The Cottage Smallholder

Planted some bulbs and dug up some carrots, would have done more in the garden but it was hissing down after that.

Getting in the fix it mode now- taken post box off fence and repaired the opening flap- the posties kept forcing it out of its hinge, so made a better hinge mechanism, fixed the lights in the cooker hood, found the right halogen bulb for the kitchen spotlight assembly and took apart the garden bench/table combo.

The last one is a regular item, as after a year or so the water gets in to the wood and can start to rot it. Last time I replaced all the frame timbers with sturdier pieces, and revarnished the tops of the seats and the table slats. Unfortunately the area around the screw holes in the slats started to let water in and the varnish is coming off again. That was quite a marathon dismantling session today, just to get the slats off- the wood was so wet, the screws would not release from the wood- some eventually came out, but others I had to lever out. The solution is not to have screws on the top surface I think, so when dry I will fill the old screw holes, screw them to battens from the underside, and attach the battens to the frames, which will mean they are sheltered from most of the rain- will probably take a week or so the acheive, but should help prolong the life of it I think. It was a cheap item from B&Q once upon a time, I don't think there is anything remaining of the original now!

Made some Pear and Vanilla butter today from some cheap pears i got a couple of days ago, had a visit from a lovely friend from Scotland (elgin) who was on his was down to Northampton and then got a lunch invite which involved champagne...so of course I had to say yes.

Finished first draft of my tax return this evening, looks decent, and as usual, they owe me, so even better.

First fix wiring for stairs now in. This is the most complicated due to two way switching but clever OH has it sussed!

Better watch the weight then Aly, much more concentrated protein there in meat! My daughter had to re-start eating chicken after second child was born, on doctors advice and weight went on rapidly.