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We have set of bed linens that we never use, because although it was bought as being regular size it is in fact stupidly large. The pillow cases are nearly twice the size of our pillows. Our duvets rattle around inside the covers and you end up with ten to fifteen centimeters of empty fabric at the top because the duvet keeps disappearing down the foot end. I tried washing it super hot in the hope that it would shrink, just a little. It did not. So although it's nice, it's only been on the bed a few times and it's taking up space in the wardrobe.

I thought about giving it to the Red Cross shop, but I've decided what I actually think I want to try and do with these nice big pieces of fabric is attempt to make myself a simple skirt. I've found some instructions for a really simple half circle skirt and there's more than enough fabric for that. I'll probably have to make it two layers so that it's not transparent. Luckily, I've got this other duvet cover which long ago has lost it's partner and it's pillow cases and that should do quite nicely. I will also have to modify slightly I think if it's not long enough, but that can be done by simply making an extra seam. No big deal.

Emboldened by the curtains, how hard can it be?

We got the stupid elephant grass cut down today. It's not the cutting of the stems. It's the leaves. I don't know what sort of hateful person would plant elephant grass on purpose.

Sure it's a great green screen there on the corner of the terrace and it grows up really quickly, but the leaves! The leaves are long and ribbon-like, they have sharp edges, there are about a quadrillion of them and they end up flipping everywhere. You know those large blue bags from Ikea? We use those for garden waste. I filled nine of them to the brim with leaves. Nine! It took the whole damn day, and it's the sort of job that you know you can't stop and come back to another day because then it just won't get finished. There are still a fair few of them out there, but I am done.

This is a 100% hate-job every year. It's on par with hedge clipping. It seemed to be worse than usual for me this year. Husband came and asked at one point if he could get me anything, and I said, "yes, dynamite!"

Apparently I'm not allowed any dynamite.

This stuff was here when we moved in and in ten years we haven't developed much in the way of affection for it. We are seriously considering just cutting it down in autumn this year when it starts to wither and before it can spread a plague of leaves all over the rest of the garden. This may severely damage it. Oh no, wouldn't that be a disaster! (This is sarcasm in case it wasn't obvious.)

Do not plant elephant grass.

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