Bees and Bites

The week began with drama. Gaynor and I were up at the allotments on Monday evening when the weather suddenly turned and we were caught in the torrential thunderstorm that hit north London, complete with huge hailstones. I’d arrived at the plot on my bicycle, wearing shorts and flip-flops as it had been so hot earlier, and of course I hadn’t bothered to bring a coat with me. Huddling underneath a large umbrella at the back of her plot at first we laughed at the sheet of rain, but then we both got a bit freaked out as the forks of lightning flashed across the green-grey sky above, quickly followed by a torrent of enormous hailstones. By the time it had eased off enough to try and go home the ground across the whole site was soaking wet and covered in ice.

The downside of all this drama for me was being bitten by something nasty – mosquito, midge, some other water-loving flesh biter, who knows.... I am unfortunately very allergic to bites. More of that later though.....


By Tuesday the heat was back on and I went up to do some weeding on the bank. The pernicious bindweed that Eliseo and I dug out, over and over again last year, constantly manages to regrow from the tiniest piece of root. While digging it out I did happen to notice the first fruits on the gold courgette.

The Marina di Chioggia pumpkin is starting to run away at last. There is a small sweetcorn plant next to it – two of the three sisters!

The leeks I transplanted the other week have settled in nicely now and seem to have enjoyed the rainfall. There are lollo rosso lettuce planted in between them.

There is plenty of activity at the beehives. Posh hotel hive has been rearranged, with one section of the top now sitting by its side.And the bees are starting to move inOn closer inspection it’s a frenzy – are they ‘new’ bees or are they migrating from the backpackers hive next door, which is still very busy?

As for those bites, well dare I show you? Despite treating with Somthawin Ang Ki Yellow Oil, the best cure-all I know (I still have a good stock left from my 2005 trip to Thailand) here is my badly swollen leg on day 2and here again, still hideously marked on day 3

What a tedious allergy for a gardening gal like me!

Hate Allergies

Love Weather
Love Life
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