September already !!

Blimey September already yep I'm gonna say it again how fast time seems to go :-) Well plans are drawn up for the kitchen garden it is just a case now of puttin it into practice. So bear with me and in those famous words of THE TERMINATOR "Ill be Back " mm! I know corny :-P what can I say the tablets are working but with only a few side effects :-S
Debs xx

A sad goodbye !!!!!!

I never thought we would give up the allotment after seven years of hard work sweat and toil. My fondest memory being the feeling of happiness on those beautiful summer evenings whilst sitting on the bench looking out at the full growth of herbs and plants with the vegetables if not nearly but some ready for picking. As a slight breeze picked up the variety of smells especially the freshly cut grass that shaped the plots beds enhancing the beautiful colours against the green paths and shaded browns of earth which snugly held the plants in place. As the sunset like an alarm clock awoke the wildlife to carefully explore. Whether we love them or not they looked for an opportunity to feast. Rabbits hopped warily about as their heads popped up and down and even if fenced they searched for that piece of ground to dig or a gap to crawl through just to visit natures supermarket. The foxes followed less obvious as they searched for their dinner and so much more came to life as dusk fell and it was time to go home as we hoped when next we visited the least damage to our precious crops was done and there would be some food left for us to take home.

This is how I will remember and reflect the time we have spent on the allotment despite the unhappy tears and setbacks which only motivated us to keep going. The description of those lovely evenings sound romantic but have been the reality and end result of all the hard work especially the back breaking digging !!

Unfortunately the tears are now because a decision has been made. This year has been the hardest as my bad health overwhelmed the beginning of the year despite our plans unfortunately the plot began to overgrow despite Russ working hard to keep the grass down but as the beds dissapeared and the grass and weeds took the place of our once beautiful allotment we have now had to be realistic and accept it will be just like starting over again and as health is a priority we can only say goodbye but with pride look back at our photos and also with closed eyes remember those beautiful summer evenings.


THANKYOU
A special thankyou to Tom and Dennis for their understanding and patience and we wish them well with the allotment society. Also to Pauline for all your support and accompanying me on those bike journeys to and thro the allotments.


THE BLUE GATE BLOG
Thankyou to all who have followed the bluegate blog.

A NEW START FOR THE BLUE GATE

The blue gate will continue but in a much smaller place. So from September 2009 the blue gate blog will start again and our blue gate will open to our new project.....

THE BLUE GATE KITCHEN GARDEN
A small but ideal place to grow veg and herbs just outside our backdoor. So please come back to the blog and follow us as we still continue to grow our own. Starting with the design and how we create our own kitchen garden.
So bye for now and see you in September...

Debbie xx

Hi Simon

Hi Simon ( Smithy veg ) great to hear from you. Congratulations on your editorial post and recent birthday. I look forward to reading your blog The vegetable grower and wish you a belated Happy New Yew and great coming gardening year.

Debbie X

Thank you Anna

Thank you Anna for your lovely comment on my previous post. Happy new Year
Debbie x

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy 2009

Despite a stressful Christmas and increase in my seizures Russ and I are not letting this stand in the way of the coming year and our plans for the allotment.

Focusing on something as enjoyable as the plot i'm sure will have a positive affect. I'm not trying to make living with epilepsy sound always easy but we have no intention of letting the Christmas setback stop us and if past experiences of having the plot at it's full bloom and all the ups and downs then this is a step forward to get everything ship shape as before.
I shall endeavour to keep the blog going sharing our progress with updates and pictures

So we both wish you all also a good gardening year and the best of health.

Debbie x

OVERGROWN

How overgrown the allotment is looking! my first thoughts were " oh no that really is alot of work" and it really will be. As usual bad weather ,colds and general life have interfered with us getting any real practical start. I went down to the allotment one day and the wind was so cold and sharp that began my cold again. Sniffling and coughing I tried on various dark overcast days but alas my cold had not quite left me. I'm finding in between the rainy days a slow but sure start is progressing. There are no no immediate changes as my visits have been short ones but visiting the plot atleast is good.

Update on halfing the plot. Russ and I have decided to keep the full size allotment as it is. We like the layout already designed of which took me since 2003 to do. We like the arches and little beds in between and although some changes are due to come these are suttle ones.

I regret that the allotment has got into this condition but it also has helped me look at our approach. Yes you get good and bad years but I hope we will never let it overgrow like this once we have got it straight again.

I have taken some photos and hope to put on the blog very soon once I have got use to this new computer mmm!!!

Debbie x

A Fresh Start

Back from our hols and ready to get going. We have an allotment site meeting on the 21st Sept where I'm hoping to meet the lady who will be taking on half the plot and we can from there discuss and begin changes to come.
I am looking forward to having a smaller plot as it is so much better to remain within what is manageable and I have missed the allotment so much this year although we have some hard work ahead to make A FRESH START.

Debbie X