On the waiting list

Inspires by Lee and Keith I have taken the plunge and maybe before I retire the local council will reach my post on their waiting list for an allotment!!

In the process I saw this article in the local paper (the express and star).................

Group in plea to dig deep and grow veg
Volunteers are urging people to roll up their sleeves and grow their own greens in Cannock by unveiling plans to transform an overgrown plot of land into allotments.
The plot, which is based off Longford Road in the town, was formerly used as allotments around 20 years ago but has since been left to waste. A group of residents are desperate to see the site brought back to life and have joined forces to approach Cannock Chase Council for lease of the land in a bid to turn it into new plots which would be run by the group.
With a four-year waiting list to get an allotment with Cannock Chase Council, the newly-formed Longford Allotment Holders’ Association hope the proposal will be approved.
They are currently in negotiations with the council over terms of the lease and will be writing to the authority with specific plans of 20 plots for the site.

They have been told the plans are likely to be put before Cannock Chase Council’s Cabinet in January. If approved, they can begin the clean-up and tidying of the area in time for spring.
Councillor John Kraujalis, a member of the association, said: “We are going to bring it back into use at our own cost.
“We have a group of around 13 very committed people who are enthusiastic about this project.
“The council owns lots of pieces of land and in economic times like this there is nothing they can do with them.
“Why not turn them over to productive use, if people want to use them?


This land is literally a 5 minute walk from where I live so I contacted the paper for the details of the group and it turns out that the local councillor is "the man to talk to" - now it just so happens that my mum (stalwart of the local labour party) is good mates with the councillor and is indeed going to be in conference with him at the weekend as she is on the working party to choose the new parliamentary candidate........ now is your mind working like mine did..... Sarah picks up phone... Hi mom - yeah everythings ok.... mom will you have a word with john the councillor with the unpronouncable name and as him if i can join the allotment action group blah blah blah... etc etc etc.... mom replies - dont you think you've got enough on your plate working full time 3 kids husband ice hockey training to be a cambridge councillor.... yes mom i do but would you like me to grow all your veggies for you from now till you turn up your toes... ah well when you put it like that I'll put a word in for you!!

Don't you just love moms!

Newcastel upon Tyne

Blimey its a long way to go for a 45 minute game - but what a game! - yes we won ... and that win puts us top of the league. We have pushed newcastle out of the running for 1st spot but we are still head to head with sheffield, nottingham and kingston, on points we could all still make it to the finals in 1st place - but just for now we are right up there at the top spot!

jacks beanstalk

well after a quick trip to the garden centre I got the beans in a big pot and put the canes up for them .... then made a cup of coffee while I watched the lunchtime news and weather.... THEY FORECAST SNOW! poor little beans are dicing with death I'm affraid but they have to go out - they are huge and if they stay inside till the snow is passed they'll be up the stairs and round the bannister!

yes, yes, yes yes yes yesyesyesyesyes

they've only gone and done it again! the kids thrashed Whitley bay u12's!! It was a great match to watch - the kids really wanted the win so were fighting for every inch of ice.

I got to see my beautiful angel too - we were going to stop off on the way back but for some reason (best known only to technology) Jane - the stupid sat nav lady decided that instead of coming back on the A1(M) we would return on the A19 - this meant we missed the angel and ended up near Billingham :S never mind.. we're back in Newcastle next week! So with a 12 o'clock face off we shall have plenty of time to visit her on the return journey.. I shall take my camera and try to get some good photos to post.

On the gardening front - I have jack's beanstalk growing on the window ledge - the beans are all about 7 inches tall so my day off on tuesday will be taken up building a cold frame out of some reclaimed housebricks and some glass sheets I found behind the shed. All my herbs are doing well too - even the parsley which folklore says only grows in a house where the woman is the boss! The beetroot need to be planted out too so I have to construct the "salad garden" - its going to recycle the sand pit that the kids have out grown and hopefully will keep the family fed on lettuce, beetroot, radish and spring onions with tomatoes and cucumbers to follow in some huuuuuge pots that I'm hoping to con out of my dad - they're a but battered, chunks out of the rims and so he "doesn;t like them" anymore - Ideal time for me to have them I think........