Too old to dig

[Borlotti]

Went to the allotment yesterday and saw my friend on the next allotment.  She has been registered blind, although she can still see/feel all her plants if she gets close.  She has been worrying about the allotment as she is a bit unsteady on her legs so has decided to give it up.  She came up with her friend and they both had their sticks.  It was nice to see her and she/we dug up some of her old friends (ie the plants she wanted to take home and plant in her communal garden).  We did have a laugh as they struggled home with their shopping trolleys full of plants.  Her friend has to see her across he road and stop the right bus as she cannot see the numbers on the bus. Hopefully the bus driver will lift the trolleys on and off as they were so heavy.  Unfortunately I do not drive anymore or own a car otherwise I would have given them a lift.  She has invited me to tea and cakes as I think she lives in sheltered accommodation but luckily says there is a lovely communal garden. She will be very sad to give it up but it has got terribly overgrown and she must be very old (didn't dare ask) but they think I am young and I am 65.  I had permission to take cuttings, dig up any plants I wanted so had a lovely exciting time, but only dug up one, don't know the name.  She used to be a gardener so she knows everything.  She is coming up again at Easter to take some more plants so will wait until she has taken what she needs before I have another good look round.  I do feel sad for her as she really loved her allotment but she can always come up and sit on mine.  Hopefully the new people don't dig everything up as I call it my magic/secret garden.

[Borlotti]

[saddad]

Must be sad for her, but at least she can come back on site to your plot...

[Borlotti]

It's not quite the same as on her site she knew where all the plants were and everything she had planted and it is like visiting friends.  On my plot she will be a visitor.  I had better get a seat for her as only have a bench.  One plot holder had coloured balls on sticks and she was admiring his lovely tulips.  She has got a good sense of humour and she was laughing as well at her mistake.  6 years ago she was up the apple tree on a ladder and refusing help from me.  I have picked her up a few times when she fell down after her hip operation and she fell in the brambles.  Spent one whole day looking for her house keys that she had dropped.  She was the first person I met when I took on the allotment so will miss our chats.  She has got a good spirit and likes to be independent, I used to think old people were boring but as I have got older find them very interesting and have much more patience with their problems.

[betula]

That is really sad.I suppose we will all face the prospect of giving up one day.
Hope she will come to visit you and at least she is not totally cut off.Remember to invite her to any open days or events on the allotment.

We have a very elderly chap who has a plot.He comes down now and again and pick up a couple of weeds but the plot is overgrown.
I am waiting to See if he will pay up for this year.I have thought about telling the parish clerk but I feel guilty if I do.However I know we have a waiting list so is this fair.?I just do not want to be the one to get him kicked off.

It is hard to know what to do.

[Borlotti]

I think she would have given up sooner if anyone had wanted it but the people I spoke to said it was not a very good site as has two or three enormous trees which puts it in shade for most of the day.  I think the Council will have to do some serious cutting down before anyone will take it on.  The birds and wild life love it.  It would have been good for a makeover on Gardeners World, Joe Swift did say it was interesting.  But I think with all his other commitments he finds his own allotment keeps him busy.  He has kept it on now the filming has stopped.  Will have to wait and see what happens.   I think most people, if reasonable, know when to give up, but it must be hard to make that decision.  I suppose when it becomes more of a worry than a pleasure that is time to give up.  Well just off to have a quick look at my plot.  It can take over your life.