Rainy Days & Wednesdays

Today it rained. Not just drizzle, but serious, wet rain!

Some of us gardeners still feel the need to brave the elements and do what can be done. Me, I'm my own boss now and can 'just say no!'

It does mean however, that if there is something that can move things forward whilst  involving a bit of Bach on the CD player and an endless supply of fresh coffee, then needs must and all that.

September, and the request from the accountant for the end of year accounts information he needs, to work out how much the tax man is going to milk us for this time. So, expenses first, and so empty the van glove compartment (I love that name! How many people keep gloves there anymore, especially in a van?), turn out draws, check filing cabinet, pockets, loft and bedside table, and pile in the middle of the kitchen table.

Arrange into monthly piles, date ordered, ready for entering into the spreadsheet onto the computer. I expect Dirt Digger of ONG fame on Blogger can appreciate this, but I am a spreadsheet fanatic. For the accountant all must be ordered, dated, categorized and above all legal, and so our lunch in Harrods can't be put down to a business lunch.....hmm...well.....no, not this time anyway!

The expenses 'work out' was just part of the preparation. There is also the income to account for and prove, unreceipted income and expenditure, stock held...and the list goes on. I might even get to prune the odd shrub one day!

The day also had to include among other things a trip to the mower shop, as even though I had wined and dined the mower the other day, she still decided to break a blade drive cable on me yesterday, right in the middle of a big lawn. As you can see from the picture, the rain was coming down as I made my way to the mower menders to pick up the spare cable.

And here it is, the centre of excellence for professional contracting gardening machinery, Ashington Garden Machinery.

A very unassuming place from the outside, but twinned with it's sister shop Longham Mowers a mile or so away, is able to provide every top specification piece of gardening hardware the professional might need. Repairs and service are top notch, and just as importantly, spare parts arrive the following day.......Pukkah!

As autumn is here, and leaves are turning brown and starting to fall, I thought that as I was here, it would be a good time to stick 'old bess' my trusted knapsack leaf blower in for a service, as the smaller hand held blowers won't really cope with the work to come. This old thing, an Echo blower,  has been with me for about 10 years (eight more than a contractor can usually expect), but is worth the effort as she just simply gives out a hurricane from that seductive spout of hers!

And of course, the day comes to an end. Totally unproductive in terms of gardening, but stuff done nonetheless. Poole is the evening destination, and more specifically the 'Rising Sun' gastro pub, for a glass of Merlot for Amanda, and a pint of Peroni for moi.

Goodnight all..................X