Goodbye to the old.....

[Parsleythelion]

I was at my plot at he weekend when I saw one of the older lottie plot holders pushing a wheelbarrow of stuff towards the gate. I offered some help and stopped for a chat only to find out after many many years he is having to give it up due to his health.

The kindly old soul said that there were still some old tools and thinks in his shed and would be happy for me to have root around and take anything I might find useful.

It is sad to see the older wiser plot holders go, but at least his tools will get a second life on my plot (some really old but well made tools - fork, rake spade etc)

We are lucky that our site still has a community spirit even though it is in an ever crowded London Borough.

Is anyone else still lucky enough to have this and do new plot holders want to join in?

[Moo's Mum]

It must've been really hard for him to give up his plot after so many years.

I'm on the waiting list for a plot at my local allotments and have been up there a few timesto introduce myself and keep my face well known. I've been bowled over by the friendliness and sense of community up there and can't wait to be a fully fledged lottie holder!

I just hope this old chap keeps popping up to your allotments and is kept in mind if there's any social events etc going on.

[pauco]

Such a shame when the old timers have to give up due to health problems.
I hope you get as much pleasure from those tools as he did, if only they could talk eh!
+ there will be the loss of his knowledge too. Such a sad time for the old lad.
I just hope he can take some wonderful memories away for himself.

paul.

[taff]

maybe he could keep doing it if he chaged his gardening style?

[Kleftiwallah]

Sounds as though he is a bit 'long in the tooth' to change.

Sometimes it is better to say "Right, that's enough of that" and (although I hate the phrase) 'move on.

At least it sounds as though the incoming holder won't have the heartbreaking chore of

'a little tidying up'.

Cheers, Tony.

[dominic10]

Some plot holders on our site are going down to half a plot - that's how we got ours. Our old boys are now well into their 80s. Sad to hear one had passed away a while ago. Depends I suppose on what the health issues are.

[donnakebab]

It would be nice if they could arrange days to invite the olduns back for look around and to pick their brains so to speak. Or have one plot that they could share and just have a potter about as and when they feel like it.

I think most people know when they've had enough but it would be nice if they had an option other than just handing in their keys.

[binley100]

Our oldest plot holder is 90 ....I'm sure his plots are what keeps him going but if he had to stop I reckon he'd still be up on a Sat morning for his tea and butty .....just to keep us all on our toes as it were
When we had our Centenary open day last year an ex-plot holder who was 100 came along to have a look .

[Vince G]

Learned something about the old chap who has the plot next to ours today. We always admire his plot - he's knocking on 80 and has a bit of a gammy leg, and yet we never see him working on it, but it is pristine. We were told he's recently got himself a little petrol tiller, to save on digging, but even so, it's remarkable clear of weeds. We assumed he must be up at the crack of dawn as old folks often are which is why we rarely saw him as we tend to rock up mid-morning.

However Mrs G and I had a day off today, as we had planned to do a lot at the lottie and are not going to be around much at the weekend. WHen we get there, there's a chap working on old fella's plot who can't be more than about 40. Turns out it's his son, and his working pattern means he can get up there 3 or 4 times a week during the day to help the old man!!

....and there we were, thinking we were gardening next to super-grandad!! His secret's out now!!

[lottie dolly]

Learned something about the old chap who has the plot next to ours today. We always admire his plot - he's knocking on 80 and has a bit of a gammy leg, and yet we never see him working on it, but it is pristine. We were told he's recently got himself a little petrol tiller, to save on digging, but even so, it's remarkable clear of weeds. We assumed he must be up at the crack of dawn as old folks often are which is why we rarely saw him as we tend to rock up mid-morning.

However Mrs G and I had a day off today, as we had planned to do a lot at the lottie and are not going to be around much at the weekend. WHen we get there, there's a chap working on old fella's plot who can't be more than about 40. Turns out it's his son, and his working pattern means he can get up there 3 or 4 times a week during the day to help the old man!!

....and there we were, thinking we were gardening next to super-grandad!! His secret's out now!!

good on them both for helping each other,he maybe take the plot on,

[mrbadexample]

Our oldest plot holder is 90

My Uncle Sid's 94 in July. Still cycles to his allotment.