Hi,

What a morning so far; I've just knocked off at 9:45 wet with sweat and tired again. Early this morning I did the three supermarket shopping then back home after a mug of tea straight out and start moving heavy logs down to the driveway. The forecast is for heavy rain so I've got the logs down before the heavy rain arrives; it was raining as I worked but I'm pleased to have now cleared the cut logs; still more to do but they can wait until the rain passes by.

It's amazing just how heavy logs are when freshly felled full of moisture. I've been working flat out for days so I'd better quit and have a rest for the remainder of today; I can now  finish the job at my leisure shredding and lowering the stumps to ground level; I'm sure glad all this heavy work is now behind me and no more worry about the terrific  winds blowing these trees over in future.

I'm fighting my way to my violins; retired; what's retirement meant to be like?

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

I'm now practicing with the violins again but still doing lots of work around home.

Yesterday I strimmed the meadow in readiness for rotavating it and bought more wildflower seeds.

I've just spent ages polishing our Skoda Yeti so it now gleams once more; I intended to "Top" the very tall conifers but it was unsafe due to high wind again; tomorrow a brand new rotavator is due to arrive and if it does then I'll assemble it and next job rotavating then broadcasting new seeds. There's always a prevailing breeze coming up the valley but once it eases off then I can sort the conifers out. There's always something needing doing but I'm never bored and all the exercise keeps me fit.

I'm still attempting Lara's Theme and making progress but I've now reached "cov-ers the" which I don't as yet understand but I'll resolve once I can settle down a bit; I'm learning two lines of the song each time and can now play the first two lines; this is part of the second two lines; I hope to learn two lines at a time then join them up; it's very interesting indeed.

The new strings on my German violin appear to be settling in nicely because they now sound different and seldom screech or skid unless I'm simply getting better playing through practice.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Many thanks @SharonC  for your compliiment much appreciated. I'd never heard of Paul Bunyan so had to check online;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.....aul_Bunyan

I learn something new every day. I thought my job was a job for Superman but he wasn't available so I got stuck in.

Thanks Andrew; at the moment I plan to make just one violin but some of these trees I've just removed I'm sure would have yielded brilliant violin timber it being so dense but now at 74 I thought it not worth retaining some and air drying it out for the next twenty years.

The work however still goes on; first thing this morning I took eight full bags of sawdust; pine needles and other assorted debris to the tip this the only stuff I've had to dispose of which is pretty good going considering the number of trees involved; the area is now mostly clear but I'm about to wander up the garden with the strimmer; I've already started to turn the soil using a garden spade but it's just another round of hard grafting; I don't think I can rotavate up the steep slope riddled with tree roots but it's not going to stop me; I'll prepare the ground one way or another to accept the wildflower seeds.

I've rotavated the meadow too and yesterday broadcast the new wildflower seeds; I was feeling a bit lazy so decided to do a bit of work?

The trees now cleared and all debris removed; I'm now preparing the ground for the new wildflower seeds; the meadow seeds have an assortment of grass seeds added but for this new section I'm only using wildflower seeds without grass.

I've even squeezed in a violin practice which I enjoyed in spite of tingling hands from using the rotavator; I'm once again fully charged after dinner and feel like doing a bit more soil preperation; no time to sit around when there's work needs doing.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

The final episode of this tree/garden work; I've just knocked off having been busy doing some digging and removing roots to complete the middle section of the garden then I've been round with the strimmer tidying the grass edges which has pulled it all together; I've left some ground cover plants in these are lovely Cerastium (Snow in summer) once they flower.

I've also enjoyed half an hour's violin practice today so things are starting to improve; hopefully I can now spend time practicing with the violins; the time has been hard won.

Left hand side and middle of garden now clear of big trees; it should look a picture once the wildflowers are in bloom.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Many thanks @Mouse My first three days were the worst regarding pain but I worked through it and now having completed all the tree felling and rotavating I feel good; I'm about to wander up to the top garden hut and service the chainsaws and rotavator then I can store them until needed.

Thanks for asking @Mouse  because of my very limited violin practicing time I've played scales and just stuck with Twinkle twinkle little star plus some of Lara's theme which I'm familiar with but now the hard work is finished and hopefully my arms relax I can learn more of Lara's theme which is my dream to play so I'm slowly heading in the right direction.

You'll be pleased to resume cello playing again but possibly you're much like me in finding it difficult to get the tme. Good luck.

Here are a few pictures of what the garden looked like for interest. Earlier storm damage bringing down a section of an 80' tall conifer it hanging up in the oak tree above the garden hut stretching over our neighbours garden; as usual working on my own I cleared this in the usual bad weather conditions then felled the rest of this conifer once conditions improved.

The second picture is the middle garden area I've just felled the trees in and rotavated opening it up.

The third picture is another 80' tree I removed this was a beautiful specimin fir but it was too tall and dangerous being near the bungalow; I was pleased it landed just where wanted right up the garden and not onto our nearby bungalow roof; I'm pretty good with the chainsaw but living here I've had lots of practice.

The last picture shows the very top of the garden as it was with the huge 60' long hedge of mostly cherry laurel at around 30' tall. A massive job on my own and I even removed all the stumps too creating a stunning meadow of wildflowers. I'll post pictures of the meadow and new middle garden area once the flowers bloom.

It's strange not having a heavy job hanging over me; my fingers are stiff and my hands hard through all the work but they should relax soon allowing me to enjoy violin practicing; I hope so because I'm keen to learn the violin; my second "Strad" magazine has just arrived so I'm looking forward to reading it; most of the information/stories go straight over my head but no doubt as I keep reading something should sink in; I'm constantly learning in everything I do.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

WOW; three violin practices on Saturday; three violin practices yesterday and already one violin practice this morning; I'm about to head into the studio for another violin practice and hopefully a third this evening.

I'm making very slow progress but at least I'm now playing mostly for half hour sessions. My fingers are still stiff but I'm making noise without scratching or screeching.

I'm concentrating on Lara's Theme; I think I've become obssessed with this tune because it haunts me and I'll not be happy until I can play it reasonably well; I'm not in a hurry just enjoying myself in my own little world.

Lots of shrubs and plants are due to arrive shortly so my fingers will be stiff again; next will be grass cutting and weeding; it never lets up. I'd much rather be too busy than doing noithing.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Many thanks Emily @ELCBK  Four new batteries due to arrive shortly; It's a very good tuner but might need regular battery changes; I'll report back.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Many thanks once again Emily @ELCBK The new batteries arrived and yes a new battery has got the tuner back in tune but it still dies on me after playing for about five minutes which is more of a nuisance than a major issue.

I made a bit more progress playing Lara's Theme this morning spending an happy hour in the heated studio; I've just put the heat back on so am looking forward to another violin practice.

More plants arrived this morning but I'll wait until tomorrow before putting them in the garden; I don't fancy working in snow showers; tomorrow is forecast a bit better weather hopefully without snow.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Thanks Emily @ELCBK yes both my tuners turn off if not played for a short while just as you say to save battery life; this though turns off whilst I'm actually playing; it must think I'm not yet good enough to listen to.

Kind regards, Colin.