Our Very Own Ground Force

The day after we returned from New York my sister text me to ask what our plans were for Saturday 7th May. 

She wouldn't tell me why she wanted to know but after a few days of texting back and forth she said she would be round on that Saturday morning somewhere between 10 and 11 and would I provide bacon sandwiches.

All slightly mysterious but all agreed.

So Saturday morning dawned, the bacon was ready in the fridge and then at 10.30 I received a text asking me to unlock the back gate.

She and her friend then drew up and began unloading a stack of timber and a selection of power tools from his works van.

They weren't being used to build this planter

they were being used to build us a fence!!!!!
Whilst we were away my sister had visited and decided we needed some privacy between us and our neighbour.
The old fence panels had blown over in high winds last year and we replaced them with a length of willow screening. This was fine up until a couple of months ago when that also feel victim to more high winds.
My sister loves sitting out in her garden and she felt that we needed somewhere we could go to also enjoy some quiet sunny garden time. 
From this a plan was formed with her friend and when we left to go to the theatre this is what was happening

 and this is what was in place when we came home a couple of hours later.
A lovely new fence complete with shelves for pots and hooks for lanterns.
The planters and table were also part of their surprise.

To protect the timber we had to get it painted as soon as we could and so that's what we were doing on Sunday afternoon. We bought 2 small tins of Cuprinol but as G was carrying them outside he tripped and dropped one of them ad most of the contents ended up on the back door step and then splashed back into the house.

I think we'll need to buy another tin and give it all a second coat.

We're not sure what we'll put on the shelves or if the baskets will stay but my sister popped those things up just to break up the plain expanse of timber.

I must admit I did shed a few tears when C told me what they were going to do. It was such an incredibly kind thing for them both to do for us.
Hopefully we can carry on their good work and try and make some kind of garden from the jungle that's out there.