10th and 12th January

10^th January
I finally called it a day on my 3 Apache chilli peppers that were home grown from seed and after the warm autumn, have been residing on the kitchen windowsill. I harvested 2 last chillies a few days ago and there seems no more hope of further crops although the plants look healthy.

12^th January

I finally managed to plant the garlic bulbs. I have been off work the last 2 days with some virus that has plagued me mildly since the 2^nd Jan then turned up the heat on Tuesday. Wednesday I went further downhill and Thursday and Friday I was in bed most of the time, lying on the sofa much of the remainder of the time. I had a thumping headache, cough, pressure pain behind the eyes and a bit of muscle ache and shivers. Today was my first day out and I wanted to push myself a little bit because I want to be stronger for work on Monday even though now my cough is worse and my chest hurts more. We went on a family day trip to just get out a bit and were on our way to the Memorial Park in the town where my eldest likes playing, and the allotment is on the way. So we stopped off and whilst my wife sat leisurely in the car with our youngest (just over 1 year old) snoozing in the back, his big brother and I attacked the heavy clayey, rain-drenched soil, or was it loose, wet cement? It was hard to tell by feel alone; it was so heavy and it certainly stuck to my trowel better than any cement I’ve ever mixed. Bending over with my head down, I quickly came to the conclusion that blood rushing to my brain was not a good idea for a first activity following 2 days of being pretty much horizontal. Still, for some reason, probably plain stubbornness (I have been known for it in the past) I stuck to my task with a tackiness equal to that of the mud on my trowel. Whilst I dug 4 inch holes, separated the garlic cloves, planted them and filled them in, my young helper assisted with finding some poles that were laid out with their ends on my plot and my neighbours’. I don’t know if they just came to rest there or if they are meant for me. Anyway, my son and heir picked up the poles one by one and stood it up in the soil/mud/cement and proceeded to inquire as to whether the stakes were taller than a) him and b) me. To be honest, this pole assessment was not helping me to any great degree. In the end I planted 20 cloves, all along the length of one section. This should be plenty. Last year I planted 6 cloves and we are still trying to consume the first bulb, with the other 5 still hanging in the conservatory. It’s a good job they keep well.

 

Later in the park, I was walking along the path unable to keep up with a 3 year and 363 day old boy. I forgave myself for thinking I was my granddad in his latter years. Hopefully this rotten virus will be out of my system soon. It was good to be out though.

Next post: 18th Jan