Now go, cat, go but don't you step on my blue spade shoes

Gina and I visited Kathleen and her husband who had lived in their bungalow for nearly 30 years. They have a lovely garden with fruit trees and colourful flowers, but their limited mobility and frailty prevent them from maintaining it themselves. We stepped in to make things better but had to watch where we stepped!

Before going through the house we were given blue shoe covers in anticipation of the dirty work ahead of us. Such a great and simple idea! I was already excited.

On first inspection the garden looked in good order but Kathleen quickly pointed out what needed to be done.

We first pulled up the weeds which dominated the low flowerbed and had the delight and fright of different creatures, sights and smells: big spiders, baby snails and fresh cat mess and old mess, too. We had to watch our every step!

We then trimmed back the tall trees which were blocking light. Kathleen had a few tools for us including saws, spades and blades. Alas the electric saw didn't have any juice so we went old-school and cut back the trees with shears and muscle. Shear muscle.

We worked for around an hour and a half and filled two big bags of green waste to the brim. Kathleen and her husband were delighted with how much we achieved and, as a sign of appreciation, we were treated to tea, cake and various anecdotes from yesteryear.

After a couple of cups of tea and slices of cake we took out the green waste, said goodbyes, disposed of our blue shoe covers and ran off to enjoy the rest of the sunny day.