BASKETTCASE

We've had rain! Proper, long, soaking rain. It must be terrible to live in a country where drought is a fact of everyday life. I've even had to water the veg, which I hardly ever do because I was always taught that it encourages the roots to grow up towards the moisture. The ground where the lawn and pond used to be, outside our kitchen window, was baked hard and had deep fissures.Hopefully we can now get on with creating the stream and finishing the patio.

Dave has his appointment with the spinal surgeon this morning. He will be able to tell him that since the injection in his neck by the radiologist he has had no pain that lasts more than the usual day when you have done something heavy. Yesterday he shovelled half the contents of a large compost maker into a cement mixer to break it up and mix with Levington's - a test of anyone's neck and shoulder I should think.

The greenhouse is now planted with tomatoes, just the cucumbers to go in. Dot has been growing two monsters in the bedroom, and I have one titchy little thing on my kitchen windowsill. We'll plant them in the greenhouse today and have a bit of a competition - they are all mini ones, as we were so pleased with those last year.

The watering system still works, so that's a relief as it has been connected up all through the winter, although not switched on. We have been looking at a rainwater harvesting system with a huge underround tank and connections to the washing machine, toilets and garden pipes. We are not on metred water, as our calculations told us that we would be using more than the £400-500 we pay on the rates. I suspect sooner or later we shall be forced to have a meter, and then I think we sha have to forego the greenhouse and hanging baskets.

Dave has just discovered that his appointment is 9.30 not 10.00, so I must stop rabbiting and clean my teeth. We are going to have a half day out in honour of his apointment. Garden centre I expect!