Annual Show 2011

Since taking on my plot this would have been, under normal circumstances, my third show. However, since I've had other things on my mind over the past few months, I wasn't really in the right frame of mind to participate this year. This time I just went along to fully appreciate everyone else's hard work. Perhaps the numbers were down a little, but there were plenty of good entries to admire, despite it having been rather a strange growing year (or do we always say that?). A lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes to set up a show like this, so well done to everyone involved.

Mike and I walked up to the club house, then down to my plot, and back up to the clubhouse and, eventually, back home. I think he was cream crackered to say the least, so I let him off his daily walk the following day. He's continuing to make very good progress, but 'Matron' as he referred to me, on the envelope of my Wedding Anniversary card, is determined to get him moving (if slowly) after his recent op. In fact, we spent most of our anniversary at the Queen Elizabeth hospital, for Mike's usual check up. Fortunately things improved when our eldest son and family met us at the station, and we all went for a meal at a local hostelry.

I'm always coming up with (hopefully) good ideas. This gets me into trouble. Although I'm not on the allotments committee (nor do I intend to be), I did suggest that we should hold a competition for the best show day photograph, and a later display of the best photos to be displayed on the evening of the next AGM. I'm looking forward to seeing the entries - I do hope quite a few people will take part. I don't suppose, as an organiser, I should join in, so I'll probably include some more of my efforts in my next Blog.On show day I took this shot of the 'Thames Cross' plums on my plot. They are still quite hard, but the most wonderful deep, velvety purple. I'm collecting autumn raspberries about every other day now, and have just about enough room in the freezer for a couple more bags of them. Then it will have to be a jam making session to preserve the rest. I don't think my freezer has ever been so full of fruit and veg for the winter months, and we are still enjoying all the fresh stuff, and have plenty to share with friends and neighbours. So far, it's been quite a successful growing year.

A week or so ago, one of my fellow plotters, Mary, told me that our local, favourite blackberrying spot had been decimated. Today Mike and I went to have a look, armed with a box just in case there were a few left. But no - the bushes had all been hacked down to ground level, and just before the blackberrying season too. What a shame - and for what reason we wondered. We have been collecting fruit from these bushes since our sons were at the local primary school. I've spent many a happy hour or more listening to the birds , watching the butterflies, chatting to friendly dog walkers, and filling my boxes with ripe, juicy fruit for wine, jam and pies.
The bushes were a haven for wildlife. It will take a long time for them to grow back - if they are ever allowed to do so.