Ah well, my first garden was not big but it was a wilderness. My then husband and I worked soooooo hard, digging and weeding and planting and growing our own vegetables (my dad used to have a fab vegetable garden and I was trying to do the same). I worked full time in London at the time and spent the majority of my weekend working in the garden. I was extremely disappointed to have a "harvest" of only a few onions, some shrivelled carrots and some spinach at the end of it. Never again!!!!
Now I have a small garden and like you, sparkling lime, very little interest. The neighbours have had theirs done over with paving slabs and it looks great.
Cannot recommend a book HelenT. In my garden, they get two chances, either live or die!!!! Have to say though, I have a mint plant, and mine has been fine. Think Louise needs to get her glasses out to keep an eye on you, hehe. My mint plant blooms every year, I do cut it right down at the end of the summer though. Perhaps you put it in the wrong spot, sometimes this can affect how the plant grows. Mint plant is in a very sunny position, was yours??
Mint is meant to be like a weed. My Mum and Dad had it in their garden - but it never spread!
I tried to grow it in the garden in the cottage, but never succeeded - but had loads of other plants that flourished.
I reckon the mint just doesn't like the type of soil you have. I'd have a jar of mint in the cupboard, and smile sweetly as you put some in a dish on the table.... 
Hehehe. I've never even used my mint, wouldn't have a clue what to do. Anyone know??
...and then for afters you could stand out of sight in the kitchen making a noise like a posh coffee machine and produce cappucino! 
Ummm, have you done this Louise,
Pass me your glasses.
x
Yes, and home-made wine where you have trodden the grapes yourself whilst doing the washing up, then filtered it through a handy string vest. The possibilities are endless!
(sorry, I'm getting silly now 
)
How did your son get on at school, Bella?
Hi Louise, and All,
Son liked it after a few wobbly moments-his dad taking him away before school broke up, resulted in son not knowing where to stand in the yard! Anyway, its all worked out.
Garden-the trunks still refuse to die off! that root stump killer stuff is rubbish! waste of money. Been told caustic soda is good! Not sure.
Now son is at school Im trying to clear house up. The carboot sale only brought in £20 plus a cold wet body.Never again! the charity shop has had its supply boosted with the stuff we never sold.
Im still refusing to put the heating on! Son seems to be thermally insulated anyway so its just me walking around in layers similar to the michelin tyre man!
B.
Hi Bella
Glad your son has been Ok at school, yes it is those things that are important, the knowing where to stand and sit...
Sorry to hear about your car boot sale, the weather might have played a part. I am a bit surprised to hear you mention the heating, wow I still have the windows open every day, is it me? is everyone else cold? or are you someone who really likes the warmth Bella?
I used to do the odd car boot - but many years ago now!
The weather is awful - but not cold, thank goodness!
The weather where I am is that annoying, stuffy in-between thunder and sun. Great for making everyone a bit manic.
I'm really glad to hear that your son has had a good time at school 
.
Ebay can be a really good way to get rid of stuff, or trade-it, you place an advert and people contact you if thier interested so no risk of rain!
HelenT
Hello,
Heating has been used intermittently but only as im freezing- son always like kettle!
All the stuff is sitting in his room-poor lad. I dont really want anyone coming to my home as ive had bad experiances with people calling in the past. Will have to see what i can arrange.
Well i htink we all missed the summer and hot waether! Maybe i blinked and missed it? Oh well there's always next year.
Son seems ok at school but cant play outside our home due to bullies. Imnot going ot get involved-kids fall out and then make up. Im hoping it all sorts itself out. Its only been couple of months so im keeping fingers crossed.
B.
Hi Bella. If the bullying has been going on for months, then it isn't fair on your son, and because of this he can't get to play outside. I realise children have their ups and downs, and it is difficult to know whether to get involved or not, but it has been going on for a while. Do you know the other children's parents? Perhaps a quiet word with them would sort it, although I know from experience that this too can cause problems!!
Hope you're not too cold today. Sun is shining here, but haven't stepped out of the front door, so it could be freezing out there!
Hi Alisoncam,
It seems the bullies have also felt the cold and have returned totheir homes! Son is now playing with only one person and im ok with this. His mother and i spoke briefly about kids falling in and out of friendship and we agree to let them get on with it. (this was not the bullies mum).
Has anyone been preparing their home for xmas yet? Just the thought is scary! Im still waiting for summersun!
B
Hi Bella
Nice that things have settled down for your son
Oh no it is Christmas soon and you are thinking about it....it is hard not to when the shops are full of stuff. The last couple of years I have not had a tree in the lounge, but son has had a tree in his room, I need to check with him what he would like to do this year. He usually hangs some chocolates on the little tree and has those instead of an Advent Calendar now he is older.What do you usually do in your house?
Hi Bella
Nice to see you, I have been off the boards for a while, but its great to see you still around!
I haven't put the heating on yet, I am turning into my mum, if my daughter says she is cold, i give her the old 'well put another jumper on then' line! I always swore that I wouldn't do that, but hey, I'm the one paying the bills now!
Actually I am lucky I live above a woman who is bed ridden and has her heating on incredibly high, most of the year round, so it as if we have underfloor heating! Very swish!
I too am waiting for summer! It takes so long to come then disappears in a blink of an eye! Not even thought about Christmas ye! Eeek! When you say preparing your home for Xmas, do you mean painting and decorating or do you mean getting in the pressies and food??
I tell my kids to put more clothes on too : )
I used to have quarter an acre of garden. I gradually cleared it, cutting back and shifting huge stones (where a dry stone wall must have been at one time). I just kept mowing and weed and feeding it. I came good in the end. Had to dig over and sort of 'even out' the ground (in the loosest sense of the word) the worse bits.
It was great for the children though.
The garden I have now is the size of a postage stamp - and I have no interest in it at all!