Someone once flattered me by referring to me as a "<a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_man" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Renaissance Man</a>". I am not a polymath however willing to try new things with varying degrees of success. I'm happy to try anything from cooking, gardening through to weight lifting.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/honey-cakeOct20.jpg"><img class="alignright wp-image-6503" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/honey-cakeOct20-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="244" height="183" /></a>In the past week I baked my first cake. I've never seen the need because I try to avoid eating high calorie foods however I was persuaded to try this honey and ginger cake. It seemed straightforward to make and indeed it was although there was a fine balance between the mixture setting and not burning the top. I think if I do it again I will put some foil on the top in the last 10 minutes.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/honey-cake-sliceOct20.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-6502" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/honey-cake-sliceOct20-200x150.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="150" /></a>It tastes fine however next time I will put a little more ginger because it wasn't strong enough.

It does mean that I have to eat the whole cake which isn't going to do a lot for my waistline. Perhaps I should cut it into portions and freeze it.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/wisteria-before-1Oct20.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-6497" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/wisteria-before-1Oct20-150x200.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="200" /></a>Out in the garden I've been making more changes. When we moved in we placed a Wisteria in a large tub climbing a support post. It hasn't developed very well, never flowered and so I decided it was time to move it.

I had to cut it away from around the  drain pipe first and then lever it out of the pot. It was quite reluctant to come out.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/wisteria-before-2Oct20.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-6496" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/wisteria-before-2Oct20-150x200.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="200" /></a>Eventually I coerced it to leave the comfort of the pot and lifted it into the wheelbarrow ready for its new home.
My philosophy was that it wouldn't be any worse off in its new home than leaving it where it was to limp along for the next few years before eventually giving up the ghost.

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<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/wisteria-in-place1Oct20.jpg.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-6498" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/wisteria-in-place1Oct20.jpg-150x200.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="200" /></a>The new location is along the front at the other corner of the house. It should get more sun and being in the ground more space to grow.
I was aware that where I was planting it there was a rainwater downpipe and a tap from the rainwater harvesting system which would mean underground pipework. I thought these pipes would be running to the right of the picture however I was wrong. The downpipe in fact runs to the left and so I had to work around it to get the wisteria into the large whole I carefully excavated.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/wisteria-in-place2Oct20.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-6499" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/wisteria-in-place2Oct20-150x200.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="200" /></a>I also had to cut the boundary wire for Piglet, the robot mower, and rejoin it after the Wisteria was in place.

I'm pleased to say that the mower is still working, the wisteria is tied to the downpipe and the disturbed area was soon returned to it's original state.

I'm hoping that it will start to climb the pipe in the spring.

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<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cordylineOct20.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-6500" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cordylineOct20-150x200.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="200" /></a>As a consequence of moving the Wisteria it left a space so I moved the Cordyline from against the wall where it was starting to lean over. By placing it against the post I could tie it in place using a large leather strap.

My only concern is that it is now more exposed to the elements and the frost may have an impact on it. We had a Cordyline in the Rothersthorpe garden which was damaged by severe cold however I cut it back close to the ground and it regrew so I'm hoping it will survive.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/veg-cropOct20.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-6501" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/veg-cropOct20-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>In the vegetable garden things are quietening down. I've had the last of the runner beans and removed the bean poles. I'm still pulling carrots and there will be parsnips after the first frosts. The Cavolo Nero is still available however I don't find it the best of green vegetables, I'm not eating a lot of the everlasting Spinach and there are still Beetroot in the ground that needs to be pulled up. In the potting shed the chilli peppers have done well; there are a few sweet peppers; and the tomatoes and cucumbers are finished. I need to clear out the potting shed sometime soon.