the allotment gardener

IN MAY OF  2012 , I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM LIZ (ALLOTMENT MANAGER OF BEBINGTON RD. ALLOTMENT SOCIETY) TO SAY THAT IVE FINALLY REACHED THE TOP OF THE LIST TO RENT MY OWN PLOT.
I'D BEEN ON THE LIST ABOUT 15 MONTHS , THO I'VE LIVED LOCALLY FOR 11 YEARS.I GOT THE PAPERWORK THE FOLLOWING MONTH.

IT WAS MY DAUGHTERS IDEA.SHE PLEADED WITH ME TO PUT MY NAME DOWN SO WE COULD  'GARDEN' TOGETHER.  AS IT TURNS OUT - SHE HARDLY EVER HELPS THESE DAYS-IN FACT,I CANT REMEMBER THE LAST TIME SHE EVEN VISITED THE PLOT.SHE HAS HER OWN STRAWBERRY PATCH WHICH IS NOW OVERGROWN WITH WEEDS AND LOOKING VERY SAD.THINK I MIGHT TURN THAT INTO A POND THIS SUMMER.

ANYWAY , BACK TO MY PLOT. ITS QUITE BIG THO IVE NEVER MEASURED IT.WONDER HOW I'D DO THAT? MUST FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.
IT WASNT THE FIRST ONE I WAS OFFERED. THAT WAS HORRENDOUS. NO FENCING OR GATE-JAPANESE KNOTWEED AND COUCH GRASS EVERYWHERE!
THE 2ND ONE WAS FENCED OFF,GATED,HAD 2 SHEDS AND A GREENHOUSE.NEEDLESS TO SAY-I SNAPPED THAT UP!
IT WAS OVERRUN WITH WEEDS AND BROKEN GLASS EVERYWHERE.TALK ABOUT HEALTH AND SAFETY-BLIMEY.

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER GETTING MY PLOT AND JOING BRAS ON FACEBOOK,I WAS BEFRIENDED BY A WONDERFUL CHAP AND FELLOW ALLOTMENTER CALLED BOB BAXTER. 
HE FIXED MY GREENHOUSE FOR ME,GAVE ME SEEDS - THO NONE OF THEM TOOK DUE TO THE BOGGY GROUND,AND STARTED OFF MY GREENHOUSE BY GIVING ME BABY PLANTS.
THE GREENHOUSE IS THE ONLY THING THAT 'TOOK OFF' THIS SUMMER DUE TO ALL THE RAIN.
THEN I MET CARL HOLMES-HIS PLOT IS JUST ROUND THE CORNER FROM MINE AND HES BEEN A GODSEND TOO.COLLECTING COMPOST FOR ME-GIVING ADVICE AND PASSING ON PLANTS AND SEEDS.HIM AND BOB LAID A PATIO FOR ME AT THE BACK OF MY PLOT-THE SLABS WERE HUGE SO I NEED BRAWN.

IT TOOK ME 6 WEEKS OF SOLID WEEDING TO GET IT LOOKING RESPECTABLE. I HAD BICEPS LIKE A SHE-HULK AND MOSQUITO BITES THE SIZE OF GRAPES!
EVERYDAY I'D GO TO THE PLOT AND LOSE TRACK OF TIME.SOMETIMES I'D GET A CALL ON MY MOBILE AT 10 AT NIGHT ASKING IF I WAS COMING HOME!
IVE NOT DONE MUCH THIS AUTUMN/WINTER-KEPT THE PLOT TIDY ETC...THE RAIN HASNT STOPPED LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO TACKLE THE MANY LEAKS IN MY SHEDS-ROLL ON SPRING.
IVE LOADS OF IDEAS - AND EVEN MORE SEEDS TO POT AND WATCH GROW.THINK IVE DONE PRETTY GOOD FOR A NOVICE.

THE ALLOTMENT COMMUNITY IS GREAT - WEVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH VANDALISM,ARSONISTS AND FLY TIPPERS BUT HOPEFULLY THE NEW CCTV WILL CATCH SOME OF THE CULPRITS AND WE CAN CONTINUE DOING WHAT WE LOVE.

I DO WHAT I DO ON THE CHEAP AND CHEERFUL.I TRY TO RECYCLE WHAT I CAN AND RELY ON DONATIONS TOO.EVEN AND OLD LAWNMOWER THAT WAS DUMPED BY MY PLOT WAS PUT TO GOOD USE.