We've been here so many times before but I'm sure that there are others here doing rennovation and thinking about plumbing!We've got a local firm to prepare a preventivo for the plumbing work in our house and its time to make a final decision on w
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These plants are now growing ( rampaging) in our Cornish garden.I collected the seed in 2007 and sowed it in the sring of 2008 planting out these 2 plants and the loved Cornwall so much they grew to monster proportions!
Mon, 08/24/2009 - 07:40
I'm wondering if anyone is having the same trouble as I am finding an attractive fench for a rural property ( no I'm not looking for something that would have previously surrounded Colditz!
Sun, 08/02/2009 - 08:15
These are some photos from my garden and surrounding area
Thu, 07/30/2009 - 07:12
Has anyone else seen gecos in Abruzzo or any other part of Italy?Last year we saw one running up the wall of a house and in June I spotted one on the bark of a large conifer actually quite near the town centre!It was one of these I think!
Wed, 07/15/2009 - 14:46
Theres a 30% discount on rail travel in Abruzzo at the moment its all on this pagehttp://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnex
Mon, 07/13/2009 - 05:45
Hi there joined up yesterday from the previous forum.No idea why its all change but happy to see familiar faces!I'd love a new topic for Wildlife.We had some great wildlife threads on the other forumn but its difficult to see where they can go her
Sat, 07/11/2009 - 08:24
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I have gathered seeds by visting the lower slopes of Maiella Mountains in Sept with lots of those little resealable plastic bags.The seeds are then sown in the UK and plants taken to Italy or put in our UK garden!I've planted tree seeds too and acorns.My allotment is almost full! It wouldn't take very long to gather sack loads of seeds! I have also planted bulbs.These can be bought on ebay or from UK nurseries.Allium, Italian Gladioli,Star of Bethelehem etc will all naturalise and look gorgeous.Also cyclamen. Just past Caramanico (driving towards the mountains) in Abruzzo there is a small Botanical Garden/Nursery that are open to the public -I think you will find it if you go on the Maiella Parks web site.They grow local varieties of trees /plants etc. www.myabruzzohome.blogspot.com
I'm very pleased about the 2 trees to replace one rule - I was told that firewood from Albania was being imported to Abruzzo which is crazy! Abruzzo has lots of lovely trees and thanks to nice damp springs they seem to do very well. We have some nice big oaks and I've even bought acorns back to the UK and have 4 saplings. www.myabruzzohome.blogspot.com
thanks for that great advice all -I did buy some acid that was supposed to remove cement/lime plaster marks from brick but it only works on very light stains not well trodden in plaster and dirt! I'll try the builders merchants too.I was wondering if sand could be worked over the surface somehow that might work too. Or maybe some type of over night 'poultice' that lifted the plaster? www.myabruzzohome.blogspot.com
AHH don't stop the swifts as their numbers are decreasing due to lack of nest sites. Try a board under the eves? I dont think an evening in Italy would be the same without the screaming of the swifts. Try to think about all the nasty bugs they are eating! www.myabruzzohome.blogspot.com
confused about the cotto tile? Our roof must consist of 200 plus year old clay tiles but these dont crack -they knew how to make them then! I always like to study old building materials as they were used for a purpose!For instance the choice of wood for the roof beams was based on type of wood that wood boring insects don't like.Now lots of softwoods are used and hey presto in come the insects!! www.myabruzzohome.blogspot.com
It will take time for wild birds to 'trust' feeders but I know of someone who has had sucess in Abruzzo.It's worth perservering as the blue tits will help control all those nasty greenfly and aphids in the spring. Sparrowhawks and cats will find it easier to take birds on the ground so try and hang up a wood board to put food on. The favourite food here are sunflower seeds! www.myabruzzohome.blogspot.com
If you go to the Navitron (UK) website or even better phone them they will be able to advise you as they are very helpful and we there before all of the 'new' solar companies started up. I think covering the panels or draining the entire system (if water based) when you are away was some advice I had. http://www.myabruzzohome.blogspot.com
The funniest thing I saw was a tiny 7st mother carrying a gross fat 5 year old up my friends driveway incase the hot tar on it hurt his feet. Yet everytime I'm out driving I see babies bouncing around in the back seats with no car seats or seat belts on! Clearlythere needs to be some sort of educationa campaign.Its getting very serious with these grossly overweight children who because of all this silliness are not getting enough excercise.
Cheap woodburners are a false economy -you may want to look at a thermal store to keep the heated water in as it will stay hot and can be passed around the rads. http://www.myabruzzohome.blogspot.com
It's practically impossible to get work done if you are back in the UK but once you are out in Italy things seem to move on a bit -that's except when you try to use the most well known firm of plumbers in Manoppello! We desperatly needed a plumber to redo something a previous plumber had made a hash of before we could finish some tiling.We waited in on 3 separate occassions and they didn't turn up -unfortunately we wasted over a week on these clowns before finding some excellent plumbers who have an office in Manoppello Scalo. I'm happy to pass on names through a PM. http://www.myabruzzohome.blogspot.com