Purple Dragon

AJNSpencer currently has a blog posting about self image. He's pissed because there is a telly ad for male moisturiser, and it is basically saying that if you don't use this stuff, you won't get laid. Good for him. He is one of those apparently rare males who don't care what you look like, as long as what is inside is beautiful. Double good for him.

I was watching Big Brother the other night, and Imogen was in the Diary Room. She made a comment about Lea and Richard (I think) talking about things that don't interest her, and she said she

is interested in stuff, but, like, her Mum talks about stuff from the '80's and stuff, so she, like, knows about stuff

Well, my era was the 80's, but I feel Imogen's age. Whatever that is. Inside I feel like I did back in the 80's.

Which takes me in a roundabout way to what AJ is saying. What I feel like inside. I had a major knock to my confidence on my Bon Jovi weekend. I noticed how much I had 'let myself go' and I seriously considered Botox - enough that I looked up general prices online (and nearly died of shock - I can tell you!!). When I lived where I used to live, I wouldn't have considered going out to pick up the boy from school without (at the least) mascara. I cared about what bag I carried. (Not as much as Trace cared about her bag - or boots - but then ...)

I do want my body back, sans flab. I don't like feeling flabby - I feel unfit and like I'm on the verge of a major heart attack or something. But it is more how I feel than how I look.

And, like AJ, I resent the media telling me how I should look. I think we should start a Campaign for Real People. Any ideas for our catch phrase? Members?

Well, I know I'm on a diet

but

I just polished off a bowl of strawberries and cream.

I grew them myself in my polytunnel, and man they were good! I still have some in the fridge, and there are a load that need picking, but it's chucking it down, so they can wait till morning.

That was the very first taste of my very own homegrown produce, and I'm that proud of myself that they tasted so good. They are completely organic, grown without use of pesticides (apart from my sticky fly-catcher!) reared on love and greed

So - what else will grace my hungry table?

I need to prune my grapevine, because I have an abundance of teeny tiny bunches of grapes, but the leaves are currently taking all the nutrients. I intend to do that this weekend, when Himself is about to watch the sprogs.

Obviously, the strawberries. The floor of the polytunnel is covered in them - you have to watch where you step

My lettuces are in grobags in the tunnel. They are coming along nicely. I didn't put my cos lettuce in although they are my favorite, because you can only eat so many lettuce, you know?

My tomatoes are finally showing some interest. I planted the seeds well in time (again in the tunnel), but Rachel decided to help, and she pushed the seeds down to nearby China. I'm surprised they sprouted at all, TBH!

I still have a load of french beans in the tunnel, and I shall shove some more of them into the plot to replace the ones that the slugs or crows feasted upon. The rest can stay in the tunnel in a growbag in case I end up needing them outside.

I also have a load of peas in pots inside - again - replacements for the slugfest and some into a bag under cover.

I think we went a bit bonkers with the sweetpeas. I have an abundance of them under cover, and this weekend I shall plant them out. The place will look like sweetpea heaven.

So - what is in the plot?

Peas. Obviously. Nothing like podding your own peas for tea. I intend to freeze a lot because I have loads and loads of plants. I shall need to dust down the spare freezer!

Carrots. Yum! I've never grown carrots before, and I've done it wrong. We shant have many, but unless we get carrot rot or something nasty eats them underground, then I shall have enough.

Loads of lovely french beans. I wish I had done fewer french, and added a bigger variety of beans, but I shall know better for next year.

Sweetcorn. I had 12 plants, because they self-germinate and you need to plant them in, like, a square. Unfortunately, they were involved in The Great Leek Accident, and I only managed to save 11. They are now down to 9, because the rotten crows have been at them too. Beastly birds. A woman in the village grows hers, and recommended them to me. I thought the weather wasn't clement enough up here to succeed with them, but I thought I would give them a try. However it turns out she grows hers in her tunnel, not outside like I thought, so we shall have to see whether I've made a big mistake planting them out.

Tatties. The Great British Staple. I have sectioned off my tattie plot into 3 sections. I planted the first section a few weeks ago, and they are just showing themselves, so it is time to plant out the next lot. When they come up, I shall do the last section. That way, hopefully, I can get graduated hoiking. I was going potty because my flippin seed potatoes wouldn't chit. I've got 3 different types, just for fun, and the other lot have chitted nicely, so I'm not so concerned about them.

So. My vegetables. Not a great variety, but this is my very first year of having my own plot, so I didn't want to be too ambitious. Next year, I shall need a bigger plot.