What a miserable week it was. Not wet, not cold, just drab, dreary. If it’s not going to rain, a little bit of brightness would be nice, just to lift the spirits. Actually, this morning has been pleasantly bright, so the Nellie walk was very nice. This afternoon it’s forecast to rain, but as I begin writing this it doesn’t look much like it, though it is very badly needed.

I have been observing water courses with interest in the past week, and I have noted that streams that always have water in them are bone dry, or at best have a few stagnant muddy puddles in them. The brook that runs through the Moyns Park Estate, and which is a tributary of the river Colne, has no water in it, and that’s the first time I have seen that since I have been there. The water levels in the moat and ponds near the ‘big house’ are low, and are still falling. It’s quite remarkable really, given that we are well into autumn. It must be quite difficult for a lot of birds and animals, I imagine that many of them are having to make much longer journeys than usual to find a watering hole. I have a large tray in the garden that I keep filled, mostly for the birds, but with a brick inside and out to provide access for smaller 4 legged visitors. I expect that the weather will soon change dramatically and I will be droning on about how wet it is, but maybe not.

Today sunrise was at 07.30 and it will set at 17.54. This time next week after the clocks have gone back, sunrise will be at 06.41 and will set at 16.41….that’s 19 minutes to ruddy 5! That’s pretty miserable, and I don’t like it.

I am nursing my back. I tweaked it picking apples during the week. Contorting oneself around boughs with a heavy picking bucket strapped to you whilst up a ladder is probably just about okay if you are lithe young thing, but when you are an inflexible creaking old goat something is gonna give. I am just grateful that I almost got to the end of the picking season before it gave out. Touch wood and whistle it has been a long time since I last had any bother, so I suppose I should count myself lucky. However, tomorrow I have to load 30 heavy crates of fruit into my van, drive them to the orchard, unload them, then load the latest batch of bottled juice into the van, then take them out again at Moyns Park and stack them in the shed. I will be wearing my neoprene support belt, and will be lifting correctly with a straight back and bent knees. Wish me luck.

Stop press! It’s raining

I have just got back from a visit to the Fry Art Gallery to view an exhibition of Richard Bawden’s work before it closes next weekend. Richard was the son of renowned artist Edward Bawden and grew up in Great Bardfield (like me) and was just a few years younger than my father. His artistic style followed that of Edward’s, using many of the same devices in his work, such as regularly featuring cats in his pictures, sometimes as the main subject, but often hidden somewhere in the undergrowth. We visited his studio in Hadleigh many years ago where we purchased some prints, and I also bought a much larger piece from an exhibition at the Gainsborough Gallery in Sudbury in the mid 90’s. Featured in the display at the Fry are some of his coastal pieces, many featuring Aldburgh and Southwold, which I was less familiar with. Just as interesting as the finished artworks are the sketch books on display which I find fascinating. In some cases a few strokes of a pencil create a loose and fluid depiction of a subject that is instantly recognisable and full of character. Sometimes less is more than enough.

Last week I planted half of the polytunnel with spring greens. If the wet weather predicted for tomorrow materialises I will try to clear the other half and prepare the soil for Pak Choi, spinach and kale plants. I also need to get on with stripping spent crops out of the greenhouse beds. I have done little cultivation outside yet, because the ground is too hard. It’s been a funny old year.

In the shop this week we have orange cauliflowers….well sort of orange. There are also savoy cabbages, broccoli and red cabbage. There is celery, and I am going to lift the first of the celeriac. They are not as big as I was hoping for, but they are not going to bulk up much more at this point of the growing season. I will keep some tops on them if they are up to it, because I know that they can be used in stocks and soups. Carrots, beetroot, parsnips, onions, spuds, squash and leeks make up the bulk of what else is on offer, plus of course mushrooms and mini plum tomatoes. There are still cooking apples, and the eaters this week are fairly small very green ones with a nice fresh flavour. There are also cooking pears and quince. Oh, and there are oranges. only a limited quantity because I want to see what they are like before going large as it’s very early in the European citrus season. I will make some parsley pesto this week. There will be ‘medium’ apple juice, less sweet than the Discovery juice.

Right, I reckon that’s enough from me. Surely I’ve got better things to do with my time? Actually yes, a crossword puzzle. So, 4 across, TTFN….2,2,3,3.

Phil