Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: Lesley Cox on February 23, 2008, 12:40:34 AM
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This page was formed from a "diversion" in the What Ipheion" page !
Maggi, I don't think I should be on this forum as I don't like chocolate, and never eat any or anything that has chocolate in it. I can't stand the taste of it.
Will I get banished now ?
Michael you are an un-natural man! ;D
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Michael you are an un-natural man!
Lesley, I don't smoke or drink alcohol either.
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goodness me, Michael, if you now tell us you are single you'll have women queueing round to block to propose marriage to you on the 29th February... it's a leap year , you know! 8)
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I am afraid I am married for over 40 years, but I suppose I could take a fresh look at any new offers.
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I am afraid I am married for over 40 years, but I suppose I could take a fresh look at any new offers.
....when a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of........ :P
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I don't smoke alcohol either Michael :) but I do drink it.
My late mother would be asking what you Do do, because, in her words, "the old Adam has to come out somewhere."
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Lesley, that is a most indelicate question to Michael :o.... besides, it's none of our business. :-X... though, between you and I... if he's been married for over forty years, then whatever it is, he's making a good job of it 8)
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I don't smoke alcohol either Michael but I do drink it.
Two countries divided by a common language.
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Lesley, I am afraid it is a family thing,there are seven in my family and none of them drink alcohol ,or smoke tobacco ,or any other kind of weed.
>:( >:( I thought this was a casual forum, if you want to snipe at small mistakes in the postings that's your business,
I never professed to be an authority on the Queens English.(I am Irish) I am a retired Nurseryman and was a manager for Sam Mcgredy who now lives in New Zealand. I breed and grow new varieties of plants and graft and propagate dwarf Daphne's. Some of the other forum members can support what I have said.
On another forum one smart person corrected a mistake that I had made, and included three mistakes in their reply.
So there you have it.
Cheers.
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Don't take offence at Lesley, Michael, she is only teasing you. Besides, none of us here are, as far as I know, trained typists, and that's where most of our mistakes come from! ;)
You worked for Sam Mcgredy? Isn't he the rose man? Ian's little sister has as her godmother the sister of Mrs Nan Cocker , of Cocker's Roses in Aberdeen... they bred Alec's Red and lots of other fine roses... would you know of them?
Since you are a Daphne man you will need to tell me what to do for the little dwarf devils to keep them happy here in Aberdeen. We have the most awful bother with them!
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Yes Maggi, I met all the rose people when I was Sam's private gardener, they used to come and visit all the time, Korde's, Polsen,Cocker's, and lots of others, some of the names I can't recall at the moment. He had five acres of a private garden and I used to have to provide all the flowers and vegetables for the house.
He had over 600 acres of a nursery and 142 personnel if I remember correctly.
What is the problem with your daphne's?
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What is the problem with your daphnes?
They die, Michael ! :'( I'm not sure what their problem is, we give them nice homes in stone troughs, for the most part... I'm talking about the little ones, grafted forms of D. petraea, etc... Rosebud for instance... I can't remember all their names.... they grow very slowly for a little while and then quietly die. Do you think they might be happier of a little lime in their mix? Someone made that suggestion to me, but I wasn't sure. Our mix is only just on the acid side.
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Maggi, they like a little lime and a handful of composted bark to keep away any root disease,and very good drainage. I plant mine in a scree bed in 6 inches of coarse gravel with just a handful of coarse sand round the roots. They have to search for the soil which is 6 inches below and that is about 60% gravel. I never plant them outside into soil, only coarse sand. They are all fed with seaweed Tomato feed. Remember, Drainage, Drainage, Drainage.
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Just for Lesley.
anomatheca hyb own cross
003 Primula Hyb
004 Primula Hyb
Rediviva hyb
rediviva hyb
rediviva hyb
Rediviva hyb
Rediviva hyb 6
Lewisia Longipetala x Rediviva
Lewisia Brachycalyx X Cotyledon Hyb
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Sorry about the double post.
Here is the one I missed
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What lovely bright Lewisias...do you make the crosses yourself ?
Daphnes... I think our drainage would be good enough... so maybe it is the lack of a wee bit lime?
By the way, we have rather hijacked the Ipheion page, so I'll sort out where I might move this stuff to!
Edit: well, here it is... moved to General Forum pages. M
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Yes Maggi, I bred them for 15 years but have changed to other things now,had over 150 different colours, and crossed everything in the Lewisia family that would was compatable ,and some that was not expected to be so.
I have lots of them growing outside in a scree bed. The hyb's are quite hardy and don't mind the wet,but it is hard to convince the public of that,so I gave up.
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You made a grand job of them... they are super looking plants...... it does seem that some of the hybrids are better at coping with the wet than the old cotyledon hybrids, only a few of those seem to last for any time outside. We have a couple of the Ashwood hybrids that do quite well, but I have to say, yours are much more showy ! I would have thought that those bright colours with a neat growth habit would take a trick on the show bench, too.
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I did bring them to the show but every class I put them in they were disqualified for one reason or another,so I just put them in a non competitive display,and got one gold medal and two silvers. I don't show any more.
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Maggi,I put them all in a box and shipped them to Ian Christie, in October 2006, he might have a few if you want to try them.
I have only about 50 seedlings left.
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Ah, I know Ian is very fond of Lewisias... so they went to a good home, then?!! I'll have a word.
Annoying about the shows, though, eh? I think they'd do better over here, at least I would hope that.
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Maggi, here are a couple of yellow ones,
Lewisia Rediviva Hyb yellow,
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Crikey, Michael, they are FAB! I think those would grace any show bench, so cheery. I like a good short fat plant, they're hard to beat!
And would these colours come true from seed or would you get a mix of all shades, not just yellow?
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Michael
I particularly like the Longipetal x Rediviva cross. Does it come true from seed - if yes would it be possible for me to have some. Like Maggi, I think your crosses are wonderful and if they are hardier than a lot of the hybrids we can buy, they deserve a greater audience
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Here are a few more.
Lewisia rediviva x Longipetala hyb.
Lewisia Brachycalyx x cotyledon
Lewisia Rediviva X Little plum
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More delicious plants! But I really must get to bed... Beechgrove Potting Shed duties tomorrow... Ian's on live and another Potter is staying the night here, too.... I am the only one left up... the dog has gone to her bed too... ages ago. I'm doing extra time forthe "Reel Blend" programme phones too, so will need to keep awake for that.... at least forthat I only answer the phones and not any questions!!
I'm off then, night night!
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Does it come true from seed - if yes would it be possible for me to have some.
Arthur, I am afraid the hybs are all sterile and do not set any seed, they would have to be propagated from cuttings.
I had to make the crosses every year to get seed. I may have a few plants available later in the year.
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Michael
I like the Longipetala x Redivvia cross more than the Rediviva x Longipetala.
The colour in the Brachycalyx x Cotyledon cross is amazing - certainly something to brighten up any dreary day.
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I may have a few plants available later in the year.
Michael
I would be grateful if you could remember me if successful.
Many thanks
Arthur
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Michael, I certianly didn't mean to snipe, just being my usual pedantic, silly self. Please forgive me.
Lesley
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Michael, I certianly didn't mean to snipe, just being my usual pedantic, silly self. Please forgive me.
Your are forgiven.
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Michael
they are wonderful.I have seen the occasional cross on the show bench but nothing like those.
I always find women with a mans name are pedantic,I have been married to one for 39 years.Its the problem with having their name always spelt wrongly isn't it Leslie as hers was yesterday at the Birmingham conference?
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Michael, I must just let you know how much I have enjoyed your Lewisia pictures, absolutely marvellous. I am gradually building up a collection of Lewisia species from Ron Ratko seed, together with a range of L. cotyledon hybrids from my own collected seed from plants originally grown from seed purchased from Chilterns; together with odd species plants I buy when I see them.
I have one small rediviva I have had for three years now but it has never flowered. When it starts to die back I let it dry off, I re-pot it when growth shows through the grit again, and I feed fortnightly in the growing season with a dilute balanced feed. It always looks healthy enough-but no flowers. This year, it didn't die back at all, but I still let it dry off, and re-potted it as per normal in September/October and again it looks healthy enough now. Can you suggest where I am going wrong please?
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David, Rediviva starts to grow about the end of September or early October and this is when you pot it on, water moderately at first and then plunge the pot (clay pot) in sand and do not water again until the spring flush of growth. Just keep it damp over the winter.
Do not over feed it or you will only get foliage and no flowers. Very gritty soil and full sun at all times is required for flowering,especially when it is dormant in the summer, much the same as crocus. Bake well in the summer and definately no water on the caudex when it starts to die down in late spring. You should then get lots of flowers at the end of May or the beginning of June.
cheers.
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Thank you Michael, for forgiving me. I'm trying to lighten what has been a foul week and promises to be another, at my job. I may either be dismissed or else give in my notice tomorrow at a meeting I'm required to attend.
Your hybrids are just fantastic, especially the yellow rediviva hybs. However did you achieve those? Lewisias do well for me so I'll try a little fiddling with a brush this year and see what "cooms oop."
I couldn't find this thread all day yesterday, so lots of lovely things to catch up on. I see I was at a Birmingham conference! :o Must have slept through the whole thing. :'( What is you wife's name Tony?
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Anyone that would like to view my Lewisia pictures can do so here.
Sorry if some of the Pics are double posted, but I am strugling with Vista.
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/michaelJcampbell63/24022008LewisiaCollection1?authkey=VFRrbns4MNw (http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/michaelJcampbell63/24022008LewisiaCollection1?authkey=VFRrbns4MNw)
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but I am strugling with Vista
I hear that lots of folk are doing that too, Michael.. it doesn't seem to be easy to work with!
What a delight to see all those pictures together .....it's like instant summer!
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Michael
WOW!!! I could spend a lot of time looking at the website. Thank goodness for the slideshow to let these wonderful images just glide past.
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Maggi,it is not difficult, just different to everything we have done before,and I am working on a laptop with nurseryman's hands.
It is much too sensitive and and too fast for a slow worker like me. I mean it is a long way from a spade and shovel.
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Your hybrids are just fantastic, especially the yellow rediviva hybs. However did you achieve those?
Lesley, with great difficulty and a lot of time and patience.
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Thank you Michael, for forgiving me. I'm trying to lighten what has been a foul week and promises to be another, at my job. I may either be dismissed or else give in my notice tomorrow at a meeting I'm required to attend.
Lesley, all the best for whatever you face on Monday and the hope that the matter finishes in a way that you would wish. Just remember if the going gets tough that an awful lot of people throughout the world will be with you in thought. Sock it to 'em girl. ;)
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David, Rediviva starts to grow about the end of September or early October and this is when you pot it on, water moderately at first and then plunge the pot (clay pot) in sand and do not water again until the spring flush of growth. Just keep it damp over the winter.
Do not over feed it or you will only get foliage and no flowers. Very gritty soil and full sun at all times is required for flowering,especially when it is dormant in the summer, much the same as crocus. Bake well in the summer and definately no water on the caudex when it starts to die down in late spring. You should then get lots of flowers at the end of May or the beginning of June.
cheers.
Michael, good advice and I shall follow it to the letter, thank you.
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it is not difficult, just different to everything we have done before
but different often IS difficult, then,isn't it! ::) I had to deal with a fancy new photocopier at work today and got in a real muddle... everything was different!!! :P
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Michael,
I just discovered this thread and your wonderful Lewisias. :o
As Lewisias were what brought me to Alpine gardening many years ago - I still have a special corner for them in my gardening heart ! Your collection just blew me of my feet. Many thanks for sharing it.
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Lesley my wifes name is of course Lesley always spelt by everybody but me as Leslie.
Work is often s... but just look forward to retiring.I did it 10 years ago and it has been great. Once you get to a certain age you can be totally offensive to the intellectual pygmies one has to work with without ever worrying about the sack.Once you have gone they are soon forgotten.
Michael get somebody to put you back on xp.
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Your hybrids are just fantastic, especially the yellow rediviva hybs. However did you achieve those?
Lesley, with great difficulty and a lot of time and patience.
Well, I guess that's to be expected. Anything worth achieving takes time, patience and yes, difficulty too. So congratulations Michael on some wonderful results. Long may you continue with this work.
Thank you David. The meeting is actually on Tuesday. (I'ts already Monday here remember.) I will be "officially" able to retire in two weeks (went to see pension office this morning, about largesse to come. $202 per week, about 80 GB pounds at current exchange. Not a fortune but very nice all the same). I do want to go on working for maybe 3 or 4 years though if possible. One thing, it's illegal here to fire someone because of their age and many people, especially men, choose to go on well into their 70s. Something on the telly the other day about an 85 year old still working on a factory floor job, 40 hr week and doing it well.
Tony, wish your Lesley well please, from this Lesley. I like the term intellectual pygmies. I'll take that with me tomorrow and while I won't SAY it, they'll wonder why I'm smiling to myself all through the meeting.
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Anyone who is interested in Lewisia and been enjoying Micheael's truly stunning hybrids will get a real treat when this week's Wisley Log appears online.........I have had a sneak preview!
Edit: I see it is already online.... Fast Fred is getting faster!http://www.srgc.org.uk/wisley/2008/280208/log.html
Michael told us how he had sent his remaining stock of his superb hybrids to Ian Christie.... as it happened, I was at Kirriemuir this past Monday, so guess what I was asking about? Ian showed me the plants from Michael... lovely healthy creatures, looking good even without flowers... and some were already coming into flower in cold Kirrie! President Ian has been too busy of late ( as anyone who has even half an inkling to his schedule will assert) to be able to spend time propagating these plants so there were just the stock plants... I told Ian I would be very keen to get young plants from these strains of Michael when he next had time to make cuttings. Fair enough, says the Pres. but I don't know when that might be... let's take a few now, though you won't know what the colours are, and you can put the roots on them yourself. So now I have a fine assortment of Irish Lewisia cuttings, which I hope will soon make roots and begin to enjoy life in Aberdeen. ;)
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Michael,
Your collection of Lewisia is unique. I like it this beautiful plants very much and I cultivate it too.
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Maggi, if you get to the point where you have offsets to spare I could offer them a really good home :-[ There could be lots of cake and chocolate in it ;D
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David, I would very much hope to reach that stage but I am not in the business of taking food from the mouths of the Christie family :o so perhaps by then Ian will have time to propagate them and have lots available for all! :D
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[quote So now I have a fine assortment of Irish Lewisia cuttings, which I hope will soon make roots and begin to enjoy life in Aberdeen. ;)
[/quote]
What a lucky lady you are, Maggi.
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I was growing Lewisias in the mid - Swedish climate many years ago and I hope that I will get going again. Of course I never came near Michael's achievements but I had nearly two hundred redivivas when the mice had them all. That somehow stumped my ardour.
Anyway, this is what I did.
I filled a frame on the slope with a mixture of 1 part well rotted cow manure, two sifted sphagnum peat, three coarse sand and four granular loam from a field. I believe I added some bonemeal too. The top layer was 5-10mm of coarse grit but that was for looks. I did not find it necessary.
The glass came off in the spring and came back on when they died back in the summer. There was no bottom in the frame, it rested on my normal sandy soil. The moisture from below was sufficient to start them in the fall.
I think that this level of manure would be called feeding them well and all kinds I grew flowered very satisfactory.
Michael says do not feed - I say feed but we are using different feeds, different ingredients in the compost, have different climate and different size of "receptacle".
Michael would you care to comment?
Göte
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Wonderful view Göte - if it weren't for that wooden sleeper, your pic could have been taken in the Beartooth range in the Rockies ! ;D
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Thank you Luc.
Somehow I think that a wooden frame does not look more unnatural as habitat for Lewisia than a stone through - not to talk about a plastic pot. ;)
Swearing in the church am I ?? ?????? :o
Göte
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Michael says do not feed - I say feed but we are using different feeds,
Gote, I said do not overfeed Rediviva, meaning that you will get lots of foliage and no flowers. I did feed occasionally( plants in pots) with a seaweed tomato fertilizer when I thought that the feed in the compost was all used up. The hybs are greedy feeders.
I do not feed any of the Lewisias planted out in the scree bed as I like to grow them hard so they stand up to the weather better.
I live in a very wet climate.
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I just found this thread
Michael those are stunning Lewisias. Will the yellow grow outside?
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MARK! Read the thread properly... Michael has told us several times that the whole point is that he bred them to grow outside!! TSK!
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Yes Mark, they will all grow outside.
Did you click on the link below this message and see them all ?
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I think I saw many of them at Termonfeckon? I'll look again now.
Maggi I had to look at 4 pages quickly to catch up!
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Just catching up with this thread...... Michael those Lewisias are absolutely SPECTACULAR!!!! Wow!!!!! That's some fantastic results from your breeding... well done. I don't have a single one here as yet, but I do have some seed to sow very soon so here's hoping I will have some younguns next spring.
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A few lewisias starting to flower here.
Lewisia brachycalyx
Lewisia brachycalyx plnk form.
Lewisia nevadensis Bernadeno form.
Lewisia rediviva hyb. x 4
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Vices, Daphnes and hybrid Lewisias....how's that for a thread?
Ha Ha! Well, Michael, they do say confession is good for the soul! 8)
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If these are the worst of your vices Michael, you'll be up there eventually with Peter, Gabriel and that other Michael. ;D
(My late mother never trusted men who claimed to have NO vices. After all, she said, the old Adam has to come out somewhere!)
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If these are the worst of your vices Michael, you'll be up there eventually with Peter, Gabriel and that other Michael. ;D
(My late mother never trusted men who claimed to have NO vices. After all, she said, the old Adam has to come out somewhere!)
You said that back in Feb 2008 as well! At least you're consistent ;D ;D ;D
cheers
fermi
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Oh God, if I'm repeating myself it really DOES mean I'm going down hill. Slippery slope and all that. Give me a kick, someone.
(What kind of a sick person are you to remind a poor woman of what she said over two years ago? What normal person would even REMEMBER what someone said two years ago? I can't remember what we had for tea last night. ???)
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I just skipped back to the start of this thread as I couldn't remember it myself!
cheers
fermi
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A few lewisias starting to flower here.
Lewisia brachycalyx
Lewisia brachycalyx plnk form.
Lewisia nevadensis Bernadeno form.
Lewisia rediviva hyb. x 4
They look gorgeous Michael !!! :o :o
That first rediviva hybrid is a real stunner - the flowers look enormous compared to the others !
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I just skipped back to the start of this thread as I couldn't remember it myself!
cheers
fermi
Where in the thread do you tell what you had with your tea ???
Cheers ;D
Göte
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Perhaps I'm just asking for sympathy with mine Gote. ;D
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Perhaps I'm just asking for sympathy with mine Gote. ;D
I would be very pleased to come to tea were it not for the distance. ;D
I do not care if I forget my tea but I was searching for my keys half an hour yesterday >:(
Eventually my wife found them :)
Göte