Sunday 19th June 2016 – Fathers’ Day!!

Posted on June 20, 2016 by clairesallotment

Father’s are very important, and mustn’t be forgotten. Mark is a wonderful dad to our kiddly, widdlies. Never has he refused to change a stinky nappy (even the real humdingers!) He works so hard that I only have to work part time and can be available for the kids when they need me. So he deserves to be spoilt on Fathers’ Day. First thing in the morning they came in with a cup of tea for us both, and some pressies for Mark to open. Then for breakfast I toasted Warburton’s Crumpets. Mark really likes them and they are so soft and fluffy. Then we spent the day with his parents. We went to the Brooklands Museum. None of us have ever been before, but it’s something that we’d always wanted to go to. It’s not expensive to get in, and all the staff are really friendly. Basically it’s full of transport. Now I know that doesn’t sound that exciting, but honestly it really is. You don’t have to be a petrol head, of a plane spotter to enjoy it. We saw the most glorious vintage cars, which were being driven by their owners. Now I don’t know the makes of the cars, but they were a sight to behold. I like driving, and appreciate a beautiful car when I see one. They took part in the “Test Hill Challenge”, which some raced up in second gear, where as others struggled in first. I’m not sure even our car would make it in second gear. We saw the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car. The actual one they used in the film! It’s really large, and quite a bizarre construction. Thankfully the “Child Snatcher” was no where to be seen (blimey he’s one creepy character).

Where's Dick van Dyke?

Where’s Dick van Dyke?

Also we saw the first bicycles. Some weird and wonderful designs, from “Penny Farthings”, so a rather strange contraption that had one large wheel on one side and then 2 small wheels on the other. All the bicycles had solid tyres and no shock absorbers!! A painful ride if ever I saw one. There was information on the land speed records. It really was interesting. Then we went outside and they were about to start up the “Napier Railton”. Now I had no idea what sort of car this was, but we were all warned that it makes one hell of a noise. They weren’t wrong. It took 3 men to push it to get it started, and then it fired into action. You had to shout to the person next to you. I’ve never heard anything like it before, it was more like a rocket than a car.

The noisiest car I've ever heard. But so sleek and beautiful.

The noisiest car I’ve ever heard. But so sleek and beautiful.

We then went inside an air hanger and saw a Wellington Bomber that a man was lovingly restoring. On the floor below you saw all the rusted parts. I don’t know how long he’d been working on it for, but there was so much dedication in what he was doing. We then went on Concorde. I’ve only ever seen Concorde flying in the sky above our house, and it looks so tiny all the way up there. Apparently it flies at 60,000 ft (11 miles high) and at speeds of just over Mach 2!! I can’t even comprehend any of that. It’s such a wonderful aircraft, thin and sleek. Lots of leg room, I was very impressed. It’s such a shame that it came to such an abrupt and devastating end!

We've just flown on Concorde.

We’ve just flown on Concorde.

We then went and looked at one of the planes that the Sultan of Oman had. The front of the plane was where the Sultan was, and then further back the plane you got the less elegant the decor was. What did tickle us all was the fact that you had to be strapped into your bed. I guess when you’re asleep you don’t want to fall out of bed due to turbulence. Then at a little after 1.30pm a Spitfire did several flybys. Such a wonderful aeroplane, so sleek and manoeuvrable. We then went into the Bus Museum. Now I know this doesn’t sound that interesting, and George’s comment was “Do we have to?” However, he did say that this was actually his favourite part of the day. I was really interesting. We even found a bus that went where we live. We then had one last wander around outside and I saw a car with “Hotchkiss 96” written on the side. The driver told me that he’d driven it down the M40 to show it at Brooklands, and would then be driving it back later. Just imagine driving along the motorway, and you’re overtaken by this car. It’s like living in “Bizarro world”.

Wouldn't you just love to drive this up the motorway.

Wouldn’t you just love to drive this up the motorway.

We were all exhausted from all the walking we’d done, and went back to a pub near Mark’s parents and had a drink. Then we dropped Mark’s parents off at home, and then the 4 of us came home and I made roast chicken (not one of ours) and then had Lemon Meringue Cheesecake for pudding. I hope Mark had a lovely day.

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Saturday 18th June 2016 – My first Sweet Pea!!

Posted on June 19, 2016 by clairesallotment

Today has been another one of those wonderful days where I can spend as much time in the garden as possible. Oh, it’s so joyous when you’re able to do something like that. I’ve still got loads more Tomatoes to put into 6 inch pots. But I went to our local garden centre yesterday and managed to find a load more free pots in their recycling. I’m not sure if I’ve got enough to do them all, but if I’ve not, I’m not far off. After lots of sorting out of the Tomatoes, I finally had then all outside and any of the small ones I’ve given to my sister, any of the broken ones I’ve put in the compost heap, I sorted out the 3 inch pots from ones that decided to die, and were then left with the good ones. I’ve had to do the same in my greenhouse at home as I’ve done in the greenhouse on my allotment and had to place trays outside the staging. This isn’t ideal, but it means that I can fit in lots more plants.

The left hand side of my greenhouse. The Tomatoes are in full flower on the top.

The left hand side of my greenhouse. The Tomatoes are in full flower on the top.

I’ve only left a small space in the centre for me to walk in.

The back of the greenhouse. The peppers and chillies are doing well. But the okra need more sun!!

The back of the greenhouse. The peppers and chillies are doing well. But the okra needs more sun!!

They’re all growing really well, so hopefully I’ll have a great harvest this year. I’ll keep you posted though.

And the right hand side. The Cucamelons are growing well, just a few more plants to pot up.

And the right hand side. The Cucamelons are growing well, just a few more plants to pot up.

I also managed to find some spare space on my patio to put some more Tomatoes and they’re attached to the fencing. I still have about 19 left to pot up, but ran out of pots, so will have to go and purloin some more from the local garden centre. I’m not stealing them, just recycling them. I’m saving them a job, and some money, so it’s a good thing. Then just as I was about to call it quits in the garden for the day, I noticed that some of the Sweet Peas, that I planted in a hanging basket have started to flower. I very carefully bent over my Tomatoes to see how they smelt. They’re called “Hi Scent”, and boy are they! They smell beautiful, and if the sun had been shining at that point, then I would have know that summer was upon us. But the grey clouds had descended and I knew that I was back in England having our typical summer!!

The first of the Sweet Peas. They smell like summer, shame the weather doesn't know it's summer as well.

The first of the Sweet Peas. They smell like summer, shame the weather doesn’t know it’s summer as well.

So another busy day (nothing new there), but still lots more to do.

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Friday 17th June 2016 – Glass is sharp.

Posted on June 17, 2016 by clairesallotment

You may remember the photos I put up about the damage that Storm Katie did to my greenhouse on my allotment. I ended up loosing 11 panes of glass all together! I’ve been so busy with potting up and planting out that I’ve not yet been able to go and get the glass I needed. That is until today. I was waiting for a rainy day (and boy have we has lots of those lately). But today was supposed to be more rainy than the rest. So I went to finally get my glass from a lovely man about 8 miles away. Yes I know it’s a bit of a distance, but he’s very good and it’s good to support the small businesses. I went with the sizes and needed and the numbers of each size. They’re lovely in that place, and they cut what I needed while I waited, which wasn’t very long. In total all the glass together cost me just shy of £45, which isn’t that bad. I then drove very carefully to my allotment, going very slowly round the corners and bends. I could hear the glass moving about in the boot of the car. You’ll be glad to hear that I didn’t break any panes, so that was a big relief. I then proceeded to put the new glass in the greenhouse. It’s not a difficult thing to do (although the roof is a little on the tricky side), but work from the bottom and go up! I put the first pane in, and before I put the second pane on top, the back of a couple of my fingers caught the top of the pane I’d just put in. Fingers bleed a lot!! I had blood dripping down my fingers, and had nothing to stop it, apart from the bits of tissue paper between the panes of glass. I ended up putting my gloves on, and keeping them on, and the fabric from the gloves managed to help stem to blood flow. The cuts were only small, but there’s not much fat on fingers!! I got all the panes of glass in, without further injury, and now my greenhouse is complete again. I also went to my local garden centre to see if they had anymore spare pots in their recycling, which they had loads of the sizes I needed. This weekend I aim to continue potting up my Tomatoes, and hopefully I’ll get most of them done.

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Thursday 16th June 2016 – I’m sorry Bumble bees for disturbing you!

Posted on June 16, 2016 by clairesallotment

I’m all for saving those mini beasts and insects that are useful in the garden, and do my best to keep them happy. Slugs and Snails on the other hand I would happily get rid of without any question. I spent about 4 hours on my allotment today, again sheltering from the showers in the greenhouse as they made themselves known. I’ve managed to pot up more Tomatoes, and only need another 21, 6 inch pots, to pot up my Cucumbers, Aubergine, Melons and the rest of my Tomatoes that are in the greenhouse in the allotment. The Tomatoes in the greenhouse at home are another matter. Once I did all I could in my greenhouse, I also weeded 3 beds. The weeds have grown so fast it’s quite scary. I also managed to wood chip another couple of paths so that was good as well. I’ve still got more paths to do, but hopefully I’ll get those done soon. As I was removing a load of bind weed that is growing round one of my compost heaps, I noticed that there were lots of Bumble Bees buzzing around. Usually you see a few, but this seemed a little on the strange side as there were a lot of them. I realised very quickly that they have a nest in my compost heap! So I left what I’ve not removed, and hopefully they won’t mind and will continue to live in their little home. I was going to sort out that compost heap this summer, but may have to leave it until the bees have moved away. Bumble bees are on the decline due to their habitats being destroyed, and are very useful for pollinating the flowers and vegetables. I therefore need to keep them safe. I’ll have to be very careful this year to not disturb them any further, and I hope I’ve not upset them too much. Before I left, I harvested some more Strawberries. We’ll have some for pudding tonight and the rest I’ll save to make some jam with. Once I’ve weeded a bed, then I’m planting a Sunflower in the bed. Make sure you protect them from slugs and snails and also stake them well. We’ll see how tall they get this year. I’ll keep you posted.

That's one eighth done, just seven eighths left to go!!

That’s one eighth done, just seven eighths left to go!!

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Tuesday 14th June 2016 – French Beans, more Tomatoes and Cabbage.

Posted on June 15, 2016 by clairesallotment

It is June isn’t it? I know I’ve just written the date above, but I’m starting to wonder if I got it wrong. It’s just that at the moment, we seem to be having the sort of weather I’d expect to have in April, namely “Showers”. It should be “Flaming June”. “Flaming” with the meaning of “Hot and Warm” and not with the meaning of “Something of annoyance”. Please weather can you sort yourself out, and give us the weather that we’re supposed to have! You’re making me very cross. I spent my time at the allotment in and out of the greenhouse. When it was dry I planted out the rest of my French Beans “Cobra” and “Cherokee Trail of Tears”, which I planted up some more canes that I bought. Make sure you protect them from Slugs and Snails. With all the rain they’re having a wonderful time.

The last of the French Beans are now in.

The last of the French Beans are now in.

I then planted out some more of my Cabbages “Advantage” in between the other cabbages I have. I’m running out of space so I am having to inter plant them with ones I’ve already planted. I’m sure they’ll be ok, just a little more cozy then I’d anticipated. When it was raining I was back in the greenhouse planting up more Tomatoes into 6 inch pots. My friend Jenny gave me some pots, and then when I went to my local garden centre they have an area where you can put your old pots and they’ll recycle them. I took about a dozen and a half. I was recycling them in my own little way. Then just before I left to come home, I managed to avoid a shower and harvest some of my Strawberries. I only harvested enough for us to have with pudding that evening, so will pick a load more on Thursday (hope it stays dry). I can’t go to the allotment on Wednesday as I’m working all day.

More than enough Strawberries for us all to have a large bowl for pudding each.

More than enough Strawberries for us all to have a large bowl for pudding each.

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Monday 13th June 2016 – More Tomatoes done.

Posted on June 15, 2016 by clairesallotment

It’s been a funny sort of day. The weather has been finding it difficult to decide what it’s going to do. One minute it’s pouring with rain and then the next the sun is out and it’s very warm. I spent this morning in my greenhouse on my allotment sorting out more of my Tomatoes. I’m running out of 6 inch pots and am hoping that I’ll be able to get hold of some more very soon. I’m pleased to report that I did manage to get another 40 Tomatoes potted up into 6 inch pots, so I’m getting them done, all be it a little slowly. I now need to get some more 4 foot canes and see if I can find some more bigger pots. Before I left my plot, I had a wander round to see how everything was getting on, and am very pleased to report that my Kohl Rabi and swelling up very well.

My Kohl Rabi are growing very well. All this rain has made them swell.

My Kohl Rabi are growing very well. All this rain has made them swell.

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Saturday 11th June 2016 – Chillies, Sweet Peppers and more Tomatoes!

Posted on June 14, 2016 by clairesallotment

I spent practically ALL day in the garden at home today which was wonderful. I did some weeding, cleared the paving stone path that goes to the end of the garden, changed some of the rotten log roll, and had a general clear up and prune. Then after lunch I went into my greenhouse and planted up a load more Tomatoes, Chillies and Sweet Peppers into 6 inch pots. The greenhouse is getting rather full now, and I’ve run out of 6 inch pots, so have contacted a couple of friends who said they have spare ones. It’s like doing a jigsaw puzzle in my greenhouse at the moment. You need to move that bit, before you can do that bit, but can’t do that bit, until that bit it done!! I’ll get there, but it’s going to take a little while. I’m exhausted, hot, sweaty, smelly and dirty, so I need a bath, and then I think it’ll be take out Fish and Chips for dinner. I’ve earned it!!

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Friday 10th June 2016 – Homebase didn’t have enough 8 foot canes!!

Posted on June 10, 2016 by clairesallotment

Oh, Homebase, I always had faith in you. But today you let me down by not having enough 8 foot canes for me to buy. I needed 30, but you only had 20. Therefore I was unable to plant out all my French Beans! I’ll have to look else where for some more. Shame on you!! Today was another busy day on my allotment. I spent another 4 hours planting out so much. I started with my French Beans, although with a lack of 8 foot canes (naughty Homebase) I was unable to get them all out today. I am growing 2 varieties this year “Cobra” and “Cherokee Trail of Tears”. I’ve mixed them together, but if you want to keep yours separate then by all means do. I then planted out my Broccoli “Lancer Mixed”, and then my Cabbage “Primero F1”. I then did a little bit of weeding and wood chipping of some of my paths, and then as a final treat for the day I harvested some more Strawberries. I did eat one, but then I’d worked very hard. I need to have a shower before I go out tonight as I’m a bit stinky!!

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Thursday 9th June 2016 – I got so much done today!!

Posted on June 9, 2016 by clairesallotment

What a lot of planting out I did today. I planted out my Runner Beans, Lettuces, Squashes, Pumpkins and Kale. Plus I did some weeding!! Yes I know I must be “The Flash” to get all that done in 4 hours!! I then treated myself and went to the cinema to see “Room”. Amazing film!! If you’ve not already seen it, make time to. The whole cast are superb, especially the little boy. Now I’ve had a bath and am all clean. I had very dirty knees, and mud in places that I still can’t figure out how it got there.

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Tuesday 7th June 2016 – Potting up Okra.

Posted on June 7, 2016 by clairesallotment

This morning I had a few errands to run, one of which was to go and water the plants in the greenhouse on my allotment. They were all very thirsty. The weather this morning was very humid. We were expecting some storms later, and possibly loads of rain. Still there were going to be very hit and miss. When I was down my allotment I got a wonderful surprise when I spotted 6 ripe strawberries waiting to be picked. They were my strawberries, I wasn’t stealing them from someone else’s plot. I don’t do that, I’m a good plot holder. I very carefully put them in my cap and bought them back home. We’ll have one and a half each for pudding tonight. They smell so sweet, I can’t wait to try them.

My precioussssss!!

My precioussssss!!

Then at about 1pm the wind disappeared and the thunder started. Faintly to start with, but definitely getting closer. Still no rain at this point, but the skies were grey and angry! Then after about an hour the thunder was more intense and the first of the flashes came. The rain also joined in (not wanting to be left out). So I went down the greenhouse in my garden and decided to pot up my Okra plants into 6 inch pots. I had 7 plants, but 3 were a bit weedy, so I discarded those. So potted up 4 strong healthy plants. Here is how I did it.

Now it’s a little after 4pm and the storm and stuff has now gone. The sun is trying to come out again. We didn’t have much rain, but I think we were very, very lucky.

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