It’s been a while since I’ve been able to say this but I slept quite well.

I went out at eight to continue moving the compost around before the sun rose very far; before the threatened 39 degree heat started to build. I emptied the compost bin in the secret garden and spread it in what we’ve called The Pit – the vast area from which the rioting bamboo had been removed.

My neighbour Fred the Healer joined me at half past eight (not the eight promised) and we then moved the compost from the bin behind his house to the bin in the Secret Garden. Now that is all roughly in the right place I just have to tidy up the bits of wood and things that we left behind. It will be ready for all the chipped wood that the tree surgeons will deposit there in September.

Tomorrow, Fred is coming back at eight o’clock (allegedly) and we’ll continue to move the compost from the mounds beneath the tall trees at the top of the garden and spread that out in The Pit. There will also be rocks to move. I think Fred understands the mission. It’s looking quite promising.

My mission for the rest of the day is to stay out of the 39 degrees heat and to think.