Courtyard action post-winter
Today we have a quick tour around the estate, as we are about to prepare it for the summer. The estate being our rented house, you understand and ‘prepare it for the summer’ means painting the bedroom, and throwing away the old outside table that has a broken leg and that is listing like the Titanic at 12.30 a.m. on April 15th, 1912. We will also get around to painting the courtyard one day before too long.
Outside, the chilli plant is coming on nicely and has survived the winter, unlike a few other things. Something got eaten by a locust that came to live with us for a couple of months, and something else looks a bit done in but should recover as it’s already starting to grow back. The vine has started to sprout, and I am hoping the new courtyard fairly lights arrive before it takes over, as they are intended to go above the vine and shine down through the leaves. The lavender has woken up, and there are some pretty yellow weeds doing something in a planter in the corner. Neil’s frangipani (not an Italian dish) looks like it’s given up the ghost and doesn’t look well at all. The rose isn’t even thinking about doing anything, and there are several other pots that once contained ‘things’ that seem now to be dead. The bushy thing that was a gift is doing okay, though. As you can see, I’m not very good with plants.
We have a new light up in the kitchen so we can dispense with the anglepoise that has been lighting us, slightly, since the old light fitting blew up. Only taken two months to get that done. The shutters are now more open than closed, except when it’s windy, and the sterna is now full of rainwater after the storm a few days ago. Most winter clothes have been put away, and the summer ones brought out and tried on. Last year’s shorts still fit me, in fact, a couple of pairs are too big. Would love to know how that’s happened.
Our landlord is back from his extended leave and seems to be well. He’s already back to his usual routine of being up early and pottering around with useful bits of building, adding a bit here and there to his house over the lane. Good to see him back and back to his usual self. Outside in the big wide yonder (the village square), we sat chatting to a few visitors and what you might call ‘stayers’ who are here to check on their houses and have a holiday. So, it’s starting to feel like winter is coming to an end and, before we know it, everyone will be saying ‘It’s hot, isn’t it?’ as they do as soon as the sun comes back. Looking forward to that.
And that’s all I can think of today. My head is into another idea for a book, the details of which I might bore you about another day. We are still heading downhill to ‘The Saddling’ publication date, ‘The Judas Inheritance’ has its new cover as you know (and another five-star review on Amazon), I have ‘Symi, Stuff & Nonsense’ in draft one form to consider when the weather is better and ‘Saddling’ is out there. Neil has just phoned me, there’s a frappe in the offing at Rainbow, so I’m off out now. Back tomorrow.
