Bodgery

Two of Kerry’s planters are rotting away - on the side that’s shared with her neighbours. We start by emptying them out, shovelling spill into empty ton bags. Under the soil is a good foot of red gravel ballast, that also needs to be partially removed.

Off to B&Q for timber. The decking section has what we need, pricey though it is. And then it’s time to reassemble. What’s left is solid, if a bit higgledy piggledy.

We’re booked into Hunters Stables in St Boswells for tea. A taxi back is booked, and they plan is to take the bus to get there. But it doesn’t turn up. Instead we get Kerry’s car and give the other person waiting on the missing bus to Newtown.

The meal is great. A shared parmigiani for starters, a creamy pizza for Kerry, and burrata ravioli with pistachio pesto for me. Kerry takes a sweetish gin based cocktail for afters, while I opt for a shot of northern Italian grappa - which was wonderful.