Its certainly big

Been spending a bit of time in the garden and can't believe how tall some of my Gladioli have grown, check this monster out 6'6" and still growing.

Tits and things

Its awhile since I posted and to be honest I'm just not inspired to post at the moment, think all us bloggers have periods like this.

Anyway just to keep any readers up to date here are a few things.

Better start with the "Tits" part of the post, well I'm really pleased it looks like a family of Blue Tits are nesting in my bird box, first time for 6 or 7 years so really pleased. On top of that there are a family of robins nesting somewhere close its actually quite nice watching them all feed and go through their daily activities.

So on to me and I've been busy in the garden last couple of weeks and even though i say it myself its looking good, spring flowers are about finished now but have put in loads of summer plants and it'll be a sea of colour.

I'm back on a weight loss campaign, its planned between holidays. I've put a little on since I stopped working on it and of course the Italy holiday didn't help.
My next trip is to Crete and I started 2 weeks ago just cutting Bread & Sweet stuff out of my diet for now.
Been at it 2 weeks and although not weighed am starting to feel the difference so am sure its working. My intention is to keep it going until i go to Crete then will decide future plans after that.
I'd already cut back significantly on m beer intake and only drink on special occasions (even stopped on Pool match nights, actually go in car now so only have soft drinks). Did go out last Friday to a local Italian for our Table Tennis Clubend of season meal, about 20 of us went. Was really nice had the homemade soup for a starter followed by fillet steak, no pudding though, stayed strong.

Have a couple of things coming up where I'll have a drink, meeting a friend for lunch on friday to catch up then early June another lunch with someone from my holiday who is in he area so gonna meet up. Yes its a lady but don't read anything into that just a friend i met on holiday, one of a group of us that got on well.

Talking holidays I've really enjoyed these organised group trips and have another touring holiday planned for sept/oct but I'm getting the feeling I want to do something solo again, maybe a city break where i've to find my own way around. Fancy either Berlin or Madrid so watch this space, probably its the adventurer in me.

I actually like planning these trips myself, not same someone doing it all for you (although made some great friends), probably a mix of holidays is the way to go.

One thing I want to do is plan a big fly/drive in America, got a couple of ideas but wouldn't do it totally solo, need to talk one or two people into joining me on that one.

My Garden

As I was asked on my last post about the colours of the flowers in my garden thought i'd do a post about it.

Currently through winter I've just got a few Primroses in pots around the front of the house, bit of a variation of colours but just brightens the place up a bit.

 

I put a lot of spring flowering bulbs in my borders last year and they are now coming through nicely, mainly purple and white flowers (crocus) but there will be some red and yellow when the tulips and daffodils flower.

 

But lets face it summer is the main time, I have bulbs in for Dalia, Gladioli and a few others that will look nice.

I've also around 12 rose bushes (various colours) around the garden which i've just pruned. I've ordered 5 more which have arrived today, would plant them but its snowing (yes winer as returned) but should do them tomorrow.

The 5 new colours are as the photo below :-

 



As I mentioned in my previous post I've ordered a lot of plug plants (100 of each that are about 9mm at this stage) which I pot and grow on then transfer into the garden around May time to give me a good display until late september.
So far the the Petunia (Bolero) and Red Geranium (Fire Queen) have come and are now in pots in my backplace growing nicely. I'll lift them outside on nice sunny days and in on a night as the frost would kill them.
You can see the colours in the photos :-

I'm awaiting delivery of 100 Begonia (destiny) which again i'll transfer into pots, you can see the colours below :-

Yes 300 plants are a lot, a few may die off but i'll use what fills my garden and give the remaining to friend/neighbours, keeps me out of misschief lol.