The Garden Thing – Halfway To That Bloody Beatles Song… #garden #november #2020

Posted on Nov 18, 2020 by TanGental

Autumn and its less than welcome cousin, so far as the gardener in me goes, winter are coming to stay and the signs are all there.

It does allow for jobs to be undertaken, of course, which is a plus. One is the upcoming arrival of a new shed. It’s been a while since the old one fell to bits and we’ve been making do with stuffing things in corners and filling up the summer house and the garage. But bullets have been bitten and by the time I next post from Dulwich Parkside, we will at least have the shed kit even if it hasn’t been erected.

Sooo, preparatory to that moment, I’ve cleaned out the compost and working area, as well as removing some redundant privet bushes from behind the summer house to create the space and reorganise everything. It also meant one of the huge pleasures of this time of year, but more of that later.

That pleasure is the fire. As you’ll see in the images from behind the summerhouse, we have installed the woodstore – one of those serendipity moments when it fitted perfectly – and filled it with the many off cuts that build up. Now, London is a smoke free zone – has been since the Clean Air Act of 1958 – and burning smoke generating fuel is banned. Bonfires are similarly regulated.

So, I break the law. Once a year I have a bonfire – more like an inferno actually but in a few hours we render a load of material ash which goes back on the garden. Also, at Christmas we have one fire in the grate indoors. That’s it. Bring the leg-irons, constable; it’s a fair cop, but at least it reduces the recycling.

We also have the occasional fire in an old grate, cooking up marshmallows or similar. My legal career is done. Comprehensively.

Meanwhile there was a fair bit of colour still but if frosts come the dahlias and geraniums will suffer so they have been lifted to be protected until next year.

The dahlias….

And after lifting and placing in the garage…

We leave out the calendulas and fuchsias though.

And remarkably we have either a very late or very early foxglove which is in for a shock.

Here’s some more colour and a few gratuitous images of the lawn…

There’s a bit of landscaping…

And, of course, Dog (the chair is in the summerhouse) …

And the weird title to this post? On 30th November I’m 64. ‘When I’m 64’ seemed like terminal old age when sung by Clive Dunn in cardy and rocking chair, back in the 60s. Now it’s a bloody insult. 64 is nor more than middle youth these days, whatever statisticians tell me. Mind you, interesting factoid, actuaries say that the average life expectancy of a male in the UK at birth is 79, whereas if that male lives to be 65, that goes up to 84. I’ll take that, thank you…

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
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39 Responses to The Garden Thing – Halfway To That Bloody Beatles Song… #garden #november #2020

  1. Darlene says:
    Nov 18, 2020 at 1:14 pm

    Your garden is amazing in all seasons. I hope someone sings you the song when you turn 64 years young!!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. V.M.Sang says:
    Nov 18, 2020 at 2:12 pm

    Interesting ‘factoid’, Geoff. You don’t know what it is for women by any chance?
    Yes, 64 did seem ancient in the 60s.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Annone Butler says:
    Nov 18, 2020 at 2:30 pm

    I’m shocked at the law breaking! Shocked I tell you……

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Erika says:
    Nov 18, 2020 at 3:59 pm

    Awesome garden and for sure, a looooooot of work. But to tell from the results, they are so worth the effort!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Mary Smith says:
    Nov 18, 2020 at 4:17 pm

    Dog looking very regal on his chair 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Jennifer Barricklow says:
    Nov 18, 2020 at 4:39 pm

    Do keep pelting us with gratuitous photos of garden, Dog, the general vicinity, what-have-you! It is such a balm to see sights other than those offered by my window, however fond I may be of the latter.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Rebecca Moon Ruark says:
    Nov 18, 2020 at 5:51 pm

    Happy Birthday, and happy burning. Once in a while can’t hurt much. On our list of things to fix in our old house–the fireplace (or flue, actually). Nothing better on a cold winter evening! That top photo–wow, just wow, beautiful gardens!

    Liked by 1 person

  9. trifflepudling says:
    Nov 18, 2020 at 7:53 pm

    The outdoor grate gets my uptick!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. John W. Howell says:
    Nov 18, 2020 at 8:22 pm

    A fun post, especially knowing a former officer of the court is a miscreant.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. willowdot21 says:
    Nov 18, 2020 at 8:39 pm

    Your a mere child I passed sixty four three years ago!
    Garden looks great as does Dog 💜

    Liked by 1 person

  12. JT Twissel says:
    Nov 18, 2020 at 9:55 pm

    Such elegant digs … for a hardened criminal!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. howikilledbetty says:
    Nov 19, 2020 at 2:04 am

    Fantastic … Great pictures and dare I say it, there’s nothing better than a bonfire. I love that you label your dahlias too when lifted. It’s a terrific garden and you obviously love it. Hats off sir. Katie

    Liked by 1 person

  14. davidprosser says:
    Nov 19, 2020 at 3:36 am

    Well done with the garden Geoff, it looks truly wonderful. How long before the Lore allow you to see it again? The extra 5 years you gain for reaching 65 maybe. I’m due to achieve 70 in January from lots of stolen years but perhaps I shouldn’t mention that to an h’occifer of the Lore albeit one who’s new career as a crime lord is taking off.
    Many Hugs

    Liked by 1 person

    • TanGental says:
      Nov 19, 2020 at 10:14 am

      Hi David. I’m quite taken with the Mr Big image, though Mrs LP has been less than supportive of becoming a Moll. Keep stealing those years, dear chap.

      Like

  15. derrickjknight says:
    Nov 19, 2020 at 11:51 am

    Quite stupendous, ole man

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Juli Hoffman says:
    Nov 20, 2020 at 1:17 pm

    Love the garden pics!!! So beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Jennie says:
    Nov 21, 2020 at 1:10 pm

    I so enjoy your garden, Geoff. Whenever someone asked my age when I turned 64, my reply was singing the Beatles song. I do wish they had made another song about turning 70 so I could sing once again.

    Liked by 1 person

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