I have spent a relaxing (if strenuous) afternoon attending to the garden with the fiancé. I mowed the lawn, whilst he weeded, then we changed roles as he cut the huge hedge which threatens to engulf the whole garden. That's privet for you.

The garden has changed, changed beyond belief, since we moved in. I love being able to go out into the garden and just dabble, not taking it too seriously. There is something magical about mud, birdsong and sweet peas.

The sweetcorn is now growing at an alarming pace, although no cobs yet. The peas are becoming ready for harvest, as are the blackberries in the hedge. The purple-sprouting broccoli has been ravaged by cabbage-white caterpillars, but as we're doing the whole-9-organic-yards, it is left to me to remove the blighters before they get too big. Who cares what the leaves look like? We only eat the 'flower' anyway :-)

There are two welcome additions to the garden. Firstly, Limax Maximus or the Spotted Leopard Slug (see picture below). Now, although everyone makes slugs public enemy #1, this one feeds soley on fungus and decaying plant matter and is doing wonderful things to our compost! The other is a field mouse, also taking up residence around the compost heap.



This coming week is going to be stressful. Mainly because my car has broken down (and been towed to a garage miles away!) and i have yet to find out what's the matter (suspect starter motor) and how much it's going to cost (eeep).

Now i'm off to get an early night before i have to ring the garage to see how my little baby (car) is doing, and finish what was started with the privet hedge.