After spending most of the winter doing a bit here and a bit there, as weather and funds have allowed, I've finally finished the allotment fruit cage this weekend, and if I see another cable tie I'm going to scream! The netting along the sides and joining the top panels together is all held together with cable ties, I think that there is somewhere in the region of 600 in total, all installed above head height, and all fiddly as a fiddly thing. I'm pretty chuffed with the end results though, it's not been cheap (although no more than I initially thought), but it's solid, and being galvanised steel should outlast any wooden option. Time will tell how effective it will be, although I can't see anyway in for the birds and using a wider mesh on the sides should still allow the pollinating insects in to do their job. Most importantly there's plenty of head room inside, the net's well supported, with no sagging and I'm a happy bunny! As the forecast for the coming week seems to be reasonable (that's blown it) I've taken a bit of a risk and made a start on planting stuff out on the allotment this weekend too. It's all under cloches for the time being so it should be OK. I'd normally give it another week or two, but I need the space in the cold frame and greenhouse for other stuff, so needs must. I seem to be well ahead on the allotment this year compared to normal years. I suppose the Coronovirus restrictions have limited my cycling adventures to local stuff only with no overnight gallivanting, leaving me with a bit more time to spend on the plot. If I'm totally honest it's made quite a pleasant change and I'm enjoying being able to watch the spring slowly unfolding around me. Between time on the allotment and rattling through the odd jobs I've managed a bit of running and cycling this weekend too.
Saturday morning dawned wet, but I finally plucked up the courage to venture out into the drizzle after breakfast (07:30). Unusually, it had stopped raining by the time I got to the end of the road, and always one to take advantage of such an opportunity I managed to get 13 miles in around the local roads. Not particularly exciting, but in accordance with the rules. I managed to get a few bike miles in on Sunday too. A cold and overcast dawn gave way to a beautiful, if breezy, morning and despite a cold start (I nearly went back home for long trousers and thicker gloves) it turned into a warm and sunny day. A couple of hours out gave the legs a good stretch and I must say that the lack of traffic at the moment is lovely. You can hear the birds singing, the wind in the trees and the sound of silence. It makes a real change from being constantly on edge, hoping and praying, that the next idiot in their "my cars bigger than yours, bragging mobile", rushing to get to Costa or Tesco doesn't wipe you out. We can only hope and prey that if there's one positive that comes from the current situation it's that people might realise that they don't need to drive everywhere. Despite everything that's going on, the worlds a far nicer place to be out and about in at the moment. Families are out together taking their daily exercise, there's less pollution, less noise and less litter and everything seems to be that little bit more civilised!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Paul PerrattOld enough to know better, young enough to still feel invincible, stupid enough to keep on trying the same thing again and again. Cyclist, Gardener, Runner, Hiker, Cook, Woodworker, Engineer, Jack of all trades and master of none, Anti social old git and all round miserable bugger. Archives
March 2024
Categories
All
|