Billy Young's Blog - Posts Tagged "spring"

Well the cold last most of the week. It didn't stop me from my search for a job which I spend several hours a day doing. Mainly on the internet. And yes I am still getting bother with spam from employers that I have applied to. Though it is only the odd one not all of them. I think I would lose my mind if it were. Most times you never hear back from employers to tell the truth and the ones that spam you are probably not the ones you would like a job from. Well after all if the are will to spam people, which is illegal in this country, then they aren't likely to care about employees rights. Still at the moment I really want to get back into work. Money being the main reason but also the fact that being jobless leaves days so empty. By which I mean that there is so little to do. I know gardening season is close at hand as I have noticed the stirrings of spring. I do look forward to getting out into the garden though with the small garden I have it doesn't take much to keep everything under control. It is just about perfect when I'm working as it only takes a few hours on days off to keep the weeds from over running the crops. On the hotter days Magz helps out by watering the plants when I was working. So in many ways it is just the right garden for me when I'm employed. I just think there isn't much for when I am in my present position and I might struggle to keep myself busy. Hopefully a job will come my way soon.

The sun is out today which allowed me out into the garden. It gave me the chance to prepare my tub for the coming growing season. Magz has a new sack for her tomatoes but I will need to get some more compost for it. I didn't have enough plus I will need more for some of my own tubs, especially for the Oregano and Thyme one. It has always been on the low side so adding more would only be good for the herbs. I'll hopefully get some compost this week. It is still a little frosty on the odd night so I haven't thought of planting anything. I will give that another couple of weeks at least possibly even a month before I do that. Though saying that I could plant onions which I need to get first. Magz will get them this coming week from the pound shop in town. Yes I said the pound shop. It surprised me the first time that I saw it too but the onions they sell do alright in the tubs I put them each year. Cheap with good strong flavour, what more can you ask for. One thing I need to do is sort through all the seeds I have and begin planning out this years crops. Things like what kind of lettuce for summer salads, hehehe.
The thought of summer always warms the soul. And today I could smell the changing season in the air. I also saw it in my trees and bushes. New buds of growth are swelling quickly like they were getting ready. Which they are but it is such a good time of year. More so on a day as we have today with the bright sunshine warming your back as you lightly toil to prepare the containers in readiness. The sounds of the neighbours drifted in the air over the tall hedges just added to the tranquil feel of the day.

Easter weekend and the first signs of spring is to be seen out in the garden. Yes I noticed the other day that the leaves on my apple tree, only one though, have started opening. I got a lift from seeing it. Winter always makes me feel down which makes the sight of the changing season heart lifting. I've been out tidying what I can as well as preparing the tubs and sacks for planting. Basically some light weeding, loosening up the soil and adding some fertiliser to give the young plants a start when they are planted. I can't afford to fix the side fence this year. It needs a new panel and post as the winter storms snapped the post. When I get another job I will save to sort that out but will have to leave it for now.
The job search continues slowly. I applied for ILA funding for training as I thought that it could only help open up my options. It I was to get onto the security course to get the card that would be good. So I am now waiting to hear back though I don't see any problems stopping me from receiving funding as I've never had it before. I always seemed to get a job before I got the funding in the past.
Still playing Elite Dangerous in the evenings. I've been out exploring the galaxy since the 17th March and this week met up with a fellow player CMDR Omega Prime. We met halfway between the Soul and Heart nebula's. We just sat for over an hour talking before we had to go our own way. He was from Germany and I really enjoyed the experience. So much so that the day after seemed a little under whelming. I'm glad to say that feeling hasn't lasted and I am now back into full explorers mode. It is a more peaceful way to enjoy the game than the other professions. And I am a little nosey as well.

With spring encouraging the weeds I started planting seeds today. I would have preferred to buy seedlings but I can't afford that. So it's out with the seeds I have. Some I did buy this year though those haven't been planted yet as they need starting indoors. Tomatoes don't like any chilly weather and there was a cold northerly breeze. Tammy called it cutting though I felt it wasn't as bad as that. Still it did remind me that it is still only April and with us living in Scotland. Well I'm sure many northern folk will know what I am talking about. As the old saying goes "Ner cast a clout oot tae Mays oot." Which means "Never cast aside clothing till May has past." In the meantime I will start the tomatoes, cucumbers and courgettes indoors. I know I don't have a great record for that as they usually died soon after being planted outside. Even trying to harden the plants up has never worked. Sitting them out during the day and bringing them back in at night. Still I have to give it a go in the hope that I will be successful this time round. Magz has already said she'll get them from the pound shop if I fail again. I'm not sure that the actually sell plants though they do have cheap seeds and compost.
I am still waiting to hear from the ILA but I should hopefully hear this week. Well I would like to hear this coming week but you can never really tell. The paperwork that came with the application form said it could take two weeks. Though I believe that that would be from when they received the form rather than when I posted it. And as they only supplied a second classed envelope it would take a few days to get to them. My impatients show