Sweeping Up

Today Jackie was mostly refurbishing and tidying pots and hanging basket plantings.

She has completed the Shady Path where all is now well, except for

windburn on this white lobelia;

and on this yellow tree peony whose healthy seed pods offer optimism for next year.

Beyond this small triangular bed before the wisteria arbour

Mrs Knight continued her work on the greenhouse area.

The life of the sweet peas on the kitchen corner could not be extended, but the tomato plant over which the force of the winds had flung them, has survived.

It remains be seen whether this hydrangea in the patio will recover from its blisters.

After lunch the Head Gardener applied herself to stripping out dead parts of the patio’s potted plants and tidying the rest.

Nugget assisted her in sweeping up – the disturbed insects, that is. For those readers new to the “Where’s Nugget?” feature or whose robins are different from ours, notably lacking the distinguishing red breast, there follows

a selection of portraits of our little gardener’s friend.

Now, can you see “Where’s Nugget?” (5), from when he joined us later on the patio for drinks.

Soon after I had begun to draft this post, Jackie came inside complaining that her little companion was not letting her get anything done.

This evening we dined on coriander and garlic coated chicken kebabs; Jackie’s spicy omelette-topped savoury rice; and moist ratatouille with our own runner beans. The Culinary Queen drank Blue Moon and I drank more of the Garnacha Syrah.

I will now wait half an hour for the TV Channel 5 broadcast of the cricket highlights to finish so that I can watch my own recording advertisement-free.

0 comments

  1. Your last sentence sent me into peals of laughter. Merry Christmas, Derrick — to you, and to all who round your table go. Enjoy the rest of the celebrations.

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  4. Yes. Different interactions and relationships. Breaking down barriers and simply enjoying our common humanity. Things move on, but the feelings remain.

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  5. Nice memories of that lovely frenchman/road sweeper Absolutely understand the final sentence – it’s not 3.30 pm here and I feel ready for a good nights sleep – ten days of family carousing has quite exhausted me. Happy Christmas to you and Jackie and your splendid family – no matter what they drink <3

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      1. Me to I have been cleaning photos off my iPad, phone and going through my photos albums, and thought sheesh I bet _ would love this image of them. ..

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  23. He looks like a happy, efficient sweeper! 🙂
    HA! your last line made me snort-laugh! 😀
    Hope you all had a very happy Christmas! 🙂
    HUGS!!! 🙂
    PS…how is your Mum doing?

    Reply

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