Suggestions please

Oops! I came a bit adrift with all those double consonants in that last post.

Ironic? Sod's law? How come, my Buddleias self seed everywhere. In the crevices of the walls, the steps, even in the fence! But, when I planted a seedling I tugged out and put it in my 'wild area' (this is an area of my garden I tell people Chris Packham told me to create but is in fact an overgrown rockery that I let go! but I do like the feeling of self righteousness now it's gone mad and things are living in it!) it died. And, I collected wild flower seeds, sprinkled in, nothing, bought a packet, nothing, got a free packet from Dogs Trust, nothing. Just 2ft high grass that, as it does every year, has now gone flat. But... I notice, a large poppy is growing out of the tarmac on my front driveway! Is there a 'god of gardening?'. If there is, he is frowning down upon me!

Take up the card game bridge. Very addictive! Keeps your brain cells active and meet new friends.

Thank you NellieM very interesting. Now, call me a cynic (as if!), but is it possible that the big pharmas don't make enough £££ from the ammonium sulphanate, so discredit it in favour of their more expensive chemicals?! The possible Monsanto/Bayer merger is a terrifying thought.

Learn a new language.

radiolingua.com

Minimouse Do read all this article.
www.allotment-garden.org/garden-diary/1989/ammonium-sulphamate-weed-killer-banned/

Particularly the points made by Nigel Roberts and associated comments and the science which is explained.
You can still buy this compost accelerrant online.
www.amazon.co.uk/Mistral-Ammonium-Sulphamate-1Kg/dp/B004MMOEH2

You can buy a product which used to be available for killing root stumps, however it is now only licenced as a useful compost accelerator. This change of use was largely due to problems and costs of getting safety approval.

With the impending likelihood of gylphosate being banned this artical might be useful.

Warning I accidentally spilt some on a pyracantha stump when going to my compost heap and the pyracantha root has died. Ivy is a B****r to eradicate.

Would you like to visit my garden and touch the ivy and bindweed, please? I'll provide a very good lunch

MiniMouse I don't know!! My gardener has asked me the same question, any plant I touch seems to die, he has now forbidden me to do anything in the garden! I had visions of my conservatory being filled with colourful plants - I have had to resort to artificial ones!

Oh PLEASE tell me how you kill ivy?!!! I desperately need that talent!

Thanks for all the suggestions, will certainly try some of them. Gardening is out I'm afraid - I can even kill ivy!!

Join U3A-there's bound to be something you would like. £8 a year and £1 a session so cheap as chips too!

I love that cathymum what a fun idea.

Try watching a film or reading an author you didn't think you'd like? Or a play or show you're unsure of? Can lead to pleasant surprises.

My friend and I felt the same way,to try to get out of our boredom we both made a list of 6 things we would like to do if we had the courage and motivation, wrote each thing on piece of paper and sealed them in seperate envelopes. All the envelopes were mixed up and put in a container. Each month we pick one out and have a month to complete the challenge. We are on month 2 now,so far I have attended an auction for the first time and have changed my hair colour.It,s quite good fun and if the task isn't one you want to do the rule is you have to buy the cakes.

Try volunteering, there are lots of organisations looking for help. Walking rescue dogs would give you exercise too. Helping children with reading in school, Scouts are always looking for help. Disabled and elderly people need help with shopping etc and just companionship. The list is endless.

www.futurelearn.com has lots of free on-line short courses to try. I have done a creative writing one and I September start one about how to start up a Social Enterprise. They have various ones which come from many different universities.

I'm in the WI and have met some lovely new people. We meet once a month and also go on days out, we have many courses so you can learn new skills, mine also has a gardening, walking, lunch and craft group. I recommend it to you, there should be one near to where you live. They have a web site. Good luck.

You could pick up a day/evening class prospectus. Then take a course. Jewellery making, singing, writing, cookery. There are so many to choose from it would occupy you and you'd meet people and add to your skills. Probably the best time to pick one up as they'll be finishing soon but classes will be starting afresh in September. Courses discounted too if you are retired I believe.

Learn a poem by heart and have a poetry evening with your OH or friend and each read or recite a poem ; listen to some music you haven't heard before- opera or rap whetever; read about the history of a particular country or event you know nothing about; visit an art gallery you haven't been to before or an exhibition; go to pilates or line dancing for exercise. The list is endless!

Plus one for Aquafit - good fun and you feel the benefits!

Aquafit is good fun and terrific exercise without stressing joints too much. Go on get yourself wet!

Don't know what that rogue 'and' is doing there...

Take up photography? You don't need an expensive camera - there are some superb compacts around and these days. Or you can even use your phone if it's got a good camera. Then download some free editing software and have fun editing your photos. It can be very addictive!

Take up gardening?I don't mean simply weeding and tidying, but redoing garden beds and planting things you may not have thought about.Nothing does you so much all rond good as planting and watching the garden grow.

Crafting??? I do card-making (beware though, it's expensive!), knitting and very occasional sewing ... perfect for the bone-idle.