I would just to make sure you know that it wasn’t me making all the wind in the greenhouse, after all I’m a lady and we don’t do that sort of thing!? It was blowing a gale outside today, and this afternoon I said to the family that I would be going to my greenhouse when George said, “You’re going in your ladies hole!!” Don’t ask, I don’t anymore. So off I popped (no windy pun intended) with a bunch of seeds to “My ladies hole”. The chickens are a little concerned about this windy business and kept giving me little noise as if to say “What is this?” Once safe in the greenhouse I started sowing. I made some more films for you to view, and Mark is working on them as I type this blog. First on the list were Nasturtium “Jewel Mixed”. I love these flowers, they make any bare place look glorious with their trailing flowers and leaves. They’ll grow in any soil, even dust if that’s all you’ve got. You can eat the flowers and they have a peppery flavour to them. The redder the flowers are the hotter they seem to be. The seeds look like little shrivelled up brains. Next I sowed some Aubergines, two varieties this year, firstly from W Robinson & Sons “Easter Egg” and secondly some little purple ones from Spain. I can’t pronounce them, but I’ll show you them when they’re growing. Then the first lot of the Tomatoes “Roma VF”. I’ve got loads more tomatoes to sow this year, all shapes and sizes and with some really odd and bizarre names. I’ll make a film about those when I come to do them, don’t worry. Then some Okra “Cajun Delight F1”. Okra is my nemesis, and I will grow some one year. I’ve changed variety so hopefully that will work in my favour. If I ever do grow some lovely Okra, I may just have to have an Okra party to celebrate. Then onto some herbs. I’m going to create at home a “Salad Bed” (don’t worry I’ll film that as well). This I will fill with all sorts of goodies you would have in a salad, from Tomatoes, Lettuce, Cucamelons, Spring Onions, Radish and a selection of herbs from Basil, Parsley and Chives. So I started off with the herbs today. I sowed Basil “Sweet”, Chives and Parsley “Giant of Italy”. And then finally some Tomatillo “Purple”. These are wonderful and I’ve grown Cape Gooseberries (which are from the same family) before, but the ones I’ve grown before were sweet ones, and these are more savoury. They originate from Mexico, and are great in salsa, so would be good with Fajita’s!! Well that’s all done for today, time to start dinner. TTFN!!
With the chickens talking to me in their own little way, I spent some of the afternoon in the greenhouse sowing more seeds. Today was the turn of Kohl Rabi “Olivia F1”, which I grow every year, but usually a different variety. We do love Kohl Rabi in our house, it’s great roasted in the oven with other vegetables. Long roasting is ideal. I know that it’s not to everyones taste, but I tend to find that it doesn’t suffer from many bugs and grows really well without many problems. Next was the Broad Beans “Red Flowered”. These are new for me. I’ve grown Broad beans before, but never this variety, or anything from W. Robinson & Sons. So I have high hopes for these. I’ll let you know how they get on. Then onto the Sugar Snap Peas. I’ve sown some now and will sow some more again in about a months time, so we have loads all through the summer. They don’t freeze at all, so need to be eaten as soon as they’re ready. Don’t sow too many in one go, otherwise you won’t be able to eat them fast enough, and they’ll go to waste. I’ve sown 4 seeds in each 3 inch pot. Put the seeds north, south, west and east. And I’ve done about 15 pots. I’ll do the same again in about a months time. I know they say that you can sow them straight out in the soil, but if I do that, then the germination rate decreases, and the slugs eat them. And finally, last, but by no means least Leeks “Below Zero F1”. These I have grown before and they grew really well. They don’t mind if the temperature gets a little on the cold side. When I grew them once before they survived very happily in the snow! So that’s that for today. Hopefully more tomorrow, but they’ve threatened rain and strong winds (no rude comments please), so we’ll just have to wait and see.
Today on the allotment I sowed my first seeds, I’m so excited!! I know that it’s much later than normal, but the weather has been too cold. There’s no point in sowing seeds when it’s too cold because they just won’t grow, and usually rot. So it’s better to leave them for a bit until the weather is right. So today was the turn of my Parsnips “Gladiator”. I tend to sow this variety most years as they really do well. Parsnips are in the soil until the winter, so make sure you’re prepared for this before you sow them. Also make sure that you’ve turned the soil very well and removed any large stones because this will make the parsnips split as they grow. I managed to do 2 rows which should give a good yield, and plenty of room for them to grow.
Two rows of “Gladiator” Parsnips….Are you not entertained?
Once these were done, I then continued with some more weeding. The soil is still great to dig, not too wet and the weeds are coming out very easily. The kids have now broken up for the Easter break, but as my 2 are old enough to be left on their own for a while (12 and 15) I can pop down the allotment for a couple of hours and plod on with everything. I’ve got loads of seeds to sow this weekend, so I’ll keep you up dated with what I get up to. Just a reminder that the clocks go forward this Sunday, which means that we loose and hours in bed, but we’re in British Summer Time. So more time to play in the garden. The days will be getting warmer and longer, perfect after a long winter.
Go and see, it’s AMAZING!!!!
On 13th July 2010* I received an email from Director Jon Wright with the subject heading ‘Two page idea attached’. In it he outlined a movie idea that had come to him in a dream: a world where humanity had been defeated by an invading alien robot empire and everyone is ordered to stay inside their homes. Back then it was called OUR ROBOT OVERLORDS. Some of those ideas have survived through to the finished film, some have fallen by the wayside and others could still be used in potential sequels or TV series, but already the world felt strong enough to start bouncing ideas back and forth and start working on a script.
And so ROBOT OVERLORDS was born, and a mere four years, eight months and fourteen days later it’s in UK cinemas for the public to see. That’s pretty fast for an independent British movie.
Jon and I…
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Oh my goodness what a weekend!! If anyone says to me that they had a busy weekend and they weren’t doing what I was doing, well let’s just say they don’t know what a busy weekend is. So let’s start at the best place, the beginning. Friday 20th March: 6am up bright and early to leave by 6.30am. Now the shortest way to get to Ally Pally from my house is to go north, but that takes you straight through London. It’s just under 30 miles away. However, I’m not going to drive through London, so sane person would. So the only other way, is to get on the M25 at junction 10 and drive all the way round and finally get off the M25 at junction 24!! God that road is boring!! Once off, then it’s through Cockfosters to Ally Pally. Doing this more than doubles the miles you have to drive, but is quicker. Yes I know it sounds weird, but it’s the truth. So after 65 miles I arrived. The show wasn’t opening until 11am, so everyone was busy setting up and doing all sorts of wonderful things to their stalls. I put both my show cards up, one on “Sean’s Shed” stand and the other one in the Family Zone. For the next 3 days I would be flitting back and forth between each of these places doing readings and meeting people and chatting.
I’m on that list 8 times reading!!
At “Sean’s Shed” there were a few of us Gardening YouTubers, myself, Aaron, Vivi, Geoff, and Sean from the Horticultural Channel, Rob (winner of this years Big Allotment Challenge) and several others. When we all arrived we greeted each other as though we were old friends. It was so wonderful. There were loads of schools visiting on the Friday and it was lovely to see loads of new budding gardeners eager to learn. I met loads of people who watch my You Tube page and we chatted and swapped hints and tips. I read to some children and they really enjoyed “Lottie and Dottie Sow Carrots”. I signed and sold some copies which was great.
Signing my life away.
Then at 3pm they all left and the show then went very quiet. We finished at 7pm, and after my long drive home I walked through the door at 9pm, exhausted. The following was definitely needed: wine, dinner, bath, wine and bed! Saturday 21st March: I was up at 5.30am, and left the house at 6am. The show was starting at 9am and I wanted to get to the show with plenty of time to spare. I arrived just after 7.30am and hardly anyone was about. Not even the security guard!! The ladies loo was locked so I had to sneak into the mens (I used a cubicle just incase you’re wondering). The show was much busier today and I did 3 readings. I sold lots more books and chatted with so many people. The show finished at 5pm and on the drive home along the M25 the overhead signs slowed us down to 50 mph and said “Animals in road, slow down”. This did make me chuckle as usually it’s “Congestion”. I’m not sure what animal I was expecting, a horse possibly, but we didn’t see anything. I think they just put that sign up to make sure we were still paying attention. I arrived home at 7pm with fish and chips and wine. I sat on the sofa with it, watching Jake Gyllenhaal in “The Day After Tomorrow”. Yes I know I’m married, and very happily, but phwahh!! Mark and the kids had spent the day up at the NEC in Birmingham for Comic con. Mark was on stage for part of it because “Robot Overlords” is out 27th March!! I picked them up from the station at 8.30pm and when we got home, I finally got to open my cards and presents as it was my birthday and then we all went to bed. I’ve had some odd birthdays in my time, but this one was the weirdest one ever!! Sunday 22nd March: The last day of the show. I was up at 6am, and out the door at 6.30am, so a little later than the day before. When we all arrived at the show we wondered at what point in the day would we start to go hyperactive. I was reckoning on about 2pm, but not it happened about 11am! You just start to get a bit silly, I think it was the lack of sleep. I’m used to 9-10 hours a night, and when you’re only getting about 7 hours you start to loose it. I did 3 more readings and signed loads of books, in fact more than the Friday and Saturday combined.
They were very attentive and enthusiastic.
When we had a few spare minutes we went for a quick wander around the show to see what was going on. There was loads to see from various animals, bees, things that wiggled, garden tools and machinery, but I was straight for the chickens. The British Hen Welfare Trust were there, which is the same place where we go our 6 ex batts from. They also had little baby chicks which were only 5 days old. I had to hold one, and lucky it didn’t crap in my hand.
Now no crapping in my hand thank you!
Mark and the kids came to the show in the afternoon and George loved holding the chicks and anything else that anyone would let him hold. They’re old enough to go wandering round on their own, so they can have lots of fun to. The show ended at 5pm and then it was time to clear away. I’d spoken to 2 chaps who were selling Wood Blocx. They’d come all the way down from Scotland and would not be taking any of their bits back with them as they flew. So they very kindly let me have one of their wooden beds. It’s fairly small, but will be perfect for a salad bed by the back door. I got it for FREE and some FREE plants as well!! If I’d have had to buy the bed it would have cost me £115. Bargain!! Thank you Henry I really appreciate it. I’ll make a video when I put it together. It looks very simple to do, and I’ve got the instructions. If I can put together an IKEA wardrobe, then I can do this. We arrived home at just before 8pm, ordered some Chinese food, ate and went to bed exhausted!! Now that was a busy weekend. If you want to see more photos from the show, you can view them HERE.
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