Christmas has come early for me!!

[NeilB]

Hi all,
I am going to choose my first allotment this week and I can't wait!!. I first applied to get a plot on the site at the beginning of Oct and was told there was immediate vacancies, so after abit of a delay I am going to get one on Wednesday morning at Cole Park in Isleworth (thanks suzylou for giving me info about this!). I have 9 to choose from so what should I look out for?. I'm thinking if one has a nice big shed for me to have then it goes to the top of my list!. To be honest I am not really that fussed if it's really overgrown as a: I have all winter to sort it out, and b: I kinda like that sort of work anyway!.
I have plans to grow far far more than I'm sure I will have room for but we will see how we go!.
Roll on Wednesday!

[wardy]

Hey hey, lucky you    Pick the one nearest the water butt    If there is no water butt pick one with a shed, if there is no shed, pick one you can get your car/manure deliveries to, the least waterlogged

There's not likely to be one which is perfect 

[Derekthefox]

Congratulations Neil. There is a similar thread on the Basics board, running at the moment. I suggest you visit that and collect all your advice from there too.

Derekthefox

[terrace max]

Can you take all nine and retire early to a life of peasantry and peace on you're budget-price country estate?

[ellkebe]

Congratulations    Post some pictures once you've chosen.

[Delilah]

Hey good for you - lets us knowhow you get on

[Heldi]

woo hoo...you got a lotty ,you got a lotty! 

[Derekthefox]

I recall you were just as excited when you got yours Helly ... come to that, so was I ... !

Derekthefox

[Delilah]

Every single one  ;of us can relate to the, I've got a Lotty,  excitement

[Derekthefox]

Yes, sad aren't we really? Not that I care, I get more enjoyment over this that I would over something like golf for instance ... (yawn).

Derekthefox

[Delilah]

Don't talk to me about Golf - thought I was escaping the dreaded G word on here

[undercarriage plan]

Hey Neil, Happy Christmas and congratulations, may the two of you be very happy together......

[Derekthefox]

Ha ha Delilah, I suspect you are a golf widow then ... ?

Derekthefox

[daveandtara]

congrats neil 
whichever you choose you will come to love it anyway!
when we chose ours we arrived a bit early and chatted to other allotment holders there who advised us on which plot to choose.

enjoy,

Tara and Dave

[Derekthefox]

You are so right Tara and Dave, the plot becomes part of your blood, and inseparable from you, which ever one is chosen ...

Good luck

Derekthefox

[NeilB]

Wa-Hay I got it!!
The one I picked was quite overgrown, there were others that were less overgrown, but the one I went for has a water butt at the bottom, will have a bit of shade aswell as plenty of full sun in the summer, I dont have a neighbouring plot atall on one side, and at the back of my plot behind where I intend to put my shed has a fair amount of overgrown bushes on it and the guy who showed me round said I was welcome to cut them down so I could have a car parking space! very nice I thought!! . Plus my plot seems very long so Im more than chuffed that I will have plenty of room to grow all the stuff I want to.
All I have to do know is wait for the contract to be sent to me, pick up my key and off we go!!. There is no rubbish atall left by the last holder which is nice, so I plan on hiring a petrol mower as the grass is quite long then get to work on stripping the turf off and having myself a nice big turf stack at one end of my plot! When I am next there i will take some pics to show you all.
 

[Derekthefox]

excellent Neil, glad you are pleased with your choice, and I look forward to seeing these pictures ...

Derekthefox

[wardy]

Congrats Neil B.  Your new plot sounds idyllic.  Car park anorl.  Get you 
Good idea about the petrol mower.  It will look much bigger when you've cut the grass 

Make sure your stacked turves are grass side down and covered up and they'll rot off really well 

Have fun choosing your seeds.  Don't forget the Seed Swop on A4A 

[undercarriage plan]

Or you'll end up with a really big grassy mound... mind you the cat likes sitting on it...
Congratulations though Neil and look forward to pics!!
Lottie

[Delilah]

Congrats to you Neil

DtF - yes I am a Golf Widow - I've learnt to sit patiently listening to descriptions of every shot taken, which club he used, how far it was from the pin, whether he duffed it or not, did he hook it or slice it? 

Now I've got Lotty though the plan is for him to become a Allotment Widower!!!!!!