Hijacking threads on gransnet

I've noticed that councils aren't cutting the verges and roadside banks so much these day. Cats ear can look gorgeous on a bank in the country. But that's not in your garden.

Baggy, we've got a strimmer.

And I'm scared enough of that. I'd probably cut me leg off with a scythe.

I have just done my online tax return! And due to my feeble earnings the IR owes me £600 . Feels like one of the labours of hercules, understanding what the terminology means. Still i always think it is a minor triumph if i can find the logons and a major one when finished.
Got took out to Brasserie Blanc last night. Glad it was not us that were paying as what I had was not great. Apart from the apricot souffle which was.

But strimmers are so noisy! And they use petrol or electricity. You only need muscles to use a scythe (which we all have) so it's much more environmentally friendly from the noise pollution point of view . Actually you can scythe perfectly safely in bare feet because, by virtue of the handle and how you hold the scythe, the blade never comes anywhere near your legs or feet. Scything also kicks up less hay fever causing dust which is a consideration for me.

PS I like it that councils are cutting verges less. It allows the wild flowers to grow and proliferate. They already do that in my garden so scything the cat's ear before it seeds is just a limitation exercise, especially as they appear to be perennials anyway, unlike the orange hawkweed which I do allow to set seed.

Our first race meeting of the winter is always at Bangor on Dee [we drive there singing 'didn't we have a loverly time the day we went to Bangor tiddly pom']. On the way there is a small area next the road where someone must have scattered wild flower seed, because it's strewn with wild flowers and looks absolutely beautiful. I wish roadsides everwhere could be as gorgeous.

..it's quite close to one of those brown signs that denote 'places of interest'. This 'place of interest says 'Secret Bunker'. I always stop singing for a minute to say 'well, it's not very secret any more, now, is it?'. I say it on the way back, too. I'm very boring and predictable....

crimson...you are such fun...

I've been on my hols for a week and missed all the excitement-

Been on hols too, this thread is getting out of hand I think - hijacking gone mad!
Norfolk beautiful as ever and seething with rampant Hollyhocks. Worth going just to see the Hollyhocks (so many colours from almost black to delicate pale pastels) and also the Marsh Harriers at Blakeney and Cley reed beds.

You have made me holiday sick for North Norfolk - we haven't been for a few years now and I've missed it - used to stay at Salthouse and we spent hours in the marshes watching avocets, little egrets, harriers and reed warblers. There's a wonderful deli in Cley. I have a watercolour of Blakeney at low tide over my mantlepiece - I'll have to make do with that until we get there again!

That lovely childrens' novel "When Marnie was There" is set in Cley isn't it?! We read it when my girls were little and it started us on holidays there. Lovely beaches. Can be a bit cold being on the North Sea though.