Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day have been and gone and we are still in the lock up. The garden camera shows this month’s weather has been very wet, with a lot of rain, stormy seas and high winds. And there has even been snow down on the beach on some cold days. But we now also get the odd day of bright sun and clear blue skies which will stimulate the plants to get going ready for our return. We haven’t been there since last autumn, six months ago, because of the virus, so there will be a lot to catch up on when we can travel, probably after Easter.

In the meantime, memories will have to do. From last October, we have the flourishing begonia pots and rosemary waterfalls lining the steps down to the front door, and over in the garden’s west end, there is a tapestry of different green foliage bathed in the afternoon’s soft light.

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And then there are the quiet evening walks along the seashore when the light is still good and it is not too chilly to be out. Memories include the last blast of the red hot pokers on the cliff edge and the parked canoes waiting for one more fine day.

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Best bit? It is sitting down on the old dock of the small bay in the early evening where local fishermen have been landing their catches since Tudor times when the water is high enough.

We change the clocks in four weeks so spring will be here soon and there will be much work to be done when we return. While we are waiting, there is a book to be written and Mandarin to be learnt. Oh and there is another round of Tunnock caramel bars to be eaten – a lovely lock up gift from one of my followers – thanks JEB for an inspired present.

Come back next time for news of the spring planting…..