Springing into action

It's good to see everyone emerging from their winter hibernation and enjoying this rather unseasonable, but very welcome, warm and sunny weather. We must remember, though, that in past years we have experienced some heavy snowfalls over Easter. In the meantime, we gardeners and plotters have had plenty of opportunity to mow lawns, weed flower beds and prepare our land for the coming season. The daffodils are at their best - the wonderful display of wild daffodils in St James's churchyard are just beginning to go over, but it's a delight to walk past them, on my way to the shops. In our back garden, Camellia 'Donation', now twenty years old (a 50th birthday present to Mike from our friends) is better than ever - a mass of pink flowers. I know what Monty Don meant (last week's 'Gardeners' World') when he admitted that he wasn't keen on Camellias, then added that it was probably their 'pinkness' and there is something very Barbara Cartland, and over the top about this particular variety, but there is no denying it is quite a spectacular show-stopper.

On Saturday, Derbyshire looked pretty spectacular too, once we had emerged from the heavy mist. Over the past few months I've been attending geology lectures at the U3A, and this was the annual field trip - this time, to the Peak District. Although, as ex-Sheffielders, when this wonderful area was on our doorstep, this time we were to view it in a different light, with David, our expert lecturer taking us millions of years back in time. He's also very keen on clouds, but there were none to see all day, apart from the mist, so he couldn't test us. After visiting Tideswell church (I dashed into the bakers for some Derbyshire oatcakes), we drove up towards Mam Tor and Winnats Pass to look at the land slip, then back to Hope for lunch at the Poachers Arm (nice food and friendly service) and back towards Hathersage for a sight of the ridges, lit up by the afternoon sun, and looking stunning. Then we spent some time being guided (v.good guide) around the Stone Centre at Wirksworth, where I took far too many photos of stones, stone sculptures, stone walls, lichens on stones, and fossils in stones. Limestone and gritstone country, lambs in the fields, daffs in the gardens and buds bursting on the trees (and pussy willow, as in the photo). A good day.

The plot is all prepared for action. It will be potato planting next, so I'm hoping for a decent weekend to come, as our grandson is looking forward to being my assistant. I'll prepare the trenches in advance, then give him a measuring stick so he can place the spuds at the correct distance. As I write, there is a lot of activity in the field across the road. Potato planting has begun. I don't think we've seen so much preparation for a long time - ploughing, harrowing, liming, fertilizing (pretty awful smell), more harrowing, trenching, and now planting. Must be quite an expensive operation.

There is plenty of frogspawn in our little pond this year. The other evening, when I was sitting in the conservatory, I saw some bats swooping between the trees - it's usually later in the year that they are about. How good too, to hear the birdsong. Unfortunately, we have magpies nesting in the top of a tall spruce. They are nearly as bad a pest as the grey squirrels. Nesting blackbirds can keep up that shrill warning sound for most of the day, if there are magpies about and, in the past, I've resorted to throwing pebbles into the trees to frighten them off (the magpies, not the blackbirds).

Must get out into the sun!

Wild Wednesday Walk, Thursday fund raising

It was a bit wild, up on the hilltops near Parwich, Derbyshire, on Wednesday. A strong wind blew cold, stinging rain into our faces, as we negotiated some slippery slopes, and ankle-deep mud around farm gates. Still, it held off a bit during our lunch break as we sat, backs to a stone wall to shelter us from the wind. I love this part of Derbyshire - it's not far from one of my very favourite spots - Minninglow - which we could see in the distance. I'm afraid my mud covered boots and over trousers are still languishing in the greenhouse, where I flung them on my return.

Yesterday I held a cakes and coffee morning to raise money for International Women's Day. A dozen of my friends and neighbours attended, and together we raised £80 for the cause. I was overwhelmed by the amount of raffle prizes the ladies had donated. Even some of my neighbours who weren't able to attend donated prizes, and one young lady, Charlotte, who lives nearby made some wonderful cup cakes to sell, plus earrings she had made. Mike (the only man) ran the raffle, and I also had a sweepstake poster stuck up on the kitchen door, so people could chose a photo for £1, with a prize of £5 for the winning photo (chosen in secret by Mike, last week). I'd spent the previous week or so busy baking, and everyone seemed to be enjoying the results. It was not only a successful fund raising event, but so good to have a friendly get-together with all the ladies.

Ready for action

What a boring photo! No - not really. Because, to me, it's one of my plot, dug over and ready for a year of sowing, planting and producing, and I can't wait to get going. Like some of my fellow plotters (who I've met up with again after a long break) I am, once again, out of hibernation. We've been enjoying some good, spring-like weather, and it's been a pleasure to get out in the garden and on the plot, with plenty of birdsong to accompany us. I'm still digging up some good parsnips, but imagine my surprise when 'Octoparsnip' surfaced on the end of my fork. For a few seconds I thought it was one of those ood-like celeriacs but, no, it is definitely a very odd parsnip, and growing in a row of perfectly formed, single-rooted parsnips. There was a scattering of white feathers on John's plot - something (probably an ex-pigeon) had met its fate by sparrow hawk. Perhaps the hawk would like to frighten off any future pigeons from our vegetables over the coming year. Yesterday, as we returned home in a friend's car, Mike spotted a hawk (possibly the same one) finishing off another pigeon on the pavement, not far from the allotments.

Wednesday, walking at Weddington, 22 of us enjoyed a good, if overcast day. Thanks to Molly and Frank who led us. Before setting out from our house, we listened to the skylarks above the field across the road, and during the day they were in full song, all along our route. Back at the car park near the church, we celebrated Jill's 70th birthday with champagne and cake, dispensed from the back of Jill and Brian's car, much to the amusement of some tanker drivers, who were dispensing something much less delicate on the neighbouring field. We finished with round of 'Happy Birthday to you', and after a lot of noisy laughter and chatter, eventually left the village in peace.

By now, our eldest son and family are back from a holiday at Disneyworld, and our youngest from working in Nigeria. He will soon be off to Vietnam and Thailand. Perhaps he'll have a little spare time, between working, to sample some of the local food. Watching 'Masterchef' last night, I was amazed by the complexities of Thai cooking. Must talk to Boula ( my neighbouring plot-holder) about it, when she next appears. As for the holiday-makers, they had a wonderful time, by the sound of it.

Next Thursday, 8 March, I will be holding a coffee and cakes morning, to raise money for Oxfam's International Women's Day, so if any plot-holders from the Hill would like to turn up at my house at 11am they will be very welcome. The money raised will go towards education, health care and, for example, the purchase of sewing machines etc so they can set up their own businesses. I've sent out invitations to women, but I wouldn't turn away any men who would like to contribute towards some cake and tea/coffee - besides, Mike would appreciate some male company, I'm sure.

In between various social events, and baking cakes, I'm hoping (weather permitting) to get more gardening and plotting in, over the next few days.