Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
7th August 2021
Allotment vs Alittlement?
Held annually, this year’s National Allotment Week’s runs next week, from 9th – 15th August. The theme is Plotting for the Future, celebrating the contribution that allotments make to a sustainable future.
National Allotments Week was started in 2002 by the National Allotment Society to raise awareness of allotments and the role they play in helping people to live healthier lifestyles, grow their own food, socialise and bring communities together. The campaign week is still thriving 18 years later and enthusiasm for growing your own fruit and vegetables during the pandemic is at an all time high, with the most interest since the WW2 Grow for Victory campaign.
Lots of people ask my advice on getting an allotment and, calling a spade a spade as I do, I always suggest that they start by growing veggies in their own garden first – even if it is just in containers and grow-bags on a patio. People have the best intentions but if you can’t look after veggies on this smaller scale, you will struggle to maintain an allotment. My own small veggie plot (pic) often gets away from me at this time of year – sometimes a littlement is better than an allotment.
Of course an option is to share an allotment plot with friends or family. You will be staggered by the amount of time, energy and commitment it takes to keep a full sized plot and I see it all end in disappointment and disillusionment too often.
But planned and embraced realistically, an allotment can be a wonderful addition to a household. The allotment section was always such a joy to visit when I used to judge Blaenau Gwent in Bloom. You would meet the most colourful characters, hear the best banter, get top tips, and of course go home with fabulous home grown produce.
So please do your homework. Ask someone who already has one if you can help out for a while, so you can get a feel for the commitment and hours needed. And get ‘allotment fit’ – I always remember the great artist and cartoonist Bill Tidy telling me that to keep a good allotment you need a cast iron back with a hinge in it.
You can find out more about the rules and regulations, how to apply and other helpful information at www.nsalg.org.uk/news-events-campaigns/national-allotments-week/
Life Dancing
When I ran across Wales barefoot, one of the things people asked was, ‘Didn’t I miss my cowboy boots?’ As I wrote in my book, I have always been known for a good pair of boots.
After wearing a huge variety of cowboy boots from about 16 years old, finally at the grand old age of 54 I have put them to ‘proper use’. I have joined a line dancing class.
Three years ago a friend sent me a video of a pretty impressive line dance to Dire Strait’s Walk of Life and I really, really wanted to do it. I’m a great believer in manifestation – even if it does take a while!
When it came to it, I was really apprehensive to be honest – dreading having to hook my thumbs in my belt loops and having to dance to D.I.V.O.R.C.E instead of The Walk of Life. And even though a cowboy hat is part of every outfit for me and I’ve got more check shirts (and cowboy boots) than you can shake a lasso at, I really didn’t relish the idea of wearing it all to a Line Dancing class with a load of ‘wanna-be Rednecks’.
Sometimes I embarrass myself with these confessions – honestly, I couldn’t have been more off the mark. What a fabulous group of people, all helpful, all having fun and not a cowboy hat or check shirt in sight. In fact we have all bought our own fabulous black and silver sparkly tops from Jan and look more ‘out on the town’ than ‘home on the range’.
It is quite simply the best thing I have done for a long time. I got into such a rut after the menopause, COVID, and losing my beloved pet pigs. I didn’t know whether the fatigue, depression, brain fog, memory were part of grief, the menopause or post viral – or all of them. I was reminded that the only difference between a rut and a grave is a few feet. It was tough.
And then I saw an advert for Line Dancing at the local village hall and remembered my Walk of Life desire – an ironic track choice. And whilst it might not be a high-adrenalin, ultra-challenge like my parachute jumping, wing walking and marathon running, it was a huge challenge for me to get through that village hall door, believe me.
Carl Jung said that the cause of most mid-life crises is when people try to live the second part of their life like the first. It is impossible. Things change. We have to adapt. But change can be good – the thrill and satisfaction of learning a new dance, getting the steps right and facing the same way as everyone else, is just as rewarding as crossing those marathon finishing lines were.
I am totally addicted. Our teacher, Jan Woodward, has the most incredible ability to connect your brain with your feet. When I first started, I left close to tears feeling so clumsy and ‘beat-deaf’ but after just a few months I am rocking it with the others and grinning all the way through. I have even put my thumbs in my belt loops a few times. After all the restrictions, isolation and disconnection we have all been through I can’t recommend this form of exercise, mind-gym, and fun, enough. It has tremendous health benefits, improving your memory, cognitive skills, fitness and general mental health. I’ve said it should be on prescription.
Jan teaches classes (all adhering to social distance guidelines) in venues from Crickhowell through to Abercynon, and even if you have two left feet – and no cowboy boots you will be made so welcome. You will find rhythm and abilities (and maybe belt loops) you didn’t know you had. For more details call Jan on 07919 082125 or contact at info@rhinestonecowgirls.co.uk
Oh and guess what – we are now learning The Walk of Life – maybe it should be called Life Dancing.
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