House arrest

I’m under house arrest waiting for the plumber to turn up (some time today is about as precise as they ever get) so did a bit of seed work. And baked bread, and made cakes, and visited my neighbour in quest of pea sticks.

The house on the corner opposite our house is very imposing and scary. As are the owners. But I noticed that they did a major pruning in their garden, and the yield is temptingly interesting. Lots of straight sticks. I girded my loins and rang the bell. The lady of the house answered (attractive pink glasses so I was immediately mollified as I was wearing my new attractive maroon ones) and I introduced myself and said my spiel about pea sticks. She was quite friendly and alas, told me that her husband was going to make his annual willow pod in the garden for the children, so I couldn’t take any prunings until after the weekend. We did get chatting about gardens, and she wanted to know all about my allotment, so that was a good conversation spark. I shall go back late on Sunday afternoon or Monday and see if there are any sticks for me.

And in the meantime I really must go up to my roof terrace and take the fleeces off the bottle brush trees. They have been molly coddled long enough.

Vegetable: Basil
How many?: 12
How planted?: Jiffy 7s
Notes: In a warm heated room