28 July
Where has the time gone?
Well here we are two years on from that stressful day that started another chapter in our lives. I still shudder at the thought of the sheer volume of stuff (possessions) crammed into the removal vans, car and follow on van. We still have some boxes unpacked and I’m still looking for bits and bobs that I’m sure I packed up. But after all my searching, I still haven’t found my socket set that I bought when I had a Hillman Imp back when I was 16! I’ve had to resort to a £6.50 one from B&M to sort out a puncture on my trailer.
I look back at the photos I took when we moved in and feel very pleased with the results we’ve made. June with the ideas and me with the skills and grunt (lots of that at times). There’s still a bit to go with decorating an a new bathroom to install. The recent fine weather has enabled us to get on with outdoor projects, especially around the side of the garage where the overgrown shrubbery, unsightly gas tank and inherited clutter resided. The plum and apple trees, which were scabby, came down in the first winter and have been dug up and the ground de-rooted, as some roots reached 15 feet out from the rootball. With the greenhouse finally erected and planted with tomatoes and courgettes, salad growing hydroponically, the outside planters full of potted on plants for next year, it’s all starting to come together.
So what next? Well, there’s still the rear of the chalet to gravel over after cutting into the sewage for the chalet toilet and a rainwater drain pipe to lay. I’ll add a gate to close the gap between the chalet side and sitting room outside wall for extra security. And the extra piece of fence to put up next to the gas tank to hide all the necessary, but unsightly, (sorted) garden clutter. Then it’s back inside with brush, roller and masking tape to cover all the shoddy workmanship of the previous owner. So here we go with some before and after pictures – enjoy.
10th July
A birthday, a greenhouse and stuff
So another year has slipped away and I’ve hit 67. Have I learnt anything in a year other than the best way to dig holes and lay gravel, probably but what have I forgotten. Well a lot about electronics and software I’m sure, but who cares. I can still sit and ramble on about days gone by and “I remember when…..” Due to the summer cold I picked up and passed onto June, which has exacerbated her asthma, we decided to cancel Emma and Martin’s visit this weekend. They’ve recently recovered from covid, so it’s not worth the risk of them getting another bout of germs, while we cough and splutter. So a quiet birthday with Operation Mincemeat DVD to watch later. I’ve had an advance present arrive yesterday of a 9ft reach hedge trimmer and as Emma was unsure what to get me, I bought a pair of tomato hanging baskets for £10 – a bargain.
Finally finished building my greenhouse from Steve. Only needed three pieces of glass following overwinter and transporting breaks. Put in the staging from Worton and ordered some troughing to start off the lettuce etc. Ooo, I could make an electronical greenhouse controller thingy instead of watering by hand, gives me more time to do, er, water plants by hand! Also erected the decades old 2*4 wall greenhouse/upright cold frame. Started off a load of watercress in a plastic drum, and don’t you just have to pick a juicy strawberry when it jumps out as you pass. June had a sit on gardening gambo with her birthday money so she can deadhead flowers, paint the bottom of walls etc, without hurting her knees or back. It’s sturdy and matches my mower, but I don’t think I’ll risk towing her around the garden!
We are being visited by a big hedgehog and a young fox most nights and a juvenile robin now feeds almost an inch from my hand. A slow process, but the grated cheese is too much of a temptation. Ah well, almost time for coffee and open my 7 cards, as the other 60 got lost in the post. Cheers.
