I'm sitting down to a BLT sandwich for lunch ... and the salad is all out of my own garden.

I've just been out in the garden with a torch and gardening gloves hunting slugs and snails and throwing them over the back fence into the common (where if there's any justice they will get eaten by birds). There were dozens of the things... probably getting on for 60 to 100. Many of them made anguished sounding squeaks on being picked up. I think I got most of them, and stepped on a couple by accident which rubs my pacifist sensibilities up the wrong way. I think the ideal solution would be to find a hedgehog and build it a little house at the bottom of the garden, that way I'm helping wildlife rather than hurting it, but my poor beans certainly don't have any sympathy (or many leaves) and all the buds on my courgettes are gone :(

After about two weeks of glorious sunny weather it started to rain today. I got a little damp walking home, but on the bright side I won't have to water the garden ... well, maybe just the tomatoes.

Took and passed my driving theory test this morning, 50/50 on the multiple choice and 60/75 on the hazard perception (pass mark is 44/75). Next up, talk to thurisaz_art's hubby about lessons and booking a practical test...

A week last Sunday my mother came up and helped me clear the horrible mess of weeds out of my garden. We took a load of bags of rubbish to the tip, and I got rid of a bunch more this weekend. She also brought me three tomato plants, and a bunch of scaffold planks my step dad had cut into meter lengths for me (as well as several packs of home raised sausages).

Last week I ordered a vegetable garden set from Crocus, which arrived on Friday. Saturday morning was spent assembling the raised beds; over the weekend I made several trips to the DIY superstore, mostly for compost (filling raised beds takes a lot of compost). Sunday I got back from swimming, and finally got everything into the beds.

( Photos under the cut )

On Saturday a few members of the AGS went to Coffee and Corks for this month's games social (campus rooms being in the clutches of Conference Office for the vacation) much fun was had...
( Read more... )

The promised updates will have to wait for tomorrow, I was in the garden until quarter to seven, have just eaten, and am now going out to a game...

I haven't posted anything here for ages. I will start posting again regularly. I will write more in general.

Two more updates later today on what I've been up to this weekend - gardening and gaming.

First, sorry for going so long without an update, then making it such a quick one!

The Vice-Chancellor is visiting our section at the university this morning. Since my promotion, I've been wearing suits to work and generally looking quite smart. Despite having shined my shoes over the weekend ready for tiday, I put on my trainers this morning without even thinking, and didn't notice this until I got in to work. D'oh! Hopefully she won't notice...

...well I've survived until lunchtime at least, and am trying to relax a little. I came in a bit early to shift my computer and everything else I need in to my new office from next door and generally get settled in. So far I've mostly been doing my old job as there's no one else in the office today to do it, but there's various meetings today and later in the week that will make things more involved. I have a bit of time off I need to use up before the end of the year, so will be taking a long weekend - hopefully I'll sort out some of my Christmas shopping! Everyone is being really friendly and supportive, so things are looking good so far.