As weeds go, this is the biggest thug of them all

On the common land adjoining our garden we have a beautiful valley, with a stream running through it and a wood. Amongst the trees though is Japanese Knotweed, it can be difficult to get at on the steep slopes of the valley but get at it I do.

We are on our annual hunt of this voracious plant. Before we moved I didn’t know what it was, I sure do now.

Once established, it tends to shade out native plants by producing a dense canopy of leaves early in the growing season and germination of our native plants is further compounded by the thick mulch of decaying canes and slow decomposing leaves left by the Knotweed in the winter. Although Japanese Knotweed is non toxic (edible even - it tastes like mild rhubarb apparently), it offers a poor environment for native insects, birds and animals.

Japanese Knotweed was first introduced to the UK as an ornamental plant by the Victorians. The problem is that it grows unbelievably quickly and it’s a highly invasive species. Currently Knotweed is listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This makes it an offense to either plant or cause (or encourage) the plant to grow in the wild. However, there is no obligation to report or remove it if it is growing on your land, but it really is wise to do so; if you see anything like the below appearing – kill it instantly-ish.

Kill it - instantly-ish...

When it comes to removing Knotweed though, it isn't easy. Japanese Knotweed is known for its ability to re-sprout from very, very small pieces of plant and its roots can reach 7 metres horizontally and 3 metres deep making it difficult to remove by digging out.  The majority, if not all plants outside Japan are female so it doesn't have viable seeds here in the UK.  Knotweed spreads either by its own encroaching growth(rhizomes grow rapidly underground) or by regenerating from pieces of the plant or root system that are cut and transported by people or by water.  As we definitley don't want to spread it this makes cutting back and digging out too hazardous for us with such an established problem in a difficult to access area. 

One of the most effective methods of eradicating Japanese Knotweed is with the use of herbicides. For the best results apply just before the Knotweed's flowering, which generally occurs in late summer or early autumn. We use Glyphosate, we use it whenever we see a plant with enough leaves unfurled to make spraying viable we are so paranoid; also it can be very difficult to spray the plants when they are taller than you. This chemical penetrates the whole plant, including the root network.

We have been spraying since we moved here three and a half years ago and although it is obviously still with us the Knotweed has certainly been retreating and is nowhere near as prolific as it once was.  Knotweed can lay dormant for 20 years so our vigil will have to remain in place for many more years to come.

There is a trial at the moment involving an insect that feeds on the sap of the Knotweed plant stunting its growth – but this may or may not work, and even if it does it could be ten years before it reaches us.

Doing nothing is not an option.

As tall as I am - in just this growing season.

Mother Love

This week's topic from Sticky Fingers is Mother Love.  Through the beaming smiles the picture below says it all, taken at my Gran's 100th birthday party; she is flanked by her three loving daughters.

Here is a poem that was read to Gran by her daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren as part of her birthday celebrations.

Broadband

Last Thursday we noticed our download speed had decreased from the normal heady heights of about 500 Kbps to about 90 if we were lucky.  Although we were still receiving email, using Remote Desktop or the Internet generally was simply hopeless.

My heart sank (we've been through this frustrating process before).

We called our phone service provider.  A BT engineer eventually spoke to us Saturday and although he tested the line and said it was fine (we had deduced that as we were talking on it and it was as clear as a bell), he said there was nothing else he could do for us.  His hands were tied.

We knew that in our nearest village of Maenclochog the Post Office, Sarah's Newsagents and General Stores and Ysgol Gymunedol Maenclochog were affected (the village is over three miles from us) and we also knew all our neighbours were in trouble.  Even though we told the BT engineer this, this information was apparently 'irrelevant' - how can this be?

I know for a fact that many of our friends and neighbours had to go through the rigmarole and expense of swapping out routers (shops that supply IT hardware are about an hour round trip for most of us) and fiddling around with the micofilter.  This along with dire warnings that if the engineer arrives on site and it is found to be the fault of your equipment you will be charged hundreds of pounds.

Why can they not join the dots?

Our ISP could tell there was a problem at the exchange in Maenclochog on the Thursday when we first raised the issue.  Apparently though the powers that be have to wait for enough ISPs to call in and complain before they look further than the end of their nose.  This can take a while in an area where there are fewer businesses using the Internet on a daily basis and the population is generally low.  It took until Monday afternoon until we were back in business - literally.

This weekend it has dropped to a crawl again.

We are running an IT company in a very rural area.  It is crucial we have broadband to operate.  But no-one seems to care at BT.  Come on UK PLC, we need to do better than this.

We spoke to our local MP's assistant after last weekend's debacle and it looks like we will be speaking to them again come Monday.

Hectic

Life has been a little hectic this last week or so with my Gran going into hospital.  Trying to organise our extended family so we always manage to attend the visiting hours has been something of a juggling act, added to that J is having to travel away for work at the end of this week, so we are a car and a man down.

Her Next Door drives, but only really when she has to. The hospital is 10 miles away, so it is quite a trek with dodgy bends and people daring to either go in the same direction or approach her from the other way.  Did I mention she is a nervous driver...  The car park of the hospital itself seems to have very slim parking bays and it is continuously full to the brim. Which rather puts her off.  So whilst J is manning work Him Next Door and I tend to do the driving shifts for one of the twice daily visiting sessions.  J helps out with the odd evening and when needed at the weekend, although we have lots of other family visitors also sharing the load then. This is a great help as at least for the weekends it affords us natives of The Booth some 'down' time.

Added to the mix is making sure G9 gets to all her after school activities - although we are failing a bit at the latter end of this week when we only have the one car available.  My wonderful friend Preseli Mags is helping us out on Wednesday and Friday, so Wednesday it means Her & Him Next Door make it on time for the afternoon visiting session and on Friday G9 will not miss Brownies at least.

Where would we be without supportive family, friends and neighbours I ask myself.

Sadness

The rudder of our little ship is not so well.

Edith, Mum, Gran, Great Gran - 100 years young.

We all love you, get better soon - please.  xxx

UPDATE 15/03/11
Whilst I was at fy nosbarth Cymraeg my Mum and Dad went hospital visiting. Gran had not been so bright when I saw her in the afternoon but when I got home after my class I received this pleasant surprise...

Her Next Door reported that Gran was much better this evening than she has been since being in hospital. No more oxygen mask (still just little pipes of oxygen in to her nose) and she even had her wagging finger out, telling Her Next Door to buy her some nighties but not from M&S, Peacocks would do! She has also requested a full biscuit tin (of course she never snacks on these ;) ), some Eau de Cologne so that she can smell lovely and a hair comb (she's trying to impress the young male physio I think).
 
Simply amazing.

World Book Night

World Book Night, what is it?

An extract from worldbooknight.org explains it.

"... one million books will be given away by an army of passionate readers to members of the public across the UK and Ireland.

The book give-away will comprise 40,000 copies of each of the 25 carefully selected titles, to be given away by 20,000 ‘givers’, who will each distribute 48 copies of their chosen title to whomever they choose on World Book Night. The remaining books will be distributed by World Book Night itself in places that might otherwise be difficult to reach, such as prisons and hospitals."

Brand new books for adults - the list of titles of which I was not aware of before we ventured out.

Strangely I found I had connections with a few of the books being distributed:-

• A Fine Balance, this spring's read for an online book club I subscribe to.
• Stuart: A Life Backwards is also on the list. I just bought it from Amazon.
• Preseli Mags had given me the Life of Pi, right before we went to the World Book Night.

Quite a coincidence - these books floating around me within the last week, all three on the list.

Our local event was held at Narberth Museum Bookshop and we were invited to attend by Chris S Stephens.

Mags and I received brand new copies of Fingersmith, given away by Chris himself.  Daniel Sheen was also at the Bookshop and he was giving away Cloud Atlas. Mags has previously read both and told me they are fantastic, Cloud Atlas being one of her most loved reads. Can't wait to discover the magic for myself and Maggie has now been inspired by this celebration of adult books to read them again.

What is also pretty special is that each book we have been given has an identification number in it so you can register on the World Book Night website and see the journey the book has taken from Giver to Reader and so on (*).

The children could also choose a book each free - needless to say they couldn't choose but one.

Chris Stephens with the young readers.

I want to join in next year, as a giver. How special... incredible.

(*) Put your hand up quickly if you would like me to pass on my copy of Fingersmith or Cloud Atlas to yourself, once I have read.  First come first served.

Dydd Gwŷl Dewi Sant hapus i gyd

Today G9 went off to school in her Welsh national costume.  What another beautiful day too.

G9 in the Welsh national dress.

Daffodils basking in the early March sunshine.

Snowdrops joining in the spring party.

Happy Saint David's Day to all.