I managed to put my back out again, when moving boxes at the Fair last weekend (well, probably moving them when I was in the Junk Room on Saturday, sorting out what to take to Sunday's fair. I have had to take Ibuprofen, which I try to avoid because it can have an impact on my asthma, but the inflammation and pain deemed it necessary.
Then yesterday morning I woke up with Sciatica and had to go for a walk to try and walk it off. As the pollen levels are starting to rise, I haven't been walking as it means breathing more deeply, especially climbing up our steep hill. I have been gardening though. I went down by the river and it did help to stretch my legs. Not sure if I dare do it today as pollen levels have gone up a notch and are High now. Stupidly yesterday evening I decided to put the big pile of spent Geum (and non-flowering grass stems) I had cut from the border and left in a huge pile on the lawn, into the wheelbarrow. I think it had a lot of pollen on it from the atmosphere, and I was quite poorly last night. The Air Purifier helps though and I have had to reach for the Actifed again - just half a tablet when I really need it, but it does the trick. It is this time of the year when the spectre of more Steroids looms - let's hope I can avoid them this year.
I can't identify this grass (I'm still checking my Wild Grasses book and online) but here it is again with a Ladybird!
Hurtling over the rocks, the water generates so much energy and I love to watch the spume that's thrown up.
Peaceful sidewaters . . .
Above and below: I think this is Hemlock Water Dropwort, growing in the wet ditch at the edge of the lane.
Common Vetch (also known as Poor Man's Peas, apparently).
Looking up the river . . .
The agent is coming on Saturday to take photos, so we need to tidy up part of the yard in front of the barn.
We have been trying to get hold of local companies to a) help with gardening - mowing the side lawn which used to be the paddock, and doing some strimming for us, and b) clean the guttering inside and out. You would think they didn't want the work. Getting a guttering man out here is not easy . . . Hopefully the one we've just spoken to will turn up to give a quote next Tuesday - the one who for two weeks running was going to come out, never turned up. You would think they wanted the work - or at any rate, the money!
