WELL WELL WELL ANYONE FOR CATERPILLAR SOUP!!!

WISH I WAS THERE NOW..................

SORRY FOR DELAY IN POST, EXCUSES EXCUSES I KNOW..........

YOU REMEMBER ME COMPLAINING ABOUT THE WET STUFF , WELL LOTTIE HAS DONE GOOD IN HER FIRST YEAR THE THOUGHT OF HAVING TO WATER THREE TIMES A DAY WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CASE IF WE HAD BEEN BLESSED WITH WHAT WAS ONCE CALLED A 'BRITISH SUMMER'

WHATS HAPPENED HERE THEN?

WE WERE BRAGGING ABOUT THE LACK OF HOLES IN OUR GREENS AND HEY PRESTO THE CABBAGE WHITES OVERHEARD AND THOUGHT THEY WOULD LEAVE A GIFT, YOU GUESSED BEGINS WITH C ENDS IN GREEDY LITTLE BEGGARS..............

HAD A LOVELY BBQ AT WEEKEND AND ENJOYED A LOVELY SALAD 'OURS' WITH HOMEMADE BURGERS WITH 'OUR' ONIONS,SO BRILL TO HAVE A SUNNY DAY GOOD COMPANY AND EATING THINGS YOU HAVE GROWN..................

GOT TO KEEP HIM INDOORS BUSY PODDING PEAS....

WE ARE OFF TO SUNNY DEVON JESS WILL BE STAYING IN BOARD AND LODGINGS DOGGY STYLE, WHICH GIVES US A BIT OF TIME TO OURSELVES DOIN COUPLE THINGS, BIKE RIDES GOING OUT ON AN EVENING NOT WORRYING IF SHE WILL BE LONELY IN THE CARAVAN ,DON'T GET ME WRONG WE WILL MISS HER WHEN WALKING ON THE GORGEOUS BEACHES BUT IT'S ONLY A WEEK MMMMMMMMMMMMMM BLISS.............

BILLY GOAT GRUFF SHOWING US THE WAY..........

WELL WELL WELL........

HOW IS EVERYONE DOING ON THIS BRIGHT BREEZY AND BEAUTIFUL SUMMERS DAY, OOPS SORRY WAS I DREAMING.

IV'E DECIDED TO COME BACK AS A DUCK THIS WILL BE THE FUTURE OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS WILL TAKE OVER, PERFECT WEATHERPROOF COAT A STRONG BEAK TO WARD OFF INTRUDERS AND LOTS OF NOSH GIVEN TO YOU BY GENEROUS VISITORS, CHILDREN, GRANNIES,ETC ETC.

THIS IS THE LIFE EH KEV...................

BACK TO THE ALLOTMENT,EATING WELL, YUMMY SOUPS, EVERYONE WHO LOVES COURGETTES ARE GETTING THEIR BAG FULL MANGE TOUT ARE TAKING OVER LIKE TRIFFIDS.EVERYTHING TASTES SO DELICIOUS BECAUSE WE KNOW ALL THE HARDWORK THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN HAS ALL BEEN WORTHWHILE .

THE RAIN HAS BEATEN US IN THAT WE HAVE HAD TO DIG UP THE POTATOES DUE TO THE FACT MUD WRESTLERS WOULD HAVE A BRILL TIME IN THE SPUD BED. SLUGS ARE DIVING IN LIKE THEY THINK THEY ARE COMPETING IN THE OLYMPICS NO GOLD MEDALS THERE THEN....... SO INSTEAD OF A LARGE SPUD WE ARE GETTING WEENY BECAUSE IF WE HAD LEFT THEM IN ANY LONGER THEY WOULD HAVE ROTTED, DIFFERENT TACTICS NEXT YEAR DEFFO.....

CUCUMBERS ARE DOING JUST FINE CUTTING THEM AT 9 INCHES THIS THEY SAY IS A GOOD LENGTH( WELL LADIES I WILL LEAVE YOU TO MAKE YOUR OWN MINDS UP )!

A GORGEOUS HOT DAY IN SALTBURN(NOT DREAMING)

STILL GOT TO SEE MAMAMIA YET, EVERYONE SAYS THERE WILL BE DANCING AND SINGING IF I HAVE GOT ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT THERE WILL.

I'M TIRED NOW HAD A LONG DAY COUNTING THOSE BLOODY RAINDROPS. WHOEVER THOUGHT OF NAMING THAT SONG "RAINDROPS ARE FALLING ON MY HEAD" WANTS SHOOTING PRONTO!!!!!

ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL....

LOVE THESE OLD PICS HAPPY TIMES WITH MUM AND BROTHER,ON A PICNIC UP ON THE MOORS AND ME AND MY BESSIE MATE SUNBATHING.........

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL EVENING THIS WAS IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR DARKNESS TO FALL , HEAVEN COMES TO MIND. THE BEST TIME IS DUSK ....

FELLOW FILEY DWELLERS, DO YOU KNOW WHERE THIS IS ?

THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE A CHANGE BLUE SKY AT LONG LAST TODAY SOOOO WE WILL HAVE MY POST IN LOVELY BLUE.....

MY WEEK OFF THE LAST SEVEN DAYS HAVE BEEN AWFUL RAIN AND MORE BLOOMING RAIN BUT TODAY I WAS ABLE TO DO MY GARDEN KEV PUT A BAMBOO SCREEN UP TO GIVE A LITTLE PROTECTION FROM PREVAILING WINDS AND PRYING EYES SO WE CAN SIT AND HAVE A DRINK OR A SANDWICH IN PEACE IT LOOKS LOVELY, BUT HAVING SAID THAT EVERYTHING LOOKS SUPERDOOPER WHEN THE YELLOW BLOB IN THE SKY BEGINS TO SHINE.......

OUR QUIET CORNER AT HOME.

NOW I NEED TO GET RID OF SURPLUS SALAD AND VEG WITHOUT PUSHING IT ON TO PEOPLE, WHEN I TOLD EVERYONE I WAS GETTING AN ALLOTMENT THEY SAID WE'LL HAVE SOME STUFF WHEN IT'S READY SO GILLY GET YOURSELF MOTIVATED....

THE LARGE HOLE KEV DUG AT THE TOP OF LOTTIE IS FULL TO THE BRIM WITH WATER THIS WOULD HAVE FLOODED ALL THE PLOT IF WE DIDN'T HAVE IT SO GOOD THINKING HIM INDOORS!!!!! TOMATOES ARE COMING ON WITH THE HEAT IN MY PORCH DO THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENT NEXT YEAR NOT SO MUCH LETTUCE, COURGETTES,RADISH IF I DO GET CUSTOMERS FIRST.

"MANGE TOUT, RODNEY", RING ANY BELLS ?.

WE SAT IN THE CRESCENT GARDENS AND LISTENED TO A BRASS BAND OF MIXED AGES THEY WERE VERY GOOD, THERE IS SOMTHING ABOUT A GORGEOUS SUNNY SUNDAY GRASS,FLOWERS, MUSIC, CHILDREN LAUGHING EVERYONE HAPPY JUST TO BE SITTING AND ENJOYING THE MOMENT AHHHHHHHHH I'M A BIG SOFTY,WE ALL NEED THIS MOMENT WITH SO MUCH BAD NEWS ON TELE AND THE PAPERS................

I JUST WANT TO THANK MY WONDERFUL HARD WORKING FELLA FOR THE LIFTING, DIGGING, SHOVELING,DRILLING MORE DIGGING, CONSTRUCTING, I COULD GO ON AND ON BUT HE IS SO WILLING AND ALL FOR LESS THAN A SHILLING.THE LOTTIE HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE APRIL WHEN THE FIRST WET CLOD WAS TURNED AND THE FIRST SEED WENT IN IT'S LITTLE BED.

IV'E JUST BEEN WATCHING TRIBAL WIVES IN NAMIBIA,BRILLIANT PROGRAMME, THE TRIBE THIS WEEK HADN'T HAD RAIN FOR SO LONG AND THEY PRAYED GOOD AND HARD LOOKED ON THE DRY GROUND AND SAW A FUNNY LOOKING BEETLE WHICH WAS A GOOD SIGN LO AND BEHOLD THE RAIN CAME BUT ALL IV'E DONE IS MOAN ABOUT IT NOT STOPPING GET A GRIP GIRL BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU'VE GOT!!!!!!

HAVEN'T YOU GOT A SENSE OF HUMOUR FELLOW BLOGGERS?.........

SIGNING OFF HOPE YOU LIKE MY PICS NITE NITE X MAD MACCY

BUBBLE AND SQUEAK HERE WE COME.....

PICKED MY FIRST CABBAGE DONE WELL ONLY ONE WITH A FEW HOLES IN, GOING TO LEAVE THE OTHERS UNTIL THE HEARTS GETS BIGGER.

EVERYTHINGS COMING ON A TREAT WITH THE WEATHER BEING SUNNY ONE MINUTE THEN POURING CATS AND DOGS NEXT.

WE NOW HAVE TWO FROGS IN OUR LITTLE POND WHICH HAS WORKED REALLY WELL THE TADPOLES ARE GROWING TOO, I NEARLY STOOD ON A TEENY WEENY FROGLET DID MY DEED FOR THE DAY AND PUT HIM BACK IN.

EVERYTHINGS BLURRED HE'S A BIT HUNGOVER!!!!!!

WANT TO WARN ANYONE WHO IS PUTTING NETTING OVER THEIR STRAWBERRIES WE HAD TO RESCUE A THRUSH WHICH WAS REALLY STRESSED MUST HAVE BEEN TANGLED UP IN THE NET FOR A WHILE UNDER IT'S WINGS ROUND IT'S FEET AND NECK, BUT SODS LAW IT FLEW AWAY WHEN WE HAD CUT IT FREE THEN TEN MINUTES LATER TRYING IT'S LUCK WITH THE STRAWBERRIES AGAIN.............

PICKED OUR ELDERFLOWER YESTERDAY AND DRANK OUR FIRST TASTE OF HOMEMADE CORDIAL, LOTS OF DIFFERING RECIPES I THINK I MAY HAVE PUT TOO MUCH SUGAR IN BUT HEY HO DON'T KNOW TILL YOU TRY.........

MY OWN PERSONAL LITTLE HARVEST FESTIVAL..............

COURGETTES ARE BRILL TO GROW NEED A BIT OF SPACE BUT I JUST LOVE SEEING THINGS GROWING , WE HAVE WAY TOO MUCH LETTUCE I SHOULD NOW START GIVING IT AWAY, OR EVEN BETTER SELL SOME A FEW PEEPS HAVE SAID THEY WOULD PAY FOR ORGANIC VEG!!!!

PLEASE PLEASE SUN SHINE DOWN ON EVERYONE THEN WE WILL SEE SMILEY FACES

PICKLING MY LITTLE HEART OUT.....

I KNOW LATE AGAIN SORRYEE.

ANYWAY I DONNED MY STERILE MARIGOLDS, ULTRA CLEAN GLASS JARS, PICKLING VINEGAR,AND VERY WELL COOKED BEETS CAREFULLY TENDED BY MY FAIR HANDS, WISH I HAD GROWN A LARGER BATCH BUT NEW CROP IN,WAITING FOR THE SUMMER SUN. DON'T LAUGH BUT ONLY MANAGED TWO JARS FULL,KEV PRINTED ME SOME LABELS WE HAD A TASTE OUT OF ONE JAR AND IT TASTED DELICIOUS EVEN THOUGH I SAY IT MYSELF MMMM.

GILLYMACS TARTY PICKLED BEET............

OUR NEW BIRDY BRIDGE........

LAST WEEK WE WEAKENED AND KEV DISMANTLED WHAT HE STARTED TO ERECT AS A GREENHOUSE COME SHED WITH A LOT OF WINDOWS IN, AND WE WERE LUCKY A COUPLE ON THE SITE WERE GETTING RID OF THEIRS, TALK ABOUT GIGANTIC IT WILL FEEL LIKE BEING AT THE EDEN PROJECT WHEN ALL THE WINDOWS HAVE BEEN PUT IN,I HAVE DREAMED OF THIS MOMENT SAD BEGGAR THAT I AM BUT MY TOMMIES AND CUCUMBERS ARE CRYING OUT FOR HEAT(I HAVE TOLD THEM ALL ABOUT THEIR NEW ABODE AND THEY SEEM QUITE EXCITED)!

STEADY NOW BOYS DELICATE OPERATION THIS HOUSE MOVING....

YES WE HAVE OUR FIRST OPEN DAY ON THE 5TH JULY WHERE THOSE WHO WANT TO MEASURE THE SIZE OF THEIR MARROWS OR WHO HAS THE RUDEST VEG CAN COMPETE. KEV IS GOING TO A FOOTIE MATCH (COWARD) AND MYSELF AND BOSS FROM WORK ARE GOIN TO SHARE A BOTTLE OF WINE AND A PICNIC AND LAUGH AT EVERYONE ELSE RUNNING ROUND LIKE HEADLESS CHICKENS, BY THE WAY WE WOULD LOVE SOME ON LOTTIE.

ONE POTATO TWO POTATO THREE POTATO FOUR .......

I MIGHT MAKE MY GORGEOUS LEMON DRIZZLE CAKE BUT HE ISN'T HAPPY THAT I MAY GIVE IT AWAY BEFORE HE CAN HAVE SOME THINK WAISTLINE MMMMM.I LOVE TAKING PHOTOS AND THERE IS A PHOTO SECTION SO MAY TAKE THE PLUNGE WITH THAT TOO.

COULDN'T RESIST MMMMMMMM...........

I WILL TELL YOU ONE THING ABOUT THIS ALLOTMENT, TIME HAS NEVER GONE SO QUICKLY AS WHEN WE ARE UP THERE ON A TEA TIME AND SAY TO OURSELVES JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS LOVE THEN DARKNESS LOOMS AND WE LOOK AT OUR WATCH AND GOD IT'S TEN O'CLOCK .I COULD SO STAY UPA NEW BED FOR MY BABIES....... I COULD SO STAY UP THERE SLEEP EAT DRINK AND BE MERRY ON OUR LOTTIE!!!!

YES I KNOW I HAD BEEN WARNED.....

SORRY LATE AGAIN IN DOING MY POST GOT A BIT OF A SPASM IN THE BACK LAST WEEK, YES WE ARE ALL WARNED IF YOU'RE A COUCH POTATOE IN WINTER THEN EH, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BOD HAS TO WAKE UP TO MAD HYSTERIA IN SPRING DIGGING AND MORE DIGGING...... OH WELL DID GET TO READ MY BRILL BOOK "A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS" BY R J ELLORY.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS DON'T WE.............

EVERYTHINGS LOOKING ROSY WE PICKED AND ATE HEARTILY ON MIXED, LETTUCE, RADISH AND BEETROOT IT DOES FEEL GOOD. EVERYONE AT OUR END ARE SOOO GENEROUS AND HELPFUL WITH IDEAS FOR SLUG ATTACK ,BUT THE LITTLE BUGGERS STILL KEEP COMING. CHECK OUT MY PIC THIS IS ONE LINE OF DEFENCE THEY WONT GET PAST HE HE
HELLO HELLO WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE ?

IT'S SLIMY AND GOOEY YUMMY..

12345 ONCE I CAUGHT A FEW FISH ALIVE HE HE ....

SAY HI TO NORMAN I'M A GNOME GET ME OUTA HERE....

CHELSEY BUNS DAY OUT ON THE LOTTIE ! ! ! !

SHE'S DOING A BRILLIANT JOB WATERING......

PHEW WHAT A STINKYPOO SMELL...............

CHELSEY FANCYING A DIP WILL SHE OR WON'T SHE ...

HAVING A REST WITH JESS...........

LIVESTOCK AND COTTAGE ALL IN PLACE .............

"LOTTIE'S CHRISTENING"

TAKING A WELL EARNED REST.

HI TO ALL YOU ALLOTMENTEERS OUT THERE IN GREEN FINGER LAND, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME GETTING SOME SIT DOWN TIME TO PUT THIS BLOG TOGETHER..........
WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY SINCE OUR FIRST LOOK AT OUR BIT OF LAND IT WAS A BIT DAUNTING TO SAY THE LEAST!!!

THE EIGHT NEW PLOTS WERE ALLOCATED BECAUSE OUR LOCAL COUNCIL WERE IN A GOOD MOOD AND EVEN HAD SOMEONE TO ROTAVATE THEM ( NOT SURE THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA). OUR LOTTIE IS IN A GOOD POSITION NEXT TO THE RAILWAY TRACK AND HIGH BANKING AT ONE SIDE SO A GOOD SHELTERED SITE, WE HAVE A HIGH AMOUNT OF SUNSHINE WHEN SHE DECIDES TO COME OUT....... OLD CD'S TAKE ON A NEW LIGHT IN THE SUNSHINE ....

THE NEXT STEP WAS TO FEEL THE MUCK ,WET AND MORE WET HEAVY CLAY STONY WHEN DRY, SO WE NEEDED LOTS OF COMPOST. TO ANYONE OUT THERE WHO MAY FIND THIS VERY DAUNTING TAKE MY ADVICE


1) DON'T LOOK AT THE PLOT AS A WHOLE...
2)BREAK IT UP INTO SECTIONS ON PAPER
3)LOOK IN EVERY SKIP YOU COME ACROSS KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND ASK, THEY CAN ONLY SAY BUGGER OFF!!!

4)FREECYCLE SITE IN YOUR LOCAL AREA WE GOT A COLD FRAME, WATER BUTT, WOOD, PAVING, HARD CORE FOR BASE OF SHED THE LIST IS NEVER ENDING..

5)PALLETS AND MORE PALLETS DIY STORES ALWAYS WANT RID JUST ASK.EVERYONE WAS WILLING TO HELP IN FINDING A SHED THAT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT COST A LOT £40 ( TO US THATS A LOT)!!!!!!

6) MILK CARTONS PLASTIC, TOILET ROLL TUBES, OLD CD'S PLASTIC BAGS, EGG SHELLS, OLD CARPET, CANES, BATHS,NEWSPAPER,USED VEG FRUIT PEELINGS......
7) THE MAIN THING IS THE SHED, DEFFO, SO WHEN IT RAINS YOU CAN SIT AND HAVE YOUR CUPPA AND SARNIE. SMALL CALOR GAS CAMPING STOVE A MUST MAKE A LIST JUST OF SHED ESSENTIALS......


8)RAISED BEDS ARE MUCH BETTER THAN LOOKING AT A HUGE MASS OF SOIL AND A SPADE IN YOUR HAND,THIS CAN BE A REAL PUT OFF. WE PUT A PALLET FENCE UP FIRST SO YOU HAVE THE BOUNDRY OF YOUR ALLOTMENT LEAVE PART OF IT OPEN SO YOU CAN CARRY THINGS IN AND OUT WHEN IT'S FINISHED YOU CAN PUT THE REST UP....

NO DON'T LAUGH OUR FIRST TWO NEW BORN .....RADDY AND ISHY

I HOPE THIS HAS GOT YOU
MOTIVATED AND NOT PUT YOU OFF THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT, SITTING ON YOUR BENCH ON A BALMY WARM EVENING SURVEYING YOUR HARD WORK WITH CUPPA IN HAND,FABULOUS!WATER BUTT MAKES A GOOD TINNIE COOLER TOO..........LOOK AT THOSE POTATOES ME THINKS I WILL HAVE TO GROW MINT NOW MMMMM.....

Posted by Gilly at 12:13 0 comments