Better weather again today so time spent mainly in planting the bundle that Hermes valiantly delivered yesterday. Also inspected the boxes of planted seeds. The radishes are roaring on chased after a slow start by the beetroot. Peas bringing up the rear.

In general the public locally have been pretty good about observing the restrictions and in particular about social distancing. However as the heading says every village has one and as the further saying goes if there isn’t one somebody appoints themselves. Today I came across our example. On one side of the grounds here there is a quite steep slope leading up to the lane. The ground being quite damp after the rain yesterday I took the opportunity to, with some difficulty, ascend the north face and plant several saplings to fill a gap in the hedge at the top alongside the lane. Having planted them and descended I decided that they needed a good watering. The thought of clambering back up the north face with a full watering can seemed somewhat unattractive so I decided to take the long route and water them from the lane.

So filling the can I walked out of the front gate intending to turn down the lane but walking slowly as I had seen a family who live quite near set off down the lane a short while before – parents and two children who were obviously going for their “compulsory fun walk”. Giving, as I thought the family plenty of time I turned into the lane to find the family standing in a loose group right by the newly planted saplings. In the middle of the lane there was a woman standing talking to, or more accurately at, the family who seemed to be edging on down the lane if they could break off the conversation which was mainly one way. Had I wanted to walk past I would have had to walk very close to either this woman or one of the family and obviously could not get near the saplings I wanted to water. I therefore stopped about 20 yards short and waited. Seeing me the family tried to edge a little way down the road but this other woman, who had also seen me shuffled after them continuing to talk at them. Finally the mother pointed at me and the family walked on. This other woman, who was wearing a pair of ridiculous reflective sun glasses then walked past me scowling and said in an injured tone “Oh did you want to go on down the lane?” No idiot, I like standing holding a watering can. I have now met out village idiot.

Whilst we are talking of idiots one or two readers seem to think I have been a little harsh on the Gruesome Twosome. I prefer the other view as expressed by another reader “They are a stain on society”. Take your pick.

Following my hard labours and lane manoeuvres, it still being nicely warm I felt a 5 o’clock white wine was called for. In the interests of identifying a drinkable but inexpensive wine I tried a Fairbank Sauvignon Blanc 2019 from Western Cape. Fairly pleasant but without much character I am afraid. But then I suppose it depends on what you compare it with. If you ever suffered with that ghastly concoction the French used to send over called Piat D’Or you would find this pure nectar. The French adore Piat D’Or I remember the advertisement used to go. Yes they adored it so much that they sent it all over here! It was useless even as a drain cleaner.

After that experiment, for a nice glass of red wine later in the evening I went to the superior end of the wine cellar and selected a 2018 Hacienda de Lluna Cabernet Sauvignon. This is to be recommended if you can find it. Full bodied with plenty of taste that lingered in the palate.