Day 83 Sunday 14th June

Grow bags are the new toilet paper.

We have some tomato plants that need potting on. Over the years, I developed a very good system for growing tomato plants. However, it does require grow bags to make it work. The pots cut into the grow bags and the wire cane holders support the canes, Everything fits into a plastic tray to keep things neat and hold water.

Yesterday we tried B&Q, there were none available. Today, we went to Woodcote Green, again none in stock. “ Sorry sir, we might have a delivery Tuesday next week.” Amazon doesn’t have any available.

My conclusion; the part of the population that hasn’t taken up baking has started growing their own tomatoes instead.

Having failed to find any grow bags, we bought some plants instead. Then we took our sandwiches up to Farthing Downs.

After we had eaten our sandwiches, I did something I hadn’t done for a long time. I lay on my back in the long grass and watched the clouds drifting across the sky. It was slightly hypnotic and very relaxing.

We were very organized before we went out. There was a lasagne already assembled, all I had to do was stick it in the oven and have a gin while it cooked.

Day 84 Monday 15th June

I re-potted the tomato plants into larger pots and did the same for the peppers. Meanwhile, Diane was playing with the new pond cleaning kit she bought yesterday. It has two nets, a brush, and an extending handle. Our pond has never been cleaner.

Lockdown Haircut V3.0

Day 85 Tuesday 16th June

With the lockdown conditions over whom you can meet and where you can meet easing, Diane took a trip to deepest darkest Hampshire to see how Aimee, Thing 1 and Thing 2 (she is expecting twins very soon) were getting on. The idea was also to give Aimee a short break from ‘Tilda, who can be an over energetic three year old. I went to work.

Work was work, albeit a reasonably productive day. Aimee, ‘Tilda and the twins are all doing fine.

Day 86 Wednesday 17th June

Another day at work. I also went back to my house to check that it was still there and to cut the grass.

We visited the allotment for the first time in a few days. We have not needed to go up quite as often recently, because we have had a reasonable amount of rain in the past week or ten days, so we haven’t needed to water every day. Our raspberries were beginning to ripen the last time we were up. We were hoping that a few more would be ready to pick. We picked two ice cream tubs full — and one strawberry. Our strawberries have not been particularly successful, so far.

Day 87 Thursday 18th June

Breakfast was home-made granola (recipe here) and allotment raspberries, delicious.

I thought about going to the local McDonald’s drive through (as it is McDonald’s should that be spelt thru?) but when I saw the queue decided to get a sandwich from Sainsbury’s instead.

Diane is having second thoughts about our choice of wedding venue. She explains why in her latest blog post.