11 October: broccoli, weeds, pancakes and sun

Each day is feeling a little more autumnal, the tree hedges picking up in colour – where not ravaged by ash dieback. 

We cut the last of the broccoli, and then fell the last tall sunflowers – a poignant moment – opening up the view through to the church. The focus is on weeding, and clearing a bed to plant garlic tomorrow. We have been joined by Polona’s eldest son, Luka, visiting from Kranj. His short bursts of energy are welcome, before he becomes distracted and goes elsewhere.

For Maria, coming from suburban flat dwelling in Mexico City, everything is a first time experience. Including encountering the insect world. She freaks out when an earth dweller takes her by surprise. Meanwhile, I am over energetic with the weeding, relishing releasing each deeply rooted plantain root, and setting myself targets which don’t really matter. I just can’t resist end-goaling. At the end of the morning I am completely pooped.  

Lunch is mixed-vegetable soup followed by American-style pancake chunks with maple syrup and cranberry jam. Many of us over-eat. 

By the time we have cleared up, it is around 3 pm, and the tipping point in terms of temperature. The plan to walk to the lake – largely in shade – dissolves in favour of mooching close to base. The bliss of sitting with the sun heating my back, the familiar cirque ahead of me, and no particular agenda makes me realise that doing nothing is long overdue!

Supper is a typical Slovenian dish: buckwheat cooked in water and then mixed with flour (?), with accompanying lardy crackling pieces and pig fat. Make of that what you will! Leftover soup from lunch saved the day.