The wind-swept four

The team of gardeners had been itching to get their hands dirty. After we had to admit defeat to the courgettes which took a lot of space but only produced dwarf courgettes, we wanted to pull them out and prepare the beds for the winter crop. I admit I wasn't really in the mood to get out of bed and into the cold, but once I sat on my bike, merrily singing along to Jason Mraz (the weird looks you get ...) I was looking forward to the session. In my bag I had freshly baked pumpkin bread, cream cheese and jam to feed the hard workers. This time we were only four as others weren't able to come, but that didn't stop us from getting some serious work done. We planted Aquadulce beans, which will be ready in March/April, Garlic, which will be ready in May/June, transferred millions of Little Gem, Red Frill, Giant Red Mustard, Pak Choi, lambs lettuce from the cold frame, enriched the compost with manure, replanted Cavalo Nero, cut back the lavender and thyme, thinned out the sorrel, which will make my evening meal: pumpkin/sorrel soup with roasted pine nuts for a bit of bite.
I always find it exciting to get on the roof when I haven't been there for a week, and I wasn't disappointed; seedlings had pushed through the compost, more leafy green was waiting to be harvested, and this time, we all got a huge surprise: our Chrysanthemums have finally started to flower in beautiful fiery colours.
After an hour of grafting, we had worked up an appetite and sat down for a tea and snack. Since the garden is now closed for the public, we had it all to ourselves, which made for a nice change, albeit a slightly chilled one.
Filled with fuel and in desperate need to warm up again, we got cracking and flitted around the roof like maniacs. It was only when it started to rain, that we began to pack up, harvested plentiful and made our way home. A solid four hours in the cold was enough for the day, we found.
Next big session will be on the 4th, and hopefully everyone will be on board then, because there's lots to do. Autumn or winter is not an excuse to abandon a garden.
We are planning to re-pot all fruit bushes, prune them back a little, we'll need to build structures for the beans, check on the seedlings' progress, plant the strawberry runners to sell next year, and mulch the beds. I'll also take home the chilli plants and foster them over the winter, the peppers will go with one of the other members. I think it's worth a try to keep them as we only had one chilli, and the peppers only just began to produce.

Anyway, it was a nice and relaxed day, and that's what gardening is about.

Cover uncovered

Yesterday, I took the opportunity to cycle to the garden as it was such a glorious day. I love the garden in the sun: it's always as if I walk up the stairs and into another world. Probably one advantage on being a roof garden. Between you and me, I had quite another reason to go: I wanted to take pictures for a book cover; a collection of mixed short stories I've written over time. Some were for contests, some were for a writers group I started earlier this year, some were written out of a certain mood. Most of them were on my blog for a while, and some even got high praise from visitors. So I thought it would be a shame to have them now rotting away on my hard drive. Why not put them together and share them with readers? They're all more or less flash fiction and best for a short break. Something to take your mind off things for five minutes and that's how I came up with the title.

I wanted to be a bigger part of the cover creation (yeah, control freak), and I had an idea of what I wanted. First it was a vintage table with two chairs against a brick wall, but that would have been a little difficult. Lucky, though, that the roof garden has distressed benches, plenty of green, and a box with a kettle, mugs, and tea, so that was a no-brainer. I'd also brought my Kindle with me and soon, everything was set up. I took a few pictures with my mobile and voila. When I came home, I sent them to my friend Sandra Giles, who made them look like a real cover. A few tries and tweaks and it was done. I can't believe the result, because I have no background in, or knowledge of photography. I'm fussy, which is probably a good thing. I'm really happy with the cover and have to smile every time when I look at it.

So when can I download that book then, you wonder? Well, I hope I'll be able to release the stories by mid September, but it may take a week longer. But definitely in September.

And the best thing is yet to come: they'll be free!

A happy ending of a shite day

Anyone want my day? Because it doesn't feel like it belongs to me. I'm mightily pissed off. No particular reason, apart from being really knackered and in pain. Last night I wished I could throw far enough to stop those helicopters from circling above my house. Can't they do that by day? Do they have to do it at night and for hours? And this morning I awoke earlier than I wanted to due to my bladder about to burst. After that I couldn't sleep anymore and decided to could get up anyway.
The day has started shite and evil grinned at me as I forgot to take out the butter, the bread crumbed between my fingers and the soap slipped more than once out of my hand.
When I wanted to refill the pressure sprayer for to spray the vivarium, a thingy broke, which only didn't make it useless for my DIY skills. Glad I didn't chop off my finger, considering what a wonderful hour I already had to look back to. Quickly dipped out to send my friend her headset which she forgot and didn't see the single bubble wrap envelops, thought they didn't sell them and bought a pack of ten instead. Something I probably never use again. In the post office, just one person before me, but it took ages. Yes, how much I love waiting!
On my way to the garden, the damn roads were packed with idiots who drove in my way, or obviously thought my home grown airbags (tits and arse) would be enough protection in case they knocked me off my bike! Never mind, I only have terrible back pain today, after the 40 times back and forth with two watering cans hanging from both of my arms. In addition to that I banged several of my body parts against visible obstacles -- a favourite hobby of mine -- and therefore will end up looking green and blue.

On the roof, the guy I brought some home made meat balls and pasta salad saw me working and didn't come up to say hello or report how good the food was until much later, which I found rather ungrateful. And when opening our tool box, I hurt my hand where the iguana bit me. You know this sort of pain, when it knocks the air out of you first, then sends tears shooting into your eyes and you swear the heftiest words only people with Tourette would say? Yes, exactly that sort of pain jolted through my right arm. Didn't really lift my mood. Somehow I ran around like a headless chicken and couldn't find a proper system to work, which drove me mad, I filled the kettle with water and forgot to switch it on, left my secateurs in a bed and had to search for it, couldn't find a place for the lettuce to got, etc.

Stopped at the supermarket. I a great idea for a home made sandwich with humus and falafel or chicken -- When I finally bit into it, the chicken sandwich didn't rise to my expectations. I hate it when that happens. And because I'm far too tired to write and I feel terribly guilty when I don't write I'll now have a bottle of wine. At least I'll have a good night's sleep, or so I hope.

Opium for London!

Got your hopes up, eh? I'm terribly sorry, but I couldn't come up with a better title. To be fair, it's a rather suitable one because I'm mainly reporting about the roof garden and there, the poppies have begun to flower. I don't think I've ever seen one up close or even touched one, but I can now say they're really really pretty. Interesting that they come in different colours and the pale one looks a big creased. Nature is a wonderful thing.
We also have our first tomatoes and courgettes flowering and the nasturtium, too. Sun and water are the main ingredients for growing. Speaking of water, here a fun picture:
Four water cans, three tabs (on opposite sides of the garden) and I. Since the hosing ban, we can only water with watering cans and let me tell you, the about 80 boxes we have take a lot of it. So there was me, running back and forth between the tabs and the flower beds and in between the guys who put up the inflatable roof. (Fascinating how much work is involved and how long it takes.) Every now and again I poured some fluid (tea) into me, and then went ahead. My arms are certainly a few inches longer and my already flat feet are now straight, methinks.
When all was done, three hours had gone and I thought it's time for a beer. I was joined by the florist, whose flowerpots I also watered, leaving him jobless for the day. I honestly didn't know they employed a gardener and I was in full swing with my watering, so I just poured water into anything that looked dry. Erin, and I had a good laugh over a beer. A knackering, but pleasant day it was. Guess I'll sleep well tonight.

Growing your own vegetables and lettuces in lofty heights

As regular visitors to my blog know, I became a gardener last year. I read about the roof-park as an event space and popped by to see what it's all about. What surprised me the most was that they actually have a garden up there. They are Bootstrap, who owns the place, and a few volunteers, community members either working or living in Hackney, or both. I had a chat with Kate - one of them - since I've always been interested in gardening, but never had a backyard since it's a tad difficult in London. So I got in touch with Bootstrap, attended my first meeting and have become an enthusiastic member since then. It's addictive, you see? Once you sow seeds, the joy of seeing the first green pushing through the soil, watching it grow and harvest it when it's time; it comes with a great deal of satisfaction. I eat a lot of salad in the summer, and I get my lettuces, spring onions and tomatoes from the roof. Unfortunately, feta-cheese doesn't grow on trees and cows would look rather odd on the roof, but hey, one can't have it all, right?

Over the winter, Kate and I popped up to the roof to look after the garlic and broad beans we've planted and harvested plenty of lettuce, kale and broccoli. We also organised ourselves and founded a garden committee, consisting of the hard core of gardeners who meet monthly - with Zak from Bootstrap - to put the plans for the new design into action. The past two years have been a bit of trial and error, but this year, we gardeners have a firm grasp on what is going to happen, fully supported by the company, which is lucky indeed. Since yesterday it's official: to join the merry digging, community gardener Alex has been appointed to  help us gain more knowledge and provide workshops, open for everyone to pop by and take a stab at gardening. (Picture: us discussing what we'd like to grow, left to right: Kate, Zak, JC, Barbara, Tess, Christine.)

(Last Sunday: JC and Alex are busy working, Tess taking notes, whereas
 Anthony just made a good impression. Just kidding.)
To  make the garden as pretty as possible we have been working like maniacs over the past few weeks. Since I'm a bit more flexible with my time, I've been on the roof almost every day for two hours, weeding, preparing growbags with soil, compost and manure, replanting some of the plants that have survived the winter. On Sundays, we got together with all gardeners, including Alex and Zak, who's not afraid to get his hands dirty, and quickly we transformed the former mess into something more appealing. There will be another day to put everything in the right place, but then we'll start with planting. Just before the Roof Park will be opened to the public.

As you can see, the black boxes have been replaced with much nicer cladding. It's not finished yet; it'll look pretty when it's done, though. We also plan to use the wall; it's the sunniest place and we all agreed that it would be a shame to waste that space. Hanging baskets with either flowers or herbs would be appropriate, anything that can take sun and water from above. In the bags below, we'll have fruit bushes and small trees, as well as our grapes, which carried sweet red fruit last year. I don't know about you, but I'll spend a lot of time this summer on the roof. Not only is it a bit of a oasis for me, but I also love the idea of growing my own food. And Sundays, we all get together, gardening for a few hours, then have a massive BBQ, accompanied with our very own crop.

Playing in the dirt high above London

That's what I've been doing last summer and for the past week. The roof park layout will change, giving it more event space and a little less garden area. Experience has taught us that the inflatable roof is a bit of a problem as it a) blocks the sun needed for the plants to grow and b) when it comes down it squashes everything underneath. We now know which plants can take it and those that can't. My beloved herb section will stay as it is!
We have regularly met in the winter to discuss how we want the garden; luckily, Bootstrap lets us decide and go with it where they can. So we're getting planters with big growbags. This means the plants have more room.

At the moment, we are replanting and preparing, the soil. Mixing old soil with new compost and manure, and let me tell you, I have spent all week weeding, throwing away and carrying old growbags around. I planted what survived the winter: broccoli (green and purple sprouting), chard, spinach, rocket, mizuna, sorrel, cale, mint, lemon balm, coriander, broad beans... I think you get the picture. There's plenty more to do. Went today and after two hours of busying myself trying to re-organise the current mess I'm knackered. It's a pretty good work out -- combined with forty minutes cycling I don't need to do anything else.

The current mess. Click picture to enlarge.

I can't wait for the summer to come, when everything is flowering and new planted stuff growing. It's mainly an event space, but normally we gardeners get together at the weekends for a session followed by a massive BBQ. I think it'll look fabulous and it'll be worth all the effort we're putting in now.

And now it's time for a beer

After a night with little sleep, I had a rather grumpy morning. You know, one of those days you just don't want to get up; the sun didn't shine and I was tired. What's not to hate? Well, since the volunteers of the Dalston Roof Park agreed to meet today and start re-organising the whole garden, I had to get my arse into gear. Plus, I was really looking forward to some exercise: cycling and shoving soil from one bag into another. My early grumpiness dissolved later, although it started to rain as soon as my backside connected with the saddle. How very convenient, I thought, but nothing would've kept me from doing what I had planned, or more the committee.
I've waited for the 'spring' to come with great anticipation. All this sitting around with a laptop for company isn't good. I love my writing, but I'll be glad to do it from the roof again, in the sun. Winter's just not my favourite time of the year.
However, after plenty of digging and shovelling, organising and harvesting, we finished our session, happy with the results and plans for more. Even the sun had made an appearance. I arrived home with at least one grow bag of soil under my short (!) fingernails and after a shower I was ready for a beer. The Germans have a saying: Kein Bier vor vier! (No beer before four.) Afternoon, that is.

So I'll have a Beck's as I'm writing this. By the way: did you know that Beck's is from Bremen? My hometown? So does Kellogg's for that matter. Oh and Werder Bremen. Yes, I'm a football fan and I used to have a season ticket, standing in between the hardcore fans. Just saying. Not that it's any important to you, but I thought I'd tell you anyway.

Before I forget: if you didn't get a chance to grab my short story collection for free: if you click on the picture with the iguana in a sock to the left, you'll be guided to Amazon and it'll cost you nothing. The download, I mean.

See you later

This is how it's in London today. Blue sky, sunshine and I'm off to the roof park. Since I sat in front of my laptop for the past two days, more or less unsuccessfully trying to create a decent plot for the Thriller, I think I need a break. So the weather is great, my bike's calling, the kilos grinning. A bit of exercise won't do any harm, right?
Need some food for the iguana and there's plenty of green stuff for him.
I'll take my Kindle to read a little and pop to the market to get some fruit and veg. The roof park isn't open for the public yet, meaning I'll probably have some wonderful peace up there, sitting in the sun.
Maybe I'll get some more ideas on how to carry on with the story. Here's what I wrote yesterday, Not much as you can see, but it's only the beginning of the scene. It'll become more...um bloody, probably.

Natalie blinked and looked about, trying to orientate herself. She was alone in a small room. The only furniture – as far as she could tell – was the bed she was lying on. Its mattress was worn and the frame creaked and wobbled. She shivered under the far too thin cover. Where was she?

'Hello? Is there anyone there?'

A loud pang made her heart leap into her throat. She lay still and listened. It was silent again. Slowly, Natalie relaxed and sat up. Another thud. Howodd. Lookingattheceilingtofindoutwhatcausedthenoise,shesawnothing.Atleastnothingthatwouldhinttowhereitcamefrom.Sheswungherlegsovertheedgeandstood.Theroomseemed cleanwithafaintsmellofbleach.

'Whatthehell?'shesteppedclosertooneofthenakedwalls.Adirt-coveredlampofferedadimlight,enoughtosee,butnotenoughtoreadthefadingwordsscribbledallovertheplace.Shesquintedandtriedagain,tonoavail.How strange.

Another two thuds made her jump back.

'Hello?' she called out again.

Thud.

Slowly, she took a step back. And another.

Thud.

She shrieked when her calves touched the bed, her heart leaped into her throat.

'Hello? This isn't funny.' It came out half a whisper.

Thud, thud.

Natalie sat down and leant against the wall behind her, pulling the cover over her knees.

'Please, stop.'

Thud, thud, thud.

As if she were in a cardboard box with a bed, wearing earplugs while someone worked on a drum kit. That's how it felt. A dull droning that sent vibrations through her body. Uncomfortably buzzing in her head.

Thud, thud, thud, thud.

Squeezing her eyes shut, she breathed in and out to calm herself down. Nobody was going to hurt her, right? It's just noise; she'll be fine.

Thud, thud, thud, thud.

It came from above.

Pang.

A door being slammed? Would someone come to rescue her? Or at least explain what is going on?

Pang, thud, pang, thud, thud.

I'm a gardener now, me.

Since a couple of weeks I've been busy doing some gardening. Where? On a roof top about ten minutes away from where I live. It's a roof garden with grass, a white fence, wonky tables and chairs and even a bar. My personal oasis where I can flee to when need a break from my intense relationship with my laptop.
We are about a dozen of volunteers who grow all sorts of things, from green beans, courgettes, broccoli, chard, rhubarb, kale, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, broad beans, peas, grapes, all different varieties of lettuce - from green to red, herbs, kohlrabi, strawberries, gooseberries and red and black currants, radish, leeks, you name it. And some flowers, too.

I've taken over the herb section with sage, mint, coriander, thyme, rosmary, basil, loveage, camomile and parsley. I will plant some oregano, I decided and we have some red basil somewhere in the garden, too.
Usually we meet up on Thursdays for a garden session with the gardener who would give advice on what to plant where and what needs to be done. Some of us are advanced and some are beginners. Every now and then, we will get together on Sundays, do some work first, then heat the barbeque and eat until nobody can move anymore. Of course we'll have some of our lettuce.

 

A greek-style salad I had yesterday, with lettuce from the garden, plus olives, tomatoes, cucumber, flat parsley, dressed with walnut oil and sherry vinegar.

The company who owns the place runs events in the summer, if it rains, there's an inflatable roof which makes it rather cosy. I've been to an event (band and movie) last Thursday and it was rather nice.

This is how the bar-area looks like, don't ask me why that pole is there, it wasn't there today. It's lit by coloured lights - even if it's not really coming across in this picture.
(Click on pictures to enlarge.)

 

The inflatable roof, a band playing.

It's a good alternative to the crowded pubs, in the 'fresh' air of London, high enough to see Canaray Warf and the Gherkin or even Center Point and it's a special place to me.