"johngood" wrote in message
...
A couple of years ago we went to the expense of putting up a new wooden
fence, in part to please our neighbours since they wanted it. They
promptly grew Ivy up it on their side, which is beginning to poke its way
through the slates and so is only a matter of time before the fence becomes
seriously damaged.

I have mentioned several times they could hang the ivy on to some wire
netting and then hang the netting on the fence thus being able to keep the
ivy from forcing its way through.

Don't think that would work very well John. Ivy is VERY storn willed and
will get through anyway!

They have chosen to ignore the requests, so rather than bang on about it
damaging the fence, I have told them the Ivy needs to come off so I can
paint the fence with preservative. Seeing how these things like cuprinol
seem to peel after after a couple of years and is very expensive anyway, I
dont really want to do it, and also don't really believe it necessary
anyway since the fence panes are a hardwood of some kind.

So I'm wondering what I can pretend to be painting on, that will really
not cost a lot. Someone told me that we are no longer able to use
creosote for health reasons, but that would have been ideal since i could
have really diluted it down and done a good *pretend* job with it.

If it's not a question of actually preserving the wood I'd make us some
strong tea and use that. It might look dark enough to fool them!

Any suggestions please with this real life drama-comedy?

Jenny