The long grass

We are getting a gardener. It’s been a bit difficult finding one to come out but finally one turned up today. His name was Phil and he’s the boss. He’ll be sending two other guys out to start the garden clean up in two weeks. We are both delighted. I’m hoping these guys will be better than Chris was.

Mind you, that didn’t mean I couldn’t cut the grass. It’s gone a bit mad which is understandable given we’d been away for so long. Also the rain for the past week hasn’t helped. Whereas the sun over the last few days helped a lot.

Here is how it looked before I started:

Just a bit bushy

It was a hot old job (the temperature was rather high under the blazing sun) and I had to empty quite a few catchers full of grass clippings into the compost but, eventually, it was looking a little more presentable:

Phew!

For the last ten days (or so) I’ve been on antibiotics. This has meant I’ve not had an alcoholic drink for the last ten days (or so). Of course, a man works up a pretty big thirst cutting the grass. Particularly when it’s thicker than a suicide bomber. Water just doesn’t cut it beyond a mild slaking during the deed.

In the fridge was a bottle of Peroni. It was saving itself for just such a moment. It was possibly one of the best beers I’ve ever had. It went down like a dream…only better because I remembered it.

Egged on by my success, I then decided to high pressure spray the outside of the ceiling lantern. And what a difference it made. We’d forgotten that you were supposed to be able to see through the glass. Now it’s dazzling once more.

The rest of the day was spent prepping for tomorrow’s lunch: a Japanese banquet with Sophie and Tom.

In case anyone thinks the second photo above is actually our patch of grass…here’s the real finished product:

Ah, better