Posts Tagged ‘mrs nails’

26 December 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman NOT BEING DISTURBED

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

NOT BEING DISTURBED Temperature dropped at 2.15pm. It happened at the moment a brief but squally shower arrived. I cut a few more logs, then left Mrs Nails tidying up the flower garden to walk round Breech and fetch my van. An extended family was waiting with good humour for ‘dad’ (who apparently is always late) [...]

Read More »

23 December 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman WEATHER CHECK

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

WEATHER CHECK They’ve had something like ten inch drifts of snow up Holmer Green in the Buckinghamshire Chilterns. My nephew counted sixty-eight abandoned vehicles along the A404 betwixt their place and Amersham. A mate of my brothers left Wycombe for Reading at 4pm and made his final destination at four in the morning. Brother himself [...]

Read More »

14 December 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman LAST BEETS IN A HURRY

Monday, December 14th, 2009

LAST  BEETS IN A HURRY I ate the last fresh beetroot of this season last night. I was out all day so Mrs Nails boiled them for when I got home. We had a rare visit from my In-Laws so on return I put the cylidrical roots in a bowl, grabbed a hunk of Tiger bread and [...]

Read More »

10 November 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman NORTH CHERITON GARDENING CLUB

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

NORTH CHERITON GARDENING CLUB I’ve had a cracking evening courtesy of the North Cheriton Gardening Club in South Somerset. They invited me to do a presentation for their members. After months of anticipation, tonight was the night. The good folk were warm and friendly, extremely kind and generous. It’s a genuine thrill to be asked to [...]

Read More »

3 November 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman TIME TO PICK SOME KALE

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

At lunchtime flocks of spadgers rise a-twittering from betwixt the rows of raspberries and beetroot to hide amongst hawthorn trees. My slipping stumble along the path prompts their flight. I stand and look and think that they must be peeking back at me. In the Abbey School playground, children’s voices loud and clear. A jet [...]

Read More »

18 October 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman APPLE DAY 2009

Monday, October 19th, 2009

Apple Day 2009 was another roaring success. Held down at The Donkey Field Community Orchard, this was our 5th. Apple day only works because lots of people take responsibility for sorting out specific bits. In that respect, and in no particular order, special thanks must go to Chris (as always) for making the cider pressing [...]

Read More »

15 October 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman THURSDAY EVENING 5.56

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

It’s pleasant to get on the plot for an hour after a long day at work. The exersize of turning soil stretches and stimulates the body, encourages internal heat and blood to flow. It’s not been cold cold today but by lunchtime I was struggling to warm up. I’d been delivering, had a meeting, popped [...]

Read More »

12 October 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman ON YER ‘EAD

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

In the stillness of a calm and sunny mid-morning a sweet chestnut seed case landed on Mrs Nails’ shed roof with a clatter. I looked up in response to the sound and watched as it rolled down the pitch and onto a path. The nearest sweet chestnut is up on Park Walk where it splits [...]

Read More »

11October 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman MRS NAILS’ BIG DAY OUT, THE EVENING SKY

Sunday, October 11th, 2009

MRS NAILS’ BIG DAY OUT Because I hate being in a rush we left Shaftesbury at 6am to get to Birmingham’s NEC for noon. As it was, despite a slowing of traffic flow on the M5 at Junction 14 for overnight road works, we got to Solihull by half-past eight. I can’t believe we made [...]

Read More »

3 October 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman CARNIVAL DAY

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009

Didn’t get up this morning until within an hour of noon. Knew I wasn’t feeling well because every position I assumed felt the most comfortable yet. Usually it’s a struggle to get comfy like that. The first Saturday of October. Carnival Day in Shaftesbury. Silver band marching, playing along the crowded High Street, roasted chestnuts [...]

Read More »