Our new vegetable garden is now ready for planting. It's so large that the far end is over 100 yards from the nearest source of water, and more than six feet higher. We need to find a reliable and sustainable solution for irrigating the entire plot which doesn't involve carrying watering cans up and down the slope. An underground brick built tank, that used to be part of the Orchard House, becomes key. If we could redirect the rain water from the back sheds into the tank, then dig a trench up the length of the main pathway, lay a new pipeline, add a few stand pipes and taps, submerge an electric pump into the tank and then cover it all up again,,, that should do the trick.

A long bitter winter, short dark days and relentless log cutting, leaves us barely enough time to make a snow man. Fortunately, Roy concentrates on more important things. With the ever popular 'Rose Garden' in his focus, much of the ground works are now complete and the shape is 'taking shape'.

Moreover, the centre piece is now finally in place, but that's for a story to follow. It's time to get started on the new vegetable beds.

And so begins another new year. We contemplate our plan of attack as the first few snow flakes start to fall. A while later, we contemplate our plan of retreat.