20 May 2005

The under-gardener speaks

You always knew there were two of us, but I thought I’d make my presence felt. It’s time for me to strike a blow for assistant allotmenteers everywhere and smuggle in an entry here on Pumpkin Soup.

I’m not really the vegetable-growing kind, preferring a sheltered, indoors kind of life. My preferred tools are keyboard and mouse rather than spade and fork, so Clare has to cajole and persuade to get me down to the allotment. Once among the nascent vegetables I’m satisfied with being told to “Dig here” or “Turn off the hose” or “Stop scratching your arse,” but I have no initiative worth exercising.

This is true also of our garden, where Clare holds sway and rules with a benign hand. Though it’s me who collects the turds left by next door’s dog on the lawn before it gets mown. Usually by me.

I’m happy with this arrangement, of course, for all my grumbling. I do appreciate the benefits of the allotment, not least the fresh air and the promise of home-grown bounty on my plate. There have been times when even I feel more positive about developing the allotment than Clare and I’m persuading her to keep it up. I won’t ever become as enthusiastic about different varieties of courgette and squash, but I’m getting used to hearing about them.

Still, I’ll not put away the keyboard and mouse just yet.

Filed under: An Assistant's Notes — Owen @ 11:51 am