"Allotted Time" by Robin Shelton

Date: 20 June 2010 10:25:17

I know I've done nothing but book reviews on this blog recently (makes a change given my usual snail's pace reading-for-pleasure - can you tell I'm procrastinating?). Once this one's done and iTunes is updated then I really won't have any more excuses and will have to get back to the Chapter of Doom. Well, I've got the ironing, but I'm planning on using that as procrastinatory material later in the day, I have to pace myself you know. Anyway, "Allotted Time". Subtitled "Twelve Months, Two Blokes, One Shed, No Idea", I bought this (1p copy from Amazon Marketplace, so even with the postage added it was a bargain) following a review of it on Farli's blog. I liked the sound of it from her review, and it didn't disappoint. It's the diary of two guys who take on an allotment despite having no experience (or indeed a clue) what to do, and it follows them through their first twelve months of digging, shed-building-from-scratch, through to their actual harvest. On the way we meet various characters at the allotment, and there are various musings about reconnecting to the seasons and the benefits of gardening. The author has bipolar disorder and it's interesting to read how he felt working on the allotment helped his mental state, and also how it helped him to develop his relationship with his two kids. It's a very gentle book, one which made me smile a lot and laugh sometimes too, and which has got me wanting to grow my own veg again (I did grow some veg my first summer in my London house, and probably looked like a runner bean by the end of the summer after considerable success with them). It's also encouraged me that at a similar level of cluelessness to them growing veg properly is still indeed possible. I can't commit to an allotment here as we don't know how long we'll be here, and our concrete back court isn't exactly conducive in the meantime. But I can dream :) I don't want to do this chapter :( I'm desperate to carry on procrastinating. Roll on September.