Gardeners World [Archive] - GardenBanter.co.uk

jane

04-03-2005, 04:14 PM

On Thu, 03 Mar 2005 21:01:18 GMT, "McCready"
> wrote:

~What happened to Chris Beardshaw?
~
~Monty hasn't mentioned why he's disappeared.
~
Poached by the opposition I think, which is fairy snuff since the Beeb
poached Monty off C4... Fair swap to me - now all they have to do is
get rid of all the other pretties and leave just the plantspeople and
stop doing the garden tours in favour of practical stuff and I'll be
happy.

Talking of practical, anyone want to chat about the new-style BBC GW
Magazine? I opened my April one yesterday and was extremely pleasantly
surprised - hugely revamped/expanded 'what to do now' sections, a new
series on allotments covering both traditional style and raised bed
(yippee) and more of it (not visibly all adverts).

I resubbed last summer using the Tesco clubcard cheapie offer (a year
for 8 quid of tokens, so free) and so it's even better value!

--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!

JennyC

05-03-2005, 07:28 PM

"andrewpreece" > wrote in message
...
>
> "McCready" > wrote in message
> k...
> > What happened to Chris Beardshaw?
> >
> > Monty hasn't mentioned why he's disappeared.
> >
> >
> >
> I much rather have Chris back than that strange red-bad-haired woman!
>
> Andy

Oh !!
I liked her :~)
Jenny

Kay

05-03-2005, 11:24 PM

In article >, Janet Baraclough
> writes
>The message >
>from "JennyC" > contains these words:
>
>
>> "andrewpreece" > wrote in message
>> ...
>
>> > I much rather have Chris back than that strange red-bad-haired woman!

'bad-haired'?
You judge the quality of the gardening advice by the appearance of the
person giving it, do you? Or is that just when it's a woman?

>
>> Oh !!
>> I liked her :~)
>
>Me too. I much prefer a skilled plant enthusiast like Carol Klein to all
>those self-conscious, preening meeja personalities.
>
She seemed to me to be giving sensible advice in a straightforward way
without a lot of unnecessary flannel.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

Mike

05-03-2005, 11:47 PM

> >
> >> > I much rather have Chris back than that strange red-bad-haired woman!
>
> 'bad-haired'?
> You judge the quality of the gardening advice by the appearance of the
> person giving it, do you? Or is that just when it's a woman?
>

:-))

JennyC

06-03-2005, 07:25 AM

"Kay" > wrote in message
...
> In article >, Janet Baraclough
> > writes
> >The message >
> >from "JennyC" > contains these words:
> >
> >
> >> "andrewpreece" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >
> >> > I much rather have Chris back than that strange red-bad-haired woman!
>
> 'bad-haired'?
> You judge the quality of the gardening advice by the appearance of the
> person giving it, do you? Or is that just when it's a woman?
>
> >
> >> Oh !!
> >> I liked her :~)
> >
> >Me too. I much prefer a skilled plant enthusiast like Carol Klein to all
> >those self-conscious, preening meeja personalities.
> >
> She seemed to me to be giving sensible advice in a straightforward way
> without a lot of unnecessary flannel.
> --
> Kay

And I liked her hair colour :~)
Jenny

mich

06-03-2005, 08:52 AM

"jay jay" > wrote in message
...
>
> McCready Wrote:
> > What happened to Chris Beardshaw?
> >
> > Monty hasn't mentioned why he's disappeared.
>
>
> And Sarah Raven wasn't there either... well, at least the dreaded A T
> hasn't arrived (yet)

I wish the dreaded AT would arrive actually! He is still hard to beat.
This is no comment against Monty Don but most other presenters could take a
tip ftom AT. He speaks clearly and although he has an accent it doesnt get
in the way of his clear received Englsih which is accessible to all of us no
matter where we are viewing.

AT has personality. Monty Don needs to get a bit more forceful, he is being
drowned out by his team. Teams need leaders. Presenters need good
personailites. None of the present bunch ave got - well " presence" ( AT has
it in bucket loads!)

Laisse fairre and democracies do not work well in such situations. I
preferred the " one man style" of the old programming ( even pre AT)
personally.

As for carol klein , she is certainly knowledgeable but her accent gets me
and I am having difficulty tuning into it. I find it " harsh" . I
preferred sarah raven.

OK , so I am picky.
Rant over.

JennyC

06-03-2005, 12:29 PM

"mich" > wrote in message
...
>
> "jay jay" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > McCready Wrote:
> > > What happened to Chris Beardshaw?
> > >
> > > Monty hasn't mentioned why he's disappeared.
> >
> >
> > And Sarah Raven wasn't there either... well, at least the dreaded A T
> > hasn't arrived (yet)
>
> I wish the dreaded AT would arrive actually! He is still hard to beat.
> This is no comment against Monty Don but most other presenters could take a
> tip ftom AT. He speaks clearly and although he has an accent it doesnt get
> in the way of his clear received Englsih which is accessible to all of us no
> matter where we are viewing.

Each to his own - I hate AT !
>
> AT has personality. Monty Don needs to get a bit more forceful, he is being
> drowned out by his team.

Ah but such a sexy voice :~))

>Teams need leaders.

Disagree. The mix and match suits me fine

>Presenters need good personailites. None of the present bunch ave got - well "
presence" ( AT has it in bucket loads!)

See above :~)

>
> Laisse fairre and democracies do not work well in such situations. I
> preferred the " one man style" of the old programming ( even pre AT)
> personally.
>
> As for carol klein , she is certainly knowledgeable but her accent gets me
> and I am having difficulty tuning into it. I find it " harsh" . I
> preferred sarah raven.

She is indeed good. I love her grubby old cloths. She lloks like a proper
gardener and makes me feel quite at home :~)

> OK , so I am picky.
> Rant over.

Did you notice Racheal whatsits nails ? How can she call herself a gardener with
fangs like that ?

Jenny

Alan Gould

06-03-2005, 04:27 PM

In article >, JennyC >
writes
>
>Did you notice Racheal whatsits nails ? How can she call herself a gardener
>with
>fangs like that ?
>
Rachel de Thame. She has put on a lot of weight since her confinement.
She is more of a gardening presenter than a gardener. Monty Don on the
other hand is a gardener to his fingertips, but he seems to have
problems in putting it over on TV. His weekly articles in the Sunday
Observer are excellent. IMHO the ghost of A.T. haunts G.W.
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.

JennyC

06-03-2005, 06:55 PM

"Alan Gould" > wrote in message
...
> In article >, JennyC >
> writes
> >
> >Did you notice Racheal whatsits nails ? How can she call herself a gardener
> >with
> >fangs like that ?
> >
> Rachel de Thame. She has put on a lot of weight since her confinement.
> She is more of a gardening presenter than a gardener. Monty Don on the
> other hand is a gardener to his fingertips, but he seems to have
> problems in putting it over on TV. His weekly articles in the Sunday
> Observer are excellent. IMHO the ghost of A.T. haunts G.W.
> Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.

No.......the ghost of Jeff Hamilton :~(
Jenny

Kay

06-03-2005, 08:05 PM

In article >, JennyC >
writes
>Did you notice Racheal whatsits nails ? How can she call herself a gardener with
>fangs like that ?

What really irritated me was the sequence of closeups of alpines each
focused on R de T's face just behind the pot.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

Mark Thomas

06-03-2005, 09:44 PM

McCready wrote:
> What happened to Chris Beardshaw?
>
> Monty hasn't mentioned why he's disappeared.
>
>
>

Chris himself said on the first episode that he would be back in a
fornight....

Mark

Mike Lyle

06-03-2005, 10:42 PM

Kay wrote:
> In article >, JennyC
>
> writes
>> Did you notice Racheal whatsits nails ? How can she call herself a
>> gardener with fangs like that ?
>
> What really irritated me was the sequence of closeups of alpines
each
> focused on R de T's face just behind the pot.

Infuriating. But telly people think we're really interested only in
people. I hope Monty went back and covered up that raspberry root he
left exposed.

Mike.

Sacha

06-03-2005, 11:44 PM

On 6/3/05 21:42, in article , "Mike Lyle"
> wrote:

> Kay wrote:
>> In article >, JennyC
> >
>> writes
>>> Did you notice Racheal whatsits nails ? How can she call herself a
>>> gardener with fangs like that ?
>>
>> What really irritated me was the sequence of closeups of alpines
> each
>> focused on R de T's face just behind the pot.
>
> Infuriating. But telly people think we're really interested only in
> people. I hope Monty went back and covered up that raspberry root he
> left exposed.
>
> Mike.
>
>
I can tell you from personal experience that you cannot 'tell' telly people
anything. A couple of years ago a series was shot for one of the sky type
channels and we were in it. The man heading it knew his stuff, his plants,
garden design etc. and was good. I made one plea - "show the names of the
plants when they appear on screen". He told us that he had absolutely no
control over that but it was up to the producers/editors in the studio. I
rest my baggage!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

Alan Gould

07-03-2005, 06:20 AM

In article >, JennyC >
writes
> IMHO the ghost of A.T. haunts G.W.
>> Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.
>
>No.......the ghost of Jeff Hamilton :~(

Yes, sadly missed.
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.

Janet Tweedy

07-03-2005, 01:18 PM

In article >, Alan Gould
> writes
>In article >, JennyC >
>writes
>> IMHO the ghost of A.T. haunts G.W.
>>> Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.
>>
>>No.......the ghost of Jeff Hamilton :~(
>
>Yes, sadly missed.

Whatever happened to Ally Ward? And I wish they would have a guest once
in a blue moon, the calibre of Helen Dillon for example.

janet
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

Stan The Man

07-03-2005, 02:56 PM

In article >,
Victoria Clare > wrote:

>"JennyC" > wrote in :
>
>>
>> "andrewpreece" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>> I much rather have Chris back than that strange red-bad-haired woman!
>>>
>>> Andy
>>
>> Oh !!
>> I liked her :~)
>
>She's growing on me - seems to know her stuff, but what a painful voice
>that is to listen to. It's like she's gargled gravel.
>
I think she has a very gentle, sexy voice - and sexy smiley eyes. Of
secondary concern, she is a top plantswoman. She can also be very, very
funny. Nothing against Sarah Raven (queen of grunge), who I like for
different reasons but Carol Klein's recruitment to GW is long overdue.

Joe Swift is welcome too. His cheeky chappy cheeriness makes up for the
humour void built up by Monty, Rachel and Chris Beardshaw. I expect the
producers wanted to inject a greater variety of pace and style and I
think the new team will serve them well. I do detest Monty though and
his horticultural shortcomings must be embarrassing for the producers
at times. Give me AT any day. Another I would like to see in there is
James Alexander Sinclair (the hat man) but he probably sounds too 'BBC'
for them. Very entertaining and knowledgeable presenter though.

Stan

Victoria Clare

07-03-2005, 03:09 PM

"JennyC" > wrote in :

>
> "andrewpreece" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> I much rather have Chris back than that strange red-bad-haired woman!
>>
>> Andy
>
> Oh !!
> I liked her :~)

She's growing on me - seems to know her stuff, but what a painful voice
that is to listen to. It's like she's gargled gravel.

Victoria

Tim Challenger

07-03-2005, 03:50 PM

On Fri, 4 Mar 2005 15:14:20 +0000 (UTC), jane wrote:

> On Thu, 03 Mar 2005 21:01:18 GMT, "McCready"
> > wrote:
>
> ~What happened to Chris Beardshaw?
> ~
> ~Monty hasn't mentioned why he's disappeared.
> ~
> Poached by the opposition I think, which is fairy snuff since the Beeb
> poached Monty off C4... Fair swap to me - now all they have to do is
> get rid of all the other pretties and leave just the plantspeople and
> stop doing the garden tours in favour of practical stuff and I'll be
> happy.
>
> Talking of practical, anyone want to chat about the new-style BBC GW
> Magazine? I opened my April one yesterday and was extremely pleasantly
> surprised - hugely revamped/expanded 'what to do now' sections, a new
> series on allotments covering both traditional style and raised bed
> (yippee) and more of it (not visibly all adverts).
>
> I resubbed last summer using the Tesco clubcard cheapie offer (a year
> for 8 quid of tokens, so free) and so it's even better value!

I haven't got mine yet - looking forward to it if it is as you say. But I
agree about the old one. It's really "bitty", and the adverts were all over
the place and very intrusive. I can leave out the garden tours totally.

--
Tim C.

Pam Moore

07-03-2005, 04:55 PM

On Sat, 5 Mar 2005 20:08:05 GMT, Janet Baraclough
> wrote:

>The message >
>from "JennyC" > contains these words:
>
>
>> "andrewpreece" > wrote in message
>> ...
>
>> > I much rather have Chris back than that strange red-bad-haired woman!
>
>> Oh !!
>> I liked her :~)
>
>Me too. I much prefer a skilled plant enthusiast like Carol Klein to all
>those self-conscious, preening meeja personalities.

I like Carol Klein and admire her knowledge and welcome her on the
team. BTW last weekI met Diana Guy, winner of BBC Gardener of the
Year. She was full of praise for Monty. Said she hadn't washed her
cheek since he kissed her!!! She has a lovely garden. Look in Yellow
Book, Dorset. Lots of hellebores at present.

Pam in Bristol

Sacha

07-03-2005, 04:56 PM

On 7/3/05 13:56, in article , "Stan The Man"
> wrote:

<snip>
>>
> I think she has a very gentle, sexy voice - and sexy smiley eyes. Of
> secondary concern, she is a top plantswoman. She can also be very, very
> funny. Nothing against Sarah Raven (queen of grunge), who I like for
> different reasons but Carol Klein's recruitment to GW is long overdue.
>
> Joe Swift is welcome too. His cheeky chappy cheeriness makes up for the
> humour void built up by Monty, Rachel and Chris Beardshaw. I expect the
> producers wanted to inject a greater variety of pace and style and I
> think the new team will serve them well. I do detest Monty though and
> his horticultural shortcomings must be embarrassing for the producers
> at times. Give me AT any day. Another I would like to see in there is
> James Alexander Sinclair (the hat man) but he probably sounds too 'BBC'
> for them. Very entertaining and knowledgeable presenter though.
>
> Stan

Carol Klein certainly does know her stuff but the hat man and Joe Swift
grate on my nerves like fingernails on a blackboard. The hat irritates me
as 'gimmicky' and I can't get past that. I like Monty Don's style of
presentation and don't dislike Chris Beardshaw but do find him a bit bland,
somehow. His personality doesn't seem to come across on telly but there's
nothing irritating or annoying about him.
Carol's garden and nursery are small but worth a visit if in that area.
It's v. hard to find, though and I believe someone else from here visited
more recently than we did, so will have better directions, probably.
--

Sacha
(remove the weeds for email)

Kay

07-03-2005, 06:57 PM

In article >, Victoria
Clare > writes
>"JennyC" > wrote in :
>
>>
>> "andrewpreece" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>> I much rather have Chris back than that strange red-bad-haired woman!
>>>
>>> Andy
>>
>> Oh !!
>> I liked her :~)
>
>She's growing on me - seems to know her stuff, but what a painful voice
>that is to listen to. It's like she's gargled gravel.
>
I didn't even notice!

What accent has she got? Is it something I'm used to?
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

Magwitch

08-03-2005, 03:07 AM

Sacha muttered:

> On 6/3/05 21:42, in article , "Mike Lyle"
> > wrote:
>
>> Kay wrote:
>>> In article >, JennyC
>> >
>>> writes
>>>> Did you notice Racheal whatsits nails ? How can she call herself a
>>>> gardener with fangs like that ?
>>>
>>> What really irritated me was the sequence of closeups of alpines
>> each
>>> focused on R de T's face just behind the pot.
>>
>> Infuriating. But telly people think we're really interested only in
>> people. I hope Monty went back and covered up that raspberry root he
>> left exposed.
>>
>> Mike.
>>
>>
> I can tell you from personal experience that you cannot 'tell' telly people
> anything. A couple of years ago a series was shot for one of the sky type
> channels and we were in it. The man heading it knew his stuff, his plants,
> garden design etc. and was good. I made one plea - "show the names of the
> plants when they appear on screen". He told us that he had absolutely no
> control over that but it was up to the producers/editors in the studio. I
> rest my baggage!

I recently took part in a pilot for a potential TV series. It was all very
standard stuff (the grasses * yawn, the bamboo screen * yawn again) that
took place in the designer/presenter to- be's garden, that is until I
noticed their pond, completely clogged with parrot feather and nearly
tripped up on the slimey decking...

I prefer my own garden.

steve

08-03-2005, 07:38 PM

I would make do with Monty and Sarah Raven. mmmm Sarah Raven. practical,
attractive, down to earth and knowledgeable. lovely.

"jay jay" > wrote in message
...
>
> McCready Wrote:
>> What happened to Chris Beardshaw?
>>
>> Monty hasn't mentioned why he's disappeared.
>
>
> And Sarah Raven wasn't there either... well, at least the dreaded A T
> hasn't arrived (yet)
>
> jay jay
>
>
> --
> jay jay

goldfinch

10-03-2005, 08:17 AM

> Carol's garden and nursery are small but worth a visit if in that area.
> It's v. hard to find, though and I believe someone else from here visited
> more recently than we did, so will have better directions, probably.
> --
>
> Sacha
> (remove the weeds for email)
-------------
We used a recently aquired GPS to find Carol Klein's garden, and still had
to ask somebody for directions ;-)
You have been warned!

Well worth a visit though.

Marina
E. Sx

Sacha

10-03-2005, 01:03 PM

On 10/3/05 9:35, in article ,
" > wrote:

> On Wed, 9 Mar 2005 23:17:50 -0800, "goldfinch" >
> wrote:
>
>>> Carol's garden and nursery are small but worth a visit if in that area.
>>> It's v. hard to find, though and I believe someone else from here visited
>>> more recently than we did, so will have better directions, probably.
>>> --
>>>
>>> Sacha
>>> (remove the weeds for email)
>> -------------
>> We used a recently aquired GPS to find Carol Klein's garden, and still had
>> to ask somebody for directions ;-)
>
> Don't you to know where it is fairly accurately to be able to locate
> it with a GPS?

With the GPS we have (Tom Tom) you can type in a full address (which for
Carol is Glebe Cottage Plants, Pixie Lane, Warkleigh, Umberleigh, Devon,
EX37 9DH 01769 540554) or just a post code, or just a town name. In the case
of CK's nursery, there are no signs to it at all and as it's only an acre
overall with the garden, it's not some large mass that you see from afar.
AND it's along a track across a field somewhere in a small hamlet, AFAIR, so
some research on location is a good idea!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

Sacha

10-03-2005, 06:48 PM

On 10/3/05 17:01, in article ,
" > wrote:

> On Thu, 10 Mar 2005 12:03:12 +0000, Sacha
> > wrote:
>
<snip>
>>With the GPS we have (Tom Tom) you can type in a full address (which for
>> Carol is Glebe Cottage Plants, Pixie Lane, Warkleigh, Umberleigh, Devon,
>> EX37 9DH 01769 540554) or just a post code, or just a town name. In the case
>> of CK's nursery, there are no signs to it at all and as it's only an acre
>> overall with the garden, it's not some large mass that you see from afar.
>> AND it's along a track across a field somewhere in a small hamlet, AFAIR, so
>> some research on location is a good idea!
>
> On my GPS, a Garmin 12XL, I have to give the longitude and latitude.
> If I get it right, it will guide to me within +/-5 metres of the
> location.

That's on a boat, right? ;-) I know we get a lot of rain in England
but.....
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

Sacha

10-03-2005, 07:38 PM

On 10/3/05 17:50, in article ,
" > wrote:

> On Thu, 10 Mar 2005 17:48:29 +0000, Sacha
> > wrote:
>
>> On 10/3/05 17:01, in article ,
>> " > wrote:
>>
>>> On Thu, 10 Mar 2005 12:03:12 +0000, Sacha
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>> <snip>
>>>> With the GPS we have (Tom Tom) you can type in a full address (which for
>>>> Carol is Glebe Cottage Plants, Pixie Lane, Warkleigh, Umberleigh, Devon,
>>>> EX37 9DH 01769 540554) or just a post code, or just a town name. In the
>>>> case
>>>> of CK's nursery, there are no signs to it at all and as it's only an acre
>>>> overall with the garden, it's not some large mass that you see from afar.
>>>> AND it's along a track across a field somewhere in a small hamlet, AFAIR,
>>>> so
>>>> some research on location is a good idea!
>>>
>>> On my GPS, a Garmin 12XL, I have to give the longitude and latitude.
>
> or an OS coordinate.

But you didn't say that, originally. ;-)
>
>>> If I get it right, it will guide to me within +/-5 metres of the
>>> location.
>>
>> That's on a boat, right? ;-)
>
> It's not particular where it is. At the moment it is at home in a
> cupboard.

No travel plans, then? Nonetheless, the one we have, which is designed for
a car, operates as I described earlier.
>
>> I know we get a lot of rain in England
>> but.....
>
> ... never rains but it pours?

No, no. We can get the odd mild drizzle. Round here that can last for 6
months - or feel as if it does. Right now, it's so dry that I'm reminded of
some Jersey February droughts, in March!
--

Sacha
(remove the weeds for email)

Jeff

11-03-2005, 12:53 AM

Victoria Clare wrote:

>
> She's growing on me - seems to know her stuff, but what a painful voice
> that is to listen to. It's like she's gargled gravel.
>
> Victoria

Not as bad as Gay Search - remember her?
God, her voice was painful!

Just watching Stefan Buczacki at the moment on UK Style Gardens (Stefans
Ultimate Gardens).
Pity we don't see more of him - he really knows his stuff.
I think he had a bust-up with the BBC over Gardner's Question Time a few
years back so they ditched him :-(

Jeff

Des Higgins

11-03-2005, 11:53 AM

"VivienB" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 10 Mar 2005 23:53:47 GMT, Jeff > wrote:
>
>>Victoria Clare wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> She's growing on me - seems to know her stuff, but what a painful voice
>>> that is to listen to. It's like she's gargled gravel.
>>>
>>> Victoria
>>
>>Not as bad as Gay Search - remember her?
>>God, her voice was painful!
>
> What a picky lot you are! I am listening to *what* they are telling
> me, so I can try to judge whether it is likely to be useful. So long
> as they speak clearly, what does the timbre (or whatever it is you
> object to) matter? I would much prefer either of these women telling
> me something that I can use, to the decorative and pretty-voiced ones
> going on about something valueless.
>
> Regards, VivienB

I think it is like a "who was your favourite Doctor Who?" type argument.
We all have fond memories of particular eras and individuals and forget the
bad bits.
Geoff Hamilton was in place just as gardening went into super show business
mode in the mid 1990s and many people remember him as a cross between mother
Theresa and Indiana Jones. I certainly have fond memories of Gardeners
World from dem days but that is a mixture of Geoff's personality (warm,
comforting, knowledgeable) and the fact that I was not super-saturated with
TV garden makeoverology at the time. Everyone since Geoff will look cheap
and nasty, no matter who they are. I certainly do find many garden TV
people irritating but that is partly because the entire genre has become
irritating. Somewhere out there a producer is dreamimg up a
reality-TV-garden-makeover-save-the-children-pop-idol-aid program which will
be hosted by Ant and Dec.

Apart from all that, speaking purely subjectively and persoanally, Gay
search was one of the better presenters and I actually like Monty Don a lot
and Titchmarch is very very good but got over-exposed (as he probably
realises himself). Diarmuid Gavin is a bit of fun; I take great delight in
finding people who dislike him because he does not tell you how many ponds
per square foot of hoof and horn to use as a top dressing in late Spring for
boosting leeks. Rachel de Thame has a clear accent and is very eye-catching
but somehow Diarmuid standing in a huge muddy hole in the ground with three
hairy builders from sligo balancing a 19 tonne brass sphere is more
entertaining to me.

Des Higgins

Janet Tweedy

11-03-2005, 12:08 PM

In article >, VivienB
> writes

>What a picky lot you are! I am listening to *what* they are telling
>me, so I can try to judge whether it is likely to be useful. So long
>as they speak clearly, what does the timbre (or whatever it is you
>object to) matter? I would much prefer either of these women telling
>me something that I can use, to the decorative and pretty-voiced ones
>going on about something valueless.
>
>Regards, VivienB

But isn't that the essence of a good communicator? I bet there's loads
of really great gardeners out there but if they deliver the information
n a voice that has about as much enthusiasm and emotion as if they were
reading the telephone directory then the joy of their subject won't be
imparted. However Geoff and Alan and Dan Pearson and others all seem to
actually LOVE gardening whereas Diarmuid of the motorway constructions
and Chris of the 'I can jump over this fence easily' never seem to have
the 'enthusiasm' for the individual plants, just the 'overall effect'

I guess there's two sides to gardening in the media's eyes. The effect
party who just want to have a five foot of blue/wavy to fill a space
like buying three foot of library books and then there's the others who
do look at an effect but actually seem to see the plants and especially
(joy of joys) the actual varieties. I mean to say, they suggest 'a
clematis' to fill a space but then there's ;literally hundreds to choose
from!
Helen Dillon and the RTE programme about 8 years ago was brilliant, they
suggested varieties, some common, some unusual and even had me viewing
with a pen and paper. They didn't generalise for 'effect' but actually
looked at each plant and its performance.

janet
--
Janet
Hedgerows & lawns
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk/plants

Des Higgins

11-03-2005, 12:22 PM

"Janet Tweedy" > wrote in message
...
> In article >, VivienB
> > writes
>
>>What a picky lot you are! I am listening to *what* they are telling
>>me, so I can try to judge whether it is likely to be useful. So long
>>as they speak clearly, what does the timbre (or whatever it is you
>>object to) matter? I would much prefer either of these women telling
>>me something that I can use, to the decorative and pretty-voiced ones
>>going on about something valueless.
>>
>>Regards, VivienB
>
>
> But isn't that the essence of a good communicator? I bet there's loads of
> really great gardeners out there but if they deliver the information n a
> voice that has about as much enthusiasm and emotion as if they were
> reading the telephone directory then the joy of their subject won't be
> imparted. However Geoff and Alan and Dan Pearson and others all seem to
> actually LOVE gardening whereas Diarmuid of the motorway constructions and
> Chris of the 'I can jump over this fence easily' never seem to have the
> 'enthusiasm' for the individual plants, just the 'overall effect'
>
> I guess there's two sides to gardening in the media's eyes. The effect
> party who just want to have a five foot of blue/wavy to fill a space like
> buying three foot of library books and then there's the others who do look
> at an effect but actually seem to see the plants and especially (joy of
> joys) the actual varieties. I mean to say, they suggest 'a clematis' to
> fill a space but then there's ;literally hundreds to choose from!
> Helen Dillon and the RTE programme about 8 years ago was brilliant, they
> suggested varieties, some common, some unusual and even had me viewing
> with a pen and paper. They didn't generalise for 'effect' but actually
> looked at each plant and its performance.

I am forced to agree with this. Helen Dillon is THE best garden programme
presenter I have ever seen. She is unique.
I did not realise you lot over on the "mainland" got to see that programme.
She is quite a character, apparently, and has a keen sense of humour. I
recall in one programme she pointed out how to remember where to plant a
particular rose variety which had a ladies name. The name escapes me but
let's pretend it was Victoria. She said with a straight face that Victoria
was bad in a bed but good against a wall. She used to write the gardening
column for one of the Irish Sunday newspapers (Sunday Tribune) and these
were collected and published in book form. Some of it is very funny. It is
all passionate and informative.

>
> janet
> --
> Janet
> Hedgerows & lawns
> http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk/plants

Stan The Man

11-03-2005, 04:08 PM

In article >, VivienB
> wrote:

>On Thu, 10 Mar 2005 23:53:47 GMT, Jeff > wrote:
>
>>Victoria Clare wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> She's growing on me - seems to know her stuff, but what a painful voice
>>> that is to listen to. It's like she's gargled gravel.
>>>
>>> Victoria
>>
>>Not as bad as Gay Search - remember her?
>>God, her voice was painful!
>
>What a picky lot you are! I am listening to *what* they are telling
>me, so I can try to judge whether it is likely to be useful. So long
>as they speak clearly, what does the timbre (or whatever it is you
>object to) matter? I would much prefer either of these women telling
>me something that I can use, to the decorative and pretty-voiced ones
>going on about something valueless.

It matters to the BBC, and every other programme maker because
gardening programmes aren't Open University courses but
lifestyle/entertainment shows which, while educating some of us will
entertain others who may be less committed gardeners, casual viewers,
etc. So these days, someone who looks and sounds good will get the
presenting job over someone who may be more knowledgeable. Of the two
attributes, voice is more important than looks (I have been known to
sit in a darkened room to enjoy old recordings of Percy Thrower, whose
mellifluous tones will never be surpassed imho).

Here's my ratings - for Looks/Voice/Knowledge - of a selection of
gardening presenters:

Percy Thrower: 2/10/9
Alan Titchmarsh 8/8/8
Geoff Hamilton 8/7/9
Monty Don 7/9/5
Clay Jones 5/9/9
Peter Seabrook 4/5/9
Carol Klein 4/4/9
Chris Beardshaw 9/5/7
Rachel de Thame 9/7/5
Joe Swift 5/6/7
Stefan Buczacki 4/7/8
Kim Wilde 7/6/5
Dan Pearson 4/6/8
Diarmuid Gavin 6/1/4
Sven Wombwell 7/6/6
James Alexander Sinclair 7/8/9
Charlie Dimmock 3/4/5

Now, who have I forgotten...?

Mike

11-03-2005, 05:50 PM

> Charlie Dimmock 3/4/5
>

You rate her Organ Stops as THREE!!!!!!!!!?????????????

:-(((((((((

Sacha

11-03-2005, 05:52 PM

On 11/3/05 15:08, in article , "Stan The
Man" > wrote:

<snip>
>
> Here's my ratings - for Looks/Voice/Knowledge - of a selection of
> gardening presenters:
>
> Percy Thrower: 2/10/9
> Alan Titchmarsh 8/8/8
> Geoff Hamilton 8/7/9
> Monty Don 7/9/5
> Clay Jones 5/9/9
> Peter Seabrook 4/5/9
> Carol Klein 4/4/9
> Chris Beardshaw 9/5/7
> Rachel de Thame 9/7/5
> Joe Swift 5/6/7
> Stefan Buczacki 4/7/8
> Kim Wilde 7/6/5
> Dan Pearson 4/6/8
> Diarmuid Gavin 6/1/4
> Sven Wombwell 7/6/6
> James Alexander Sinclair 7/8/9
> Charlie Dimmock 3/4/5
>
>
> Now, who have I forgotten...?

Gay Search. ;-)
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

Mike

11-03-2005, 06:33 PM

> > Now, who have I forgotten...?
>
> Gay Search. ;-)
> --
> Sacha

10,10,10

;-))

JennyC

11-03-2005, 07:02 PM

"Stan The Man" > wrote
>
> Here's my ratings - for Looks/Voice/Knowledge - of a selection of
> gardening presenters:
>
> Percy Thrower: 2/10/9
> Alan Titchmarsh 8/8/8
> Geoff Hamilton 8/7/9
> Monty Don 7/9/5
> Clay Jones 5/9/9
> Peter Seabrook 4/5/9
> Carol Klein 4/4/9
> Chris Beardshaw 9/5/7
> Rachel de Thame 9/7/5
> Joe Swift 5/6/7
> Stefan Buczacki 4/7/8
> Kim Wilde 7/6/5
> Dan Pearson 4/6/8
> Diarmuid Gavin 6/1/4
> Sven Wombwell 7/6/6
> James Alexander Sinclair 7/8/9
> Charlie Dimmock 3/4/5

> Now, who have I forgotten...?

That funny, weird, exotic bloke who used to pop up in GW from time to time with
crazy garden items. Mown mazes, old shop dummies as sculpture. His name escapes
me.........

Jenny

McCready

11-03-2005, 08:34 PM

"Kay" > wrote in message
...
> In article >, Victoria
> Clare > writes
>>"JennyC" > wrote in :
>>
>>>
>>> "andrewpreece" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>>
>>>> I much rather have Chris back than that strange red-bad-haired woman!
>>>>
>>>> Andy
>>>
>>> Oh !!
>>> I liked her :~)
>>
>>She's growing on me - seems to know her stuff, but what a painful voice
>>that is to listen to. It's like she's gargled gravel.
>>
> I didn't even notice!
>
> What accent has she got? Is it something I'm used to?
> --
> Kay
> "Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

I would like to see some of the Radio 4 Gardeners Question time panel in the
show.
Especially Bob Flowerdew.

Alan Gould

11-03-2005, 08:34 PM

In article >, Mike
> writes
>
>> Charlie Dimmock 3/4/5
>>
>
>You rate her Organ Stops as THREE!!!!!!!!!?????????????
>
Especially when her tee shirt was wringing wet with sweat!
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.

Janet Tweedy

11-03-2005, 10:07 PM

>>
>> Here's my ratings - for Looks/Voice/Knowledge - of a selection of
>> gardening presenters:
>>
>> Percy Thrower: 2/10/9
>> Alan Titchmarsh 8/8/8
>> Geoff Hamilton 8/7/9
>> Monty Don 7/9/5
>> Clay Jones 5/9/9
>> Peter Seabrook 4/5/9
>> Carol Klein 4/4/9
>> Chris Beardshaw 9/5/7
>> Rachel de Thame 9/7/5
>> Joe Swift 5/6/7
>> Stefan Buczacki 4/7/8
>> Kim Wilde 7/6/5
>> Dan Pearson 4/6/8
>> Diarmuid Gavin 6/1/4
>> Sven Wombwell 7/6/6
>> James Alexander Sinclair 7/8/9
>> Charlie Dimmock 3/4/5
>>
>>
>> Now, who have I forgotten...?
>
>Gay Search. ;-)

Ally Ward and that scruffy girl who uncovered Lost Gardens etc and also
did some makeover gardens. Can't remember her name, she seemed to wear a
lot of tee shirts.
, oh I know, Anne Marie-Powell

What about Helen Dillon and Anne Swithinbank, also Pippa Greenwood
Matthew Biggs, Sarah raven?

--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

Stan The Man

12-03-2005, 01:20 AM

In article >, Janet Baraclough
> wrote:

>Why should garden programmes have to endure
>presenters whose experience/expertise is so inferior to the average
>sports presenter?

I don't think that's true. Most sports presenters know about as much as
the typical viewer who reads the sports pages. And anyway, many sports
presenters are also picked for their looks and voice. Try watching Sky
Sports News where most of the presenters are dolly birds who know very
little of what they speak.

Whether it's gardening, sport or anything else, it boils down to this:
it doesn't matter how much the presenter knows if he can't get his
message across.

Magwitch

12-03-2005, 10:11 PM

Janet Tweedy muttered:

> Anne Marie-Powell

0/0/0

Franz Heymann

12-03-2005, 11:16 PM

Cat

14-03-2005, 12:28 AM

On Fri, 11 Mar 2005 10:53:35 -0000, "Des Higgins"
> wrote:

>I think it is like a "who was your favourite Doctor Who?" type argument.
>We all have fond memories of particular eras and individuals and forget the
>bad bits.
>Geoff Hamilton was in place just as gardening went into super show business
>mode in the mid 1990s and many people remember him as a cross between mother
>Theresa and Indiana Jones. I certainly have fond memories of Gardeners
>World from dem days but that is a mixture of Geoff's personality (warm,
>comforting, knowledgeable) and the fact that I was not super-saturated with
>TV garden makeoverology at the time. Everyone since Geoff will look cheap
>and nasty, no matter who they are. I certainly do find many garden TV
>people irritating but that is partly because the entire genre has become
>irritating. Somewhere out there a producer is dreamimg up a
>reality-TV-garden-makeover-save-the-children-pop-idol-aid program which will
>be hosted by Ant and Dec.
>
>Apart from all that, speaking purely subjectively and persoanally, Gay
>search was one of the better presenters and I actually like Monty Don a lot
>and Titchmarch is very very good but got over-exposed (as he probably
>realises himself). Diarmuid Gavin is a bit of fun; I take great delight in
>finding people who dislike him because he does not tell you how many ponds
>per square foot of hoof and horn to use as a top dressing in late Spring for
>boosting leeks. Rachel de Thame has a clear accent and is very eye-catching
>but somehow Diarmuid standing in a huge muddy hole in the ground with three
>hairy builders from sligo balancing a 19 tonne brass sphere is more
>entertaining to me.
>
>Des Higgins
>
>
>

Well well well, so this is where you're hiding Desmond? Can't say I
blame you...
Anyhoo, I have yet to hear anyone mentioning Reg Moule... Long before
TV gardening was fashionable, he was advising the nation (including
our nation, that is) on what to do this month in the garden. He was
as dull as ditchwater, and yet strangely fascinating. And probably
quite informative.
I see here -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gloucestershire/focus/regmoule/2005/january.shtml
- that he is "BBC's Gloucestershire Gardening Guru"... and that he's
still on the go. I just loved his accent. What do the experts here
make of him?

And what about our own (Irish) Gerry Daly? That man's voice is the
very call of rutting mulsh during the mating season. I derive endless
joy listening to his programme on RTE Radio 1, where listeners can ask
just about any question. I just love the differences in approaches of
Gerry and his various panelists. Joe Bloggs rings with a massive
ground elder infestation... Panelist 1 sends him to the garden centre
for some Roundup, while Gerry tututs the nonsense of it all,
ascertains the size of the border concerned, and if it is anything
less than a square mile, advises the man how to dig it up with a good
spade...

I agree with you on Diarmuid Gavin. He is cheeky, but truly
inspirational, and hugely entertaining, because he doesn't take
himself too seriously. I also love the hunk of a project manager Sean
Cunningham (droolll) for the same reason as I enjoy watching Monty Don
(he can grow me a few courgettes anytime he chooses).

For all the important technical stuff, the fact is that the reason
some of us are glued to garden tv shows, is because the presenters are
entertaining. I love ground force, not because I learn much through
it, but because I love the banter between Titchmarch, Dimmock and the
luscious Tommy Walsh :-)
If I need tech advice, I check my RHS books, I google, and I ask
questions of the wonderfully helpful U.R.G. denizens...
Though I must say I am quite amused to read some finding fault with
some tv garden show presenters not on technical grounds, nor on
grounds of entertainment value, but on ground of ACCENT? Hello? Who
cares about the accent, so long as you can understand what is being
said? I can't think of a single presenter I am having trouble
understanding.

>

Cat(h)
The world swirls...

Des Higgins

14-03-2005, 11:00 AM

"Janet Baraclough" > wrote in message
...
> The message >
> from Stan The Man > contains these words:
>
>> In article >, VivienB
>> > wrote:
>
>> >
>> >What a picky lot you are! I am listening to *what* they are telling
>> >me, so I can try to judge whether it is likely to be useful. So long
>> >as they speak clearly, what does the timbre (or whatever it is you
>> >object to) matter? I would much prefer either of these women telling
>> >me something that I can use, to the decorative and pretty-voiced ones
>> >going on about something valueless.
>
>> It matters to the BBC, and every other programme maker because
>> gardening programmes aren't Open University courses
>
> Neither are sports programmes
>
> but
>> lifestyle/entertainment shows which, while educating some of us will
>> entertain others who may be less committed gardeners, casual viewers,
>> etc. So these days, someone who looks and sounds good will get the
>> presenting job over someone who may be more knowledgeable.
>
> Why does this not apply to sports programmes?
>
>
> Of the two
>> attributes, voice is more important than looks (snip)
>
>> Now, who have I forgotten...?
>
> Try sports presenters. Have you ever known one picked for looks/voice
> over proven expertise?

Craig Doyle to mention one lately. BBC use him to front all manner of
major ratings events like Rugby internationals and big soccer games. His
only qualifications that I am aware of are his looks, his Irish accent (de
rigeur these days on UK TV astonishingly) and the fact that he used to do
one of the Holiday Programmes.

> Why should garden programmes have to endure
> presenters whose experience/expertise is so inferior to the average
> sports presenter?

Given the market forces at play, it is inevitable. Brilliant but boring
will lose out to dim but vivacious every time.
Most experts sound tedious to most people. You may know the difference but
most viewers will not.
This was why Magnus Pyke was the fact of British science for years rather
than Professor Smith from the Physiology Department in Bradford.

To be honest, garden programmes are pretty well stocked (ho ho) with people
who do know what they are talking about.
Helen Dillon is the best example I know of (Janet Tweedy mentioned her)
although you deprived lot have probably not seen her on TV (she fronted an
Irish TV show a couple of years ago). Who do you hate the most?

>
> Janet
>

Des Higgins

14-03-2005, 11:03 AM

"McCready" > wrote in message
. uk...
>
> "Kay" > wrote in message
> ...
>> In article >, Victoria
>> Clare > writes
>>>"JennyC" > wrote in :
>>>
>>>>
>>>> "andrewpreece" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>>
>>>>> I much rather have Chris back than that strange red-bad-haired woman!
>>>>>
>>>>> Andy
>>>>
>>>> Oh !!
>>>> I liked her :~)
>>>
>>>She's growing on me - seems to know her stuff, but what a painful voice
>>>that is to listen to. It's like she's gargled gravel.
>>>
>> I didn't even notice!
>>
>> What accent has she got? Is it something I'm used to?
>> --
>> Kay
>> "Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"
>
> I would like to see some of the Radio 4 Gardeners Question time panel in
> the show.
> Especially Bob Flowerdew.

Aaaaargh; every time I see that name I remember seeing him say on Gardeners
World in the mid 90s saying with a straight face that he only grew plants
that were culinary, medicinal or aphrodisiac. This was with him dressed in
some kind of hand-knitted afghan yoghurt fibre jump suit standing beside a
pile of used tyres that he was using for growing strawberries. Put me off
my takeaway, so it did.

>
>

Stan The Man

14-03-2005, 11:19 AM

In article >, Des Higgins
> wrote:

>Who do you hate the most?

'Little Britain' -- the most puerile, unfunny 'comedy' show ever made.

.....Oh, you mean TV gardeners? There is none worth hating but I get
annoyed by Monty Don (superiority complex, prone to errors, organic
evangelist), Chris Beardshaw (bland, boring) and Matt James (smug,
over-stylised).

Des Higgins

14-03-2005, 12:43 PM

"Stan The Man" > wrote in message
...
> In article >, Des Higgins
> > wrote:
>
>>Who do you hate the most?
>
> 'Little Britain' -- the most puerile, unfunny 'comedy' show ever made.

Ho ho. It is over exposed these days. Peculiar looking pair of blokes it
has to be said.

>
> ....Oh, you mean TV gardeners? There is none worth hating but I get
> annoyed by Monty Don (superiority complex, prone to errors, organic

I got to like him from his column in the Observer (I have no idea if it is
still running). I also read a beginners book by him when I was starting out
(1995) called the Weekend Gardener which was extremely well written and had
plenty of genuinely useful advice. I learned how to make a compost heap
that really made compost and how to dig and how to make a hedge and all
manner of bits and pieces. After that I can forgive him the superiority
complex. I know what you mean though.

> evangelist), Chris Beardshaw (bland, boring) and Matt James (smug,
> over-stylised).

Des Higgins

14-03-2005, 01:00 PM

"Cat" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 11 Mar 2005 10:53:35 -0000, "Des Higgins"
> > wrote:
>
>
>>I think it is like a "who was your favourite Doctor Who?" type argument.
>>We all have fond memories of particular eras and individuals and forget
>>the
>>bad bits.
>>Geoff Hamilton was in place just as gardening went into super show
>>business
>>mode in the mid 1990s and many people remember him as a cross between
>>mother
>>Theresa and Indiana Jones. I certainly have fond memories of Gardeners
>>World from dem days but that is a mixture of Geoff's personality (warm,
>>comforting, knowledgeable) and the fact that I was not super-saturated
>>with
>>TV garden makeoverology at the time. Everyone since Geoff will look cheap
>>and nasty, no matter who they are. I certainly do find many garden TV
>>people irritating but that is partly because the entire genre has become
>>irritating. Somewhere out there a producer is dreamimg up a
>>reality-TV-garden-makeover-save-the-children-pop-idol-aid program which
>>will
>>be hosted by Ant and Dec.
>>
>>Apart from all that, speaking purely subjectively and persoanally, Gay
>>search was one of the better presenters and I actually like Monty Don a
>>lot
>>and Titchmarch is very very good but got over-exposed (as he probably
>>realises himself). Diarmuid Gavin is a bit of fun; I take great delight
>>in
>>finding people who dislike him because he does not tell you how many ponds
>>per square foot of hoof and horn to use as a top dressing in late Spring
>>for
>>boosting leeks. Rachel de Thame has a clear accent and is very
>>eye-catching
>>but somehow Diarmuid standing in a huge muddy hole in the ground with
>>three
>>hairy builders from sligo balancing a 19 tonne brass sphere is more
>>entertaining to me.
>>
>>Des Higgins
>>
>>
>>
>
> Well well well, so this is where you're hiding Desmond? Can't say I
> blame you...
> Anyhoo, I have yet to hear anyone mentioning Reg Moule... Long before
> TV gardening was fashionable, he was advising the nation (including
> our nation, that is) on what to do this month in the garden. He was
> as dull as ditchwater, and yet strangely fascinating. And probably
> quite informative.
> I see here -
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/gloucestershire/focus/regmoule/2005/january.shtml
> - that he is "BBC's Gloucestershire Gardening Guru"... and that he's
> still on the go. I just loved his accent. What do the experts here
> make of him?
>
> And what about our own (Irish) Gerry Daly? That man's voice is the
> very call of rutting mulsh during the mating season. I derive endless
> joy listening to his programme on RTE Radio 1, where listeners can ask
> just about any question. I just love the differences in approaches of
> Gerry and his various panelists. Joe Bloggs rings with a massive
> ground elder infestation... Panelist 1 sends him to the garden centre
> for some Roundup, while Gerry tututs the nonsense of it all,
> ascertains the size of the border concerned, and if it is anything
> less than a square mile, advises the man how to dig it up with a good
> spade...
>

Holey Saint Imelda, I forgot him. I find his voice a bit dreary. He can
describe a field of poppies in early Summer with exactly the same voice he
would use to describe a root infection and even using similar sentences. He
knows what he is talking about though. Helen Dillon it is all round so far
in this thread.

> I agree with you on Diarmuid Gavin. He is cheeky, but truly
> inspirational, and hugely entertaining, because he doesn't take
> himself too seriously. I also love the hunk of a project manager Sean
> Cunningham (droolll) for the same reason as I enjoy watching Monty Don
> (he can grow me a few courgettes anytime he chooses).
>
> For all the important technical stuff, the fact is that the reason
> some of us are glued to garden tv shows, is because the presenters are
> entertaining. I love ground force, not because I learn much through
> it, but because I love the banter between Titchmarch, Dimmock and the
> luscious Tommy Walsh :-)
> If I need tech advice, I check my RHS books, I google, and I ask
> questions of the wonderfully helpful U.R.G. denizens...
> Though I must say I am quite amused to read some finding fault with
> some tv garden show presenters not on technical grounds, nor on
> grounds of entertainment value, but on ground of ACCENT? Hello? Who
> cares about the accent, so long as you can understand what is being
> said? I can't think of a single presenter I am having trouble
> understanding.
>
>
>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
> Cat(h)
> The world swirls...

Pam Moore

14-03-2005, 02:55 PM

On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 10:03:41 -0000, "Des Higgins"
> wrote:

>Aaaaargh; every time I see that name I remember seeing him say on Gardeners
>World in the mid 90s saying with a straight face that he only grew plants
>that were culinary, medicinal or aphrodisiac. This was with him dressed in
>some kind of hand-knitted afghan yoghurt fibre jump suit standing beside a
>pile of used tyres that he was using for growing strawberries. Put me off
>my takeaway, so it did.

Similar picture with the pigtail carefully positioned in last week's
AG.
According to Janet's rating I would give Bob Flowerdew 2/7/8. His
knowledge of organics is second to none, but he needs to study a bit
of Latin in order to pronounce and understand plant names.
I hope he's not reading this. We know they do sometimes, as Jenny
will remember from her never-to-be-forgotten appearances on GQT! LOL

Pam in Bristol

Mike

14-03-2005, 03:08 PM

> I hope he's not reading this.

You never know who is reading a newsgroup. I have been quite amazed at the
responses I have received from 'lurkers'. Another good group of newsgroup
to go into is uk.local.* and pass comment on a local topic. Ask a question
of the Police, Council or the like and I find things get done. Classic case
a few years back where the Police had FIVE on duty watching and stopping
cars who had been onto, and stopped, on the yellow boxes at a big
complicated roundabout. I asked on the newsgroup how they could justify
this, when only a short while earlier, they 'didn't have enough staff to
investigate a break in at my daughter's house until tomorrow, please leave
everything where it is'.

Never saw such an overload of Police doing that exercise again :-))
A part of the main road was very badly pot marked and I explained on the
newsgroup where it was, and as it was not outside County Hall, no one
bothered. A couple of days later it was done :-))

Newsgroups. Magic :-))

Mike

H.M.S.Collingwood Ass. Llandudno 20 - 23 May Trip to Portmeirion
National Service (RAF) Ass. Cosford 24 - 27 June Spitfire Fly Past
H.M.S.Impregnable Ass. Sussex 1 - 4 July Visit to Int. Fest of the Sea
British Pacific Fleet. Derby 2 - 5 Sept. Visit to Denby Pottery

Martin Sykes

14-03-2005, 05:01 PM

"Tim Challenger" > wrote in message
news:1110206748.7f963abf9dbd5325dcb96918c3768d2f@t eranews...
> On Fri, 4 Mar 2005 15:14:20 +0000 (UTC), jane wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 03 Mar 2005 21:01:18 GMT, "McCready"
>> > wrote:
>>
>> ~What happened to Chris Beardshaw?
>> ~
>> ~Monty hasn't mentioned why he's disappeared.
>> ~
>> Poached by the opposition I think, which is fairy snuff since the Beeb
>> poached Monty off C4... Fair swap to me - now all they have to do is
>> get rid of all the other pretties and leave just the plantspeople and
>> stop doing the garden tours in favour of practical stuff and I'll be
>> happy.
>>
>> Talking of practical, anyone want to chat about the new-style BBC GW
>> Magazine? I opened my April one yesterday and was extremely pleasantly
>> surprised - hugely revamped/expanded 'what to do now' sections, a new
>> series on allotments covering both traditional style and raised bed
>> (yippee) and more of it (not visibly all adverts).
>>
>> I resubbed last summer using the Tesco clubcard cheapie offer (a year
>> for 8 quid of tokens, so free) and so it's even better value!
>
> I haven't got mine yet - looking forward to it if it is as you say. But I
> agree about the old one. It's really "bitty", and the adverts were all
> over
> the place and very intrusive. I can leave out the garden tours totally.
>
> --
> Tim C.

It's definitely better but I still have one complaint - the extra 'little'
bits they insert into the main articles. One article this month almost had
each paragraph on a different page because of all the other stuff squashed
in. You shouldn't have to keep flicking the pages back and forth trying to
find where the end of the sentence has been hidden.

Also a two page picture of Monty digging in the garden with a few words on
one page didn't tell me much beyond the fact that he likes April. I may find
it hard to make use of that little bit of information in future...

--
Martin & Anna Sykes
( Remove x's when replying )
<http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~sykesm>

JennyC

14-03-2005, 06:07 PM

"Pam Moore" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 10:03:41 -0000, "Des Higgins"
> > wrote:
>
> >Aaaaargh; every time I see that name I remember seeing him say on Gardeners
> >World in the mid 90s saying with a straight face that he only grew plants
> >that were culinary, medicinal or aphrodisiac. This was with him dressed in
> >some kind of hand-knitted afghan yoghurt fibre jump suit standing beside a
> >pile of used tyres that he was using for growing strawberries. Put me off
> >my takeaway, so it did.
>
> Similar picture with the pigtail carefully positioned in last week's
> AG.
> According to Janet's rating I would give Bob Flowerdew 2/7/8. His
> knowledge of organics is second to none, but he needs to study a bit
> of Latin in order to pronounce and understand plant names.
> I hope he's not reading this. We know they do sometimes, as Jenny
> will remember from her never-to-be-forgotten appearances on GQT! LOL
>
> Pam in Bristol

You can still listen to it on my home page :~))
www.ljconline.nl (garden - GQT)

Jenny :~))

JennyC

14-03-2005, 06:08 PM

"Des Higgins" > wrote

> Who do you hate the most?
> > >
> > Janet

Alan T !!!
Jenny

JennyC

14-03-2005, 06:11 PM

"Des Higgins" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Stan The Man" > wrote in message
> ...
> > In article >, Des Higgins
> > > wrote:
> >
> > ....Oh, you mean TV gardeners? There is none worth hating but I get
> > annoyed by Monty Don (superiority complex, prone to errors, organic
>
Superiority complex ?!?!?!?!?!?!

You should listen to him on depression at :
http://www.nelmh.org/home_affective_depression_media.asp?c=3&fc=001&fid=51

Where IMO he does not sound at all superior !
Jenny

Alan Gould

14-03-2005, 07:34 PM

In article >, Des Higgins
> writes

>I got to like him from his column in the Observer (I have no idea if it is
>still running).

Yes, Monty Don's articles still appear weekly in the Sunday Observer.

I enjoy reading them more than watching 4his GW presentations.
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.

Des Higgins

15-03-2005, 10:15 AM

"Alan Gould" > wrote in message
...
> In article >, Des Higgins
> > writes
>
>>I got to like him from his column in the Observer (I have no idea if it is
>>still running).
>
> Yes, Monty Don's articles still appear weekly in the Sunday Observer.

Those articles used to be fantastic. They were very stylish and passionate
when most other gardening columns were about how to kill greenfly on leeks.
I cannot imagine what he can write about after nearly 10 years of it though.

Christopher Lloyd on Saturday morning in the (durty pinko liberal) Guardan
was also fantastic but for completely different reasons.

>
> I enjoy reading them more than watching 4his GW presentations.
> --
> Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.

Des Higgins

15-03-2005, 10:18 AM

> wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 18:08:51 +0100, "JennyC" > wrote:
>
>>
>>"Des Higgins" > wrote
>>
>>> Who do you hate the most?
>>> > >
>>> > Janet
>>
>>Alan T !!!
>
> Me too!
> --
> Martin
>

He has a silly manner sometimes but his main problem lately was that we
simply saw too much of him.
Groundforce was great fun for about 8 episodes and attempting to fill Geoff
Hamiltons (claggy clay covered) boots was some feat.

Janet Tweedy

15-03-2005, 11:28 AM

In article >, Pam Moore
> writes

>I hope he's not reading this. We know they do sometimes, as Jenny
>will remember from her never-to-be-forgotten appearances on GQT! LOL
>
>Pam in Bristol

What was EXTREMELY annoying was to read garden Answers magazine February
edition to find that the best sites on the internet were
swapaplant.com
yahoo groups seed exchange
realgardneres.co.uk
letsgogardening.co.uk
gardenweb.com
gardenbanter.co.uk
and nary a word about this wonderful newsgroup.
As we only post ORIGINAL messages it might have been nice to get just
one mention :)

Janet
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

Mike

15-03-2005, 12:29 PM

>
>
> What was EXTREMELY annoying was to read garden Answers magazine February
> edition to find that the best sites on the internet were
> swapaplant.com
> yahoo groups seed exchange
> realgardneres.co.uk
> letsgogardening.co.uk
> gardenweb.com
> gardenbanter.co.uk
> and nary a word about this wonderful newsgroup.
> As we only post ORIGINAL messages it might have been nice to get just
> one mention :)
>

are all of those sites free from Net Nannies? They may be more welcoming to
strangers and they don't feel that they 'have to belong'

jane

15-03-2005, 12:32 PM

On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 18:34:39 +0000, Alan Gould
> wrote:

~In article >, Des Higgins
> writes
~
~>I got to like him from his column in the Observer (I have no idea if it is
~>still running).
~
~Yes, Monty Don's articles still appear weekly in the Sunday Observer.

You can find them by going to
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/magazine/
and scrolling down. This week has an article on alpines.
~
~I enjoy reading them more than watching 4his GW presentations.
No fake conversations or cuts to somewhere irrelevant! Just gardening.
I agree.

--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!

JennyC

15-03-2005, 05:45 PM

"Janet Tweedy" > wrote in message
...
> In article >, Pam Moore
> > writes
>
> >I hope he's not reading this. We know they do sometimes, as Jenny
> >will remember from her never-to-be-forgotten appearances on GQT! LOL
> >
> >Pam in Bristol
>
>
> What was EXTREMELY annoying was to read garden Answers magazine February
> edition to find that the best sites on the internet were
> swapaplant.com
> yahoo groups seed exchange
> realgardneres.co.uk
> letsgogardening.co.uk
> gardenweb.com
> gardenbanter.co.uk
> and nary a word about this wonderful newsgroup.
> As we only post ORIGINAL messages it might have been nice to get just
> one mention :)
> Janet

I suppose they are right to the letter of the law 'best sites'

We are not a site :~))
We are free
We are totally non commercial
We are fun :~)

Jenny

Mike

15-03-2005, 05:57 PM

>
> I suppose they are right to the letter of the law 'best sites'
>
> We are not a site :~))
> We are free
> We are totally non commercial
> We are fun :~)
> We are net nannied
> Jenny
>
>

Mike

15-03-2005, 07:04 PM

>
> I don't think we are netnanneid at all
> Jenny
>
Only to the 'n'th degree. Maybe as you are an 'insider' you cannot see it.

Just sit back and watch. Have a look at the 'public' posting of one of the
guardians/owners/net nannies which could have been just as well, if not
better, done by email.

"I" can see it, can't you? The trouble is I am too honest and speak my mind,
many do not like it if they are the ones targeted. This newsgroup has a
wealth of knowledge spread across its contributors, because of this, some,
not too many fortunately, stake their claim to 'ownership'.

Sit back and watch.

goldfinch

16-03-2005, 06:40 AM

"JennyC" > wrote in message
...
> That funny, weird, exotic bloke who used to pop up in GW from time to time
with
> crazy garden items. Mown mazes, old shop dummies as sculpture. His name
escapes
> me.........
>
> Jenny
>

I think his surname was Hicks, but can't remember his first name.

Marina
E. Sx

JennyC

16-03-2005, 07:03 AM

"goldfinch" > wrote in message
...
>
> "JennyC" > wrote in message
> ...
> > That funny, weird, exotic bloke who used to pop up in GW from time to time
> with
> > crazy garden items. Mown mazes, old shop dummies as sculpture. His name
> escapes
> > me.........
> >
> > Jenny
> >
> I think his surname was Hicks, but can't remember his first name.
> Marina

Ivan Hicks !!
Thanks for jerking my memory:~)
Jenny

newsb

16-03-2005, 10:26 AM

In article >, Mike >
writes
>>
>> I don't think we are netnanneid at all
>> Jenny
>>

[Sorry - I know this *is* off topic for a group discussing gardening and
in future I will just ignore such posts from "Mike".]

>Only to the 'n'th degree. Maybe as you are an 'insider' you cannot see it.

Well I'm not an insider and I don't see it. What I do see is you
constantly posting about it which looks like an unbalanced obsession.

>
>Just sit back and watch. Have a look at the 'public' posting of one of the
>guardians/owners/net nannies which could have been just as well, if not
>better, done by email.
>
>"I" can see it, can't you? The trouble is I am too honest and speak my mind,
>many do not like it if they are the ones targeted.

Just because you speak your mind doesn't mean that you speak the truth,
of course. You speak what is your perception of the truth - ad nauseam.

>This newsgroup has a
>wealth of knowledge spread across its contributors, because of this, some,
>not too many fortunately, stake their claim to 'ownership'.

Never seen that.

>
>Sit back and watch.
>

What - your knee jerk reactions?

--
regards andyw

Des Higgins

16-03-2005, 12:56 PM

"Magwitch" > wrote in message
...
> Des Higgins muttered:
>
>>
>> "Alan Gould" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> In article >, Des Higgins
>>> > writes
>>>
>>>> I got to like him from his column in the Observer (I have no idea if it
>>>> is
>>>> still running).
>>>
>>> Yes, Monty Don's articles still appear weekly in the Sunday Observer.
>>
>> Those articles used to be fantastic. They were very stylish and
>> passionate
>> when most other gardening columns were about how to kill greenfly on
>> leeks.
>> I cannot imagine what he can write about after nearly 10 years of it
>> though.
>
> Why the past tense? I suppose the great thing about gardening is that
> every
> year is different, and there is always something to learn or pass on.

Sorry; that does indeed look odd. It is just that I used to read them when
I lived in England (1995,1996) and have not read them since then. They were
great articles then but I really cannot imagine he can maintain that level
of passion and fun
for all the years since then.

>>
>> Christopher Lloyd on Saturday morning in the (durty pinko liberal)
>> Guardan
>> was also fantastic but for completely different reasons.
>
> Agreed. Great Dixter is one of the 'must see' gardens, my brother worked
> there as part of his 'year out' and was inspired.

I would love to see it. I have seen it on TV and in books and it looks
fantastic.

>>
>>>
>>> I enjoy reading them more than watching 4his GW presentations.
>>> --
>>> Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.
>>
>>
>
>

Magwitch

16-03-2005, 11:32 PM

Des Higgins muttered:

>
> "Alan Gould" > wrote in message
> ...
>> In article >, Des Higgins
>> > writes
>>
>>> I got to like him from his column in the Observer (I have no idea if it is
>>> still running).
>>
>> Yes, Monty Don's articles still appear weekly in the Sunday Observer.
>
> Those articles used to be fantastic. They were very stylish and passionate
> when most other gardening columns were about how to kill greenfly on leeks.
> I cannot imagine what he can write about after nearly 10 years of it though.

Why the past tense? I suppose the great thing about gardening is that every
year is different, and there is always something to learn or pass on.
>
> Christopher Lloyd on Saturday morning in the (durty pinko liberal) Guardan
> was also fantastic but for completely different reasons.

Agreed. Great Dixter is one of the 'must see' gardens, my brother worked
there as part of his 'year out' and was inspired.
>
>>
>> I enjoy reading them more than watching 4his GW presentations.
>> --
>> Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.
>
>

Janet Tweedy

17-03-2005, 01:29 AM

In article >, JennyC >
writes

>I suppose they are right to the letter of the law 'best sites'
>
>We are not a site :~))
>We are free
>We are totally non commercial
>We are fun :~)
>
>Jenny

We are not just a number .........:)

However some sites are just taking wadges of our Internet conversations
and regurgitating them as their own contributions which I feel is a bit
off. We are at least ORIGINAL even if we do have the odd fall out.

I know some people have trouble enjoying this newsgroups but I've always
found it in general helpful, fun, intelligent, with just the right
amount of humour and maybe the odd 'argument' :)

Personally I've have met some very nice people and swapped an awful lot
of plants and seeds via UK rec. I've had invaluable advice and listened
to some really great advice and experience.
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

JennyC

19-03-2005, 05:54 PM

"Magwitch" > wrote
>
> Somehow Monty has... Sunday's not Sunday without a mug of coffee, feet up on
> kitchen table and Monty Don. I think they are on-line, but no pretty
> pictures. :(
> >
This week offering:
http://shopping.guardian.co.uk/household/story/0,1587,1434907,00.html

Jenny :~)

Magwitch

20-03-2005, 12:28 AM

Des Higgins muttered:

>
> "Magwitch" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Des Higgins muttered:
>>
>>>
>>> "Alan Gould" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> In article >, Des Higgins
>>>> > writes
>>>>
>>>>> I got to like him from his column in the Observer (I have no idea if it
>>>>> is
>>>>> still running).
>>>>
>>>> Yes, Monty Don's articles still appear weekly in the Sunday Observer.
>>>
>>> Those articles used to be fantastic. They were very stylish and
>>> passionate
>>> when most other gardening columns were about how to kill greenfly on
>>> leeks.
>>> I cannot imagine what he can write about after nearly 10 years of it
>>> though.
>>
>> Why the past tense? I suppose the great thing about gardening is that
>> every
>> year is different, and there is always something to learn or pass on.
>
> Sorry; that does indeed look odd. It is just that I used to read them when
> I lived in England (1995,1996) and have not read them since then. They were
> great articles then but I really cannot imagine he can maintain that level
> of passion and fun
> for all the years since then.

Somehow Monty has... Sunday's not Sunday without a mug of coffee, feet up on
kitchen table and Monty Don. I think they are on-line, but no pretty
pictures. :(
>
>>>
>>> Christopher Lloyd on Saturday morning in the (durty pinko liberal)
>>> Guardan
>>> was also fantastic but for completely different reasons.
>>
>> Agreed. Great Dixter is one of the 'must see' gardens, my brother worked
>> there as part of his 'year out' and was inspired.
>
> I would love to see it. I have seen it on TV and in books and it looks
> fantastic.
>
Great gardens, winter or summer.
>>>
>>>>
>>>> I enjoy reading them more than watching 4his GW presentations.
>>>> --
>>>> Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>