HURRYING SLOWLY Whilst nursing a cup of tea first thing, to wake up… …eight pigeons clapper-board in powerful flight, veering right to left. Blackbirds steer low and straight, either directly in line with my seat, head-on or, with an audible whoosh, coming in to sight from behind my head. A pair of blue tits check [...]
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Posts Tagged ‘gillingham’
12 February 2010 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman HURRYING SLOWLY, SCHOOL LANE GILLINGHAM, JUST THINKING, THE PRACTICE OF GARDENING
Friday, February 12th, 201027January 2010 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman ROADKILL
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010ROADKILL Randy dog foxes are on the move. The lust inside males of this species seems to be as strong as that which grips two-legged mammals. In these long dark months before the spring he’s out and about, hot-footing it through the landscape in search of a mate. I saw three stark signs of sex in [...]
Read More »18 December 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman DORSET TO SUSSEX BY TRAIN
Friday, December 18th, 2009DORSET TO SUSSEX BY TRAIN Less than half a dozen hardy souls braved arctic weather on the platform at Gillingham Station to catch the 05.37 to London Waterloo. With blanket coverage on last nights media about heavy expected snowfall in the South and East, I wonder how many took this opportunity for family time at [...]
Read More »23 November 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman BIG LAND ISSUES IN GILLINGHAM
Monday, November 23rd, 2009Rapid development of land around Gillingham over the last decade or so has left the North Dorset town rather short of green space for other purposes. The problem stems from rapid high-density house building a few years ago. I decided to phone the Town Hall. It turns out that there are so few recreational areas [...]
Read More »20 September 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman TWO REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL, PRICKING OUT WINTER SALADS, APPLE DAY PREPARATIONS, PASSENGERS
Sunday, September 20th, 200920 September 2009 TWO REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL: We’re in the midst of an Indian Summer. Today has been absolutely gorgeous, yesterday it was too hot for working in the midday sun. And, On The Plot is out there! I think it’ll be a few days until the warehouse has catalogued and got it [...]
Read More »25 June 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman HORSEFLY, ON DIGGING POTATOES
Thursday, June 25th, 200925 June 2009 HORSEFLY If you’d seen me at Orchard Park this early afternoon you’d be forgiven for wondering why I was wearing shirt buttoned up and long sleeves rolled down. But there is method in my madness and today I was over-dressed to thwart horseflies. I’d seen one on a canister of water. It [...]
Read More »10 June 2009: DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman RAIN RAIN GO AWAY, U3A COME TO VISIT
Wednesday, June 10th, 200910 June 2009 RAIN RAIN GO AWAY… Mrs Nails and I are due a visit from the natural history section of Shaftesbury’s University of the Third Age (U3A). Their scheduled tour of the garden and veggie plots has prompted cutting back of paths, weeding my steps, staking lolling foxgloves and tying back of oxeye daisies [...]
Read More »27 March 2009: DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman HOW WILL THE EARTH KEEP BREATHING?
Friday, March 27th, 200927 March 2009 HOW WILL THE EARTH KEEP BREATHING? Blossom which decorates either side of Le Neuembourg Way in Gillingham is at its zenith right now. Those thorns seem to peak earlier than others in the surrounding countryside and hedgerows and what a treat they provide. Betwixt the Waitrose turn and traffic lights at the [...]
Read More »12 March 2009: DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman SHOW GARDENS AT ORCHARD PARK, JACKDAWS IN THE ONIONS
Thursday, March 12th, 200912 March 2009 SHOW GARDENS AT ORCHARD PARK There has been a very exciting development: I’m going to team up with staff at a local garden centre, Orchard Park in Gillingham, to create a working show vegetable garden. Is been an idea in the offing following tentative discussions between the Managing Director Richard Cummings and [...]
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