First of all, apologies for missing last week’s blog and many thanks for all your kind messages. As you can see from the picture, I have been quite incapacitated especially as I am left handed. It was one of those freak accidents where a heavy cupboard door that is supposed to be soft-closing slammed shut on the top joints of three fingers. The local hospital has a very efficient minor injuries unit and my hand was x-rayed and strapped up in about an hour and a half. The doctor assured me nothing was actually broken but it was a severe crush injury. This is, apparently, “almost broken”, hence the splint and strapping. I am on the mend now and can do a bit of “hunt and peck” typing so here is the latest update from our rural idyll.

Last month ended with a visit from my sister and nephew who flew in for the weekend. It was lovely to see them and spend some family time together. On the Saturday we went to Birr Castle, a treasure trove of artifacts with very lovely grounds. There are some amazing wood carvings, the tallest tree house in Ireland, St Brendan’s holy well and a giant telescope that uncovered many of the mysteries of the universe. The Victorian gardens are a fascinating mix of trees, flowers, streams and wild areas and we didn’t have time to see it all, let alone visit the science museum. A very happy weekend was had with good company and Jacqui’s wonderful food.

You won’t be surprised to hear it is hot at the moment – almost 30 degrees hot by the late afternoon. This has only encouraged my nemesis the bindweed to attempt a total takeover of the wood. The man who planted the tiny trees in the spring didn’t grade the land and put the trees in some very odd places. Whilst he cleared a small area around them he left all the surrounding growth and within a few weeks it was almost impossible to locate them. As he also left the old stumps and all the rocks it was also almost impossible to even reach them without tripping or turning an ankle.

There was one very special little tree, a Dutch red cobnut, we had nursed through the winter along with a Turkish cobnut for pollination. Jacqui christened them “Rosie and the Turk” but they vanished in the wild wood area, overgrown and, we feared, killed by the weeds. Despite my fingers I ventured into the wild wood and looked for them, clipping and stripping great mounds of bindweed and cursing the nettles and thistles. I’d almost given up when I uncovered the Turk, bowed over by weeds but still alive. Then, several very hot and sweaty days later, I found Rosie. She is very small and decidedly battered but after careful clearing and watering looks a bit better. I’m going out each evening to push the bindweed back and water them both along with the other small trees we can see. We are determined to save her!

I don’t know if it is a product of the heat but we have had a minor bat invasion these last few weeks. I’m not scared of bats but getting up in the night and having a frantic bat fly at you is a little unsettling. Seven got in somehow, though only one a day. Maybe it was the same bat returning each evening – it’s not like they wear little jumpers with their name on. Each time we caught them in a soft cloth whilst wearing motorcycle gauntlets and put them out into the “bat box” until it was dusk when they flew away. This is a fruit box filled with twigs with another over the top is they go out in daylight. This also keeps predators off as well as curious little dogs. At dusk we lift the top tray off and have seen them fly away. Possibly keeping the lights on helps to deter them as well as being very careful to close all doors. It’s a bit like operating airlocks on a spaceship but I am relieved to report we are now four nights bat free. Jacqui suggested I include these pedantic little hints is case any of you have similar problems with bats.

Well, I’m getting a bit stiff and sore now but can’t finish without a shout out to Jacqui and her vegetable garden. Despite being on crutches, in the hottest days of the year, she has planted out all the beans, peas, salad crops and even a sweet pea trellis. We do have some problems with something munching through our leafy vegetables and are experimenting with old cucumber in aluminium containers. Apparently the flies and other pests hate the smell this combination gives off. Humans can’t smell it at all. I noticed she has set the stone Tibetan lions around the pots so maybe they with ward off predators too. Maybe not but they look quite impressive.

I hear this heatwave is likely to last until the end of the week so we will be doing as little as possible outside in the hot parts of the day. Stay cool and safe everyone and thank you for reading.

Jennie.