Apologies for the radio silence: various things got in the way of posting this week, not least finishing the final draft of my book. Yes, you did read that right - I've finished it!
In fact it's just been emailed off to the publishers but I'm afraid you'll have to wait until early 2007 for it to be available from all good bookshops, as the saying goes.
It's a relief, but also a bit of an anticlimax after eight months of work. I remember experiencing the same sensation after finishing other big projects like my master's thesis.
I visited the allotment for the first time in over a week last night, and the only word I can use to describe it was lush. Several days of heavy rain have been sucked up by both the weeds and the crops, as everything has shot up to twice its previous height. The blackcurrant bushes are heavy with acid green immature fruit, the white and redcurrant bushes we planted two winters ago are full of flowers, and a cornucopia of weeds had colonised every patch of bare earth.
We hoed and hand weeded like mad, a job made much easier by the dampness of the soil, and even managed to avoid the hailstorms that had appeared out of nowhere all afternoon. I picked a lot of radishes too old and woody to eat, a few good ones, and two lettuces. We're also on the last of the leeks, and the rhubarb season is in full swing. I'll reinstate the "harvesting now" section on the left-hand side of the blog when I get a sec.
We've got a lot of catching up to do, but at least now I'll be able to make much more frequent trips to keep on top of things.
Many congratulations on completing your book.
I've been catching up in my garden after being gone for nearly two weeks. Like you, after your one week absence from your allotment, I'm impressed by the rapid growth that took place without any help from me!
Posted by: Judith Schwader | May 31, 2006 at 11:52 PM
Congratulations on the book!
Posted by: james h | June 03, 2006 at 12:48 PM