We heard the first warbler of spring two days ago. Unseen as usual, but in good voice, heralding the return of the season of fecundity and renewal. Hidden amongst the branches of the oak on the corner of Tresseck Lane, this diminutive harbinger of summer trilled and whistled its repertoire, engendering feelings of contentment and [...]
Now here’s a perplexing little conundrum that makes me ponder. How is it that I can cook eggs for everyone else without mishap, but as soon as I break one into the pan for myself, something goes wrong? No matter how many I am catering for at breakfast time, I can (assuming that the eggs [...]
Wind still blowing, after the weather turned very squally yesterday. Sandra was coming by with some eggs, so I popped the empty egg box outside the back door for her in case I missed her when she arrived. Inside the box was a L5 note, and on top of the box was a stone to [...]
Bill left this morning, taking his two minders, Tony and Linda Webster, with him. He gave us a very handsome tip, so we can only presume that he was satisfied with his accommodation and daily breakfast. I was slightly worried that I had slipped up this morning by cooking him yet another sausage – after [...]
Amongst others to arrive yesterday was Bill the Labrador Collie cross, with a couple of minders in tow who answered to the names of Tony and Linda. They seemed well behaved, so no worries there. As for Bill, he had the look of an extra from Pirates of the Caribbean, a certain raffishness set off [...]
The pheasant called for his breakfast again as usual. Finding nothing but a few small seeds scattered about the patio, he decided to investigate the bird table. It is only when a pheasant tries to walk about on it that it becomes obvious how small a table it is, and how cramped it is under [...]
The day after Sally completed the final draft for the Aspen House Green File, I accelerated the progress of global warming by having a bonfire to get rid of the evidence of our efforts at winter pruning. Not, as you might think, a few straggly branches of herbaceous shrubs, hedge clippings and the odd raspberry [...]
Ever willing to conquer new culinary frontiers, we headed for Hereford Farmers’ Market and bought a tree rabbit from a game dealer who looked uncannily like our accountant. Perhaps it was our accountant. Certainly there was an unsettling familiarity about his jolly disposition and soft local brogue. But, dressed as he was in a white [...]
See the conquering hero comes! Alan returned with the chain saw. This time he was in the garden for less than an hour. But it was an hour fraught with potential danger. I’m sure it’s not really a good idea to perch precariously amongst lopped leylandii, with one foot on the stump of a branch [...]
Alan Reed, Angel to the Domestically Needy, turned up today to help me get rid of the last three leylandii obscuring the setting sun on our western boundary. Rumour was that he was going to turn up with a chain saw, but, as is often the case, rumour was wrong. He turned up with two [...]