JANUARY DIARY

            Hung double doors for new teaching room upstairs in new barn, fixed locks and door handles - always a long and tricky job especially as the doors had warped slightly and needed to be trimmed.

            Did major tree surgery on big beech tree on south side garden - at top of double ladder with a heavy chain saw.     Large branches blotting out sun from garden with consequent blight and mildew.     Also cut down ivy encrusted hawthorn and ash for same reason.

            Planted 2 packets of broad beans

            Planted packet of seed for calabrese, one packet of seed for basil and one packet of tomato seed all in greenhouse heated trays

            Lettuce overwintered in greenhouse is now ready to eat, new lettuce seeds have germinated and are nearly ready to prick out.

            Chickens now producing about 7 eggs each week

            Made bread with new recipe - less bran and more wholemeal flour

            Bottled 2 demijohns of bramble wine

            Continued joinery work with American oak for octagonal window for new teaching room

Garden has now been fully rotavated, weeded and compost spread and worked in.      About 2 dozen new willows have been planted.      All soft fruits have been pruned and weeded.      4 bundles of new cuttings have been set in place.     The lawns have been cut once and all the daffodils are in full flower.