General Chat

Lesley Off topic for original post, but yesterday morning on LBC radio there was a discussion on whether seagulls, in particular, can pass wind. Apparently they can't! Sue xx

I'm just wondering if birds fart - if your eat baked beans then they must be tooting merrily ;-)

Julie - I am in Norfolk - how did your relative get a discount for his water butt? We have been trying to buy a third one but can't get what we want, B & Q told o.h. today that they are not getting the supplies in fast enough cos too many are going down south where there are hosepipe bans already. They have been sent some odd shaped ones instead, which won't fit in the area where there is another pipe. The other two are almost empty so o.h. is trying to use the opportunity to clean them out before setting them up again in the hope of more rain. With the washing up water, I throw mine over shrubs at the edge of the grass so the birds can find the beans and stuff, or I scrape the plates onto the bird table first. Blackbirds and starlings love baked beans.

Sandra It might be worth to ring and ask as my FIL got one with a discount but he is in Norfolk. Julie

In relation to filtering used water for the water butt - I bought one of those plastic kitchen sieve things that you use for flour etc in one of those cheapy shops for a pound. I keep it in my shed and use it for scooping leaves and twigs out of the edge of my pond. I think a sieve like that would also be useful for sieving water previously used for washing veggies/washing up before putting in the water butt. May even try it myself as I also have a brand new water butt. Unluckily I don't have a down drain pipe to attach it to so I have to be inventive about catching rain water. I have a collection of containers - an old baby bath, a huge plant tray etc that I store in a corner and lay on the patio when it looks like its going to rain. Angela

hello everyone from sunny (at the mo) south Wales. Lush green here too had a few showers and ressies are full to over flowing. Sorry to hear you are all having probs. I guess it'll be like Spain before long - bottle water for all drinking and food. Its disgusting all the water rates have gone sky high since it was privatised and making huge profits....for a poorer service. Oh well that's my moan for the day, i'll get off my soap box now. Dorothy

Hi Everyone, We have lovely clear water here in Scotland and plenty of it!! Been raining every night for the past week or so. Dry during the day though. Looks like we are going to have more rain within the next few days too. Ooops just started raining again!!!! 5:30pm Betty

This may seem like a stupid question..........but here goes anyway! If we all recycle most of our waste water so that very little goes down the drains or into the sewers, surely that will create problems too. There won't be enough water to keep the drains & sewers flowing and working properly. Or am I missing something here? Sue xx

There is no shortage of water. What is missing is the will of the Water Companies to divert some of their vast profits into de-salination plants driven by off-shore wind generators. After all, they won't even spend the money to make my drinking water palatable and I have to filter it.

stupid question - does your water butt come with (or does anyone know where I can get) a filter? I'm sick and tired of throwing away the washing up water when I know it's perfectly good to use on the garden - but with the rain the last two days we've not needed it so its just going down teh drain. BUT - I'm not sure the Cheerios and baked beans are THAT good for it so I'd like to filter it when I pour it in. Short of stretching an old net curtain across the top does anyone know of such a thing thats actually made for the water butt?

Presumably it doesn't say how many times you can fill the watering can!!!? Ann Glos

I'll have a look at my water bill to see if I am paying for hosepipe use. Looking at Thames waters site you can use your hosepipe for filling up the watering can - so how can I make my water butt look like a watering can?

Due to the water restrictions in my area I have purchased a water butt in order to save rainwater and other waste water I can syphon into it. As I am paying for water I cannot use do you think I have a hope that Thames Water will pay for my water butt as I am easing their problem due to their inability to repair leaks. Me thinks I am barking but in fact am so cross and out of pocket. Sandra :(((