Expansion plans unveiled

There'd been no jump racing in Britain for almost a week until today because of the snow and not a lot of other horseracing activity, yet Racing Post newspaper managed to keep going. So I feel I must make a new entry in my blog, even though gardening has been non-existent on account of the weather.

The good news is that I'm hoping to get an allotment. The bad news is that I've prevaricated over ringing the secretary and have failed to raise him now that I have finally rung. We'll get there in the end.

I've been told an allotment will do me good in that it will get me away from the house and chatting to people and give me more space for growing. Not being naturally blessed with green fingers, I hope to pick up a good few tips from seasoned gardeners.

I'm not holding my breath on being allocated a plot any time soon, but I need to put a marker down with the secretary. Could be years, could be next week (oh no, not in this snow and frozen ground).

Face the facts: It's rubbish

I bought a copy of the Guardian for the first time in ages on Saturday. Advice given in the money section for allotment holders included 'Why not sell your spare produce at a roadside kiosk?'

Blimey! It's just laughable and a vivid reminder of why I gave up newspapers. I used to get so exasperated with the Observer for this sort of trite. I forget how many times they suggested I let my house out as a film set.

Mustn't blame the writers, I suppose. They've got oceans  of print to fill and fill it they must. But it does seem to me one of the many reasons that dead tree journalism is on the way out.