A place to have a chat.

Ahhh, that’s a lovely post Phil, and yep, you’re so right. You have to care for yourself or you ain’t gonna help anyone else in need. Like the swimming analogy. Adrian, this disease is awful, it permeates every part of our lives. David is now over eight years on from diagnosis and doing well, he is Gleason 9 Tb3 and thankfully <0.1 on lifelong Prostap three monthly. He has pain most days, and no libido, and the excruciating fear every three months when his PSA is due, that pain is debilitating. I like the virtual pub idea, it’s great, we have a glass of wine in our kitchen or conservatory on Friday nights never in the sitting  room. It’s our time to talk and share stuff. When David had his heart arrack during covid,  I had a zoom night out with friends, it was great,it helped a great deal, we shared wine and nibbles. So, keep the virtual pub going, we like red wine and David likes real ale, we love a chat on world affairs, politics, economic you name it we talk about it, and we can get quite in depth. Today it’s not raining so I’ll be in the garden preparing a bed for beetroot and working in the poly tunnel, tomatoes will be going in next week. So next time we have a wine we will raise a glass to all you lovely G9 lads. we have each others backs. As I type David is taking his supplements and alternative meds, his daily routine. 
Leila x

Edited by member 01 May 2024 at 12:08  | Reason: Not specified

 I spoilt myself to a cast aluminium, life size garden sculpture, of a pig, a boar, it arrived today. I've put him next to the sow I got at Xmas. They look so good together they're now my new avatar.

You've got a breeding pair! You should be able to sell the litter for a handsome profit 👍🏼

Cheers, 

Kev. 

Hi Adrian, sounds like it’s been wet everywhere in the east today! I used to spend a fair bit of time in Barton for work years ago. Also got a pal/ex colleague who lives there.

Just to clarify, the pig would be inserted into me, not the other way round 😂

Have a great weekend mate 👍

I'm not an animal lover either. Until recently we used to look after my daughter's two dogs whilst she was on holiday. I dreaded it, seeing them cr*pping and peeing all over my garden. Trying to pick up runny pooh from lush grass is my idea of hell! 

She now managed to find a dogless, dog lover to dog sit and dog sh*t pick.

My robins have fledged.

Recently, I've been spending hours in the garden. Like you, I love this time of year. I planted all my bedding plants and touchwood they are thriving.

I've had a few bevvies on my back bench. It's so peaceful just listening to the birds singing and the bees buzzing. It's a time when I'm able to completely forget about health issues.

We've got a family of buzzards that usually give us a daily aerial display and making circles in the sky. They are fascinating to watch and hear them calling to each other.

I'll be out in the garden most of today, its nice and sunny here.

Good girl. 👏

I was into Black Sabbath and Deep Purple when I was about her age.

Morning guys. Hope you’re all keeping well? 

Woke up this morning feeling a little down and tearful. Less than a week till my chemo starts 😬.. Almost doesn’t seem real. I want to shake my head and realise it’s all a nightmare. I suppose none of us ever thinks we’ll get to this point. 

Every morning when I take my pills I want to throw them out the window. 

Bloody GP telephone appointment this morning to check my meds 🤷‍♂️.. yes I bloody need them 🤦‍♀️.. 

Anyway got some indoor painting to do which is better than moping around as it’s pissing down outside. Good for the new planting I suppose. 

So if you pop down Adrian’s Pub I’m in the corner nursing a virtual Pint and a pork pie. 

Keep up the fight guys. 

Phil

Hi Kev,

Mission accomplished. The 'Tomato transfer' took 3 hours. 6 pints of mild, no leakages. Plants and I, safely home by tea time.

I don't usually grow veg and don't want more pots or grow bags in the garden. So I've decided to try and grow them in my flower beds and give them tomato feed. We'll see what happens.

Planted them this morning.

Now sat next to the fish pond chilling out with a cider. Its amazing that we evolved from fish but that's perhaps why I still drink like one. 😄

Edited by member 15 May 2024 at 14:09  | Reason: Typo

I'm now not so sure how the mission  will finally turn out. My plants are wilting as much as my nether regions! 

Ey up Phil.

Lavender is wonderful. I've grown a small hedge (half a dozen plants) in a border. Its about 5 years old, and just about to flower. Monty Don says you shouldn't prune it, but I do and it looks fab. 

I wish we could post photos.

As I said the tomatoes don't look brilliant at the mo, but I'm sure my greenfingers will save them. 😄

Edited by member 15 May 2024 at 16:57  | Reason: Not specified

Unfortunately they're  drooping. I might have to give them  a drop of Invicorp.😁

Lovely to see you again Jackson. I've clipped my lavender every year. As you say it stops it getting leggy.  I'm pretty sure old Monty said not to cut it back to old wood, but perhaps I misunderstood.

Gardening is fab. I used to hate it whilst I was working but since I've retired there is nothing I enjoy more. When I'm in my garden, whether I'm working on it or just relaxing problems including cancer, seem to fade away.

Late edit.

I did get it wrong. 😳

Monty actually says,

"Cut back hard to a good compact shape but be sure to leave some new shoots on each stem - lavender will often not regrow from bare wood. These new shoots will grow fast and provide an attractive and healthy cover to protect the plant in winter and provide the basis of next year’s display."

Edited by member 15 May 2024 at 21:34  | Reason: Additional text

Ey up Phil, I'm so pleased that you're feeling good and that you enjoyed Paloma's gig.

I think I've got 3 or 4 of her CDs.

My favourite track is 'Can't Rely On You'

I Dad Dance to it in the kitchen. Not a pretty sight.

I think I’ve become a bit of a fan now 🎶 👍

We had a nice meal before the show yesterday at a new Mediterranean restaurant within walking distance of the show. We are very lucky to have the Cliffs Pavillion only a short drive away as they have so many great shows and music acts.

Out again tonight with our youngest and his wife to a Japanese restaurant we’ve been to before in Southend. Excellent food  - yummy. And I keep blaming the Dexamthasone for my spiraling weight …….

I’d also love a way to post pictures but I know the forum would likely hit the storage buffers. I have heard about a free photo sharing site but never used it and you can possibly share the links on here ??

Cheers

Phil

Edited by member 16 May 2024 at 12:22  | Reason: Not specified

😄 Two and a half hours later and I've just got that. No wonder I never passed any promotion exams.

Kev threw that in as a test 😂

Interestingly, well at least, I think it's interesting. 😁 I've just had a bespoke coffee table made by a very talented steel fabricator who's goes to local club.

 Whilst discussing the job he showed me a handmade, 5 feet tall by 3 feet wide sculpture he'd made during covid out of 3 mm steel plate of a black clenched fist with the words Keep the Faith in a metal banner above it. It weighs 250 kg.

Apparently when he was young he was a big Northern Soul fan, and that was the emblem and motto of Northern Soul.

I'm thinking of buying it as a garden statue.

Edited by member 16 May 2024 at 19:48  | Reason: Typo

Well that is a relief as I really like Monty so apologies for dissing him. I did think it was strange that he would get that wrong. I really do not think I am any kind of expert but just someone that has learned a lot of gardening knowledge over  the years. Gone too quickly this year as another decade has flown by. Lets all hope we see another one yet at least.

Edited by member 17 May 2024 at 21:06  | Reason: Not specified

Hey Spongebob. 

You're not too pi$$ed, I can understand your post 😉

I'm not a great gardener, but I enjoy keeping mine tidy and often battle slugs, I think they enjoy the short flight as I flick them over onto the green out front for the birds. I've noticed what look like tiny eggs stuck under the leaves of the vine, I'm doing my best to get rid of them, I'd appreciate any ideas. 

As for the birds, our bluetit brood is about a week away from fledging so hopefully we get to see them go before next weekend. 

Also, our neighbour has great tits in her back garden. 

Cheers, 

Kev.

My neighbour used to have them years ago, but recently they've become a tripping hazard.

Talking of neighbours, I used to laugh at mine when he used to wear a bin liner on each leg whilst powerwashing his patio. What a d*ck. I used to think.

Yesterday, it was warm here, dressed in only shorts and a vest, and well tanked up, I decided to jet clean my patio. I ended looking like buckets of sh*te had been thrown at me. I was covered from head to toe in mud and grit. Like a fool  I decided to turn the gun on myself, forgetting to turn down the nozzle. It was still so powerful I nearly performed a self administered orchiectomy.

I shall never again laugh at my neighbour, when I see him wearing refuse bags. He is a much a wiser man than me.

Late edit.

Kev those egg like things on your vine may not be eggs but vine sap balls or pearls, apparently they can be produced by the plant when growing fast. 

Edited by member 18 May 2024 at 11:49  | Reason: Typo