Hope I don't bore you (me) with the latest sceal of my wonderful allotment. Sceal is Irish for story, and somehow that just sounded right. Sorry, that was an aside. What was I gonna say? Ah yes. Gardening.

In fact, it was backbreaking this month. You see the weather has been exceptionally good on weeds. Well, not JUST weeds, but weeds too. My kale is curly and strong, producing more disgusting food then I can consume with the best of intentions and pursuation (it is so fresh, straight from the garden, full of vitamins, iron and all that is good for me, you and everyone I know, what a bummer it tastes, like, hm, kale... only brussel sprouts beat the disgust in my face as I bravely eat it, nicely drenched in sweet chilli sauce in a futile attempt to water down the flavour).

My rocket rockets. I'm not sure if it's supposed to bloom, if it gets inedible if it blooms or what, but it's massive. Gigantic. Then there's the stuff that I bought with it in its infancy plant stage and planted. I think it's supposed to be a type of lettuce. It looks like ruby lettuce. It takes like concentrated mustard. Seriously, I prepared a lovely salad from the garden, with rocket (yummy), an oriental one (bland but nice) and this monster. The leaves are big, reddish, but the taste... it is pure poison. It is not listed in my gardening book. I never took a note of its name. It could be poison for all I know. It too has gone to bloom and I've decided that this means it's no longer edible. If it every was.

Oh, but the strawberries. They are the stars of the month. I've had over 2 kg so far, all nicely made into jam or luvly strawberry milk. So nice. There are so many of them that the slugs can't eat them all and we can share sisterly. The rhubarb is faithful as ever, and my other berries (Tay, Rasp and Black) are in their starting blocks. I hope they wait until I get back. I planted leeks as well, and I'm promised further veg for planting out this week, which will complete the planting stage or now. I'm also amazed at how well my herbs are doing - I planted the same set of herbs at home (indoors for easy access) and in the allotment. Strangely, the latter are about three times as big. As I never bother taking herbs home with me (or if I do, let them go to waste), I let the chives go to bloom this year. I love blue and lilac flowers, and really thought them much more attractive than using the chives. The bumblebees agreed.

Now, more time than I have is spent making jam. I'm running out of empty jam jars yet again, but usually my cry for help (bring empty jam jar and exchange for full one) is heeded. Last week, I finished the role of 76 jam jar labels. So 76 jars have been filled, labeled, eaten or given away as presents or fundraising tools. Is this scary or what?

The garden will have four weeks on its own devices. This is critical. I am on probation. Can anyone tell them to read this so they know how much it means to me????