Making changes around the garden

We were having a quiet day today - just as well really because I had terrible heartburn last night - probably too much rich food and so I felt less than tickety-boo and tired this morning.

We had a lie-in - we normally do a brain challenge in the morning before getting up - John completed it super quick and I was on about my 100th go when I decided to call it a day and revisit it later.

When we did get up we decided to tackle some not too taxing jobs out in the garden.  I had some pots that needed redoing because they had some spikey cacti lurking in them which John hates and as I had a new bag of compost this was an easy task.  Having repotted we then rearranged as there were two nice terracotta pots hidden around the back which we decided to put out the front so people would see them when they enter the garden and moved two less attractive pots around the back.

When everything was in place we gave the Campsis bush at the back, which hides the glory hole, a haircut.  We learned from the last time that the sensible thing to do is to lay a sheet down underneath to catch the debris because at this time of year that bush has a tendency to shed its leaves.   With John on the shears and me on the secateurs we got it finished in double quick time.

We have been spending quite a lot of time in the Doj and whilst we had intended to move the TV back out there we have now decided not to and have put our two old tub chairs in there - it makes it better when we have four people round as we are not all sat on top of one another.

John decided that the space could be further improved by removing the back bar so that the chairs can be pushed further back and then we would move some of the plants in the Doj out onto the plinth at the back.

John removed the bar and the uprights and ground off the screws and then I nipped in and did the job which I do best - staining!!!  This also gave us an opportunity to get the rug up in there and give it a wash.  

The cats were very disgruntled as they like to disappear into there as it is generally cooler.  They didn't have to wait too long.

John decided that he could reuse the wood he removed to make some tall stands so that the plants at the back would be higher and more visible.

Job done and the chairs put back exactly where he wanted them to be John was happy with what he had achieved.  

We then nipped out to check the Cemetery and the Post and I had a few parcels which was exciting.  Is it sad to get excited about a delivery of new walking socks???  How my life has changed!!!!  In the other parcels were the toggles that I had ordered so that we can use them to draw the Doj curtains together so that the wind doesn't make them flap all over the place.

You cannot begin to imagine how long it takes to sew on eight toggles and eight loops when the curtains are still in situ!!!  Still I got it done eventually and it works which is good.  

The final package was the BOOT ROOM wording I had ordered to go on the cupboard which houses our walking boots.  I cannot believe that I only ordered that from the UK on Thursday and it arrived today and it was exactly what we wanted so that is good.

Jobs done we spent a nice quiet hour or so sat in the Doj and then we popped over to Lakis and Argy's to check on the pool and the outside - we like to give it a sloosh down to keep the dust in check.

Tonight was one of my favourite suppers - we had a brie and bacon salad with some sauteed potatoes which was all wrapped up in a spicy mango sauce.  I had salad ingredients that needed using up so this was ideal.

My last job before calling it a day was to put a list together of all the things I want and need to take with me tomorrow when I am going down to house and Fred sit for Mum.