This week

23 November 2007

* I made compost. I’d already raked up half a sack of leaves – an effort which in the days following caused me to empathise with the elderly as I bent down to pull on my shoes and wondered if I would make it all the way. Aside from the patch of garlic, there’s nothing going on in my vegetable patch over winter, so I thought I’d set up a temporary compost bin. We got rid of the old compost bin to give me more ground, so there wasn’t much point in me constructing anything more permanent. I used four canes to stake a black sack to ground and form a frame to keep the sack open. Aside from the leaves I also had a bag of used coffee grounds – a requested birthday present from Suzy as it’s a good source of nitrogen. And it smells good, of course. Also added to the mix of compostable was a pile of rejects from Mum’s kitchen cupboard. Dusty old cinnamon sticks, herbs and spices well beyond their best. Fennel seeds with an expiry date of December 1994, anyone? Of course I might end up with a patch full of fennel and cumin next year, but it’s unlikely. Right? See the photos of my composting genius here.

* I bought a new scarf and gloves for my trip to Salzburg. They are green and lovely and feel softer than a baby’s freshly-powdered bottom. There was also a hat in the set, but it’s ridiculously small. Maybe I’ll just carry it around with me and snuggle with it occasionally. I’ve been watching the weather forecast for Salzburg for, oh I don’t know, five weeks now and there is currently talk of snow for Sunday-Tuesday. Proper snow – 12cm of the stuff for me to stare at.

* I’ve nearly finished the jumper I’m knitting. I’m aiming to have it done before Sunday and have just the neckband and a bit of sewing-up to do. I simply made the biggest size given on the pattern. The body looks like it might fit me, but of course it’s got silly ape arms on it that would be too long for me. It’s intended as a something I’ll stow away until there’s a child in the family whom it would fit. At which point, I’ll unpack the jumper and say, “Hey, look what I made when I was 26. This is for you.” And with that I’ll be the centre of attention again, which is how it should be. Not some stupid kid.