Buzzing Mahonia

WEDNESDAY

It was a cold night with clear skies, and remarkably, I managed over seven hours of sleep. When I finally woke up, the heating was already on – unusual for me, as I’m typically up well before it come on.

For weeks, I’d been putting off some interior painting. Earlier in the year, we had a minor roof leak that left a small stain on the chimney breast. My excuse was that I needed to wait until it was completely dry before repainting.  The light was good this morning, so I decided it was finally time. 

I tackled the painting and touched up a chip on the ensuite door frame and also managed to haul a few things up into the loft.  I also adjusted one of the garden gates that had been slightly off-kilter. A quick adjustment to the hinges by about 5mm got the latch and posts perfectly aligned again and I  rounded out the morning with a bit of gardening.

At the back of the garden, the Mahonia is now in full flower after being well pruned earlier in the year. In the  mid-November sunshine, it was alive with dozens of bees – an unexpected sight this late in the season. 

By afternoon, the air had turned cold, and drizzle set in.

I'm pleased to have done these small tasks – jobs I’ve been meaning to do for ages but always put off – oddly satisfying, especially as the days grow short and winter is beginning to settle in..