We're moving!

wow youve got your work cut out there,glad youve got a more suitable place,i just wouldnt know where to start,good luck in your new home and happy gardenin,.and take it easy.

gosh a lot of work to be done here ,love to see it step by step.

Thanks Suey, I'll be doing it a bit at a time.
Hi Khayla, I think I'll set up a photo spot (to take photos from the same angle every time) and keep a photo diary of the work.

Blimey Ian, that's some challenge even for a super fit person. Looks like you won't be needing that allotment after all! I'm so glad you've got somewhere bigger at last - bet Holly is thrilled to get a decent size bedroom. :o))
Take it easy from me too. xx

You're spot on Lily, I will keep the allotment on for this year as I've already got most of it planted but will give it up at the end of the year.
Holly wanted to stay there tonight! She said "I can collect all the wallpaper you've pulled off and sleep on that"!!!!!

I'm so pleased to hear your great news, Ian. :-)))) That's a wonderful space outside - I can't call it a 'garden' really - not yet! LOL. It's a blank canvas, and we'll all be looking at your progress in it.

Don't try to get it all done in one week, will you? ;-/

Gulp! It has loads of potential as they say! Im sure you will do it justice. Its quite a big garden..... Holly can have her own special patch.

glad to hear you have a new place ian and carol, hope all goes well for you all, dont go doing to much ian, take your time, i would try and get council to make a start tidying up the lawn etc, im sure you can get it done, they have people on community service to do things for people, especially dissabled, at least it would be a start, just a thought my friends ;o)) x

How great! Lovely that you've been listened too by the "powers that be" at last! Now .... take it easy! There's a lot to do there and it's not going anywhere. As we say in Spain "poco y poco" (little by little). :o)))))

wow wot a lovely size garden...can't wait to see your transformation (little by little) all the best to you and family

Crikey Ian--

now I wonder if you could get some help with the manual labour as its not really wheelchair friendly! there are some voluntary organisations often for youngsters that may help or work experience? just to sort the bare bones of a garden... will 'watch this space' :o)

Good morning my lovely friends,

Thank you all for your very kind wishes and some great advice. I will certainly make some enquiries as to whether I can get some help with the hard labour. That is a brilliant piece of advice.

I think half of the left hand side will be for veg and the rest for Holly to play in. The front garden is a lot easier and will be our flowery things spot! Lol

I will keep you all updated as we get going on it. :~)))

Good luck to you Ian. Dont forget 'Freecycle, for free materials?

Could you ask the authorities to make a ramp/decking for garden access ?
I posted a blog (see decking category) under Megan75 showing pics from a friends' garden. Just a thought. I wish you every success. : o )

Hi Ian, I wonder if one of the bases would make a green/summer house?-- mine is half block walls with 2nd hand double glazed windows and sliding door with polycarb sheet roof and an excellent house as you don't get such extremes of temp!

Hi Drc. Freecycle is always my first port of call. It's great isn't it?

Shirley, thank you for pointing me to your blog, it's a definite idea to enquire about. It would make life so much easier for Carol!

Pam, I have earmarked one of the four bases for my shed and another for greenhouse space. I will probably end up breaking the other two up and getting rid!

Ian, you're most welcome ! My friend is now able to get oudoors in her wheelchair, well, whenever the weather warms up. : o ( (

Ian, I'm very pleased for you and Mrs, digs. BUT that garden! Being a bungalow for disabled people, you'd think the council would at least rotavate it for you or something. Would it be possible to get in touch with the Scout movement or some other youth group to do the heavy work for you. Better still may be the BBC would be interested if you offered it for a makeover programme - if there aren't any just now, then it may make them re-introduce one. Another idea would be to cover it for a year with old carpets, weed membrane or similar and let time take care of the weeds etc. Best of all, borrow a pig! They are better than anything for clearing ground, roots and all.
Whatever happens, I do hope you both love your new home. I think you're very good to have an allotment.
Love the conifer, is it Cedrus Deodara (think thats what its called).

just trying to imagine Hollys face if you came home with a pig!--- a cute little Glocester old spot---- ahhhhh but it mighn't get a bit big :o)

Hmmmmmm...... A pig? ? ? ? ? I could just imagine the neighbours faces, let alone Holly's, if they woke up to the snorting (and smell) of porker rooting around the garden! Lol

well ian plenty of scope in the garden then. ! ! .. good luck with that and the move, keep us informed

Good luck to you, Mrs Digs, and Holly on your move, were still in the process of moving all completed on 13th but acturely move in on the 17th.
All the very best to you all....

so glad you got your bungalow Ian..... will be great for you and your family... lots of work to do in the garden but you can start a fresh and plan out what you want to do.....good luck to you all............

Don't worry Ian, the pig would do the whole job in a month, so the neighbours neednt worry too much. It would be a bonus if it found truffles, they're worth a lot of money.
Good luck with your move.

Blimey, big project there, Ian - I can't decide if I'd be thrilled or exhausted if I was offered it.... But that Christmas tree is doing okay, just looks a bit battered - you could stick lights on it later!
Good news about the move though

Thanks all, we are planning everything in advance. The gas and electric goes on Saturday morning, The paint is already there (went to B& whatsit this morning!) Sky TV is coming Saturday as well as the carpet man to measure up!

As for the garden, well that's going to have to be a long term project. I think I'm going to hire a petrol strimmer/weed whacker and then cover the area for my veg with tarpaulin and weed membrane until next year. Plenty of weed and feed on the lawn side and possibly something stronger for the nettle beds!

Best wishes to all of you in your new home. The garden looks a lovely size and it will be great to have all your veggie on your home plot rather than on an allotment. Good luck with it all :)

Thanks Gee, I'm kinda getting excited at the prospect of doing it all. :~))

Good luck to all of you Ian with your new home and garden, like Gee as said nice garden for all your gardening and veg patch aswell, as to be easier all in one place and on your doorstep.

Thanks Carol, Your right about it being easier. :~))

Wow Ian! You could take up...I dunno....dairy farming or something now you're "landed" !! lol Oh, I do envie you tho - what I wouldn't do for a nice big garden like that! I bet it'll look great in a year or two. Nettles arn't too bad to get rid of really...quite satisfying really! Wishing you all happy times in your new home!

delighted that you will have a sensible and safe home for carol. holly will love the space. but as lots have already said you take it steady too.

Hi Sid, thank you and if ever you want to come and dig up nettles then please feel free! Lol

SBG. I learnt my lesson about taking my time when I got my allotment and tried to do to much all at once. I still say that's what caused my "hiccup" this year and let's face it we're going to be there a while so there is no hurry to do it all in one week, so to speak!

What a space, lucky you, a blank canvas good luck and remember take it steady, looking forward to seeing the pics......

Thanks Dotty, I can't wait to find out how it's going to turn out either! Lol

What you got there is an elephant Ian..and you know how you eat an elephant??? ..ONE bite at a time... :o)

Should be lots of fun..go easy tho..and get all the help you can. So sweet that little Miss Holly wanted to sleep on the wallpaper..lol...cutie pie..

Congrats!.. :o)

Thanks Cat. Holly's current bedroom would be to small for a prison cell so I wasn't surprised she wanted to sleep there!

Pleased for all the digs family, somewhere more suitable to live and a nice big garden. Great! Someone will be happy to get your allotment next year Ian! Sounds like you're already getting this done, how exciting. Enjoy but take care...can't have you poorly again!

Thanks PG. ;~))

I'd gladly come and help you with your nettles if I lived closer :-)

Thanks Sid. ;~))

Nettle usually means rich soil..and guess what..save the bottoms of them...if you get stung..by a leaf..use the bottom or what is called the dock..it is it's own antidote for the sting..rub the dock on the sting and it stops the stinging..just cut a chunk out of the fat trunk part while you have gloves on of course..lol..keep it handy.

Thanks Cat, I will remember that!

Congrats Ian on the move...hope all goes well....I am sure you will have a ball with all the gardening coming up this year, just be careful to nopt overdue it!

Thanks HW, I fully intend to take my time. :~))

Are we going to see a blog 'moving the garden shed - vol 2' then Ian? lol
Is the new house far from where you are now?

Hi Lily, I can do if you think it won't put everyone to sleep? Lol
The new place is about three miles from where we are now.

Sound like you're going to be moving in pretty quick then. Good luck with it all, what a shame you put all that work into your garden last year and hardly got to make use of it all. Are the poly tunnel and raised beds going too?

The van is booked for the 23rd Lily, Poly and shed will be coming, the raised beds got taken out because we were told that "older people don't want them and we wouldn't be offered anywhere until the garden was 'acceptable'!" I still have the timber so it won't take me long to re-instate them over there! Lol

Older people don't want raised beds????? I do, I keep getting more and more as the ground gets further away! lol. What a load of rubbish eh? Still it means you've still got all you need for the next garden. Good luck with the move, busy sorting out and packing up I bet. :o((

That's a polite version of what I said Lily! Lol

I'll be painting in my sleep for months...........

Good luck with your move Ian.Will be good to be able to grow your veg in the back garden without the hassle of trailing to the allotment.Carol will find it a boon too ! Hope you are all keeping well......

Thanks BB, We're all doing fine and looking forward to the big move.
Carol will definitely enjoy the veg being back in the garden as I have had to plant up a large tub with peas just for her and Holly to pick and eat straight off the plant! (I might also get caught munching one or six! Lol)

Older people don't like raised beds???? Where are their older people from...the moon? where there is no gravity!...lol..that is so crazy...too silly!

What do you mean Cat? How can old people do anything? ........They're old? ? ? ?

P.S. This is sarcasm! Lol

Lol...Cat and Ian....try telling that to Dad...despite his stroke...still cycling to his allotment !!! Lol !

Was off for a while digs and popping in and out. Chuffed for you that you've got the house and what a huge garden to play with.........bet you're chuffing too mate!!

Good on ya son:o))

Cheers OB. Chuffed as a steam train mate! Lol

LOL....You'll see one of those down here, Ian!!!

I was kind of hoping so Spritz. I really am looking forward to it now. ;~))

Great for you all, Ian! Now with a bungalow you will be freer to move around & if it designed for people with disabilities you should all fine life much easier!

That big garden will take a lot of work to break in! Have you been following my blogs on our allotments? If you have, you will have seen some of the problems I had at first with the digging! Can you imagine what the guys there must have thought, seeing me down on my hands & knees doing the digging!!! :-D

Seems like the half of the garden you are setting aside for veggies is almost as big as your allotment &, to top it all, you will only need to step through your back door onto your garden/allotment!

I had been wondering where you were & only last night I was thinking I ought to send you a PM to see how you were getting on. Carol should enjoy more independence & mobility in your new home.

Hi Balcony, thank you for your comments about our new place. We're both really pleased with it and the space we have is great. The garden is taking a lot of sorting out but with time, patience and a bit of hard work we'll get there eventually. The one thing I've learnt from all the comments I've received is that it will take a while and I shouldn't rush it.

Hhhmmmm.....that doesn't sound like the Ian we know! Never one to let the grass grow under your feet are you Ian? lol Bet you'll have it all sorted out in no time :o))

I'm not sure sweet Lily, it is a handful and I'm under strict instructions.... Light exercise with plenty of rests in between. I think it might take a good couple of months to get it sorted! Lol

Didn't know about the spooks then did you Ian? lol. Thanks for introducing me to your bungalow ;o)

You're welcome Pip. I think I would have laughed at the idea of ghosts, spooks or whatever else it might be when we were offered this place!