Saturday, 29th September

Wednesday, 26th September

Well, I finally got my wheelbarrow I've been looking for for ages. And in which DIY store did I find this long sought item? None! Someone at the Tuesday pub night at the North Star just happenend to mention they'd got an old wheelbarrow knocking about and I was in there like a shot. All for the bargain price of free, including delivery. See the sort of opportunity you could be missing! If any of you did turn up last night to claim your free pint but couldn't pick me out, I'm very sorry but I was wearing a conspicuous T-shirt. I'll make it easier for you next month with a really good clue but not until nearer the time (30th October).
Back on the allotment this morning I was pleased to be able to pick a few more runner beans and raspberries and a late developing summer cabbage. So far it's all good news with the carrots too. I'm a bit worried about the still ripening squash though as they've promised us a very cold night tonight. This could be the start of a trend now, sunny days and cold nights, so get those winter duvets out and don't forget to protect your plants. I got a neighbour to give me a hand to get the orange tree back into the greenhouse from its summer abode in the back garden. I'll inspect any damage in the flowerbeds tomorrow.

Top of Page

Monday, 24th September

Shoreham-by-Sea

Well, we did get a bit of rain last night then. I know that for a fact because we got caught in it walking home. I was wearing a short-sleeved shirt, shorts and sandals but wasn't worried as we set off home because it was only drizzling. But it did get more persistent and by the time we got in my hair was ruined and I had to change my clothes. I just hope it did some good; unfortunately the accompanying winds blew down my front door hanging basket onto the concrete below. It was a plastic basket and did not take it well. And then by mid-morning today bright sunshine again so I took advantage of the improved conditions and went for a walk with Heene walking group along Shoreham seafront, setting off from the Pilot pub near the power station and walking westwards along the shore a way before turning back and enjoying refreshments at Carat's café. I had a forbidden bacon and egg sandwich with my mug of tea but the doctor wasn't watching and my wife wasn't there to keep me in check so I enjoyed the moment. And tomorrow night is the last Tuesday of the month so I shall enjoy our pub night at the North Star from about 8.30pm. Why not join us?

Saturday, 22nd September

Another lovely day here in sunnny Worthing. So lovely and sunny that instead of driving into town this afternoon we parked on the seafront at the western end of Marine Parade and walked in. I should have worn a hat as by the time we got to the town centre my personal solar panel on top of my head was overheating somewhat. There were many others walking along the prom taking advantage of the late season sunshine including what looked like a group on a sponsored walk as they were all carrying similar balloons. We decided to be naughty and popped into Poppyfields café in Rowlands Road to have a piece of cake. It's not the most glamorous establishment in the world but at £1.60 for a pot of tea (which made 2 cups) and a hefty piece of Dundee cake you can't grumble.
I did pop down to the allotment for an hour or two yesterday and saw that the wind had wreaked further havoc on my runner bean scaffolding but there was still a picking of beans and much to my surprise another little picking of raspberries, only about a pound but I thought they would have stopped altogether. Many of my crops appear to be coming to an end (beans, raspberries, tomatoes, courgettes) but my poor old squash have never really got going. I cut back some of the runners so that they might concentrate on ripening what squash we have rather than trying to produce more at this late stage but it could be a race to ripen them before the arrival of the first frost.

Top of Page

Thursday, 20th September

I know I asked for a drop of rain but that was a pathetic amount, wasn't it? This drizzly stuff is no use at all, just a nuisance that discourages me from going outside and doing something. And that wind! I never asked for that at all. It's given a right bashing to my poor old hanging baskets and hindered my "stop the blackbird" campaign. To explain: now that there are no more Discovery apples left, the blackbirds have moved on to my Idared apples and I've only got about half a dozen of those so I decided I would have to take action. The photo shows how I adroitly draped an old net curtain over the vulnerable branch to keep the birds off but then along came this wind - say no more. I've done my best to attach it with clothes pegs but we'll just have to wait and see. Anyway, I see they have now moved on to the Golden Delicious and there's no way I can protect that tree. Anybody got a recipe for blackbird pie?

Tuesday, 18th September

Phew! A bit of a nip in the air last night and a definite autumn chill this morning even though the sun was making a brave attempt to shine through. The weatherman did warn us last night so I nipped out and covered my orange tree in fleece and wrapped up the container with fleece and an old hessian sack. Let's hope it did the business. The water in the trough on the allotment was icy cold this morning as I discovered when I nonchalantly plunged in my cans up to arm's length - I was a bit more careful the second time, I can tell you. I don't know if it's worth watering the beans much longer though as I think they've just about had it and the raspberry pickings this morning were decidedly miserly. I think they've also suffered from the lack of rain; the soil is now starting to crack again just as in the drought so we could do with a drop. I hate to say this but, "Come on, you rain!"

Monday, 17th September

Yes, the dreaded wheelie bins have arrived. Personally I've got nothing against them as a concept, I just hope there's enough room in them for my rubbish. We use ours for the first time this Friday and already our recycling one is half full and they only empty that one once a fortnight. I think it could fill up rather quickly now that they take glass as well but we shall see. The reason I bring it up here is because of a different problem they have created: what do we do with our old dustbins? I could use them as compost containers but I've already got several and the best compost comes from my loose heap. I could use them to store water but I already have 2 water butts and not enough water so come on, let's be having some bright ideas. Send in your thoughts and I'll publish them here and on the Ramblings page. Perhaps we could have a prize for the best idea? I know - the best ideas get a pint from me if they come to collect it at out Pub Night at the North Star on the last Tuesday of each month so the next one is Tuesday week, the 25th. You won't have any trouble recognising me!

Sunday, 16th September

fatsia japonica

Time to give the back garden a bit of attention. The front garden has had its fair share and the allotment has kept me quite busy but is now quietening down somewhat so I have more time to devote to the back garden. Mainly tidying up and hacking back really. Apart from mowing the back lawn today I have been cutting back the fatsia, philadephus and aucuba as they've all got a little out of control. September is a good time for cutting back evergreens in general but with big-leaved plants like the fatsia and the aucuba it means a painstaking, time-consuming job with the secateurs because if you go at them with the shears or hedge trimmers it makes a right mess leaving a shoody shrub with half-cut leaves. So that just leaves the holly, eleagnus, berberis, euomymous and choisya shrubs then and the privet/lonicera hedges. Later on I'll get cracking on the deciduous shrubs.

Saturday, 15th September

Another cracking day. Must be 3 weeks or more since we had any rain but mustn't grumble, the runner beans and the raspberries keep on coming. The squash have been a disappointment though. After my plot being invaded with them last year, they've just not grown this year and the biggest are only like tennis balls. And will they ripen before the cold nights set in? I feel it won't be too long before I have to try and haul the orange tree back into the greenhouse. Apart from it being on the heavy side now for a weakling like me, it's covered in viscious thorns and I can't call on my boys for help now as they both live miles away. You can tell the seasons are on the turn by all the flippin' cobwebs - why do I forget about them every morning when I walk up the garden? - and they all seem to be about face high, strung from branch to branch right in my way.

Top of Page

Thursday 6th, September

Today I planted a box. Let me explain. One of my recent birthday presents from my wife was a box about 2' square, as pictured above. The instructions were to plant it as it is about 2" below the surface and eventually all these flowers will appear after the box has biodegraded.. Yeh, right. But I gave it a go and you never know, it could work and digging a little hole to put it in should be no trouble. Or so I thought. The front garden seemed a likely spot so in went the spade. It wasn't until about the third stike that I sliced a green plastic cable housing which must carry cables coming in from the pavement. I rushed round to next door but fortunately their telly was still working, so not that then and we don't have cable. Then it came to me: before our youngest flew the coop he used to have an NTL connection to his room (which I cancelled as soon as he left). So let's hope it's that, then. But where was the water in the hole coming from?

Wednesday, 5th September

After another little break I was back on the allotment this morning. I thought a bit of hoeing was called for as it was starting to look a bit untidy, most of my recent effort having been put into harvesting - potatoes, runner beans, onions, cabbages, raspberries and so on - and watering. Hard work it was too. The surface is now rock hard and if you're not careful the old hoe skims across the top leaving a shiny marble-like surface. And if you put a bit of real effort into it, that's when you hit a stone. I'm sure the resulting judder through my body is excellent for my dodgey back! I hate to say it, but I think we really could do with a drop of rain. On the plus side, it was nice to see the runner beans are still coming, as are the raspberries and a late burst from the blackberries after I thought they's given up.

I went to an Association committee meeting last night. I now attend these meetings regularly so if there's anything you want brought to the committee's attention, just drop me a line and I'll see what I can do.

Sunday, 2nd September

My only winning entry

Well, that's it then. The show's over and at least I can bask in the glory of the accuracy of my prophecy - a good job I entered the baking and photography sections. Even then I only got a second for my rock cakes while my wife won the fruit cake section and took a second with her Bakewell tart. On the other hand I did win the photography class. But it's not all about winning (said he bravely), it's about enjoying yourself and I think everyone who attended the show did, competitors and public alike, especially some new chap, called Peter, who seemed to win practically everything. I must have a word with him. But, yes, it was a great afternoon - or in many cases a great Friday evening, Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon. And then this morning I was back on the allotment digging some carrots for dinner. Aggh!!! The were beautiful and I didn't enter any carrots in the show. Still, you know what they say: if you don't buy a ticket , you can't win the raffle.

Top of Page