Aren't these gorgeous? The usual plant stall was at Malvern Fleamarket last Sunday, and I fell in love with these beautiful bronze Rudbeckia (I think it's called "Toto"). I think I will put it in a tub as it stands a better chance of survival through the winter then.
Yesterday I got going down in the little patio garden that was mum's. The rambler rose, Banksia normalis, had gone mad, fallen off the wall, and all the biggest branches were growing outwards, so I have hacked it back HARD (a saw job) and have just a small portion of it going up the wall, but I need to get the ladder out and put some vine eyes in higher up to keep it out of the window. It's a beautiful rose, with a lovely scent, but a bit . . . enthusiastic in its growing habits!
I also took the saw to the lilac tree, which was shading everything out. We now have a very big bonfire at the bottom of the yard (getting very wet today, I might add). I shall rebuild the collapsing slate bed, top it up with compost, and plant up with bulbs for the spring.
Found! One of the roof sheets we had (buried) about the place. Unfortunately Keith managed to sprain his wrist as he turned this over, so the actual roof repair is on hold.
Finally, I treated myself to this new cast iron casserole (20cm size). When I make the no-knead 5 minute bread, I have been baking it in my oval Le Creuset casserole, but it is too big and the loaf turns out shallow. I was following some 2nd hand Le Creuset pans on Ebay, but they were going for around £35 including postage, and for £29.99 I could buy this one. This is made by Berndes. I read the reviews and it looks like it should do what I want as someone else had bought it to bake bread in. I shall report back.
