LATEST MOAN FROM YOU AND ME - 2021

I'm feeling like I have been conned .

Usual shop in Morrisons last Tuesday - picking up some jams for the morning toast - I see the Hartleys cherry jam has been reduced from £1.60 to £1 per pot. Cor, I thought, what a bargain, I can't afford not to get a couple of jars.

It is tasty - but I noticed this morning that it was being used up rather quickly. I know why now - Hartleys give you 340g per pot and others 454g per pot. Very clever packaging - the jars are a different shape but they look like they would contain the full 454g.

I'm sticking with the Morrisons own from now on .

 

First it was a plaster shortage, then a timber and screw shortage now a steel [1] aggregate, and cement shortage.

Round my way there's no cement to be had unless you've got contacts at a builder's merchants, luckily I have contacts at 2 major merchants, and just bought enough for this year's needs.

The rumour going around builders merchants is that the cement shortage is largely caused by HS2 placing massive orders direct with manufacturers, leaving everybody else scrabling for what's left.


[1] Causing Premier Tunnels to cease taking new orders for polytunnels TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR NEW ORDERS

 

There will be some truth in that. Then you have got all these other wind turbine farms being built, they will need some volume of concrete for the footings. As we are coming away from coal power stations there is less fly ash which is used to make concrete for added strength.

 

ICL have suspended production of their humax growing media range to the retail sector, so they can focus solely on production to the commercial growers.

ICL growing media production update ICL (icl-sf.com)

We might have to go down the same route soon as we are struggling to get hold of fertiliser. An example, I ordered 4 tons of osmocote controlled release fertiliser, all I received was 12 x 25kg bags, 148 bags short.

I have had no poultry manure pellets now for nearly six weeks, I am out of blood fish and bone fertiliser and trying to get hold of bamboo canes and rattan hanging baskets is a nightmare.
Trying to get hold of machined round fence posts and even planters is a struggle now, which will result in cost's increasing as demand is out stripping supply.

 

The solution is simple - get people back to work - open up the economy and stop furlough payments. I reckon September time things will largely get back to 'normal' - whatever that is.

 

I think furlough has gone on too long for some people. also some are still not trading properly and covid is being used as an excuse, for instance, a fencing company just up the road from me has a massive banner outside saying We Are Still Open, but the place is, and has been shut, for a year, you have to order online or over the phone and then go and pick it up, you cant look at what you are buying.

 

Don't forget the testing Pete, people are getting tested find out that they have cv then isolate more time of work

 

I was getting all excited about growing leeks on the allotment. Just found out that they are biennial - so no crop until next year...

 

They should be OK to start eating this year. Early/Autumn leeks mature quicker but don't cope with winter as well as Late/Winter varieties that last until Spring.

I grow both types, plus plant some in bunches (rather than singly) to deliberately produce small leeks (like shops charge a premium for), rather than larger tougher ones.

Don't leave loads to late Spring or they'll start going to seed and developing a tough inner core. They can always be lifted before it's too late and frozen, or turned into Glamorgan Sausages.

Buy a fence panel or bundle of feather edge without seeing it

 

I purchased the 'Musselburgh' variety seeds - as I'm told they are fool proof. I'm going to put that claim to the test .

 

Another shortage seems to be reed screening for fences.I want some to cover an unsightly bit of fence 1.8 by 3 or 4 metres, but can’t find any.Same with brushwood screening.

 

Oh oh, I think this is correct...

 

Also with HS2, they are set to plant 7 million trees and shrubs. Plus the governments target of establishing 30,000 hectares of new woodland by 2025 is causing shortages of trees and shrubs leading to price increases. Plants the new currency.

Shortage of trees and shrubs - BALI investigation into price increases within the industry - Commercial Nursery | Johnsons Of Whixley Home | Johnsons of Whixley (nurserymen.co.uk)

 

Ha! They'll soon be nearly as expensive as they are here.......Vive Brexit, eh?