Gardening...

It was a lovely day today so I had decided to spend it in the garden.  John was catching up with Arodes John and they were having a pizza and pint lunch followed by the agony (and sometimes ecstasy) of watching the Mighty Blades take on Cardiff. 

The garden has loads of colour at the moment but is a bit unruly - we have my cousin Michelle staying with us soon and her friends Linda and Graham coming up to celebrate Graham's retirement birthday and they are bringing two friends who will no doubt come and see where we live so we want it to look neat and tidy.

The recent cold weather after the warmth of February took its toll on the garden and the two 'living' roofs on top of the gazebos in the back garden had been knocked for six.  I said to John that we should try and cut them back now so that there is plenty of time for new growth before it gets too hot.  We decided to start on the plant over the outside dining area as there was not so much to that one and we are hoping to redevelop this area at some point because the gazebo is on its last legs.  It was quite satisfying taking it all down and chucking it into the field for the goats.  We left the jasmine growing up the middle post and the passion flower growing up the left hand post with a 'ball' of growth on the top.  It is a vigourous and hardy plant so will be fine.  We plan to tackle the big one (in the top left corner) on Monday.  It has a load of bald patches and lots of dead growth.

I have managed to find a home for The General in a corner by the table and chairs that we bought with the money Joani left us - he is the final piece of the Joani's Place jigsaw which is an homage to a wonderful friend.  My General is nowhere near as impressive as the one which she and Roger had in their garden which was life-sized and people will probably wonder why I have it there but we know!

The pizzas were amazing and the football match which started a bit shakily was also pretty amazing and left my John very happy for once.  

Arodes John went home once the game was finished.  I took him and came back on the rough back road which is actually getting rougher - full of potholes if anyone is planning to travel that way.  It was late afternoon.  It is a big evening for the island as there will be a late church service and lighting of bonfires before the declaration just after midnight that Christ is Risen.  It is generally a noisy affair but this year we have been much less conscious of the sound of fireworks and fire crackers.

We were supposed to be going out for lunch tomorrow but sadly Lilian has covid and is still testing positive so I have made a stew and we will take that down to Mum.