Another miserable day...

Yet another grotty day, but I was daft enough to go down the lottie, you see I haven't been for about two weeks due to the wind and rain and thought that as it was only light showers today instead of the usual stair rods I would put a big waterproof coat on and go and 'do something'.

I was lucky to get there at all, as I crossed the road to get to the horrible steps(see previous posts !!) of the two black bags of compost I was carrying, one decided to disintegrate, so there I am picking up squishy veg and ashes and bits of black plastic in the now heavy rain looking like a bag lady. So, before I get there I am wet muddy and cross, anyway got to the plot dumped the compost and went to hide in the shipping container that we store our stuff in as the rain was getting heavier. After a short while I deemed it safe to go out, my mother warned me before I went that it was too wet to dig but I thought I would go and have look, she was of course right - mothers always are, look at the state of my boots, delectable Doc Martens that my mother bought for me in a lovely shop in Glastonbury years and years ago - actually looking at the photo you cannot really appreciate the mud - trust me I was there it was sticky and yucky

Here is one of the sections that I dug over - don't get to excited, my Dad started it about three weeks ago, so I thought I had at least better match the piece he had turned over - so I did. Even though the rain was persistantly coming down I had to take my coat off as I was getting hot - effort + two jumpers + unfit digger = coat off even in the rain. To the right of the picture you can see one of my brilliant Christmas present from my Mam and Dad, a green bag, wow-wee you may think but this is no ordinary little green bag, a little seat attaches to the side - perfect for skiving when the sun comes out, also two trowels, secataurs, fork, and a roll of wire, also a multitude of pockets around the outside for important 'stuff'
I was really impressed with the size of this worm that I dug up - impressed and sad enough to take a picture of it, I was actually a bit cross with him/her as by the time I got my camera it had shrunk, when it was streching itself to work along the soil it was half as long again. It was wriggling along under the couch grass I had the pleasure of fighting with, grrr, I can see the cardboard,manure and black plastic method being employed very soon !
I also decided to turn the original plot over today as well, I had intended to turn over all the unused soil but I got wetter,fed up and thirsty but the time I had done half of it and decided that half is better than none. The rain we have been having in large quantities since November has compacted this soil and a lot of sand has risen to the surface, so I wanted to dig it over a bit just in case we ever get a frost which can help to break it down more.

Allotment Genie it is then !

It has been decided that the Allotment Fairy shall know be known as the Allotment Genie, here is a picture of him with his favourite little helper earlier in the year.

Back to plot matters, seed orders are arriving and need organising quite a few of the flowers I have chosen for my house garden need planting in January and in the next few weeks it will be action stations as I need to find enough window sils to put all of my pots on to germinate, luckily the Allotment Genie has offered some space in his green house if I run out. I have bought one of those small three shelved greenhouses with a plastic cover but I am afraid to put it up in case it ends up in the next valley as the wind is so gusty. The weather is relentless at the moment, we did have a bit of respite on Wednesday when I managed to weed and tidy my front garden but it seems for weeks, even months now, it has rained and rained and rained. It has to stop soon because I need to get down the plot and dig dig dig !

A new name for the allotment fairy...

This post requires audience participation.... it has been brought to my attention that the Allotment Fairy is none to keen on his magical name, it all stems from the fact that men of his generation do not appreciate being called fairies, whether this is politically correct or not it is a fact so we are on the search for a new title, so I am on the look out for a catchy name for a gem of a father who regularly borrows the keys and spreads his magic fairy dust(sorry Dad) around my plot and gives me loads of advice and a kick up the bum when required !

Keep heart ....

I have tried numerous times to post these photos in the order that I want them to appear but to no avail, so pic 4 is the next plot ..... I had vision of it all being dead and almost bare earth underneath the bonfire as it had been there since we started- fool that I am. Never mind, onwards and upwards or should that be downwards as its all dig dig dig now, I will not let this beat me, in fact here are some pictures of my Dad's allotment to remind me how it should be done and more importantly what it will look like by August !

Sweetcorn mini jungle just after harvesting

Raspberry and sweet pea tunnel netted and full of C.D's to deter the birds

Stunning Dahlia display - some of which are coming to visit me very soon !
My grotty plot as of yesterday loads of brambles, couch and heavens knows what else

Strawberry beds after harvesting and tidying, the space next to the strawberry plants is cunning plan on my Dad's part, he is surround by a broadleaf wood which is home to squirrels and many birds so he throws squishy strawberries onto the empty patch of ground and the lazt squirrels and birds help themselves and leave the nice plants alone - working with nature not against it!

New compost bin

The new plot, the one underneath the bonfire is looking to be a bit of a beast, even I can identify couch grass and obviously plenty of brambles ! Dad has created a new compost bin - a long term one so that we can put in the stuff we have to remove from the new plot. Leave it for about ten years and it should be safe to use !!

Bonfire has gone - thanks to the allotment fairy

In between the torrential rain we have been suffering of late my Dad has been to the plot and has dispatched the bonfire, most of it was burnt - obviously, but the stuff that was completly sodden was barrowed to the far end of the plot ready to be burnt when it decides to dry out. He has also started to dig it over, so as soon as my daughter goes back to school on Monday its on with the thermals no more excuses - I need to get down there asap.

Happy New Year

A bit late to be wishing you all a Happy New Year but better late than never, it has been a long time between posts, but lets be fair not a lot goes on down the lottie in December especially when I only took it over in September. I have resisted the tempatation to fill the blog with details of other stuff, such as daughters rotten cold, quest for a Christmas tree and Christmas itself as this is supposed to be an allotment blog so here we go, the cabbages are looking incredibly sorry for themselves, onions are having a good go, garlic (rescued, sprouting from the depths of the fridge) is galloping away and in the words of my daughter the strawberries are fast asleep waiting for spring to come back. Finally we have a showing on the broad bean front - bearing in mind I planted them at the end of October - now I have two little sprouts which have decided to see what it looks like this side of the soil, mind you if this ridicolous rain continues they will probably just float away.