Splashing out eventually - updated

 Having been quite frugal for decades, I find it incredibly difficult to actually spend money. Neither of us are ones for new clothes or shoes or holidays etc. We simple use what we have until it falls apart then replace it. The exception has usually been the car, which we save up for and replace when needed.

The raised beds in the garden are still doing well but are finally beginning to grow fungi along the bottom planks. The one on the patio was made with thinner planks and last summer, one fell out completely and the others weren't far behind:

The only thing that prevented the soil falling through was the fact they were lined with both polythene and weed fabric.

On the only sunny and remotely warmish day we had last week, the plants were dug out and placed into another empty raised bed. It took forever to remove the soil and add that to a different raised bed for safe keeping.

We bought two zinc cattle troughs. At the moment I have no plans to paint them. They are garish in the shiny newness but will age down well. Each one measures 90cm x 40cm x 46cm and has one small side drainage hole:

DB still needs to drill extra holes in the bottom which will be coated with protective zinc paint. Then a deep layer of gravel, a weed membrane to keep the gravel from moving upwards and finally, soil from the raised beds put back in.

One will go on the left hand side of the patio and house herbs. It will have first dibs at the soil from the old bed as it is by now, poor soil. The other one will go on the right hand side of the patio and house the flowering plants we took out the old wooden one. It will be filled with any remaining soil and topped up with new stuff.

Can't do anymore at the moment as it is just too cold and the protective drainage hole paint can't be applied until the tubs are a bit warmer. We think we may do all this work inside the conservatory where it will be around 14 - 20 C on a nice day.

DB has managed to do the holes!