My to do list had become as long as my arm. It was a quarter past eight, I had been up for almost three hours and only achieved one thing. Now I had to rush around, in order to finish the whole list.

'What's up first?' I said as I searched for the list, 'The shed!'

I changed into my overalls and headed into the garden. Freddie was sat on the bench, little did he know, that soon, that bench was going to be replaced by an even better bench. One that doesn't wobble at the slightest movement. One, on which the slats do not crumble at the slightest of touches. A bench to house the whole Noakes family when we come outside, where the sun shines.

'Camilla? Edie? Come here! Freddie and I have something to show you!' I said as I signalled for Freddie to come and help me remove the rocking horse from the shed.

'Is it dry daddy?' He asked desperately wanting to touch it.

'It is, let's put the sheet over the top, hide it from them for a little bit longer.' We placed the sheet on top just as Camilla joined us outside.

'What is it dear? I was just on my way to Nonnatus!' Moaned Camilla, hands in the pockets of her coat.

'It's okay, if you're busy, I can show you later. Are you taking Edie with you?'

'No, she's being a stroppy little madam and won't put her shoes on, she'll be alright with you, yeah?' Huffed Camilla.

'Can I come with you mummy?' Freddie asked running up to Camilla.

'Go on, go and get ready!' Smiled Camilla.

As Freddie ran into the house, Camilla walked towards me, I shielded the horse, I knew what she was trying to do. She was trying to sneak a peek. I wasn't wrong. She suddenly dashed for the sheet. I stopped her.

'No thank you, you have to wait!'

'Spoil sport!' Stropped Camilla as she walked into the house.

'Camilla?' I called.

She poked her head out of the door, 'Yes?'

'I love you!'

Camilla winked and carried on to Nonnatus. I hid the horse in the gap between the shed and the wall, then started to remove the contents. I heard scuffed footsteps coming towards me, I turned and was met by a very stroppy two year old. She had attempted to put on her shoes, after throwing a wobbly when Camilla tried to do it for her. That little two year old has the stubbornness of, of, she has the stubbornness of, I don't know, someone who is very stubborn. Her mother maybe?

'Need help my dear?' I asked as I leant the rake against the shed and sauntered toward her.

She just nodded, her eyes all bloodshot, her cheeks drenched with tears. She sat on the kitchen floor, I swapped the shoes onto the correct feet and buckled them up.

I took her hands and helped her to her feet, 'Can you help Daddy? I need to sort out all the things in the shed!' She sniffled, a small nod followed. 'Right, let's go!'

We marched towards the shed, I made three piles. Keep, Throw and an Ask Camilla pile. If in doubt always ask the wife. The first items on the keep pile were all of the tools, yes, they've never been used, but today that will change. I intend to use every single one. After five items, the throw pile was still empty. Maybe I had to be a tad more brutal with the items? Like the lawn mower, it doesn't even work! Throw it away, but wait, Fred could take a look at it, maybe he could fix it!

'The only thing Fred can fix is a stiff G&T!' I muttered, not meaning to say it aloud.

Soon enough the piles looked rather healthy, only the bare necessities being found on the 'Keep Pile' The 'Throw Pile' being the biggest. I had given Edie a very hard decision, she was still deliberating over the answer.

'Have you chose which two to keep?' I asked as I looked over to her, she was swamped by numerous of buckets and mismatched spades. She shook her head. 'Choose one set for you and one set for your brother!'

I dived back into the task at hand, I could finally see the floor. At the back of the shed was a big suitcase. I scanned my memories to try and figure out what the contents could possibly be, I had no idea, this was definitely going on the 'Ask Camilla' pile. Another ten minutes passed and the shed was finally empty. I filled up the wheelbarrow with all the items that I had decided we no longer needed. Edie placed the rejected buckets and spades at the top. She had chose a pretty purple set for her and a red set for Freddie, they sat proudly on top of the keep pile, that consisted of, a rake, a shovel, a trowel, a fork, a saw, a hammer, and a massive ball of rope. I opened the back gate and pushed the wheelbarrow round to the front. Edie had run into the house and collected my keys for me, we started to load the car with all the junk. I had previously laid old sheets on top of the seats, I would kick myself if I damaged my precious car. I put Edie into her car seat and locked up the house. Quickly glancing at my list, I could now tick off

Sort out the shed.

The next item on the list came hand in hand with the previous task;

Visit the Landfill site.

This was going to be interesting, normally I just leave things out for the bin men but this amount of stuff warranted a trip to the landfill site. It always makes me nervous but having Edie with me was making me extra nervous. I needed to persuade her to stay within the car as I emptied the boot. This was a task I was not looking forward to. I walked around the front of the car waving to Edie. The landfill site is situated on the other side of the dock, just a short drive. Edie was in her element, she had never been this side of town before, she was watching everything like a hawk. Clapping as she spotted new things.

'Now Edie, when we get there, you'll have to be a good little girl and stay in the car, it is important you do as Daddy asks.' I said. 'Edie, did you hear what Daddy said?' I asked, leaning over slightly, making sure her little ears could hear me.

'Yes Daddy!' She replied, her eyes still following objects that were whizzing past the window. 'Boat! Daddy, a boat!' She yelled as we past the docks. 'Lots of Boats! Daddy!'

This continued until we reached the landfill site, and believe me she repeated it for every single boat she spotted, which, of course, was around a hundred. I was met at the front of the site by a gentleman, he was wearing rather clean overalls, well, clean for a bin man. He helped me remove all the items from the boot and showed me where to leave them, Edie kept her promise, she stayed still throughout, what was I worried about? Another job completed. Onto the next one. We were making good time!

Collect seeds and plants from Shelagh.

We set off again. This time in the direction of Shelagh and Patrick's. Shelagh was a keen gardener, she's always giving me helpful tips. She had promised to keep back seeds for me. Again their house was only a short drive.

'You can get out this time darling, you can come and see Angela!' I said as I ruffled her little curls.

She looked at me with a look of hesitation, she and Angela have a love, hate relationship. One day they are the best of friends, the next they are arguing over the silliest of things. Girls are most definitely harder to look after than boys. I parked up outside the house, Edie climbed out of the seat and over to me. I carried her to the front door where she pushed the doorbell.

'Be nice!' I muttered as Shelagh opened the door.

'Peter! Hi! Have you come for the seeds?' Said Shelagh as she invited us into the house.

Angela hid behind her mother, but ventured out when I placed Edie onto the carpet. The two walked up to each other, Shelagh and I waiting in anticipation, waiting to see what their reaction to each other would be. We were surprised when they hugged and tottered off to play.

'Oh my!' Said Shelagh. 'So?' She sounded rather taken back by what had just happened. 'Which ones did you want?'

'Anything you have spare please?' I asked politely, knowing that her kindness was saving me a lot of money. The price Nigel wanted for a few seeds was ridiculous.

'I have carrots, parsnips, a few seed potatoes, turnips, swede! Did you need soil? We went a little overboard when buying it!'

'Only if you're sure you won't need it!'

'Oh no dear, take it! You'd be doing us a favour! Patrick's been dreading having to move them!'

We walked out into their garden, it was similar shape and size to ours but was better looked after and used more than ours.

'Oh Shelagh, it looks lovely out here!' I praised. Pausing for a moment. 'You've done such a great job!'

'Thank you Peter. How is your garden coming on?' She asked as she searched for the box of seeds.

'Its getting there, slowly, but we'll will get there!' I sighed.

'Well, Fred mentioned he had some spare Trellis, we have no use for it, pop over and see if he still has it!' She suggested as she handed me a box. 'As I said, there are carrots, parsnips, seed potatoes, swede, turnips. There is also runner beans, sweet peas, garden peas. Those ones you could plant under the trellis, it would give them the perfect support. Also, the apple sapling is in the two, to replace that old one.'

'Shelagh you're a gem! Thank you!' I said as I pecked her on the cheek.

I popped the box into the back of the car and returned for the soil, I called out for Edie but she was having a ball teaching Angela how to play tiddlywinks.

'I'll watch her for a bit, you pop over to Fred, see if he still has the trellis'

'Are you sure? I'll walk to his stall, then if he does I'll come back and pick up the car and the little madam!' I said as I backed away, towards the door.

'Be as long as you need, I'll give her some lunch later, you go and get that garden done! Don't worry about her, she's a joy to have!'

'Edie darling, Daddy's just popping to see Uncle Fred. Auntie Shelagh said you can stay and play for a little while. Is that okay?'

My question was met with, Silence. She was obviously having too much fun to answer her old father. I blew a kiss in Shelagh's direction, put the soil into the boot then ran on to Fred's stall.

'Twice in one day? I am honoured!' Joked Fred as I rocked up to his stall. 'And what can I do for you Sergeant Noakes?'

'Shelagh mentioned you had some trellis, are they still up for grabs?' I asked as I sat on the crate.

'I have about half a dozen, 'bout this big!' He said as he put his arms out at maybe, a metre apart. 'There probably as wide as you and as tall as your misses!' He added with a snigger.

'Just wondering Mr. Buckle, is your hawker's licence up to date?' I said turning into Sergeant Noakes for a moment, trying to teach him a lesson and tease him at the same time.

'Sorry Noakes, was uncalled for.' He apologised, tail between his legs.

'For that, I want these trellises at your lowest rate!'

'Ah, no, I wasn't gunna charge yah! Just 'av 'em!' He begged as he gave me his spare key. 'You'll find 'em in the cellar!'

'Cheers Fred! Ooh, just once thing, do you have any spare nails?'

'Just 'av a gander through the boxes, sure you'll find what yah need!' He replied as he started to serve a customer.

I skipped off, Fred's house was just round the corner. I let myself in, considering Fred is a bachelor his house is spotless. Maybe its because he spends most of his time at Nonnatus house? I scuttled off to the cellar, it was an Aladdin's cave of wood and tools. I thought our shed was bad. I looked for the trellises, they were tucked away in one of the corners. Luckily they were light, I picked them up and leant them against the stairs as I went in search for some nails.

'Where are they?' I mumbled whilst looking in every box I came across.

Finally in the last box I found some nails! I placed a handful into a paper bag, picked up the trellises and headed back to the car.

As I passed Fred's stall, I quickly stopped to give him his keys back. 'Thanks again Fred!'

He nodded in appreciation as I carried on towards the car, 'My goodness these are getting heavy!'

Eventually, after stopping three or four times, I made it back to the car, I gently slid the trellises into the back of the car, they only just fit. Thankfully. Then I walked up to Shelagh's front door and knocked.

'Come in Peter!' Was shouted from inside.

'Only me! But you already know that!' I stuttered as I walked through to the living room. 'I was just wondering, Shelagh, could you do me a favour?'

'Of course' Answered a voice from the kitchen.

'Tell me no if you're thinking I've asked too much!'

'Go on!' Urged Shelagh, who had entered the living room with a plate of sandwiches, sandwiches I could only assume were for the girls.

'Could you house Edie for a little while longer? And maybe Camilla and Freddie too?'

'Of course! But why?'

'I want to get the garden finished without them seeing!' I bellowed. 'I've promised Camilla for such a long time, I want it to be extra special.'

'Is Chummy at home?'

'No she's at Nonnatus!'

'I will ring straightaway, invite her over for lunch? How long will you need her here for?' Shelagh asked as she sat the girls to the table?fond.

'About another three hours?' I guessed. 'I need to pop to the hardware store to pick up the new flowerbeds and bench then I will go straight home and make a start!'

'No problem!' Smiled Shelagh. 'Patrick and Tim are due home anytime, I will send them over to help! Then if Chummy asks I can say you've all gone out together!'

I winked then kissed Edie, I knew I had to get a wriggle on if I was planning on getting this garden finished within the next three hours!