A Summer's Day.

Today has felt like summer with the temperature going up to a balmy 20C. There was some wind too which made it a good drying day for the two machine loads I put out on the line.

It was still dark when I woke but my back was too painful for me to remain in bed. Moving around, opening curtains, preparing breakfast etc generally helps to ease my back. Today I needed a couple of strong pain killers as well. I'm pretty sure it was heaving bags of compost into the car that did the damage. Even though I only half filled the bags they were still heavy, I should have known better.

And now to add to my aching back I've got the start of a sore throat. I only hope I haven't caught Peter's recent cold. 

 

Once everything was done including putting the recycling and the rubbish out for the bin men, I settled down to watch the world from the terrace. Out at sea the Genesis was putting out/ taking in? lobster pots while in the garden most of the birds have paired up. It's that time of year. 

With the sun shinning of course I found myself plenty to do outside.

My first job was to give the garden tables and chairs a couple of generous coats of teak oil which I do each year to keep the wood from drying out in the sea air.

Next I took off all the dead hydrangea heads. Now the bushes are no longer wearing their puffy brown winter coats but are looking smart in their fresh green spring outfits. I resisted dead heading or cutting back anything else just in case we have a cold spell. 

I have brought some of the plants (not the succulents) out of the porch and put them back on the terrace. They didn't do too well in the porch as I was so concerned about over watering that I may have let them get too dry. I will try and make a cold frame for next year instead.

In between all the gardening I took my breaks sitting out in the sun and for the last spell before doing the ironing I even put on a pair of shorts. Time to start getting some colour on those legs.