24th April

The weather today was much greyer and cooler of late and there was moisture in the air which broke into rain spots and then later into a deluge.  Before that happened John and I set about our allotted tasks for the day!!!

I continued with my brolly recovering project - I thought I only had a little bit left to do - the reinforced corners that the spokes sit in and the 'hat' at the top.  Originally I had intended to re-use the hat I had made last year which is in a canvas sort of material and had withstood the weather without any issue but having tacked it in place made a decision to cover it with the green patterned material I had used for two of the panels.  These 'little' jobs took me hours and I managed to draw blood by hitting my thumb with the needle and the bloody underneath bobbin ran out more times than I care to mention.  I cannot believe how much cotton this took and when you think they sell the brollies complete for about 30 euros you realise some poor bugger is earning a pittance making them.  I would do it again though because the finished result was really pleasing. I shall be keeping my eye out for some curtains in a charity shop (when they reopen).



So here is the finished result.  No idea how long it will last but for a while it will look nice and the cotton is quite strong so fingers crossed it will do for this summer - although looking at the weather forecast for the weekend we aren't going to need it any time soon.

John had a couple of bags of cement left over from doing the base for the potting bench and they had got a bit damp overnight so he decided to use them up by creating a plinth upon which the doors to the woodshed will be fixed when we finally get round to having them made - we have been planning them for years but never got round to it as the temporary curtain John erected shows no signs of deteriorating any time soon!

We did manage to sit outside and have a cuppa having completed our jobs and before the rain started in earnest.

The garden really is looking lovely and as I have said before it is Sod's Law that no-one else can see just how beautiful it is.

This year Aunty Friday's jasmine (a gift from Elena many years ago) is just about to explode into a cloud of flowers and perfume- it is the best it has ever been and in our remembrance corner Hadge's rose is full of bud.  Whilst we were sat listening to the Bee Eaters on the electric wires and up in the skies I thought what a lovely area this has become and when we deck or pave it, will be a favourite spot to sit and relax.

I cannot believe I had the foresight to make a waterproof cover for the revamped brolly or that John actually had a suitable little tarpaulin loafing in the shed but he did and I did and I was very glad when the weather worsened and then became quite stormy.

We had rolling mists and heavy rains for the remainder of the day - the only bright spot was the fact that we had ordered a takeaway for supper - a Chinese from the Farmyard and we were so looking forward to it that we actually brought the time for it forward.  We were not disappointed - the chicken satay was sublime with a sauce that would hold the virus at bay for a while longer!!!  The kung-po Chicken was equally as good and we have enough left over for tomorrow night so I am spared cooking once again!!