Friday 17 December 2010

Snow and hangover cures

The snow has arrived - again. Just a light dusting in West London, which has cheered things up immensely. Everything looked pinched and cold in the frosty greyness of the morning. Now the garden looks snug and cosy under the snow and the skies have gone blue and bright. It really is alpine fresh. And I'm enjoying the incongruity of the test match coverage burbling away in the background on the radio.
There have been a few days this week when the ground softened enough to get a few more broad beans in, dig up some leeks and prepare the ground for some promised garlic - exceedingly late, I know. The clayey builders-rubble soil at the allotment was even quite good to dig, the big clods broken up by the frost and easier to turn over.
I was particularly glad about this as I was nursing a hangover of the variety that can only be induced by a fatal combination of a work Christmas party, involving chinese food and karaoke (the less said the better). I don't think it's been very well documented, but aside from coffee, chocolate and a fry up, digging has to be the finest remedy for a hangover.

6 comments:

  1. Sounds like a good party! I think I'd need a pneumatic drill to "dig" my soil at the moment, which I can't imagine being a good hangover cure at all, so my broad beans will stay in pots.

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  2. I notice Plantalicious would need a pneumatic drill. I was thinking 'pile driver'.

    Have a very happy Christmas.

    Esther

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  3. Plantaliscious and esther, how is your soil now the thaw is on? I feel like I've been able to reaquaint myself with my garden a little the last few days with the temperature above freezing... what a treat.

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  4. Hello Camillap. You ask about the soil now - answer - soggy!

    Some bulbs are coming up - which worries me a little because I don't want them thinking the sudden rise in temperature means spring is arriving. (It's about 8 degrees centigrade most days at present instead of non-stop freezing.)

    Has your soil de-frosted too?

    Esther

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  5. Hi Esther, my soil is also very soggy, so not much digging going on. It's amazing how keen the bulbs are, as soon as the weather unfreezes, but don't worry as they will regulate themselves if it snows again and just slow right down again.

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  6. Hi Camillap, my soil is now sodden, I don't dare try to dig it at the moment. Hoping it will dry out soon...

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