Bamboo the Battleaxe and Lily2 at the Roof Gardens

Firstly can I say I was so disappointed there wasn't a photo of you and Lily, as I too held a curiosity of what you were really like lol. It's difficult to be accurate about anyones personality especially when you only have the written word, and not even the luxury of the visual 3 second first impression, or how ever long it's suppose to take.. I have always sort of admired your frankness Bamboo but I think we all admire traits we perhaps don't share with others, or fear them. I truly admire your guts inviting fellow Goyer's opionions and wish you their kindness lol... Oh by the way I do think battleaxe is a little harsh x

I didn't think battleaxe; I imagine a person with a serious store of gardening knowledge; maybe a serious person too, and that was probably my first impression of you ~ just from comments on the blogs ~ the longer i have been on GoY the more i have come to see that you are a warm person, one who thinks deeply and who cares.

this sounds like a horoscope ~ it isnt meant to!! it is funny how we gather our impressions isnt it ~ when i first met Tetrarch she said she thought i would have dark hair!! [actually i have but i had a colour on it at the time] ~ how do we even manage to work out hair colour from comments on blogs??!!

Lord knows, Stickitoffee - when it comes to physical appearance, I have no idea how we make these assumptions. However, I do believe that what we decide about others' personalities from a site like this says more about the observer than the observed - Lily said that when I comment something like 'Why is that' she hears it with a slightly aggressive, short sharp tone - when I type it, I hear it as genuinely curious, conversationally asked. Perhaps because Lily is gentle, she's more likely to interpret a direct, blunt question as 'aggressive' than I would be. That's my theory anyway, so that's why I'm curious about what others think - I suspect I may learn more about them from their remarks than they do about me, lol! I think Lily took a shot of me whilst there, but I do not have one of her.
And Dido, thanks for not thinking battleaxe, and sticki - you're pretty close - I am a serious minded person and have often been accused of 'thinking too much' - fortunately, I am apparently funny, or I'd be too boring for words, I suspect...

eeeeek! now i shall be worrying what you think of me!!!
i can understand how both of you are thinking about the 'why is that?' for some people its a logic thing ~ i would worry about asking but for others it is entirely reasonable.

i think the avatar that people choose and the name they use gives a bit of a clue??

I dunno about that - when I first joined, I made the assumption that Spritzhenry was male, lord knows why, but it was to do with her avatar. And as for Meanie, I have believed for months he was a she - only found out recently he's a male. Something about the name Meanie meant female to me, I didn't see it as male.
As for what I think about you, from your observations, I'd say you're a thinking, empathic person too - non empathic people can't detect it, they simply don't recognise it. Or, as my best non empathic friend always does, think I'm too 'liberal' when I consider other's feelings - she doesn't understand it at all, lol! Never mind, she has other redeeming features, she makes me laugh...

making someone laugh is one of the best qualities a friend can have!!! i take it your friend is also extremely logical??

Absolutely - and extremely astute, more so than me some of the time, and blunt as they come.

LoL, love the ducks!
Can't make comment on how I think you come across because I don't think I've seen enough of your comments.
Maybe meeting some Goyers myself soon..............!! Wonder if I will come across as 'nutty Lulu' a nickname a friend has for me!!

They were sooo cute those ducklings...

do you think any of us can hide our real personalities ~ even over internet blogs??

I agree with you Bamboo, Battleaxe sprung to mind, But as you have let us into your life bit by bit especially when you talk about your sons, I began to think, she's human, same as me hahaha.. You give a lot of your time to others, Who else would answer all those questions on Goy and google if your not sure, giving your time to others is very generous, Your matter of fact and dont suffer fools gladly which isnt a bad thing but, sometimes your comments make me go Whoa :))).. You did ask lol..

Firstly, i recognice The Churchill Arms from the 2007 Chelsea Flower Show coverage, there was the Irish landlord interviewed by Joe Swift outside it !

Secondly, it's great when members from forums meet up, i've done it quite a few times and it's always one of the best things i do.

Thirdly - Bamboo the battleaxe .... errr no !
I think if you bother getting to know other members, via PM's etc, you soon see how that person really is.
Bamboo and i have PM's a few times and although we're not close and bosom buddies i feel that i know her well enough to know she's not the fierce battleaxe type.

Sometimes a serious gardener can come across in many ways ...... mostly misconstrued.

Thanks for the bouquet, Louise - and for your honesty YDD. I wonder how many others will read this and think, but not comment, I think you are a battleaxe, lol! And to some, I always will be I expect. Hey ho, that's the way it goes...

So fascinated was I by your discussion I forgot to say, lovely pictures of a fascinating place. I would like to visit there - then I think I will hide behind the plants and try to discover any GoY members!?

Now, now Stickitoffee, be brave - if Lily was brave enough to come meet me even though she was scared, you are too! Planting's not up to much up there in the Garden, saplings and weeds present, its just the fact its on a roof... I'm up for it if you are sometime! Another excuse to eat out as far as I'm concerned.

Sounds like a challenge to me but if food is involved I could well be tempted. Good views I imagine and I love those little ducklings.

Next time I come to London I will let you know! Meanie mentioned a road of restaurants in Oxford - that would be good too I think!!

Funnily enough, at no point can you get a vantage view over London - we found a gate yesterday which led to somewhere you could look out, but it was locked with no other access. Disappointing, but they probably worry about suicides and accidents.

LoL Sticki!! Picnic garden studio lunch anyone!

Be great wouldn't it - can you come lulu?

Wass that then, Sticki, safety in numbers, lol! The more the merrier I reckon...

sorry bamboo ~ i thought the challenge was out there??!!

My first ever teacher at senior school is whom came to mind when I first got to know you on here Bamboo, she was as straight as a dye and never suffered fools gladly, her answers were abrupt but she always got her point across, darn good teacher and one that was respected even though we were all in awe of her, even the toerag boys.
I still have fond memories of her after 50yrs, she was a maths and history teacher but lived not far from us and I know for a fact that she also loved her garden..
Lovely photo`s and I`m pleased both you and Lily had a good day

See, there's that schoolmarm thing again, Lincslass - but your description otherwise sounds like me, or at least, part of my character;-)

Not really a challenge other than tongue in cheek one, Sticki, more an invitation/suggestion. It's such a pain typing currently - I cut a lump out of my index finger, the pad, with my secateurs on Monday and the dressing's so large I keep hitting the wrong keys. Took me 5 times as long to do the blog as usual.

oh no thats not good ~ i have often noticed that the smallest parts ~ like ears and fingers seem to hurt the most.

yes i recognised the tongue in cheek!! its a nice invitation and as i say if i get some free time and have the chance to come to london i will let you know.

Not painful now, well, unless I press on it, and its well padded - just changed the dressing, which had stuck, of course, even though it was melolin. Such a tiny wound, such a major performance...

perhaps if you tapped the keyboard with a chopstick instead it would save your finger???

Ha ha, be even slower - I'm annoyed because I touch type - usually, now I'm having to look at the keys instead!

what a fascinating blog...............its interesting how we view each other....I'm not sayin' nuffin....lol

Hmm ... interesting blog, Bamboo! ..... Firstly, I'm pleased you had a good day with Lily at Kensington Roof Gardens ... secondly, when I first joined GoY I thought you were male, no rhyme or reason as to why though ... I guess because you didn't write many blogs which included anything about yourself or your family ... females seem to include more personal details about themselves than males. ..... I do remember reading a comment you wrote saying you had a real 'cor blimey' accent which surprised me ... always pictured you as posh! ..... Again, I can't explain why, but I just did! ..... I think you put a lot of time and effort into answering questions on this site ... which shows you're interested in not only the horticulture, but also helping less knowledgable gardeners, myself included ..... I think it's very difficult sometimes to interpret a comment as the member has written it ... as we can't hear the tone of voice! ..... On a lighter note ... I assume the toe has healed? Just the finger to worry about now! ..... :o)))

yes, i do too bamboo, and i know how frustrating it is even using a different keyboard never mind having a finger that doesnt work and a bandage that gets in the way!!!

Wot to London Sticki? Not if I can help it!! Country bumbkin now after 38 years in London..............but a GOY outing, well it takes some consideration. We'll chat about it soon no doubt!!
Sorry about your finger Bamboo, it cut the end off mine with secateurs too a few years ago!!!

I know what you mean about the written word Bamboo, I have a wacky sense of humour that when written can sound a bit rude so I must remember to put lol after certain comments (I do forget sometimes).
In my experience of our exchanges, I have found you helpful and knowledgeable (which means kind and thoughtful also), but I would'nt direct too many wacky comments your way lol!

Sometimes it seems to take a while to work out if someone is male or female on here - I quite liked being anonymous!

I thought you and Spritz were male too, and imagined you with a standard accent (not posh though). I've always been impressed by the time and care you give to answering our questions, and feel a bit overawed by all the stuff you know! I wish I'd known you 'd like to meet people when I went to Kew earlier this year - first time in London for about 10 years- but I would have been a bit scared of revealing my ignorance! You're right, it is very hard to read comments with the tone of voice intended - I have always had the same trouble. lol is a very useful invention.

Well now, where to start........ abrupt and at times rather rude were my first impressions of Bamboo, formed from her (or 'his' as I too thought for some time) answers to questions but over the past 2 years through blogs, comments and occasional PM's I realised that this was not true. However, being rather a shy person, when we arranged this meeting I still felt rather daunted about meeting someone so forthright and knowlegeable BUT once we had spoken by phone all that disappeared and I had no qualms at all. Why was this? Because she was warm and friendly and far from terse!! It just goes to show how stark our written words can be without our voices to soften them. There's definitely a place for LOLs and smiley faces to denote intention.
We had a lovely day out, the time just flew by and I'm hoping we can do it again so we can carry on where we left off with the conversation. Yes she had plenty to say but I had my two'penorth too!
I still can't reconcile the person I met yesterday with our online Bamboo though which just goes to show how hard it is to completely overcome our first impressions online.

By the way Bamboo, thanks for the flattering description of me but I'm not sure all would agree with it!

Enjoyed you pics Bamboo:-) I don't suppose you remember, but I too thought you male, possibly your phallic sounding name? I like your sense of humour and your helpfulness. I could go on, in the hope that you would think me very astute and charming.....and invite me on this Goy outing:-) See I smile a lot:-) I've met Sticki and Tet at Tets (she attacked me, law suit pending) and I've met Floribunda, Spritz, Louise and Grindle at Malvern. It would be fun to have a Goy outing and even I (no car) could get to London. Tet's very good at arranging this sort of thing, she's a great organiser:-))

Hi, Bamboo the battleaxe-- in a good cause maybe--

but really a solid extremly knowledgeable gardener, one who is able to answer most problems,if she can't she'll say so and come back with the definitive answer

OK, but she's also interesting, very kind-- and I think a true friend-- Goy would be diminished without you--
| let me just widen the doorframe | Lol xxx

Nice blog, it just goes to show you can't assume what people are like, i also thought that Bamboo was male, may be because on your profile it says plantsman, It's nice to know what people think about different people, I just like straight talking people (spade a spade)with a very good sense of humour, to many people take things to hart and to much sin about

blimey, I will need the door widened at this rate, and not just from gorging on chocolate! Bornagain, as usual, hilarious - if we ever meet I promise to leave the axe at home! But actually, a lot of what's been hinted at is true - I guess it is scary to be confronted with someone who appears knowledgeable (imagine cooking a meal for a chef, horror of horrors) and also someone who hates pretence, calls a spade a spade, and can be confrontational. Never forget though, its only someone's opinion at the end of the day, whether its mine or the medical consultant or a scientist or even Alan Titchmarsh, and as we all know, there might be recommended, proven ways to do stuff, but life's a funny thing - living things sometimes beat the odds and do something completely different from what 'should' happen according to 'expert' OPINION! And I try never to forget, we are all human, however we seem on here, and however irritated I might get sometimes - I never remember the name of that symbol which is half dark and half light joined together to make a circle, but that represents to me the nature of a human being. Sometimes you see and feel the dark, sometimes the light shines out - but both are ever present.
And I did put plantsman and not plantswoman in my profile deliberately initially - years of experience have taught me that you get taken more seriously professionally if people think you're male. As for my accent, be in no doubt, I sound like Kat off Eastenders...

Special thanks to Lily for her lovely comments too, would like to meet up with her again - and yes, I would like to meet up with more GoYers - anyone know any other places of interest horticulturally in London? I reckon that's gotta be the easiest place to meet for a few of us at least.

And Shirley Tulip, yes, the toe has more or less healed, aches a bit at times, but at my age, to be expected, but sod's law the first week I start functioning cos the toe's okay, I cut a lump out of my finger, what a twit...

I just thought of something else - I've got a couple of male friends (don't see them very often now, and I do mean pal and not anything else, lol) - one said, about his wife, why do women always do.... and aren't they difficult and so on. I eventually said well I'm a woman and he said, 'yes, but you're not like most women, sort of like a bloke really but who understands stuff'. And the other one said at one time, after telling me something very indiscreet indeed and my slight protest, well yes, but you're an honorary bloke really aren't you! I thought it was hilarious - what they really meant was I didn't react emotionally to what they said but logically. Men are funny... doubt I'd have the same reaction if in a relationship with them, then I'd be reacting differently.

Oh no Bamboo. London accent yes, but Kat from EE - definitely not that bad! I never noticed anything blokeish about you at all but in the logical manner of your thought processes I can see what they mean. It sounds like you can think like a woman too, how wonderful to have such insight! lol
I'd love to meet up with as many fellow Goyers as can make it. There was a piece on GW recently about the hidden gardens of London and I sat through a whole hour of boring Monty and ghastly Carol to see it, feeling sure it would feature the Roof Gardens. The feature was about 3 minutes right at the end and no Roof Gardens but it did mention some in Regents Park and also St Dunstans Church Gardens. Maybe someone else saw it for more info. Also there's the Physic Gardens in Chelsea, no idea what's there though. I agree with you about Kew, not keen on glasshouse plants.

there is also the gardens in enfield that sheilabub recently wrote a blog about.

i see you are from berkshire lily2 ~ i was there last week ~ if only i had known!! but i was a bit busy!!!

Yes Sticki that's the Which? gardens at Capel Manor I went there a few years ago and there was plenty to see so sounds a good idea. Not the easiest of places to get to but I suppose that depends where you're coming from! I'd be pleased to see you anytime you're in Berkshire :o)

thats very kind ~ this time it was for my sons wedding!! ~ his new in-laws live there. I hadnt realised how much countryside there was!

Lily, that programme bit I watched also, and another place were the Greys Inn and Lincoln's Inn Fields gardens....all not very far from St Pauls. Im going one day because I love the Inns of Courts architecture.

'boring Monty and ghastly Carol', made me laugh out loud, Lily 2. I quite like Carol's enthusiasm, but I agree on the Monty front, he appears to be highly skilled in sending me to sleep... or annoying me.
I saw that programme too and did make a note or two, probably on the back of old envelopes. I'll look for the notes I made and then maybe do a bit of research as to whether these places are easy to get to, worth visiting and actually freely available to the public...
How easy is it to get to Capel Manor? Is it possible by public transport, anyone know? I dunno why I'm asking, I know very well I'll check it out at some point myself, lol!

I always want to tell Monty to cheer up, he could do with some of Carols energy:-)

Yes, he's quite Eeyorish isn't he, though personally, he feels more like a dead space or a black hole to me, makes me tired. I don't really know why, because he clearly loves gardening and his plants.

Perhaps thats why they put them together Ba?

I have been thinking about this blog and how we perceive you bamboo - I think you must also be brave and confident to allow us all to say what we think!?

Yea, I'd say that was true - not always brave, and used not to be brave at all, nor confident, but I am confident now. Must be all those months of counselling/therapy in my thirties and great interest in psychology in my forties - certainly changed my life and me, and I've ended up a different animal from everyone else in my original, large family (4 sisters, l brother). You gotta laugh, I was in therapy cos I couldn't cope with having a manic depressive husband, but he was the bonkers one, lol! I wouldn't have missed it for the world though, the therapy I mean... and not, I hasten to add, with a psychiatrist, but a psychotherapist - there's a huge difference.

And now I am going to add admirable! Can I persuade you to do a blog on how to change - for the better? Not so many people are brave - it's a great quality, I wish I was braver!

I've sent you a PM already - I was the biggest coward ever before I had children and had to live with a nutter, if someone had told me when I was 20 what would occur, I'd have slit my throat in preference - but you know what they say, what don't kill you makes you stronger, so suffering is often the route to greater awareness and confidence. That and Transactional Analysis, wish I'd known about that years ago - if you've never read I'm Ok, You're Ok, it's one I'd recommend. I have to say though, I'm quivering and quaking in my boots with the best of them when I have to attend the Eye Clinic or have to have surgery, lol!

might have a look for that ~ thanks bamboo. and thank you for the pm.

Capel Manor is very close to the M25 so OK for those travelling by car but public transport isn't so good. I think it's about a mile and a half from nearest station but on a bus route. Not a simple journey from London anyway methinks so maybe back to the drawing board.

I'm OK, you're OK made a big difference to me some years ago - didn't read the book, just got helped by a guy at work who was into that sort of thing. If your self image is down to zero its a helpful motto!

will have to try to remember it ~ thanks steragram

The sayings "count your blessings" and "look on the bright side of life" may be trite, and they certainly dont help depressions caused by deep unhappiness, but they do help with the general knocks of life. I cant believe I would have a nervous breakdown, but I did in 2000. Having cancer in 2003 certainly made me see things differently. Every day being unhappy I count as a day lost from life. But people should never be impatient with mental trauma, it really is a bummer!

tet you are truly an inspiration.

Just one of thousands Sticki..the worst part about my illness was going every day for treatment and seeing small children being so matter of fact about chemo and radiotherapy, I would end up in tears just watching them.
The only pain I had was the scar!! Some of these kids suffered dreadfully...makes you think!

Yes it does but I still think you have been through a lot and here you are making us smile every day as well as creating a garden that would make anyone smile!

It didn't make me smile:-(((
Only kidding, garden also inspirational:-))))

Naughty Ba!

You made us all smile too!

Ohhhh BA, does that mean you will never visit me again??

Are you asking for a promise Tet? :-)))

Commend you for your courage Tetrarch, glad you recovered. But it points up nicely that we never know what's going on in people's lives or what problems they're having, but one thing's for sure, it's not whether people HAVE problems, it's simply a matter of WHICH problems. Or 'challenges', if you're a positive thinker, lol!

....and how they cope bamboo!

I feel very shamefaced here. I never had any pain, it was founds by accident during a biopsy so I didnt have the worry..I had a condition after which meant pictures of "me" ahem..were slapped over the medical journals..which also was not painful..rather funny really! Even the after treatment was relatively painless (compared to BA's sprained ankle lol) .So I cannot claim to have courage for something that came and went before I could sneeze, so to speak.
To me, courage is for fighting against the odds, yet not complain, to smile when you could cry... cant say I remember doing that! Watching a loved one descend into Alzheimers and cheerfully caring for them for years with very little complaint..now THAT is courage!

And I hope you wont promise not to come again BA!!

A positive thing that comes out of experiences like these is that we emerge with a new empathy for other people with similar ones. And pain isn't just physical is it - mental and emotional pain can go on for years. Tet you are so right about the courage of those caring for Alzheimers patients - I don't know how they do it.

What would we do without our love of plants and gardens, and all the natural world that keeps us sane?

Who's sane Steragram?...certainly not Tet! Ok Tet, if I can make it again I will, but only if I can wear my harem pants (tight at the ankle) lol:-) Trust you to have a rare condition and your pics everywhere...some people just have to grab the limelight! Anyway, have you organised this Bamboo meet up yet?:-)

Not at all famous BA, it wasnt my face they photographed LOL!

When my youngest son started to go blind, he had to go to London Moorfields for a diagnosis. Also when he was in hospital (unrelated reason) some time later he was asked if he minded people coming to look at his eyes as his condition was rare...so there8~p :-)

Oh BA, thats terrible, thats worse than anything Ive ever had..how is he doing?

He's fine Tet, well used to it by now. He has a form of macular degeneration, not seen often in one so young. You could see him in my last blog....if you bothered to look sniff sniff:-( Bet you'll look now and make me look popular :-)

Oh BA, Im sooooo sorry (blub, blub) but my excuse is Ive been away and been soo busy since I returned, trying to catch up. I do look out for your blogs, but must've missed that one!
I hope making me feel guilty has made you feel better (sigh...is there NO way I can please this woman so she drops her lawsuit !**!) [:-x

No!:-)

Well you could at least have trotted out a few insincere palliatives to make me feel better....couldnt you?

Bamboo, now you see who the battle axe really is...and apologies for hijacking your blog. I forgot and thought it was Tet's balloon blog, must be my age:-/

Dont let her kid you Bamboo..she's just a spring chicken lol! My apologies too..same reason (actually just get carried away, then remember its not my piece!!)

I'm not worried, that's fine, chat away - I always monitor my blogs to make sure they're not degenerating into something unpleasant, but am happy to see members interacting in a friendly manner.

Dont worry about BA and I, we get on fine (apart for her sueing me for a million quid for her sprained ankle and volunteering me for outrageous tasks!)

I was advised to read this by Steragram, and now I have. I love and dislike the pub's floral diaplay.

I love the colours and how eyecatching they are.

I dislike that the colour do clash and it may be a bit over the top.

I feel exactly the same about the pub, Alex - if they'd left the yellow out, it might have worked better...

I agree.

I am without empathy so I will go straight forward to the problem. In fact, I see two problems in this blog
-I saw just one photo of what-could-be a roof garden - and it was so amazing!!!! There was just one roof, Bamboo in the gardens?
-Second and similar problem is, that majority of your blog deals with appearance of two people, whom we did not see on photos.

So for me - I am going to sleep with restless legs.

but we know who they are Katarina......

You know, not me!

Lily did take a shot of me gazing at my bandaged finger, which she I think chose not to publish! But Katarina, I already did a blog a few weeks earlier about the Roof Gardens which showed a lot of photographs of what it looks like, so I couldn't see the sense in repeating that. Have a look at the previous one if you want to see more of the Gardens - this blog was more about our meeting than the gardens themselves. And yes, there is only one roof, but with lots of different planting areas...

Katarina, I've just posted the pic of Bamboo and a glimpse of the Roof Gardens in my photos. I hope this goes some way to solving your problem with the blog, you can already see what I look like from my avatar. Hope you don't mind Bamboo, you did say it was OK didn't you?

I did, not particularly bothered - anyway, I quite want people to see the size of that bandage, lol!

The problem is, that I am not so familiar yet with searching across other people´s profiles/files, so I am sorry if I do not catch what I can, in fact. Now will try and let you know. Otherwise if you do not hear about me for a long time it means I was lost in profiles.

I note you found the photo Lily mentions!

Well just caught up with this Bamboo, and here's me a year later thinking you were definitely a man! I think if we're happy in our own skin then we are more interested in other people and putting them at ease. I don't think I would dare ask people how I come across, I may not like what I found out....Lol! At the end of the day, we can only be ourselves, whether that meets with approval or not from others is irrelevant.........

Crikey, I thought I'd taken this down along with most of my other blogs! I saw Lily2 again on Friday - we went to Andrewr's garden, and the weather smiled wonderfully on us, had a great day. Not sure what ached more, my legs or my jaw (from talking too much).. and yes, I'm definitely female, but probably with such a blunt approach, I might be mistaken for a male in writing, lol! The only thing that counts, Janey, is whether you're happy with what you are - other people's opinions are just that - opinions, not fact, and we can only see from where we're standing ourselves, including the ones expressing their opinions, so yes, I'm in complete agreement with your last sentence;-))

Ha..ha.....sounds like you had a fab time, and Andrew seems to be such a knowledgable plantsman, I bet it was very interesting day. I think as you get older you worry less of how you are, if you can't love and be kind to yourself than how can you do that for anyone else, sometimes you have to be your own best friend......:))))

Specially if no one else will! No, I jest - I'm amazed and delighted to find another person on here who so completely understands about respecting yourself;-))

Blimey. I thought OH could waffle but you lot.....

Sorry. Just can't be left out. Anybody want cheap therapy? I get a discount for bulk. :o)))

We're women, Sarraceniac, why are you surprised by the 'waffling' - or jawing, as my grandad called it, lol

you all seem OK to me girls. keep it coming.

LOL;-) Check your private messages Colin!

Informative, insightful, theraputic & above all, hilarious!
Just wish there'd been more.
Delighted to make your aquaintences, ladies...& gents, too.
Bamboo...rigidly fluid. Had to be a lady.
A guy would be oak, stump, something along those lines. Lol.

Lol! The other member referred to in the blog says I unconsciously picked bamboo because I'm invasive and impossible to eradicate.... said as support and humour after a rather vicious 'pack attack' on me on here last year. I guess she's right, cos I'm still here, much reduced, but still here, unlike one or two of the members of that pack...

Welcome to my world, Bamboo, lol!
The pack attacks for 2 reasons...food or fear.
Human packs, however, attack through fear, then feed on the fear this produces.
I firmly believe that what goes around comes around, Bamboo, truly I do, so I'm not surprised, or in the least sympathetic towards those who ranged themselves against you.
Invasive? Oh, surely not? Lol.
Hard to eradicate...that I do believe.
Bamboo. If someone rather foolishly tries to bend a bamboo cane they risk it whipping back into their astonished face.
Sadly, we learn life's lessons much quicker, when pain is involved.
You've come a long way.
What Sig would have made of 'Mouldy', I wonder? ;-)

Mouldy, hmmm, good point - well, its useful stuff, mostly!
As for 'pack attacks' they happen on websites like this at least once a year, I guess it was just my turn. S**t happens....

It sure does. Boghouse philosophy...works for me.
S'pose it'll be my turn at some point, gardening beginner, opining on all & sundry, snigr.
I mean, what was I thinking, imagining that people, who understood that plants came in so many varieties, couldn't accept different approaches & views.
Naive at times...I really am. Lol.

I have noticed that a lot of Old blogs are surfacing Lately, must be the weather or we are really Bored!

I'm new, YoungDaisy.
This is all amazing to me...new garden, new friends, touchphones, free advice. Lol.

I like the cut of your jib, Mouldy, that's three times you've made me laugh out loud.
Yea, YDD, its gotta be the weather - feels like its been winter for a year or more.

Likewise, Bamboo, me hearty, now up & splice that mainframe, or it's no grog fer you!
Winter does seem reluctant to bugger off, I agree. Cold, damp, windy & trying it's best to snow up here.
Let's hope we don't get short-changed by summer!

A rumour (so far not substantiated, I haven't checked) reached my ears yesterday that Mount Etna was spewing volumes of ash into the upper atmosphere - if it is, that'll put paid to any summer we might have had.

Yeah, but sunsets to die for.
Strange how volcanos & nuclear explosions evince such beauty from disasters.
Maybe a compensatory last sight...
S'pose we'd best consider shade-loving plants.
Mind you, I'm not above blaming Etna, should my 1st venture at gardening prove to be woefully inadequate. Lol. ;-)

Last summer, you could have blamed the rain - many people who tried growing veg last year, especially first timers, said they were not going to bother again, poor folk.

But we're made of sterner stuff, eh?
That's why I like StevieTT...he tries to figure a way past obstacles.
Right now I'm planting my perennials in buckets, as I reckon the weather ain't gonna do us no lemons, so my intention is to thwart it's devilish plan.
I've grown a tad impatient with waiting in the starting blocks & have gone like the clappers today.
Trays, plugs & pots liberally strewn with seeds & now, as I text, three Gypso Pans temporarally ensconced within aforementioned receptacles.
"Who said I couldn't multitask?", he demanded, beligerently bunging the kettle on, pouring a ration into each bucket, as the water reached a temperature he judged warm enough to promote initial growth sans shock.
Needs must, when the devil rides.
So how's things with you?
Growing anything you'd care to tell old Mouldy about?

Is it just me or has the site gone a bit skewiff tonight, booting me off, doubling my comments, refusing me access to certain of my pages, etc? Lol.

I wasn't on last night, so not aware of any probs. I'm a purely ornamental gardener, meaning I don't grow veg - I've only got a balcony now, so I'm restricted. I am, though, considering whether to have a bash at growing Silene 'Jack Flash', which caught my eye on a tv show last year. Got the seeds, but can probably only accommodaate 4 plants in other people's gardens, and you know how many plants you get from seeds....

Three, if you're lucky, in the current weather. Lol.
Glad I started with my perennials last night, as we're forecast for snow 'til next Wednesday. Been out buying thirty 5" pots today.
Buckets, I ask you, what sane person has eight of them in a flat, empty or otherwise?
Haven't got a scooby what Silene looks like, Bamboo, so I'll have a gander in Goy's catalogue later, or google it.
Handy bit of kit this internet, what?
With that & the experience of Goy members, I figure I should have enough to keep me out of mischief for a brief interlude.
;-)

Your comment about Bamboo whipping back into your face gave me pause for thought. Do you know, you're absolutely right, I'm utterly astonished that I subconsciously chose that name (by accident, too) because it does describe my personality. I'm well known for pitching up a few hours or days after something upsetting has been said and tackling the person who said it head on - not in an aggressive way, but rather, to hand back what belongs to them and not to me in the psychological sense, if that's the case. Intriguing - got snow there have you? It's horrible here, but wet rather than snowy.

We've got a smorgasboord here, Bamboo.
Glasgow weather is an equal opportunities sadist. No bars, we all suffer, lol.
As for selecting your name...subconscious, yes...accidently, no.
I just don't believe in accident or coincidence.
Chaos itself has a pattern, as has recently been discovered by some boffins, who were gushing at length on a radio 4 prog.
Handing "back what belongs to them...".
I like that.
Pithy.
Bamboo-ish. ;-)

When I said by accident, I was referring to the fact that I'd created a new email address for myself titled bamboo, and when I signed up for this site, I put that part in the wrong box - and ended up as bamboo on the site! But yes, subconsciously probably deliberate, I accept your point.

Then my work here is done! Lol.
These high winds went a long way to ripping my new trellising off the wall!
Three cheers for superglue & some old-fashioned ingenuity, or all sixty feet of it would have been airborne, I kid you not.
The permanent fix can wait, as I don't intend to pranny around in this wind with power tools. Lol.
So, anything interesting in your neck of the woods?

Sweet fanny adams I'm afraid - like everyone else, I'm waiting for winter to pass, so still in hibernation mode and bored stiff with being chilly, thank heavens for online scrabble, that's all I can say...

Presumably, you play against people rather than a computer?
I've never played the game, myself, as I'd likely use obscure words that would cause arguments, or swear words, just to be obtuse.
Some people would have it that swearing indicates a lack of vocabulary, whereas I argue it's the reverse.
A swear word is a word. Case proven.
Real classy, me, as you can probably tell. Lol.
Just done chasing a persistent fox out of my wee garden strip, but it'll be back later.
I know they aren't too fussy what they dine upon, just as long as it isn't my bulbs, besides, they're as bad as the squirrels for leaving wee holes everywhere.
Ho-hum, what a varied & busy life.
Think I'll have a Terry's orange scone or two. Chasing foxes & zinging them with dried peas is hungry work.
Toodle-oo. ;-)

I play other people on line - I don't know who they are, but I play them anyway. And there's a dictionary that will not allow you to lay words it doesn't contain - but mostly its no holds barred on the swear words front, though it does seem to reject certain blasphemic words. It also allows words you've never heard of and will never use in a million years, like EE, drives you bonkers, but its summat to do on a dull, cold day, lol!

Bet you win, more often than not, sitting there with a cuppa & a look of grim determination on your wee face! LOL.

I'm beginning to seriously wonder if you're psychic...

Cross my eyes with silver, lol.

Well hello Bamboo.....

I got locked out of Goy for two weeks while the goy techies tried to sort the tablet pc gremlins and find groundhog day. :0)

Nice to meet you Mouldy welcome

Hi PamG, pleased to make your aquaintance.
Never sure if that word ends...'ence or 'ance. Both look right, but one of them has to go.
C'mon, Bamboo, open the door, we're freezlng out here! Lol.

Well, it looks like Fortress Bamboo has dropped the portcullus & pulled up the drawbridge, so I'm off. Lol.

I think she pops in and out like a lot of us do Mouldy

Well I'm still breathing, I just look in, usually daily, and then maybe not again, Mouldy. Hi Pamg, how you doing? When is this blasted winter ever going to end, or maybe I should more realistically ask, IS it ever going to end....

I think its a conspiracy tale but may and june are supposed to be hot!!........
Nor not?

I hope not too hot - its unbearable in London cos of the pollution. But then, that's what we're getting now, extremes of everything.

Lol...what, do you want jam on it, Bamboo?
Too cold or too hot. Make up your mind.

Well actually, since you ask, what I want is an average 20 degree temperature, maybe up to 23 deg. C, falling at night to around 10 deg C, year round. Oh, and a lot more daylight in winter. Think you can arrange that, lol?

If only you'd asked for it in fahrenheit.
I only do miracles in imperial, I'm afraid.
Oops, too late! Lol.
I could magic up a bobblehat to keep out the cold? *{]:-)
or how about a ribbon to tie up your hair for the Rhs? &:-)

Sigh....;-(

Pssst...your right eyebrow needs waxing.