So anyway, there I was in the passenger seat of the trusty old Ovlov, just looking out the window as Fereday reversed out of the parking spot and pulled onto the road.... I saw Harlow Carr growing smaller in the wing mirror.... And I found myself thinking, "Well, that's the end to this year's oestrogen mafia gathering at the famous Betty's Tea Rooms at the well-known RHS northern outpost near Harrogate...., mmmm,.... OH BUGGER.... I've come all this way to Harlow Carr and bought three dandelions.... I'm never gonna live this down.... 'Gardener's Wife in Dandelion Debacle!'.... damn, it takes real talent to come to climb up to the highground of gardening nirvana and come down with a dandelion!" And then, of course, I felt the need to share.... so here I am back on the blog....There's not much to report since my last blog in March.... Fereday danced out for the first time last Saturday.... videos awaiting YouTube being less intractible..... but I may try to load one up onto LJN. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to go along to that one, but I'm making my 'Mo'WAG' (Morris Dancers Wives and Girlfriends) debut tomorrow at 'sparrow's fart' in the morning (approximately 5:15am - though how anyone figured out that was the most likely time for a burst of small bird flatulence is beyond me.... some people have too much time on their hands... and I hope the taxpayer didn't fund that research via DEFRA, but I digress... back out of the parenthetical then....) at a Stone Age fort in Huddersfield - yep, there is one, a real, honest to goodness Stone Age fort in Huddersfield... who'da guessed! Apparently I can also expect to see some honest to goodness druids - I assume that's as opposed to the 'Ye Merrie Olde Druid-e' with the faux Dumbledore beard that you get introducing the Jorvik Viking Experience in York (highly recommended, it's an attraction that scores a mighty 11 out of 10 on the twee scale!). So, that's nice.The Mo' Dancing has really added a whole new dimension to my life... I spent several hours last weekend sewing ribbon on Fereday's straw panama.... sounds simple, doesn't it? But NO! You have to fold one piece in half and then stitch it onto another, why you can't use two widths of ribbon the sane person migt ask (as I did), well, apparently.....blah, tradition, blah, heritage, blah, blah, blah... Then I decorated it with the white rose ('White Rose Morris Men') and put some bits and bats on it to represent Fereday.... true, I did think about hanging corks from the brim a la Crocodile Dundee, but that involved getting through too many bottles of wine in too short a time....And then, last night, I had that unique sensation that I thought was solely the preserve of parents.... Fereday trots into the kitchen.... "I need some arm bands for Friday morning...." Somehow things got a bit muddled in my mind, and I found myself looking for a clean kitchen towel, a spare curtain tie back and an old bathrobe.... luckily I was quickly recalled to my senses and the reality that Fereday wasn't a five year old who had just informed me he needed a shepherd's costume for the next morning.... but it was a fairly close run thing there for a second.... the fear, the anxiety, the concern that little Chelsea's Mum would have had an authentic costume run up by the head seamstress from the National Trust.... To all my friends who are parents.... I've now felt the pain.... and I really feel for you all!
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  • Yup, once told at 7.30am (two minuets before going to school) that my daughter needed to be in costume as a serving wench from the middle ages, (mop cat essential) for the school trip I had forgotten about. Packed lunch and tea were also required along with spending money for rubbish tat in gift shop required also.

    Luckily had the gear.

    Found two quid in purse and some food from the fridge and bread bin. Costume? She went as a middle aged man, flat cap, trousers in socks and a waist coast over a shirt. Golly it's tough growing up in my house, it's all gender bending!!

    REALLY glad your back Cat. x
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robert pryor replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I have a 6ft pair of Niwakis, wish i’d had them years before I did. I initially got the 8fts and immediately realised they would be a pain for the majority of hedges I used to cut. I think they are brilliant just make sure they are seated properly.…"
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Adam Woods replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I wouldn't cut a hedge without one. Anything over 6' you should get with 3 adjustable legs, otherwise they can be unstable if you lean - but positioned correctly they are the only way. 
Befrore retirement I had an 8' and a 4; . The 4' went in the…"
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John F replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
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Duncan Neville replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I'm very wary of these tripod ladders, I took a life changing fall from the top of a 12ft tripod. Now I only use them myself with great care. The issue is that they are very unstable at the top if you lean to either side, and they go with no…"
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Billybop replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"the tripods are good but in some scenarios the wide base and the fact the 3rd leg has to be placed some distance away from the step part for stability makes this large foot print impractical eg when cutting hedge behind a shed or greenhouse with…"
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Graham Taylor replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
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Sam Bainbridge replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
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