Fbg 6.1
My project yesterday was further working on The Great Wall between me and Mr Insensitive, the back garden bit where his security light does the beam me up Scotty scene several times a night. Why it has to be pointed towards my garden and bedroom window, I will never know. He has had several security light in the past each one more brighter and intrusive than the other (yes, I now know I can get Environmental Health on to this, but past experiences with him, and because of his obtuseness and horrid derogatory behaviour to me over the years, I feel it will cause me more hassle than good).
My temporary bamboo idea with the cut tall bamboo with loads of leaves worked pretty well against his Christmas lights lighting up my bedroom like the Blackpool Illuminations. I did have loads of bamboo that did need cutting down anyway, so that was win win for me. What I ended up doing was using the poles and stands which have my parasols in...yes I bought those also to keep my privacy from Mr
prying eyes Insensitive who would look over the wall at me in a sneering way (he used to taunt my wee little Hearing Dog Meg when I was not in the garden and get her into a barking frenzy. I caught him oneday at it....), and tying the bamboo to those poles and placing them near my bedroom door window, and it was successful in keeping his Xmas flashing lights from my bedroom.
Many years ago, when I first moved here, there was a washing line between my bedroom door window and Mr Insensitive's two security lights, one is above his kitchen door and lights up his back garden as bright as daylight, and then there is the bright one above his garage which is literally on top of my bedroom door window. And I put two sheets on the washing line, and left them permanently there. That worked too. But wind and time stole those sheets, but I had more old sheets the previous homeowner had left. So that lasted a few years. Then no more sheets left. Then I built various ideas to keep his security lights at bay, and his Xmas lights, but the wind is very strong here coming directly from the sea, and is destructive.
So we now come to today. The security lights are brighter than ever, and so are his Xmas lights more intrusive than ever. So, hence The Great Wall. It has been in the planning for a week, while I was working on the grotto outside the bathroom window to keep those multicoloured flashing Xmas lights at bay from the bathroom.
I have a Bay tree, which J bought me any years ago. It has grown through the willow tree on the other side of my property to Mr Insensitive. And I noticed it was swaying far too much in the strong winds. So, I investigated before it could come down in the high winds and cause damage on that side. It was much taller than I thought it was. So, I decided to cut it down, but left a metre or so at the base. Then, once it was down, I found the reason for it swaying. The trunk of the bay tree had been rubbing against the willow trunk, and had worn more than half the Bay tree's trunk away, making it very unstable. Then I saw there were another half a dozen new Bay trees growing from the base, they are about a metre tall, so I didn't feel unhappy any more about cutting down J's Bay tree.
So I had about a 4 metre tall cut Bay tree with loads of branches and leaves. My idea yesterday was to place it in an old broken wheelie bin (lid was broken so I got sent a new one but they never took the old one away, which I wasn't initially pleased about, but am now delighted because I had a huge 'plant pot' to hold this cut Bay tree. I was working yesterday on how to stabilise it. And I needed more cut trees to further this Great Wall either side the cut Bay tree. I had already cut some down a few weeks ago, and was wondering what to do/dispose of them. I had to wonder no more. They went on either side of the Bay tree, to increase the length of The Great Wall. But before they went up, I decorated them in green and blue thick tinsel. Then I found I had enough to weave the thick tinsel in and out of these bare branches. Thus creating a barrier.
But I didn't put it up until dusk when Mr Insensitive would not be able to see as I was doing it...
I anchored and wedged the wheelie bin so it will be stable, and filled it with water. I don't have enough stones and rocks for ballast for a huge black wheelie.
I have no idea what The Great Wall looks like in daylight. But it was a success for me. Not one bit of light from the flashing Xmas lights came through to my bedroom door window, nor did one scrap of his security lights come through either into my bedroom.
SUCCESS!
I know the sea wind will have a field day eventually, and so I have two back up plans.
1. I have ivy and honeysuckle which is very virulent and will be planting those today, to grow over it.
2. Second back up plan, which may have to be an interim measure while ivy and honeysuckle grow, is a length of washing line I bought a couple of days ago (I don't use a washing line any more, I cannot reach up to hang washing), and some black cheap shower curtains. The washing line will go up and the shower curtains looped on to it, and drawn at night between me and Mr Insensitive, should they be needed as light protection, while the ivy and honeysuckle grow.
I had done my digital painting for this morning, but put the iPad down for a moment, and Popeye leapt on it and was scrabbling the screen with his soft paw pads (claws sheathed) furiously. He has discovered that he can do things to the screen, and he created his own painting on top of mine. This is not the first time he has done this to my painting. And I had forgotten to save as I went along
I cannot wait until dawn...
- Not at all surprising. By the time I got back from 4 hours out on a course, freezing and knackered I opted for a quick run to the store and got a pack of super noodles, and had a piece of Kingsmill 50/50 toast with marmalade having not eaten since the morning before I set off. Also had a cherry wheat beer while nattering to my best mate in our regular FaceTime on a Sunday.
@gennepher Epic tale of how to overcome the forces of - well, certainly not darkness but, evil. Bravo The Genster. @Muddy Cyclist #prayfortheFlooringman and good work on the Old Pulteney research but remember to keep it on the QT. Swipey relayed a tale of 4.4ishness this very winter's day. Pinch of salt (Veruca?), trust issues and dislike of winter aside what a good day yesterday was. Splendid video call with S'oton branch; tracked down local Fen Cekery
