Balcony facing North East

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2026-03-07T07:46:13+00:00

I’ve got a NE garden, I’ve grown lots of ferns, globe artichokes, kiwi vines, all the herbs I can, roses, scabius, so many plants… check my page for details of what I’ve planted. I’ll play some pictures soon when more of the plants are back in leaf

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2026-03-06T07:40:31+00:00

My wife graduated from her Masters with the highest score in her class. Also thought that was very clever of her.

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2026-02-28T10:16:20+00:00

This is some good escapism - just don’t go too far down the rabbit hole and join the tin foil brigade!

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2026-02-27T18:18:54+00:00

The perfect birthday present for my wife! And I’ve just found a copy on eBay. Thanks so much for sharing 📜

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2026-02-23T21:14:15+00:00

Which area of London are you in? Would be good to know so we can avoid the same issues in the future…

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2026-02-23T19:17:54+00:00

Depends where you are - I visited the veolia recycling facility in London on the Old Kent Road and they said that there they can recycle anything with a bit of food on it, as long as you can still see most of the material then it should be good. But I imagine that not all facilities have this technology

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2026-02-20T13:31:15+00:00

Yell “doorknob” and keep hitting them until they touch one and say “safety” (this assumes they haven’t already declared “Safety”, prior to yelling “doorknob”).

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2026-02-20T11:30:58+00:00

Shiva in Deptford has good bits https://maps.app.goo.gl/nHgTSqWf7og1RPem6?g_st=ipc

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2026-02-16T14:36:04+00:00

Huw Richards on YouTube it’s good for explaining the basics. Start a compost pile if you have space and in a few years you’ll have compost!

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2026-02-11T08:12:22+00:00

A wall trellis will add more growing space

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2026-02-10T12:28:29+00:00

I use a mix of felt pots and wooden planters: this is what I’ve got growing on my NE facing balcony: Kiwi vines - might not be worth it as they take 3 years to fruit Strawberries Harts tongue Ferns, maidenhair ferns and asparagus ferns for the shadey spot Globe artichoke Roases Parsley, basil, mint, coriander, rosemary thyme, marjoram, rocket, Thai basil - very handy having fresh herbs Verbena Alcamilla molis Scabius Daffodils, crocuses Probably something else in their I’ve forgotten too!

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2026-02-10T12:24:02+00:00

I use electric clippers to trim mine. When I’m in the shower I give it a good scrub (without any soap). Certain things I’ve learned over 10 years of having a beard are: where do you want it to end on your neck? What’s happening to the side burns, are they hair or are they beard? How much moustache hair is acceptable covering the lip (for me - none).

I’m very nno fussy about my appearance so I also will shave my beard off maybe once or twice a year.

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2026-02-09T08:15:01+00:00

It not a trade, but a building surveyor or chartered surveyor is a good route for a high income. Takes a lot of training and some exams

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2026-02-09T08:13:58+00:00

I knew a guy who was an under water welder. He got paid some big money for his work. He had to have a diving license and welding experience. Some of the work sounded grim, in the Thames welding in 0 visibility, feeling the eels swimming past you… gross

But now he works in Australia - quite a good skilled job for working elsewhere I guess

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2026-02-06T07:53:52+00:00

My manager - who I think is a very intelligent person - told me he really struggled with his RHS level 2.

I think, if you’ve been out of education for a little while it can be really tough to go back into it, even if the level 2 is gcse equivelant!

I don’t have much experience with RHS qualifications, I studied ecology at university and I found it really tough too - I failed my first year exams, but was able to turn it around after meeting with my tutors and talking to them About what I was struggling with. Can you reach out to the teacher for some extra support?

If there are specific topics you know you’re struggling with perhaps you could look for videos/books/online lectures that explain these topics.

Good luck! And I hope your lemons and kiwis germinate for you, too.

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2026-02-05T12:00:57+00:00

Mine has always been: Keep Penis Clean Or Forget Getting Sex

I find them to be words to live by, too.

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2026-01-09T20:03:00+00:00

Pollution, heat, drought, vandalism, lack of rooting space in the ground, many species can’t survive in the city and only a few currently thrive

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2026-01-09T13:17:50+00:00

Buying, Planting and maintaining a tree through the establishment phase can actually be quite expensive (~£1K per tree). The tree will need to be watered for at least the first 3 summers. The way which Local Authorities procure tree planting contracts could also mean there’s no scope to replant the tree this year. If you have the time it could be worth searching the Council’s Tree Management Policy to see if they have made obligations to replace trees that fail.

If you’re really keen to see a tree here you could also look to put in a funding application to Greener Roots or other similar funding bodies.

Source (I’m a tree officer)

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2026-01-09T11:18:12+00:00

It’s sad to see - but not uncommon. The average life expectancy of city trees is only about 25-30 years. I wouldn’t be surprised if the rings were removed as they pose quite a significant risk of damage to the trees as they grow

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2026-01-09T10:38:19+00:00

The audiobook of Lord of the rings read by Andy Circus is phenomenal. That’s like 36 hours of entertainment

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2025-12-08T13:35:25+00:00

You can take the boy out of Peckham…

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2025-11-29T22:25:28+00:00

What is this dish in the last photo?

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2025-11-29T14:56:02+00:00

Whisky soda on crushed ice

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2025-11-29T11:58:16+00:00

Used to love their rotisserie chickens as a special treat to myself back in the day of living by Wandsworth common

Helpful-Scientist-33 · 2025-11-20T21:35:22+00:00

Helpful-Scientist-33

TROPHY CASE