So we’re just about done with 2021. Rather a similar year to 2020 due to the pandemic but thank goodness for the allotment and the ability to work from home. I’ve been reading a lot of books and have enjoyed a few days off work every few weeks to keep me sane. Here’s my book list and a couple of memories from each month.
January
We had some snow. Not enough to make a snowman, but nice to crunch through and
enjoy the whiteness. Looking back it seems that we had a very cold start to the year.
February
My first Covid vaccination gave a bit of hope that things may be
improving with regard to the pandemic. Unfortunately that hasn’t quite panned out. Vaccinations were definitely the topic of conversation when we bumped into people on the allotment or during Zoom calls.
Another very cold month, down to -6.8° I’m so glad we didn’t give up on these broad beans which amazingly recovered and produced some lovely harvests!
Aah, I loved this book. I should have been reading it in Tenerife with the sea providing the soundtrack. It had been on my reading list for about a year, I don't know why I kept putting it off! |
March
Signs of life in the polytunnel - mangetout are usually the first seeds that we sow.
Jamie and I started clearing the Wildlife Plot for HAHA. Sadly having to clear
the pond and convert it to a bog garden.
I do love a Thomas Hardy novel. I've seen the Tess film more than once but never read the book. I'm glad I did as I'd clearly forgotten some vital aspects. Aah, so beautiful. |
April
Second Covid jab came round earlier than expected and another trip out to
Newbury Race course for it.
May
Our best ever find on the allotment. Probably only Victorian and probably a
boy, (not a girl as I put in my original blogpost) it was interesting and I’d still like to know more about it.
Reading took a bit of a back seat at the busiest time for the allotment year. I did start reading a book but I didn’t finish till July (and it wasn’t actually that long!). The Wildlife Plot began to take shape and we hoped that the seedlings starting to appear were sown by us!And my much-talked-about squash tunnel was ready and waiting for the plants.
June
I was fascinated to find the stunning Great spotted woodpecker feathers. It
would appear to have been killed by one of the birds of prey on site.
The geum looking so bright and beautiful. I must remember to split the plants early next year.
July
Jamie and I spent a lot of time watching the bull finches raise their young. They really enjoyed the seed heads on an overgrown plot near our Plot3 so we could just sit and watch in the sunshine. Aah, days to remember in these dark months.August
Aah, August and we had some really beautiful hot days but we also had some
torrential rain!
But, it helped everything grow so a plotholder can’t complain too much. I was reading a long book, which I finished in September.
September
The squash tunnel in all its glory, with the longest Tromboncino measuring
134.5cm! The wet weather early in the season caused some blossom end rot, but
still the tunnel was covered in greenery
October
The tunnel provided plenty of Winter squash for storage and one of the
pumpkin plants went into mass production; Enough for carving, soup and I
even made a pumpkin pie for Halloween.
November
Just one of my many colourful squash-based meals. The Honeyboat and Festival squashes
are the tastiest so they’ll definitely be growing on next year’s tunnel. November also brought my third Covid jab along with some very cold weather.
December
Finally finished work so we’ve been able to enjoy our celebrations at home
since Christmas Eve. The weather is mild, wet and windy so I’m not sorry to be
stuck indoors!
Eating, drinking and trying to finish the book I started at the end of November…Have you read any of these books? Do you agree with my views or have any ideas for my 2022 reading list? I like using Goodreads for my book choices and in order to record what I’ve read.And the final song of the year is by the lovely Simon and Garfunkel. HAPPY NEW YEAR!