I am such a lucky person to be able to work outside and enjoy the sunny winter weather rather than those of you who are stuck in offices or shops. The last two days have been so beautiful that at times I’ve just had to stop and absorb it. But as well as being full of appreciation I have done some work. The miscanthus sacchariflorus grows very well for us but needs reducing from time to time. Its a nice warm job digging up some of the dense, thick roots with our very robust garden fork.

I’ve also been pruning the shrub roses which is always done rather tentatively because the books say they don’t need pruning but they have become rather large over the years and quite tangled so need something doing to them. If anyone has any words of wisdom about this I’d be very interested to know if I’m doing the right thing. They always flower well so I must be doing something right.

One of my favourite things to do in the winter is to have a bonfire. Our mound of burnable stuff was getting bigger and bigger so today was the day for getting rid of it. I was never a girl guide but I do seem to have a knack for getting a good fire going, its all quite satisfying and pleasing not to mention warming to burn all the garden waste that can’t be composted.