Not a good week.

Started my new job last Tuesday, settling in fine.
The job involves painting, gardening, archive sorting, general maintenance and houskeeping.
I,ve got man flu or maybe just a summer cold, so probably will stay home this weekend. Cant phone in sick I,ve only been there for two weeks.
Was supposed to be going fishing to Loch Arkaig Saturday with mates but no point if I,m feeling like a pile of pigeon droppings.
On a lighter note.
We have a great crop of courgettes one of which seems to be turning into a marrow of some kind. The carrots will have to come out soon before they start bolting. Millions of runner beans, some over a foot long, and piles of peas. There are 18 leeks of various sizes and lots of spring onions. Its been a great season with no major problems or disease.

One of the sweetcorn plants has a cob, its only 2 inches long but promising. There are a few runner beans at eating size so might have them in the next few days. Next year I will grow dwarf French beans
Summer has finally started with temps of 23-25 the last few days. The combine harvesters are out in force making hay while the sun shines and the crops are dry. Unfortunately this brings out the corn lice, not quite as bad as midges or mosquito's but nasty just the same.

I,m not going to use pots in the greenhouse next year. I,m going to get a bricklayer to build me three troughs in there with concrete block. Over the winter I,ll try hotbedding with cowdung at the base and compost/earth above. I believe you can grow pineapples etc in this way. Had a delay starting my new job at Halliburtons but finally got a start date of 28th August.
The job title is Facilities Mainainence Helper. This involves assisting tradesmen, painting, general housekeeping and unblocking shithouses. Dirty job at times but someone has to do it.
Going fishing with a buddy this weekend to Loch Oich. This is the time of year when the big pike and trout are on the prowl looking to fatten themselves up for the winter spawning.
I,ll report back.

Mulching

continuous callabresse

Calabresse, sweetcorn and runner beans.

Peeping cauliflowers.

leeks and swedes

Please ignore the dates on pic as I cant be bothered adjusting time/date etc.

Mulching is the way to go. All my grass cuttings go in between the vegetables. This feeds the plant, the worms, and holds back the weeds. Compost as you go.
Dont think the sweetcorn will come to much as it went in late but you ever know, might get one of those Indian summers.

Back to work.

Recieved a call today from Halliburtons of Montrose that my application for work as a shop helper was successful so I reckon I,ll be starting on Monday. No more long lies for me.

Took the grandson fishing a week or so back. We went to Loch Lochy which is part of the Caledonian Canal. A whole weekend for one fish each. One consolation was that I managed to persuade him to hold the pike for a picture. Pike are a bit scary to a wee lad of 10 as they have teeth like a pirahna.

We are now harvesting and freezing vegetables every other day. They taste much better than shop bought but there is a lot of work involved. Well worth the effort.

I still have no comments after nearly three months, is it worth writing all this drivel?

Huge cauliflowers and terrorist attacks.

What a difference in just five weeks or so. Everything seems to be just bursting out of the ground. This is probably because it has rained almost every day for about 6 weeks.
Must buy one of those chest freezers. Its all going to be ready to harvest soon. Happy enough with frozen veg knowing that its organic. Theres a field of peas not far from the cottage and I,m going to pay it a clandestine visit just shortly.

Josh and Ollie were at Glasgow Airport terminal with Mum and Dad when those sick racist bastards tried to blow the place up. Yes, I did say racist. Muslims are the worst racists in the world. They hate us because we are white, because we are not Muslim, because we are infidels apparently. Racists!!
Luckily none of them were injured. They eventually flew to Turkey on the following Tuesday, and got home on Saturday night. We,ll see them tonight when we visit.