PeverilPeril

After 5 days of Man Flu I was well enough this morning for a 20 min ride and 20 min row on the indoor machines. Still congested but rowing soon clears it up. Re cats - oddly enough I like our 2 cats. Big Samson and sleek Panto. Big Samson is my mate and I protect him from Patch our Jack Russell. We spend a fortune on them in vet fees etc., in fact Panto cost us £1400 for hip surgery after he was run over. As long as we have them they will receive our care and attention - I just wish that we did not have them.

So that's all right then?

Our cats brought 2 baby goldfinches in yesterday, alive but too damaged and young to rescue. Breaks my heart. They usually account for about 20 fledglings and adult birds pa. Wish we didn't have them. They also killed several frogs a couple of months ago. Oddly enough they were all male frogs and there is still un fertilised spawn in the pond. Why the hell we have domestic cats I do not know. Lovely creatures but killers.

I like the politics thread. Posts from 4 members in particular.

Have you got a picture of the scratter and press Phil? I'm an enthusiast

The mainstay varieties I always grow are Gardeners delight and Moneymakers. They have stood the test of time being good croppers and disease resistant.

Had a big sleep in this morning. didn't get up until 9.15!! Usually 6.15. Yesterday was the last day of the World Erg Challenge for Indoor Concept2 bikes and rowers. There are 6k entries and the idea is to row or ride as far as you can between Mar15th and April 15th = 32 days inclusive. I was trying to get into the top 50 so I made a last effort by rowing just over 15km and cycling 49km yesterday. Just didn't quite make it, finishing 56th. I am fortunate enough to be a team member of the ANCIENTS - a crew I joined 19 years ago when I retired at 66 (you have to be over 65) many were and still

Heyup Barrie - I took it as light banter, so please don't go away... anyway my dark of colour tomato seedlings are doing very well

Last year I was given 3 tomato plants that grew from seeds that a pal saved from a black tomato that he enjoyed eating in Germany. They grew very well and produced excellent crops of juicy/meaty black tomatoes. The one outdoors did better than the two in the greenhouse. Anyway, I saved a dozen seeds and sowed them just over a week ago in the greenhouse. Checked today and several have germinated so far. Hoping to plant several outdoors if they grow into decent plants. No idea what variety they are?

I think that the idea has vision - especially for people that can walk, drive a wheelchair or ride a bike. 'Nowhere' will become 'somewhere' eventually, so bugger the traffic. Let's have a bit of freedom!!

My culinary expertise has always been in doubt and it has often been said that I couldn't boil an egg. Well, this morning I proved it. I'm on a mission at the moment with the rowing and cycling machines and decided that more protein was needed in my diet. So 2 eggs were hard boiled to eat after the usual porridge breakfast. Tried to peel them and 'squelch'. Runny egg all over the place! be glad when Mrs PP is racing around the kitchen again

Mrs PP had a knee replacement 2 wks ago. Clips taken out today and she is ok. She has tried to talk me out of having mine done due to the extreme pain. I postponed my op thinking that two of us could not manage on crutches together. I'm back on the waiting list again with the same surgeon. It's strange how I'm in so much pain at night and when standing, while at the same time I'm reasonably ok on by indoor bike and rowing machine. I'm in the world Erg Challenge at the mo and doing quite well. Currently lying 86th out of 6 thousand competitors. When I had the hip replaced 20 years ago I w

I was taken as a guest last year to a stretch of the Trent owned by Nottm Piscatorials. Splendid fishing. Several barbel and chub. As a youngster I used to catch a bus to Farndon - a grey bus, was it Gash? The fishing was free on the Trent and in the gravel pits (there were 2 then, now a marina). My best days fishing there was on the Trent when it was in flood. Yesterday I fly fished for trout on one of my club lakes. Lovely day out in the boat catching rainbows to 8lb. How my fishing life has changed, since catching 'guginn' from Trent Bridge steps

Nice to see that plenty of frogs have turned up in the pond. They started arriving on Monday. I was worried that some may not make the return to their ancestral home due to new fencing and gravel boards being installed on two sides of the garden. Looks like they found the little access points that I made Looks like Spring is truly here with the magnolia in bloom and the hens laying every day

Rog - you could try one of the many gravel pits around the Trent Valley. No close season and some great bird life to watch. I'm hoping for my last session before the season closes on the Trent this week. I had a dabble last week - just 500 yds from home and caught a very large chub. Carsington Water opens for trout fishing on Saturday and I was lucky enough to secure a boat booking. I really like Carsington, especially when there is a chance of an overwintered fish or two. They are like wild fish and splendid to eat.