Yes, I'm so happy, 2014!

[Anthony Darby]

I saw them at the St George's Hall in Leeds in the '60s. Lulu was the opening act, she must have been all of 15!

Lulu! She makes me want to shout!

[fermi de Sousa]

Lulu! She makes me want to shout!

? Throw your hands up and shout?
cheers
Fermi

[johnstephen29]

Lulu is a bit before my time, but I have to admit I have the boat that I row on my iPhone

[Anthony Darby]

[Maggi Young]

Just seeing this made me happy!


A three foot ( 90cms) tall chocolate robin- weighing 6kgs ( is a 6kg robin fat?!!)

Pic from Twitter from the  http://www.littlechocolateshop.co.uk/   in Leyburn Yorkshire

[Peter Maguire]

Somehow, I don't think it will fly..........but it looks delicious!

[Maggi Young]

Somehow, I don't think it will fly..........but it looks delicious!

Yes, I think this is an example of the rare Yorkshire flightless giant  robin - in fact, if you look in the background of the photo, you can see one who has worn himself out trying to get airborne and is now lying down for a rest........

[David Nicholson]

Yes, I think this is an example of the rare Yorkshire flightless giant  robin ........

In case there should be an assertion that all those from Yorkshire are made of chocolate and grossly over-weight, only some us are!

[johnstephen29]

Too right David  :

[Matt T]

I'm happy, because for once I feel truly ready for the winter, my third here on the Outer Hebrides.

This year I have erected a proper windbreak fence around the productive areas of the garden (veg and bulbs/plants in pots). This is enhanced with many willow cuttings and Rosa rugosa seedlings etc.

I've relocated our new compost bins (and their attendant small furries, which have been extraordinarily abundant this year) as far from the house as possible.

I've built seed frames for my many pots of ungerminated seeds. I'm planning on changing the top of the one I use for germinated pots to a PVC or polycarbonate lid to keep some of the rain out to avoid damping off.

I've also built a larger 'shade frame' for woodlanders and anything else that doesn't like drying winds. Rather than shade, I believe that the shelter provided is of most benefit.

When gardening in the Hebrides, you can't have too much shelter. I feel ready, so bring on the winter!

[Maggi Young]

Rather a lot to be happy about there, Matt - a powerful amount of work to get all that sorted and it looks really very neat and professional. I'm impreseed - nothing so swanky here for sure, but then again we're not in danger of being blown off the land and across an ocean!

[David Nicholson]

Your frames leave mine very much in in the shade (sorry!) Matt. Made around ten years ago from old pallets and now disintegrating rapidly. I'm being asked "is its necessary to have piles of rotten old wood on what passes for a patio because you clutter it up with pots of stuff you haven't room for in the garden? And why is the garden seat now the home for trays of plants you've grown from seed and haven't room for in the greenhouse?....... I'll get me coat

[Roma]

Sounds familiar, David.  It is hard being a compulsive plant collector and propagator if your partner does not understand

[Roma]

I'm warm again!  We got a new central heating oil boiler installed and had no heating from yesterday morning till this afternoon.  It was dull and damp yesterday and even colder today.  Maximum 5C today. 

[johnw]

Rather a lot to be happy about there, Matt - a powerful amount of work to get all that sorted and it looks really very neat and professional. I'm impreseed - nothing so swanky here for sure, but then again we're not in danger of being blown off the land and across an ocean!

Maggi - Not a chance he'll be blown across the ocean in this direction.  More apt to be Aberdeen bound given the blow here.

What a splendid job you've done there Matt.  Just wondering what the shade material is on the sed and shade frames.

Were the Hebrides treed in recent times? i.e. the past 400-500 yrs.

johnw