Well as part of the ongoing upkeep of the Allotment Grounds the members have voted to go along with the upgrading electrical system that supplies electricity to points scattered over the complex. and the clubhouse of course. We have contracted a smnall company to lay the cable and make all the proper fittings. They had to be replaced because the system began to break down and short out...it was afterall, as old as Methusalah. So about three weeks ago I sent a newsletter arounf reminding the folks that it would be time and asked for volunteers to help dig. You may have guessed it: last weeekend was the first day of digging. Only three guys from the administration showed-up to do all the digging. Well it was impossible for them to do alone, so this week thursday, I sent another one out and emplored the folks to come and give their fellow gardners a hand. Could you guess what happened? Some folks DID actually come. Here are some fotos my partner took (she went and dug as well, bless 'er). Two women showed-up along with some men. Work in earnest. Very difficult and in such a tight space. The two guys with a backhoe workover the big expanses. We call him Tarzan because when hios workmate shouted out him from atop his backhoe with a spool of cable mounted on it... "Hey, pull that cable, man!", to which our guy here shouted back, "My name is Henk, not Tarzan!". Time for a well deserved pause. WHEW!! Well most of the work has been done, but not all. They will finish today or next weekend if all goes according to plan.
Looks like you have a fine group of members there . . . Everything is so lush, and that ground looks very rich. Great teamwork for the cause!!!
That's quite a tight working space Sjoerd, it's an achievement to get any dug out of there at all. At least it wasn't raining
It sure is tight...did you see the paunch on ole "Tarzan"? He had trouble just turning around and walking straignt in that trence. Poor guy.
ROFLOL!!! I was just thinking that I would have to stand sideways in that trench if it were me, and you come up with that comment . . . . Poor Tarzan!!! I feel his dilemma!!!
Bravo! They got it done, and it looks like a good day out too. Both working for everybody's good and socializing afterwards, sounds like fun to me!
Definately a lot of progress made. I just hope lots of folks turn up for the final push and that everything gets completed soon.
Fantastic! Great to see that eventually everyone pulled together to get the work done. On our site we have spoken to plottie owners about paying and having piped water on site. It would be an initial outlay of about £60 per plot owner, then a nominal sum annually after that, but it would mean we would have access to water rather than going arid during the summer, but nobody wants to know. Your allotment site looks fab and makes me a tad jealous. As for the wooden clogs, another story, but when I was a nipper, my nan went to Amsterdam to see the tulips and she brought my sis and I back a proper sized pair of wooden clogs. Well we lived in them, they were so darned comfortable and I was heartbroken when I finally outgrew them. I brought another pair when I first went to Amsterdam, but they were no where near as comfy as the rough old ones my nan got for us.
JOANN + GLENDA: That guy's wooden shoes are fancy--they're painted green. A very nice touch. EJ: Well I know that you aren't REALLY a tad jealous, but it's a sweet thing to say and I know what you are trying to say. I think that the big difference between our Lottie complex and the ones run by the council is that we have bought the land and are setting out own rules and determining what utilities and so forth we have. It makes everything simple and the secret is the organizing of things with rules which are enforced. I am a big believer in taking control of your own lottie so that you can operate the proper way. Many councils do not want to hear of improvements or securities...let alone utilities. It was that lax and uninterested attitude that led us to buy. Boy did it turn out to be the correct decision. If you ever pass through on your way to France, stop by and we'll give you a tour so that you can see how it works. You know EJ, one of the biggest obstacles to getting improvements on the lottie complexes can be the allotment holders themselves. If they asren't committed, you may as well not try and deal with the council. You must be unanimous and your resolve steadfast and a bit reactionary if you are to have a hope of a chance. Why am I going on about all this? Sorry for waffling on. It was a great story about the clogs (or klompen, as we call them) that your nan got for you. They really are ideal for garden work, but to be honest I have never had a pair that I found actually "comfortable". Buying the right pair with the correct "innershoelet" is an art. It seems that my feet always grow after I buy them How does THAT happen??
