garden man

If you're looking for a relaxing holiday as a family,couple, or individual, we at The Big Calm have the solution. We can create tailor made holidays to suit most budgets, from a typical friendly Greek rooms with shower & cooking facilities, to apartments with or without pool, or even an immaculate boutique hotel or villas. The Big Calm is located on the stunning island of Kefalonia, overlooking the quiet little Koroni beach. Our activities include; pilates,yoga, childrens yoga,reiki,meditation,massage,practical philosophy,mud treatments, Greek cooking & lying on the beach! For those not so inclined,there's sailing, 2 catamarans or 42ft Benetau, dinghy sailing on the shallow beach up the coast, horse riding,trekking,chilling out at Eddie & Irias kantina, beach barbeques or lying on the beach! Our travel counsellor will organize your holiday including car hire & any special requirements through an ABTA registered travel agent & ensure you come home relaxed & with more than a few ideas on how to cope with life back home. Have a look at the web site thebigcalm.com & sestokoronigr for a taste of what's on offer. A different holiday. Call Nigel on 07961888253 evenings, for availability & enquiries

Hi Spoiltdog thanks for your enquiry. The idea for the apartments was for 1-2-3 weeks holiday let's, but certainly longer term booking depending on availability can be negotiated at a more favourable rate. Direct flights are now available until October, after which you can fly to Athens or one of the nearby islands & catch a boat. Kefalonia becomes very beautiful & quiet during winter & we use it as a retreat, so very happy to sort out a winter rate. We also have other private apartments, rooms & villas available as we are starting a holistic centre on the road down to Koroni beach. If needed we can arrange flights, car hire & activities to suit your requirements. Please feel free to give me a call when you have a moment & I will sort out a favourable deal for you. Kind regards Nigel 07961888253

I have 4 apartments in Kefalonia with beautiful views over the sea to Zante. Kefalonia is stunningly beautiful with amazing sights round every corner. A short sail away to Zante, Ithaca, even Corfu. The apartments are above a beautiful secluded beach, with a great cantina run by Eddie & Iria, where you can chill out all day & end the day with a meal & glass or two of wine watching the sunset. A hire car is advised to tour the island which along with flights my travel counsellor can ensure a relaxed holiday. The top apartment consists of two double rooms, one with double bed, the other 2 singles, lounge tv ( you won't need it!)full kitchen bathroom.& balcony with stunning views 90 euros per night Ground floor apartment: two double bedrooms, full kitchen, bathroom & lounge. 70 euros per night. 2 seperate apartments with double bedroom each, kitchen bathroom lounge & balcony on top floor apartment. 70 euros top apartment. 60 euros ground floor. All include hot tub,sauna & collection & return to airport. Discount for EDF users. Call me for more info, available dates & bookings. Check out thebigcalm & sesto koroni gr websites for local pictures & info Nigel 07961888253

It's that old chestnut, "If you think you can, you probably can" If you think you can't, then you probably can't"

Very profound Narnia. For certainty or uncertainty only exist in the mind. You have a choice to embrace either, or be open to universal law,which is of course freedom.

The film was brilliant,but the book was stunning,nurse Ratchet was supposed to represent control by "Authority" and the big Indian by smothering him at the end prevented "Them" winning and taking his freedom of mind.Cant recommend the book highly enough.

Hi Easties EL Thanks for asking.Maiden hair fern is one of the most popular,very easy to keep.Little bamboo shoots,sold as "Lucky bamboo" Try small Kentia palms,very pretty and also Lavender is always very relaxing.Good luck Gman

Bruce & Santana played in the athletics stadium.The classical concert were free,as were the pop gigs.That all stopped,when Bromley took over,then in 2008 there was a series of classical/popular concerts,last year nothing,but theyare repairing it,so hopefully the concerts will be returning.I'll make some enquiries & get back to you. Btw the the original stage was temporary & the new one looks great in Autumn when its rusty exterior blends in with the trees. The LDA held 3 years of talks with locals & local interest groups,then Ken lost & Boris suspended things,but last week it was agreed that ?87 million would be invested in the park,but not sure where the moneys'coming from.The land being used for new housing will be the camp/caravan site,which it is expected to move to the Olympic site.A precedent was set for the sale of land to fund the park when all the land was sold to build the current villas down Crystal Palace Park road around the 1880s.

Thanks njc97 You have a point,however as a farmers son,the price is set when speculators bet on the outcome of the crop,good or bad or Tescos tell you how much they are going to pay you! We have a current example of a speculator who has cornered most of the cocoa market and in so doing can set the price for this product,sending the retail price soaring.The farmer sees none of this extra profit,but has sold his crop.Dont Know Too many farmers who deal in derivatives,not tennant farmers anyway.We live in different times,certainly since the big bang,banks are no longer just banks & you dont hear the word stockbroker anymore. Re building societies,if what you say is true,then why the 5.9%,I'm certainly not sharing any profit at that percentage! So I can only surmise they are trying to claw back what they lost.Not all banks building societies & financial institutions are greedy,but enough to nearly bring the country to its knees!!

Wow Thank you all,I have learned a great deal,but being a gardener i am sadly ignorant of the ways of finance.If I understand at least some of what has been said,when we borrow money from our bank/building society,they then much as bookies lay off that money to other organizations,that in the past have failed to repay,as this money is mixed with bad debt.{I think bookies repay each other,or they wouldn't be in business.I cant understand how hedging is legal,given some of the more well known examples,whereby you buy shares or a currency with someone elses money,then do everything in your power to ensure the outcome you desire,including,lying,cheating,or conning! The result of this is,our financial organisations dont trust each other,therefore,dont loan eachother money causing a squeeze or crunch on money supply.We the people then loan the the banks,who if they were any other business,wouldn't be in business,vast amounts of money to bail them out.Bullying chairmen,or men with short term city reputations,are encouraged to leave said institutions,with full pockets of us the peoples money.No one as a consequence learned anything.We learn most from our hardest lessons. What money they do put back into circulation is,for various reasons {including greed,which never went away}is now reluctantly loaned back at way over base rate,consequently,we the people are not able to put any money we may have saved back into the economy.We have to wait for the financial institutions to recover at our expense,in order for them to continue doing what they do best! Perhaps if our government of whichever hue wasn't so enamoured of the city as a major money earner,they might invest some of our money into industry,which when we put our minds to it are very highly thought of throughout the world,so much so,they bought most of it!! Recently we discovered communism didn't work due to greed from those at the top. If the banks weren't bailed out,what chance capitalism ? For me it's time to think who I bank with,or in which country I bank or if I bank at all.To learn my lesson and never ever borrow money again. My building society did reduce my interest for a couple of months,but raised it again later last year,telling me market forces were responsible. Due to poor income over winter,they tried to repossess.Despite an offer to cash in my pension to pay my arrears,they still continued their action.i have managed to get a court order & await the courts decision on my offer,not theirs. Thank you all once again for your insights,they have helped me understand a lot more. As for the financial institutions,those lessons they need to learn will just come up again.You tend to get back in life what you put in. Gardenman

When the base rate came down to 0.5% my building society reduced the rate to 4.2% which although not enough,helped.Last year they increased it to 5.9%,when I asked why,I was told "market forces"!!! Would this be the market forces so recently in evidence called GREED? If you were to go into a shop with a mark up of 540% you would probably walk out without purchasing anything.Unfortunately i am unable to change my building society,even if i did the rates are still sky high.I thought the idea of reducing the bank rate was to put money back into the economy,not into the pockets of the banks & building societies,or am i just a naive gardener,trying to keep the roof over my head by doing what i love? I feel what is needed is a peoples bank to fill the gap in the market which charges reasonable rates,no fees for handling our money & puts its' directors up front to keep in touch with its customers needs. Any offers? Nigel

I cant recommend getting a dog highly enough,not only are they great company,they get you up & out walking or running in the morning/evening,you get to talk to to people,especially if they are cute! [the dog that is!!] I have made loads of friends and met a wonderful girl,who became my girlfriend,alas long gone,whatever you do,do things you enjoy.I take my vicious,huge,but very cute Jack Russell down the pub if I want a chat or a bit of company. Good luck

Hi, Thanks for the question. They are normally trouble free from pests,frosts are the usual cause of yellowing or brown ,which maybe down to the less sheltered position.Watch out for a mould on the leaves,or even worse a fungus which will kill the plant. Needs a well drained loamy soil,with a top dressing of peat or compost each April.May help to move it back to sheltered position,especially while these easterly winds still persist. Hope that helps Nigel

Hi Pebbles, I think he's great too!! But I would wouldn't I.Thankyou for your kind comments.There should be a thread for me,as my customers tell me they got me from here. I'm a bit ill at the moment,you know "MAN FLU" Probably wont make it past the weekend,but in the unlikely event I do,please feel free if inclined to call me. Have a good weekend Kind regards Nigel aka garden man! 07961888253

SPRING HAS SPRUNG AT LAST AFTER A VERY LONG HARD WINTER.I'M AFRAID WINTER HAS TAKEN ITS'TOLL & DEVASTATED SOME OF OUR GARDENS & PLANTS,BUT DONT DESPAIR I THINK WE'RE IN FOR A GREAT SUMMER,WELL WE DESERVE ONE!! SO TIME TO GET BUSY,BUT DONT OVERDO IT,I DONT WANT ANY INJURIES OUT THERE!! 1. AFTER A BIT OF WEEDING,(GET THEM NOW BEFORE THEY GET ESTABLISHED & START SPREADING) MULCH YOUR BORDERS WITH A THICK LAYER OF ORGANIC MATTER,HELPS KEEP WEEDS DOWN & CONSERVES MOISTURE IN THE SOIL.IF THE SOIL IS DRY,WATER BEFORE MULCHING. 2. IF YOU HAVENT PRUNED YOUR ROSES IN WINTER NOW IS THE BEST TIME. PRUNE BUSH ROSES BACK HARD & TO A GOOD SHAPE,THEY WILL PRODUCE GOOD GROWTH & FLOWERS.DIG IN A GOOD MEASURE OF WELL ROTTED MANURE. 3. YOU NEED TO DEAL WITH ANY PESTS THAT HAVE SURVIVED THE WINTER.TRY BIOLOGICAL (ECO) SOLUTIONS,SUCH AS BACTERIA OR NEMATODES,THAT KILL SPECIFIC PESTS.YOU CAN ORDER THESE THROUGH THE PRESS,MOST ARE FOR THE GREENHOUSE,BUT YOU CAN GET ONE FOR SLUGS THAT YOU WATER IN. 4. ANY PLANTS IN POTS OR CONTAINERS NEED A TOP DRESSING OF COMPOST & A FEED,YOU MAY NEED TO SCRAPE OFF AN INCH OR SO OF SOIL BEFOREHAND 5.PLANT OUT SUMMER FLOWERING BULBS 6.SOW SWEET PEAS OUTSIDE OR PLANT OUT YOUNG SEEDLINGS.PINCH OUT GROWING TIPS TO ENCOURAGE SIDESHOOTS. 7.SOW HARDY ANNUALS WHERE THEY ARE TO FLOWER 8.LAWNS!!! WHERE TO BEGIN?? RAKE THEM OUT,YOU CAN START MOWING THEM NOW,THEN AERATE WITH A FORK OR AERATOR.THEN APPLY A TOP DRESSING OF COMPOST,SAND,WEED FEED & MOSS KILLER FERTILISER (NOT TOO MUCH OR YOU WILL BURN THE GRASS) & SEED IF YOU HAVE BALD PATCHES (ON THE LAWN!!!!) 9.PROTECT FRUIT BLOSSOMS AGAINST FROSTS WITH A FLEECE (NOT YOUR WIFES' !!) 10.SOW VEGETABLES,PLANT 1ST CROP OF POTATOES & ASPARAGUS 11.RENOVATE CLIMBERS.CUT BACK HARD ANY OVERGROWN CLIMBERS SUCH AS CLIMBING ROSES,HONEYSUCKLE,WINTER JASMINE & IVY.AGAIN DIG IN MANURE AROUND ROOTS. 12.YOU CAN STILL SPLIT UP SNOWDROPS & LATER IN THE MONTH POLYANTHUS PRIMULAS. TOLD YOU IT WAS A BUSY TIME,SO DONT WEAR YOUR SELVES OUT, GET YOUR BRILLIANT LOCAL GARDENERS TO TAKE THE STRAIN,WE'VE ALL BEEN SLEEPING OVER WINTER WAITING FOR YOUR CALL! A LOVELY CUSTOMER RECOMMENDED GIVING GARDEN LESSONS IN YOUR OWN GARDEN,SO GIVE ME A CALL IF YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR YOU. HAPPY GARDENING & AN EARLY HAPPY EASTER NIGEL 07961888253