The big news around these parts at the moment is my imminent return to work after nigh on a year of maternity leave (non-parents: do not describe this as a "break" or I might have to get all punchy on you).
I won't be going back to my old job as deputy news editor at Guardian Unlimited, however. I have a shiny new job, and one that's - gulp - gardening related.
I shall be editing the gardening pages of the Guardian's Weekend magazine. It's a part time post, which will give me time to spend with my ever-more entertaining daughter, while still getting some mental stimulation and helping to pass on my passion for growing stuff to Guardian readers. And, er, earning some cash too, I guess ...
I'd love to know what you make of Weekend's gardening pages (scroll to the bottom) and any ideas you have for improvements. I have lots of plans of my own, of course, but I know I can rely on you lot to be opinionated about what you'd like to see there. I'll also be continuing this blog, of course, so do stay tuned.
Only potential downside of the new job: answering the phone. "Hello, Guardian gardening" is a devil of a tongue twister.
Brilliant - congratulations!
Posted by: Sujatin | March 22, 2008 at 09:31 PM
Much more from Matthew Wilson, and similar stimulating writing from others, such as James Alexander-Sinclair, to live up to the legacy of Christopher Lloyd who wrote wonderfully on gardening for The Guardian.
Posted by: The Garden Monkey | March 22, 2008 at 09:33 PM
Congratulations!
Could we have some real meaty gardening essays from people with experience, rather than made-up questions that most garden enthusiasts know the answers to (also the design studies could be about gardens that still actually exist - unlike a recent example!)
Posted by: Pete Free | March 22, 2008 at 10:35 PM
More of it - I have to buy the saturday telegraph (!) to get a decent gardening section in any saturday paper.
Congratulations!
Posted by: Madeleine | March 22, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Probably out of your control but I'd like to see the size of the Food section reduced and the Gardening increased. We can all aspire to a bit of gardening but not many can afford over £50 a head meals every week. Mind you, £6000 on lighting your back garden ('Beam me up' in this Weekend Guardian) is also out of most people's price range
Posted by: Valerie | March 23, 2008 at 09:38 AM
Hey Jane - Congratulations on your new job!
Nice to be on Radio Kent with you :)
Posted by: mtp | March 23, 2008 at 09:39 AM
Congratulations Jane. This sounds like a great job that you'll really enjoy. How are your worms doing by the way? Mine are still alive, which I think is more by accident than my worm-keeping skills ;-D
Posted by: Almost Mrs Average | March 23, 2008 at 05:05 PM
Neat! Well done you. Hope it goes well.
Woody
Posted by: Woody Wilbury | March 24, 2008 at 08:04 PM
Well done on the job - I'm very jealous
Posted by: patientgardener | March 26, 2008 at 05:16 PM
Hi Jane, how about a column about the size of Elspeth Thompson's greenhouse,one on gardening websites and blogs? perhaps by someone offbeat, like the Garden Monkey?
Posted by: Lynne. S | March 28, 2008 at 09:31 AM
Pete Free: I can tell you definitively that the questions aren't made up and do come from our readers. It's worth remembering that a wide range of people look at the Weekend gardening pages - from enthusiasts such as yourself to people who are just setting out on their gardening adventure. We can't please everyone all the time, of course, but we do aim for a mix of types of questions to cater for different levels of knowledge.
Posted by: Jane Perrone | April 16, 2008 at 12:41 PM