Hosepipe Ban

Hiya Fat Controller

My first rage about how disabled are treated was 23 years ago; my sister had cancer at the age of 30 and near the end I would push her around in a wheelchair. I was annoyed about the impatience of many of the public, the lack of facilities and the lack of provision for wheelchair access in shops etc. Blimey! I used to get extremely angry.
Nowadays things are better generally but now the government is cutting incomes and facilities for the disabled. Not right

 

What a great thread

Personally, being a bit of an environmentalist (that presumably comes with being Nordic, together with the blue eyes and ability to make history changing pop songs ) I do feel guilty about the fact that my watering water has been purified to such a standard that even young babies can drink it. Straight from the tap, just like that- it's safe.

I have lived in countries where drinking water comes from bottles or containers, and seen the reality of living in a place where the water just is not there. From this perspective using water which has been purified using a huge high tech infrastructure to water plants which are only for decorative purposes feels wrong.

There have been great long term solutions suggested which I hope will take root widely during this summer. Water butts are essential, mulching is great in many ways, and know-what-you-are-doing- watering i.e. not just spraying the foliage or dampening the surface are definitely the way to go. Perhaps it would be good to add an attitude that droughts do happen, and we will suffer some losses. The most important plants can be spot- pampered.

Actually I'm proud that the lawns around our office building are yellow. The company has strong environmental values and nothing brings them more visibility than unwatered lawn in a prestigious business park in this summer.

But all in all, what a great summer we are having!

 

I 've been using a hose but mostly for watering pot plants and filling water butts.
Occasionally topping up the pond.
I try very hard not to water any plants that are growing in the ground, but obviously there are a few, mostly veg.

I'd divert my waste water to a water butt, but it would not be a 5 minute job, and you can bet your life if I went through the process I'd probably find I'd need to be building an Ark the following week.

Which is why this country never copes in all kinds of weather.
We sometimes get extreme weather, but it never lasts long enough for us to change our ways.

 

We have a water meter in our home and we asked for it to be removed and would they take it out no way...so we've been stuck with it for 10yrs, it looks well when you can't get one of those removed either once installed.

 

Verdun well said on quite a few issues here ...I couldn't have said better myself, the whole lots enough to make you go mad

 

I too have to agree with Verdun. Like I mentioned in my comment, we continue to experience changes in climate etc and are warned of future changes, yet still the powers to be side step the issues. It's amazing how, we the British continue to tell the rest of the world, how to and what to do, yet do we take such advice ourselves? NO! Eventually often years later, the venture is taken up. What might have cost thousands back then, now cost's millions if not billions.

 

As Verdun has mentioned people with disabilities may I add some comments relating to my youngest daughter Amanda, aged 52. Amanda seems to have drawn the short straw in life. She appears to have a very low immune system. She is a very slow healer if at all. She's at some hospital every week. She has to use crutches all the time. OK she was getting Benefits including High Rate DLA. She had been awarded High Rate for life. She had a motability car. Then the government changed the rules. Well no. They scrapped the system, and introduced this new one. Now, never mind how many medical consultants have provided specialist records etc. Now some individual employed by an outside firm, sists down and ticks boxes. Amanda was marked down. The car was taken back, no refund on the deposit. She did appeal but to no avail. Sadly she can be very independant at times. I noticed several flaws in the report. One being reference to her driving ability and operating the handbrake, with her damaged hand/arm. The car was manufactured with an automatic hand-brake. Most importantly to be entitled to the higher rate benefit. Nothing is mentioned in the rules/law, that the applicant has to be the driver or even be a license holder. The benefit is intended to help the individual, get around.
When I suggested taking the case further, she said. Dad. I am so worn out. I have no fight left in me.
Apart from mobility issues. She is slowly starving to death, as all her tubes and piprs are so small. Attempts to carry out an endoscopy were aborted. She is basically unable to swaloow food, even at times, a drink will cause her to choke. Honestly folks, she has, IMHO become a guinea pig for the medics. Sorry to bore you with my problems. Many thanks for reading.

 

Can you move it 200 miles North West Shiney, to my front lawn ? Them stretchy hoses are amazing
I am down in Surrey next week , visiting family. Going to bring a couple of buckets of water back !

 

You cant have water meters removed once fitted because that is what they want, us all on meters.
I was put on a meter about three years ago, I dont think it is any cheaper, and I live alone.
I dont mind paying foir the water but I do resent paying for the disposal of all the water I use on the garden.
Contacted the water company and they more or less said they had a deal with Offwat, so up your mate.

Its a bit like the so called smart meter for gas/electric, its going to save "us" all money, it dont, it makes "them" money.

As the water meter is not on my property I often wonder what would be the outcome should it get damaged.