Lighter evenings

Welcome BST (British Summer Time) - the clocks went forward an hour in the early hours of this morning and we are now enjoying lighter evenings for longer.  The days of pulling the curtains at 4 o'clock to shut out the dark are just a fading memory!

Friday was warm and sunny and N spent the day working in the garden in shirt-sleeves.  Since then, however, we've been almost marooned indoors over the weekend, looking out at wet, wild and windy weather.  This morning the wind was really whipping the trees into a frenzy and whistling round the house in a way we've not experienced since moving here.  Hopefully things will calm down a little by tomorrow.

So, what's been happening?  We continue to make progress in the garden, stripping turf for another bed and trips to the tip to make contributions to the municipal compost heap.  More transplanting of seedlings, and we now have chilli seeds germinating in the airing cupboard (the central heating pipes there provide just sufficient heat to assist in germination). 

A spare moment?  I'll just alter some curtains, shall I?!

More sewing for me, and more curtains but this time I am actually being paid for the alterations - yay!  And I have to say they have been a joy to alter; it makes all the difference working with quality fabric (a linen/cotton blend).  I have had to commandeer the lounge floor on several occasions, to spread the curtains out flat, and I found myself yearning for a large table to avoid all the kneeling - there were a few creaking joints to be heard (that would be my knees, not the floorboards;-).  However, they are finished now and awaiting collection.  

I've got a couple of mending jobs out of the way today - a velcro fastening stitched back on, and a pocket in a pair of N's jeans.

I wonder how many pennies fell through this hole?

The pocket lining wasn't just thin, it was worn completely away (I'm always nagging him for carrying too much in his pockets!) so I cut the worn bit off and fashioned a new one using a bit of second-hand sheeting.  No-one will see it's a different colour and the jeans are now perfectly servicable for a long time to come.  The ability to 'make do and mend' has saved us so much over the years.

Almost at the end of March - another month that seems to have whizzed by.  But there's the promise of lighter days and, dare we hope, warmer weather.  It's just as well as there is a lot to do outside - gardening and outdoor maintenance.  It keeps us busy, fit and saves us money.  Sounds good to me.