Sunday… again!
Apr 5th 2009PeterGetting My Life Back!
Where did the week go?!! I was at work on Monday and Tuesday, but home again Tuesday evening for a quick trip up the Guy’s for another referral to sort out some minor skin GvHd problems. Now that the major snagettes seem to be under control, we are slowly picking off the minor ones – this one was skin related and seems to be under control with some topical steroids – another check up in six months! At the end of the month I have another appointment in the oral surgery clinic to see how the dry mouth problem is getting on. You may recall that the radiotherapy damaged my salivary glands, but that too seems to be improving slowly. I have also had another appointment for a lung function check – important because if that shows an improvement, it means that diving might be back on the agenda (not that it is off – just a long way down – no pun intended!)
I was back at work on Thursday and Friday, then home for a sunny weekend. This morning I embarked on a “slash and burn” gardening exercise – in collaboration with my next door neighbour – on an adjoining hedge. So far it is slash – burn will come later. I was pleasantly surprised to find I could do more than I was expecting – I even managed to get the chain saw running (!) although the chain seemed blunt, and the whole thing needs servicing – it must be about 4 years since I last used it, so it didn’t get used in anger! However using loppers above my head showed that my upper body strength is still a bit lacking. But thank you Stuart for your help though!
And finally I heard from a friend from University days – Jane – who I lost touch with just after I graduated, and that came through a mutual friend, Faith (who has posted here before). So thank you Faith, and great to get back in touch with Jane!
So in all ways this week – Onwards and Upwards!
9 Responses to “Sunday… again!”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Richard on 05 Apr 2009 at 11:36 pm #
Good news but shouldn’t you be composting the hedge trimmings not burning them?
I have to confess that a bonfire is great fun.
Remebering my neighbour………we severely pruned his very large yew hedges and had an enormous bonfire one early Spring. Roast taties in the ashes……..The Vicar came to call (a long boring story) when we were having a break to eat the potatoes and he was so, so distrustful that he wouldn’t sit in one of our wheelbarrows. To understand you have to imagine a cold Winter’s day and a large fire with lots of ashes and the three neighbours sitting in wheelbarrows which were standing on their handles……..worth trying as long as the back is against the wind and you are facing the fire…..wonderful.
I think Peter the Vicar thought we would tip him up……..as I said not very trusting so he had to go without a roast potato and a draught proof seat.
Your University days must have been later than mine, as like the 60s if you can remember you weren’t there 🙂
Richard enjoying a Sunday in Lent as wine and beer is allowed
Peter on 06 Apr 2009 at 1:46 pm #
Richard, where have you been hiding?
The wood is still too green to burn, so perhaps in the Autumn – or maybe I ought to convert it to wood chip and use it as a mulch!
Ican imagine the wheelbarrow windbreak though – what a good idea!
Soon be Pimms o’clock – ‘though in the generic “it’s summer” sense as at this precise moment as I am hooked up to the ECP machine!
Richard on 06 Apr 2009 at 5:17 pm #
Wood chip is good. I have a Bosch which has a screw that feeds and cuts the branches and partially shreds them and they are good for mulch, but it is no good for leaves.
It is particularly good for large prunings as it is effectively self feeding which also makes it fun to use and saves a lot of time as many shredders you have to push the branches through.
Also if you want to use the mulch immediately it is worth putting some slow release fertiliser on the surface of the soil first as the N demand of the raw mulch can leach the available nitrogen out of the soil.
Alternatively compost the mulch for a while before use.
No fee
Richard 🙂
Peter on 06 Apr 2009 at 7:11 pm #
Thank you Richard – I have been looking at wood chippers for a while – although I think a better hedge trimmer might be on the list first!
Richard on 06 Apr 2009 at 10:59 pm #
In my experience the type with the long v sharp blades are best but be careful of the weight as, if you have high hedges, it is remarkably tiring working with your hands (and machine) above your head.
I have an Echo, courtesy of E-bay, which is great especially if you like the smell of two stroke. I haven’t tried Castrol – R to bring back odours of my yuf.
Peter on 07 Apr 2009 at 8:04 am #
Ah yes, the smell of two stroke – came back when I started the chainsaw – smokier than usual as I was using a slightly richer mix! Wonder how Castrol-R stacks up against FF30!!!
Richard on 07 Apr 2009 at 8:54 am #
Depends on the high revs and if you want to strip the engine down every few hours to remove the deposits.
In terms of maintenance we are probably better off using a fully synthetic oil, if there is one for 2 Stroke mixing.
If you like the smell you could try popping a little olive oil, or similar, into the petrol as well as the oil. I have not tried it but is is supposed to work for road engines to confuse the cognoscenti seeing, and smelling, you as you roar past. For a high revving 2 stoke probably scream past……….all very anti-social and a mark of times really long gone.
Off to one of my other enthusiasms, making a great coffee……don’t get me started.
Did the treatment go well? Which is why we are meant to be here 🙂
Gillian on 07 Apr 2009 at 8:25 pm #
you two are right saddo’s!! getting hyper excited over hedge trimmers!!!!
You’d get on really well with my husband!
L&H
XXXX gillian
Peter on 09 Apr 2009 at 7:31 am #
These are not just hedge trimmers…. 🙂