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Tadaaahh! We've finally finished the installation of Evie's new lawn and [would you credit it?] Evie hates it. Almost immediately after getting home tonight, Jilly took Evelyn outside to see her new Summer playground. Of course, Evie immediately asked, "Whassat?"...the liddle cudie. Unfortunately, when Jilly stood Evie on the grass she, almost immediately, started crying! What's all that about then, eh?

A big thank you to Andrew and Jim [especially Jim, you understand Andrew?] for all their hard work. There's gonna be a BBQ in it for ya!

AND...I forgot, a massive "thank you" to Jim for the Flickr Pro majigger...er...without which the photoset above would have been impossible. Many thanks, Jim.

As we'd returned early from our Lakeland trip, Jilly thought it daft to waste the time, so immediately drove me to continue removing the old garden, in readiness for what's rapidly becoming known as Evelyn's Lawn. Of course, I can't argue when Jilly refers to it like that!

Having now removed all but the smallest stones, I'm going to have to 'double dig' the garden [that is, soil, two spades deep, turned over...thank you, very much, Harris!] whilst replacing alot of the peebles and grit that we've already removed from the garden, in order to improve drainage...aaarrrgggghhhhh!

In the hope that we'd be able to set about creating the perfect lawn playing/sunbathing area for Evelyn/Jean - respectively - during the coming summer months, Jilly demanded that Kieran and I [with an initial - and quite literal - drag to our feet by Jim at Wassocks] began preparing the back garden for the installation of the new lawn when we come back from the lakes.

I believe, now, that Jilly understands that it is going to be a considerably bigger job than she could ever have imagined. Several trips to the council dump are definitely going to be in order...d'Oh!

I HATE gardening!

Another Sunday in Gingatopia and, in Kieran's absence, Jilly, Evelyn and I went to B&Q for a few gardening goodies. Having wrapped Evelyn up against the bitter cold [slight exaggeration!] in this lovely hooded top from The House of Imogen [thanks to James, Jenna and Imogen], we all fired off to B&Q to buy plants for Farmer Jilly to plant in the garden.

Typically, we came back with a load of pansies, or sweet-peas, or some such girly flowers; nothing cool like carrots or potatoes! In Jilly's defence, she did spend over an hour in back-breaking physical labour removing old and/or unwanted foliage from the garden to make space for her new plants, while I kept her supplied with tea. All that's missing now is the lawn that we plan to replace the pebble-beach with - nearer summer, next year - and we'll have a garden suitable for Evelyn and Kieran to throw themselves around in...and I might even be talked into a bit of a wrestle...if anyone's up for it (ahem!).

The more observant amongst you may have noticed that Jilly is wearing a very fetching gardener's smock combined with a pair of elegant green wellies...hoo-argh! Deb and Kev presented this extremely utilitarian garment to Jilly for her 36th birthday...and she loves it! I'm currently searching E-bay for a straw hat and pitch-folk for Jilly's Christmas pressie.