we're painting the roses red

"Painting the roses red" a.k.a. "poisoning the mugwort with glyphosate".

We don't talk about Glyphosate. In gardening circles it's a highly divisive topic. In permaculture circles, the topic gets particularly vicious, because the company that produces it - Bayer - is also one of the companies known for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) and questionable business practices surrounding GMO.

The people who lived here before us used it; there are still containers of it in the shed. I have no idea how old they are, but it smells pretty weedkiller when I opened the container, and I doubt the stuff goes off. Maybe it becomes marginally less toxic?

At any rate, the goal is to use no pesticides at all, but short of pulling out five hundred mugwort seedlings for the next six months, I'm not going to make it. Besides, I suspect what gets sprayed on Aussie crops is considerably worse.

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I've been so tired all day; desperately want an early night, or even just a nap.

Work is, once again, proving just how little idea they have of what it is that I do...

DAMMIT

My flight from London to Boston is STILL NOT SHOWING. I'm starting to wonder if it ever will!

I am halfway tempted to just cancel it entirely and go straight to Ottawa. If so, I'll miss catching up with gingicat. ARGH.

This'll learn me not to do it via website next time. At least a travel agent can make adjustments, even if it's pricier. Right now, I have a BIG GAP on how I'm getting from London to Boston and it's making me nervous.

There's a few cutting-it-fine moments in the trip, starting with getting hold of my luggage, which B2 has right now...in Nantes, France.

Yes, B2 has gone on a week's trip to France to catch up with friends, and has taken our smallest suitcase with her. It's a beautifully convenient size and fits just about everything that one needs. But she arrives back on Sunday at around 6am and is allegedly going to be at her car by 9am. Which means that I'm packing at 9am to leave for the airport around 11am, arrive at the airport by 1pm for a 4pm departure to Singapore.

It's gonna be tight.

And that's even before I step onto a plane...

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In rather sadder news, a local church friend died today. ( not unexpected, but always unwelcome )

He was one of the gentlest blokes I know, with a lovely easy way about him, and his family is going to miss him sorely.

I've resolved that I may not be able to be there for the family funeral, but I can be there when I get back, after the dust and fuss has cleared some. They'll have plenty of support before, but a month after, things have trailed off.