We ventured out yesterday to our
friendly local garden shop in search of some big pots in which to grow the spuds, plus some grass seed, since the latest patching exercise has almost cleaned us out thereof. Got all of those, but while walking the pots to the cash desk, spotted an octagonal hardwood table and folding chairs, reduced in price by a third, with another 10% off for the slightly sparrow-bombed showroom set. Well, we'd been looking for something like it for a while, and it seemed to fit the bill, so said we'd like it. The young woman at the desk said 'Ah, I'll just get one out of the store room'. 'Ah', sez I: 'We were tempted by the 10% off the showroom set, actually!'. With a lightning calculation of the effort required to dismantle the showroom table, she decided to give us the 10% off a boxed set anyway! It's remarkable how often there's scope for a bit of polite haggling these days. Off to Fortnum's with a slightly fuller than expected car. It was fuller still when we left there, because they were selling cushions that looked as though they'd fit the chairs.
Assembling the table didn't take too long, given that I could practically add
Experienced Assembler of IKEA Flat Packs to my cv. So, lunch on terrace at new table. It's all pretty lightweight stuff, of course, but the benefit of that is that it can come in at night and park comfortably in the bay of the sitootery. The cushions come nowhere close to matching the covers on the sofas, but we shall not get too precious about that, since they do the job and are comfortable. I may in due course detail a resident sewing machine owner to make up some more suitable covers.
While we're on spending, Aunty Jessie's old clock has returned from the fettlers and kept good time for two or three days. It stopped last night just after midnight, so, given the eye-watering bill for the overhaul, I am not very pleased. It started again after a little bit of manhandling - I was in the process of taking the pendulum out, ready to march it back to the jeweller, when it started chiming twelve. I shall be passing his door later in the week, possibly with the clock, if it misbehaves again.
When the temperature rises a bit, as it is expected to do later today, I'll set to and prick out dimorphotheca and cosmos seedlings, which now have their first true leaves. I think I'll leave the spuds a little longer: we've had some very sharp frosts overnight, and although the garden is definitely waking up, there's no need to rush things. We bought some Charlotte seed potatoes again this year, since they were so delicious last time we grew them. The other job in the culinary department is to clear out the sinks in which we grow our herbs. I have half a dozen plants on order, and there are two rosemary plants in the cold frame, ready to plant out. We're also going to treat the mint to its own container: it currently shares a sink with a rosemary (which it has smothered) and some chives. Martyn spotted a different variety of mint in Fortnum's yesterday, so that will join the black mint from the sink. The sage and thyme are looking a bit tired, but we'll trim them back and see whether some new compost will bring them back on song.
And the real news is that cousin Ceri had her baby yesterday. No idea of specifications, other than that she seems to be hale and hearty. Francesca, to be known after her great-grandmother's wartime nickname that stuck, as Frankie. And great-great niece to Frank, of course. So, named after my favourite aunt and the uncle I never knew.
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