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Good job we don't know what's in store from day today - it used to be exciting not knowing, but these days I wake up apprehensive worrying what else we have to over come. Thank God my dear young friend Nick Gilbert came over on New Years eve to pick up all the dahlias grown at Little Wisley last year - that is except for the best of the 2009 seedlings, but might I stress - out of the eighty possible new arrivals I'll let him grow on at least thirty of them at his nursery in Romsey. He's a great bloke, and there's always a treat for Irene - this time by way of a Cyclamen - snow white it was, and it delighted her. I did mention I'd have to revue how we'd manage any seedlings I save this year, and he wasn't at all phased when I suggested he might have to take the lot, and let me have a cutting of each to grow on. That way I keep them safe, and still get a chance to grow them on for a second year to see what they are made of. It would be perfect if you could assess each potential new variety at the seedling stage, but it's practically impossible as I've said before. If you're listening Help For Heroes he didn't bring his cheque book and pen, but he assured me he'd be over very soon when he's collated how many dahlias of mine have been sold. Perhaps I should advertise the fact that my share of any dahlias sold while our troops are in Afghanistan, and Iraq will go to Help For Heroes - it might ensure more tickets get sold?

Okay I no I'm late - but I've been a busy man Louis - seriously I have tried desperately to update this blog before the month, but you're not in my shoes, or you'd know. I'm not complaining the girl's to precious, but come on if you've ever tackle dementia, it's like running the 400 yards with one leg, or at least with the two of them strapped together. The only reason for jumping in here at this moment of course is the dahlias, and a new one to me called Extase. Not a very original name as I'd have thought the correct spelling would suffice, but hey the guys Dutch bless him. Any way like the usual fool I bought it on the strength of it being a dwarf - guess what it isn't. Sounds typical of me doesn't it?

When I said this long handled fork - it is not of the continental kind, but was the result of a ladies border fork being warn down over the years, and then attaching it to a long ash handle. Mind you my niece a Miss Janice Lake has promised to acquire a real continently one from France on her next trip. She, and her brother Graham bought a series of buildings from a French farmer, and developed them into four very nice Gite's in the marvellous Loire Valley area. I remember when we went for a working holiday - some years back how very dark it was at night - you could hardly see your hand in front of your face - bit like going in to a mine.

Before I started digging I'd got breakfast over with, made the bed, prepared the evening meal, well the spuds, and Broccoli, the rest was in a large saucepan in the fridge and consisted of a very nice lamb stew that I'd cooked while seeing to our Sunday dinner. It definitely adds to the taste if cooked the day before. I'd left Irene washing, and had told her exactly where I'd be when she'd finish, and made herself presentable. That's a wonderful term, and I suppose very old fashion with today's standards. Our younger generation would probably say Have a good scrub up, and put on the slap?

I'd just about finished the last bit of digging when I saw this little face appear at the lower part of the kitchen window, and realised just how much the Osteoporosis had reduced Irene's height. I waved to reassure her, but then thought a wave was not enough. So I walked up to the kitchen, and spoke to her through the glass telling her I wouldn't be long now. Before going in doors I had a peep in the greenhouse at the various tubers that had already started - spraying those that still had dry growth buds - hoping to encourage them to start. It always surprises me that no matter how much I try I can never get a full box of different varieties to start at the same time. It would make life so much more convenient if they did - then you could lift them off the heat, and replace them with a dormant set. More thought must go into keeping each in its own container.

Hey don't laugh ol' Stocky's trying to set up a annual calendar - that uses thirteen dahlias to drum up dosh for charities - don't worry about the number thirteen we were married on the thirteenth, and everything we ever did together turned out okay - even dementia. You have know idea how complicated it is to know the ins, and out's of the legal way to do things. Fortunately I'm hooked up to a very nice guy who knows a thing or four, about the little wrinkles involved doing charitable things - shouldn't say anything really cos he's the real McCoy - knows all about what you can do, and can't do regards charities. Funny thing was - I think I got off on the wrong foot first off you know me, but now I've spoken to the fella on the phone I think we're best buddies. After all if it's true and we're only here once, I'm running out of time in this helping others lark. I practically certain I've picked the best thirteen charities. Wanna know more? Thought so - Well here's the set up, and by all means butt in if you smell something less than Kosher.

How to explain the idea I have in mind for a yearly calendar to bring in money to these charities. First my wife and I are seventy eight years old, and although my dear Irene not only has Osteoporosis pretty bad, but just to turn the screw a little more - they threw in dementia for good measure. In know way will what I am trying to pull off benefit anyone, but the charities listed - it is a purely charitable gesture on my part as we live in a wonderful country that fortunately has facility that help when help is needed - enough said.

My name is Ken Stock and I've lived in Bournemouth since I was twenty seven - moving from Woodford in Essex. Since my wife developed Osteoporosis several years ago, and then dementia a couple of years ago - the time I spent on my absorbing hobby has diminished. You see I breed dahlias, and for the past twenty five years we have supported many charities either by opening our garden, or using them to promote charities in various ways. I won't go into any details at this juncture, but just say most times these have been fruitful.

Okay because of the time it takes to do single functions, or garden open days - these have become few and far between, but as there is still time to do the breeding I can't let this go to waste. You get the picture - so perhaps you could help me find out if it is worthwhile carrying out my splendid idea?

Obviously a calendar is needed, but no ordinary calendar. It is ordinary in the fact it has thirteen pages like many others, but unusual because each page supports a different charity.

Imagine thirteen different dahlia photographs each being a new seedling. Each has a title, but not a name. Now also imagine each charity advertises that these dahlia need a name, and all the charitable people among you have to do is to try and secure a love ones name for that dahlia, and all for the price of a small gold coin. You not only have a very nice calendar, but also thirteen satisfied charities. Because at the end of the day the money from the sale of the calendars is divided by thirteen as well, and with the revenue of each separate page from what we will call a lottery adds to the total. At the end of each year the winning names are picked, and the dahlias are christened. These will go to two nurseries for sale to the general public, however until our troops are pulled out of Afghanistan, and Iraq my part of this money will go to another charity called Help For Heroes.

To recap - thirteen pages all with a different charity dahlias on them - we'll toss up for the one on the front cover. Down the right hand side of each inner page will be details of how to look after your dahlias for that month - and be accompanied by its charity dahlia. All to be named by the public for the small price of a one pound coin.

I am trying to get Sainsbury's to pay for the printing costs of my first 2011 calendar.

While reading through what I wrote yesterday I had another brilliant idea regards the calendar. You thought I was going to say, "I had a senior moment didn't you" Well when you're this age you're allowed so many senior moments each month before it matters.

What if the calendar was on the Internet? Okay we'd loose the revenue that an actual calendar would bring in, but it would make it far easy to set up the lottery side - because each charity could have a copy of it on their site. When each month of the year is displayed so would the lottery dahlia?

While heating Irene's milk for her Weetabix another portion of this idea popped into my head - why can't we give this calendar away as a screen saver as well? If I'd have had the schooling I might have made another Einstein - don't you think? It didn't stop there - I wonder who's working me? If this is done on the charities sites I won't be collecting any money, and therefore don't have to worry about anything regards what I can, and can't do. I must check with my expert David Leighton here in Bournemouth first though. Surely if all I'm doing is producing dahlias whether for someone else to sell, or to use on a calendar that is also a lottery - I can't be accused of making any money if I'm not involved?

Every part of my spare time has been taken up with sorting this charity calendar out. After being answered by many of the emails I sent out - one being from the Charity Commission confirmed all that my local charity adviser told me - although it had much more content in it - well it would have it was from head office, but I could tell David Leighton was on the ball about ever thing he'd told me. By the way I also heard from Sainsbury's, and just as I thought all money for 2011 had been spent. I didn't realise how much money they gave away - all set against tax I shouldn't wonder, but none the more a healthy gesture.

I've really come to the stage when I can present my final conclusion of the charity calendar to the first of the thirteen, and also the main people to confirm how I see it - the Charity Commission - here's hoping I've listened, and digested all I've been told.

We'll do it on the page, and see how we get on, and then send them a link.

You remember a few days ago I sent you a rough idea for a yearly calendar starting in the year 2011? Well after much thought, and a few sleepless nights I believe I've come up with a solution.

As you already know the calendar will have a charity on each one of its monthly pages - plus the front cover which has a different format in that it has no text other than advertising its charity, and how to contact them regards the lottery dahlia. It is self explanatory really, but I'll explain to make matters easy. The page I've completed is the one concerning January, and the National Osteoporosis Society, but so far I haven't told you the vital change I've made to make it workable, not only me, but the thirteen charities involved.............We do the whole Shebang on the Internet.

I'm sure in my mind that this will save anyone getting involved other than charities I've chosen - all I have to do is send them all a copy of the calendar each year - and they get their web master to paste it on to their sites?

Now using the Internet to advertise its purpose not only does away with the cost of the printing, but the revenue it would make by selling it - however I'm told by various sources that some times calendars make a lost. Oh, and one other thing the dahlia depicted on the January page is a 2009 seedling, and was only picked to suit the charity on this page - it already has a name after the French Painter Monet. The ones I'll use for 2011 have yet to be sown, and I'm expecting some beauties.

Those who know me have always known I'm no scholar - yet I feel confident since trying to cook with the meat I buy that I could make a beef stew without beef if I used beef extract. The majority of animal flesh I use ends up in the bin. Even fish seems to be void of any natural flavour that I knew as a kid. I'm going to have a go at crepes tomorrow evening with a filling of smoke salmon, and broccoli on the side. They are a French style pancake - though far thinner than the ones we are used to.

I pray I hear from the Osteoporosis Society, and the Charity Commission on Monday because the longer they take the longer the anxiety whether or not I can hold a lottery on my web site, and also on the thirteen charities sites involved. If it comes off I plan to add more charities to the yearly seedling campaign. I can't see there is anything illegal, surely if the public want to give to charity, and also gain a nice dahlia for a love one there's nothing to stop it - it would be named either in their memory, or because they love them, surely it can't breach any rules. You'll notice I've done a bit more work on the page allotted to what I call the lucky thirteen. Anyone finding a hyper link that doesn't work please email me.

A hyper link is what takes the click from my web site to the charity of your choice.

I've just sent an email to The Lotteries Council, and I'm pretty certain I have been wasting my time for well over four weeks - you see every step is like being burdened with a ton weight on each leg, or like treading in treacle to achieve what you intended. You see to form a lottery you have to join the Lottery Council, and like ever Quango that was ever invented they want their pound of flesh. The annual Membership Subscription currently stands at £175, and there is an additional entrance fee of £25 payable on joining for the first time, or after a period of absence - sorry charities I'm beginning to give up.

Anyone who can help me use my new dahlias to help charities without it giving me any work to do please get in touch I've had it.

I've thought about what I said a few days ago, and decided I'm not giving up on my splendid idea - even if I have to take it to the House of Lords. (I'd have to look that one up) I think the phone call I had yesterday revived my flagging heart - it was from the Breakthrough Breast Cancer a charity I was involved with in a small way a few years ago. Nice young lady who had obviously had a good deco at the web site because she mention she was also from Essex - you can't beat an Essex girl. Anyway I've tried a different tack now, and emailed the Citizen's Advice and I know that won't cost me a bean. Wanna see the email thought you would.

I have over the past month or so tried desperately to set up a way to bring money to thirteen charities -the best way to show you this is to give you a link to my web site which explains how I tried in vain to set up, first a Calendar, and then a Lottery which involved thirteen completely new dahlias. (a summer and autumn flowering plant) Not just for one year, but for life, or until I am unable to sow the seed I've collected the previous year. I can tell you the crosses I make now are starting to give me some wonderful results. Click on the link below and scan down to February 15th.

You see in order to run a lottery I believe I have to join the Lottery Commission at the cost of £175 a year, and pay a setting up fee in the first year. I am willing to spend both my time, and energy to make this happen, but need to know my rights. I will phone your office if you think this would be a better bet, but will give you time to understand my dilemma. Did I mention my wife suffers from Osteoporosis, and also dementia - although Aricept is helping with this, and only occasionally do we have major upsets.

Can you advise me how I can use this idea without it costing me or the charities any hardship? In a simple form all I want to do is give the public a chance to name a dahlia after a love one, and the money to go to the charity they pick - I assume this will be a love one who had either died with the disease the charity supported, or is suffering from the disease.

Main switchboard 020 7840 1000
Membership 020 7840 1010
Events 020 7840 1040
Press 020 7840 1044
Professional Development 020 7840 1020
Policy Helpline 0845 402 4771
Tax-Effective Giving helpline 0845 458 4586

Good luck

Adrian Sargeant, PhD MBA, DipM, PGDip IM, Cert Ed, F Inst F, FCIM, FIDM.

Now for a start this is yet another Quango as are the people who run the Charity Facts web site - how do I know? Because there is a yearly cost to become a member, and for any advise they give. Good God before I started looking into this giving lark I didn't even know what a Quango was - oh I'd heard of it, but I didn't know the precise term. The definition of Quango as logged by the Oxford dictionary is spelt out below.

Quango. noun (plural Quangos) An administrative body with financial support from, and senior appointments made by the government , but not controlled by it.

From the initials of ( quasi- autoautonomous non- governmental organization)

Now I'm guessing that part of the above is in Latin, and probably very important, but it cuts no ice with me, because the only Quasi I ever heard about before this venture was Quasimodo. What beats me in all this is how many places you can go for advice, but none of it is free - and all this when we're trying to help charities - not hinder them. The bit that got me was the amount of letters after Mr. Sargeant's name - all possibly genuine, but hardly relevant in an email to little ol' me. The only letters I ever earned were MUG although I was once a Fellow of the National Chrysanthemum Society. K E Stock. FNCS.

Looking into the source of this last piece of advice I find it is link to the USA in some way although they quoted a London address. You can imagine how frustrated I've become - it's not as though I'm trying to rip anyone off all I want to do is to christen some dahlias - then it hit me. I am most certainly barking up the wrong tree - I don't need to have a calendar, or a lottery - all I need to do is word this project correctly. It has to be a donation!!!!!!!!!!!!

You won't believe this I rang Estelle and she goes on holiday tomorrow, but she's put me in her diary to call when she gets back - so watch this space. The more I think of it the more I feel this donation idea will tick all the right boxes. So keep calm, and pray it does - I seem to be doing a lot of praying lately perhaps I should join something?

Could be in luck today the digits look right - you'll see, that is the inquisitive ones amongst you, that I've added the facilities for the donator to tell us who and where they are - fancy not thinking of that, but then I am an ol' boy, and almost incapable of thinking straight when I get excited - God knows how I ever made a living - mind you decorating wasn't that exciting. I've sent a rather stern email to all the charities chosen for my new charity dahlia extravaganza - well stern by my standards. Letting them know that should they not want to take part they only have to say - to the few that have got back to me, and definitely want to have a bash except my apologises.

Apologises to all my friends who regularly read what I have to say. Those who know about dahlias realise this is a very busy period, but add computer failure, and a new set up to come to terms with - plus a darling wife who needs constantly reassuring that all is well, and it's a wonder I haven't folded.

I think I told you of a clever fella who constantly comes to my aid in times of need well this time he's helping me out trying to make sense of a charity helper called Just Giving - I'm sure I've mentioned it before, and of course it has everything to do with using dahlias in a charitable way, but instead of assessing the situation sensibly I've pressed on full steam a head in my usual way - an cos it's no good blaming Hitler all the time - it's time I grew up, and realise I should open my eyes a little wider taking in the whole instead of little bits at a time. To cut this longer than needed story to a bite size chunk - Steve - that's his name - suggested I used the charities that were already on Just Giving's books rather than urge the people I all ready had to join Just Giving. You see it costs the charities £15 a month for the privilege of their service - at first I thought this seemed a bit rich, but on second thoughts it takes all the aggravation out of the charity work anyone does for a mere 5% of the money donated - I like that word donated. I must remember to mention this on the charity dahlia page.

Irene's breakfast over, and just a word to say about something I saw and heard regards dementia on the BBC News over another cup of tea, and while washing up the breakfast things. It involved a gentleman named John Suchet who worked as a news reader at one stage - I do believe I saw him before describing how devastating it is to watch the women he loved gradually change into someone else - it was very moving, and all done in front of my dear Irene - who couldn't - thank God make sense of it. I know my fate is going along in a similar vain, but however hard it gets I have promised both my kids, and myself Irene will never leave me - even when I know at times she believes I leave her.

Almost a month has gone by with hardly a moment to call my own - except for the obvious chores. Still not sorted the charity dahlia page regards linking it to Just Giving as my little helper. I've opened the first page supporting Alzheimer's least I think it was Alzheimer's as I can't open it because I didn't make a note of the user name and password details. To top it all I went and made the page active while fishing around seeing how everything worked - good job it wasn't anything to do with explosives? The first dahlia seedlings for 2010 are going great guns with several showing colour mind you I did start them a few weeks earlier.

Just under a month since I added anything to this page - busy isn't quite the word I'd use - but we're getting things done. Mind you with many things to do in the dahlia garden I'm only here writing this because a storm is creating havoc in the back, and with many first year seedlings untagged, and with limited support I could do without the break from these chores. Fortunately Irene is okay today, but we did have an Alice in Wonderland moment yesterday. I've completed nine of the eighteen charity dahlias on Just Giving - yes I know I said I was doing less, but there is always one more that catches my eye - the latest being Canine Partners. If you look at the charity dahlia page you'll see I've chosen a few beauties. If you care to donate a couple of quid I'd be tickled pink . You see if everyone who looks at my pages donated two pound they'd all have a chance to have their particular name picked in a charity draw. Enough of my pleading - guess you like to see a few dahlias. Let's start off with a couple of unusual ones, and I swear the photo's haven't been doctored.

Honest Indians that is exactly how the photograph was taken - although I did have the advantage of a very dull day - you know how hard it is to get these dark colours right. I couldn't believe my eyes when I looked out of our kitchen window so I snapped it while the drizzle reigned, and the wind blew. Okay it's a little clocked face at the moment, but I've found that quite a few seedlings - especially the strong growing ones have this tendency, and then straighten their selves out when grown with plenty of stems to the plants the following year. Next up what appeared to be a cracking Collerette - that is until you count the number of ray florets - no guessing why I've called it Ten Outa Ten for the moment I'll might use it for one of the charity dahlias as it appears to have quite a strong constitution - sorry to keep on referring to my charity slot - but I thought it might jog your memories. This is where I'd like to know just how many dahlia growers read the stuff I churn out. Oh I did have two ladies, and their mother call in on me - the mother had talked to me while I was tiding in the front garden - in the middle of one of her constitutional walks the day before - when I told the ladies they were very lucky as if it had been a week or two later it would have cost them a pound each to look round. Before I could say Jack Spratt's cat the one that seemed most interested gave me three quid. Wanna see why.

Boy oh boy have I been busy - not just dahlia work as you can imagine, but with intermittent bouts of stormy rain with wind - removing dropped petals has been a nightmare. I wonder where that word came from - conjures up a headless horseman to my mind. In case I've already commented regards saved seedlings let me apologise before I spout my head off. Here goes - I had all told four hundred seedlings, and last year I silently prayed to who ever is in charge could I have a few good ones - but not only that could they be double dahlias know matter what type - as long as they were beautiful. To date I have at least two hundred and seventy dahlias still in the ground - I have know means of finding out what percent that is although I do know it is well over fifty which for double dahlias where Mr. Bumble has had a hand is unheard of. Okay not all are show dahlias, but all are really beautiful garden dahlias - as are the best of the show dahlias - must go - tagging seedlings takes time, and it'll be evening meal time before I can look round.

Never did get back to finishing the year - I promise I'll try harder in 2011 after all glancing through this years effort proves to me it's a worth while project. Self praise is not worth a fish supper I know, but handling my world, and keeping this going is therapy, and besides Spell Check is missing me.

			Clipped petals, and all, and they've done the old trick of adding lots more flowers than the variety can do naturally, but come on that's marketing skill isn't it? Hold your horses on this variety - I'm told by none other than Jack Gott that he's tried it - might have known, and it is not good enough to breed with - not his exact words , but good enough to warn you all. **8th February: There is nothing more invigorating than a couple of hours digging with a long handle fork - it fair brings to life the sleepy ol' chest muscles, and prevents any further development of man boobs. Women of all ages seem to think this expression is hilarious.**


	Extase

			March 4th: Garden Princess is something I picked up in Wilkinson's - they've used the ol' trick of cutting a good bunch of flowers - taking a photo of them in the vase, and then placing that on the plastic bag containing the tuber. As I already had Park Princess and I was buying in Matilda Huston - this one will complete the threesome? That way I've got all the primary colours within that little pool. Because Park Princess has the pink to white, this new one has the yellow through to red, and Matilda Huston has the purple through to that all important blue. I don't expect I'll use them in the garden this year until I've had a chance to assess their worth, so these will most probably live the first year with me in pots. I guess Jack might tell me he's used it, and it's rubbish. but you've got to start somewhere.



	Garden Princess.


	*Black Jack.*		Ten Outa Ten.