Gardenman

The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation, but your thoughts about it.

You have posted this for a reason Lavender. If you would like help, just ask . Please trust their are people in the local community that can & will help

I have installed quite a few Astro lawns, but always when there is no alternative, such as shady gardens & large trees which take away the moisture. If laid in a sunny garden they get very hot & can burn your children! There are many types now available, but be aware of the cheap ones! They are toxic & don?t look authentic. The better quality ones are around ?23 per sq mtr. They must be laid with a weed barrier & about 3? of type one underneath, with an inch of soft sand. When laid, you need to apply kiln dried sand to weigh it down & keep it clean. Let me know if you want a quote. I?d be happy to help Nigel 07759862191

Happy to recommend Dave. Always does a great job & on time

I got back from my long ( 4200 miles!) trip to Thessalon?ki Greece yesterday having delivered all the clothes & toys you all so generously donated. The charity I was working with Drapen I Havet. A drop in the ocean are under huge pressure to help the refugees in the very cold weather & horrific conditions out there. The refugee camps are under high security due to attacks from various factions, so I was not allowed to work in the camps, but your donations went to help them, an orphanage & the homeless. The situation is not being improved by other European governments trying to send their refugees back to Greece!! So please continue to make donations, contributions including questioning your MP as to what is being done in our name to help these people. We will be making a contribution each month to A drop in the ocean & looking for opportunities to make a difference, no matter how small. So, once again a huge thank you for all your help Nigel

Warm clothes would be most welcome, for men women & children. They have snow down there just now & things are getting tough for all of them. I will be leaving early Tuesday morning to drive down, so please feel free to call/text to drop off any donations this Sunday or Monday. Thank you everyone for your kindness & generosity. It will be most welcome. I shall blog my journey on The Big Calm Kefalonia Facebook Nigel 07961888253

Due to problems with booking the ferry, I will be going next week, so I still have time to take in more donations of toys & clothes, as I still have a little space left in the van. I can only take collections at my home 9 Sunderland Court Lordship Lane SE22 8JX At the south circular end of Lordship Lane just before the shops on the left hand side Thank you Nigel

Another BIG thank you to all of you who turned out on Christmas Eve to bring so many toys & clothes to help those in need at this time. I did get thrown out in the end, due to corporate policy!! But not before the kindness of the people of Dulwich had shown itself to be far more compassionate than a large corporation could ever understand. Thank you, my faith in good people continues. But not in Sainsbury's!!

When I find myself alone at Christmas I usually go to a local church & volunteer helping feed the old & homeless. It gave me such a lovely feeling of doing something, rather than sitting at home alone feeling lonely. It has subsequently Helped me understand we are all here to help each other in whatever way we feel we can. I see it as an opportunity to connect & never feel lonely again. Well done for reaching out, you are very brave & if all else fails, you are welcome for Christmas dinner at my house. I'm on my own too, except for my dog Barney! Nigel 07961888253 Oh & Happy Christmas, I'm sure it will be

There are specialist patio cleaning fluids that are harmless to plants & animals, plus the use of a good power washer should get the job done most efficiently. Beware of washing out the pointing between slabs, in which case, just apply the patio cleaner or Jeyes fluid & wash off with a stiff brush after 20-30 mins. One word of warning, power washers are not to be pointed at anything other than what you are cleaning, they can cut human skin & as said earlier, they will damage or affect other things they are pointed at! Oh, and wear wellington boots! Have fun!

A great BIG thank you to all of you who turned up with your wonderful donations. They really will be appreciated I still have more room in the van, so remember, I will be back at Sainsbury's Dog Kennel Hill on Saturday from 9 am til 12:30. Thank you again Nigel

For those asking. I'm still outside Sainsbury's & will be until 7 pm tonight & back again Saturday morning until 12 Nigel

I'm taking a van with clothes & toys for the refugees trapped in Greece just after Christmas if anyone has any unwanted toys & clothes to offer I will be outside Sainsbury's Dog Kennel Hill in my flashing van on Thursday afternoon & Saturday morning if you have anything you want to donate Nigel 07961888253

I will be outside Sainsbury's collecting donations of new & used clothes & new underwear for women & children & toys tomorrow afternoon from 3 o'clock until 7 or when I get thrown out!! I am taking a large van down to Greece over the Christmas holidays as I feel the Greek people are doing all they can at a very difficult time for them & like so many I am appalled at the war & violence in Syria & felt I had to do something. All your contributions will be gratefully received in the camps down there at this time. I am working with The Norwegian charity 'A drop in the ocean' if you cannot make tomorrow, please make a donation to this charity. It too will be put to good use. Alternatively, someone will be at my home to take in any donations you may have Address 9 Sunderland Court Lordship lane SE22 8 JX On the same side as the shops just before the junction with the South Circular Thank you in advance Nigel 07961888253

I am driving down to Greece for Christmas to take a van load of food, toys, blankets & tents for the refugees trapped in Lesbos, as European governments will not let them through. I need a hall or church as a collection point. I only have a small flat! All donations will be very welcome. I have been in contact with a few charities with no response, so I'm doing this entirely of my own choice. If anyone would like to join me on the journey to map read & help at the other end, that would be great. All suggestions welcome as are your donations. I will update when I have found somewhere. Nigel 07961888253 Sunderland Court SE22 8JX

Please see my post in ED issues re collection point for clothes, food, blankets & toys going to Greece for refugees Thanks Nigel SE228JX

Hi. Please take a look at this months gardening tips on the business section. Great bedtime reading!!!

It used to be called 'Scrumping' I posted in my gardening tips, if anyone is unable to make use of their fruits in their garden, please share them with your neighbours or post their availability on here. As a community, its the least we can do to share the delights of our gardens. If not, then resort to scrumping!!!

The expression " Never a lender, nor a borrower be" comes to mind! The European banks have had their boot on the necks of the Greek people, & the Greek government up to now run corruptly by 2 families for the last 30 odd years, were making people unemployed as their main policy to somehow pay back the money borrowed & used by themselves & their non tax paying friends. Something had to give. And Europe, mainly Germany & the banks are scared! But one has to ask; why did they loan the money to a country with a very poor GDP & corrupt system?? Did they seriously think the people would be happy to pay for money they never got to see? Not too different from the UK!!

The other possibility is that it may have been Japanese knotweed. This has to be dealt with by licenced operatives. Which is ridiculous & jobs for the boys. Jap knotweed is not as bad as is made out. If it is, just burn it. If it isn't, please let us know. I'm losing sleep over this!!!!

There's a chance it might be to do with the plastic bags, not what's in them. They can't be composted. If not, you're looking at a jobsworth situation & being privatised, you are the refuse companies customer at the end of the day. Good luck.