Rain, what rain?

Well, the promised rain - or at least the chance of some drizzle - never happened.  The most we got was a few drips yesterday morning and I think there might have been some late one evening too.  Can't remember  which day it was!  All I know is that we have planted about 500 broad bean seeds this week and then watered them in - they should provide the ground and composts with some really good nourishment in the spring.

Most of the leaves have dropped off the trees and been swept up ready to be layered in the compost and we have dried plants, twigs and such like to go through the chipper and into the compost as well.  The chipper has been very poorly recently, it wouldn't start so there was no point taking it up to the composts ready to work.  J  had to strip the engine down and try everything, clean spark plugs and other things that mean nothing to me.  Eventually it was found to be a problem with the fuel getting to the carburettor.  It all looked a bit complicated and oily and  there was lots of to-ing and fro-ing to the user manual.   The first 18 or so pages were health and safety do's and dont's - all he needed was the 'exploded'  picture of the engine and it's components.   But finally it started with a roar,  lots of dirty exhaust fumes poured out and then it settled down to it's usual chug chug sound.  So tomorrow it's up to the compost terrace with it to get that area shredded and tidied.

The road builders are still out there 'draining' and late this afternoon the grader came up and worked it's way back down.  Maybe this is the last re-grade before the concrete?!   We can see another machine parked just off the road below us, but can't see quite what it is.  I think it's a steam roller....time will tell.

And an added extra:  the sun has just gone down leaving behind some amazing streaks of colour.