Saturday was rather nice but I’d got the quarterly NVS meeting in far off Preston. I’m not a morning person so I’d set my alarm for 7 but I woke up convinced I’d slept through the alarm and as I reached the bathroom realised it was still dark and actually 5 am.  Not the best of starts!

Anyway, sitting around the table with some of the top show growers in the world something must rub off. It’s one area where I feel completely out of my depth. Sadly, we spent the time discussing other things to do with running the charity.

Sunday I was press-ganged into service in the garden. Val does the planting and so forth, I mow the lawn and do the estates works. I must admit I’m glad we don’t grow flowery things on the allotments.

Val mentioned it once but I explained it was made illegal in 1915 in the ‘Prohibition of Flowery Things on Allotments Act” which was punishable by 10 years hard labour until it was amended in 1940 by making it a treasonable offence punishable by hanging. This legislation has never been repealed, I’m not sure Val believes me though!

Monday was yet another glorious day so finished early and got onto the plot. We took the car even though it’s only around the corner, loaded to the gunnels with compost materials from the great garden tidy.

After unloading and filling the compost bin, Val headed off to buy some sharp sand. We’ve some patches in the lawn that need sorting so a couple of bags for that and a couple of bags for the half barrels where I’ll be growing carrots.

Plot 29 is looking a right mess so a couple of hours tidying and weeding. Doesn’t seem to have made much impact though. Well, it’s never too late to catch up. Honest!