Marty

And I never said that I would put a ladder against an unstable wall and then climb the ladder. My panties, and myself, are quite safe.

Here's how far I got before dark today in clearing the Russian vine and ivy in my garden. Actually, not very far at all, so far. The Russian vine tends to twist it's stems around each other, and also around the ivy branches and few briars and brambles that have also grown in amongst it all. Which makes it impossible to just pull stems apart. Instead, I am having to just about cut through each individual stem with the secateurs one at a time; and also work my way through the tangle just a few inches at a time. Hard work but, as long as the weather stays reasonably dry, I'll keep at it until everything has been cleared. If you look carefully at the nearest gable wall of the first stone shed, you will see that it is leaning inwards at the top. The inner stonework has been damaged, and I reckon the top of it will collapse inwards as I remove the overgrowing branches (which I think are all that's stopped it from falling up till now). But... don't start worrying, gang. My name is Marty, not Gary, and I will take every possible safety precaution. You might even notice I'm using a proper metal ladder to reach the top of the boundary wall. No standing on chairs for me.

Greetings, Page! How's Melvin?

I heard he has it in dreadlocks...

Please read the following slowly and carefully, young Drew. And try to accept the truth of what it says:

I wonder why you think you are that important that, when I quote passages of Orwell's "1984" in CoTT, you seem to think that they weren't intended for others to see as well?

Greetings, Drew!

According to the official historical record, which is maintained by the Imperial Ministry of Truth, I never said it.

Page 2037... I'll be celebrating my 90th birthday in 2037. (And please don't tell me I'm starting to sound like Drew!)

Could have been a will-o-the-wisp

I know all about those senior moments, bro. I'm sure Page will forgive you. But you have to admit it. It really was funny!

Cod bless your imagination!

'Human remains' find turned out to be a potato - UK police A dog walker in northeast England sparked a large-scale police search after reporting suspected human remains in a muddy field. But the suspected grisly find turned out to be a potato, officers said today. Northumbria Police said specialist teams and sniffer dogs were sent to scour the field in the Winlaton area of Gateshead, after a concerned member of the public contacted them on Tuesday. An accompanying photograph sent to officers appeared to show a human foot, the force said on its Facebook page. "Eventually we tracked down the 'scene' only to discover the toe was in fact a potato with a mushroom growing next to it," a spokesman said. "We can only praise the vigilance of the woman who made the call and if anyone does come across suspected human remains, please do the same and give us a call. "If it does turn out to be a vegetable, our police dogs will thank you for the treat!" Source: https://www.rte.ie/news/newslens/2021/0108/1188541-potato-police-england/

So what was so magical about it?

Hey, Gary! How's things with you today? (I'm just in the house warming my hands and drinking coffee, before heading back out into the garden.)

Greetings, Albert!

I'm not long in the house after spending several hours in the garden cutting way some of the Russian vine and ivy that have completely overgrown the two old stone lean to sheds against the 8 foot (2.4 metre) wall on the other side of my lower garden from the old stone cottage. It's a slow enough job, that will likely take me up to a week (or more) to finish. I'll maybe post some photos as the work progresses. Just to give you all some idea of what I am talking about, here's a photograph from October 2019 before any of the overgrowth had been tackled (I did remove a small amount late last winter / early spring, before the birds started nesting): One interesting thing this evening was that it was almost 5:00pm when I came back into the house, and it wasn't even fully dark by then. Seems like only a week or two that it was dark by 4:30pm, so the days are definitely starting to lengthen. And for that, I suppose I should give thanks to:

I'm considering cheese omelette, with potatoes, swede, carrots, and cabbage...

Greetings, young Albert!

And a happy Saturday to you as well, Gary.

And completely lacking in modesty?

Indeed.

I know I'm not the first! Thanks for the kind words, Geron!