18-Aug to 24-Aug 2013

Sun 18-Aug

Do those chickens look distraught, frazzled or in any way upset? Not a bit of it, in spite of a right kerfuffle transferring them to their new home on Andy the Brick's allotment. But it was nice to see them settle in so quickly early this afternoon, squashing together enjoying a dust bath. Back on the plot afterwards, still kept doing things like shutting the greenhouse door and keeping the gate shut to keep the chickens out  ~:0(


Mon 19-Aug

Aimed to walk around The Meadow this morning with Beth and the kids, followed by coffee and cakes at The Dolphin, but switched it around since Beth was held up. Here we are trying to get a smile out of Amelia. She was too interested in everything going on around her. Afterwards we ambled around The Meadow in warm sunshine, me looking for grass snakes with Connor and Paige, Beth and Linda chatting away pushing a sleeping Amelia in her pram.



Tue 20-Aug

Committee meeting of the St Ives Archaeology Group tonight at The Dolphin, preparing for the first AGM. The content was so dry I didn't take Connor for once. Told them I would be standing down from the committee at the AGM since I only ever intended to stand temporarily whilst the group got itself established, and that I need to drop two of the three committees I operate on to make room for bowls. So I'll be dropping the Allotment Association as well and just keeping involved with the St Ives Flower & Produce Show.

As I came out of The Dolphin about 21:45 I couldn't help but stop and stare at the beautiful St Ives bridge. There was almost a mirror image reflected in the still river water.


Wed 21-Aug

Long day at the allotment, taking up the rest of the chicken run fencing and taking apart the chicken coop. Noticed how well the tomatoes are doing. Already made the mistake of not picking the strangely shaped runner bean moustache and keeping it in the fridge ready for the show... it's now grown out of the funny shape. Hope leaving loads of tomatoes to ripen will give me a great selection for the show.


Thu 22-Aug

An important step in the stage 2 of the back garden redesign... the purchase of the bird station. Since it was raining, trawled around all the garden centres to finally select this version from Chapel Wood, mainly because of price and the fact the pole sections screwed into each other very securely. Then had the not uncommon kerfuffle at the checkout since I'd failed to spot the price reduction to £24.99 was only available to club card holders. So added their club card to my collection. Now just got to find a  decent bird bath and buy the gravel and I'm ready to finish things off.


Fri 23-Aug

Blimey, that didn't take long! After two days of struggling to remove the chicken wire around the run, took me only just over an hour to get the base of the repositioned compost bins done. The line of the back fence will run along the edge of the paving to the left. Real feeling of progress today ~:o)


Sat 24-Aug

On a day of general mass destruction, here's the moment when the biggest bit of Becky's & Barry's conservatory came crashing down. After a couple of careful hours of unscrewing, a liberal application of the sledgehammer by your's truly loosened the side section, and this main section was pulled down by Barry, Andy, Sammy and me. Sammy was in his element, hacking at everything in sight with a crowbar. Doreen, Dusty, Becky, Linda and Izzy sorted out and cleared the garden.