At the back of the Priory, in a corner formed by two walls, is a manhole cover. Not a thing of great beauty – it’s not like it’s a 16th century manhole cover. But what it is, is an excuse to bring out some of my cacti and succulents from the greenhouse and give them a little summer air. I shall need to scurry back to the greenhouse with the tender ones before the first frost. Though the semps and sedums are frost hardy, I put them under cover to keep off the worst of the winter wet.