Today I cut round the stepping stones in the lawn. As I’ve mentioned before a back breaking job that I do several times a year with the aid of an old bread knife. It’s a job that plays havoc with your hands and is one of only a few where I always wear my gardening gloves.

I must have honed my technique over the years because I can now do the whole lot in about an hour and a half. Peter actually said he was impressed with thenumber I’d done in the hour before lunch, and believe me that doesn’t happen very often.

What I should do now is lift them all and relay them as they are gradually sinking into the lawn. I was quite horrified when I had finished cutting round them and I could see how deep they were.

If they go any deeper you’ll need a step ladder to get out of them. (Slight exaggeration, but you get the picture.) Having said that I can’t see me doing them in the near future, as I don’t have the time, energy or inclination. I did them about 4 or 5 years ago and it really is a big job, so you want to be in the mood.

After the stepping stones I needed something easier to do, so I pricked out 126 hardy perenial seedlings! I think I might have gone a bit mad, but I suppose in a big garden they’ll soon get used up. Assuming they all live of course.