Well, we have a dry day, the first one for a long time. So, it seemed sensible to take advantage of this to do some planting. Also, I had to attend a Committee meeting where we were meeting a member to sort out some misunderstandings about flags and the removal of soil!!!
Surprisingly the soil was not too wet.
Planting in order from the strawberry bed end:-
Solent Wight garlic the separate bed at the back to compete with the strawberry plants I added in the autumn.
10 Mikor shallots for half a row.
Following on and for the next row Hercules F1 onions.
Then one and a half rows of Red Baron onions.
Overall the allotment is not looking too bad, with the extra row of broad beans just sticking their heads above the soil.
First time back after Christmas and I managed an hour before it started to rain! It had not really rained for a week, but the ground is still very heavy and wet. The forecast is for more heavy rain tonight. I hope that we start to get some drier weather soon.
Broad bean Aquadulce Claudia seeds have started to grow, there seem to be a few gaps, but I can fill those in later.
The celeriac is also growing, but slowly. I harvested a couple, which will be enough to make a decent amount of soup. I need to get them started earlier this year and make sure they are watered.
The pear and apple trees look OK, but there are some dead shoots on the pear that need to be trimmed. I moved the rubber holding tie as the trunk was rubbing on the support stake. Hopefully, this will help and as this is the third year they have been in the allotment fingers crossed for a better performance this year, otherwise, they may have to go!
I managed to do some digging, but the is still about a quarter to the allotment to go, which I must get done by the end of January.
First in Oxford. This is Boxing Day with everyone on Sue's side present. Ralph and Tash came the night before Christmas Eve, so it was good to see them for a few days. The rest came on Boxing Day, with Will, Emily and Alice staying overnight.
Second in Bishop's Waltham. This was on the Saturday after Christmas. Ian and Laura came down on the same day and stayed overnight, so did Sue and I, but we stayed in a local hotel – the Macdonald Botley Park Hotel & Spa.
Oh, this is just Felix. Just a cute picture he is wrapped in the elephant towel we bought him for Christmas.
I have always thought that I lived in a Democracy that valued diversity. In this election, it would seem that some people, of whatever political persuasion, value neither Democracy nor diversity
The digging of the allotment continues. The soil is still very wet and more rain is forecast. Walking off the allotment means that a trowel has to be used to remove the clinging mud and the tools used need to be scraped clean.
Still, I managed to get a couple of hours done before I left for Mindfulness and then Ukulele – what a varied life I lead. Remind me to tell you about the George Formby Convention, which is held in the Imperial Hotel Blackpool.
OK back to the allotment. If I want to feel upbeat then I look these two pictures:
This one has been taken of the same day as those above, but from the opposite end and it is more depressing as it looks like I have done very little.
The weather has been so wet recently that it has been difficult to get on to the allotment to get it dug over. It seems that most days are full of rain, but in the few dry days I have been able to get out.
This is how it was at the start of November
This is how it is now with the celeriac lifted, then spaced and replanted. Hopefully all 12 plants will survive.
In addition a row of aquadulce broad beans has been planted. This is the first time that I have tried overwintering broad beans. If successful, this will, hopefully, lead to an earlier crop than last year.
More to do!
Although we have quite a small plot, there is still much digging to do. Unfortunately the allotments do not have a ready supply of manure any more. It can be bought in but I am not sure of the cost, quality or the quantity.
This time of the year when the growing season is coming to an end and the evenings are drawing in and the frost and rain and wind are just around the corner; it is time to put the allotment to bed!
Everything is looking tired and weary and such a contrast to earlier in the year when we were harvesting onions, courgettes, patty pans and sweet corn. Even earlier we had tomatoes, gooseberries, runner beans, broad beans, beetroot, strawberries and rhubarb to eat or turn into jam or chutney. All that we have left to harvest are some carrots and celeriac.
The next step!
Such a contrast, now the job of the clearing the ground has begun and it will be dug over in the next few weeks (if it ever stops raining for long enough) and then we will plant garlic and broad beans (Aquadulce var.)
Today I had to have Mabel “put down”. Such a horrible phrase put down where? Am I going to pick her up again?
No, Mabel is no more, just a cat but she died in my arms. When my time comes I would wish to die in the arms of someone who loved me.
Mabel was a proud cat who lived life to the full. No rodent or bird was safe from her grasp. She loved to be fussed, but when she had had enough she would let you know with claw and tooth.
She lived to be nearly 21 years old, over the past year she has had medication for an over-active thyroid gland and had been fine. A graceful lady at peace with the world, seeking the warm areas of the house and wanting food and attention and calm.
Yesterday her back legs had given up and she struggled to walk, her right side and right legs were swollen, she could do little more than lie still and breathe in gasps.
I can rationalise my decision by saying that she was in a very sorry state and unable to look after herself, but she did respond to kindness. Was it a kindness to have her put down? A child walked passed me with the slogan “Kindness is the new cool”, emblazoned across her T-shirt.
I do not feel cool, I feel sad. I had a faithful pet killed, even the vet said it was the merciful thing to do as the prognosis was poor.
But she died in my arms and I have to come to terms with that. I did not receive 30 pieces of silver, but that is what it cost me. I paid the price of her death, now in my heart, I pay the price for her death.
