Sunday 24 June 2012

Happiness is an allotment plot

I feel very lucky to have my allotment plot !  I was speaking to someone who recently got their plot and they had waited almost two years and then only got a half plot. I thought my nine months was a long time !! It also seems so unfair that there are about four plots on our site that have tenants who agreed to take the plot, paid the rent but have not been up to cultivate, in fact no-one has even seen them. The weeds are high and it looks a mess. Trouble is it takes months for the council to do anything about it. Things have to change!

The council first write a letter to the tenant giving them three months to cultivate, if they don't work the plot they then get notice to quit which is I think about a month or so. Which means that by the time the plot is empty it is so overgrown and very hard work for the next tenant. Some people think that as long as they pay the rent on the plot they have the right to do whatever they want and that seems to include leaving it uncultivated.

I love my allotment plot ! I feel Blessed that I have the money to buy seeds, the health to grow, plant and look after them, water to nourish them,( perhaps a little too much at present!) my sight to see them grow and good friends and neighbours to share the produce with.

I had a busy week-end and annoyingly woke up very early this morning, around 5am and couldn't get back to sleep so I gave in and came downstairs around 6am. This is very early for me as I'm not a morning person ! and I go to bed very late, always after midnight and often much later.  I'm definitely an Owl and not a Lark ! consequently I am now very tired but I bet I will still be up late. I try and change my bad habits but it's been too long now. If  anyone has any tips please pass them on as I would love to be sensible about my sleep habits.

Maybe a glass of wine will do the trick !!!!  Mmmmm

Let's hope we get some sunshine in the coming week! cos I'm fed up with this summer of ours.

Mxx

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maureen, I'm the opposite to you in terms of sleep patterns. I love getting up early in the Summer time. The best time of day for me is sunrise (especially as light conditions then are often good for photography!)

Margaret said...

My daughter was on the allotment waiting list for about 3 or 4 years and has just got a plot, which we are going to share because there is such a lot of work involved. We see plots around us which are not being used properly. I don't think people realise how much work is involved.

The Cookie Jar said...

I waited 4 years for my plot and even now there is a long waiting list. We have 3 very overgrown plots on our site that the rent has been paid on but no work has ever been done on them. It is a shame to see when someone could be enjoying them.

Anonymous said...

Hi Maureen. I think it's ok to be an Owl or a Lark as it really depends on your make-up. I am up at the crack of dawn and I find that is when my energy is at it's highest. But I have a son who is at his best at the end of the day. I feel sorry for people who are waiting for an allotment and can see plots going uncultivated. Must be so frustrating. We just have small allotments at the farm, just 8 square metres, and it does mean that there is not such a long waiting list.

Suzie Hull said...

I don't have an allotment maureen, I'm lucky enough to have a big enough back garden, but I know my parents wouldn't have been without theirs. The weather is awful this year isn't it. It's definitely slug city here! It must be their best year yet!