It has been quite a long time since I spent the afternoon engaged in outside man's work. The last house we owned that had a garden was sold 6 years ago along with most of the garden tools and equipment that I used to own.

So it was a bit of a shock to be working in the garden of our new house, but to be honest, a welcome change from ironing sheets and cleaning rooms, which was my morning activity today.

Yesterday I had worked out why so much water was pouring into the basement when it rained - it was less to do with the water running down the road and all about the blocked drainage channels in the courtyard that should have been taking the water to the drain. Today's task was to clean out those channels so that the rain forecast for later this week will head off in the right direction.

The channel to the right of the house was totally blocked with soil, stones and roots - it has obviously not been cleaned out for a very long time. I filled 2 black bags with debris from the channels and gulleys and placed some terracotta tiles over the top to stop new debris falling into the channel. I can't stop the leaves falling and I will need to keep an eye on it but I hope it will alleviate the problem, at least in the short term.

I also gave the pool a good clean and checked all the filters and the equipment and all seems to be working fine which is a relief.

Whilst I was out in the garden I noticed a few tomatoes on the neglected vegetable patch that looked as if they might be ok. On closer inspection I was able to collect a good bagful of ripe healthy tomatoes and a few sprigs of basil from the herb bed - they had a amazing aroma and made the most wonderful tomato salad this evening to accompany my steak and potatoes.


I might not have planted them but they still represent the first crop from our new garden that has been turned into a dish for eating - may there be many many more but that will only happen when I get to grips with the vegetable patch and that isn't top of the list of jobs to be done.

As I was packing up to leave, two local girls came wandering up the road dressed in their halloween costumes. I have to admit they had made a good effort and very much looked the part. I told them so but had to explain that having not yet moved into the house there were no treats or sweets to be had this year from me - what a meanie!