More than I expected

Today I unexpectedly got a lot more done than I expected. I didn't get up particularly early but managed to finish off a lot of admin work and actually managed to get my tax return finished. No mean feat when the encrypted web site was taking a minute or more to load each page – and there were lots of pages.

I did all that work in the office where the internet is better and when I got back to my room started clearing out some papers getting rid of a huge amount of stuff I didn't need. The picture is of my very much reduced in-tray which now has room for my vitamin tablets. In the last two days I have had a very swollen eyelid – blepheritis again that is worse than usual, probably irritated by the recent grass cutting. I usually manage to cure it by washing my eyes but as it is worse than usual this time I thought it wouldn't do any harm to boost my vitamin intake a bit.

This afternoon I did some sewing and although I have been very busy and done quite a lot I don't feel that I have been pushing myself too hard and I don't feel stressed.

First lettuce

Today we finished planting the first lettuce seedlings of this season. After all the problems I have had dealing with Pierre's lettuce project it was a bit of an anti climax. A lot is riding on these very small plants.

I'm still not sure about a lot of things in the project, but we are all talking about it so hopefully we will be able to iron out problems and Pierre will be able to produce what he hopes for.

Woody question

Pierre is having his roof changed from a thatched keet roof to a tiled one. The work is being done by the Housing Service who are using palmyra wood to make the framework for the tiles. They delivered the wood several days ago and left it exposed on the ground where it got very wet from the one good rain we have had recently.

This wood is supposed to be termite and rot proof, but within 48 hours it was covered in termites and it looks as if the wood is rotting. I am very concerned about it although in his usual breezy way Pierre seems to think it will be OK. I know that Palmyra wood is very strong but I also heard that it should not get wet.

So the job for today is to contact Manu who knows about this wood and see what he thinks. The last thing I want is for them to do all the work, only to find in a few years time that it all has to be done again because the wood has rotted.

A place to sit

Today I helped Rajan in the Vayubhoomi orchard and realised there is a lovely sitting place there.

This is the view you get when you sit on the stones.

It is lovely to see how the local fruit trees are managing in an area where there is extremely poor soil and little water retention. It is changing the energy completely.

Full moon

I have had unexpected time to myself today as some people did not turn up for an expected meeting (I got the wrong date) and as we are so well on with the work I decided not to do an extra afternoon work session. Which means that I could go at a slower pace and do a lot of extra little things that I haven't had time for in the last weeks. I am looking forward to getting back to sewing again.

As it is full moon I thought I would use one of Nitish's pictures which captures the majesty of this occasion. I have never managed to capture a picture of the full moon like this.

Something finished

Today we finished planting the forest trees in Jalabhoomi. Once again I found it very difficult indeed to create a picture that does justice the change that has come about because of all our tree planting. After some rain last night the trees we planted last time have all perked up quite a lot and being damp and grey it was ideal conditions for planting the rest of the forest trees.

Planting this bank seemed to make a huge change in how the place felt, so I have used that one. Although at this point the changes are more to do with how the place feels than how the place looks.

Photos

Nitish, a long term volunteer gave me a large file of all the pictures he has been taking in Buddha Garden. Some of them are very good indeed and I particularly like the ones he took of some of the wildlife here.

I like this spider. It reminds me of the time soon after Peter died when it felt as if a spider came and sewed up my broken heart.