A day in the life...

[Shutree]

While I was aware that the title of factotum has been used on here and that it probably really does fit it is just a word I would never use in real conversation

Real conversation? This is TD.

[Shutree]

I'll try and synchronise the annual pond clear-out with your visit.

Unfortunately I have a medical condition which prevents me from participating in the joys of manual labour. According to the ex it is known as 'bone idleness'. Sadly, it is incurable.
I'll be pleased to offer advice from a safe distance.

[DrWilly]

Unfortunately I have a medical condition which prevents me from participating in the joys of manual labour. According to the ex it is known as 'bone idleness'. Sadly, it is incurable.
I'll be pleased to offer advice from a safe distance.

Green owed.

[Topper]

My take on the idea of planting in seed boxes revolves around people who live in areas that have cold temperatures and therefore seeds are started in planter boxes in greenhouses.

Twas my thought as well.


Mendip, have you thought of trying to can/preserve some of the fruits of your gardening labors, so to speak? Beans would be easy to do.

[Mendip]

^ That's a very good idea Topper.

I made mango chutney earlier this year and it's proving very popular... with me.

You've reminded me that many years ago in Somerset we had an elderly neighbour who gave us a jar of this delicious runner bean chutney every year. I'll have investigate if my mum has the recipe and I'll make up a batch.


^^^ Betchya wish you'd offered to help clean the pond now, Shutree!

[Shutree]

Betchya wish you'd offered to help clean the pond now, Shutree!

I'll be delighted to help, I can offer advice AND encouragement from some shady vantage point.

[DrWilly]

You are shady.

[cyrille]

:zing:

[DrWilly]

I’ll get my coat…

[Stumpy]

About to take off on a 10 day business trip. have to get the property cleaned and ready. I do not have a "Gardener" to look after our place.



Checked pool chems and all looks good.



Cleaned and washed pool area and set up the various timers



Had my skink lizard friend watching me work. He has been around my pool area for quite a long time.



Dogs watched as I vacuumed the pool as I watched the Warriors play the Knicks



Its that time of year and the big male tortoises battle for the female. This can last hours. I usually break it up as I mow the back forty area



Trimmed and water up my little area by the pool.



A well deserved Long island Iced tea after a long day.

[Joe 90]

Brilliant pics JP!

Have a good trip.

[Mendip]

The beans really aren't thriving as I'd hoped.

One of the English Purple Emperor runner bean plants has already flowered but the stem is spindly and not showing as much leaf growth as I'd like to see. It's now over three weeks since I transplanted the seedlings and I fear the bean crop will be small. Anyway, fingers crossed.



The Thai long bean plants are also a bit disappointing. I transplanted them 11 days ago and whereas I didn't lose a single plant, they are just not growing as fast as they should. We had some unexpected torrential rain last week and there's more forecast this week and I wonder if they've just become a bit waterlogged. It's strange as beans usually like lots of water.

Anyway, they haven't even started climbing yet so I still have no idea which way they'll spiral up the poles.

[David48atTD]

Mendy, do peas grow well in Thailand?

Genuine question, not taking the piss (this time )

[Mendip]

^ I don't know.

Genuine answer!

I'm pretty sure I tried peas years ago with no success, but van't remember the details. I may have bean () trying seeds from the UK again so that could have been the problem.

To be honest growing peas is hard work... shelling etc etc and it's a lot easier buying frozen peas from Makro. Peas freeze really well.

[Shutree]

Anyway, they haven't even started climbing yet so I still have no idea which way they'll spiral up the poles.

I haven't made a study of this, my impression is that all the climbing weeds here spiral clockwise, viewed from below. Is this true?

[Shutree]

Anyway, they haven't even started climbing yet so I still have no idea which way they'll spiral up the poles.

The Interwebby says I am wrong:

Twining stems twist around whatever they touch, be it a pole, branch, wire or chair leg. The stems will wind clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on the species of plant.

How Plants Climb - Climbing Plants & Vines | Gardener's Supply

[Mendip]

I haven't made a study of this,

Shame on you Shutree with all of your spare time...

By the weekend I hope to be in a position to say which way the Thai long bean plants spiral but in the meantime we have creepers growing up the banana trees and various climbers in the lime trees and such. I've nothing pressing on tomorrow so I may well investigate.

It seems that it isn't to do with hemispheres of the Coriolis effect since different species spiral in opposing directions.

Interesting stuff.

[Shutree]

The beans really aren't thriving

Have a close look at the growing tips to see if the snails are chewing them off. Those blocks make great snail hotels. I have been on a purge of dry brick walls I put out so as not to strim down young plants when the grass was growing fast in the rainy season. I found dozens of snails about the place and a couple of things suddenly started to grow better.

[David48atTD]

I've nothing pressing on tomorrow so I may well

Mate, you may have mentioned it elsewhere, but when is your next OS posting?

I miss the tales of holey socks, sandels in a late Norwegian Autumn when it's -1C and raining

Also those epic panoramas from your vessel.

How is your daughter? Is she cooking western food?

[Mendip]

^^ No sign of snails Shutree. I used to pay the daughter 1 Baht per snail she collected from the garden and fed to the chickens but she won't do it any more, now that she's all grown up.

^ I'm home for a while now... the above mentioned 'grown up' daughter needs more attention and I was away far too much during Covid. I would imagine I'll be back in Norway around February.

The daughter isn't actually 'cooking' yet but I have trained her to put her dinner plate in the sink when she's finished eating. Baby steps, and all that...


Anyway, today I can confirm that the Thai long beans are also spiraling clockwise up the metal poles.



As are some climbing weeds growing along the veggie plot fence. This shouldn't be so... I read that only runner bean plants spiral clockwise. I'm starting to think that a lot of what you read on the internet is a load of bollocks.

[Mendip]

I've been having a tidy up in the 'workshop' and found a bag of old seeds. I hate to throw things out so planted a few just for fun. The pea seeds were dated 2560 (2017) and after a few days 17 have already germinated.



Two types of spinach seeds, one Thai and one UK, which were also around 5 years old have also started to germinate.



The beans are thriving. Anna is having one of her 'pseudo' heats and whenever I'm in the garden she's taken to hiding from Yogi in the veggie area... but there is no sanctuary. He is relentless.

[Mendip]

The original is always better than a copy!

I post rarely on this thread any more because I just don't get any spare time and so do nothing. I'm trying to remedy this by doing jobs bit by bit. I've accepted I can't attack a project and get it finished, as I like to. So just spend half an hour a day, here and there, to get things done.

The shiny polyurethane finish on our dining room table has really bugged me for around 16 years now. You can't see the wood, it scratches and chips easily and just looks awful. A real shame for a beautiful 2.5m long mahogany table.

So, first up was getting it outside. It weighs a fukkin ton and took four people, one on each corner to move it... the gardener and three of his mates. This cost me a full bottle of Ya Dong (100 Baht), an awful lot cheaper than having another hernia op.



First step, remove the polyurethane finish... bit by bit, an hour a day. After the first day... the grain visible and already an indication of how good this table could look.



The main reason I'm posting this is in the hope that someone can give me some advice. Do I use a clear or 'mahogany' finish. Do I use an oil or stain, etc etc.

I want a table that will age and darken with time, hold character and will end up going to the daughter. What should I use, please?

[HuangLao]

Good looking foot, Mendy.....



It's all good.
Cheers.

[Reg Dingle]

The main reason I'm posting this, is in the hope that someone can give me some advice. Do I use a clear or 'mahogany' finish. Do I use an oil or stain etc etc.

A fuckin nail brush would be a good start mate

[Topper]

I've no idea, but based on how it's looking, I'd go with linseed oil. But I know fook all about the task. It's going to look great without anything on it.