Just one of those rainy days....

Early start.  Meeting a big plant delivery from mainland at Clients Walled Garden.  New nervous driver first time to Isle of Wight.  Misty murking morning, first rain in ages.  He is late! So squidged round the garden in the damp with client planning 'the next stage'. Also discussed forthcoming newspaper article.

Delightful new driver eventually arrives.  Usual jokes about no passport, sea-sick pills etc., Finally stowed plants safely, retrieved the dozen or so new additions for next garden, plus my own new' Rosa Mme Alfred Carriere'  for the Courtyard. Hastily stuff them in the back of the car.

Rain worsening, puddles now in road with soil-filled run-off from fields. Muttering under breath about farmers and contour ploughing as I swing into the drive to see a gloomy Mr. S. , the reluctant under-gardener sheltering in the porch.  No  cheery Mrs. S. ? Some problem with a grandchild apparently!  Haven't visited since the worse of the season's weather so am anxious....

The young, newly planted Winter garden has taken a bashing - from the winter weather funnily enough!  Ouch!  Had to reassure then run..."It will revive, " I shout out of the window whilst nearly reversing into one of those giant tractors out on the lane.  All windows now misted up.

Then on into town.  Traffic horrendous by island standards.  Miraculously find a parking spot and sprint into fave coffee shop for loo and caffeine. Running late, but just a  quick pop in to Red Cross Shop next door, looking for lamps for moroccan courtyard still.  Nothing, but there was a rather nice tourquoise scarf...

Deposited parcel of moroccan goodies to go to son in Plymouth with his gorgeous girlfriend who works in a tempting Interior Design shop round the corner.  She gleefully points out .....their new Moroccan lamps!  Frustratingly, no time left on parking ticket so defer for another day....

Pistolling down now so find phone to cancel 3rd appointment.  Client thrilled - way too wet we agree. Clean rain off  misted-up glasses with new tourquoise scarf as I text newspaper re article. Then set off back to the office.

As I turn the final bend, there is a loud clump from the rear of the car.  Realise it is my new rose rolling around loose.  Once home, discover soil all over the car from my obviously very newly potted rose.  Duck when husband appears as he hates the mess I make in the car and hurriedly shut the boot, concealing all as I sprint into the office. 

Turn on computer.  Amongst the usual dross I spot a long-awaited reply from Amanda, at Bab Ourika in Morocco.  She has news of snow, and seedlings and all sorts of interesting stuff but I drag myself away from a lengthy reply to focus on business stuff. The pictures for the newspaper article!

Some time later, all mail sent I head off to Village to stock up on provisions for family as I'm away for the weekend.  As I open the boot to throw in the shopping bags I see soil everywhere still and abandoned rose.  Snatch rose out, then shut boot again and throw bags onto the back seat instead.

Rain appears to be easing as I pull into the Co-op Car park.  Amazingly everything on list in stock and there is even a bottle of my favourite dry white in the chiller cabinet.  Things are looking up!  Head home again as the sun begins to appear.  Looks like the weekend weather forecast is proving correct.  Feel that familiar pang of frustration mounting at the thought of a whole weekend spring gardening to be missed.  Ah well at least the gardens have had a drenching.

Unload the shopping then drag myself back to the car to clean up the bloody soil and re-pot the rose...

Much later after a  friendly spat with spouse over our choice of Friday night TV viewing, "What?  You want to watch Red Nose Day and Gardeners World?" I subside into 2nd glass of dry white feebly explaining the need to check out how the 'Lord of the Cord' is doing back on the box again.Tear myself away from the strangely compelling red nose viewing to hastily pack for the weekend .

Return from bedroom to shut computer down to see a new email.  Hesitate, but then open it to find a delightful message from a Harriet in Bere Island,  Cork in Ireland. Open her St Patricks Day message:

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

And rains fall soft upon your fields.

and for some reason come over all misty eyed.....