Its all Happening here

Hi everyone.
Nice to have a few minutes to get on the blog page and update it.

Well welcome to the BADGER SET and I know there are a few of you out there that are really interested in the new name.

Been down the plot today and have watered all that needs it and also looked at the greenhouse and noticed my Grapes are thickening up. Must get them thinned out a bit though as there will be no more room soon.

Christine was down there and also watering while Mike must have been lounging in the best seat in the house in front of the TELE. Some blokes have all the luck.

Its amazing how much she has put into her site and the walkways are getting filled in nicely. Must keep that blinkin grass cut on the paths though as it is growing like no tommorrow. Thats my job Chris not yours.

The broad beans are delicious and the runners are slowly coming along. Can not wait to taste the first Dunluce pots as they are due to be turned up July the 6th. They look good and are a good colour at the moment. The green parts that is above ground.

Made a new addition to the shed and its to scare the pigeons, but they seem to be on course to do more damage than usual. They are very hungry this year.

Forgot to take me shed key down and so was left to water and check things over before retreating to the bungalow for shade. Its bloomin hot out there today.

Saw Reg and noticed he had some caterpilars on his cabbages, so was only too pleased to assist by saying where they were so he could get rid of accordingly.

Have put on the councils Newsletter about our Talk evening on the 23rd July, and also there will be news on there about the Show as well.

It might create some more interest for other plotters from the area and bring them into the club.

Roger has had a little upset recently, so I told him to be patient and we would sort it out.

Its News

Hi all and welcome. Well what do you know, we are now called the 'BADGER SET'
Its after the surname you know. I shall have to polish me shoes up and get some proper allotment clothing to make a new impression.

The cheek of it all. As a Committee Member of Hill, I am at the number one spot. 1A that is. There is a large pice of stone I shall be painting up with the Badger Set piccy when its done and show you all. The plot is getting better each week and we have started putting in the winter greens and other similar items. I am really looking at the MOON Planting system and run off a copy eachh week to give me the weeks work.

It could'nt be simpler. I have noticed some strange things happening in the greenhouse, there are [lants coming in ion pots. I do not see any legs or footprints though. Where the dickens thay are coming from I do not know. Ah well kjust get on with it and maybe one day some person oor persons will own up to it.

Got to go and see a specialist Neurologist soon in July so I shall take a look to see what all the shaking going on is. If it is the Parkinsons problem then I know I will have the correct handshake to join that exclusive club. You have to be on the ball in that society so I have heard.

Thw Dunluce pots are coming on nicely and so are the Broad Beans. Been picking some lately to enjoy at meal times. Strawbs are berr-utiful and they are only in their pots still. Must make a special bed for them.

I have decided to plant some different veggies together in the same area and I have Onions growing with Sweetcorn and shallots with lettuces. They are all doing very well. Trying to confuse the little blighters that settle and gnaw away at the tips of plants and things. The beer traps are catching some nice slugs so that works too. Have to go and get meself some pain killers now as I feel a bit drawn and painful, so take care out there we love you all and keep watching the blog. Johnieb

Hi everyone, and welcome to my new bit before I go away for a few days.

I shall have been at the plot nearly four years now and I am just getting down to good honest gardening and learning all the time. I have made my two posts for Beans and also made a pair for the lovely Hazel. She is gonna have to paint em though. Ha HA. She will feel better for that as she has made something herself. How a bout the before Picture. Hope it will com through.
Well I think its worked. Thats before the main offending tree was pruned. The sun it was taking away from the plot was tremendous.

Another Pic perhaps, with a young Lady having a go next door.

How about that Chris. You didn't even know.

She has been a star. Gave me a lovelly box of Biccies for the Tea breaks we have. All because I made her a Compost Bin. Have to make a couple of dozen now so I can be kept in biscuits for the rest of me natural. Thanks Chris. It was a real surprise. Nice to have such good neighbours.
Saw Bri & Plum recently and the delightful Allison. She may be the next compost bin project. We shall have to wait and see.

Well must pop off for now but hey, Those Paper Pots are really doing my Cabbage and Broccolli well. Lots of stuff in the greenhouse almost ready for hardening off. But will have to wait till I return as I cant stretch me arms that far.

Bye for now all. XXXXX where appropriate.

Its Getting Better

Hi all,
and Thanks Bri/Plum and Hazel for your comments. Have issued comments to you all regarding same.

I will now try to upload that Picture of mine I wanted to get on.

Well that did not seem too bad, but if it works it is after the tree cutting etc.
I have taken some more piccies and I will endeavour to get them into the blog.

First earlies just gone in yesterday, DUNLUCE and hopefully Hazel they will be fine.
Also put my Comp. Pots in for Reg's competition and have split two potatoes because of shoots.

We shall have to see how we go.
Hazel I shall make the upright as I showed you in my book one for each end and then do the necessary strings. Hope that will go OK as well. Bit down today cus can not get on plot. But I am resting and that can only be good. Made 25 Paper Pots ready for Cabbage and Broccoli if poss will get them in tommorrow.
I shall leave it for now and blog off, and get back soon. Tara all...

Hi all,
just to let you all know we are up and running again. Done lots of work on the plot lately, and have been hard at it. The plot is looking better now and I am pleased for the effort of myself and Roger and others have done to help. Christine on plot 2a has also been down and given her plot a really good going over. It's looking good. We both have been planting some flowers and climbers in the plot areas and we hope to have a nice looking site for any visitor to come and have a look at and also hopefully come back again. I have put some Lillies in around one of my water buts and also the trees have been cut back sufficiently to allow light through. I will try to insert a picture if I can at this stage so hang on here goes.
It appears it did not work. I will have to get some tuition on it and try again. Before and after the trees were cut would be good pics. Menews etc. Roger and I had Bacon Butties yesterday morning, and with the cuppa as well it went down superbly.Met Bula Rice yesterday and she is off to London Wednesday and will be back next Thursday, so we can have a cuppa and get down to the latest news.
Alls well that ends well and I am amazed at young Hazel, her blog and allotment info are very very good and I have had lots of pleasure reading about the things she has done. I will have to pull my socks up and get going again to at least get some resemblance of a good blog like hers. Well done Hazel.

The week on the Isle

Hi all, just got back from the Isle of Wight and it certainly was white.
Had a good time plenty to drink and eat and lots to see. Played Mr & Mrs on stage Tuesday evening, and came last. Just shows how much she knows about me! Ha.

Paid a visit to plot and was dissapointed could not get anything done as snow is still covering it.

Never mind I shall endeavour to bore you to bits with my Recipe for an even warmer winter soup.

First of all get carrotts, onions,parsnip, leek and also cabbage chopped up fine. put in a pan and fry off with a little oil. When happy about the frying off then add 3 large spoonfuls of Rogan Josh, and also a small spoonful of your favourite curry paste. Mix all together and add a sprinkling of
Plain flour. Do not forget to put salt and pepper in. Mix and add some tomato puree, then add boiling water, a little at a time. Get the pan really full and make sure you add 1 oxo normal, 1 oxo veg, and 1 oxo chicken, all crumbled in and stir well.
Bring it to boil then lower to simmering. Add some chopped potatoes and also some mixed herbs and a boquet garni. Leave to simmer away for an hour or so and then add some more finely chopped cabbage. Test for taste and add whatever you wish to get that super taste that you like.

You can seive this through a seive or do not bother and add dumplings or chicken legs to cook in the soup. I use chicken and add it at around halfway through the cooking.
I know you should like this as much as I do if you like a slightly spiced soup, I called it the Johnny Badger Rogan Joshi poshi soup. It tastes great and can fool most of my grandchildren in to eating their vegetables. I have had it for Xmas starter and the family loved it, without the chicken of course. Just a soup and it went down well. My one grandaughter Lucy said she did not like cabbage, so after she had had a bowlful I asked her her opinion, and she said it was lovely and what was the longish pieces in it, and when I said cabbage, she replied can I have some more, it's lovely. The cabbage was cut into fine strips around an inch to 2 inches long. Ha Ha. Try it and let me know how you enjoy it. Got to get some Pork Pies done this week for the Builder Hazel. She has been hard at it making beds on her plot. They look good Hazel. See you all around sometime. Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee XX

Hi all, sorry I have not been on lately, kept losing password and could not get on to site also not been to well of late.
But all now behind me. I have been down to my spot and looked at the situation there and after I opened my eyes I was amazed to see it was not too bad just a bit of a mess really, more like me Ha Ha.
Saw Julie down at plot and met Chris and Hazel and Chris's friend Christine. All good stuff. Burnt the ground a bit and dug a little and starting to tidy up my bottom end. Careful with the words badge, Hazel is bound to pick you up on it. Eh she mentioned her Celery wine, wow, I bet that's a winner on TV.
Got lots to do and will get some photos sorted out for next time, but would like to thank Julie for offer of help and also Christine for her comments. Its hard to keep a good young boy like me down you know. I keep bouncing back like the proverbial penny. Trying to refurbish an old clock for the shed, and did some drawing of the plot today looking from where I usually sit and sip me tea and rest between digs etc. I am going to try and get my frame for HotBed set back on the back half of plot and then I can get some muck in and start it going. That's where I shall need help Julie, but have asked Brian of plum fame to help and will let you know when I shall be down to do it. You probably have noticed it perched half on the barrow ready for moving. I shall ask Jodie as well.
Onions I sowed in August 08 have been coming on nicely and have put them into special box in greenhouse. Hope I can grow woppers to go in show. I have been making soups and stuff and also Pork Pies, NO! not Porky Pies Hazel, the edible ones. Ha Ha. Will trully save you one Hazel, hope you will enjoy it. I think I will sort out my special recipe for soups and let it go down in blog for all to try. They taste great and even my Grandaughter Lucy likes em.
Ah well thats a blog an half for now so toodle pip all you allotmonteers and keep planting , digging, and whatever you do. Bye for now JohnieB