The strange thing about allotments

[The Mouse]

Everyone knows that allotment time is different from real-life time; you go there for half an hour and next thing you know, someone's telling you you've been there for three or four hours!

But I've noticed another strange thing about allotments.
When you watch other people on theirs, they just look to 'potter'. They never seem to break sweat - they just wander slowly up and down, pick things up here and there, tickle the soil a bit with a fork, and wander off fresh as a daisy afterwards. It looks so easy!!!
But I've yet to find a job on the allotment that feels like 'pottering' when I do it! In fact, it's bloody hard work most of the time. But I have it on good authority that I too look to be pottering to onlookers. Why is that? I don't get it!

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Mouse, i think it is simply that, allotments are very hard work and they can make you think that you are not keeping up with others, so probably put a little more effort in than is really needed.

It's all in the mind you know, Bert.

Just enjoy your allotment.

[Chantal]

I understand what you're saying Bert, I've noticed the same thing. I'm very guilty of looking like I'm doing nothing, as much of the time I'm NOT doing anything. Rather than scamper up there for an hour, I usually manage at least half a day, usually a full day. As I often get backache, I spend a maximum of half an hour doing stuff and then sit down with a book and a cup of tea for the next 15-20 minutes, before doing something else. A lot of people never see me standing up, especially as I weed sitting on one of those (inverted) kneelers and can't work out how I get anything done at all

Did Seedling or I mention that she's moved onto my plot (our plot) as of mid October? We may actually get more done now when we're both there, as we used to spend a lot of time drinking tea and chatting. This way we can weed too

[Elaine]

Sounds like a good plan Chantal! Happy sharing to you and Seedling!
Cheers.

[oldherbaceous]

I wonder what things they talk about!

[Monika]

You are so right, Mouse, about loosing track of the time on the allotment. I have learned by bitter experience always to take a bottle of water and a quick snack (usually a cereal bar) with me when I go to the allotment because so often, when I only intended to stay for half an hour or so, I have ended up "pottering" for two or three hours and suddenly feeling weak with hunger and feeling almost faint having to climb up a steep hill and then walking home about 20 minutes. So now I am prepared!

[The Mouse]

I always take a flask of coffee with me if I think I'm going to be there for long, Monica.
It works as a great guide as to when I should give up and go home - the more tired I get, the more often I go and sit down and have a cup of it, and by the time it's done, I'm usually whacked! And then there's the (uphill) bike ride home

But apart from the ride home I love everything about my allotment:
Fresh air, beautiful peaceful countryside, the exercise, the satisfaction of picking and eating fresh, tasty veg, the chats with my lovely lotty neighbours, the satisfied feeling I get when I stand back to look at the freshly turned earth - well worth the exhaustion!

[macmac]

Monika ,Mouse I used to take a bottle of water then we bought a little stove,now....we have coffee,tea,green tea ,hot chocolate and the one nobody ever refuses....Bovril.Oh and cartons of fruit juice and tins of fizzy .Several lottie mates wander down our plot and generously add to our refreshment stack when supplies run low.Allotments are just the best place in the world
ps we had a bonfire last week with roasted chestnuts

[glallotments]

We used to take a flask too and now also have a stove that we take with us when we go. In fact the main reason for buying a shed was as somewhere to have a coffee and a break. We don't leave it in our shed as stoves have been quite a target of thieves.

We have a larger stove that we use when we have dinner down there with our plot neighbours, although last year the weather meant this was just once! Our neighbours BBQ'd the meat and we cooked the ultra fresh veg.

Nearly every week (until the quiet season arrived) we have a small group who have coffee together and occasionally some extra goodies too. In fact I am thinking of having a bell to announce break time to save shouting across plots that the kettle is on!! The coffee break often ends up taking far longer than we intended but who cares!

We're not quite as well supplied as Macmac though!

[Monika]

Sounds a great spot, macmac and glallotments! Our site only has eight plots and some of these are only cultivated in a half-hearted way. So quite often I am/we are the only people working there. Instead we are surrounded by lots of lambs and sheep, heifers and bullocks. rabbits and pheasants! Some years ago, a young bull took umbrage to me being there and started snorting and pawing the ground with a view to charging the dry stone wall between him and our allotment. I had to hide in the shed until he had calmed down and wandered off when I took the chance and scarpered up the hill, out of sight.

Usually though, working on the allotment is a most peaceful experience!

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Monika, i know i shouldn't really laugh about the bull saga, but it has put a bigger than normal smile on my face.

[Monika]

You are right, OH, it was NOT funny! I would think by now he's long since ended up in steak and kidney pudding or something like that, so I have had my revenge anyway.