Feeling Thoroughly Bogged Off

[Shortie]

My oh my, what have I let myself in for?? Okay, where to start....

As of last night I was thinking the only problem with my plot was the fatc it is four fifths covered in couch grass. Today we went and put down more weedkiller at about twice the amount we needed and covered in tarp until next week in case it rains. I can accept this and slowly get on with it. Just...

Today I discovered that after 20 black bags of rubbish I'm only half way through the junk in the shed (that needs collapsing and starting again). I've had lung fully of dust and my chest hurts.

My OH discovered a rabbit hole/burow thingy. Great. Not

And to top it all off, while I don't mind putting black bags of rubish and lengths of naff wood in my car and doing plenty of trips down the tip, I DO mind putting the soaking wet matress in my car

I'm hoping for some advise from seasoned plot holders as I feel a bit like I've discovered a mass of problems to day, hence feeling very sorry for myself.

However, sensing my utter dismay my OH has just plonked a steaming hot strong cup of tea in front of me and some bits of lamb that 'fell off' from under the tin foil mysteriously landing in a nearby bowl and passed it over to me. Makes me realy hope the roasties don't take much longer! dribble, dribble...

I'm seriously thinking of going back tomorrow (i'm off work) and asking if I can swap plots or if there is any help they can offer me

Anyone had deal with the matress / rabbits thing before?

[martini]

Hi Shortie - sorry you're feeling cheesed off. Can't help with the rabbits but could you get the council to come and collect the mattress (don't know if you'd have to pay). I'd be tempted to put some whisky in the tea

[Lesley Jay]

Shortie don't feel bogged off. You have got an allotment and before long you will be growing your own vegetables and fruit. Fabulous! You will get there. It will just take some time. The mattress - phone the council and tell them to shift it. The rabbits - well I can give you Rats advice which would be a gun!

[Shortie]

I did think of Rat saying that when thinking about the rabbits... I was talking to another plot holder and he joked about a gun. I don't think he took me seriously when I told him he's welcome to them...

Sorry about being so negative... It just really got to me today and I actually ended up walking off the plot because I was feeling so bad about it

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi Shortie. Sorry to hear you are feeling down today. I'm sure that things will get better.
What I do if faced with a problem (whatever it is) is to divide it up into small, manageable chunks. ie. take it one step at a time.
What is the thing that is p*****g you off the most? then tackle that first - it's a brill feeling when you've got it sorted!
Also, don't get stressed out about the stuff you can't do immediately - we are all human and can only do our best.
Why don't you have a lottie party? Get all your friends and family to the lottie next weekend and promise to make them a meal with some beer in return for helping you sort your lottie out?
Rabbits? you could always put them in the pot - I've got an excellent recipe for bunny stew!
Good luck! dexterdog

[nick the grief]

That's the Idea Dexter. A friend of ours moved house a few years ago and we got theis flash looking invite thru the post I thought it said Garden party but it actually said Gardening Party. Thats what they did.

Don't give up Shortie, you're bound to get hacked off for all sorts of reasons.

The time of year - days getting shorter, always depressing
The fact that you've got all this work & can't really harvest anything till next year means that it looks as thoughit's never ending.

The mattress, well you could use that to hold the tarp down Not as decorative as some tubs of flowers bu hey needs must when the devil drives (whatever the hell that means )

I can thoroughly recommend the lamb & roasties & a nice bottle of wine - well thats what I've just had & I feel better. I was going to go up my lottie today but we had a thunderstorm this morning so thats put the kybosh on it till next weekend now so I know hwo you feel.

The fact that you are going to pull the shed down & re-build it may get rid of the bunnies especially if you dig a 2ft foundation & fill it with concrete

Trust me, I'm a Guru this time next year you'll be sitting there tucking into a home grown meal laughing about it with us all ..... you do remember inviting us all round next year don't you

[Snadger]

Pile everything up in the middle of the plot and on Nov 5th torch the lot!!

I think the bunny is preferable to the rat and once you destroy its home it will probably move on!

Keep your chin up shortie....these things are sent to try us!

[roitelet]

Keep your chin up Shortie! Do as DD says tackle it in small manageable bits and you will get there. I inherited 2/3 of an acre of Brambles, couch 7ft high docks and anything else you like to mention. 3 years down the line its not finished but I have a garden Known locally as 'Le Jardin Anglaise' . I started small and each year have increased the lottie and the flower beds and gradually I am getting there

[budmap]

when i got my allotment we dug out a car windscreen 2 car batteries was then told that my plot was used as the dump 6 months on i have had lots of veg and fun off it so dont despair

[yoanbob]

our lottie was also used as a dump, were still pulling bits of glass out of bits we've "done" just cover what you can in areas you cant work on streight away, and clear it bit by bit, dont think of the whole thing or you will get bogged down, foot by foot metre by metre you'll get there.
it is worth it!

[Shortie]

Thanks guys. Sorry I was feling really sorry for myself earlier. It's lovely everyone's really supportive. My OH told me to phone the secretary (I only have her number) to find out if the ground steward is there tomorrow which he is. I'm going to ask if there's any advice he can give etc.. He's due there tomorrow so I'll go back down and see if he can help / settle me a bit

I'm not going to give up on a lottie, but I will ask if there's another one I can have, but think all the spare plots are gone now. I'd rather have this one than none.

Thinking of a bonfire - I couldn't burn the matress could I as it's toxic material - or is it okay to burn?

My mood wasn't wasn't helped earlier as my wrist was throbbing - I've bruised it somehow and now have it strapped up. A bit of veg book scouring in order to lift the spirits I think

Thanks again guys

[yoanbob]

bless ya shortie, it is worth it, just keep the dream in your head and think of all the free exercise and fresh air your getting, anything worth having is worth the effort, otherwise everyone would be doing it and it would be worthless, it sets you apart. keep at it.

[Snadger]

I think there may be quite a few mattresses going up in flames on bonfire night!
Its dark and the air is filled with everyone elses fumes anyway, old tyres, lino etc, etc!!!!!

[MissyMoo]

Sorry to hear of your woes Shortie but the Gardening party sounds like a great idea and like dexterdog said...one problem at a time.
At the end of the day you have an allotment and that provides not only fresh veg etc, but also a vibrant community of support at your fingertips. In addition to the one you already have online of course! Hang in there.

Meanwhile....take the said mattress, chop up into small pieces and shove violently down rabbit hole!!! Two birds....one stone!

[nick the grief]

..........My mood wasn't wasn't helped earlier as my wrist was throbbing - I've bruised it somehow and now have it strapped up...........

It's very easy to do this sort of thing Shortie I imaging your not using a shovel all day in your other job (no matter how much bullsh...er well I'm sure you know what I mean) so the fact that your hacking & chopping & the clearing in the shed is using parts that the other job doesn't reach ! Give it a day or so before you have another go.

..........A bit of veg book scouring in order to lift the spirits I think..........

Just look for the positives - you can now do another type of retail therapy