Makeshift repair

A strong wind flattened my runner beans this afternoon. My carefully constructed bean frame with a crossbar, simply gave way, and some of the bamboo stakes snapped. When the wind had died down, I extracted some stronger stakes from the garden shed and began a repair. I incorporated the old hen run gate (itself a repurposed trellis) and pieces of twine. I’m not entirely confident that it will stand up to another strong wind.

I watered the beans to help them recover from their ordeal. They were looking limp – as are the lettuces in the greenhouse (also a makeshift structure), and the lettuces in the vertical garden which are attracting ants for some reason.

I suspect Mum is okay with a haphazard repair to her broken hip. She is ignoring the physiotherapist’s advice to exercise to get her circulation going and to improve her strength. My brother suggests I withhold her porridge until she’s done her exercises – porridge being her favourite thing. No wonder her siblings called her ‘The Biz’!

An imperfect note on which to end the year, perhaps, with more makeshift repairs to come – no doubt about it. Happy new year!