October 15th 2002
Apologies for the late update this month. We have just returned from a two week holiday in Southern Spain, walking in the mountains and visiting some of the many white villages.
We left Spain basking in 28c, and flew into Bournemouth International Airport, where it was pouring with rain and blowing a gale, temperature 11c. It was a bumpy landing, with the fire engines waiting at the side of the runway, just in case. After landing the pilot announced over the intercom, that he hoped we enjoyed the landing as much as they had !!!.
On arrival back home the garden was quite different to what we had left, long wet grass, leaves everywhere and plants blown about, hanging sadly down, it was still raining hard and we were tired from the journey, so the garden would have to wait.
The following day was much better, Lyn had to go to work, but I didn't, so most of the day was spent tidying up, and starting to bring in some of the plants. Today has been even worse, with 60mph winds and more rain, I had to hurriedly run into the garden and chop the tallest banana down, so I could put it into the greenhouse, as it was being broken apart by the wind. Autumn has arrived.
Typical Spanish Front door Gardens.
October 19th 2002
Our first frost of the winter last night minus
3.1c, Damaged the leaves of cannas, buzy lizzies, and dahlia Bishop of Llandaff.
So today we have been cutting back the cannas and other tender plants and
putting them in the greenhouse, in which I have now put up the insulation and
installed the thermostat and heater. Last year it was nearly christmas before we
had a temperature as low as that, at night.