Picture time

Hi there!  Well I think a show and tell is in order now things are being/been nearly ready to harvest, don't you???

 Not many of these are making it home!

 Super yummy red electric onions - This is the only time I've had any success with onions :-)

 Shallots - Split in to many shallots but dissapointingly small

 Garlic - Germidor - Absolutely FABBY crop and strong with it!  YUM

 Courgetterama!  YAY - now who thought that five courgette plants at the allotment was a good idea?  (never mind that I have another 3 at home too!)  I think this one is Atena Polka

 A good ole Defender

 Yellow ball or One ball courgette

And just look at this monster at home - If anyone can count how many there are on here they win a prize (clue I got up to 21 and then lost count!)  And I've picked two already!

right tonight I'm goign to make Nigella's "Happiness Soup" - a very good suggestion indeed from one of my fellow gardeners on the Grow your Own Magazine forum  :)   http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/forum.php

too hot for any more news

Ciao for now  :O)

Well I've got some good news and some bad news... and a trip to the O2

Good news first Ladies and Gents

I have FINALLY been offered my permanent contract at my JOB!  Only been here two years, but bless em they managed to tell me before my contract ran out this time too.  No more 6 monthly colly wobbles  :)  I'm in with the in-crowd, on the team, part of the GANG!  My manager and one of the HR bods both have said (seperately) this doesn't change anything, but I would refute this.  It means a lot to me and they cant simply not renew my contract and just jiggle about the other jobs to make it look like they don't need the position any more... did I mention it means a lot to me!  They are now prepared to invest in me as much as I am prepared to give to them.  Or as a few WAGS have put it "time to put my feet up"!!!

BAD NEWS......

It wont be too much of a surprise.... I will not be taking the current allotment on again next year.... As my regular few loyal readers will know, its not my allotment, but somehow I got roped in to "helping" (read doing all of it) and the brother has not heeded my previous warning!  I advised if he didn't pull his finger out I wouldn't do it again.  Well he hasn't, so I'm not.  Fear not dear readers, I am not a girl without options.  HA HA no.  A friend of mind who lives locally works an allotment nearby with one or two others, I get the feeling its more of a community effort which I feel would suit me more, in fact right down tot he ground.  Its not a formal council allotment but more of some land I think the farmer doesn't know what else to do with.  So at last I will be veg gardening with others who A) enjoy it, B) have the time to do it, C) I will be able to go in the evening as its local and not a 30 min drive!  WIN WIN WIN  I will of course be erm liberating a few bushes and rhubarb and what not before I leave ahem....  I will be seeing out the season but hope to go and visit the new place soon!  Scope it out and see how they work together.  :)

At the lottie well, the beans are slow but coming up, the peas are coming up too but not as many as I would have liked.  I have put my foot down and am point blank refusing to plant even 1 more seed in the ground this year!  The garlic has been amazing - I picked the first lot last weekend and the rest this Sunday and its drying in the 4 tier plastic greenhouse at home.  Far better than last year the Germidor came up with lots of lovely fat cloves.  The Edenrose was small but still worthwhile.  The Elephant garlic!  WOOOOHOOOOO as soon as I have a pic I will upload it for your entertainment!    I have also picked some strawberries, and about 5 sugarnap/mangetout and about four red onions!  Oooooh and a small bag of new potatoes!  I had my first dinner on Sunday of all home grow veg... apart from carrots...  YAY

Anyhoo I shall hope to take some pics in the next day or two  :)

Ciao for now  XXX

PS - My choir performed at the O2 Arena on Saturday, not to a paying audience but for each other.  I'm going to link you here to the sound of over 9000 people singing together to about another 5 or so thousand of our family and friends

Rock Choir at the O2 Arena - All over the world

Going great guns!

Hey Everybod - its all going off!  Finally caught up with myself and have spent a coupla weekends working flat out but we are there!  I have planted out nearly everything!  Just haven't got any sweetcorn this year but hey ho still have some in the freezer.

I've done a video if you please so I will see if I can upload that!  The only patch that is more or less untouched and unplanted is the bit that the brother wanted natch!  So I'll let the video do the talking on this occasion - I'm off to Corfu for two weeks tomorrow so I'll see you then.  I apologise if this video is a bit fuzzy, it was when I uploaded it to Faceache too...  But you'll get the gist!

Ciao for now XXX

Vegging out!

WOW - once again - long time no post

I should work out how to set up a default template so all of my posts start like that.  To be honest have been mulling over  stopping blogging.  As much as I love having my secret little thing, a little place to blast or rant or just share, ponder and bore on about my passion for growing.... life does have a habit of getting in the way.  Work this year has been manic.  I am here now (supervising a desk install!)  I also would like to pursue other interests - would love to try dress making (other garments need not apply).  Also been having a bit of a flare with the Arthritis.  If any of you say "but you're too young for arthritis", you can line up for a slap round the chops.  Inflammatory forms of arthritis are more common in those aged between 25-40.  Anyhoo its not a pity party here but I have been exhaustipated.  When I do get to the allotment (once a week tops with the current crappy weather) I dig for a bit, sit for a bit, do a bit more, sit, dig , sit.  I'm sure the neighbours think I'm A - Batty, B - Lazy  C - BOTH!

Enough already of the excuses.  I have my tato's in (only 2-3 weeks ago so no applause please!) first earlies cant remember which off the top of my head.  Garlic, shallots and onions which I planted last year are doing really well!  I have some broad beans (currently in the car) in tray ready to go out this afternoon.  Again late but my super star allotment neighbour (I shall call him Mardy-bum) has small ones coming through and I though I could catch those up if I started them at home and I have indeed caught up size wise - just need to sink 'em!  The mother and I have prepped the runner bean station, the salad bed is all ready to go and I have dug a bit off the pea/other bean spot.

I have had a face off with the brother also about the allotment and stated that if he does not pull his finger out this year and help that I will not take on the allotment again for him next year.  His response "okay then don't"....  Slightly shocked that no row was ensuing but so be it - a line has been  drawn.  He has asked for a large bed to himself on the allotment and Mum says he has started on this section.  I didn't go last week (rain) so have yet to see the fruits of his labour (I'm not expecting too much).  He did mow the grass once though....

In other news..... errr work.... still here, still busy, still on a bloomin contract although again expecting good news this time round (yes been there heard that!)  ever the optimist.

Saw the Star Wars film last night - EPIC.  In fact if you looked up epic in the dictionary it would say watch the Star Wars film.  Not even a trekkie :o)

Anyway - I shall see if  can take some snaps today so I can piccy up the blog!

Chat soon - probably!  XXX

Ive started!

YAY - finally had a free day to get to the allotment!  I went yesterday (Easter Monday) and spent the afternoon.  It was still cold but when the sun shone it was FAB.  I strimmed, pulled and laid carpet on a couple of bits that were unruly last year.  I know strictly speaking I shouldn't but I need all of the time saving help I can get.  I put some at the top between me and the neighbour and some either side of the Goosegogs.  The top bit really caused a problem last year as the weeds really strayed into the potato patch.  (This years onion and garlic). I just can't be doing with spending nearly all of my allotment time strimming and cutting grass by hand.  The bits without carpet I am hoping to give a really good dig over to get rid of most of the rest of it.  HURRAH. 

I weeded and pruned the Gooseberries too.... Evil bastard plants.  I look like I have been mauled by a troupe of marauding tigers.  YOWCH.  Long sleeves this week for me then.  I will be able to get there again on Saturday and here we go again - just one visit and I've got the bug again!  Must look up what I should be sowing and get on with it!

I also potted up the perennial plant collection that I sent for..  and dropped all over the floor.  Now I've no idea which is what... OOOPS!  Theya re for the garden though.  Apart from that I've got tomatoes, and chillis on the go.

Back in the saddle - It was lovely to be outside yesterday but a radox bath for me tonight I think!  I got cramp in my bum this morning and I think I've pulled it!  LOL  :O)

Ciao for now X

Easter Blues

Its still snowing and crap!  Yes I know its Easter this weekend - this time last year we were all sun burnt - this year we have frost bite.  I've still done nothing on the allotment I've only just sowed some tomatoes and chilli's at home!  Although I seem to be doing my best to get that wrong - Keep forgetting to take the lid off the propagator and they're going all leggy...

So no news really - The Major Big Boss of all of the Universe at work is visiting from Japan next Friday so everyone is in a tail spin redecorating, re-branding cleaning and worrying about shit such as what the disabled loo (ahem the VIP bathroom) smells and looks like.  Yes I have bought matching hand towels and a cabinet to put it in!

Anyway got to go, having some desks put together  GAAAAAAAHHHHH

Ciao for now X

Hey there! Snow time blues

Dear All

******** snow stopped play *********

the end - that WAS January.....

Not sown a seed or turned a sod.  I have been lazy.  I have not even rifled through the seed packets. Most unlike me.  I have normally started Chilli's and maybe even tomato's by now.... Hmmmmm ennui strikes.

Perhaps if it snows again this weekend, I will get the house done early and spend an hour or so in the potting-shed-alike... I dooo have a few seeds (chilli's) that could be doing with getting on.  The Rainbow chilli's in particular were brill and super hot this year.  If I use one tonight I shall be sure to save a coupla the seeds!

Anyhoo - Hope that you are all finding your Mojo... If you find mine, smack its bum and send it home please :o)

Chat soon X