Naoko's news, views and shoes thread

[NaokoSmith]

Advent Calendar Day 13

Here is our Christmas tree.

I acksherly have a lovely elegant white-painted wooden tree which does not drop needles or make mess but Piglet grumbled very much about it and said she wanted a real tree . At the bottom of our garden we have a dreadful nuisance of a fir tree, probably some leftover Christmas tree planted years ago, which has overgrown the corner badly. It blocks our sight lines of the road as you turn into it, meaning you are at risk of pulling out straight into a) vehicles coming from the park, b) dogs and dog-walkers coming from the park c) small children going to school, so I have had to hack it back as best I can, as I don't currently have the money to get it properly removed.

As I am in any case aiming to cut back this monstrosity bit by bit and get it taken away, I went out in the rain and climbed on my library chair and hacked part of it away for a tree for Piglet

It makes a much better tree than the commercial ones as it's tall and thin, so doesn't take up so much room, plus it's only got branches on one side so it stands up against the wall well It's rather wet with rain at the moment; when we decorate it, I'll come back and post more pictures.

 

[curl4ever]

...

I might once have come across a story about a plumber's mate and a cup of tea ... (As it were )
...

And what a crackling good story it is!

And a nicely done job procuring a tree!



- curl

 

[MrBennet]

Oh Mr B! how lovely to see you again.

I might once have come across a story about a plumber's mate and a cup of tea ... (As it were )

I am definitely in need of a restorative cuppa after this last couple of trying weeks, here's some for HP and you and me. (I took Piglet to the doctor's again this morning as she was actually worse rather than better, but they still say not bacterial infection so no antibiotics so no quick cure )

https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.M08bdeff079d8e863ec37f652674b324co0%26pid%3D15.1&f=1

I think I’d need a wash and brush up before turning out for that elegant display! I’m sure you have an old chipped mug in the kitchen somewhere for a bit of rough like me
So sorry to hear that Piglet continues to suffer…. so blood tests didn’t reveal anything lingering like glandular fever? Not wishing that on anyone but the medics can find it difficult to track down at times. Lets hope the scent of a pine tree provides some relief. *heart*

Here is our Christmas tree.

It blocks our sight lines of the road as you turn into it, meaning you are at risk of pulling out straight into a) vehicles coming from the park, b) dogs and dog-walkers coming from the park c) small children going to school, so I have had to hack it back as best I can, as I don't currently have the money to get it properly removed.

I read somewhere that a copper nail hammered into a tree will kill it, particularly in autumn when the sap is falling. Your man at the hardware shop is sure to have one.

 

[oggbashan]

...

I read somewhere that a copper nail hammered into a tree will kill it, particularly in autumn when the sap is falling. Your man at the hardware shop is sure to have one.

No it won't and yes it might BUT it depends on the species of tree, the size and health of the tree, and where the copper nail is put.

A single copper nail in a trunk won't do much. Several in the roots of a small tree could work. Apparently it is effective on ivy.

A more effective way is to ring bark it - remove a strip of bark from the total circumference of the trunk.

 

[MrBennet]

No it won't and yes it might BUT it depends on the species of tree, the size and health of the tree, and where the copper nail is put.

A single copper nail in a trunk won't do much. Several in the roots of a small tree could work. Apparently it is effective on ivy.

A more effective way is to ring bark it - remove a strip of bark from the total circumference of the trunk.

I did wonder if it sounded more myth than science: presumably some derivative of the copper does the damage, so the more nails the higher the dose. Perhaps a sufficient quantity of copper nails might attract the next lightning bolt?!
Doesn't Naoko have a beaver that could nibble it down to a stump... or have I got that horribly mixed up?

 

[oggbashan]

I did wonder if it sounded more myth than science: presumably some derivative of the copper does the damage, so the more nails the higher the dose. Perhaps a sufficient quantity of copper nails might attract the next lightning bolt?!
Doesn't Naoko have a beaver that could nibble it down to a stump... or have I got that horribly mixed up?

Apparently according to some arbiculturalists some copper salts can be beneficial but copper to kill a tree only works on already diseased or weak specimens. Absorbing the right copper salts to kill a tree is very problematic.

An axe or saw is much more efficient.

 

[Handley_Page]

Apparently according to some arbiculturalists some copper salts can be beneficial but copper to kill a tree only works on already diseased or weak specimens. Absorbing the right copper salts to kill a tree is very problematic.

An axe or saw is much more efficient.

Oh Very.
It can be a bit of a bugger to do though.

 

[beachbum1958]

No it won't and yes it might BUT it depends on the species of tree, the size and health of the tree, and where the copper nail is put.

A single copper nail in a trunk won't do much. Several in the roots of a small tree could work. Apparently it is effective on ivy.

A more effective way is to ring bark it - remove a strip of bark from the total circumference of the trunk.

We have 65+ acres of managed woodland, which is our source of fuel for heating, hot-water, and cooking, and I ring and fell an average of 30 Sycamore, Sweet Chestnut, and Horse Chestnut (what my wife refers to as 'shitwood') every year; I ring them this year, let them stand and season next year, and cut and debark them the year after, and I can attest to the effectiveness of the bark-ringing method, but a caveat; once the tree is dead and the sap has fallen back into the roots, the heartwood becomes fibrous and brittle (which is what makes them easy to fell; sappy trees are a nightmare to fell and saw, hence the seasoning process) and unable to withstand significant wind-loading. A high, gusting wind from North Atlantic storms such as we've been experiencing lately would be just the thing to bring a dead or dying tree down on someone's car, house, or head.

With my using ringing to kill the trees in our woods, there are no inhabitants there, so if a dead tree comes down in a gale, there's no significant impact except the embuggerance of getting it out of there and into the sawmill; on Acacia Avenue, Surbiton, if that same dead tree came down in a gale, it's likely to cause property damage, serious injury, or even death.

I would recommend that you periodically cut it back until you have the wherewithal to have it properly felled, and don't ask a mate with a chainsaw to give it a go; the number of injuries I've treated in the past from inadequate knowledge and too much enthusiasm when it came to lopping trees and shrubs are almost beyond counting. Tree-felling is a specialised subject, leave it to those who are qualified to do it safely and carry liability insurance.

Having said that, my friend has his trees tended by a couple of guys from the local council who manage the trees and hedgerows on the common and council land; he slips them a few quid to clear the dead trees from his orchard as a 'foreigner', using the council's rigging equipment and doing it properly at a cost well below what a professional tree-felling team would charge, so it might pay to accost the people trimming the hedges and tending the municipal flowerbeds next time you see them and make them an offer they can't refuse...

 

[NaokoSmith]

I feel that using my beaver to fell my fir tree might lead to more than carpet rash!

The council arboreal team did give me two lovely logs to sit on in the garden when they had to come by and sort out the trees in the neighbouring park - owing to one letting a huge branch drop, nearly onto a passing family's head I'm just going to save up my pennies, then get a proper arborealist to come and sort the tree out. I could slowly trim it down myself - but I can't yank the rootball out of the ground, and I want that patch to grow a cherry tree in.

I did think of sticking up a sign saying: Pick your own Xmas tree ....

 

[NaokoSmith]

Advent Calendar Day 14

I was looking for Christmas barbeque pictures for electricblue and Bramblethorn and other pals who are going to have a balmier Christmas than us in Blighty. (Don't come on here going on about how lovely the beach is too much please!) Then I found this, and it seemed like just the thing for a Christmas barbie (or Barbie).

https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.apronsonline.co.uk%2FGift-Ideas%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F12%2Flady-santa.jpg&f=1

 

[TxRad]

Beavers normally strip the bark off the tree for food and wallpaper. They usually only drop the tree if they need it for their dam or house.

I've had beavers fell my tree but I didn't complain in the least. Several have even tried to take the hide... uh, bark off but that wasn't really their fault.

 

[Handley_Page]

I was looking for Christmas barbecue pictures for electricblue and Bramblethorn and other pals who are going to have a balmier Christmas than us in Blighty. (Don't come on here going on about how lovely the beach is too much please!) Then I found this, and it seemed like just the thing for a Christmas barbie (or Barbie).

Lady, have you cleaned out your inbox yet ?
There's a queue of messages wanting IN.

 

[NaokoSmith]

Advent Calendar Day 15

(No, sorry, HP! I am still so up to my eyeballs that I just tried to enter my university username and password to log on here! )

Today I am posting a heartwarming stew which I am making for Piglet, with story. Now settle down, children. Cuddle up and try to keep your chest-nuts out of the fire.

(George. Don't do that.)

I actually did make this pumpkin stew in a pumpkin for Piglet on Halloween! I forget if I posted pictures in here, and I haven't got time to check right now.

Yes, I know the picture has a can of peaches in it, that's because the recipe calls for peaches as well as pumpkin, and sweetcorn and a lot of other sweet things, so no surprise Piglet liked it. I thought I would cheer her up by making it for her again.

I didn't have most of the things the recipe called for, and it was pouring with rain so I was disinclined to get on my bike and go down to the supermarket where they have more things. I just put up my umbrella and popped to the cheap one on the corner. And guess what! they actually had most of the ingredients I needed, all on half price!!

Sweet potatoes, tomatoes and canned peaches were all on special offer and I had the other ingredients at home already

Did they have a pumpkin? Where do you think I live! Cinderella land? Of course there was no pumpkin, so here it is: my pumpkin stew with peaches but no pumpkin

(Real name carbonara criolla; I tasted it just a minute ago and it was very nice - and I hadn't even put the peaches in yet )

 

[oggbashan]

Naoko?

Because your box is still full:

Og parcel will be posted tomorrow. The contents are suitable for Piglet's eyes and some IS for her. You can argue about who has what, or SHARE.

There are no perishables so Parcel Force or Royal Mail should get it to you undamaged.

 

[JackLuis]

Merry Christmas all!​

Thought I'd drop in and see how things are going in the educational circus with Naoko as ring master. I was happy to hear that you are subduing the dreadful Line Managers and picking up some more students, Naoko.

I haven't been on the AH much, spending most of my time trying to subdue the heathens on the Politics board and playing my Ukuleles. I even started singing this year!

I have to mention that I am quite crushed that my "Spreading Seeds Saga #1" which is rated at 4.86 with H is not listed on the annual or all time Top Novels and Novellas. Despite doing quite well in views and score. I guess Laurel is biased against hetro Future History. All seven of the Sagas scored well (4.86 to 4.67) but had few reads (15,446-2,516). Surprisingly the votes and views over the last year started out well but sometime this summer started losing votes and views, while the scores stayed relatively the same? Very odd that views and vote numbers could be reduced and yet the averages stay the same?

I hope you are all warm, dry, and happy during the holiday season.

We've been having dreary wet weather but at least the drought is receding and the forest fires are all behind us. It is Orange picking time in California and my tree has a good crop, so I'm happy.

Ta Ta for Now!

 

[Handley_Page]

Merry Christmas all!​

Thought I'd drop in and see how things are going in the educational circus with Naoko as ring master. I was happy to hear that you are subduing the dreadful Line Managers and picking up some more students, Naoko.

I haven't been on the AH much, spending most of my time trying to subdue the heathens on the Politics board and playing my Ukuleles. I even started singing this year!

I have to mention that I am quite crushed that my "Spreading Seeds Saga #1" which is rated at 4.86 with H is not listed on the annual or all time Top Novels and Novellas. Despite doing quite well in views and score. I guess Laurel is biased against hetro Future History. All seven of the Sagas scored well (4.86 to 4.67) but had few reads (15,446-2,516). Surprisingly the votes and views over the last year started out well but sometime this summer started losing votes and views, while the scores stayed relatively the same? Very odd that views and vote numbers could be reduced and yet the averages stay the same?

I hope you are all warm, dry, and happy during the holiday season.

We've been having dreary wet weather but at least the drought is receding and the forest fires are all behind us. It is Orange picking time in California and my tree has a good crop, so I'm happy.

Ta Ta for Now!

Are oranges green when you pick 'em ?

 

[oggbashan]

Naoko and Piglet's parcel was posted this morning.

 

[NaokoSmith]

Ogg, thank you so much. I will look forward to it! and thank you for the forewarning about contents being Piglet-safe.

I am really just dropping in to apologise; I'm going to have to take a break for a bit. Was hoping to work my way back into posting - as I really love it. Not just the flirting with you all but actually talking about writing.

But something happened - it's OK, I've sorted it all out now (not a work thing), and I just feel I can't cope any more. It will all be fine, I would like to say nothing serious is wrong; I can't say that, but I have dealt with it as best as can be done and must just get on with it now.

BTW, I had a telecon this afternoon with the Pro Vice Chancellor for Teaching. I think she expected me to have a grumble and then she would soothe me down and send me away again. What I told her about the conditions in which I work shocked her, but I didn't mean to complain to her about that. She did offer to talk to the Heads of Faculty about it, but I said No, I only want you to understand that my situation is not that unusual. If you come across Associate Lecturers who are a bit grumpy, perhaps you understand now why that is. We need a listening culture, I feel that is being introduced and as that comes into effect, these serious issues of employment malpractice will come to light and be sorted out.

Then I asked if I could tell her about my concerns about support for our teaching work. I ran briefly through my ideas for showcasing the skills we ALs have, and supporting us with training, conferences and online seminars. I could tell she was very impressed, she said I had given her a lot of food for thought and also that she might phone me from time to time to put ideas to me. I offered to write up my ideas and send them to her, so as to make sure she gets them right (and with my name on them!), not all muddled up.

So! it's not all doom and gloom, but I haven't got it to come and chat to people at the moment.

I am very grumpy too, as I had made a bit of a pal - that chum I went to the rugby with. Unfortunately he just doesn't do it for me in the nether regions, and even he said he couldn't afford me. (Piglet said the other day: "Mum, you could make a man a millionaire - if he was a billionaire" I don't know why, I had only said that if I could have what I wanted for Christmas it would be the Krug 2002 ) But now my chum has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. It will all be fine, as it has been caught at a very early stage, and I am of course very supportive blahblahblah - as much as I can be with Piglet round my neck. But really, I was hoping for a fun friend I could go out on sprees with. Not someone I have to be supportive to, and give good advice to.

Anyway, enough blurting. I will be back when I can be more fun.

 

[curl4ever]

Peace be with you, Naoko.

You have my continual best wishes from the bottom of my heart for a smooth resolution of all the bumps in your road.



- curl

 

[oggbashan]

Naoko, have some virtual hugs. (PS. They had better be virtual. It was my wife's birthday yesterday and me sending a parcel to Naoko caused a raised eyebrow. )

You might wonder what or why some of the things are in your parcel. One Chinese thingy is a match holder, or portable candle holder with snuffer, or a recepticle for an emergency condom (Don't tell Piglet that!).

I wanted to put more little things in but the parcel was close to the 2kg weight limit. As I was packing it I had to keep putting it on the ancient kitchen scales with two 1 kg weights in the pan. The Post Office scales registered it at just over 1.9 kg. Phew!

and x 4 from Og

 

[Handley_Page]

Naoko,
Thoughts & Prayers, girl.

 

[MrBennet]

I'm sure we all appreciate that Lit or any online activity must take its place some way down the reality queue. Being a Mum is hard enough, then you have work, so stretching yourself to cover sympathy for your friend might be like Bilbo, when he described himself as being 'feeling thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread.' You should temper your energy to where it is needed and don't feel bad that you are simply one person.
Besides, at this time of year I go mad at the Co-op, who do very good prices on Scotch from time to time. I have a bottle of Talisker I'd be happy to pass around, if someone has some decent cut glass?
Tomorrow I play at building/carpentry and plumbing at work. As we are closed at weekends, it is the only time I can create dust in an otherwise clean environment.
Here's mud in your eye

 

[jaF0]

Why does this world suck so bad?

 

[Handley_Page]

Why does this world suck so bad?

Perhaps you ain't lookin' at it right ?

 

[JackLuis]

Are oranges green when you pick 'em ?

No HP, , They are a healthy shade of Orange, though the few I picked today do have a slight greenish tinge at the top, but they are so sweet, even the skins are tasty. My wife makes candied orange peels out of them.

I grew up in the "Navel Orange Capitol of the World." From the time I could walk I could peel oranges. I suppose you never get truly tree ripened navel oranges in "jolly old," and Spanish oranges are mostly Valencias, with seeds and sour like Florida juice oranges.

If I though I could get some through the post to you I'd send you a doz or so, but customs would confiscate them for not being "safe", and eat them.

Naoko, sorry to hear that you are hurting. I hope you and Piglet will have a Merry Christmas with your flat on one side tree. It sounds like you are making strides to gain acceptance in your work and that is wonderful! Keep it up and you soon be head of the whole Department.