OUR new gazebo frame arrived yesterday – earlier than expected – and when i take the bins out before breakfast the rain has gone off. I decide to start getting the canopy off the old tangled gazebo frame and start the replacement process.

After breakfast I continue the ‘breakdown’ and Margaret comes to help out. We get everything untangled, the new frame up and the canopy on.

I spend some time anchoring it all down – hopefully we’ll get a bit more mileage with this one – the sort the heaters and lights before starting to dismantle the old frame which is a big, unwieldy, tangled mess of metal.

The easiest way is to try and unscrew all the joints which is still easier said than done. I’m about half way through when Catriona and the kids arrive. I have a coffee with them then they head out to feed the ducks and I finish dismantling the old gazebo frame.

There’s some work to do in the studio then I go out for a walk.

It’s dark when I get home – the fire’s on though, so i get a little more work done then we have dinner and watch out pal Bill’s livestream from Florida.