First gardening session for Mr S in Stretford on a day where a home Man United game at Old Trafford meant lots of traffic (thankfully I was running) 🏃‍♂️🌱

Due to various ill health, Mr S has been unable to tackle the garden that is spacious and still brings in a lot of birds and wildlife. Lots of brambles, grass, weeds, and overgrown hedges had taken over, with the front gate barely accessible.

With sturdy gloves, a decent rake, an electric chainsaw, and an old lawnmower, I made a serious dent in the overgrown area, revealing paving slabs and giving the entry gate a new lease of life (the postie will be happier now to gain access). Lots of brambles removed, long grasses chopped to size, and the broken fence pieces removed. It was 90-120 min of chop-pull-rake-repeat but it seemed to make a big difference.

The green bin took some of the garden waste but most of it was piled up to slowly breakdown and provide a start for another area of the garden to tackle next time.

Well hydrated and managed to miss the rain showers. Likely future missions to tackle other parts of the garden. Mr S was very thankful at the end.

Another productive gardening session to clear up the space for Mrs L. Despite the regular rain and hail showers coming through, it was just about dry enough to give the lawn a thorough mowing before hacking away at the weeds that had bloomed over the spring months.

With a good rake, broom, and handy manual garden tiller or cultivator, I managed to clear the fallen leaves and thoroughly dig over the beds to remove a whole network of roots and weeds to allow more intentional plants to start/continue growing.

As more hail was coming in, I managed to quickly finish and store the tools away before getting too damp. We had a quick chat about ongoing health issues and the future tasks of chopping some of the trees and hedges down at the back of the property.

Mrs B is a fiercely independent lady and despite numerous health setbacks, is resolute that she can get around on her own two feet. To help with that, I went along to put together a new 4-wheel (just number of wheels not 4-wheel drive...) mobility buggy.

With an old toolbox and sparse instructions, I set to work, ably refreshed with a fizzy vimto. First the wheels were attached, then the handles and brakes, then a seat and hidden bag to keep valuables, and finally a safety bar.

After tightening the screws and checking the handles for height, Mrs B seemed very pleased with it. I disposed of any packaging and cleared up as I went, leaving Mrs B to enjoy the rest of her Sunday.

NB. No photo of the finished product but of a park on the way home.

Much drier mission this time! Back to help Mrs L clear the front garden as we head into spring.

Ivy clearing, more leaf clearing, and weeding around the beds plus lots of turf removal. Handy tools with a hoe, rake, and garden broom supplementing a good supply of GoodGym elbow grease and sturdy gloves 💪

Managed to clear as much turf as possible, weeded around the fern and poppies, and cleared all the leaves and ivy (without wrecking the fence). Had a good chat about home cooked meals, lasagne, local hairdressers, and the dogs. Mrs L seemed bright and happier at the end of the task.

Great to see Mrs L again to help tidy up the garden. This time it was to weed and clear the excess grass, while removing the moss and the big collection of leaves that had accumulated over the winter.

With a patio knife, secateurs, and trowel from MCR LOT plus a good hoe, broom, and shovel, I made steady work, first clearing the ivy and weeds at the front fence, before diligently collecting leaves 🍃 from any areas of the front garden space. As the rain 🌧 continued to fall, I removed a lot of weeds from the trench beds and borders, while also scraping away any moss, careful not to remove any of the poppies.

Mrs L seemed very happy with the work, and hopefully it will cheer her up after a tough winter.

I volunteered again this afternoon at my local School Street with a fellow volunteer. It was busier than yesterday and a brighter afternoon . There was lots of chat and laughter as the children walked home with their families .