A once yearly contribution to this web site isn't much of an effort really, but I aim to do better. I have devoted most of my spare time to listing items for sale on Ebay, or to filling in online surveys. At least then I have felt like I am doing useful, earning a little bit of money. My website is just something that I fill in and get no revenue from and very little response from. There seemed to be no point to investing time in it. But I am now on a mission. I want to make my site earn a little bit of money for me and I would like to make it a bit more interactive..so watch this space. I have no idea how I am going to acheive my aim but I hope over the coming months you will see some improvements.
August 12th 2007
I sometimes wonder why people start a web site only to stop updating it after a while. Conscious not to become one of these statistics, I have an update! So why the long pause? Well, the main reason I started my site was as a diary for my own use to record the development of my allotment. This year has been my worst ever at the plot, and I felt so discouraged and that I had "nothing to report", that it lost momentum. This year, determined to have more seeds germinate, I used this years seeds. But, unfortunately, and due I am sure to the lack of rain, virtually nothing germinated. It is just SO dissapointing. Saying that, it wasn't a total failure.My potatoes did very well, considering others at the allotment lost all their crop due to too much rain later on in the season! I got peas and broad beans and a few beetroot eventually. So it could have been worse. I have considered giving it up next year. I am currently undecided, although, next year at paying up time, I guess I will have fresh enthusiasm.
My other reason for not updating the site regularly is that I have been investing a lot of time in increasing my sales on Ebay. I still don't sell much, and waste more time getting distrated by things I would love to buy, but I make about £10 a month selling things I no longer need, so it's worth it.
October 22nd 2006
The allotment has just about reached the end of it's productivity for this year and considering how slow it was to get started it has served us quite well. Some disappointments have had a complete turnaround and I feel I have learnt such a lot. Seeds which I didn't think would germinate have done (butternut squash),only to produce masses of foliage and no squash, or so I thought. However, during the last month they surprised me, and we have had the most delicious butternut squash. And there's loads of it. At least 14 big fruits. I'm really delighted with them. I have wasted a lot of veg though. Mostly courgettes, simply because I grew too many.
Next year I hope to make better use of the whole of my allotment. I also aim to be a bit more creative with my cooking. I'd like to make pesto, ratatouille and soup, hopefully enabling me to save even more money.
I continue to be incredibly busy, but I am coming to realise I like it that way. If I ever get a spare minute and can't bear to waste it. I have to find something constructive to do. I keep a long list of "jobs" on the side, so finding a job only takes a glance at my list. I do have Cinderella Syndrome, but it is definately self inflicted.
May 1st 2006
If there was such a thing as Cinderella Syndrome I'm sure I'd be suffering from it. I really do never seem to stop. I'm not trying to get team points by going on about how hard I work, but I am intruiged by how untidy my house looks despite so much effort. I have come to the conclusion that clutter is to blame. It was really getting to me the other day. The house had almost become gridlocked. So I got carrier bags and started sorting; car boot; ebay; charity; bin. Very little went in the bin, most went in the car boot bag and some is being gradually listed on ebay. I used to do a lot of car boots but since having Rose I haven't wanted to leave her. But it'll be a bit of extra money for us and will give Rose some time with her daddy.
Talking of raising money, I think I could make a little bit extra by getting back into spinning wool. I get quite a few enquiries and have been turning them down, but today I got the spinning wheel out, dusted it down, did a repeir and a bit of maintainance and am going to get to work. It takes hours..days..to earn a very small wage because I work totally by hand everything is so time consuming. But I don't mind that. It'll just be nice to get a few pounds to my name.
April 9th 2006
Over the past few months I have been trying to use my evenings more effectively. I seem to have done really well. I never stop! I am definately working harder, but I still have so much to do! It's ironing and laundry that eats into my time so much. I must admit I am meticulous with my ironing. Slowly, ever so slowly, other things are getting done, but not quite as quickly as I'd like. I'm now reading a book. "Allotted Time" by Robin Shelton. At least that makes me slow down for a bit each evening.
March 21st 2006
Hooray! I have got my allotment back!
March 11th 2006
I have decided on a target. I am going to try and get my allotment back. I walk past the allotment plots in my village at least twice a week and three out of the eight are untended. I had to give mine up when I found that I was expecting Rose, I just couldn't tend it, but now she is one I am going to really try to get it back. I have started with a letter of request, but I anticipate it might not be as easy as I hope as there is supposedly a waiting list. I'll report back when I have sent my letter!
Jan 5th 2006
Baby Rose is 11 months old. I am gradually getting to be more organised and we have a well established routine now. As we start 2006, one of my resolutions is to use my evenings more effectively. I never stop working, but I don't always use my time as well as I could. I'll let you know how it goes!
2005 has definately been the best year of my life. I love being a full time mum. It's the job I was cut out for. Rose is my life, and after having to wait 5 years for her, I really appreciate every moment with her. My hobbies have gone on the back burner (there just isn't time in the day for them), we continue to live the shoestring lifestyle, my body continues to amaze me by how little sleep it can function on, and I say lets hope it continues throughout 2006!!
