Met Eireann, the Irish weather centre, is warning of “an arctic front” in the next few days. This will be centred on the north and west but may move south too. Now, we are somewhat ambiguous here as we are in the midlands, more south than north and both west and east by different reckoning. Either way it is getting colder so we are marching towards winter, with help. After the flurry of maintenance last month we are looking to consolidate the outside work. Winter brings cold and the inevitable rain but it does stop the damn undergrowth from growing which is a major plus!
Andy came back last week, finished the orchard work and moved on to the wood. In there we cannot use the mower as the ground is still very rough and there are hundreds – literally hundreds – of stones. He used the new brush cutter and leveled all the weeds and undergrowth, trimming carefully around our new trees. We have a lot of bark from the logs that we gathered into bags over the year and this is now spread around the tree bases providing warmth, protection and feeding the soil in the winter. He has also cut back a bit further, clearing the way to the dead ash saplings. Hopefully there will be some clear weather this winter so we can remove them and open up a bit more of the wood ready for planting in winter 25/26.
We have to take some trees out as they are diseased, especially the ash, storm damaged, especially the shallow-rooted poplars, or have self-seeded and are too close to thrive, mainly sycamore. We are aware the wood is not just for us however. It is home to a variety of life and has its own eco system. The aim is to balance the need to replant and grow a healthy, hopefully attractive, wood with providing shelter and habitat for our co-residents so are progressing slowly and carefully.
About a third of the land is – and will remain – untouched. About half will be the wood, surrounded by the newly cut path. This will be controlled by careful mowing and weeding, but not anything resembling a lawn. Rustic field is what we are aiming for. The rest will be half wild with some cutting of brambles, thistles and the dreaded bindweed. That’s the plan anyway. We couldn’t manage it without the help of people like Andy, Fergus our tree surgeon and Donal whose amazing planting skills have transformed the wood and the new orchard this year. Fergus came back with Martin and they chopped and stacked the wood cut last winter in the lean-to so now we are well set up for winter. He did a walk around and there are a couple of trees that are leaning a bit too far so he will be back in a month or so.
Overall it has been a bit of a long march to winter, this last month. The wasps are finally gone – well, 99% of them. We had to give in and call Rentokill and they did two separate treatments. I’m working on the remaining 1% using a bottle trap. Put a sweet fizzy drink in an empty water bottle, lay it on its side near the nest and the wasps fly in and drown, or at least can’t get out again. This was the theory and it worked wonders last year with coca-cola. This year I gladly sacrificed can of “strawberry cider” we got as an experiment. Even the wasps won’t touch it. It’s called “Sotma” which my dyslexic brain misread as “Stoma”. I think my name is closer to the truth.
The removal of the wasps cleared the way for the cable installation and we have new wifi and a landline at last. This involves a lot of setting up and reprogramming our different devices but we’re plodding though that now. We are very happy with the improvements but are all looking forward to a few quiet days, especially the dogs. They have been bred as watch dogs for thousands of years and the flow of different people has been hard for them – and for us as their bark is both loud and continuous!
There are still things to do. In a house like this there always will be but we are now slowing down a bit and pacing ourselves. There was an added complication as the car needed some work last week and suddenly developed a different fault on the drive home. The garage, Slatterys in Puckane, were marvelous, collecting the car early the next morning and getting it back before breakfast the following day. All our planning for shopping and banking went out of the window however with extra workmen and no transport for a few days.
We realized how vulnerable we are to a breakdown out here so are mulling over possible solutions. A second car could be too expensive, both to buy and run. We have the mopeds but neither of us can drive them at present. Jacqui mooted the idea of a quad bike – could be fun but I’m not sure about the legal position on public roads. And this could also be quite pricey. There is no public transport alas and very few taxis in the area since Covid. We shall have to think it over during the winter. We are now considering a motorcycle and sidecar.
Well, with all these goings on we have had little time for other pursuits. Jacqui is starting to look at her painting again which is wonderful – looking at it and the art itself. I’ve been thinking about the new book and will settle to it soon. Bring on winter and the snow – we are ready!
Thank you for reading, keep warm and safe and I hope to see you again in a couple of weeks.
Jennie.