Flighty's plot

Vegetables

Just when I was starting work on Plot 124 back at the beginning of last July allotmenteering lawn lounger Mildew was sadly about to relinquish hers as she simply didn’t have the time to devote to it.

The week before last she commented on my Grazie Joe entry offering me some packets of vegetable seeds, which I gratefully accepted.

She sent me about a dozen packets, together with a nice card, which I received during the week. In the card she said that most of what she has sent me are fairly mundane and quite everyday vegetables, but I don’t mind that at all.

They include Beetroot, Cabbage, Carrots, Peas and Runner beans ‘Painted Lady’, which she thinks is the best variety having eaten some last summer. There is also Leek ‘Musselburgh’ which is a vegetable I would not have considered growing but having read Louise’s entry Leeks I’ve changed my mind!

My thanks again to Mildew. Now I’ve off to read The Vegetable & Herb Expert to find out just what I’ve let myself in for!

Happy gardening!

Untitled !

I’ve mentioned this colourful, noisy bird before and was chatting to plot neighbour Trevor on Sunday morning when we saw one fly over the top of us. He reckons that they’ll be settling in the trees just behind his plot as he keeps seeing a few of them. There is a ten minute programme on BBC2 tomorrow at 8.50pm, repeated Saturday on BBC2 at 6.30pm, all about them.

Also on Saturday BBC2 at 6.40pm is Wild Scilly: Britain’s Island Paradise which I’ll be watching. I went on a day trip to Tresco by helicopter a long time ago. It was one of those perfect days that are rarely experienced but remembered forever.

I’ve been watching Life in Cold Blood, which has been compelling viewing, but next Monday’s one Sophisticated Serpents may well be the one that I watch very little of. Instead I’ll probably watch the Time Team Special The Real Knights of the Round Table which is on Channel 4 at the same time.

If you’re an early bird then have a listen to BBC Radio 4’s Living World on Sunday at 6.35am. It’s the first in a new series 1/4. In Search of Dippers. You can of course catch up with it later by listening online.

Have a good weekend!

[This entry is titled Untitled ! as for once I simply could not think of one!]

Where ?

There !

For children of all ages…

is the book Sadie the Air Mail Pilot by Kellie Strom.

The review in the March issue of Flyer was by NLP (aged 5) and read I liked the book because it was about aeroplanes and flying. I like the pictures looking inside the aeroplane and the runways in the sky. I liked the rhyme about the Air Mail: “Things look grim, but don’t get nervous, Nothing scares the Air Mail service”. I could read the book myself.

MLP (aged a lot more) said I enjoyed reading it too!

I’ve not yet read the book but do have a look at the links on Sadie’s website which I found to be interesting and informative…Flighty

The best of British

It seems that many of us have, not surprisingly, taken advantage of the recent glorious weather to get out and about.

On Saturday Blue Pixel went on a trip to Brighton and as you can see took a terrific photo of the town’s famous West Pier.

Daffy, and her daughter, went for an enjoyable Sunday morning walk on Waldridge Fell.

Yesterday LoisWakeman decided to take a day off and visit the wonderful Snowdrop Valley, Exmoor.

At the weekend Uphilldowndale went to the rarely open private house and garden at Hopton Hall in Derbyshire.

Veg Plotting had some of her family staying with her over the weekend and they went to Cheddar Gorge and the surrounding area.

I worked Saturday and got no further than Plot 124 on Sunday so I’m grateful that I can read such blogs, with their good photos and interesting links.

Thanks everybody!

All the TV programmes that I’ve mentioned the past couple of weeks continue on the same days and times. Staying on the British theme Natural World this week is Badgers – Secrets of the sett. Don’t forget to watch A Wild Day in Heligan which is a ten minute programme that immediately follows it.

I’ve recently added London Daily Nature Photo to my blogroll under Tea Time, which is well worth a look with some wonderful photos. Another site that I find useful is British-Trees.com as I’m never very good at identifying trees.

Don’t forget that it’s National Chip Week, and have a good weekend!

The KitKat cop

I’ve just finished reading Grief Encounters by Stuart Pawson, which is the 12th book in the D.I.(Detective Inspector) Charlie Priest series.

I’ve read all the previous books and was really looking forward to this one. I certainly wasn’t disappointed and throughly enjoyed it from start to finish.

On the cover it says Perfect for a long winter afternoon with the rain beating down on the windows – Independent on Sunday. I couldn’t put it any better myself!

I can relate to Charlie Priest as he has a liking for KitKats. He keeps a stash of them in his desk drawer, and even shares them out with his team occasionally. I could work for a boss who does that!

As an aviation buff I have one very minor quibble with the book. In it Pawson writes The private charter Lear 55… There have never been any on the UK civil aircraft register so a Lear 45 would have been more appropriate. Thankfully this tiny hiccup in no way detracts from the story.

This is an excellent crime fiction novel and one that I have no hesitation in recommending to anyone who enjoys reading such books. Needless to say I’m now looking forward to the 13th in the series!

Grazie Joe

My plot neighbour Joe very kindly gave me this grape vine yesterday. As you can see I’ve put it in a bucket sized plastic container and stood it on the pallet patio by the shed. I’ll have to think about some trellis for when it starts to grow.

It was very spring-like being sunny and warm, although the ground was still too sticky to really do anything. Perhaps by tomorrow it will be more workable and I can do some light forking over and weeding.

On Thursday I got the flower seeds I’d ordered so I’ve been pondering on what I’m going to sow where. After all I’ve now got over forty packets…do you think that’s enough?

I’m still undecided on what vegetables to grow apart from potatoes, tomatoes, carrots and onions. I’ll have to have yet another look through the catalogues! All suggestions will be most welcome.

Probably the most unusual plant I’m going to grow is Jersey cabbage. It can grow to six feet the first year, and beyond ten feet the second year! The stems can be cut in mid-winter, dried and polished to make a walking stick. Leaves can be picked throughout the season for cooking.

As usual the robin appeared to say a chirpy hello! Talking about birds I must mention that on Wednesday I saw two Grey wagtails which was an unexpected treat. They weren’t on the allotment site but near the bookshop on the grass verge opposite where I’d parked the car.

It’s been a quiet and routine week but a good one. I hope I have more like it!

Round the world again !

Tomorrow’s Natural World film Saved by Dolphins is on BBC2 at 8.00pm, and repeated Saturday at 6.05pm. It looks at the stories of humans saved at sea by dolphins to try and find out if there’s any truth in them.

I missed Life In Cold Blood 1/5. The Cold Blooded Truth last Monday but will watch the repeat which is being shown on Sunday BBC1 at 6.00pm. The next one 2/5. Land Invaders can be seen on Monday BBC1 at 9.00pm.

The excellent Around the World in 80 Gardens which continues on Sunday BBC2 at 9.00pm, and repeated on Tuesday at 7.00pm, sees Monty Don in India. It includes the Taj Mahal which is perhaps the most famous architectural garden in the world.

A new series is Tropic of Capricorn which starts on Sunday BBC2 at 8.00pm with 1/4. Namibia and Botswana, and repeated next Thursday at the rather late time of 11.20pm. These programmes see Simon Reeve follow the tropic of Capricorn through southern Africa, Australia and South America.

Divastar was a birthday girl yesterday so if you haven’t already done so please stop by and wish her a Happy Birthday!

Have a good weekend!

Herb patch

I’m not one for using any herbs when I cook but I am going to have a small herb patch on the plot.

I was given a Rosemary last autumn which is a classic herb, and well known for remembrance.

I’ve ordered a packet of mixed culinary herbs which contains Basil, Parsley, Sage, Summer Savory, Thyme and several others. These are a mix of annuals and perennials, and it will be interesting to see how they grow.

I’ve also bought a packet of seeds of this herb

Chiltern Seeds Vegbook says…This has been developed especially for ornamental use, being very floriferous, branched and compact. It is very fragrant, has green foliage and small creamy-white flowers with attractive purple bracts. There may be better ones to cook with but not many to look at.

You will guess why I have to grow this one when I tell you that it is Basil ‘Magical Michael‘.

Call me McFlighty!

The week before last I received a parcel from Daffy.

Inside was this card which made me smile in which she’d written Everything good comes to those who wait !

There was also a rather smart pocket diary, which I started using right away, and a bar of Lemon and Pepper White Chocolate ! This I tasted somewhat apprehensively but found it to be very pleasant indeed. It’s therefore not surprising that it didn’t last very long.

There were also two other items which she thought would be useful for when I’m allotmenteering. She’s right as the knife blade locks as a safety measure and the pocket watch is ideal as I don’t like wearing a wrist watch when I’m on the plot.

The only thing was I wasn’t sure where I’d wear the pocket watch so I went into my local Cancer Research UK charity shop and asked if they had any waistcoats. The lady had a quick rummage and held up this rather snazzy one

Perfect I said, having tried it on over my cardy! It was £4 so I gave her £5 and said to keep the change.

The knife goes in one pocket , the watch into the other and McFlighty is ready for action. I can’t wait to wear it on the plot come the warmer weather.

Thank you again Daffy for such thoughtful gifts which I shall make constant, and very, good use of.