Sunday 6 March 2022

A Different Life.

 


Before returning to Blighty last October, one of my final major tasks was to return Haddock's to its former state as 'grassland'. Hopefully this Summer I will build a pagoda of some sort, and maybe plant another fruit tree. I notice in the above photo that there was still an Apricot tree there, that eventually died. Maybe I'll replace it. Anyway, Haddock's will no longer be a veg' garden, but a BBQ/party area instead.

All the raised beds have now gone, the ground raked and levelled, and, after having widened the gate to allow the mower in, everything was mowed. I shall continue the mowing, hopefully to make something that resembles a lawn.

We will probably go to France for three months in Summer. We'll open the pool, and make sure all is working OK. Our arrival will be too late to plant anything, and we'll certainly be there for too short a time to harvest. Over here we have nowhere to grow any veg', other than perhaps some Toms in hanging baskets. Maybe I will plant some, and keep my fingers crossed that they survive until our return. But generally we will be at odds with growing seasons; moving around at precisely the wrong times.

This will be the first year for decades that I haven't been currently planning my year's crops. The fruit trees will fruit, but not all during our sojourn. We may have Peaches, but Apples, Pears, Plums, Figs, etc will all ripen after our departure. I'm also hoping that we'll have some Globe Artichokes. I just hope that Boo Boo and The Cherub will take full advantage of what's on offer after we leave (provided that they're there!).

I shall really miss my veg' gardening. It has always been a major part of my spare time activities. I can hardly imagine life without soil under my nails. 

I shall simply have to live differently.

43 comments:

  1. It's really hard to imagine you with no garden this summer. I'll miss reading about it!

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    Replies
    1. I'm just beginning to feel it. Reading about all your sowing this morning made me quite 'nostalgic'.

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  2. It is all much easier and so it
    should be. Sometimes we have to let things go.

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    1. I think it's those big fat fleshy Tomatoes that I'll miss the most.

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  3. What a shame. I know I would hate to give up my garden. I thought you had just gone to England for 3 months.

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    1. No, it's the opposite; we're only allowed back for three months, unless we buy a visa for an extra three months. Frankly it's more fun here.

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    2. That's good as long as it is more fun in Brighton. Enjoy.

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    3. I am pleased to read some sense here before the blog is overwhelmed with outpourings of grief about a garden.

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    4. Everyone please note the words "frankly it's more fun here".

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    5. It's the truth! And the people are so much more pleasant.

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    6. I know it's the truth and I just wanted to draw attention to it. However I know that not all readers read the comments so I am probably wasting my time!

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  4. A friend of my mother's and his wife are moving into a retirement village. He was nearly in tears when speaking to Mother as he told her all his tools in his shed must be sold or given away. It must be hard to give up a workshop and in your case, growing produce.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, it's been a big part of my life for almost as long as I can remember. I'm just beginning to miss it.

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  5. Blogposts from 'your' France will seem odd without references to growing food and the problems or successes of Haddocks.

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    1. It'll be very odd for me too. But times change, and Haddock's will be re-born as a fun area.

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  6. Toms and strawberries in hanging baskets and potatoes in a bag !!! How about an allotment although there is usually a waiting list. I guess we all have to adjust to different things as we get older. I’m sure you will find a way to grow a few things . XXXX

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    1. I'm sure we'll manage a few Toms, both here and at the other house where my oldest will be in residence. Tomatoes are the most important thing.

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  7. A new life will be fun. We have just started ours and it has been "interesting " so far.

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    1. Yes, it's been a very sudden change for us. I voted against Brexit, but mostly for the reasons that have now backfired on us.

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  8. With no gardening to do there will be more time for partying on France. Sounds a win/win.

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    1. There'll still be plenty of mowing and pruning to do. I'm hoping that W will be there, and that Kimbo will manage a couple of weeks with us. We should be able to throw one more really good party.

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  9. Let's hope the Russians haven't invaded France before your planned return. You might find a couple of tanks parked on your lawn. The growing vegetables will be the least of your worries.

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    Replies
    1. As long as everything doesn't glow in the dark, I shan't worry.

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  10. I would have done the same. Nothing worse than an unloved veg plot. You will always be growing something, somewhere, though. (Having great trouble commenting here, by the way.)

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    1. No-one else has trouble commenting, I think the problem must be your end.

      I'll always try to grow SOMETHING. I'm trying to think of different methods.

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    2. My desktop has taken against blogger, so I have to fire up the iPad, which has very poor memory capacity. I don't have a fancy phone. I can still read blogs OK, just not comment on many.

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  11. I love my crazy cottage garden and I get great satisfaction when I can harvest a few of my own fresh vegetables for dinner. Even so, I'm a little envious of people who can head off on vacation with a nary a backward glance at their no maintenance lawn. Gardens can be a bit of a millstone around one's neck during the heat of summer. You might find your new freedom more enjoyable than you think.

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    1. In France I have about two acres to mow, and I have no idea what it'll be like when I arrive. The lawns will probably look like hay fields.

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    2. How lovely, you'll probably find all sort of wildflowers and orchids that you didn't know were there. I wouldn't bother mowing it all, just cut some paths through it and leave the rest to the bees.

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    3. There will be Strawberries coming through, as I mowed them before leaving. They are very persistent. Otherwise, there are all sorts of berries, cherries, plums, apples, figs, grapes, and globe artichokes. All those will continue to flourish. It'll be a nice spot to eat drink and be very merry.

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  12. Times change and we change. Your Brighton experiences are all very positive. The new BBQ/party area sounds fabulous. The party with friends and family will be extraordinary. I have no doubt, you'll be growing what you want, where you want, as you please. All with a new twist.

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    Replies
    1. The New Haddock's will be fun. I'll need to run some electricity to it, then we can have a fridge there, and lights, etc.

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  13. and shop differently too I imagine.

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    1. It's taken me quite a while to acclimatise back to UK shopping. I'm actually loving it, but there'll be a lot more on my 'to bring back' list after the summer. There are a few things I really miss.

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  14. I think you need to find a local Farmer's Market to peruse on a regular basis. We find favorite farmers who provide a friendly face and delicious produce regularly. It's not quite as good as growing our own, but close!

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    1. You're right, that's exactly what we need, as long as they don't pretend that imported stuff is locally grown... which is often the case.

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  15. Letting go is hard cro, I’ve done it
    But it’s also freeing

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    Replies
    1. Freeing, but it also makes me feel slightly useless. I need a project.

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  16. This is so sad; a really big change.

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    1. I'll just have to find something else to do.

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  17. Mmm, peaches fresh from the tree, absolute heaven. If you know you are going to miss your veg gardening, why not keep a small patch for things that will grow quickly enough to be available just while you are there?

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    Replies
    1. I have two main Peach trees, one of which is wonderful. Maybe I'll plant another one at Haddock's.

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