bert the fert

Cheers Jen

Flies !! We're mown out with the fecky things. The offspring mythered me into buying a venus flytrap last week, she was dead excited about it. Couldn't wait to get it home and to watch it snatching flies from the air [ so she'd imagined it anyway ] So, we get it home and then all night she stares at it, forlornly, while bloody flies all but tap dance across it going " gimme the moonlight " Twelve quid that sodding plant cost and so far the biggest danger it presents to flies is the saucer of water it has to sit in.......two flies have drowned in it ! Where's that flyspray ??

Not seen any sloes hereabout, but my damsons are fat and green, about where i'd expect them to be this time of year. It's looking like a bumper crop too . I got some lovely blackcurrants from a neighbouring farm and they're maturing nicely in this years blackcurrant vodka. Got my damsoms earmarked for damson gin.

Try thick slices of shin beef. Coat them in flour, fry them off and pop them into a casserole dish. Then fry off plenty of chopped onion, garlic, sliced carrot and celery. Add these to the casserole. Pour over a glass of red wine and just enough beef stock to cover. Now you add a " flavour bomb "..... try a teasoon of back olive tapenade, a handful of grated parmesan, a dessert spoon of sundried tomato paste, a drizzle of good quality balsamic and a teaspoon of sugar. Cook on a low heat for two or three hours and serve with mash and greens. Yum. P.S. Don't forget plenty of back pepper,

I played flute and clarinet through school and college but when i took up the sax i found summat i loved. I played tenor sax in a big band for a few years, but work got in the way of my hobby. When you work 65+ hours a week, there's bugger all time left for hobbies. Sold my sax's but have regretted it many times since. I've mentioned this before, but i'm currently learning the 5 string banjo. My tutor is an oddbod; a socks-and-sandals, beardy who exists in a '70s timewarp, but gawd he can play. He's ever so patient, but every now and then i think he reaches saturation point of my chronic

Still plodding on with the banjo, but not conspicuously improving Currently looking for some more ornamental breeds of chicken, and the favourite so far is a blue pheasant brahma. Love cooking and doing cooking demo's, and also love doing arts and crafts stuff like felt making. Got a felt making demo to do next week at the local high school....really looking forward to it

Ahh, right....that makes sense really. A sort of obvious tally. It did cross my mind, but because i've never seen rats or other vermin hung on the fence, i thought there must be a different reason. Must admit, i've never seen birds heads on a fence. Thanks very much for the answers

Why you see dead moles hung up in a line on country fences ? Is it a British tradition ?

British folk tend to be fairly blasé about the Monarchy, Ratkiller. We've had a couple of millennia's worth of royalty here, so it becomes part of the nations wallpaper, as it were. There'll be some hoo-ha on the day, but it doesn't particularly interest me.... I can't stand weddings full stop, no matter whose they are !

Thanks, darbo and gem They're a nice, docile breed, the Jerseys....make lovely pets as well as layers. Hubby brought three little Warrens home a while ago, and it's been entertaining to see just how different they are to the Jerseys, y'know ? The Warrens are wick as snigs, always zipping about and nicking treats from under Hectors nose. They make him look like that lumbering Tyrannosaurus Rex from Jurassic Park Moomin, our little rescue Springer is terrorised by the Warrens though.....they're sooo nosey and they seem fascinated by her. They often troop into the house to perch on the

Just a couple of pics of Hector, our cock and a few of the hens. He's in full feather at the mo, and he's looking dandy

Those are smashing photos, Moll.

Lovely pics there It's great to see an owner putting so much effort into handling and playing with their ferts. The little things thrive on attention and stimulation. Hope they turn into really good workers for you

Well done, trappa. The book sounds an absolute winner