Doors / Docks / Rain
Posted: Monday 19 June, 2023
Monday 12th June
Rain early this morning, and then warm sun so hopefully the grass will get a bit of a boost.
Dan spent an hour in the sunken garden. Found a pipe. Don’t know where it goes or what it’s for, so we shall leave it undisturbed.
Office day and a Zoom call, then a meeting in Arbroath in the evening. My head’s a bit all over the place – I received a message from the son of an old friend to say that his sister, her daughter, had died. L was thirty-eight years old and she leaves a seven-year-old daughter. I’ve known the family since the late 1990s and they are the best and nicest people. Funeral is tomorrow. Dan and I will go. L was so full of life and joy and adored her daughter; she was a talented singer and dancer; she could probably have been a professional but chose instead to become a teacher. She sang at our wedding – “One hand, one heart” from “West Side Story” and “Secret Love” from “Calamity Jane”. She will be so missed. A light has gone out.
Tuesday 13th June
It was the funeral today. That is all.
Wednesday 14th June
Bryn, Gwenna and Bertie at the vet for their annual check-ups. Bryn has lost s smidge of weight and Gwenna, half a kilo. Bertie has put on about half a kilo, but he can take it.
Still hot and dry.
Thursday 15th June
Thomas and Diesel, chums (mostly), sunning it.
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Happy cats.
The polytunnel is coming on, but needs watered twice a day in this heat.
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Polytunnel.
The other sdei of the tunnel.
Friday 16th June
First tatties out the garden – Caledonian Rose.
Taties - Caledonian Rose.
The front garden’s looking a bit wild but there are plans.
It's great for wildlife.
Saturday 17th June
Skip, Blizzard’s steer calf, found the bucket. Bodes well for halter training.
Skip's addiction begins.
Cattle moved to Near Ditch with the electric fence in place to protect the meat birds’ pen. They’re eight weeks now, so another four to go.
We bought our pig ark from Pig Paradise in, ooh, 2002. A couple of years ago we replaced the outside boards with marine ply from Wickes, because the pigs had chewed on corner quite badly. Glad we didnae build a boat wi’ it. It’s peeling horribly. I painted it today, so it looks better.
Then I painted the door into the workshop. John made this door back in 2010, from whatever he could salvage. It’s done really well. I’ll give it another coat tomorrow.
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Door, half done.
Dan was digging docks in the wee paddock by the barn – then it was tools down and in for the Norway v Scotland Euro24 qualifier. What a result for Scotland! We’re off to Hampden to see them play Georgia on Tuesday. More of the same would be good.
Dan, dock digger.
Sunday 18th June
Recorded a Chiffchaff on my Merlin App to day. Plus a House Martin and a Goldcrest yesterday.
Put a second coat on the workshop door. The barn doors are next, but they’ll need properly sanded. These doors were salvaged from the old tractor shed that was demolished to make room for John and Linda’s cottage. We didn't paint them then, so they're due a bit of TLC.
Tatty barn doors.
Dan scythed down the weeds in the fruit garden and laid some weed suppressing fabric. Then we had a drink in the sunken garden, making plans for the next step.
Suppressing weds in the fruit garden.
Busy week coming up – football Tuesday, cinema with T & R on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday on the RBST stand at the Highland Show and Saturday at the SNP Independence Convention. Bit of a 'mare, really.
Rain started about 11pm. Happy dance.
