A new hip, propagation, a few storms and some more wood
June finally got her left hip replaced after a longer wait than the previous one. This was mainly due to high demand and lack of Covid. The same consultant performed the surgery and even though she felt it took longer to recover, I think the time was about the same. She did however have greater muscular pain which did slow the mobility side of things, but only necessitated the wheelchair being used once post op. Emma came for the first week to help with cooking, cleaning and injecting her daily with an anti coagulant – this was different from last time. However, a pain/discomfort in her lower right leg seems to persist. It’s not the knee, but possibly ligaments/tendons, but it needs to be resolved so she can return to the world of bipeds without wheels or sticks.
Nearly all the hydrangeas, Japanese laurel and other cuttings taken in the Autumn are still growing on the warming beds. A few withered along the way, but on the whole, I’m very pleased with my efforts and look forward to the warmer weather when they can be planted out. I picked up 15 heathers and a number of hebes for the river garden in the clearance section of the local garden centre. This is next years outdoor project. When we moved in four years ago, the area down by the stream was inaccessible due to the brambles, but a bit of brush cutting followed with strong weed killer has opened up a large flat area. Currently access is via a sloped bank, but based on previous success, a set of steps in the new year will allow safe access. I’ve already started marking out a path and a number of my propagated plants are earmarked for that area. I cleared the bank of dead matter a while ago with the aid of ropes, cleats and a body harness. It will be put into use again when it’s time for planting.
After the first of the two recent storms, a few trees on the adjacent property came down perilously close to the bridge. These were made safe, but not tidied up to prevent possible blockage of the stream should the be dislodged. Dave and I spent a few hours sawing and stacking a reasonable pile of logs for next year. Then just as the chainsaw cooled down, we had another storm come through, together with mobile phone warnings, power interruptions, torrential rain more trees down. This time we watched one of ours fall with a loud crack and a splash as it hit the river in full flow. This was the tree that had had the hornets nest in for the last two years, so at least I don’t need to fill in the hole with expanded foam before next summer.
I foolishly decided to tidy up some of the latest windfall. Dressed in protective kit and wielding my chainsaw, all went well until I cut a branch the wrong way and the saw jammed. Grabbing a length of wood as a lever, I levered the branch with one hand and pulled the chainsaw with the other. I felt and heard a pop, thinking “ah the buckle on my chainsaw trousers”, but alas, a pain spread from sternum to spine as I’d pulled a muscle. I could move my arm and breath deeply, so not another cracked rib. I then spent two days on my back, dosed with anti-inflammatories and paracetamol and another week on light duties. I think I need more lessons from Dave on chainsaw driving in the new year.
Wishing all our readers an accident free and healthy 2025.
Nigel & June
