Out of kilter

 Even the plants don't know what season it is.         

  Primroses the 1st February, at least a month early.

Roses out on the first of January.

 At least the Mahonia has got it more or less right.

As have the snowdrops.

Out and about, four years on.

 Time goes so fast the older you get but we still keep doing the same things, I guess we are just too old to change.

We go to the coast as often as possible, sometimes just to see the waves,  also to collect the most valuable compost, seaweed.

 We keep finding new ruins or rather old ruins,
and interesting grave yards.

 Some dating back over a thousand years.

 The last month we have come under attack from a mink, he slaughtered all of our laying hens plus two ducks, injuring another four. They have survived and are now recovering. The mink had to go so we bought a trap, he was caught on the second night and dispatched. We have now replaced some of the hens, this time with blackrocks, very handsome birds, hopefully they will be in lay in the next week or so as it comes hard paying seven euros a dozen for eggs.

The garden is now waking up, rather early, just hoping we don't get any bad weather. Snow drops and Hellebores  are in flower,  the rhubarb is nearly ready for the first picking. Garlic and broad beans are growing well in the tunnel, and the first of the mangetout peas planted into seed trays also tomato seed has been planted, I hope we haven't started things too early.