Article in October KG

[Malk]

I'm an in-betweener. I love being on my own at the plot (no kids! no phone) just able to get on with things. People wander by and have a chat, but I tend to work while I talk so they kind of get the point and don't stay for long.

But at 1.30 it's tea time and I go up and join the 'old boys' (both in time served on the plots and in age) and have a long blether. It's great to hear them reminisce, give advice on gardening, comment on current events, even if it often football. It's something just mine, nothing to do with my partner, my work, my family. If there's no tea time I feel a bit out of sorts when I leave the plot.

[Mike Vogel]

Geoff, re deafness and smalltalk: SNAP. But I like the community on the allotment, because usually you are talking face to face with one or two individuals. Quite true, we don't necessarily have very much in common, but the talk is always interesting and we learn a lot from each other. Occasionally it comews to a bit more; we had a barn-raising a few months ago [or rather a one-side-of-a-Heath-Robinson-greenhouse-raising]. Then there is the Pakistani-born man whose sons are horrified to see him labouring to grow his own food; they give him money to go an buy it! They just don't understand the joy of being able to grow those wonderful chillis. There's a lot of good humour down our way, but when you've little time you do sometimes wish you could just get on with it.

[lizzie]

I don't mind talking to folk on the lottie.........I enjoy it mostly. There are a few people that I really do not like but that's another story and not for writing on here.

But I do enjoy it when it's quiet and it's just me, the birds and a nice fire in the woodburner.

It's just nice to chill out and have time to think without interruption. I do like getting stuck in and do get a lot more done when I am alone cos there's no-one to tempt me to just another cuppa, or they've remembered to tell me something so I am delayed.

Don't get me wrong, I love my friends to death.........but I do like being alone

[Elaine]

Way t' go Lizzie!!

I must admit to being happy with my own company too. I like peace and quiet, especially on the allotment. It drives me daft if someone has a radio blaring out for example. I will have a natter with folk down there but we don't socialise with them....some really odd-bods on our site. Our working hours means we don't have a lot of time to spend on the allotment, so we tend to like to" get on with it" when we are there, and I usually carry on with what I'm doing whilst someone is chatting.
I have to endure noise , music and chat all day at work and I am really selfish when it comes to people intruding in my quiet times.
I'm not a party animal, and I also have problems with hearing in noisy places...I admit to selective hearing too!!
I like being sociable but only when I choose to be. I don't like being dragged into community events and forced into smalltalk.
The girls at work are all a lot younger than me,(late teens and very early twenties... ) and I know they think I'm an eccentric old biddy cos I don't watch soaps or much telly at all, so half the time I don't know what they're talking about anyway!!! They think it strange that I can lose myself in a book and would rather read than watch Eastenders!

I'm not a complete miserable old git, Ken and I go out with good friends every week to our Social Club...good beer, good company and good artist(mostly!!!) and we play darts in a mixed team on Fridays with good friends too.
As folk have already said, everyone is different, that is what makes the the world go around..it would be mighty boring if we all liked the same things. Each to their own and we are all entitled to choose.
Cheers

[Elaine]

Ciderboys, I completely sympathise with you regarding your land and peoples intrusion...I would feel like you too. I hate this "I can go where I like and do what I like" attitude. There are plenty of places for people to walk without going on other folks land. I love walking in the country but would not dream of crossing private land.
Cheers.

[lizzie]

I sympathise with you too Ciderboys........I mean, what the hell happend to having some respect for peoples property.....they'd have plenty to say if you walked through their gardens cos you "felt like it"

I am happy to meet up with friends and have a good natter........I didn't really mind being crammed in with a crowd of 95,000 people to watch my gig. It was a bit squashed but people were generally very nice and friendly.

I do like my music so have my mp3 player with me at all times on the lottie so only I can hear it. It means that I don't hear all the whinging and moaning that goes on round the site

I am very happy to be thought of as different and strange........it's a persona that i've worked very hard on In my house, I have been compared to Father Jack, but without the alcohol and that just suits me fine

[oldherbaceous]

How about, we all pop round to our very young looking, Lizzies allotment later, for a nice brew and good conversation.

[macmac]

How about, we all pop round to our very young looking, Lizzies allotment later, for a nice brew and good conversation.

Bit too far for me OH but I could put the "virtual"kettle on now if you like

[oldherbaceous]

Dear macmac, just the thought of the "virtual" kettle going on, is a pleasant thought.

[lizzie]

It is a very pleasant thought..........shall I bring the Jaffa Cakes then?

[macmac]

'Don't like jaffa cakes,love shortbread

[oldherbaceous]

I just adore both.

[donedigging]

I'll bring the shortbread as I love it aswell.