Ok, so this was just such a fabulous day I need to write about it.
Camera begins to roll at 4:45am - getting up to go to the Cerne Giant for May Day celebrations. Lots of Morris dancers, and free beer as the sun rose. And the giant, well, he's the nearest thing we've got to racy entertainment in Dorset. Then sitting on the giant's nose (apparently a tradition) and following the dancers into the village for a Christian beltane service (welcoming of Summer). So, it turns out the local vicar makes AMAZING mead. We shall be going again.
Then got back and baked twelve loaves of bread - immensely satisfying - and did some potting in the greenhouse with Lyndon. I actually had to get out the sun cream it was so hot with the sun shining through the glass - according to the thermometer in there (dubious at best) it had reached 35 degrees at some point. Hmmm.
Wise chicken sheltering from the sun unlike stupid gardeners
In the afternoon I ended up watering in the polytunnel - boy was that hot. Pretty soon the t-shirt came off. Pretty soon after that I was watering myself almost as much as the peas. Finally, the bell rung for afternoon tea - yes, a chance to get some squash! I, thinking it would be nice to cool off before getting changed, thought nothing of walking down to my room without putting my dry shirt on my distinctly not dry torso.
We currently have a group of novices from various religious communities staying on a conference (they get together three times a year and this week is Hilfield). They of course, having heard the bell, were coming up the path towards the refectory when they met me. Well, either I was serious temptation or, more likely, I have confirmed for them that chastity is the way forward.
Flowers in the courtyard that are undisputably beautiful, unlike the form that descended upon the unsuspecting novices
Well, at that point, I didn't think the day could get any better, but then... BUT THEN... a lady came into the refectory at tea and apparently said that the bread I had burnt earlier in the day was the best bread she had ever had. SUCCESS!!! It turns out that putting way too much oil in bread and then overbaking it after it has overrisen is the key to a great taste.
I am now going to listen to Purcell's Dido and Aeneas before contemplating watering the greenhouse and going to bed. It's a hard life.
Peace and goodwill from Hilfield.
