No smoke without fire

Had a good work-out in the allotment garden on Monday shifting loads of horse manure and compost to mulch the raspberry plants.  The compost was very wet and slightly slimey, rather than the dry and crumbly texture I expected it to be, but I used it anyway.  It was very windy but sunny so I enjoyed being out - and decided to have a little bonfire to get rid of all the stalky stuff that had accumulated.  I love a good bonfire.  That is something I miss now that everyone gets rid of their rubbish in wheelie bins, the smell of smoke drifting in the autumn air and tending the fire, pushing all the end bits in and trying to keep it going.

I once set the fence on fire, oops, as the wind changed direction and for the same reason, the wind that is, I once set my hair on fire - it must have been the hairspray I was wearing - the smell of singed hair, eyelashes and eyebrows was awful.  So guess what - I stopped having bonfires.  But on Monday I thought I would treat myself, just a little one - pyromaniac, me, nah!

My outdoor Sungold tomatoes are still fruiting - they have been woefully neglected - but keep soldiering on.

And, do you remember I told you about some self-seeded  tomatoes that I had found, well, I took the pot into the greenhouse - and look - flowers.  Fingers crossed, maybe some fruit - if the weather doesn't get too cold.  I may have to pollinate them myself as there aren't many bees about now, but who cares, it will be worth it.

This is the stage the garlic is at in the greenhouse, doing well I think, and ready for planting outside.  Maybe I'll give it a little protection till it hardens off a bit.

And finally, the last two lettuce plants outside - the leaves look a little tough now, but considering the lack of rain and me not watering them either, I think they are survivors.