Pots and Cans

Pots and Cans

Monday, February 24, 2014

PANTS!

This morning I nearly lost my pants on the way to work.  An on-the-spot decision to run for the 7.20 am bus almost resulted in a very embarrassing situation.

You see the thing about dieting is that it’s a well-known scientific fact that your clothes get bigger as your bulges get smaller, a fact that had escaped my mind as I hurled myself across Charminster Road desperate to beat the bus to the stop. 

My arse, once described by my daughter as the size of Russia, is now more like Russia minus the Ukraine and thus previously snug ‘granny’ pants are prone to tectonic shifts at a brisk pace.  So, as I propelled myself across the busy road toward the bus stop, my knickers had their own separate, simultaneous downward trajectory over my butt cheeks.

Needless to say, I arrived at the stop in the ‘knick’ of time.  A few hundred yards further and the bus driver might have been witness to an early morning version of a three legged race run by one person.  Puffed out and red-faced, I squeezed into a vacant seat with a few discreet wiggles, trying to shuffle my knickers into a more secure place without anyone else noticing. 

And so fat fighters everywhere take heed – if you’ve lost a few pounds then be sure to check your kecks before trying to break any Olympic sprint records!

Fatties equivalent of a gold medal

Sunday, February 23, 2014

HERE COMES THE SUN

Finally, a spot of gardening!  Making the most of the sunshine to tidy up the flower beds and clear away dead bits ready for spring.

In spite of the downpours, there are signs all around that Mother Nature’s circle of renewal has begun again.  Under our bay tree, I re-discovered a small clump of snowdrops beneath the spent fronds of the red valerian. 

Delicate snowdrops under the bay tree

And just look at the wonderful foliage of the Italian arum (also known as variegated Cuckoopint or Lords and Ladies), the beautiful arrow shapes leaves with their artistic criss-crossed patterns provide a lovely backdrop to the snowdrops.  These arums are great floor fillers for shady spots and the clumps seem to get larger as time passes. 

Wonderful leafy patterns of the variegated Italium arum

Other plants that appear to have relished the long, rainy spell are the cardoon and melianthus major (or Melly as I call it).  Both have put out a lot of new leaves in the last few weeks, surviving the deluge and thriving in the spring sunshine.

Cardoon has taken over the flower bed

Melly's taken over the patio

Things are not looking as rosy for fatsia.  In fact, fatsia has definitely seen better days.  Before the rain I had a nice healthy looking shrub with lots of large, glossy leaves.  Moving the tub temporarily to accommodate next doors roofing work and getting a good soaking, fatsia has now shed most of its leaves and there’s been little re-growth.  I only hope that with a bit of TLC and some more sunshine, it will recover its former splendour.

Fatsia - oh dear

Whilst primping and snipping, I spotted someone else making the most of the sunshine. Seeing this beautiful butterfly daintily dancing across the daphne blooms put a big smile on my face.  At last, we’re turning the corner to spring.

A tasty drink of nectar

Enjoying the sun


MORE ABOUT:

Saturday, February 08, 2014

SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER

Punxsutawney Phil, the infamous weather predicting ground-hog of film fame, has declared we’ve got six more weeks of winter to get through.  Six more weeks of bitter cold, lashing rain, bed socks and sub-zero office temperatures at work.  No, seriously why is the only thing working overtime the air conditioning?  A few of my colleagues (me included) have been close to hypothermia this week.

Looks like rain to me

By Phil’s reckoning we should be out of this rough patch by mid March after which I expect to see the usual ‘BBQ summer headlines’ splashed across the tabloids.  I recently overheard one of the girls at work saying that Primark were already selling swimwear.  Probably quite apt as some of us might have to front crawl to the shops if this rain continues.

My question is this - can a ground-hog really predict the weather or was Phil just pissed at being rudely woken up in the middle of his long winter nap?  I know I would be.


MORE ABOUT:
Ground-hog Day - http://www.groundhog.org/

Tuesday, February 04, 2014

SOLD!

It’s all hands to the pump.  The Ground Farce crew pulled on their overalls for a day of humping and lumping last Friday as daughter has sold her flat and was being evicted at short notice by the new owners.  The poor dear spent the week stressing over exchanging contracts, credit checks and cardboard boxes.  I don’t envy her.  Buying and selling houses is a nail-biting, chain smoking, 5 pints a day scenario if ever there was one.  I’ve only been through it once and swore never again!

Sold to the highest bidder

Our house, being chocker with years and years of hoarded rubbish, is unable to accommodate the entourage of husband and two moggies so for now, they've moved into a rented bungalow close by. 

It took 4 trips and a convoy of 2 vehicles to shift the contents of a 2 bedroom flat in a day. Not bad for us couch potatoes. There's no rest for the wicked and definitely no gardening! 


MORE ABOUT: