Sunday afternoon

Oh Lord, but it's hot out there today.

There was some digging planned for the bottom bed today, but frankly it's too hot. I think we would make ourselves ill if we tried anything overly strenuous.

I have a coffee to finish and then I think we are taking the bus up to HomeBase. We need some potting compound and stuff anyway. The revised plan is to purchase those items and then come back, harvest the last of the mange-tout, which we are hoping to put away for seeds for next year and then dig the sad remains of the plant into the upper bed before planting something new there while there is still half the summer to grow it.

Who knew that mange-tout was so prolific, but so short seasoned? It has certainly been one of our success stories along with the tomatoes and, it is becoming apparent, the cucumbers.

The aim for today then, is to sort the mange-tout out and plant some carrots and possibly more potatoes for a winter crop. I think if they go in now, they should be ready just around Christmas. Who said Selfridges started early?

We are the village green preservation society

Following my last post we did indeed end up at HomeBase where we acquired a new trowel, knee guard and a load of new plants the names of which have already Tefloned off my memory.

After catching the bus home, we ensured that the plants were secure and ha water. We then recalled to the pub for a pint that may inadvertently become several, particularly after we were joined by Messrs Flay, Scott and Wise and kept in our places by Wild Henry.

At sometime around 7pm we arrived back at the Gin Palace and dug up the moribund mange-touts and plantedthe new flowers plus some lettuce, onions andcarrots.

Ian now officially too hot, tired and possibly a little 'tired and emotional'. Ahem. I believe there is a curry in our immediate future. Bring it on!