Winter gardening continues...
More compost
Winter gardening continues. Ten bags of rotted horse manure are sitting on my lawn and it's obvious what my first gardening task should be, isn't it? Right!
Two and a half hours later...
And all done. I tipped bucketfuls around the rhododendrons in the Stumpy Garden, and used the rest to build up the gardens by the water. The little stone retaining walls I have uncovered look gorgeous. Then I collected dry rubbish for the bonfire, which is now smouldering away.
Not much energy in the bonfire, or in me today, sorry about that (my jazz choir had a gig yesterday and I couldn't sleep, with music fizzing around in my head). And you wouldn't like to see the state of my hands - my poor computer keyboard! A soapy soak, I think, and then maybe a shower.
My latest obsession...
And then I'll watch another episode of Hercule Poirot on Youtube. Watched Murder on the Orient Express early this morning with Fred cat on my lap and cried at the end.
Fred on the Patio
Poirot episodes (starring David Suchet) are my latest obsession. There are quite a lot to watch. Hopeless!
Tuesday 14th July
Yeay! A milder day, temperature-wise, and I've had a good afternoon gardening session cleaning up pieces of Gunnera which I'd trimmed a few weeks ago. Now everything is in piles underneath the shelter hedge, and the water race edges are clear from Car Bridge to Middle Bridge. The plan now is to have a shower, wash my hair, light the log-burner, and sort out some music for my Blues Band. Had a so-so music rehearsal last night, wasn't happy with my contribution.
Thursday 16th July
Spent a long morning rehearsing and singing in Faure's Requiem (at a funeral), then zoomed home full of good secular intentions. Wriggled into my waders and went into the water to continue my great water race clean-up. Soon struck a very messy section - as one does in my garden.
The Water Race Looking Downstream
Not easy mentally to attack a big mess mid-afternoon in winter. After removing slimy Gunnera stems and leaves by Duck Lawn, I started poking and slicing at Carexes - just couldn't keep going. So I slunk inside and watched a Fifa World Cup Semi-Final replay (England versus Argentina), deliberately filling up good gardening time until it got too dark. Very naughty.
And I, who know nothing about football, thought that England was boring in the second half, all standing around looking like big basket-ball players. I understand now that England's manager had brought on lots of defenders.
Friday, sundown...
And I understand that if I just clean up one small area, keep disciplined, and rake up the mess I make, I feel really good. Three hours today, seven barrowloads of mess, all stashed underneath the Leyland hedge. More Phormiums and Carexes trimmed. Yeay for me!