I was once told by an old guy in my last village to put Epsom salts on a rose that I had transplanted, and which was a bit sickly.

As the wind appears to be dropping, and I shouldn't get blown to bits, I think I may go de-clutter the front flowerbed this morning. The box hedge I put in will have to come out, as it has been totally windblasted and windburned. Looks awful now. Also, the masses of little in-situ bulbs that came up (don't know what they are) have stayed "blind", so they are coming out. At the moment they make it look like long grass is taking over! There are also a lot of celandines. Very pretty, but the style of house does not lend itself to au-naturel planting at the front (the back's another matter!) I have 4 Aquelegias to put in, and some annual seeds for either there, or the back.

The poor house is getting ignored at the moment! I need to finish my rag jacket for next week too, so at the moment there's still fabric everywhere.

The builder and the quarryman turned up yesterday afternoon, so I should have the second costing in soon, and then I can finally make a decision about starting the rebuild of the kitchen/bathroom.
I REALLY must contact the archaeologists today....

Andrea