A hard day at the allotment!!

So I managed to get a day down the allotment today...it was hard going but that was inevitable after not getting down there for 2 months. This is what I started with....

Plot 2, I promise there are
crops.

Plot 1, not many crops here though.

So as you can see from above I really had my work cut out for me. I started off I think a little over ambitious thinking I could get it all done today but it didn't quite pan out that way. I did get plot 2 more or less cleared though and after two full wheelie bins and finding some shallots, onions and new potatoes I was left with this....

Old potato bed cleared and ready for digging,
new potatoes dug up.

Shallots and onions dug up, weeds
cleared and earth ready for winter
dig.

So it was a good days work but boy am I tired. I forgot how much you feel achy after you have spent a while away from the allotment. There is still plenty to do but I am quite pleased with today's progress. I had a beautiful day for it which was kind of a bonus. It's supposed to be nice weather for the rest of this week so I may see if I can get some more time up there throughout the week.

If I do go up the plot tomorrow I think I will take it a little easier and maybe mow the bee plot and just tidy up around the greenhouse. This is what it looks like around the greenhouse...

Chilli's dried on the plant.

Un-watered tomatoes.

Dropped fruit rotting away.

Trees unkempt and brambles
going wild.

So as you can see even those easier tasks will take some time but I am determined to get it all done before the really sold weather comes. Watch this space!!!!
.

Getting back on track........

So it's been a long time...I know this and there are many reasons behind the sporadic postings this  year and the long absence of posting but I am trying to get back n track with everything...not just the posting on my blog but also getting to grips again with the bee blog and also the allotment.

It's been a hard year...an even harder summer but I have got to get on with things and I am going to start this weekend by trying to get the allotment in order.

The weather has been weird but my crops have grown although I got few sown this year. I have many wonderful crops which I want to grow next year though!!

The bees are doing okay, I recently lost a queen in one of the hives but did have a nuc which I was able to merge with them so I now have two strong hives for the winter. They didn't produce much honey this year with the weird weather and I am now feeding them to give them an extra boost before the cold sets in.

We had a nice holiday this year and it was a welcome break. We went to the coast and it was the first time Trojan and Louie had seen the beach and the sea...they loved the sand but were a little more dubious of the  sea!!

The allotments association entered the local scarecrow competition this year...the theme was books so we chose 'The Hungry Caterpillar' as it meant we could incorporate  some fruit from the plots....we didn't win but we were quite pleased with the entry that Juliette and I made.

I also participated in the R.S.P.C.A. 'Big Walkies' event last weekend along with my Dad and Juliette and Annabel. Of course Trojan, Louie and Barney were the stars and raised over £250 between them for the charity.

That's about all I have for now. I hope you have all had productive summers and are all well. I will leave you with a couple of photos of the 'Big Walkies' event and share some other photos of what I have talked about later in the week.

Annabel and Barney

My Dad, Myself, Louie
and Trojan.

Juliette, Annabel and Barney.