8th March
Pablo the rescue cat has made it very clear that he doesn’t approve of his new diet regime. He is indicating this to us by bringing in live mice every day and depositing them in the kitchen where they immediately run behind the boiler to take refuge. Spencer has spent a great deal of time with his torch trying to flush the things out, so that he can return them to the wild. Pablo has now obviously got fed up with this game, and when I returned from Tesco this week with the shopping, there was evidence of a poor mouse that hadn’t made it behind the boiler in time. Ah! The joys of owning a cat.
13th March
With Violet-Elizabeth away at Calshot Activity Centre with the Basingstoke Youth Wind Orchestra, and Marcus in the show itself, it fell on Spencer, myself and our friend Sheila to support Basingstoke Amateur Operatic Society’s production of Hello Dolly! at the Haymarket. Sipping a large G&T in the bar afterwards, we all agreed that it was another splendid event put on by a very talented group of local people. Next year’s show will be Calamity Jane, and I am thinking of auditioning myself.
15th March
With more than a hint of Spring in the air, I decided to sow my prize winning carrots. You will remember that I bought some special “mammoth” seed at Wisley (no less), and I fully anticipate that it will live up to its name. Since Jeff has given me the distinct impression that he is not looking to win the carrot class this year at the Village Show, I feel that, with a little effort, the honour might be all mine. Spencer had already been sent to Conkers to purchase some manure which they had been advertising all week on Kestrel Radio. After meeting Phillip Hatto at the Village Show last year, Kestrel is now my radio station of choice, (especially since Lord Terry has retired from Radio 2). Anyway, I mixed up my special growing medium and filled my deep containers to grow the long carrots in. I grow them in sections of black plastic drainpipes, which I stand in an old kitchen bin. In theory, this keeps them straight and makes them grow long (but not as long as Jeff’s). Ah well! This year I might be lucky.