A pleasant rain has a relaxing effect whilst simultaneously cooling and watering the empire of THG. The lake will not need topping up by hosepipe today. It isn’t a job I do every day anyway and as an interim measure and until a permanent irrigation system is put in place I was considering running a pipe from the base of one of the greenhouse waterbutts. Although it has on occasion felt like it, this is not Southern California.
All is calm in the house. The sound of smashed avocado on toasted sourdough filters through the kitchen door. Really this is the sound of iron on porcelain. The implements of breakfast. Avocado makes no noise. The noiseless avocado, coming to a kitchen near you.
The bright red fruit on the nearest apple tree to the house feel as if all they need is one vigorous shake for the whole lot to drop. I did imagine one of us holding a sheet underneath while the other shook the tree but it is too early for us to harvest them yet. We need to get Hannah’s wedding out of the way before engaging the cider making process.
Gemini add three more paragraphs that are in keeping with the first three:
We also have the brambles that have provided a great harvest already this year and still look like they have more to give. Not a job for the faint-hearted though, as despite wearing protective clothing the thorns still manage to get through. I’ve ended up looking like a contestant on Robot Wars after wrestling them into submission.
The vegetable patch is thriving. The runner beans are reaching for the sky, and the courgettes are producing more than we can eat, leading to a delightful culinary challenge of finding new ways to incorporate them into every meal. It’s a good problem to have.
Out beyond the garden, the fields are a patchwork of green and gold, waiting for the combine harvester to make its annual pass. The air is still, carrying the scent of damp earth and distant woodsmoke. It feels like autumn is just around the corner, bringing with it the promise of crisp walks and evenings by the fire.
Thanks Gemini. Not too bad although most of the fields have already been harvested and the allotments out the back of our house don’t really qualify.
…
Did the NRM in York. This is always the first on the agenda when we come to York. Then drove around to the hotel. Traffic chaos not helped by the fact that google maps wasn’t aware that the city council had closed off the road to the Grand Hotel and forgot to tell google. What should have been a thirty second detour around the block took ages.
When we did finally arrive I left the car keys with the bellman and checked in. Room not ready. No problemo. We were early. THG strolled off to Duttons for Buttons and I tracked down a branch of Blak Bear barbers where Sinead did a job on my increasingly unmanageable mop.
After that I met THG in the M&S caff. I had wandered in on the off chance of finding a suitable shirt but came away empty handed. They didn’t do it for me although it was pleasing to note that I had gone down two collar sizes from my historical maximum. I think I’m just going to take the easy route and go back to Chesters in Lincoln. He can order something in for me.