Progress Report

So what's been happening? The four builders we have asked to tender have until Monday next week to come up with their price. So, it won't be too long before we finally decide which one will be OUR builder. In the meantime, the chapel itself remains as it was. However, it's all go with the garden as can be seen from the picture below. It all looks a little scary in its openness, although it must be said that most of the trees that have been slaughtered are either old or the dreaded leylandii - and yes, we have got planning permission. And we will replant hedges and trees where necessary and we will do it with an eye to the environment. I can't help thinking, though, that the secret garden I fell in love with has gone forever. But sense tells me that things have to get worse before they get better. I have to report, sadly, the new hawthorn plants that were planted along our boundary with the lane, which were beginning to grow, suffered a bit of a set back last week when a flock of over 250 sheep were herded down the lane. Apparently, newly sprouting hawthorn hedges are an ovine gourmet speciality. Now they tell us. We had been told that the hedge would be back to its former beauty in five years. Change that to six years, give or take another greedy flock or twenty. Who said living in the country was stress-free?