Weather update..Snow!

Maybe I shouldn't write blog posts so frequently. After all my criticism about the lack of snow we are hit with perfect fluffy flakes.
More fun than work today as we took the old wooden racing sledge onto the hillside for the first time!

The great debate

Where's the snow? I was promised snow before I arrived here, it was sold to me with snow. Okay we had a white snowy christmas...just. But now it has melted away and looks more like a bleak mushy late Winter scene in Britain. Cold, damp and generally miserable. 

I feel cheated that there is very little of the white stuff left. Even the moles are confused and creating new holes in our orchard. 

Snow has been switched off at least temporarily. 

But maybe I should stop complaining and stop being so British about the weather!   

End of the year

Just a quick note as the year finishes and the polytunnel hasn't to say a Happy Christmas to all and we'll speak in the new year

Obsessive

I am close to finishing my latest phase here in Havran, the polytunnel site.

It has stretched to nearly three months of on/off activity and closely follows my previous phases of scythe grass cutting and trench digging. 

In each case it has become my obsession to finish. This led to braking three scythes (a tool that usually lasts a generation..), a stingy need to dig all the trenches myself for new pipes (without paying for an excavator to rest my painful backache..) and now the polytunnel which I am still progressing with into the frozen months.

And so when this is done, what next? Rest would be a good idea!      

Warmth

The last couple of months has been all about mouse attacks and wood, mainly chopping.

As the temperatures have dropped from the ridiculous highs in September into the minuses, keeping warm has become more of a priority and that accounts for all our animal friends round here too. It's just not always cosy to be all roasting our toes in the same place though..

I am still awaiting assistance on the chainsaw activity, but my jagged-tooth saw has become particularly effective with the 'older' wood I have to cut. It's a regular daily routine to saw away in the evening ready for the next day in my 'boys only' garden shed.

Moon

Full moon the other night and it now means I can cut my hair and have a shave..apparently. I don't want to scare any young children with how I look right now. Seriously its not been at the forefront of 'jobs' to do here. Wake up, kettle on, feed dogs, bread to eat, dig another trench for some other pipeline, eat, dig, can't cut grass (another story..), eat, dig, bed. Anyway at least the moon made a fantastic picture from sitting on the loo.

Fruit

Our Summer has been busy! When first arriving here the trees here were only giving brief clues as to what they may produce. It was still a shock to see the great quantities that the few fruit trees we have can provide so much. Whilst trying to put our cottage and lives together here (not least the admin!), the plums, apples and pears have kept us occupied and still do so. A welcome distraction with the jam and cider making skills coming to fruition..

Don't worry, the last picture has no real connection to the other three, it's the next task - Dave with a chainsaw!