Today I shall be Mainly...

[Tripps]

I wouldn't have known, but it was a question on a quiz programme a couple of days ago.

[LizG]

...going to the pub for lunch with Mum & Dad.

[Stanley]

Comrade, I seem to remember a bloke who was looking forward to retirement and a rest from work! (are you charging them enough?)
Friday is butcher's day, shopping and posting Stanley's view... I am in a writing mood as well.

[Nolic]

Comrade, meeting them next week to discuss terms. Loving it and the money comes in handy too. Only drawback is the travelling. I'm regularly on the Fylde coast, Cumbria and now it looks like Manchester and Cheshire. I had been hoping that a friend who I've worked with since the 1990's might be retiring from Ofsted and I could help him set up and pass on some of my work but it seems he's not yet made the move. Having a lazy Friday and weekend though. Nolic

[Wendyf]

In the Archive Room in Earby this morning, then trying to find some enthusiasm for gardening this afternoon.

[Moh]

Very handy having Wendy in the Archive Room - she gave me a link to Pendle Government cemeteries site, I have now filled an on-line application form in to find out where my grandfather is buried in Earby Cemetery. Thanks Wendy!

[Stanley]

Moh, Wendy is proving to be another Doreen Crowther! Quietly beavering away and improving access to records.
I shall be having an easier day than yesterday, far too much honest endeavour! But I do like it when all the little jobs have been done.

[Wendyf]

I wish I could have been more help to Moh. We have a list of MI's from Wheatlands Cemetery in Earby, but her ancestor wasn't on it unfortunately.
Heading over to Leeds again to visit Mum today.

[PanBiker]

Very handy having Wendy in the Archive Room - she gave me a link to Pendle Government cemeteries site, I have now filled an on-line application form in to find out where my grandfather is buried in Earby Cemetery. Thanks Wendy!

They were very helpful when looking for Pte Anker a while ago and could tell us the location of his unmarked plot down at Ghyll Cemetery. I rang Pendle and was put through to the right department. I had a chat with the person in charge and explained what we were about and he searched the database that they hold on the municipal cemeteries. I documented this on the old site in the Cravens Part in the Great War thread. Unfortunately not accessible at the moment. I'm sure if your Grandfather is down at Earby they will probably be able to tell you the exact location. I was supplied with a marked up map with the plot marked and when I next visited the spot had been marked with the cemetery reference on the grass. No existing headstone so that was brilliant.

[Stanley]

Nice to hear an example of local administration getting it right! Too often we hear only about the cock-ups!
I shall be having a quiet day after all the excitement yesterday of Tripps' visit!

[Nolic]

Couple of reports to do then its watching the European Cup semi between Saracens and Toulon. Both teams playing well and some excellent rugby players in the twilight of their careers but still with the magic that elevated them to world class status. Jonny Wilkinson bossed Toulon's last game against Leicester and I think another game like that will see him in the Lions squad to visit Australia in the summer. Nolic

[Stanley]

Did I hear that JW had saved the day?

[Nolic]

No Comrade. Toulon dominated throughout. Jonny was imperious and was a deserved man of the match. I reckon he's booked his ticket to Oz. Nolic

[Marilyn]

We will sort out whoever gets sent...

[PanBiker]

Fighting talk Maz, we'll see!

[Stanley]

I know nothing about rugby but heard a report yesterday that the Oz tour might clash with a big match Toulon are scheduled to play.

[Nolic]

Comrade, its the final of the French league which Toulon are expected to reach and the first tour match is on the same day against a Barbarians side in Hong Kong. Warren Gatland the Lions manager has said some time ago that all the squad will travel at the same time and also that he won't pick players from the French league........ but I think heis wiser than to allow a bit of rhetoric get in the way of choosing the best players. We shall know late morning when the squad is announced.
As for Maz's comments.....lets just wait and see. Nolic

[Wendyf]

Getting the old quad bike out and harrowing & rolling the field ready to move the ponies to their spring patch. Lots of fun!

[Stanley]

And doesn't it look good when you've done it. I used to love the patterns chain harrowing left on the fields.

[Sue]

Off to north Wales for a short break with friends to celebrate a 70th birthday and our 42nd wedding anniversary. Weather forecast is good, hope it lasts.

[Wendyf]

I've only got a mini set of chain harrows and a mini roller for the quad bike, so it doesn't look quite as good as if it was done with proper equipment...but it's still enjoyable.
here's a pic from a couple of years ago:-



This was the 7th April 2011, everything is further on than it is today, even the hawthorn has leaves on.
Have a lovely weekend Sue!

[Marilyn]

Is the process just for show, or does it have a purpose? ( just asking...I have no idea)

I shall be up on the step-ladder tomorrow trimming back the Wisteria ( x2) for the winter. It saves a lot of mess if I get up and chop it before it decides to exfoliate itself.

[Nolic]

Contrary to my belief Gatland is an idiot and has included Owen Farrell instead of Jonny in his squad. Everyone else much as expected with only 10 English players in a squad of 38.......for a Kiwi and current Wales coach no great surprise. eaten his words about no France based palyers or any not available for fist match - Gethin Jenkins from Toulon. What has surprised me is no inclusion of up and coming talent. Nolic

[Stanley]

Maz, on grass the harrow breaks up clumps of manure and the roller presses it down flat. Roller wasn't used on meadows for compressing ground but to press stones into the ground so they didn't damage mower blades. On arable A ridged roller called a Cambridge Roller was used to break up clods and help make a seedbed. Old farmers knew that harrowing the seedbed broke it down further and lessened the chance of voids in the tilth that worked against successful germination. I learned My arable on clay ground and old Lionel used to say that during the winter when you were wanting the frost to help break the clods, the danger was getting it too fine early in the winter because it would "Go down like an onion bed" as he put it. He reckoned that on our heavy clay soil there should be clods big enough for a hare to hide behind during the winter.
Pruning Ladslove?

[Wendyf]

Ponies can really make a mess of the ground Maz, especially when it is as wet as it was last year. Rolling helps flatten the "poached" ground, and makes it firmer underfoot and less likely to get poached next year. If you leave clumps of droppings on the ground it encourages weeds to grow.
I was late starting yesterday (went for a walk instead) but got the top section harrowed in the afternoon. I'll be getting the roller out this afternoon. The grass is growing fast now and I need to move the ponies onto their new bit before there is too much spring grass on it.
Colne library this morning though.