Missed one weekend up the lotty but tried to catch up this weekend last. I've created a few more feet (I'm a pounds, shillings and pence measurer) of usable ground, but am waiting for the arrival of an Azada, that great gert earth shifting tool that will be the answer to all my probs.
I have it on good authority that this will do what Carole King once said, and that is make me feel the earth move under my feet. Apparently I just have to practice my swing motion and then it's all Azadas blazing and ground clearance quicker than the stands at the Newcastle United home game, last Saturday.
I took the dogs up with me for conversation, but all they wanted to do was guard my shed and wander aimlessly.(See side picture)
I've taken some other pictures to show that I am doing some digging, honest guv!
For the first weekend since I got the plot, I am free to spend some considerable time up there, so look out for the pictures of a more earth filled site. The couch grass will be carved up and I'll have a better idea of the way forward. I'm torn between raised beds or just flat, wide beds, but I think I'll go with the former as I don't want my great clod hoppers to go trapesing all over the ground flattening down every lickle seed/plant in sight.
This stage of the game can be both exciting and frustrating. Exciting because of all the planning and the thought that all the hard work will pay dividends eventually. Frustrating because you want to be like all the retired allotment holders and be up there everyday, although I'm fortunate in that I have some holiday at the end of January, so I will be able to do the lion's share of work then, just in time for first planting.
