Well, I am now in my second year of retirement. 2010 was a very busy year and 2011 looks to be even busier. I have just finished editing my second novel, which is a sequel to my first novel published last summer. The sequel is called The Strength of a Promise and it should be published by the end of this month.
I would like to point out the deliberate mistake made in my last blog. When I stated that my son had been mugged and he now had a plutonium plate in his jaw; I did of course mean titanium!! I wonder if anyone noticed?
I now look after my little grandson for two days a week, as my daughter has returned to work for these two days. He is ten months old and adorable; he is also very curious and delights in doing everything he is told not to. My husband and I have to watch him all the time. As he makes a beeline for the video or sky box, he looks round to make sure he is being observed; then with a cheeky grin he turns back to his task. Although repeatedly being told ‘No’ very firmly, this fails to make any difference; it has now become a game I fear. He crawls really fast and walks around the furniture holding on. He loves to climb if he can and enjoys music and singing, bobbing up and down to the music. Needless to say I don’t get anything done during the two days I look after baby John, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am completely besotted with him and each day brings something new.
I am also very busy planning my allotment for this year. Making sure I rotate my crops I have drawn a new plan. This year I am going to try growing sweet corn along with my usual crops. The couple next to me grew this last year and it was really sweet, you could easily eat it raw; not a bit like shop bought. I have already covered a lot of my plot with manure and this needs to be dug in. I now have a greenhouse, which we put up at the end of last year. This will be great for bringing on my seeds ready for planting out when the weather permits. Unfortunately, when I was there this morning digging up parsnips, I opened the greenhouse door and one of the plastic wheels on the top of the door fell off. I could not fix it, so I tied it with some string to stop the wind from pulling the door (I only hope it holds until I can fix it). As it is relatively new I will call at the garden centre tomorrow, to see if they can help with new parts.
One of my friend’s retired at Christmas and another one is retiring in a couple of weeks. That will make six of us. We have already started leisurely lunches and are now planning a few days out when the weather improves. I also have some old friends to look up. How on earth am I going to fit everything into 2011?
I have some little garden tools ready for baby John, when he is old enough. Of course I won’t get much proper gardening done whilst he is with me, but I will enjoy taking him to the allotment (I think).
To finish this month, I’d like to wish all of you a Very Happy and Prosperous 2011, albeit a little belatedly.
