h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I had a lovely day at w*rk today, watching the rain coming down and hoping that some of it was faling in my garden. Then I got home, and found that a hailstorm had come through this part of town. Half of my garden - the half I'd just replanted and tidied - has been washed away, and the wreckage is covered in leaves that have been stripped off the oak trees that line the street. There's a good 6 inches of silt piled up against the back gate, and the carport's flooded. And there's not a ing thing I can do about it, not with a ed ankle... Why the blazes do I bother?

I was going to write a long piece about last weekend, and what I did in Sydney, and how much fun it all was even though it was 40C and 85% humidity, and how travelling from Parramatta to the city by ferry is simply the most civilised form of commuting possible, and about long walks around Darlinghurst and The Rocks and Newtown, and all about the 14 pubs and 5 restaurants and uncounted shops that I spent time in... but somehow I'm not in the mood right now. I mean, this is Summer - what's a hailstorm doing smashing up my garden at this time of year?

What happened to your ankle?


az

Ivan,I can't believe it. Honestly !!! So soul destroying.We've been battered over here too,England,my most treasured grape vine,so special cos my Dad grew it from a pip for me(he died 10yrs ago) looks like I may not save it,because of the storms and gale force winds we've been having.I do really sympathise with you.Love Pinky xxx

Az, I'm not at all sure what I did to my ankle - except that it seems to have happened a couple of nights ago, while I slept. That must have been some dream. It seems to be just a normal sprain, nothing more sinister.

Pinky, the thing about grapevines is that they can take any amount of rough treatment. If you trim off some of the canes, leaving at least two nodes fuly intact, and dump them casually in a compost heap, they will sprout from the nodes when the weather's suitable. Good luck... I've seen this happen when it wasn't wanted, so maybe it will work when it's done deliberately. You could also try leaving a cane in wet cotton wool in a jar, if you have a warm and lit corner to put it in.

The thing that's annoying me most right now is that my favourite plants have been damaged, or buried in noxious sludge, but the ghastly lavender that is all over the place, which I'm trying to eradicate piece by piece without the landlord noticing, doesn't appear to have been harmed at all.

The storm here in Denmark knocked down two of our 10 m. pines in the garden. Luckily they didn't hit any buildings - but a small apple tree lost it's top.

Yeah tell me - what is a hailstorm doing in your garden your time of the year.

I think it's called sods law Ivan ,both with the lavender and your ankle !! Spraining an ankle in you sleep though,well,it's unusual hahaha SORRY,didn't mean to laugh,it's not funny.Thankyou so much for your kind advice,I'll try anything to save my vine xxx Much appreciated Love Pinky xxx

By the way - when you're in the mood I'd love to read about your trip to Sydney. I know next to nothing of how it is to live in Australia - only from films and books.

I have no idea what a hailstorm's doing here at this time of year, but I do believe another one's just starting. I've also just noticed that next-door's oleanders are leaning to one side... They might fall if this keeps going.

Even worse, my rubbish bin appears to have floated into someone else's garden. I'd better retrieve it, I think.

Don't bother when your ankles so bad,they might bring it back for you xxxx

Oh, I've done it now.

I also did some gentle pottering and found a few shards of scented geraniums that might strike roots if I keep 'em in water for a few weeks. So there's something.

Well,thats good news,I love scented geraniums and they are quite hardy Fingers Crossed X Ivan xxxxx

Hopefully catch you later Ivan,one things for sure,your day can only get better,I hope.Bye for now Love Pinky xxx

<>

Uh oh, Pinky - that's tempting Fate I think!

Meanwhile, spraining one's ankle while asleep??? Ivan, it could only be you.


az

At least I only sprained my ankle. What if I wake up one morning to find that I've broken something in my sleep?

I know! This all happened only because you tidied up your garden. Such mess never happens *before* tidying.

It's a brave Australian that complains about too much rain Although frozen rain is a bit much. If it's any consolation (although I doubt it will be ) we've had hail and flash floods here too. It's quite strange seeing the ground white one day and getting sunburnt the next.

Is it lavenders in general you don't like, or just the ones in your garden?

Well, one doesn't expect rain - and certainly not frozen rain - in the middle of a drought.

It is only the lavender in my garden that I loathe. The landlord obviously got some idiot of a garden designer to lay the place out with roses, cottoneasters, and far too much lavender. The cottoneasters are quite nice, but they're deciduous, so in winter the garden as it was designed has bare branches and grey dormant lavender plants. Not pleasant at all.

I knew I shouldn't have tidied the garden. It was asking for trouble.

Sounds like an aweful day...

It wasn't a whole lot of fun, limping down from the bus stop and seeing filth and muck everywhere, and hoping that my place hadn't ended up in that state. Naturally, my place was the worst hit.

Poor Ivan