Sitting in my office (the Fishing Room) looking out over the frozen garden at Auchincruive thinking about the busy year we have had at Gardening Leave.  More Veterans, more Volunteers, more Trustees, more veg, more poppies and another Medal at Ayr Flower Show! 

Although it has been too slippery for the veterans to come to Gardening Leave between Christmas and New Year, the first half of December was very busy and we welcomed Brigadier David Chaundler our newest Trustee, Major David Carter from London Scottish, Provost Sloan the new Veterans Champion for South Ayrshire, Michael Connarty MP, David Quayle CA who will be our Hon. Treasurer from next February and Willie and Morven, our new Volunteers - a Big Gardening Leave welcome to you All.

Pamela was very busy in the garden - the pond needed emptying and cleaning before we re-line it in the Spring, there was lots of fleece for frost protection (much needed!) which had to be secured and Phil’s greenhouse is now reassembled, tucked away behind the potting shed, already three-quarters full of plants….. 

As Christmas approached, we started making holly wreaths and very quickly, demand exceeded supply - a big Thank-you to all who helped to make them, and to Anna, a psychology student from London, who spent a busy week with us, and was a great help.  The first orders for next year have already been taken…!!!

Evelyn has been as busy as ever in the office and thanks to Stevie and Merlin, the Gardening Leave calendar in its new format arrived in good time - can it really be a whole year since Evelyn arrived at Auchincruive and her first job was to address 500 calendars…??!! 

Time to say Goodbye to 2009 and look forward to 2010 - the shortest day is behind us, the sweet peas are ready to be sown and some day soon the ice will melt and reveal the snowdrops which will tell us that Spring is on its way. 

My very Best Wishes and Thank-you to everyone from Gardening Leave for your friendship and good humour over the last year and to all our Friends and Funders - without all of you, there would be no Gardening Leave and life would be a darker place.

As always,

ABC.

PS.  Sarah Hobhouse who knitted our wonderful garden (see April 2009 Gallery) has a new website, www.pullingthewool.com