Friday 24 July - Monsoon Day!!

[Kath Mulligan]

I have just come in from a visit to Wyevale Garden Centre and literally had to change every stitch of clothing I had on. I needed some black polythene to cover my cleared jungle, so decided to take Mum to Wyevale for lunch. When we went in it was blue skies and warm sunshine, so I left my jacket in the car. As we were having lunch the heavens opened and we had an almighty thunderstorm. It's a long time since I have seen so much rain come down in such a short space of time. An hour and a half later, it eased off slightly so I left Mum sheltering in the doorway while I went to get the car - which I discovered was now parked in the middle of a lake!! The water was lapping just below the sill of the doors, and guess who was wearing sandals, white trousers and a white silky blouse which I have now discovered becomes virtually see-through when soaking wet! :redface::redface::redface: After paddling to the car and sloshing my way round to the door to collect Mum, we then had a very hairy drive home along flooded roads. And what happens the minute I get back in the house? - yes, you've guessed it, the sun is shining again! :mad::mad:

Oh the joys of the English summer. ;)

Kath

[jane jackson]

Oh my what bad luck Kath! Glad you made it home safely if a little damp................We've had lovely weather here so hope it doesn't decide to travel this way. I have a friend coming on sunday with her 2 children for a few days( the one who had her car vandalised outside our home just before Easter) so do hope she has sunny weather for her short break.

Hope you got the black polythene.

[gloria townsin]

Kath, what a predicament.........see through clothes and sandals........:blink: no really I'm not laughing.......... You should have seen me a while ago washing out some odds and ends in the bath with the shower hose which decided to behave like a snake and do the Indian Rope trick spraying water everywhere - over me, the floor, the dry towels.......... As I was Ow-ing and Ouch-ing, Eddie was saying 'what the hecks wrong?' I just opened the bathroom door and he soon saw the problem.....

Can't believe the weather it changes on the minute. Last evening we had a sudden really heavy downpour, then it stopped, then it started spitting, then another downpour.
This morning another downpour, then sunny skies.....happy, happy, even caught the sun while painting a large planter with wood preservative. Went to B&Q (would do better to get a job there I spend so much time in the store) and drove back via Poldhu, stopped and walked on the beach, had a coffee and toasted sandwich at the Beach Cafe, came home and still sunny, bit of a breeze but who knows any moment now it could pour. :flood:

[Sybille Weber]

How awful, Kath. You seem to be having pretty much the same weather that we are having over here, although we have had it all week now - a mixture of sunshine and severe thunderstorms with heavy rain, huge hail corns and strong winds. Roads had to be closed because of flooding, houses burnt down after being struck by lightning, and cars were demolished by falling trees. Still it was rather hot all week but quite cool today. The forecast is for a lovely Sunday followed by more thunderstorms next week.

I guess our swifts have had enough of this weather and departed already, not just ours. Haven't seen any at all today. It is true swifts mostly leave at the end of July, but many stay on until August as well - not this year it seems. Their departure came much too early. I hadn't expected it yet and feel so sad at the empty skies. It seems they only just arrived, and now they are gone again. Will have to look out for some swallows instead. They usually stay until September.

Our neighbour's holiday in Cornwall is nearing its end, so I suppose she has not really picked the perfect weather, as there seems to have been a lot of rain in Cornwall, too. The Cornish summers I remember were almost always sunshine, except once when the "Jacob's Ladder" at Falmouth had turned into a waterfall, and the carpark below looked just like the one at Wyevale today.

[gloria townsin]

Nina is pretty fed up with the English Summer (not!!) as well, but it sounds as though she would'nt be any better off in Germany. What's happening for goodness sake.

Sunny here today which is good as late last night I spotted it's the Steam Fair at St Buryan. Did think about going as last year Patricia entered the Fun Dog Show, but have such a lot to do here.....yesterday was the first day we saw the sea since we arrived.

[jane jackson]

Don't know what's happened to our good summer. We thought it was supposed to be a wonderful day today but although the sun is mostly out, there are a lot of clouds some rather dark grey.

Hope you can see a bit more of the sea and relax as well as working so hard Gloria.

[Kath Mulligan]

It has managed to stay fine here today so far, and reasonably sunny although the cloud does keep bubbling up. The garden is completely stripped now and the black polythene laid. Josh is coming back on Monday to replace a rotten fence panel and lay a small patio area in place of a boggy area of lawn, then it will be job done until next spring.

Kath

[gloria townsin]

Sounds like a good job done Kath, you will be able to enjoy the garden more knowing it isn't nagging you to do something about it. Once the pot plants and patio are established you will really see the benefit. I can tell already that the front garden at Bryher is pretty labour intensive. Lots of small areas but all of them needing pretty constant attention. One area which has the tiniest lawn will be better made into a little courtyard which we will do with the slate that is everywhere here. Then the wild garden beyond it can be planted up with either a low rockerie, scree type garden or just wild flowers. Trouble is I need to keep it a bit free as it's the only route to the top of the Cornish hedge that side. As I say I think there will always be something to tinker with in this garden. Then of course there's my Mediterannean room.......ah but that's for the future.

[Kath Mulligan]

If you replace the tiny lawn with slate, you could plant some clumps of thrift in it to break up the space. (no-one would guess that I am somewhat addicted to thrift, would they?).

When I get round to re-planting mine next year, I am aiming for some fairly low-maintenance shrubs and perennials, especially perennial geraniums which I love, and they are excellent at spreading themselves around and smothering the weeds. Trouble is, the pink one I already have, had spread itself a bit too promiscuously around and has smothered a lovely late-flowering hardy fuschia that I had in a tub. I have saved some clumps of it to replant next year but will keep it under control next time. I have lost most of my penstemons too under the brambles, so will have to replace those. Gardener's World magazine often have some quite good plant collection offers, so may be making use of those next spring/summer.

Kath

[gloria townsin]

I could Kath but when I say the area is tiny I mean weenie. There is a tree, have no idea what it is it hasn't done anything much thus far, in the middle and it just looks very untidy. I'm not one for doing away with lawn but this is so small you couldn't call it a lawn by any stretch of the imagination. There's an area behind it though which is a bit of a head-scratch, I think it will be best made into a rockery area or the scree as mentioned.

The side garden is absolutely like the Lost Gardens of Heligan before they were found again!! But there is no point doing anything with them as they will have to be cut back before the building starts so for the time being I'd rather let them run wild. The Hydrangeas are a picture and the Buddleia is almost in the Lounge, well it would be if the window wasn't in the way. I am hoping that if I cut them back hard when the builders begin and try to lift them and replant them in a more appropriate place we will save them. This is the area I want to make into an outdoor Med. room making it a useable outdoor space for relaxing, with some grape vines, seating, maybe a small outdoor kitchen.:tea:

[Kath Mulligan]

Your side garden sounds a bit like my jungle has been, Gloria. I've taken some photos of the before, during (and haven't yet done the after, waiting for the patio to be done first) so will post a couple in my album when I have transferred them from camera to computer. The Lost Gardens of Heligan before would be a very apt description of my patch!

Kath

[jane jackson]

All your plans sound lovely for your mediteranean garden Gloria. Wish we had some sunshine to go with them. We bought a chimnea 2 years ago and have hardly used it yet!

Kath, your garden sounds as though it's coming on in leaps and bounds. It will be fun planning it all out. We spent a good day in our garden yesterday but not in todays rain. Let's keep our fingers crossed for a brighter tomorrow. We're going on a local National Trust group walk around Newlyn with a Blue Badge Guide so hope to learn lots of interesting things. Last years walk around eastern PZ was really good.

[gloria townsin]

The NT walk sounds interesting Jane. Likewise re gardening - I got on really well on Sat. then Sunday and no-go!! As we will probably go back to Herts on Wed. (urgghh!!!) I want to plant what I have to put in the already established rockery. It's kind of gone a bit to pot and so now that some of the early plants are finishing I am taking a few out and replacing them with other longer flowering plants. At the moment it kind of flourishes then it's all over and nothing much to look at. The plants that grow in the Cornish hedge have all gone beserk and it's difficult to see round them when you drive out onto the road, so I'm afraid they will have to have a hair-cut. The plants were all cut back on the wall opposite our drive on Saturday and so we need to do our side. The PZ weather icon looks good for Monday, so can but hope it's correct.

[Jeniwren]

Hey Kath...a free shower ;) No!...Ok...I understand it isn't nice getting wet. Here's a hot cup of tea to warm you up :tea:

[Kath Mulligan]

Hey Kath...a free shower ;) No!...Ok...I understand it isn't nice getting wet. Here's a hot cup of tea to warm you up :tea:

Thanks Jen ....... don't know how you take your showers in Oz but I don't generally tend to take mine fully clothed!:haha::haha::haha:

Kath

[jane jackson]

Well today has been a total washout until 4.15pm when the sun came out along with the blue sky ~ a bit late in the day for my visitors. Culdrose Air Day couldn't have had much worse weather but perhaps it wasn't quite so bad over there but there again my friend from Minehead has just phoned and it's rained all day there and is still raining.

Where's the BBQ summer?????????????

[Liz]

I think we've had it as far as a BBQ summer is concerned - listening to the radio a few mins ago they were saying it will continue unsettled with only the occasional good days.

I feel so sorry for families with little ones who have probably had to save to pay for a holiday and had hoped for sun and sand. It can be so expensive finding alternatives to keep children interested and happy. You can understand why so many choose to holiday abroad, at least the weather is virtually guaranteed.

Personally I still prefer the UK but that's speaking from the other side of 50!

[gloria townsin]

Yes it was bad on the Lizard and I wouldn't wonder if there were flight display cancellations. Outdoor things are not much fun in the tipping rain, and the sky...so overcast it gave me a headache.

Back in Herts. now and the long journey behind us. Just a countdown to going back.

[Kath Mulligan]

31st July - I feel I just have to report this since it is so unusual at the moment - we have actually had a full day without the dreaded wet stuff - miraculous!:biggrin: Will it last, I doubt it.

Kath

[Liz]

Well done Kath - pleased someone has had a pleasant day.
It started sunny here today and I dressed in my gardening clothes, grabbed some breakfast and was just about to go outside when the heavens opened! So frustrating.... the weeds are beginning to cover the plants in some of my beds and the grass is once again heading for the heavens. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

[jane jackson]

Bit of a dull day here but mainly dry if a bit drizzly at times. However it's now pouring and I can hear thunder in the distance ~ hey ho!:(

[adesmith]

We had most of a dry day but we took Rupert to the park at tea time and it started raining as soon as we came back. I wanted to mow the lawn but I need a couple of dry days as the front garden is north (ish) facing and in the shadow of the house. The lawn gets very boggy. Apparently Sunday is going to be the best day of the weekend and we are going to the National Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans where they are conducting a Roman Funeral for the Festival of British Archaeology. There are going to be re-enactors in the iron age village as well.

[gloria townsin]

That sounds very interesting Adrian, will be interested to hear about it. Have a good day.

[Kath Mulligan]

1st August. Of course it didn't last! Got up this morning to find the heavens weeping once again - 'bout time they finished their mourning in my humble opinion. ;):tongue::D

Kath

[adesmith]

Its awful isnt it. Rachel pulled back the curtains this morning and I couldnt see the river or the hill opposite because of the rain! Its very miserable. Cornwall a week tomorrow so we will be packing waterproofs and thinking about the wet weather options. We will have fun whatever.

[Liz]

we are going to the National Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans where they are conducting a Roman Funeral for the Festival of British Archaeology.

That sounds really interesting Adrian - wish we lived nearer. We are off to the Tenbury show this afternoon - with wellies of course...

[Linda]

early this morning it was so dismal we couldn't see across the yard to the barns for the mist....now...the sun is shining although breezy...lovely...we'll see how long it lasts tho'

[Liz]

Just returned from the show - yes ankle deep in mud but an excellent show. We were so muddy in the end that we just stopped caring, our trousers were brown to above the knees.

One little chap (around 2yrs) fell over and did a sort of 'angel in the snow' in the mud but face down - he was plastered, face and all but he just got up and laughed! Maybe that's what we need to do - laugh at the weather!

[Annette]

That sounds really interesting Adrian - wish we lived nearer. We are off to the Tenbury show this afternoon - with wellies of course...

We went to the show too Bryony, wet was not the word!!. We had to hide in the beer tent a couple of times but still ended up soaked. Our dogs loved it though, lots of other dogs to meet. Such a shame as yesterday was nice and sunny.

Did you have a pork bun from our friends in the pig roast?, perfect cold weather food we thought.

I very nearly came home with some new hens but was so cold and wet that I gave up on the idea. My husband spent yesteday afternoon cleaning the mud from the inside of the car.

[gloria townsin]

Sounds like the usual English Summer Day.........it's amazing how quickly a grassy field can turn into liquid earth.

[adesmith]

We were so muddy in the end that we just stopped caring, our trousers were brown to above the knees. One little chap (around 2yrs) fell over and did a sort of 'angle in the snow' in the mud but face down - he was plastered, face and all but he just got up and laughed! Maybe that's what we need to do - laugh at the weather!

Glad you had a good time. Thats exactly what I think you have to do - just have a good time and go home for a nice hot bath!

[Liz]

Aghhhh! I can spell angel - honest!!!!
Sometimes fingers work faster than brains... :girl_wacko:

[Kath Mulligan]

Aghhhh! I can spell angel - honest!!!!
Sometimes fingers work faster than brains... :girl_wacko:

You're catching the "Linda" disease, Liz!!! :dance3::dance3::dance3:

Kath

[jane jackson]

I'm so glad I went with the forecast and spent time on Porthcurno beach on saturday as yesterday wasn't brilliant with hardly any sun but mostly dry apart from one very heavy but short shower. Today is back to steady drizzle once again with the weather forecaster backing off from their "BBQ summer". It's still warm but not a pleasant start for Rachel and Adrian for their long awaited holilday. Do hope it bucks up for them and all the other holidaymakers. I'm sure they'll be happy just to be on holiday and in Cornwall but even so.

This is another blessing of being retired I think, you can take advantage of the sunny days that occur rather than having to arrange activities always at the weekend. It always seemed to be sunny during the day and weekdays and then wait for the weekend to rain. In the winter with the horses and working full time I only used to see them in the daylight at weekends.

Sunshine tomorrow???????????

[Kath Mulligan]

That's a shame for Adrian and Rachel. We had a glorious weekend up here - spent yesterday basking in hot sun on the beach at Ainsdale, near Southport with the girls and Mum and topped up the tan nicely, but today it is back to normal with overnight rain and grey skies. Hope it bucks up again soon for them and Gloria too.

Kath

[gloria townsin]

Not done any bucking up yet Kath I'm afraid to say. Not so bad for Eddie and me but had hoped it would be nice for Matt while he is with us and Adrian, Rachel and Rupert of course. Not sure what you would find to do today as the mist has been so thick we couldn't see across to Cury earlier, tiny bit clearer now. Just dull and upleasant looking. Not sure if this Summer is worse than last year, certainly not better. I have never taken notice of weather forcasts as they are so often wrong but couldn't help feeling a little bit hopeful when our 'BBQ Summer' was first mentioned......back to not listening to them anymore for me.:fie: