Marty

Definitely worth the read.

Damn you, Gary! This chapter finally had me reaching for the Kleenex.

Greetings, young Albert.

G'day to you as well, dug. Currently 20°C/68°F here as well. Not as sunny as yesterday, and showers promised for the evening. The next couple of days are promised to be similar. I must see if I can lift that second row of early potatoes before the showers do come. Interesting to see you using the adjective 'soft' to describe the day, bro. That's exactly the same term used here in Ireland to describe a warm day with light showers/rain. Mind you, we would only say its a fine day if it wasn't raining at all. Happy Sunday, everyone!

Just don't give up the day job too soon...

You trimmed the floor and the ceiling? How much did you trim off each of them? I hope you can still walk upright in the room.

That's not really confined to New Zealand, though. True story follows:

Or perhaps it's the phrase "the whole sheep's arse" ....

"Dag" possibly? Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dag_(slang) Dag is originally a word meaning the dried faeces left dangling from the wool on a sheep's rear end.

It would be in Ireland. Not sure if you are fond of kale. You could still sow winter varieties of that. I actually sowed a row at the beginning of the week, and the seedlings are already through (and will probably need thinning in less than another week).

I suppose that's one of the benefits I have from living in a temperate climate... Although my first plantings of potatoes and peas would normally have been done a lot earlier, as that way I would have been able to extend the harvesting season. This year was delayed because, having only purchased the place at the end of last year, I had to first clear all the brambles, etc., and then actually prepare the ground before I could start sowing and planting.

I might have to consider growing in raised beds eventually. As much as I don't like to admit it, my body is no longer quite as supple as it used to be...

I did warn you, sweetie...

And I thought it was all Welshmen... Question: Did you hear about the Welshman who had to appear before the judge? Warning: It's a rude joke.

They didn't look like Aussiebums to me...

Definition of grazier 1: a person who grazes cattle broadly : RANCHER 2: Australia : a sheep raiser (Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grazier) Apparently it derives from the Middle English grasier - from grasen: "to graze". (The word grass probably has the same root)

Hi, Page!

Probably an Ozzie term for sheep farmers.

I've spent the last hour or so lifting the remainder of the first of the two rows of early (determinate) potatoes I planted. There were only about ten plants left to dig out which would have normally only taken around half an hour, but it's (for me) a warm, sunny, muggy sort of day, so I wasn't rushing. And the soil is still fairly wet and heavy after the wettest June and July for years, so another reason for not rushing was I wanted to make sure I didn't miss any tubers in the sticky soil. I'm leaving them on the top of the soil to dry for an hour or so, before lifting and putting them in a wooden crate to store in the shed. Probably just his way of telling us he lives in a country where lots of sheep are raised. Same as over here in Ireland we will often get potato blight alerts in the summer when the weather is such that blight may spread. Thinking about it, I'm sure if I were to check Met Éireann's website it could well be that today's weather might cause an alert. But I'm not going to spray chemicals on my potatoes, thank you very much. Not good for me, or the environment. First sign of blight, and I'll cut all the stalks off the four rows of maincrop (indeterminates) spuds and dispose of them; and then leave the tubers in the ground for two weeks to let their skins set. And I'll be lifting the second row of the earlies tomorrow, anyway.

And the same to you, bro. Similar day than yesterday, here. There is a Status Yellow warning for thunderstorms in the midwest of Ireland this evening, however, which extends as far north as the county just to the south of the one I live in, so we could possibly get one as well. Shouldn't do too much harm if we do, as they usually pass over fairly quickly. Hope everyone has a great day!

This is my first harvest of carrots this year. The variety is Paris Market 5 (Atlas), a variety that yields short, stumpy, bite-sized carrots, not much bigger than a large radish. They have the advantage of being fairly quick growing (the seeds were sown on 5th June). I also have another row of Chantenay 'Red Cored', which is a more traditional variety, growing much longer carrots (which I suspect might appeal more to clo ). They are intended as my main-crop carrots, being able to withstand temperature as low as -5°C/23°F, so should hopefully keep me in carrots well into the winter (and if we get a really cold spell, I could lift any remaining in the ground and store them in the shed).

Greetings, young Albert!

Hopefully not literally to the death....

Happy Friday, one and all! Another pleasant day here. Just after noon, with mainly sunshine and a temperature of 21°C/70°F. Forecast is for it to get as high as 25/77. Strangely, the northwest seems to be getting the better of the weather just at the moment, with what is usually called The Sunny Southeast of the country being up to 4 degrees C lower, with threats of heavy rain/thunderstorms. Just potted on a dozen lupin (lupine) seedlings that will hopefully provide a colourful display next summer. Runner beans should be ready for the first harvest in about a week's time, as should the garden peas. The broad beans are starting to form seed pods, but I reckon it will be maybe another two weeks before any will be ready for picking. Carrots are coming along nicely (some already harvested), as are the cabbages, beetroot and Swiss chard. Sowed a row of winter Kale earlier in the week; the seedlings are already through the ground. Spuds still doing well. I'm meeting a couple of friends for lunch shortly. It's something we try to do most Fridays, but had to stop for a few months as the restaurants were forced to close due to the pandemic.

Cheers, bro! This time it's me that's just about to head to bed.