New Toy

Mike and I have finally decided on a laptop, well correction, I had finally found a laptop which I thought was cool enough (that wasn't a Macbook) We only had under £500 to spend as it is intended only for internet, storing music and photos and perhaps a bit of word processing. This seemed a really good buy, and looks damn sweet if you ask me, they have obviously taken a lot of cues from the Macbook, I just hope it's not a dumb impersonator! I'm happy though, fun times ahead playing...

Pavement artists

I used to love these as a child. I thought they were truly inspirational, if a little naff and could never understand why if they were such fabulous artists, they were not doing something better with their talent?

 

http://gprime.net/images/sidewalkchalkguy/ 

Amanda Watchob Tattoo

Over the years, through my various phases (but not recently) I've always wanted a tattoo, but could never decide on anything that I'd want to live with forever. Not since seeing these beautiful creations by Amanda Wachob, truly original, but still not good enough to use my body as a canvas forever!

Lovely leather shoes

Love these by Keller

A last minute trip to Hastings

Today was supposed to be a right off weather wise, so we were planning to batton down the hatches, with a possible mercy mission to the shops to buy a laptop if the kids were getting housebound. But it turns out this storm bypassed us and hit France instead, so we decided as we couldn't be bothered to cook we would drive down to the coast and get fish and chips in a cafe. Hugh was totally made up with this, saying mummy and daddy, seaside, fish and chips and mayonnaise all the way home. I took some pictures as I love the sinister nature of the out of season attractions. There was a lovely sunset too on our walk back to the car, in all it was one of those lovely unplanned trips that turns out to be a great way to end a weekend!

Dad's plot

As you may or may not know, my dad inspired me to get my allotment after he died. Last year he took on  a new plot and transformed it into an amazingly productive site, quite the envy of those around! Here are some before and after pics to inspire me, and to thank my dad for giving me such a wonderful life long love.

March 2009 

End June 2009

  

 

Allotment update pics

 

  

Raspberry canes and fruit bushes  

Double digging

If you want a loose soil structure in which your plants roots will thrive, then you need to double dig your beds. Mostly used on new sites, it enables air to penetrates lower levels of soil if it is compacted and a heavy material like clay (as is mine)

I tried this today, admittedly it's hard work, but hopefully my roots will appreciate it. I work on it for over an hour and only got as far as 2x1 metre, I quickly calculated that it would take me approx 16 hours to do the area I wanted. Hmm not possible. I think i will aim to double dig the root plot, and perhaps the potatoes if I have time and leave the beds for beans and peas till next year, or when the site isn't so waterlogged as it is now.

I'm glad I have my particular plot now as the others around seemed to be filled with puddles, somehow my sections has remained free from standing water (hehehe, I may have evil thistles, but no puddles)

Also my muck arrived today, not quite as much as I'd hoped, I really can't see how it will cover much of my allotment, so I may have to visit Sami's stables for a top up.

Update on beans planted a week ago - they haven't surfaced, oh dear.

Double dig trench

Picture of a tree

What a wonderful picture of the fence growing through a tree. It reminds me of walking near Framfield with my dad

Mucking about

Feeling really drained today, both physically and emotionally. Yesterday we went to Mike's grandfather's funeral. I had totally underestimated how much it would upset me, since dad dying. I got really emotional when the hearse arrived carrying the coffin, it may as well have been my dad. Then I felt so guilty that I wasn't being upset purely for Philip but actually for myself losing dad, and felt terribly selfish. I know that I was being empathetic to those feeling the same way as I had, like Mike's mum, but I suddenly felt so hollow and lonely about it all, it was awful. I know in time these sudden pangs will fade a little, but I will never stop missing my dad, even though I feel he is still with me.

As well as this, I'm still suffering with this cold, now with a cough that tickles everytime my head hits the pillow, so I haven't been sleeping so well. It makes me mad as all I want to do is get outside, to feel well and spring to arrive. I'm sure everyone feels similar at the end of winter.

Today my manure is being delivered to the allotment! I'm going down to 'receive' it, and am actually excited as it means the beginning of the growing season for me. Once it's in I can start planting things.

Illustration

I love the work by Nick Dewar shown here

B&Q splurge

Having tried to reign myself in after my £40 kids clothes splurge early in the week, I'm now guilty of a similar spending spree at B&Q garden centre. It's quite important that I have a new watering can with a fine spray (for seeds), some new gloves, some wire supports, compost, a couple of willow weaved pea planters. I'm quite pleased at the latter find, as I've been after some kind of low fencing for the allotment for a while and have found nothing cheap enough to justify. These planters can be opened up to almost 2 metres, and only £4.98 a pop! bargain.

Freyja is a genius

It's so amazing watching your children develop in different ways. Hugh never mastered posting shapes through holes, whilst Freyja is storming along, she's onto all sorts of different shapes now! I'm so proud. Mind you Hugh was crawling about now and Freyja is currently all stops and starts, I'm not sure when she'll take off it at all!

Allotment blogs

I've found myself scouring the web for allotment blogs lately, in those in-between moments between digging and planting, I'm wanting to soak up as much info and advice as I can lay my hands on. This blog from Crocus has some good tips for veg growing, but I'd love suggestions of more if anyone can?

I also picked up a couple of books from the library that are surprisingly good. Admittedly I grabbed them in the rush because they both had 'allotment' in the title, but it appears I have done rather well. They are Allotment Folk by Chris Opperman and Allotment Gardening by Bridgette Saunders the latter being more of a practical guide and the former an insight into a collection of allotmenteers and their reasons behind taking on a plot (some nice fireside reading if you're a keen gardener)

Aunti Fi visit

Aunti Fi came over a couple of weeks ago, Hugh and Freyja loved having a new playmate.

Hugh in Sherlock Holmes pose

Bleuurgh gym disease

Today I feel really bleuurgh, we're all gripped with another cold and the sore throats and achiness is getting me down. I went to the gym last night (stupidly) but I've only been 4 times in as many weeks and each time I go, I get ill afterwards! I also cannot work out if I've lost or gained weight - my useless scales say I've lost 5 pounds (yipee) but the ones at the gym claim I've gained 2 pound (boo) and my clothes feel neither tighter or looser? Strange.

Anyway, today is another miserable one. Can't wait for the weather to improve as this afternoon it would be perfect to take the children out, but as it stands I don't think I can stomach any more mud in wellies.

Plan update

What I've been up to over the weekend at the plot. Moved my raspberries, so they are now 6 foot apart as they should be. Dug the potato plot (1) and added blood, fish and bone to all bare soil, to be dug in when I weed next week. My manure is coming next Sat, so I'll be deep digging trenches in order of what's to be planted - so starting with the asparagus and broad bean bed. Not sure where I can get asparagus spears which are a few years on around here?

I've also sorted out my seeds into montly planting order.

Hope

I've read a lot in gardening related blogs about hope today. Many comments whimsically looking back at their gardens when in full bloom, or looking at shoots appearing from the ground. I can understand it, I've just about reaches the end of my patience of rain, sleet and dark days stuck in the cottage. I yearn for those warm afternoon hours in spring, the smell of the mud and sap rising with a mug of tea just sighing and wishing for summer. Well it's not far off now, and if you're a gardener that's what it's all about.

 

I planted these for dad's grave initially, I can't even remember what they are now. I have also a pot of these on his grave, but I haven't visited it for a few weeks now so I'm not sure how they are doing.  

Potatoes chitting

Pentland Javelin and two maincrop Italian varieties I can't remember the name of (one I think is Bambino and is a salad potato) Chitting away in my shed (yes chitting, not chatting or sh....- a lame gardener's joke)

Planting broad beans and peas

This year I'm going to control my usual splurge planting spree, and only plant about 15-20 seeds of each item. Hopefully this will mean I'll have a sensible amount of plants and not have to give them away as I've done in the past. I'll be sowing in succession over the weeks to come. To start today I've sown some broad beans (Franchi variety) I was a little nervous planting these as they are Italian seed so I wasn't sure if they preferred warmer conditions than we have at the mo. I've stuck them in the shed with the chitting potatoes so they should be ok.

 

I have to say I'm very excited to be back in the saddle as I barely grew anything last year being heavily pregnant and having a toddler in tow. This year things are a bit more manageable! 

Hipstamatic App

Sometimes I wish I was back in the work loop, sharing geeky tips over the latest technology. Occasionally I see an insight as to what life would be like back there, like stumbling across this app for iPhone  It look so cool and it would have been something I'd spend hours playing with! But of course I have my two cherubs to play with instead which is of course much more rewarding.

Living willow

I have been giving some thought to my seating arrangements on the allotment. I'd love a Willow seat or bower that grows with the seasons. They seem a bit pricey but I was hugely impressed by this chap, John Waller's work who coincidenly lives near Tunbridge Wells.

On a high note, I've procured some manure (there is a poem, procure manure...) A local advertiser will deliver large sacks (£1.25 each) for free. Bonza, much a plenty!!

It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to

Ok I have turned 35 today, I'm not funny about my age, but I think I will stay about 35 for a while now!
I got a lovely iPod Shuffle and some hair straighteners so far. We are off to Chinatown for lunch/dinner with the family, should be fun. Not sure how the kids will take it though!

Progress

I popped to the plot for a spot of digging yesterday. Took some updated pics, to me it still looks like slow progress, but it's progress none the less. It's slow work as I'm having to pull out all the thistle roots now as I go as I've notice they have begun producing fresh shoots. I'm back to being in a slight panic as I have also noticed the bulbs have shot up in my garden at home, which is a sign the growing season is upon us!

 

 

My plot pic

Here is a rather poor mobile pic of my allotment minus the thistles, well with the tops lobbed off anyway. I've obviously moved on a bit since then, but I haven't taken any pics since this one. I've been reading all sorts of horror stories about thistle roots that fill me with dread, but I'm decided to dig out as much as I can then just take it step by step throughout the year. Shame really as had the coin I tossed landed on heads I would have had a weed free plot. That's life.

Bone tinglingly chilly

Oh it's bitterly cold out there. Not so much the snow and ice, but the wind is BITTER! I just don't want to leave the house. It's very rare that I won't don a coat, get all sherpa and on with business, but there are times when you have to find a cardi and have some hot choc. This is that day.

Here is my allotment plan.

Back to the allotment

I actually don't feel overwhelmed anymore by the size of this task. I have already tackled some of the tough work and it's not so bad if I cover some areas and return to them later in the season. So far I have dug about a quarter of the plot, and made a central path digging it to remove the stubborn perenneal weeds roots then covering in a permeable membrane. I have topped that with bark chips, but I might gravel it instead I haven't yet decided. Last Sunday I erected my compost heap, it's a square wooden one with slats that slotted together. I'm not sure whether I should put in my thistles as they may self seed into my compost? Have to look that one up. I think I will also get a green plastic container composter as I've heard they are very efficient. So next time I will take my camera to show you some progress.

Stubborness

I refuse to feel guilty for having a heated discussion that has upset her. I read once that some people are passive manipulators, and I think mum is one of them, if things go against the grain, she reacts with tears and people give in out of guilt. I don't, I can't. When it comes to my children, I want to bring them up, they are inextricably linked to my principles and ideas which when the grate with others, just grate. I am stubborn I know but I'm also compassionate to others feelings and views, but there comes a time when I have to defend myself and this is one of them. If mum continues to completely reject and of my wishes when it comes to looking after the kids, I don't know what I can do. This doesn't have anything to do with dad not being there, it just means she is a little more vulnerable, but how long can this be an excuse?

I had to vent that.

Allotment Fear

I'm worried I've taken on too much and my life is becoming a bit unorganised. Some of my precious evening time is now spent at the gym and organising the allotment, which means I generally don't plan my days very well and the housework is slipping behind. Now today is my 'day off' without Hugh and I find myself paralysed but not knowing where to start tidying up as it's all such a mess. Ho hum. I'll start in one corner and see where it leads me!

All of the allotment things I ordered have arrived, a square wooden composter, seeds and seed potatoes, a new trowel, some horseradish, some weed suppressing matting (from which I will make the central path on my patch), a water carrying inflatable bag, erm and I think that's it. I just need some fruit bushes, a few other bits and bobs like a water butt and some rhubarb I think. I need to get the digging finished down there and then get some manure dug in to settle for a few weeks. Then I'll do some hard landscaping, lay my path, put the compost heap up and I should be ready for action! Can't wait.

Bling

Freyja rooted around in my jewellery box, so I blinged her up!