New Allotment March 2016

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Well the digging started and things are beginning to look a little more ship shape and tidy. Been sensible with the digging too – one day on and at least one day off. Back still good at moment.

Was down the council recycle depot yesterday dropping off a load of pruned ivy from the back garden. So I went over to "Builder’s Rubble skip looking for some discarded paving flags. A “job worthy” came over and told me that nothing could be taken out of the skips once they were deposited “’gainst rules” he said. Fair enough I said, but isn’t it a bit daft not to recycle materials rather than land fill. And its funny how once you engage with somebody and begin a conversation (and aren’t unreasonable yourself!) how attitudes change. We chatted for a while and his final comment was “What I don’t see ……I can’t do anything about!….” as he walked away.

So I had a rummage about but nothing worth having was spotted when another chap who had been listening to our conversation said " I’ve got some flags that you can have if you pick them up". How many? I asked. Lots at least 20. Blimey! my heart picked up and I said I’ll follow you back to your house and pick them up – or at least start the process.

True to his claim there was a big stack of flags by the side of his house. So I lifted the first one and set off for the boot of my Focus. Now I realise that I am getting older but these were the heaviest flags that I have lifted for years …and years. I could just about manage so collected three and put them in the boot. Hard to put in and hard to get out. But I eventually managed and dumped them (with help of trolley) on my plot. It’s a real shame but I won’t collect any more as they are just too heavy to manoeuvre easily.

So two positive things about the morning – reasonable council employees and it is uplifting to see how generous are the general public. Someone with no thought of reward himself quite happy to help out a complete stranger!

It puts the load of self centred nonsense and horrible stories I read in the daily papers into perspective! Generally people are pretty good. That’s my experience anyway!

9 Mar, 2016
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Comments

Steragram

That's a nice big plot you have there. What a shame you couldn't collect the rest of the flags. Not worth risking your back for though. And its a funny thing that flags get heavier as you get older...

9 Mar, 2016

Dianebulley

Everyone needs help sometime. Dont be too proud to accept it.

10 Mar, 2016

Paulspatch

you're getting on really well....shame about the flagstones.
I laid a couplke of bases last year...one for my shed with slabs that i purchased from BandQ and they were nice and light, fairly thgin bvut perfectly adequate on dry sand and cement mix but, when laying tthe base for my greehouyse, i utilised slabs that were under the old rotten shed that we inherited when we bought the house 15 months ago.Crikey, these were really heavy and just moving them a few feet then manouvering them to get the level was a real struggle so i can imagine why you decided against getting anymore. I wonder, if perhaps they were ex council footpath flagstones??

10 Mar, 2016