Irrigation by torchlight Rodney's birthday, 19 September, we were up at 4.30 am! We could draw water from the azeicia between 5.00 and 6.00 am. It was dark. These days it doesn't get light until around 7.30 am. The stars were amazing but there was no moon. Miguel came up from Lanjaron the previous evening and was well prepared with a miner's lamp strapped to his head. Given that it's September, when the water came there was lots. Quite often at this time of year there's not much. First we filled our domestic water tank, then our irrigation tank. That didn't take long and they are now full to the brim. Then we set about irrigating the trees which was quite fun by our feeble torchlight - I held the torch and Rodney cleared out the ditches. As usual we got pretty wet and the water was COLD but we did manage to stay on the terraces and not fall off! By 6 am we were all done. after a shower and breakfast I fell asleep on the sofa. The water came just at the right time as we had just completed the summer pruning. Quite a different birthday. Neither of us had a lot of energy for celebrating but Rodney had a Happy Birthday nonetheless. More on that later.