The life and loves of a time-poor plantsman
I have been meaning to write an update on the allotment for a little while now. While reading the previous chapter, I am wondering how on earth I am going to adequately convey everything that has happened at the plot. It has changed almost beyond recognition, mostly due to the unseasonably warm and sunny weather […]
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Since last I wrote we’ve had to endure a succession of winter storms which have hampered efforts to get on the plot and get on with jobs. Last weekend we tried to remedy that. The onion sets were started off in a tray on 2nd February. They’ve shot up and have now been transferred to […]
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First of all, thank you for your patience whilst I have been away on holiday and taking a short break from blogging. It’s been many years since I’ve had a whole fortnight away from work, and I can heartily recommend it. It’s been almost as long since I’ve travelled long-haul for a holiday, and I […]
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As Christmas approaches, I find myself rapidly running out of time to do all the wholesome, festive projects I promised myself I would tackle. Fairisle baubles remain unknitted and card-making materials fester in the bottom drawer. Anything that can be bought ready-made will be snapped up and, as on other occasions, I may shamefully fail to […]
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These juicy shots are principally for the delight and delectation of my Aussie friend Helen, who is a great proponent of all sorts of heritage fruit and vegetables. For the first time in many years we have grown tomatoes outside in London, planted in raised beds. They have kept us in petite red and gold fruits since August, with […]
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The school summer break is over and the kids are back for the autumn term, which means it must be time to take our holidays. I love September: the hazy light, the gentle warmth that seems to radiate from the ground and the ebullience of the garden. For me, this is my last hurrah before work becomes too chaotic […]
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I am a complete novice when it comes to growing fruit and vegetables. My last real experience was in my early teens when I grew an abundance of lettuce, courgettes and sweetcorn in my parents’ garden. Since then herbs have been the extent of my daliance with edible plants. Legumes are unfamiliar, root vegetables foreign and […]
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I never think of myself as especially tech savvy. However, as I embark on my 40’s I find myself more anxious than ever to keep up with advances in technology. I have no time for endless research, so have happily sold my soul to Apple – the iPad, the iPhone and now a gorgeous, sleek, […]
Read MoreA beautiful autumn afternoon, perhaps the last for a while, so time to escape the office for delights of the RHS London Harvest Festival Show. Check back soon to discover who grew this year’s largest pumpkin, and which Duke won the battle of the grapes.
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Where better to hold a team day than in a patisserie? Not just any patisserie, but one that’s attached to a jam factory carrying the Queen’s Royal Warrant. And, better still, one that’s prepared to both feed you and let you loose in the bakery. A tasty plan, cooked up by one of my colleagues. […]
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