Sunday 20 September 2015

THE ENGLISH SPY by DANIEL SILVA.. finished at 04.15am.

Now we all know, 'cos I'm disloyal and have told you several times over the past four years, there are sometimes when she's not very bright. And what she did last night wasn't bright at all, read on Dear Readers and I'll tell you a tale to make you laugh and hurry-scurry off to your library or nearest book store!

As you know she gardened for many hours yesterday and was planning to do again today, heavy rain is expected tomorrow and also on Tuesday and she wanted to turn over the biggest beds in order that the water gets down into the soil.  The forecast is that October is going to be hot and dry.

And she was meant to be meeting Debbie goaty mum for a coffee at Parson's Green Farmer's Market.

So, having had that fresh and truly delicious sweet corn and some fruit for supper, she wrote and posted on my blog and then after she put me into my bed aka cage and drew my curtain, she went to bed and did the silliest thing.. she picked up the latest thriller by Daniel Silva, it is called THE ENGLISH SPY.

His books are brilliant! And this, Dear Readers, is no exception! Sadly, she knows a little bit about the dreadful goings-on that went on with the IRA, the Provos, The Orangemen and the troubles in Northern Ireland and also the way that it wasn't just the North that lived in fear.

She had a wonderful client who lives in the Republic of Ireland who was kidnapped in the mid 70's and ransomed for a million Pounds Sterling.. in the 70's.. you can hardly imagine how much money that would be now some forty years later. The ransome was paid but she admits that she still lives in a state of fear and is heavily guarded at all times.

Mr. Silva's latest book weaves a very intricate plot and the Irish situation features in it but when you're reading a gripping and exciting book.. what do you do? Well, you want to finish it to see what happens, don't you? So that's what she did, she turned out her bedside light at 04.15.. I rest my case.

For she was supposed to be with Debbie before 11.00am in order for her to then get to the allotments and do a good few hours digging and a'chopping away! She woke up late, I'm surprised I actually got any food as she looked to be still fast asleep but I guess she was on auto-pilot! Eggs were boiled, a grapefruit was eaten, coffee was made, hummus was dolled out.. so all was well!

She pulled on her gardening jeans and waterproofs, a t.shirt, a fleece, an oiled jacket, rubber boots and off she waddled to catch the 22 down the Kings Road. It was a gloriously sunny day and she got more than a few strange looks as she was dressed as if it was tipping it down, but it is easier to wear it than carry it and she was determind to clear the two reallyreally big beds.

But Debbie now has comfy yellow 'sofas' at the markets! Joke! They're not sofas, of course, they're the huge chillers in which she keeps the cheese, meat and milk that she is selling, but they're just the right height to sit upon whilst you slurp coffee and eat tasty things!

So being in 'slow-mode' she didn't leave the market until 2.00pm! Luckily, there is another way to connect with the little 190 bus that trundles past her allotment gate and she walked in the other direction to catch another bus that would connect with it at Hammersmith.

What a great day! Off with the jacket and fleece, on with long gauntlets and off to do battle with silly bushes and briars that have grown way beyond a reasonable height! Then the loppers were put back and she got out her big man-sized fork. It's huge and turns gound over easily and if you stand on it.. well, hence the expression "give it some wellie!"

Fork the soil up and over, leave the grass and weeds on top to die and the soil to dry on the weeds, this makes it much easier when you come along to shake the soil off.

Where were Mister or Master Robin? For there were lots and lots of centipedes and usually one or two Robins are standing just in front of her waiting for their wriggly treats, but there was no Robin working with her today.

What's she planting in the next couple of weeks? Everything that grows slowly like garlic, onions, shallots and she'll do an autumn planting of broad / fava beans, spinach, chard, winter salads, rocket. We might delay it a bit for if October really is going to hot and dry, because that won't be so great!

Our apples are wonderful! I like the stalky bit and she saves those for me. She's making windfall chutney tomorrow morning, that's why you save your good sized glass jars, for homemade chutneys and jams are easy to make, delicious to eat and who doesn't like receiving a jar of something delicious? Not us, that's for sure!

No picking up books tonight.. I can see a likely suspect lurking beside the bed.. it's called 'EXIT MUSIC by Ian Rankin, he's another author whose books she enjoys. But not tonight dear book, you'll be read tomorrow evening most probably.

For the time is now way past nine of the evening clock, she's full of fresh air as she worked hard today and digging and lopping down bushes is very good for all manner of muscles, they're tired and she's ready to go to sleep.

So goodnight to you all.. we hope you've got a happy week ahead of you with lots to do and see? We have but I'll tell you about it tomorrow.

GeeGee Parrot.
September 20th, 2015.

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