Packing up for the season

We are continuing with packing away the garden in readiness for the forthcoming Coptic storms which begin again on 21st October with the three day El Saleebish.  We normally wait one Coptic too many and end up with sails and gazebo covers which are shredded by the winds.  It has become much cooler of late so the requirement for multiple areas where we can sit outside are reduced but it does always look a bit sad and bare when this job has been completed.

I had some butterflies left over from repairing the plaque which I had made for Isobel and which her dog Andro had decided to try and eat.  The leftovers have been sitting under the coffee table for a week or so and I wanted to do something with them.  I had thought it might be nice to put them on the new wooden wall and didn't for one minute expect John to agree but he was quite happy about it.  I doubt they will last long (they were the finest that Jumbos could sell) so probably wont be in situ for very long - and I am guessing that is what John is banking on!!!

Whilst on a roll we took the roof off of the Do-Jo - everything inside has been locked down already so should be safe for another season.  It is confusing the hell out of the cats as their little hideaway is no longer secluded.  On the subject of the cats we have been a bit concerned about Charlie today.  He didn't get up off the sofa for his breakfast and when I picked him up to encourage him he didn't move. I was worried that he had hurt himself but we think he has probably eaten something which has disagreed with him.  He was lethargic all day and unusually so.  Boris is still nursing a poorly paw.  The exit wound of his abscess has healed but underneath there is a massive scab and as bits drop off it seems to open up and bleed.  Indeed we had bloody footprints on the kitchen floor this morning.  It doesn't really seem to be bothering him thank goodness.

Finally the Bay Tree got it - a severe haircut.  I love this tree but it has been blighted by something which turns the leaves black and sooty and then there are sticky white dots on or under the leaves.

Last year I gave it a good old cut and it started to grow back beautifully but then whatever it is returned - I am trying again this year.  I am loathe to use pesticides with the cats around but may have to resort to it in this case.  I use the bay regularly when making Stifado so really don't want to lose the tree altogether.

I think some of the problems in the garden are as a result of the warmer wetter winters which we now have compared to when we first moved over and we would have a really cold snap with snow and frost and that seemed to kill off a lot of the bugs.

On the subject of bugs - there has been a massive spike in Covid cases with over 80 reported last night.  We are now anticipating some more restrictions and are now hearing that flights back to the UK are being cancelled all the time.  We are concerned that Karen and Dip and Argy and Lakis might end up getting stranded here.