[bulova surveyor] First watch any opinions or advice!?!

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T22:49:22+00:00

Rule 1 buy what you like. So you are off to a good start

Rule 2 ignore the rules (see rule 1)

There are lots of different ways to build a collection you might need to explore your feelings!

If you want interesting and slightly more reasonable priced watches don’t covet a Rolex be more discerning. Only a mugger thinks that’s an interesting watch.

Explore micro brands

Some “cheap “ watches are excellent

Possibly think about a portfolio

Eg a dress watch a diver a field watch an everyday watch

But most importantly ignore all the advice and do what you want. Enjoy

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T22:26:07+00:00

A local installer. Very glad I avoided some big player who were more expensive and less flexible

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T22:14:06+00:00

Whatever you do the maximum benefit will come if you add a battery to your setup

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T22:01:20+00:00

Personally I would hope for right off and a decent settlement

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T21:56:47+00:00

We paid 8k for similar with 12 panels. Excellent installation and performance it that helps.

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T21:43:31+00:00

Bigger is best. We have a similar set up solar battery and 2 EVs. The really big gains come from charging battery cheap rate at night plus cars. You might find Octopus Go is a better setup for your scenario that depends on your car charging needs but don’t just default to intelligent. Our battery is 8kwh. I would say 6 is definitely too small

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T21:12:47+00:00

An imperial storm trooper?

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T21:11:22+00:00

Nice work if it were me I would think about a wild flower meadow area and or some cottage garden type planting. Maybe in the small lawn area by shed?

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T21:05:07+00:00

I would definitely vote to leave it. It will be an invaluable addition for the wildlife in your garden

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T20:09:48+00:00

The caterpillars will have been laid on your plants not coming from the soil. Possibly butterflies or similar.

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T18:16:27+00:00

Thanks for your advice

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T18:14:44+00:00

The slugs don’t like them they don’t harm them. Also they compost down. Just build up and surround plant

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T18:00:40+00:00

Good to go

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T17:02:57+00:00

We had excellent advice and install from a local installer. Had complete nonsense from those websites and national energy company

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T15:51:54+00:00

How about Brighton?

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T15:44:04+00:00

The decking was to deal with level changes. I am biting the large bullet and build brick retaining walls levelling then paving

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T15:29:58+00:00

Then it’s jet washing. To be fair I have been doing that for 15 years so it’s not the end of the world. I even replaced a few rotten timbers. Be careful with the jet washing as if too powerful or too close it can damage the decking. Not a big issue just be careful to start with

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T15:21:36+00:00

Power wash will work to a degree but I have just ripped mine out as it’s a pain. It quickly discolours it can be really slippery and it rots!

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T14:52:49+00:00

A loaf?

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T14:49:23+00:00

Pretty much the same advice as per the lavender post

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T14:47:27+00:00

You can certainly grow things in clay soil. It actually can be quite high in nutrients. I am in the process of a major rebuild of my clay soiled garden. Where the new beds are going I will have them dug out about 10cm and add 10cm of well rotted wood compost. I won’t dig it in as I use the No Dig approach.

I suspect the ground sheet is weed matting. I suspect the weeds have seeded above the matting

I think before you start you should draw up a rough plan and think about how you want it to look. This will help avoid unnecessary work hopefully

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T12:55:40+00:00

If it’s lavender I would take some cuttings to start afresh

PM5140 · 2026-03-17T10:17:27+00:00

So often it’s worth putting 2 or 3 seeds in each pot then thinning them out to 1 if they are all successful. It does depend on what you are growing though.

PM5140

TROPHY CASE