Evade, avoid

Here is a picture of me poised to swing through the trees in the chestnut forest.

Only joking.

But I did hobble up here in search of a pergola log replacement.

We have finally got round to replacing the broken pole on the pergola. Held on with gaffer tape and ocky straps (bungee chords) for the past few years; but artfully hidden by grape vines in summer. It’s only in winter does it look a bit forlorn.

Luckily we have our own lumber yard just an uphill walk away. So with a bit of searching we have found the perfect chestnut replacement. I will take a picture of the finished product in daylight tomorrow.

The whole pergola is going to go one day. I suspect it is held up by the vines; so for now we just pretend it isn’t leaning, expiring or in danger of collapse.

That was the extent of my outdoor exercise today alas. Sore, sore back. Not sciatic, but poised like the pergola, so I had to take it easy.

I looked at my long list of To Do garden chores. And found that the only thing on the list that didn’t involve digging, weeding, bending or hauling was label painting.

So that is what I did. And I restored the little step ladder stool that is in the potting shed. It was a mess. It is now a cheerfully painted and colourful mess.

And I have erased all the writing from last year’s labels to make room for next year’s work. That was fun and full of promise.

But I’d much rather have perfect health and weed the raspberry bed.   You can’t have it all.

But the best early Christmas present of all… Artur has used the cat flap! Hurrah. I went in there to start painting and he was inside sitting on the chaise longue looking insouciant.   As if he always leaps through a small window in the door. I rushed at him to give him a hug and he glared up at me with that look that said: what’s all the fuss about, woman? Get a grip.