Ever onwards. I think I’m feeling a bit stronger overall, although that feeling doesn’t seem to be manifesting itself in much knitting. I’ve finished the first peerie stripe on Alexander’s Calcutta Cup vest, and am engaged on the plain vanilla rounds between that and the first real pattern.

Daniella and I had a successful session on the doorstep this morning, including the planting of the second apple tree. Everything is now done except for one surplus pot. I’ll find something for that. It is ridiculous, but very pleasant, to step out there on a warm May morning (=today) to see how everything is getting on, just as I used to do with my real garden in Kirkmichael.

My obsession with lacto-fermentation continues. I resolved some days ago to attempt to ferment chillies and make a hot sauce of them. (Tabasco Sauce is fermented, I learn.) I had meant to wait until this year’s British chilli crop becomes available next month, figuring they would be fresher than the present supermarket imports from Thailand. But yesterday in Tesco’s I was overcome:

That’s a cabbage leaf on top, tucked in so that everything is kept below the brine. That’s the way we do it on YouTube. There’s a weight on top of that. There are some garlic cloves visible at the bottom. Otherwise just assorted chillies. Very pretty. I'll keep you posted.

And I'll start my second batch of kimchi soon.