AN OLD Fella's Rambling.

WHAT the young call a BLOG WE CALL A NATTER  AND  WHAT  YEARS  AGO THEY CALLED A JOURNAL

For the dahlia nuts among you it gets more interesting after Xmas.

April 8th.2007

I must say when my door bell went on a Sunday morning earlier this year I wasn’t expecting it to be a new neighbour. It appears Chris and Lesley had moved in across the road from me Friday last. As Friday is our Sainsbury day I hadn’t noticed the activity that accompanied such goings on. Chris stood there as wide as barn door and proceeded to tell me all about himself, and how his wife had developed Multiple Sclerosis after they’d both worked twenty nine years for the TSB banking establishment, and how he’d had to apply for early retirement so as he could to be there for her in her hour or need. Now this is of course the right procedure to take, and possibly the best thing any good husband would do, but go one stage further and imagine what a guy who has Cerebral Palsy is trying to cope with, and you have a whole new ball game. Chris went on to explain the bank were not completely helpful when he told them he had to take early retirement, but I won’t dwell on such matters as it won’t alter things, but I thought I should say. After making ourselves know, and assuring each other we’d help should help be needed, Chris left and I carried on preparing the Sunday dinner.

April 16th.

Just over a week had passed and apart for the odd wave across the void I didn’t speak to Chris until he crossed the road while I was planting some second year dwarf dahlias seedlings in the front garden. I stopped what I was doing and listened to what he had to say, and was surprised to find out that evidently he was more or less certain he knew me from when I worked for George & Harding some forty odd years ago. As he explained how we’d met previously so my mind cleared and the years rolled back to when I was in my early thirties. “You remember Ken you asked me where the toilets where” and sure enough that day and the whole incident came to life. Mind you he was only a young lad back then, and half the size he is now. He went on to talk about our front garden, and how he’d enjoy the spring display he’d seen for the past weeks or so, and the colour the Wallflowers, Violas, Pansies, and coloured Primroses had produced. Soon I found myself telling him that we’d opened our gardens both here and at the bottom of the hill at number 104 for over twenty years, but due to Irene troubles I’d suggested we give it a rest this year. Not that the garden will be any different whether we open it or not because I shall still put the same amount of effort in to it.

April 29th.

Since telling Chris we probably wouldn’t open the garden this year Irene has begged me to carry on as usual, but this time split what we get between Tenovus and another charity, you can guess what the other charity will be can’t you. When I told Chris he said you can put me down to manage the Tombola. I’d like to tell you something that Chris said to me on our second meeting. He started by saying “D`you know Ken when I was a kid I used to think as I lay in bed, when I wake up in the morning perhaps I’ll be normal” Well you can bet how I reacted. “Normal” I said. “Normal, Chris you’re more normal than half the people in this road, don’t ever think you’re anything less than normal” To think this guy, who has made a life for himself and his wife Lesley, despite being dealt a really rough hand, still feels he’s not one of us, after all what’s normal. I can see my life is going to be a whole lot better now that Chris has moved in across the road.

Mother’s Day Sunday May 13th.

Fridays seem to come round more frequently than they did a few years ago, and like wise the week-ends which used to be so very busy when I was working. Since packing up work altogether I wonder how I ever did what I used to when I was working full time. Over the road at Chris’s has been as busy as a bee hive from about Thursday, what with Ken the gardener tidying up the shrubs, and a couple of self employed fellows replacing two of the front windows, which immediately changed the appearance of the bungalow it’s been as lively as a Church Bazaar. Of course Chris was busy too organising tea and cakes, and taking the occasional glance at his newly fitted windows. I shouted across “Looks great Chris, big improvement” with this, over he comes as please as Punch & Judy on a good day. “D`you like`em Ken?” I told him I did, and said I thought they’d done a good job, and seemed very competent. He assured me they were, and if I wanted anything in that line the main man whose name was Jed would always give me a quote. I thought about the two windows I had in the conservative that had gone misty on me because the seals had gone, and asked him if he’d get Jed to pop over when he had time because the last quote I had for the two skinny top lights was £150 for the two. With that my eldest daughter Pam arrived to do her mum’s hair, but before disappearing inside she‘d asked if he was pleased with the move. He of course said he was delighted, and told her the only thing that had stopped him in the past was that they were living in house that his granddad had built. After Pam left he went on to say that because his grandfather had been wounded in World War one, the Bournemouth council had given the heroes a piece of land on their return, and Chris’s grandfather built, or had built this detached house. I found this very touching, and was pleased to have found out something about the area I’d made my home for the past fifty years that I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t renewed my acquaintance with Chris. By the way Jed came over to take the measurements, and two days later I got his quote, take a guess? You’re nowhere near, £65 for both to be made and fitted, anyone in the Bournemouth area wants a good fair man just send me an email, and I’ll send you his.

May 19th.

Today Chris told me how he took after his grandfather regards liking a little flutter. Gambling was frowned on in those days after the first war, but as Chris’s granddad was a Milkman he was ideally placed because as well as delivering the milk he could put on a bet or two for his grateful customers, sort of Bookies runner. Oh I hadn’t told you about the little win Chris picked up soon after he’d moved had I. Evidently he does what is know in racing circles as an `Accumulator’ I think some call it a `Yankee’ but can’t be sure. This is the gist of the idea, you pick four different races and place your bet on the first, and if you win, that money goes on what you picked in the next race and so on. I shouldn’t entice you to have ago, and I was assured by Chris never exceeds nine pound on the first bet. They’ve only been moved in a couple of months and he’s had two very good pay outs so far, Chris puts it down to a brilliant tipster in the Daily Mirror, and of course some one up stairs who’s on his side. I’ll give you an example of his luck, last week his wife Lesley took their car to a large shopping centre called Castlepoint, it was a very windy day and unbeknown to Lesley as she shut the door her disable badge was blown onto the floor. On her return sure enough she’d got a ticket for not displaying it where it could be seen on the dashboard, and the fine believe it or not was £80. Chris was furious, and although he phoned straight away the person he phoned who wasn’t the person responsible for the ticket, only the car park warden, he said it was possible they would still have to pay the £80, or at best the administration fee of £8-50 for sending him the fine. The very next day he picked up a cool £200 odd from one of those special type bets.

April 30th.

Chris hasn’t had a very good day today, Misty their cat had to be taken to the emergency vet yet again it appear the swelling had increased to such an extent Chris feared she would have to be put to sleep. As this is the first time I have mentioned Misty perhaps I should explain they have had her from a kitten and she is just over twenty years old which is well over a hundred in cat terms unfortunately she hasn’t been very well since before the move. Chris said they’d waited up the vets for well over an hour and he was getting anxious for her. However when their turn came the vet told them she was not in pain, but she was retaining fluid which could be reduced by administering water tablets, but the decision was theirs if they’d rather let her go. Chris wasn’t having any of it and he paid for the tablets and they made their way back home with her in a cat basket. As he backed his car up his drive and got out I shouted “How’s the neck” He has pain on and off due to the cart ledge between his vertebras being very thin, but due to his condition it is inoperable, and it had been extremely painful yesterday. Chris answered “I’ll see you in a minute Ken”

I stayed out side although finished for the night but still finding jobs to do, and true to his word Chris came bounding up our drive to tell me the latest. I could see he was upset, and seemed to have enough emotions for at least three people. “She’s retaining fluid Ken and not in pain” I told him if she was I think she’d have made a lot more noise, and he went on to tell me he’d had to take his dad’s cat to the vet last year. Chris’s dad had not been well, but knew their cat was in a bad way so he phone his boy who immediately went round and took it to the vet. As you know last year was unbearably hot, and all the time they waited Chris repeatedly went to the door to allow the cat to have more air. He was so distressed with the cat’s plight he told his wife Lesley to ring the bell which she did, and they eventually saw a vet. I won’t go into the details but eventually they arrived home with the cat in a box, and before they could tell his father the sad news his father said “Take me to the hospital son I’m bleeding” Three months later Chris lost his dad to cancer. Although most of what I’ve told you so far is quite sad it is so comforting to have this extraordinary normal guy living within shouting distance from us you know.

June 1st.

I had to laugh we’d just finished lunch, and all the shopping was put into the appropriate boxes, and I’d just finished washing up the utensils etc after our lunch, but couldn’t find the tea cloth. I asked Irene had she put it in the wash and she replied after what seemed a life time “It’s on the hot thing in the hall” I knew what she meant was the radiator, but at the same time conquered up this vision of a Swedish Au Pair who lived in. Prior to getting the lunch and during sorting the shopping the door bell went and it was ol’ Chris, he looked pleased with himself and having one of my empty seed trays in his hand I knew he’d been over the cemetery, and had placed the box of mixed begonias I’d given him on both his dad’s and uncle’s graves, “Jobs done Ken and they look splendid I managed to do them both between the showers” I told him I was pleased, and now he can have a well earned rest “Got to take mum to the doctor’s first Ken, see you tomorrow” I watched as he disappeared down the drive, and thought once again how lucky I was to know him.

Getting really peeved that my Internet connection won’t be ready until June 15th I hope they don’t start my payments until I’m connected or I won’t gain the benefit of the first month at £9:99. The crows are still pulling out the labels on the seedlings, I think the only thing I can do is to make a Scare Crow, but knowing my luck they’ll probably sit on it. I did buy some cable straps to attach the label to the plant, but I think the stems are to tender to use them yet.

June 2nd.

I’ve thought long and hard at where the layout of the back garden is going. Since I abandoned the traditional English garden look I’ve been continually told “I liked it how you used to do it” So next year it’ll be back to the drawing board in an attempt to please family and friends, and create that English garden look, but you can bet dahlias will take pride of place over other species. My trouble is where to plant the seedlings because they make everything worth while. Just after mid-day today Jed the window man turned up to fix the new sealed unites. Afterwards he used something called PVC solvent that really bought the plastic up as good as new.

June 9th.

I gave Chris a wave this morning as I pushed the new lawn mower out to cut the front lawn, and I knew something was up as Chris made a move across the road shouting as he came “I won’t keep you” I thought he could keep me as long as he liked because talking to this guy was quite a interesting event. I could see he was upset. “Misty’s gone Ken” he could hardly hold back the tears. “I had to take her to the vet’s because she was in a very distressed state” You could see he was moved by what he’d had to do. “Another month and we’d have had her twenty one years” I tried to console him explaining just under twenty one years is a magnificent age for a cat, but it didn’t help. I explained he had to get it in perspective just think of how a mother would feel who’d lost a young son in Iraq, but some how this guys cat was all important, and I knew his circumstances were helping to multiply the loss. Chris left explaining they were due to go out that evening but somehow he didn’t think it was now appropriate, I felt for the guy, but knew eventually he'd come to terms with this new sadness in his life.

June 12th.

Chris was more himself today, Ken the gardener turned up and Chris managed to knock the Mercedes badge off of his car, it’s an old car but they seem to go forever. Ken was making the most of ribbing him about it. It’s un-caning how Chris seems to attract the right sort of people around him. Yesterday Lenny the guy next door to me asked if I wanted some rockery stone, it was the real thing Purbeck’s best. I said I didn’t have any use for it and the best thing he could do was to advertise it in the local paper. He did better than that he contacted Chris’s gardener Ken, who jumped at the chance of obtaining this popular local stone, and like any good business man he said the cost of clearing it had to be taken into account, everyone was delighted with the resultant outcome.

Just seen Lenny off for one of those “Evenings with the boys nights” I was watering the plants I’d used to brighten up his newly constructed block paving layout, and he didn’t miss the opportunity of telling his mate, who was picking him up in the taxi, that I was his gardener.

Talking of block paving, which is all the rage here in Bournemouth since our summers have been so dry that lawns have resembled that of Wimbledon’s centre court after every match had been played on them. I’ve been trying to contact a guy called a Mike Snowden, known as Snowy to his friends who did the job next door single handed. He’d given me a pamphlet with the firm he used to supply the paving stones, and typical of me I’ve gone and mislaid it. I’d tried to contact him yesterday without success, but to day I managed to reach him. He explained if I ordered it through him I’d get the slabs I need to pave my dahlia rows delivery free, and not only that I wouldn’t have to pay until the end of the month. I told him there’d be a drink in it for him.

June 16th.

Still no joy regards my Internet connection, it seems to me this Internet lark is un-monitored, and they can do as they darn well like. BT have moved the goal posts and will revue the situation on the eighteenth of June now, just as well it’s not life threatening. Bob Hendley came over yesterday, you remember my distributor. He was thoroughly dejected on his own admission because the rabbits have beaten him, there are hundreds of them, and they not only ate the dahlias on top of the ground, but dig certain varieties up to savour the roots. I felt sorry as you can’t fault the guy for work output, they are moving to France as soon as the house is sold, and this is a guy that done more than his share in Northern Ireland at the height of the troubles. It leaves me in a quandary, and between the devil and the deep you might say. Bob recons the best thing to do is create a show garden in France next year, and show the European’s what he has for sale. It’s a big market, but it has many established nurserymen including the skilful Dutch so I wish him all the luck in the world. He ended up saying I’m not done yet, and build up a stock of Toreador? Now that’s got you thinking?

The trouble with all this is I’m not getting any younger, and a couple of years of breeding have gone down the drain. I’ll have to take a leaf out of my mate Jack Gott’s book, and if I get a possible money spinner similar to Toreador I must sit on it until the world and his wife is begging me to release it.

June 18th.

Did I mention while I was potting on cuttings and earlier seedlings I found seeds that where only just emerging in the compost. They could have only been from the box I didn’t leave long enough to germinate, that’s right the GIANTS. God knows how many of these unfortunate seeds I buried still full of life, but let’s look on the bright side, the ten seedlings I’ve just potted on into five inch pots which have a G followed by a question mark on the label are magnificent, and have every chance of being a few of the lost giant crosses of 2006 such is their stature. Only time will tell, and I promise photo good, bad, or indifferent will be displayed on the web site. Never did get down to showing these did I? I wonder why? Because two were single, five were not worthy of the compost they were growing in, and the rest were, bar  a charity dahlia called Larraine Claire, very light of petal.

Time to get the verdict on my Internet connection, first I’ll see if I have a dialling tone, and then phone Freeola, I’ve rang them so many times I’ve memorized the number. Still no joy, Freeola support which is the best in the world, and I mean that, tell me that usually BT get stuff like this finished about 4 o’clock so I’ll ring them back just after then. This done and still nothing, one of the guys on Freeola says his college has my situation monitored. Now that’s what I call looking after the customer, pity BT can’t be as useful, but then they are their old lines aren’t they? I wonder when they’ll wear out? Then we’ll all be in trouble, except for those with cable firms and wireless connections. Just had a copy of a magazine called Compass delivered, it’s one of those freebies. A very interesting article inside denying there is such a thing as global warming, it seems this group believe most of our climate is controlled by the Sun, and also cosmic forces in Space and it’s all beyond our control.

June 23rd.

Just checked on my Internet connection, and when I asked how long such things went on for I was told by Freeola support that it’s never much longer than three weeks, strewth that’s almost an armful. The nice man from Freeola said when he comes in on Monday afternoon he’d try and get more details about what’s going on. Meanwhile I’ve just had a brain wave, what if I go `Wire free’ could I get hooked up to the Internet without using anyone? Obviously I’d have to have a server, but then they would be responsible for sorting out BT. Mind you there is talk that `Wire free’ has it’s own problems in that it sends harmful signals to it’s users. Talking of bad practices, Irene is very concerned about my neck, it seems it resembles that of someone from Nigeria such is my involvement with the outside world, and dahlias in particular.  It is as black as Negates Knocker with being in the sun so long.

Sunday June 24th.

Just come back from the Wellington boot club for the second time today, I’d left my brolly behind. It hasn’t stopped raining since I got up, and not the light stuff this stuff hurts the top of your head, well when you’re in your seventy sixth year the ol’ thatch isn’t what it used to be. As I was coming out of the newly erected building I bumped into Mushroom Mick. “I’ve Nearly finished your seed box dibber Ken” I must confess I’d forgotten he was making life easy for boxing up the begonias etc with a hand crafted measuring device. “Thank mate, that’ll be magic, by the way I’ve completed the drawing for the pedestal you want to make for our front garden” Ol’ Mick is an engineer and capable of making anything in metal, and when I mentioned I’d like a planter for the front garden he’d instantly volunteered to make it. “Now I don’t want any favours” I said at the time, but it appears he insists there’s no charge. Now I won’t hear of this so suggested he makes it, and he accesses how much it costs to make, plus profit then I give him half of the total, and by planting it in my front garden, when asked where I got it I’ll pass the customers over to Mick, and he’ll start to get in the black. “Come round for a coffee Ken” Mick almost begged me. I thought of Irene and declined his offer. “Mick mate I’d love to but Irene will wonder where I’ve got to, she worries where I am since getting older” I left him to get in his large white car as the heavens opened once more.

June 24th.

True to his word Brian Madders the current Chairman of the New Forest & District Dahlia & Chrysanthemum Society phone me this morning, saying he’d be round to collect thirty six dahlia plants in three and a half inch square pots, you know the ones that you can fit fifteen into a standard size seed tray. They were some of last year’s seedlings, and he offered to give them a home until they’re lifted sometime in the autumn. There’s about two hundred more sitting in my side way either destined for the bin, or a life making miniature tubers, I hate rabbits.

June 26th.

The rain eased enough for me to get the first ten eighteen inch square slabs down that’s the beauty of slabs as long as you bed them down you can go back and fill in the gap between them any time. I was just cleaning up and Mushroom Mick came round bringing the seed tray dibber he’d promised. Once you’re trained as an engineer you can more or less tackle anything in many different materials. This seed tray spacing device is made of plastic and meant for a half tray, but of course all you do is use it twice on a full tray. It’s perfect for getting the seedlings equally spaced.

Hang on some one at the door . . . . . . it was Chris he come over because he and Lesley were having trouble opening the new child proof cap on Levington liquid tomato feed, you know the type with the push down and turn lid, tell you what it was not only child proof it was Ken proof as well, I’d have loved to have opened it, but try as I might he still went away with it in tacked, and is going to take it back in the morning.

Blow me down Chris has just phoned to say Lesley has managed to open, I thought I heard a click when I was trying so obviously I did something to help the situation. Chris is a lad, having mentioned I would probable have to ditch the remaining dahlias in our side way he rang Ken the gardener explaining my plight, who told him to tell me to put a five pounds worth by, and he’ll pay me when he comes over to do the garden this Thursday. I’ll see he gets a garden full.

June 28th.

True to his word Ken came over with his money and took away another couple of boxes to see if he could entice some of his customers to become dahlia growers. Meanwhile Chris reckoned the sign advertising these dahlias should be bolder, and promptly walked it across the road for Lesley to improve it. I was in the middle of mixing sixteen shovelful of washed grit by two of cement when Chris returned with the improved sign. “Now then” he said, “What we need is to get the boxes up near the sign so as the punters can see what they’re buying” Having done what he’d suggested I couldn’t help seeing the difference a little organizing can do. I thanked Chris for his help and returned to the pile of unmixed aggregate in the garage which was the only place I had with a concrete floor. Oh in case anyone is thinking 16 to 2 is a very weak mix I can assure you being the wash grit consists mainly of grit, the strength is adequate for the job in hand which was laying eighteen inch square paving stones.

I’d know sooner started laying them when I was called upon to sell the much attended dahlias. I took the ladies money and wondered if it was worth the effort, and vowed never again to do 2,500 dahlias in one season, because the extra work hadn’t done anything to pay for the cost of the electricity involved producing them. Eventually finishing the long path adjoining the fence to my neighbour on my left, thoughts turned to a cup of tea., which took longer than I’d anticipated because the lady who’d had the previous box of plants came back for another for her mother of eighty four. Lunch time came and went and I was starting to get in my stride when Irene called out “It’s that nice man from Freeola” I hurried from the back fence where I was paving. “Tell him I won’t be a second I'm just removing my boots” Out of breath I was hoping for good news about my Internet connection “Sorry to keep you waiting” I said, and he started to explain his annoyance at BT’s decision to cancel the order I’d made with Freeola without telling either them or myself, but the good news was they assured him I would have an Internet connection by July the 4th I think they’re having a laugh because that’s American Independence Day. Let’s face it I could have waited for ever for a connection if hadn’t badgered him, and he hadn’t badgered them. I ended the conversation by thanking him and saying I’d make sure there was a dahlia named Freeola, and I was certain he didn’t have a clue what I was talking about.

By the end of the day at about twenty passed seven I was worn out, but pleased with my considerable effort and pretending this was a job I’d been doing all my life. The only thing left to do now was smaller slabs to lay, pointing all the stones both in the back and front, and concrete small areas that couldn’t be completed with slabs. Now to clean off the trowel and spade, and get our meal prepared. Oh and in between pour a large Sherry and make a cup of tea for the pair of us. No sooner had I put the kettle on than the phone went, it was Chris “Don’t forget the sign and to move the plants back Ken” Bless his heart ever vigilant he was thinking of thieves, and I’d already forgot the dahlias which by now were just in the way. “And don’t forget Saturday Kings Park nursery are selling off their surplus plants so there could be plenty of people about” I thanked him and put the phone down knowing he was doing his best to help me, and proceeded to place my weary legs into my size nine Wellington boots. Returning I poured the tea and another Sherry, and turned up the heat on the potatoes.

June 30th.

Today is Irene’s birthday I’d had her card for ages, but so far hadn’t managed to find a suitable present, so as soon as I opened my eyes I wished her a happy birthday and reached over for the money I’d earned from those dahlias. After shaving I opened the curtains, and to my surprise the sun was shining, but by the time we’d had breakfast it was tipping down, bang goes my chance of laying the remaining four large slabs, but I thank God I have a greenhouse and jobs to do. The tomatoes are just getting their ninth truss having grown up to the sides of the greenhouse I’m training them up to the ridge, and feeding them at every watering. My idea of growing Coleus for cancer has worked well with over one hundred and fifty potted, and a further fifty late ones pricked out into a seed box to do later. Now all I’ve got to do is sell them when fully grown for a pound each, I thought I’d do a sign reading “Buy a Coleus Fight Cancer” surely that alone will induce them to buy.

Sunday July1st.

It’s supposed to be a good day today regards the weather so I thought long and hard of how to convince Irene how it was far better to have our meal in the evening instead of mid-day, the scam worked, but I was sure Irene saw through my cunning plan to make Sunday a day of work instead of rest. By six o’clock I’d finished laying all the one foot paving stones in the back, and will only have the front small stones to do. Mushroom Mick rang and explained he’d placed all the dahlias he’d taken, and did I have any more as some neighbours could do with some. I told him I’d put the remainder in a safe place for him, Oh it seems he’s cut out all the sheet metal needed to make the triple pedestal for the front garden and only has to roll it, what ever that entails.

Monday December 10th.

Big jump from July the 1st, and I’ve no excuse I’ve just been plain lazy. Lots have happened though and I’m sure you’ve been catching up on different pages. If you have you’ll know I’ve been to Wisley twice, the TV programme was finished that I was involved with, and it’s been aired on National television. I was amazed just how much they kept in. Oh the Charity dahlia pages has gone in, and I expect every last one of you to buy at least one variety, (only kidding) but it would be a great gesture. Irene and I have both topped up our immune system by first me catching Chris’s cold, and then me passing it on to her. Chris caught it in the first place through the air conditioning on the plane that bought them back from Spain. They’d been away for a week courtesy of a lady who knows Chris’s Mum, and has a flat out there. As soon as the guy saw I’d picked up his cold he commented “You’ve got my cold?” I told him I certainly hadn’t, it was indeed my own. Trouble was they were going over to America to see the autumn colours, what the Yanks call "Maple colors in the fall" No that’s not a spelling mistake I can assure you, that’s how they spell it over there, they are great people, but their spelling's atrocious, and sure not the Queen’s English. Chris and Lesley surprised us by bring back a fancy bottle Maple syrup, it was the first time I’d tasted it. The taste was like ordinary syrup with a twist of Rye Whiskey added. I suppose it one of those flavours you get used to if you come from those parts. Before I added this blog to my web site, I of course had to ask Chris, so I rang him about half an hour ago, the phone kept ringing until the answer phone cut in, Bugga another call wasted. I hate answer phone facilities. BT the people who run the company we use, are on to a good thing, but while I was annoyed I was also worried that I’d disturbed their meal, especially as I sat down on my computer chair and the phone went. It appears Chris was talking to Brian his neighbour on the right who had not long had a triple bi-pass I apologised for disturbing Chris, and after we’d exchanged niceties regards family members I found out he’d got a bit of bother. Not only was Lesley in bed with what he described as flue like symptoms, but after asking her earlier if she’d spilt something by the door leading to the kitchen, and finding out she hadn’t, there was every possibility that one of the sweated joint of the heating system was weeping enough to make a damp patch under the carpet in the hall. You see all the floors are concrete and the heating pipes are encased in them. He knew I'd found out prior to me buying my place, that his property had experienced a similar mishap two owners ago. Oh dear that’s all they needed, and right on top of Xmas, mind you he was quick to add he’d leave well alone until this much commercialised event had passed. I put the phone down and thought to myself, what next? These two could do with a good fairy to wave her magic wand over their abode.

Just finished washing up the evening meals crockery, and intended to close down for the night after answering a few late emails, but can't resist mentioning Junior Master Mind, it was incredible the amount of knowledge these youngsters absorb. One even said, when asked what he'd like to do when he grows up." I'd like to become Prime Minster, or failing that a famous film producer" I thought to myself what ever of these jobs he ended up with he would still be able to tell a good tale.

December 16th:

Since Chris telling me about his latest trouble I've learnt more, it appears he was mistaken about the cause of the damp patch on the carpet in the hall just outside the kitchen door. Fortunately I think, it was brought about by a leak on the washing machine connection. He recons it has been leaking from some time, but had taken until now to show it's self by the door from the hall. He contacted the insurance people right away, and they'd sent a firm round to assess the damage, and before placing a humidifier in place they took the vinyl up to expose cork tiles and a soggy mess. By the time I took their Christmas card over the firms representative had left, and Chris had removed a good half of the tiles to expose the concrete floor. "Good idea I said" as he explained the more damp cork tiles he removed the quicker he could turn this infernal humidifier off.

January 20th 2008:

That's it Xmas over and twenty days into the New Year, cos you heard about Irene's broken wrist? It was a nasty break, and her with the Osteoporosis it made things worse, it is surprising what goes on in Bournemouth hospital in the middle of the night. I think we've got over the worse now though, but unfortunately the pain at times is horrendous, or so I'm told. The trip to Pool hospital to check everything is going along okay was the last now until February5th so I'm pleased about that. It is so fortunate it wasn't later in the year or my propagating programme would have come to a halt. As it is I have plenty of time to tend to Irene's needs, and find out to the bargain what a diabolical life women lead. Changing the sheets for the first time was a major operation, and I'm sure I went round that dam double bed at least fourteen times in the process. Of course as Irene has only one hand to use I have the task of dressing her each morning, and what I don't know about women's under garment would fit on a postage stamp. What contraptions they ware, I swear if life is a continuous roundabout, and I come back as a woman I'll shoot myself.

I have finally finished my dahlia list in pictures, and if I say it myself it is a colourful affair, and the final Cherry on the cake will be carried out as I get each variety photographed this year, and it is put on a separate page with comments about it, for and against

The rain this January has been the most we've had for many year, and at one time 48 flood warning where reported in England and Wales, I pray those who got hit last time don't suffer once more. Most of the troubles stem from  when towns were built by the side of rivers in order to transport goods throughout the land. Naturally they were low lying, and all these properties were built on flood planes. Although mankind is of course contributing to climate change with the number of vehicles on the road and the global travel that seems to increase ever year. This globe of ours definitely goes through different cycles of weather which in turn changes the face of it's land mass. 

January 27th:

Just got back from Stewarts Garden Lands which is a garden centre out of town, and as prices go it competes with other garden centres, but it doesn't compare with Wilkinson my favorite garden accessory  store. Mind you the thing I went to Garden Lands for they had in abundance, and you can guess what that was, that's right dahlia tubers of the plastic bag kind. Okay you can scoff, but I have been lucky enough to gain a winner in the past, last year it was Bridgeview Aloha, and the year before that another bicolour called Jura. Wanna know what I snaffled up this year? Thought you would. There were seven in all and at the moment all I have to recognise them is the printed photo on the packet so let's get `em up for your amusement. A bit unconventional, but who cares I can't talk about something we can't see can I.

Oh and excuse the clipped pictures, in order to dodge the price tags, and the producers name I had to crop them the best I could.

	Caballero		Mingus Randy.		Pinelands Princess

Now the first photo is of course a variegated dahlia and as near to a water lily flowered job as I've seen. A little full of petal, and not quite as shallow as recommended, and doesn't come anywhere near what Gordie Leroux would call "Only half a flower" but the colour combination was a delight. Number two I found out was an American variety called Mingus Randy which is a good ol' American name, and it was bred by a fella called Grover C. Mollineaux in 1949 I think. Now the name Mollineaux rings a bell, and I think there are quite a few varieties that this man introduced. Next up Pinelands Princess the picture quality is what you get off an illustration on a bag type dahlia, but sufficient to determined that it is a fimbriated, or what the Americans call a laciniated type, and the reason for the purchase was it's classed as a "Dinner plate" flower, but I expect it's only large.

	Polka.		City of Leiden.		Shooting Star.		Citizen.

The second row of flowers start with an Anemone type dahlia called Polka, now I noticed that the great Phil Godsmark, know as Pip to his friends has started to introduce these. I don't think they're in his catalogue, but they are featured in Halls of Hedden catalogue, and if it's good enough for Pip it's good enough for me. The only trouble is I have only the one, and apart from relying on the variety self pollinating I won't get very far. Dare I add the two in Halls catalogue to my order before I load this fresh page to my web site? They can't shoot you can they? Well some of them can these days. Now lets move on, the second variety in the line up is a peach of a dwarf call City of Leiden, and I imagine the City's in the Netherlands somehow. From the photo it looks good enough to eat, can't wait to introduce it to my own dwarf cactuses, especially as it has that dark leaf gene. Shooting Star has been around for some time I remember, and is a full height dahlia of delicate colouring. Last but not least a biggy called Citizen, or so the label said, but of course "Dinner Plate could mean anything from a medium to a giant or what the North Americans call AA's. The bugbear of buying this sort of dahlia is you don't always know what's inside the bag. Okay at the price they sell them it's worth the chance, but I have also had on occasion the odd virused variety.

The fight for Europe's dahlia sales has become ridiculous, and amateur dahlia breeders like myself who decide they want a little of the action in the way of sales to help with their gardening expenses of course don't help, but I shouldn't think the little I acquire would damage the market. Talking of prices, it is amazing how little these packs cost, and to that extent how anyone who's prices are above the plastic bag man's price can make a living. Even in my small capacity as a breeder and supplier I am willing to view the situation next year regards pot tuber prices. Okay new dahlias are a different matter, but established varieties should compete with the cheaper markets coming from Europe. I'll probably be shot down for thinking this way, but if the product is healthy, and is what the customer wants we have to compete with it. Of course just because I'm an amateur doesn't mean I don't have over heads, so I'll have to watch how I judge what the price should be. I think the first year or two will determine whether my sales go up or down because the people you sell to have to know you won't let them down.

February 4th:

While our daughters took Irene to sort out some of our financial stuff I set about getting to grips with a thing I have been trying to resolve for years, the annulment of costs to a breeder if he decides to place breeders rights on a dahlia, or anything else come to that. The cost is extraordinary, and to save telling you all over again just what I said let me show you the email I sent to our Westminster candidate,. I expect he wondered where on earth I was coming from, and how many Sherry's I'd had before submitting the email, the poor man was called Jim Knight, and was the candidate for Dorset.

Email sent on February 4th 2008:

Hi Jim Knight, (and I'm hoping you're of the King Arthur type)

My name is Ken Stock and I live with my wife Irene at "Little Wisley" 27 Petersfield Road Bournemouth Dorset BH7 6QG.

Okay by the subject heading you've an idea what I'm contacting you about.

So I'll begin:

For a number of years I've bred dahlias, and gradually gained a few secrets of how to get more good varieties from a given group than when I started over fifteen years ago. I've been a keen gardener for more years than I care to remember. Starting my interest with the plant world during World War II at the age of ten, when I moved for a brief period to Buckinghamshire, and I've been hooked ever since. I am a sprightly seventy six, and to date I have launched five charity dahlias, and have a number waiting in the wings to be released. To take a wonderful example of what I'm desperate to call a halt on, can be illustrated by telling you of my greatest named variety.

The dahlia "Charlie Dimmock" was to be a `My Finest Hour' I was so sure this one, with a name like that, and with dear Charlie taking the gardening top spot on the television at the time, it would net a massive amount for the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Not on your life, the distributor made twice as much in that important first year, and Charlie Dimmock the dahlia has made nothing for the charity ever since. All it made at the end of what seemed an age was a paltry £300. Now it is nothing to do with the distributor I know, although I now launch any charity dahlias from my own web site, and there are currently three on the dahlia charity page, but so far the response has been diabolical, still we go again next year with the same three, so fingers and toes crossed.

http://www.kesdahlias.co.uk/

The reason Charlie Dimmock made such a small amount is because after the variety is in the public domain it is public property, and any Tom, Dick, or Jimmy can use, and also sell the variety. Okay, so far so good, and although I divert from the topic, the next paragraph is relevant.

In order to sell to a firm called Verwer in the Netherlands I had to send a number of varieties for trail, but before I sent them, one of the brothers called Aad told me if they were good enough after their trial period, they would want to buy them out right. Okay I thought, that's alright because just like the good old London red bus another will come along very shortly. The whole process took two years, and in the end they were a little to tall for their catalogue. This didn't matter to much, although at the time I was disappointed of course, but in my failure to sell new varieties to this firm I found out all about a wonderful thing called `Breeders rights' I say wonderful thing because if you can afford the yearly cost it safe guards who distributes the variety, and also in my case how much the charity that it's grown for receives. Are you with me so far.

It works like this, the said new variety, be it rose, rhubarb, or dahlia is born, and after a trail period the raiser applies for breeders rights to protect others from profiteering, but in doing so the originator encounters a huge price for the privilege. Let me give some idea from a from a letter I received from Defra. (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) several years ago.

"At the moment December 9th 2005 the fees for UK Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) for the dahlia are £300 for the application, £250 for a test (one usually, but two could be required) £130 for a grant, (if the variety requires it) and then £190 per year to keep it on the register of varieties with PBR"

As you can imagine an ordinary fella of seventy six with a minimum saving is lost in all this red tape, as well as the diabolical price of setting it up. Now here's where you come in Jim, if you've enough fire in your belly, and enough charity in your heart. What chance is there for a chap like me, with your help of course, or anyone else's come to that to get the cost of PBR eliminated for breeders if they want to give a said charity what  they've created?

I'm sorry my email turned out to be a manuscript, but I had to tell you the facts, and also how I feel about the injustice in all this. Please do your best to either tell me what to do, or make this injustice come to an end.

I promise I won't stop here, I will be guided, but never quietened. (well I suppose I will one day)

Best Always Cos Less is Never Good Enough.

Ken Stock.

February 8th:

Far quicker than I visualized I received a reply to my email. Unfortunately I'd not only picked the wrong guy to start with, but sent to the wrong party. Sounds a bit like me still I am not into this political stuff, and who ever helps me in my quest for Plant Breeders Rights being scrapped for those of us who want to help a charity or two is made of gold. Mind you this guy Tobias Ellwood did a stint in the British Army with the Royal Green Jackets, where he served in Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Kuwait, Germany, Gibraltar and Bosnia. Sounds like we've got the right guy on our side. Wanna hear what he said? Thought you would, I copied the letter, and put it on the web page at first, but thought better of it when I saw the splendid Commons cream note paper. It looked so proper, and so important, which it is of course, especially if it comes off.

Dear Mr. Stock,

Thank you for writing to me regards the problems you are having with your dahlias, and your valiant efforts to raise money for charity.

You make a valid point regards the fees for UK Plant Breeders Rights and I have taken it up with John Hutton MP and Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise  and Regulatory Reform on your behalf to see if we can make any headway in getting the cost of PBR eliminated for breeders if they want to donate their creations to charity.

I will be in touch when I have heard back from him.

Kind Regards Tobias Ellwood.

Of course it looked a whole lot better on the right note paper. By the way it was signed by his Secretary which was one of the reason I took the letter I copied, off the web page, well you can't be to careful can you? Of course that smashing House of Commons headed paper was the icing on the cake. So all we can do now is wait and pray to God PBR is scrapped for the countless amateur breeders, and hope they will give to a charity now and then. Okay it won't work if know one buy them. So it is up to us to make sure the  charity varieties are the best we can breed.

Sunday February 10th:

Took Irene out for a drive, I wanted to go out early, but I know by now between ten and eleven is the new early. Mind you I hadn't reckoned on Chris from over the road coming in , well when I say coming in, that wasn't the case as both Lesley and Chris have picked up a cold, with flu like symptoms, his words not mind. That was after our Grandson Dean popped in with the two kids, little Amy and big Ben, I say big because if he doesn't make a ruby team when he's in sixth grade I'll eat my hat. Ben and dad were on their bikes, and little Amy was on the back of her father's. It didn't stop there because as soon as they left an old school mate of Irene popped in with a card for my niece Janice whose mother, and Irene's sister  Elsie had died last Thursday. She was ten years older than us and a cutie, and as innocent as they come, but a flirt, I guess eighty seven's not a bad age. Consequently two hour later than I intended we left, and although I'd made my mind up to go to Pool Park I went straight to the garden centre they call Haskins, and although the prices are a little dearer than Wilkinson's, the gear is ace. We mooched round, looked at the rabbits and the other pets till I had a sneezing fit, (it's the dust you know) and ended up finally in front of the Dutch bulb stand. (now there's a funny thing) I had a look not expecting to buy anything, but out of the corner of my eye I caught the word Ivanetti, and what threw me was the word at the bottom of the pictorial label NEW INTRODUCTION. Now this sported in 2000 or the year before and it is now 2008, but well worth the money I paid for it, providing it is Ivanetti.

Okay I can't knock Halls for a quality product, and I know you can't always be sure if the tuber is the same as the photo on the packet, but come on these Dutch growers can't go any lower can they. A review of prices is definitely called for, but not until I've posed the question to my mate Jack.

February 22nd:

I was tempted once again to a dahlia in a bag, there it was showing its self off in the Wilkinson store at Boscombe. We go there every week to do a week-end Friday shop. I'd seen the variety twice already this year, but know one beats Wilkinson for price, £1-50 for two tubers that's ridiculous I thought. Why I was finally tempted was I'd grown the variety Park Princess before, and as I had two or three dwarf cactus in last years seedlings, and also my dark leaved beauty City of Leiden, how could I resist one more?

	Park Princess.

Now as I've grown this variety off and on for quite a few years, and I'm near certain this photograph has been doctored, not in as much as this isn't Park Princess, but more that I haven't ever seen as many flowers on the plants as this, if you want to impress just add a few more stems, after all it's only a photograph. None the more for that the variety is well worth growing, and more to the point easily good enough to breed with. Mind you as long as it was Park Princess in the bag. Later as soon as I got home, packed away the produce, made lunch and demolish it. I was busy cleaning the bars taken from the oven in a fibreglass tray on the Patio that I keep for this purpose when I remembered the bag containing the tubers was still in the car. So diverting my attention from this job to the more important one, I headed for the greenhouse with this valuable package in my hand. With pots half full and labels written I proceeded to cut open the plastic bag. One thing seemed wrong, both tubers felt warm. Examining them reveal the stem had rotted down to the base where it is attached to where the eyes should be. There had obviously been some decomposing in the bag due to the tubers either being frosted, or they hadn't been sufficient dried off after lifting. I know by what my mate Jack Gott said this year, the North had  been diabolical, hard and wet this Winter, and who says the Dutch haven't had as torrid a time as our growers up North. Oh dear, £1-50 up the Swanee, never mind I carried on with my task after trimming off the damaged tubers, and rotted stem knowing at least one of these hopefuls had no hope at all. Still you never know the quest for life is strong.  Time to hurried back to my day job.

March 26th:

Many things have happened since my last report, but I'm pleased to say we've come through the winter quite well. I've had a fair response regards the dahlias I have for sale, but it is obvious that to have as many varieties as I've acquired is fool hardy. Especially as my other chores have increased. So as soon as my last order is safely sent I will choose my catalogue for 2009 and possibly reduce it considerably relying on the best from most groups.

Now next year's gonna be some year considering my Mrs. and I will have been married for sixty years, some would say you get less for murder, and I'd reply it would have been murder without her. Every stage of our relationship has been an adventure I kid you not, and I have been allowed every freedom a man could have, ask our friends. Although this last couple of years have been harder to manage you learn to adjust to what ever the world and life throws at you.

March 28th:

Here guess what the two dahlias tubers of Park Princess that I thought were not going to make it have produced shoots, and cuttings have been taken, unlike sound tubers of varieties I need for orders that have still to start, despite me giving them the ol' Jack Gott's magic remedy. What's that you ask? Well most varieties respond when they are sprayed with very hot water  a couple of times a day, especially late in the day. Jack says he has been known to immerse a tuber into very hot water for two or three minutes. I haven't try that, yet, but must say all the rest of the `Sleepers' have started, all but that important pair.

Received Halls first order, that was the one I ordered just after Xmas. The packing department must be congratulated, one thing I noticed this time was there were two different packing methods, and I'd say the greaseproof rap and small rubber band to hold everything in place wants some beating, and it's the one I'm going to adopt for my orders. One thing I noticed was, and I'm being critical now, but not to have a swipe, but to enlighten my fellow dahlia sellers. Even an establishment as large and as competent as Halls can't produce cuttings of equal length, it is impossible, so this is to all my customers. The cuttings you receive won't, and can't produce cuttings of the same length because they all grow at different strengths, and they all elongate at different times, and there is no way you will receive them at the same length.

Oh I've gotta tell you guys what a mate I have in Jack Gott, he's better than any brother I could have,, as you know I've been hard pushed to supply Wisley with cuttings of all things, as Charlie blooming Dimmock, you see for some reason they lose plants every year, and as it hasn't done it's two years a twelve they were getting very short of propagating material. Ol' Jack wasn't though, up comes he with pot tubers. I'd call him the pot tuber King if you ask me. I have an order in America, well when I say an order it's only subject to if I can produce enough pot tubers by the fall, sorry autumn. I'm a good mind to push it Jack's way. He's British, competent, and a master at producing these little beauties, but the only thing is I have an export licence, and he hasn't, at the moment got one, which is criminal.

March 30th:

Did I tell you I'm luckily enough to have a Jewish neighbour to my right, and I'm not exaggerating when I say a nicer couple you couldn't wish to meet. Not only that Sue dad was in love with Al Jolson the same as I was, or as a mate of mine put it "He's your idol aint he?"  he sure was, and what a voice, good enough for any operatic performance. Funny thing was back then I always thought Larry Parks was Al Jolson, so it was a bit of a shock when I found out he wasn't. Any way ol' Len won't mind me saying that he is a typical fella, and still likes his nights with the boys, and to tell the truth I think his son's a chip off the ol' block, and that's not a crime, all you've gotta do is get a gal who's up to it. Well to cut a long story shorter Len's son found a lady that fit the bill, and the grand event was celebrated in our ever changing capital last week-end. and to say they pushed the bout out would be an understatement, and it was staged in a classy golf club just out of town.

Wanna see the pictures? I thought so. The Wedding:

March 31st:

Monday morning held a bit of a surprise, well I wasn't expecting a parcel from Japan. It was from a fellow breeder called Yusaku Konishi, bit of a mouthful for us, but I suppose in Japan it's not much more than Mr. Smith over here. Anyway you can be sure I had the tape holding the flaps of the parcel down undone as quick as you could say Jack's Spratt's cat, and although one end of the one foot square box was dented in, (thanks Royal Mail) the contents were in tact. Nine perfectly separated single tubers just like the America do it. I couldn't  wait to find out which names fitted what photographs in his 2008 catalogue, which Yusaku had sent earlier. What a surprise, here's me writing a letter to him a couple of weeks ago, praising the varieties he had in his 2008 catalogue. Now after I'd opening a parcel from him containing varieties I'd drooled over, I  was holding them in my hand. If the phrase "God moves in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform" hadn't been thought of I guess I'd have thought of it there and then.

I've got mates who need to tell me for some reason, "This God lark is a load of Baloney" to coin another phrase "Am I bothered what anyone else thinks" God's is my mate, and although he, she, or what ever God is, is far better than me I'm learning fast.

Now at this stage I am beginning to think this page will come to a halt if I don't start a new one. As the pictures and text have shown me it takes 182 seconds to open, and that's with Broadband, so goodness knows how long anyone with dial up has to wait before it loads. So if I want to show you what the best of Yusaku's dahlias look like I think I'll have to add another page.

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