What are the chances of that happening?

Unseasonably warm weather + bank holiday weekend = hens' teeth

Yet today, it happened.

I slathered on the suntan lotion and gave my gardening shorts their first outing of the year during a four-hour allotment bonanza this afternoon. I was like a horticultural hurricane sowing sorrel schiavel, beetroot carillion, burpees golden and detroit six, peas sugar rae and norli, lettuce bunyard's matchless and planting the jerusalem artichokes.

No weed was left standing.  Ok, maybe a few. Oh, and I squished some more of the evil sawfly larvae on the gooseberry bush and the whitecurrant.

On the advice of Monty Don (hereafter known as The Oracle) on Gardeners' World last Friday, Rick went far above and beyond the call of duty as vice president of plot 176  by turning  the compost heap. He's a brave chap.

The allotment was eerily quiet, except for a man with a large wheelbarrow ignoring the rules about dumping stuff at the end of the field: I guess everyone had gone away for the May bank holiday.

And now, despite the suntan lotion, my face and arms glowing slightly in what can only be the beginnings of my summer tan.

Summer's on its way  - HURRAH!

(Do you think there's a possibility that I am not that keen on the winter??)

UPDATE: the pic above is of one of my peas, protected with the Perrone-patented slug sleeve. Great for slugs, not so good for preventing flea beetle damage.