely a MySpace (and bugger your share of the light/outlook) mindset going on.

    There is an historic "right to light" which covers light reaching windows, but I couldn't say how strict or enforceable it is.

    The garden is at a distance from our (upstairs) flat, so windows aren't affected, it's just an awful lot of structures in what was formerly open space.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Sadly for my heliotropic sister, I don't think the right to light extends to not losing the sunny bits of your garden when your neighbour's Leylandii reaches its full potential.

    No matter - the ingredients for her summer-house (a pile of wooden sides) arrived at her house at silly o'clock this morning, and there may be something of a Gathering tomorrow to help her put it all together. The weather at the moment is glorious; I hope it stays like that for another day or two anyway.
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    She might want to make a close study of the High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013.

    I had a dozen packets of flower seeds which, when I read the small print, nearly all required to be sewn in seed trays indoors, and the seedlings cosseted before being gradually introduced to the big wide world. So I forked over some patches of earth, dug up the heartier clumps of buttercup, and scattered.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    I suspect it's been there too long now - "use and wont" and all that.
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    I think even the law recognises that plants grow bigger over time and that is actually what constitutes the problem.
  • KarlLBKarlLB Shipmate
    Heh. I tend to, no, I obseessively, seek shade. The taller the hedges the better as it' the less direct sun I have to endure in my garden. ;)
  • I never thought that my neighbour's fence would generate so much discussion! It's quite high (they told us beforehand) and we're actually quite pleased as not only is their garden higher than ours but it has a raised seating area at the back. Previously they could look straight into our living room windows (and vice-versa) but now there's a bit more privacy. Two clematis have been put in an hour ago, to grow up part of said fence!
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Climbers, definitely. On one fence there is ivy coming through from another neighbour's. Along from that I've planted a Virginia creeper which I think - hope - has survived the winter. And next to it a young but well-doing climbing hydrangea. On the new build side there are a young rose and honeysuckle and long-established pyracantha and cotoneaster. Clematis I've put in next a garden arch, either side a pot of sweet pea. If everyone else is going high-rise with man-made structures I'll show them what woman-grown plants can do.
  • SarasaSarasa Shipmate
    edited April 16
    Sounds like you might have a bit of a 'barn raising' tomorrow a bit like you are in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers @piglet.
    Not done much today apart from my lovely writing group and an unsuccessful search for some sage in several local shops. Had to change my ideas for tonight's tea and we had gnocchi with spinach rather than gnocchi with sage. Still tasted nice though.
  • NenyaNenya Shipmate
    We had an experimental pasta dish this evening to go with the Gavi wine we had. I've been finding that Friday evening meals sit very heavily with me so we ate early and I tried a new recipe. I think it's safe to say that the nicest thing about the meal was the wine. :lol: We saved some to drink with our usual Friday evening wine-tasting with friends online and I'm feeling quite dozy now... rather early in the evening to be thinking about going to sleep!

    In other news, I had a good afternoon walking with friends followed by coffee on the patio and the wildflower seeds I planted in the front garden seem to be coming up. :smiley:
  • In laws popped in and sat in the garden with us this morning, lovely and sunny outdoors. The rest of the day has been spent marking and I have now finished all this year's marking for one of my modules.
    Tea was hake in white sauce with sautéed potatoes and broccoli. I'm now having an IPA.
  • In the UK you can’t erect a garden fence higher than 2 metres unless you have planning permission.
    Whether or not trellis erected on top of the fence is included in that measurement depends on your local council regulations.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    It appears to be another glorious day here; once I'm organised, I think an Expotition to Sainz Breeze may be in order, as I need a couple of heavy things like flour and dishwasher tablets, which I don't want to have to cart back from Tessie's.

    Also a drop in to Fork Handles - I want to get some string to stop my hyacinths from falling over - and maybe a look in to the butcher's to see if he has any lamb shanks.

    And laundry - it's going to be quite a busy day!
  • HelixHelix Shipmate
    I need to buy some trainers - with shoe shops not been open for a good while, my trusty trainers have holes in where they shouldn't have holes and the soles are coming away from the uppers.

    I loathe shoe buying as I have quite clumpy feet and it is an activity I overthink "how will my feet be at the end of the day??" "how will they hold on different terrain??" "will i get blisters?" "will I get black toe-nail with the downhills??"

    But it is a stunning day today. And I have my washing drying in the sun indoors, soaking up the sun through the windows.
  • Sunny here too. I’ve been out for my walk and we’re just off to the garden centre to get some compost and some terracotta pots for my dahlia tubers. Husband will be cutting up some wood this afternoon to prepare for fence putting up next week and I will be potting up and weeding.
  • BoogieBoogie Shipmate
    My arms and hands are not working properly. My arms are very weak and my hands are numb. The physio thinks it’s my peripheral nervous system at fault.

    He’s going to see me in person next week to try and work out what’s up.

    Frustrating on a sunny day when I want to get busy in the garden!
  • Not nice, hope you get it all sorted!

    Here it is sunny but very cold. I recorded tomorrow's Facebook service in church then went to a well-known supermarket. My wife has a Welsh lesson all morning.

  • NenyaNenya Shipmate
    That sounds grim @Boogie , I do hope seeing the physio is helpful.

    I'm trying dahlias for the first time in our front garden - so ignorant am I of how to grow them that I had to ask the person in the garden shop which way up to plant the tubers :flushed: - and there's no sign of life from them yet but a gardening friend told me it's a bit early to expect any.

    It's a beautiful sunny day here too.
  • SarasaSarasa Shipmate
    Hope you get that sorted pronto @Boogie , sounds very frustrating.
    Every year a bunch of us go away for a weekend at this time of year. It was cancelled last year and we've delayed this year's get together till September. Instead we had a zoom meeting this morning which was lovely. We caught up on all the news and had a lot of fun. Can't wait till we meet again in person.
    The weather here is sunny if not warm, so we're off for a long walk after lunch.
  • PendragonPendragon Shipmate
    Our shopping trip on Thursday was successful. There was a bit of a queue for Primark, but it was quick moving. Only problem was trying to find the t shirts they liked in the correct sizes. Lots of smaller ones available, but not always the right ones for them. Dragonlet 2 has a boys pair of denim shorts so they cover her thighs in the garden. I am very grateful for adjustable waists too.

    She has got into the same school as Dragonlet 1, which is a relief.

    Hope they can work out what's going on Boogie.
  • KarlLBKarlLB Shipmate
    Sunny and warm here (I call anything in double figures Celsius warm). Enjoying the last couple of months of enjoyable weather before the burning Hell of Summer arrives.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    The predicted meteorological gloriosity was indeed forthcoming (14° and brilliant sunshine). Sainz Breeze has been visited; laundry is in the tumble-dryer; a lamb shank and some WINE have been procured; string has been bought and the errant hyacinth suitably trussed.

    And ...

    <drum roll>

    I've got an appointment to get my hair cut on 6th May!!!

    Yipee! :smiley:
    Karl, you ought to move up to Scotland, where the summers aren't so hellish!
  • kingsfoldkingsfold Shipmate
    It has been a glorious day at the more westerly end of the M8 as well. Since we are now allowed out of area, earlier than originally expected, I have been out. I went to the coast and had a walk up from Portencross Castle to Hunterston Power station and back. It wasn't too busy, not entirely uncoincidentally why I chose to go there rather than elsewhere! I suspect the more usual places (Helensburgh, Troon, Ayr beach etc) were probably heaving. But I feel SO much better for having got out of Glasgow, felt the sun on my face and the wind in my hair, and seen the sea and the mountains on Arran.
  • NenyaNenya Shipmate
    I had a catchup with a friend who's recently moved (loving it but missing me, bless her!) and had a bit of a go at making a cover for a home-made journal... not particularly successfully, but I'll persevere and bind it properly. It's an old notebook (yes, I definitely need a revamped new notebook *gazes thoughtfully at the piles of notebooks on the shelf* which I'm planning to rebind as the staples have gone rusty. Then I watched the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral, did a spot of gardening and am now gearing up to cooking the Saturday night stir fry. After last night's dismal experiment I'm looking forward to something I know will be delicious. Red wine will also be consumed. :smile:
  • KarlLBKarlLB Shipmate
    Piglet wrote: »
    The predicted meteorological gloriosity was indeed forthcoming (14° and brilliant sunshine). Sainz Breeze has been visited; laundry is in the tumble-dryer; a lamb shank and some WINE have been procured; string has been bought and the errant hyacinth suitably trussed.

    And ...

    <drum roll>

    I've got an appointment to get my hair cut on 6th May!!!

    Yipee! :smiley:
    Karl, you ought to move up to Scotland, where the summers aren't so hellish!

    I'd love to, but work, family, all that...
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    I understand.

    Supper has been consumed: steak with a baked potato* and veggies washed down with a nice glass of red WINE.

    * You know how I always forget to put something on my shopping list? Today's Not-Appearing-On-This-List was potatoes, and I only had one medium-sized one left, so I baked it.

    Tomorrow's activities will include an amble down to Tessie's to replenish the potato, garlic and red WINE supplies.
    I haven't watched the Duke's funeral yet (I may catch it on You Tube later), but I saw the still of the Queen sitting alone and wondered if there's some ancient protocol that dictated that she had to sit in dignified solitude (assuming it's not a social distancing thing)?

    I'm all in favour of liturgical correctness, but what harm would have been done by her children and grandchildren sitting near enough to at least look as if they were offering support?
  • A lovely afternoon in the garden with lots achieved.
    Lunch was chipolatas, chicken livers, fried egg, mushrooms and onions. Mr H is currently delivering a tea of venison steak, rice, and some kind of cabbage, olive and onion combo, with pickled chilli 🌶
  • ZacchaeusZacchaeus Shipmate
    Piglet wrote: »

    I haven't watched the Duke's funeral yet (I may catch it on You Tube later), but I saw the still of the Queen sitting alone and wondered if there's some ancient protocol that dictated that she had to sit in dignified solitude (assuming it's not a social distancing thing)?

    I'm all in favour of liturgical correctness, but what harm would have been done by her children and grandchildren sitting near enough to at least look as if they were offering support?

    Yes it was social distancing - everything was very carefully covid safe
  • The problem is that if the Queen had sat with some of her family who are not of her household, any other family that has had to go through a funeral like this would have been aggrieved, because it was one rule for them, another for her. So many other families have had to endure socially distanced funerals in the time of Covid19.

    There was outrage on Twitter and goodness knows where else (I think it came up here too) when Prince Charles visited, what we now know to be, his dying father in hospital. When actually that wasn't against the rules at the time, allowing one family member to visit someone ill in hospital.

    (Not that I watched it, but there are photos in the Guardian, that I tripped over checking where I might have remembered Helen McCrory.)

    My day included a fun early morning walk in the Forest, accessing the bits that have dried out enough to reach again, and a geocache that meant I had to decode Morse code, bean burgers, oven chips and salad for lunch (with an egg on top for my daughter), and crudités with a dip for supper while we got into the festival vibe watching Folk Weekend Oxford, concerts 2 and 3 of those I've booked. There's another tomorrow night.
  • We splurged this evening and had a lovely Indian takeaway. Now I feel full.
  • PriscillaPriscilla Shipmate
    Yesterday was glorious - sunshine, clear skies, and we went up to Hereford. We got everything we’d gone for - mainly cheese from the wonderful cheese shop, a new diffuser from a bee themed shop, and a new watch strap from the market. We also bought too much chocolate from Hotel Chocolt! Lunch was in the beer garden of our favourite pub, and after lunch, we spent a couple of hours in the music shop where Darllenwr goes to ground if I’m shopping.
    Today was lovely first thing. Lunch was al fresco at a local country park. It’s now clouded over a bit, so a good thing we’re meeting Lord and Lady P on line later, rather than going for a (socially distanced) walk.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Priscilla wrote: »
    ... too much chocolate ...
    ???

    I know what those words mean, but strung together like that they don't make any sense ... :confused:

    That sounds like a lovely day though. I can't hear the words "Hereford" and "cheese" without thinking of Hereford Hop, a lovely, nutty cheese wrapped in hop leaves that we first tasted in a favourite restaurant in the Isle of Man. :heart:
    It's not as glorious here as it was yesterday, but quite pleasant all the same, and I had a nice little amble down to Tessie's after setting the lamb-shank going in the slow-cooker - I hope the potatoes won't mind that I added them a bit later than everything else. They'll still get about 4 hours on High, and I cut them up quite small, so they should be OK.
  • NenyaNenya Shipmate
    Piglet wrote: »
    Priscilla wrote: »
    ... too much chocolate ...
    ???

    I know what those words mean, but strung together like that they don't make any sense ... :confused:
    Indeed. Does not compute. :hushed:

    It's a lovely day here. We've had coffee in some friends' garden and have another meeting later this afternoon; I was hoping that could also have been in a garden but the rest of the group have decided it will be Zoom. Seems such a waste of the sunshine. :disappointed:
  • Sunny here, too, with some interesting wispy cloud formations. At one point, they seemed to spell out the word *GOGOGOGO*, which must surely be of some cosmic import...

    What is this *too much CHOCOLATE* concept? It is Alien, certainly to this thread...

    P**k was had for lunch (don't tell @Piglet), accompanied by Apple Sauce with Cider, and Sweet Potato Mash.
  • Priscilla wrote: »
    Yesterday was glorious - sunshine, clear skies, and we went up to Hereford.
    B-b-b-but ... it's in England. Is Outrage!

  • :open_mouth:

    Where were the Border Guards?

    Down the Pub, on the English side...
  • DormouseDormouse Shipmate
    We still have two weeks of confinement here. I'm afraid I wickedly travelled just under 30 km from my home to go to Lidl as they had their 12 bottles of UK beer for 14,99 euros offer. Mr D is content. I should have gone to the supermarket in the village.

    On another note, roast chicken legs, mushroom sauce for dinner with leftover potato gratin from yesterday's takeaway. Some vegetable mix from the freezer. And Inspector Montalbano on TV. Possibly a UK beer as well.
  • Church Zoom this morning followed by our regular Sunday lunch of bread, cheese, smoked sausage and pate, eaten in the sunshine. Then an afternoon of pottering in the garden, watering and weeding.
    Now I’m having a quiet read whilst son is gaming online and Mr H has joined some friends to play strategy games online.
  • la vie en rougela vie en rouge Circus Host, 8th Day Host
    @Dormouse nice to see you around, even if you are a naughty rule breaker :grimace: It's rather consoling to have another person about the place who also went into lockdown just as everybody else was coming out of it.

    I'm also feeling a bit fed up and envious hearing about how the entire world (or so it seems) is getting a vaccine when I won't be getting one until at least June. This probably isn't quite rational or fair, but I still can't help being a bit grumpy.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    You're perfectly entitled to feel a little bit grumpy - I think we're all getting fed up of the whole sorry business.
    If it's any consolation, I probably shan't get my second dose of vaccine until May or June, and I've got quite a few years on you!
    The lamb-shank came out very nicely, and had more meat on it than I'd thought, so there's enough for tomorrow's supper as well. I've decanted it into a casserole and I'll reheat it on top of the stove; if I'm really hungry I can always mash a spud or two to go with it.
  • BroJamesBroJames Purgatory Host, 8th Day Host
    Ah. Stovies
  • I'm with you, @la vie en rouge Am waiting with bated breath for the next age band to go up. It probably wouldn't matter but I'm working the elections and had hoped to be have at least the first jab and a couple of weeks for antibodies to kick in but it's looking unlikely.
  • PriscillaPriscilla Shipmate
    Piglet wrote: »


    That sounds like a lovely day though. I can't hear the words "Hereford" and "cheese" without thinking of Hereford Hop, a lovely, nutty cheese wrapped in hop leaves that we first tasted in a favourite restaurant in the Isle of Man.

    Hereford Hop is now Worcestershire Hop. It’s still the same cheese, just an issue with the trademark.
    We bought some “real” Hereford Hop some while ago, and it was awful.
  • Never tried it - I don't like beer, so I probably wouldn't care for it.
  • KarlLBKarlLB Shipmate
    edited April 19
    Never tried it - I don't like beer, so I probably wouldn't care for it.

    but...but...but... you're into trains! They go together like two things that always go together!
  • Nutty cheese wrapped in hops sounds great to this cheese fanatic.

    Usual monday morning emails, forums and admin. Two of my modules are currently looking at technology and innovation in health and social care so we are currently discussing things like robot carers with cultural competence, which is a nice light relief.
    I have some marking to do this afternoon on health promotion/disease prevention.
  • KarlLB wrote: »
    Never tried it - I don't like beer, so I probably wouldn't care for it.

    but...but...but... you're into trains! They go together like two things that always go together!
    No ... don't think British Rail buffet cars and Traveller's Fare station cafes ... think fine dining on the Orient Express (if I could afford it ...).

  • KarlLBKarlLB Shipmate
    edited April 19
    KarlLB wrote: »
    Never tried it - I don't like beer, so I probably wouldn't care for it.

    but...but...but... you're into trains! They go together like two things that always go together!
    No ... don't think British Rail buffet cars and Traveller's Fare station cafes ... think fine dining on the Orient Express (if I could afford it ...).

    I more think the bar at Stalybridge station and the Sheffield Tap. The nearest real ale pub to a given spotting spot is the natural retreat of the railway buff. Or was once so. What is the world coming to?

    You'll be telling me next that it's no longer true that the one redeeming feature of Morris Dancers is knowing where the best pub is. Because that would be sad, given that they have no other redeeming features whatsoever.
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    After a rather glum and stressful few days (to do with hospital snafu over Mr F's chemo), early morning call from the consultant and all is now back on course.

    By way of celebration, hit a garden centre and blew c £100 on plants, pots and fertiliser.
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