PHEASANT AND CORRECT
Last year I lost so many crops to moles, rabbits, pigeons and even sheep – I nearly gave up.
The year before, a pheasant nested amongst my broad beans, which meant I couldn’t harvest them (as I didn’t want to disturb her) but hopefully that was just a one off.
The older I get the more respect I have for my Granddad whose veggie garden was just so wonderfully productive – and seemingly with such little effort.
Mind you, if he had had a pheasant nesting in his broad beans, not only would he have still picked them but he would also have had roast pheasant with them.
I was given a couple of cracking galvanised water tanks a little while ago and I think I’ll grow salad crops in those this year as they will hopefully be tall enough to be rabbit proof. It’s a bit annoying that despite having a great veggie plot, I have to grow things in containers but it’s also counterproductive to sow salad crops just for the wildlife. And let’s face it ‘Home and Garden’ would probably say it’s bang on trend and do a four page spread on ‘using recycled containers in the garden.’ Got to look for the positives.
A fabulous female gardener, in her late nineties, told me that in her 70-odd years of gardening she had learned more about psychology than growing things, and that it’s far easier to manage your expectations than to manage nature.
CROCUS ‘JEANNE D’ARC’
Have you spotted any crocus yet? They’re just starting to emerge – the most familiar being the purple and yellow varieties you sometimes see naturalised in lawns.
My favourite is the big white one, ‘Jeanne d’Arc’ – when the goblet flowers open in the sun, they are the size of a golf ball.
A valuable source of early nectar for the bees and a cheering sight for the rest of us. Plant corms in autumn in a well-drained, sunny situation.
Many people feel nervous about haggling - and for some it could prevent them from getting money off what is likely to be their biggest ever expense: their home.
Three in 10 homeowners did not try to negotiate any money off their current property, missing out on huge potential savings, according to Barclays.
A fear of losing the property, not wanting to upset the seller, and the desire to get the stressful buying process over and done with are common reasons buyers are put off haggling, the research found.
Rob Smith, head of behavioural finance at Barclays, says: “If your aim is paying the lowest price possible, then there are a couple of top tips which could help you along the way.”
Do your research: There are many tools that provide you with a lot of information. Check out the surrounding area and what the houses are like, look at local schools, shops and facilities, and the crime rate. Check how long the property has been on the market and be armed with information as well as questions.
Understand the competition: Potential interest from any other buyers may affect the dynamics between buyers and sellers. Try to understand the mindset and emotions of the seller, and perhaps how keen they are to sell.
Be realistic: Perhaps that kitchen island or bi-folding doors might tempt you to stretch your budget a little, but know your financial limits.
Communicate: Meetings are not easy to arrange unless done virtually, but not meeting faceto-face may help you disconnect emotionally and reduce feelings of confrontation. Make notes of conversations to keep on top of where you’re at.
Be patient: Allow yourself the time you need to feel happy with your offer – you don’t want to feel pressured or ultimately regret anything.
No matter how much you love this property, if you miss out, there may be another you’ll love even more.
METRO Bank has become the first bank to receive official recognition from the Welsh Language Commissioner for its strong commitment to the Welsh language.
The Bank, which has two stores in Cardiff, has been praised by Welsh Language Commissioner, Aled Roberts, for its promotion and use of the language, driven through its Welsh language charter.
The bank gives all of its staff the opportunity to learn Welsh. Customers are able to easily identify fluent Welsh speakers and learners in store through the wear of Iaith Gwaith badges alongside their Metro Bank nametag.
Ian Walters, managing director of distribution at Metro Bank, said: “We’re delighted to have been given the official recognition of the Welsh Language Commissioner and to be the first bank to have received this accolade.
“At Metro Bank, our stores act as hubs for the local community and since opening in Wales we’ve embraced the Welsh language and champion Welsh culture from our bilingual signage in our stores .We’ll continue to offer more than just banking and embrace the communities we serve.”
Mr Roberts said: “When Metro Bank decided to launch its first store in Cardiff a year ago, we were pleased they turned to us for help and guidance on developing a Welsh language policy.
“The bank’s determination to introduce Welsh from the outset is great to see. We would like to thank the Metro Bank team for committing to the ‘Cynnig Cymraeg’ (Welsh offer). This is a scheme that we’ve developed to help organisations to bring their Welsh language policies to life so that customers can take advantage of the Welsh services on offer.
“Many Welsh speakers are happier dealing with their bank in their first language, and we hope that banks across Wales respect their wishes by making Welsh a priority in their strategic policies.
“We would like to thank Metro Bank for developing its Cynnig Cymraeg with us and hope that it’ll continue to develop its Welsh language services further.”