Waiting time.

This is a waiting time at the moment -

waiting for the seeds to get big enough to repot

waiting for the temperature to get warmer so the biggest plants can go out

waiting for my back to stop aching - if I walk for too long - and especially if it's been an uphill walk,  it hurts coming downhill.  I know it's been 2 weeks since I overdid it,  getting some extra vegetable beds ready and also cleaning out the pool,  but for that week's work - too much bending and stretching and digging - I've paid the price.  2 weeks now of gentle work,  walking only on the flat - and that's difficult round here but up to the fuente and back is ok,  not sitting for too long or I get stiff,  it's all happened before but not for a very long time.  Out has come the physio book for my back exercises  and an ibuprofen if really bad.

Still,  there are plenty of things to be doing around here,  cushions for the outside chairs need recovering,  peas and beans to be picked,  podded and either eaten or frozen,  reorganize the wardrobe for when summer comes again...

Today was market day in Cadiar,  one of the few times that we meet up with friends,  there are quite a few of us who don't go out or shopping very often so market day is more of a social gathering - time to stop and chat.  And share back pain chat,  a friend of ours has done the same as me,  the same sunny week as me,  so we had a moan together.

Also heard about the local tomato planting group - 3 guys from Yator who grow cherry tomatoes in bulk each year with a guaranteed sale to the wholesaler - they have planted 24,500 plants recently at a cost of 45 cents each - they should make about €30,000 from that  between them,  minus the €11,000 they paid for the plants.

So a big investment,  all in the ground - and then it snowed.   Time will tell what effect it's had on the plants,  hopefully none,  but it might have slowed down their growth.