I am getting seriously worried about Little Basset’s phobia of water. It’s getting to the point of you can’t even take him to the water let alone see if he’ll drink. You should see him tip toe on the paving stones to avoid the wet grass. ... I still get nightmares if I think of triffids so I’m ever so careful checking what’s happening down in the kitchen garden in case something starts to stir where it shouldn’t. You never know what these beans might be in disguise. It’s the... Bassets can be the most stubborn dogs in the world. The most willful and uncooperative. Especially when it comes to being photogenic in the wonderful evening sun. Do you think I could entice them to play nicely in the sunshine? I did at least have a lovely... I may have the completion certificate for building our house but the end is still far away. Everywhere you turn there is something more needed to finish things off. But step by step we are working our way through the list. Like finishing touches to the gate... As if by magic things are growing in the kitchen garden. It’s been such a pleasure to be staking and tying up the tomatoes, building a brassica netting and spending time admiring how nature works. I just wished this fennel bulbs were a little more grown up... 