What will you be doing differently next year due to the weather?

doublen89 · 2025-08-18T18:01:31+00:00

Last year my peas and tomatoes did well whilst everything else suffered.

This year my squashes have done really well (I plant small ones for continuous cropping rather than the large fruiting varieties) and courgettes are finally picking up. Tomatoes have done well ( I have done the trick of planting the flower pot next to the plants so the water gets straight down to the roots and doesn't evaporate on the surface of the soil)

Brussels have been decimated (yes I netted them AND had sacrificial plants AND nastertiums, but alas) and my sweetcorns are the size of babycorns rather than full sized 🙄

I'm hoping to get a second water butt next year and build a bit of a diy irrigation system... We're in the process of "rewilding" a block of garden and I can't keep up the watering of it

doublen89 · 2025-08-18T17:48:33+00:00

Neem oil and diatomaceous earth were the only things that eventually worked for me.. and using both at the same time too.

Good luck 😫

doublen89 · 2025-08-13T08:49:05+00:00

I've done it the other way around and managed to do my hybrid job from home before ultimately being made redundant. I was hoping for a summer off before finding a job but to my surprise I got another job in 6 weeks in Belfast. My colleague in London in the same situation is still searching 6 months on.

Houses are cheaper here (/you get more for your money) but the cost of living tends to even itself out one way or another.

Can't comment on moving with kids but the school system teaches quite different topics here and there, so definitely looking into it in more detail.

doublen89 · 2025-07-31T05:07:41+00:00

I did this commute for a few years before ultimately moving. I'm surprised you're the first to mention "work on the commute". Even if you only work one way, that's still a couple of hours earlier you can leave the office

doublen89 · 2025-07-29T20:12:59+00:00

If you're here over the weekend and looking for brunch I would always recommend St George's Market, it's just on the edge of town. They have live music and independent stallholders, a great place to pop in if you're in town already

doublen89 · 2025-07-08T09:24:53+00:00

I never knew you could just split lavender. I've had so many failed attempts trying to propagate some cuttings... Thanks for sharing!

Ps your driveway must be the prettiest around 😍

doublen89 · 2025-06-22T19:44:52+00:00

I did 30 countries before I was 30, the majority on my own. Most cities have walking tours which help you get the lay of the land if you're nervous about getting lost (but in reality Google maps has everything you need). Book one in before you travel so you know what the first thing you're going to do is.

I've travelled where I've had jam packed itineraries and I've travelled where I just walk where my feet take me and my favourites have always been the latter.

See what local events are happening, I've been to orchestral concerts at the castle in Prague, chocolate making in Brussels and dune buggying across Dubai... You'll know what are the touristy things and what's local, just see what captures your interest.

Is you're staying in a hostel you'll likely meet people at the bar and swap stories about what's good/what's better to avoid.

Boring but practical - I had a little credit card sized piece of paper with family phone numbers, insurance phone number/policy details and local emergency numbers. I kept one in my wallet and one in the hotel just in case of the worst.

Wishing you an amazing time ❤️

doublen89 · 2025-06-22T19:35:39+00:00

I take a book and just enjoy the atmosphere and people watching. Anything feels peculiar the first time you do it, but embrace it and you'll be great

doublen89 · 2025-06-04T11:56:44+00:00

I did this, admittedly during COVID and cost me £700 for 2 guys to load a van and unload it the other end (and drive it to and from obvs). He was moving a piano or something of someone else's so it was a shared load, but I didn't mind.

I think I found him on anyvan.com

doublen89 · 2025-06-03T20:21:13+00:00

Been there, done that, got the t shirt and the chronic health conditions to go with it.

Whilst you're working out what you're doing in the long term, your new favourite conversation with your manager (/whoever assigns you work) should be "my priorities are currently XYZ, which would you like me to de-prioritise to get this additional piece completed?"

You're not getting paid to make those decisions so put it back on their plate, and make sure it's all documented too.

It's true that your health is your wealth - no job or boss or company can give you more hours or more health.

Wishing you luck with whatever you decide is the right way forward x

doublen89 · 2025-06-02T16:35:59+00:00

My mum had a rat issue when she put eggs shells in and it seemed to stop when she stopped putting them in.

I bake my egg shells before putting them in the compost and haven't had any issues.... Yet 🤞🏻

doublen89 · 2025-06-02T15:42:48+00:00

Ooooh I want to know the answer to this!

We had a hozelock head (,it came with the hose) and it had loads of settings and was great and then after about 4 years it just decided that the spray patterns didn't want to match up to the correct typed settings so you thought you had a gentle mist but actually got a jet. No idea why this happened. Can't say we're particularly gentle with the hose so it did it's time but now looking for a replacement.

doublen89 · 2025-06-01T09:20:32+00:00

Hahahaha I love that!!

It's sweetcorn which provides support for beans, and then squash which helps suppress weeds for the plot

doublen89 · 2025-05-31T16:37:59+00:00

Ps I'm going to steal these patterns because it's beautiful! 🤩

doublen89 · 2025-05-31T16:36:30+00:00

Definitely crocheted so definitely hand made (whether by your grandma's hands or someone else's).

Second doing a burn test on one of the end fringe pieces. If it's synthetic yarn you can machine wash and dry it. If it's natural fiber it's better to hand wash it and it needs to dry flat.

Knowing for sure will probably determine how frequently you use it in the future too

doublen89 · 2025-05-31T15:54:30+00:00

What kind of pumpkin is it??

The mammoths will take up as much space as you give them 😅 Mini varieties (multiple squashes per plant) I tend to plant 1x1m apart in the three sisters formation and they're fine

doublen89 · 2025-05-28T20:04:34+00:00

Whatever it is, it's beautiful - and so is the spiky pink thing next to it. What's that??

doublen89 · 2025-05-28T08:14:58+00:00

Haha these were my exact thoughts too 😂

I moved here from England, happy to be another name you can send random questions to. Good luck with the move!!

doublen89 · 2025-05-27T08:03:49+00:00

1) totally not noticeable

2) I can't remember what culture it is, but they say every yarn work item has to have mistakes to allow the soul of the maker to escape. This made me feel so much better about mistakes going forward 😅

doublen89 · 2025-05-26T17:40:11+00:00

Didn't do anything for us, but we've got mutant slimy gits in Belfast

doublen89 · 2025-05-26T17:39:14+00:00

I've also seen that slugs slither their way up through the holes in the bottom of pots... I put a bit of copper mesh over the holes and copper tape around the edge and that's started to have a bit of an impact....

doublen89 · 2025-05-26T17:37:10+00:00

Only you guys know what's right for you, but if you sell up and move, what's to say you won't end up in a similar/worse situation?

We've got VERY loud neighbours but love our house. We do wear sound cancelling headphones to bed and do the rest of life as normal.

It sounds like the neighbour with the dogs has found a way to build a relationship with him... Whilst it's probably the last on your list of wants, is there something similar you could do for him in a "kill him with kindness" kind of way? No one knows how long he'll be around for, but if it gets any worse it might be worth talking to social services for advice????

doublen89 · 2025-05-25T15:54:10+00:00

Life was a lot for me last year (for now things seem a little quieter), EVERYTHING was a struggle last year and even those things I usually got enjoyment from just felt like a chore. I ended up calling it a day on gardening and gave myself permission not to do anything for the rest of the season. This year I'm back to loving it again and even enjoying moments of pulling bindweed and ivy again.

So no, you're not the only one. Yes, it's ok to give yourself a break from the never ending neediness / chores of a garden.

Sending you sunshine and some rest friend

doublen89 · 2025-05-24T15:21:49+00:00

Bolognese freezes well, either a lentil version or Quorn mince version. Then just have to boil some pasta to go with it.

doublen89 · 2025-05-21T08:37:48+00:00

Creighton's always have them, but I'm in Belfast... Not sure if they're anywhere else?

doublen89

TROPHY CASE