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I have been pretty good so far this week and made it up to the allotment every day. It was a little cold today and there was a bit of drizzle consequently no one was up there. Isn't it part and parcel of being an allotment holder to go up rain or shine?? Or am I masochistic?

Some people work on an ordinary day like today...

Although I suppose lots of allotmenteers are retired, too. And why should they not stay indoors and keep warm if the weather is filthy - if they have every day of their lives to go out there?

ina wrote:Some people work on an ordinary day like today...

Although I suppose lots of allotmenteers are retired, too. And why should they not stay indoors and keep warm if the weather is filthy - if they have every day of their lives to go out there?

True enough, I think I just felt a little holier than now earlier after toiling away In retrospect I have stayed away from the plot when the weather has been inclement on more than a few occasions.

I suspect my BIL goes to his plot to escape

I wouldn't choose to garden if the weather was absolutely vile - but I still have to go out and see to the hens and ducks even if I'm in my waterproof trousers and it is bucketing down, or minus god knows what and everything is frozen up.

But then I come back inside and warm up by the fire!

In my household the weather has nothing to do with it - I have no time as I have 2 kids. Take them with you I hear you all harrumph, well we take the eldest, but we have just inherited the plot and it is strewn with glass and bedsprings??? and needs digging up and weeding, so there is not much for ds2 to do as any crawling or toddling would have to be monitored to make sure he is not in the glass. Ds1 came with me when it was frozen and we were picking up rubbish, and he has been when it is a bit wet, but again, until the planting gets underway there are only so many holes he wants to dig! So it's when I can swing already overstretched childcare to look after ds2, and at the mo when dh comes back it's too dark to see anything!
I'm itching to get there aswell - I can almost hear the creeping buttercup growing underground

I have a tendancy to run out to the garden to do something or other small... move a pot or take the compost out.

But I find myself thinking - Oh I'll just move this, Oh I'll just take this to the shed, I'll fix this... 1 hour later and somewhat soggy I realise that I am still outside.

I was down last weekend when it was permafrost. But I used the time to build my fruit cage, tidy up, have a fire, build another raised bed. You just try to keep me away . I only get 1 1/2 days a week down there at most (working during the week and Sat morning is town chores and making bread.)

Annpan wrote:I have a tendancy to run out to the garden to do something or other small... move a pot or take the compost out.

But I find myself thinking - Oh I'll just move this, Oh I'll just take this to the shed, I'll fix this... 1 hour later and somewhat soggy I realise that I am still outside.

Me too, Annpan, 'though sometimes I'm not even doing something useful!
Just listening to birds or looking at the sunrise/sunset "sighs".

Time and Tide wait for no man, neither does the animals, the garden weeds, the planting outing. But in'st it the greatest of feelings coming inside to the fire, with no feet you can feel, make a nice cup of tea and sit back and say well that's done. Remember to, that there no gain without a little pain. As I write this, it rather chilly outside so I think I will have another cup of tea and wait for it warm up a little.

OK oldfella, "Time and Tide wait for no man," so I got down to work today
in the greenhouses sowing and pricking out.

I'm still thrilled to see things coming up, even if it is only lettuces, tomatoes, peppers, cabbages and swedes so far!

marshlander wrote:OK oldfella, "Time and Tide wait for no man," so I got down to work today
in the greenhouses sowing and pricking out.

I'm still thrilled to see things coming up, even if it is only lettuces, tomatoes, peppers, cabbages and swedes so far!

I often marvel at what we call dirt, can produce.

With me it's finding time - have have two kids and the missus works every other weekend, so when I do go it is for a good couple of hours. Now the evenings are getting lighter I'll be up there more often. I got this ace book for christmas call the half hour allotment which basically helps set out tasks to do to keep your allottment ticking over and only take half an hour a day max.

Both me & my OH work full time, have a dog to walk and horse to see to after/before work.

We have found half and hour a day is loads to get it all done down the allotment- but it tends to be 15-20 mins in the morning whilst walking the dog to do little stuff/watering, then and hourish sat and maybe sun too at the busiest times.

That does include barrowing muck from the horses field next door onto the allotment compost heap so I think thats pretty realistic. Mind you that does mean come rain or shine get on with it coz if the only time the sun shines in Mon-Fri 9-5 then thats just tough! Mind I just love the outdoors for all it throws at me, and am mad enough to ride my horse in all weathers whilst my friends look at me in horror, but life is too short to keep waiting, get out and enjoy