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Getting started

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Lisa

Joined: 31 May 2005
Posts: 248
Location: Cheshire

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 07 8:56 pm Post subject: Getting started

Today being the second dry day in living memory, I decided to get started on my New Allotment! Very exciting. Here's what I have to work with - in an hour today I managed to dig, ooh, maybe 1 square metre (it is very heavy clay). I think it is going to take some time - but it was lovely to get out in the fresh air. I think chatting with the old boys is going to be an issue (I might have managed 2 square metres otherwise) but I suppose that is part and parcel - it's OK for them, they are retired and virtually live down there.
Lx

Bernie66

Joined: 14 Jan 2005
Posts: 13967
Location: Eastoft

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 07 8:58 pm Post subject:
There's the problem, they have so much time, and usually completely completely contrasting bits of advice for you. They're hearts in the right place though usually anyway. Once your accepted anyway.

Penny Outskirts

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 23385
Location: Planet, not on the....

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 07 8:59 pm Post subject:
Looks like a tough job - good luck with it

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 07 9:02 pm Post subject:
At least you have some willing helpers!

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 07 10:15 pm Post subject:

smile, keep digging while they witter on (they'll think your absorbing all their worldly advice, and will hardly notice your only 'umm'ing and 'really?'ing occasionally! agree with everything, and then do what you were going to do anyway. This is my standard tactic for dealing with people with whom I don't want to deal, and works, unless you actually do want something (like the answer to a secific question or taxing your car!)

That is precisely the reason I gave up allotmenting (well, and someone ran over my greenhouse) I'm sure some people love the social side, and that's fine, but I like a bit of peace and quiet while I'm gardening. For me, its solitude time - I didn't have all day, and I have a highly social job, pandering, wheedling and bullying patients who think they know better in doing what's good for them (which is invariably the opposite of what they want to do!) I simply didn't want to chat. Mind you, I'm a grumpy old baggage!

On one memorable occasion, I had gone up on a windy sunday afternoon in february for an hour in my PJ's a fleece and wellies, as the PJ's were for the wash anyway that evening, thinking there would be nobody there. I met the commitee chairman, secretary and treasurer!

Leonie

Joined: 13 Sep 2005
Posts: 731
Location: West Sussex

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 07 10:17 pm Post subject:
that's the trouble, often I end up being at the lottie all morning and get about 1 hour of work done if I'm lucky good luck with it, it's going to be very rewarding and your little helpers will learn so much. do you have a shed? invaluable when the heavens open!

Lisa

Joined: 31 May 2005
Posts: 248
Location: Cheshire

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 07 9:43 am Post subject:

Thanks everyone. Not sure "helpers" is *quite* the appropriate word...though they were both angels yesterday: T slept for an hour (then woke up and cried so it was time to go home) and M dug a hole and looked for worms - had a great time. I've made a mental note not to go in my PJs, and no, we don't yet have a shed. I thought I'd give it a year to find out if we were really keen and likely to carry on before investing. I can park the car right next to the plot though so if we need to take shelter quickly we can.
Lx

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45426
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 07 11:39 am Post subject:
Good luck Lisa, nice to see you around again

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