Gardening again at last.

We have had some decent weather lately, as we so often do in late February, though last night’s sharp frost was a suitable reminder that it is indeed still February.  Yesterday I did a spot of pruning, clearing of dead bedding plants, and hacking down the hypericum which was violating next door’s air space.  I also sowed leeks and rudbeckias.  Today I’ve been out the front, pulling weeds out of the slate chippings: a bit too much getting down and up again for comfort, but at least I've had some fresh air.  

I’d to have a routine blood test today, so legged it down to the practice, where I was seen promptly and painlessly by the cheerful Evie, whom I’ve learned to thank in an approximation of her native Polish.  In reverence to the RAF salute (though in reverse order) I went shortest way down and longest way up, so have walked a km more than usual, and did rather feel it.  Roll on the spring and a boost in motivation.

Ben and Duncan have been excavating like mad next door today, enlarging the terrace across the back of the house by hacking back a bit of garden.  Par conséquent, there’s a big pile of masonry on their drive, to which our clayberg will be added next week.  Earlier this week, barrow loads of muck were being schlepped round from ours to other neighbours’ garden, so we seem to have a sort of collective Ben chantier in operation.  They had a couple of bags of materials craned in today next door, so it’s as well I’d hacked down the hypericum, eh?