Well, I'm back!!
After a few months of no entries, I thought it was about time I did an update!! (and I have miraculously just remembered the password to add a post!!)

Unfortunately for me (and emma!), emma has now moved to Ipswich and so emloulottie has now become just loulottie!

It's going to be hard work with just me working the plot, but I know I have the help of Ian and the girls - and we really had some wonderful family evenings up there last year. Also my stepdad has the occasional potter, and I do appreciate his pottering!

So, this year.....

I have been up to the plot only once or twice this year so far. Mainly time issues, but also weather issues have put a stop to working the lottie regularly. I have had a good clearout of the accumulated junk that the previous owners had left, which has been piled up ready for the tip. Currently the plot has been covered with a lovely thick layer of horse poo.

I have been really undecided how to plant this year, whether to go for rows or marked beds or raised beds. Lots of people have said how *easy* raised beds are, especially if time is not particularly on my side - which it most definately isn't!! And just my luck that our loft conversion is producing loads of fabulous old timber (approx 125 years old) which has been removed from our roof (let's hope *something* is still holding the roof up!!!) After a pleasant chat to the builder, we now have an ever increasing pile of old and new timber collecting on the lawn crying out to become a raised bed or 3!! I am planning to remove it up to the lottie on the weekend and try to assemble something that vaguely looks rectangular!

Thankfully the cold weather is giving me more time to find some carpentry skills before I have to consider planting anything up.

So far I have 1st earlies (Aaron Pilot) and maincrop (desiree) chitting on the windowsill in the kitchen and have sown brussel sprouts and cabbage for the lottie, along with chilli pepper plants and some basil and parsley for home use! I've also got some onion sets and garlics to plant. The soil is still way too chilly for anything yet and I can see that it's going to be at least mid April before I'll be happy putting anything underground! I mean - would you want to sit bare bottomed on the soil yet....?!!! I don't think so.

So tatty bye for now - I'll post again after the marathon trip to the lottie on the weekend!

Louisa x