During a spat with my sister recently she threw into the argument that all I had was the allotment with such venom that it made me draw a sharp intake of breath. And since then it has festered in my mind and I’m really not sure how to come to terms with it. Of course I could ignore it, but there is that element of truth that my mind is drawn to the allotment and am I viewed as a someone that has nothing else in their life? Perhaps. Would that be a bad thing? Perhaps not. I’ve always viewed myself as having an eclectic range of interests, knitting, sewing, cooking, reading, art, photography, wildlife, swimming, blogging, make up, fashion etc etc. But the one I suspect I am the most passionate about is the plot. So perhaps that’s how I am viewed. Well there we are, crazy allotment lady it is. I can think of worse pursuits.

We are now in late September at the plot and due to two very good friends my tidying up process for the end of year has gone much better than expected. Julie came over on Sunday and we spent a jolly couple of hours hoeing much of the plot which has given me such a head start. I’m just waiting for the rain to come so that it will soften the ground enough so that I can start my winter digging. Then yesterday Arthur came over and helped me dig out the compost bin. He did the digging I did the toting, and I am so grateful as his help in an afternoon saved what would have taken me a week. I feel well on track to finish tidying up for this winter now and it will make the start of next years work so much easier.

Last spring I was not in the same place and I felt very wobbly about the plot, this time Andrew next door came to my rescue with a pep talk and helped on my strawberry bed and that simple act changed my direction into a more positive stance and I was off on my jolly little way once more. Small acts like these can make such a positive change, I am very grateful. (He also mowed my track a few weeks ago when my arm was playing up and that helped so much).

So September, what has this year been like? I would say it has been a dark summer, so dark the blackberries came to fruition much earlier than usual. But because of the rain they are very big. Brassicas seem to have done well, its been too cold for the courgettes and tomatoes struggled but have come into their own. I had my first real bowlful of cherries and the apples are the biggest I’ve had. The pear tree suffered from some sort of mould/fungus, probably from the damp, so not so many of those. But I’ve had more than enough to eat and am still squirrelling away supplies for the winter. Next year I should get my first asparagus and I am really looking forward to having an established bed.

But for now I will get more of my tidying up done whilst having breaks in the sunshine watching the birds and insects and communing with the allotment cat. Just doing me.