Friday 9th October 2026 - Don't Like It, Dry Gardens, Splitting Conkers and Old Belfry School Consultation

I don’t like it, but there’s nothing I can do about it!  I’m referring to the predicted change, which did materialise, in the weather on Wednesday.  Before the change, we had a BBQ on Monday evening.  I’m pretty sure that will have been the last one for this season, but then you never know.  After several years use, our BBQ is getting a bit crotchety and shabby.  Taking advantage of the end of season sales; a couple of weeks ago, Peter purchased a new one online.  Needless to say, it arrived in pieces in a box - a fairly weighty one.  We haven’t opened it yet, instead Peter put the box in the outside store, until next spring, when I will read the instructions and find the relevant pieces while Peter takes on its construction.

The drop in evening temperatures has resulted in us forsaking the conservatory, in the evenings, where we’ve been eating dinner for the past few months.  Back now to laying the table in our dining area.  On the plus side, we can still have breakfast and lunch, while looking down and across our garden, at least for a few more weeks, until winter’s chill drives us inside – not a thought I’m relishing.

Andrew Sankey returned to give a talk at the Gardening Club on Tuesday.  Based on this summer’s drought, his chosen subject was, Dry Gardens.  There seems to be a lot of assumptions in the gardening world that lack of rain this summer is going to be the norm, in years to come.  We wait to see.  Anyway, his talk was very interesting, with the added plus, he provided listings of those plants he’s found suited to various parts of his garden, for members to take away.  I took the sheet covering dry shade, which covers the area under our apple tree and topped by the Portugal Laurel.

I’ve split some of the conkers, I brought into our conservatory and storm porch.  They had dried out and were so hard, I decided to use our nut cracker to open them.  I considered this to be the sensible option, rather than use a knife which might slip and cut my hand, resulting in a trip to the minor accident unit at Cromer Hospital!  The split ones are in the storm porch where I will be monitoring to see if they deter the spiders’ spinning webs.

Good news.  There are two new Trustees of The Belfry Foundation, villagers, Lucy Murphy and Tim Bennett.  They are working to try to save the old Belfry School building from being lost to the village.  With the cooperation of the (new) school they have produced a plan which, in order to comply with the requirements of the Charity Commissioners, has to be presented to the community.  If you are a villager and feel able, please take part in the consultation.  Details below, feature today, instead of a photo.