Another Frustrating Week

It is hard to believe that only a short while ago we were sitting here in the sun having our BBQ and sipping wine. I really do love our seasons even though I am itching to do some allotmenteering. It is our turn to man the trading shed tomorrow so hope we have a customer or two but if it stays as cold as it is I doubt it.

"There are two seasonal diversions that can ease the bite of any winter.One is the January thaw. The other is the seed catalogues."- Hal Borland

After all the rain we have had lately the last thing I wanted was snow.The only good thing about it is that it is the only time that our plot looks as good as anyone else.

We wanted to take some pictures while the snow was still on the trees but could not get near to the site with the car.Mike and Sue who are expert bee keepers are setting up an apiary on our site.I think that we are going to have six hives in total and three, complete with bees, are now in place. It is great to think that we will soon be able to have our very own honey. The bees had decided to have a day indoors when I took this picture. Mike and Sue have a website about their activities called "Bees'n'Beans and I have added a link on my list. It is a very interesting, and amusing, read.

What a difference a day makes

This picture was taken from my kitchen window yesterday morning.I was unable to get my car out of the garage and as the trains and buses were not running I reluctantly? stayed at home.Barbara had already booked this week as holiday but as she works at a hospital was waiting for a phone call to ask her to go in but she wasn't needed.We would have liked to have visited the allotment to take pictures but there was no way.

The picture on the right was taken ten minutes ago but as I am writing this it has started snowing again.I was hoping the sun would thaw it a bit but I shall have to get the shovel out to clear the garage. I WANT TO GET GROWING GRRRRRR!!!! I suppose it kills off a few nasties though.

Soggy Sunday

We spent a very pleasant three hours on the plot yesterday.The weather was kind and we were able to catch up a bit on a number of jobs that had been neglected. I removed the bean canes and put on the compost heap what remained of our failed sprouts. I will give them one more try this year to see if I can get any bigger than marbles.

I went to the potato fair today and just bought some Charlotte. I arrived at 10am as it opened and the queue was already quite long.They had an amazing selection of varieties and you are able to buy single tubers.The stall that interested me was a chap selling old gardening tools mostly from the 1950's and 60's they were real quality unlike some of the stuff on sale nowadays.

I then went to our site as I had to pay my rent for this year. We had so much rain last night that a part of my new plot was waterlogged, I shall have to remember which bits when it comes to sowing and planting.

Filled the bird feeders up and called it a day. We had a green woodpecker among our plum trees yesterday. Today just robin and great tits.

New Year New Beginning

Belated happy new year.

Well after all the trauma of last year Barbara and I are determined to have a productive and stress free 2009. We still have our two plots and Barbara has been elected onto our site committee with me.

We are going to the plot this morning to do a bit of planning and tomorrow I am going to the potato fair at Peckham. They have people from The Rustic Mushroom Company there and as I was given mushroom spawn on dowels for Christmas I want to ask for advice on logs etc.

Barbara got a new digital camera for Xmas so will now be able to put plenty of pictures on here.

My grandson Rhys while playing as goalkeeper for his Langley Hawks football team was spotted by someone from Crystal Palace FC and after many trials has been signed for there academy for this season. Very exciting, tomorrow they are playing at home against Portsmouth.

Will post again very soon with an update.

At long last

I really would like to thank everyone who has been so kind to us over the last few months. A special thank you to a lady called Margaret who was a complete stranger who I met in the cafe of our Sainsbury store the day before my mum's funeral. While Barbara was shopping I sat having a coffee not really wanting to have anything to do with anyone. Margaret asked me if I was OK and when I explained she left only to return shortly with a large bunch of roses for the funeral. What a wonderful world it would be if there were more people like her.

We are now back on the allotment. Not only back but have taken on the one next to us which became vacant. It is mainly small raised beds so quite easy to maintain. I thought that we were a bit behind everyone else but had a count yesterday and including Veg,Fruit and Herbs we have 32 different things growing.

At the weekend coming I shall be taking some photographs to put on here.

It is great to be back

Jim and Barbara

Sorry for delay

Really sorry for the gap between posts.

My Mum passed away before Christmas so the last thing on my mind was my plot or blog.

I am now just beginning to come to terms with our loss.

I have planted a rose called "Remember me" on the plot which is the same peach colour that she loved.

My mum 'Bet' also liked to feed the birds on her balcony so we have put a bird bath on the plot.

I will start blogging again very soon

Say Cheese

I was working at Sandown Park races on Saturday. While I was there I met a friend of mine who owns a few horses and she had one running that day.

Unfortunately the horse was not placed but still managed to smile for the picture that I took after the race.

I go racing once a year working for the same client and this was my 31st year.

In all that time I have never had a bet (to much of a bad loser) but on Saturday a horse was running called HOH HOH HOH and as it was also my birthday I had a bet on it each way. It came fourth.

I have not had much time recently to get to the plot to do any work,but I do go to the site each day. Yesterday one of my neighbors gave me a corn on the cob and Barbara ate it an hour later. It tasted sublime and I shall definitely be growing them next year.

On my wish list for next year is a Mantis Tiller. A couple of people on our site have one and they are brilliant. So if any of my family are reading this,could you please donate to my Tiller fund at Christmas as I have all the socks and handkerchiefs that I need.