On my blog this week I have a green fingered gardener going by the name of Helen Patrica. Wait until you see her produce. I want a bit of it.
Here she is then, and also with her newly born grandson Jackson. Welcome Helen Patrica and will you please stop whining for pity sake. It's only a headless corpse in the corner. Oh that screaming you mean? That's just a recording of the previous occupants screams. Tsk.
HELEN PATRICIA
Tell me about Helen Patricia
Hi Tee, If I answer your questions can I have some water please and see some daylight...It's ever so dark in here and it's a bit smelly...Smells like iron...so I'm guessing that's blood? Eeeeeek ! *Shudders!*
.....Um.... NO! water's off today!
*Weeps silently*
Ok then about me! Where do I start? At the beginning I guess! I was born in the 60's when the Beatles were in their prime and TV's were still in black and white. I like to think I was named after Helen Shapiro, and I have the same middle name that my mum had, 'Patricia'. My youngest granddaughter also has Patricia as her middle name.
I was the eldest of three girls and I reckon I was pretty bossy looking back.... When we were little we used to enjoy playing gymnastics, using the wooden arms of the sofa as the beam, much to mum's annoyance but she'd let us carry on anyway.. I grew up in a large village called Abbots Langley, in Hertfordshire. All my school days were spent in 'Abbots'. I lived at home until I was 19, and these days I have two grown up children, and four grandchildren, with little baby Jackson being just 3 days old.
I have lots of different interests, do not follow fashion at all, and am happiest when my hands are in the soil and planting things. I have some tattoos and some piercings, love wearing my hair in pigtails, and probably always will. These days I'm more Rock Chicken than Rock Chick! I never wear false nails, as I reckon you can't see what dirt is hiding under them... My toenails are always naiI-varnished black though! Maybe that's just as well as I always walk around the garden barefoot!
I really do love a good swear! It's not very ladylike I know. Not sure why but I find it very therapeutic! OUCH !!! What's that digging me in the ribs! I haven't sworn yet! In life I nearly always root for the underdog, hate unfairness and bullies, and do not have any religious beliefs...I'm more Earth Mother come protector of the fairies type of gal! I love all things mystical. Detest gnomes.
I've a very eclectic taste in music, literature and films, and do enjoy going to see bands and drinking pints of cider (my favourite tipple). I love making people laugh, although often they're laughing at things that have happened to me! If I see work friends are having a rough time I will do what I can to get them smiling. A lovely friend of mine was feeling low one day, so I went on the women's gynae ward next door and asked for a pair of 'netty knickers' which I decorated, calling them her new happy pants! It worked, and she put them on over the top of her work trousers for a giggle.
Where do you live in the world
For the last 16 years I have been back in Watford, although I spent several years living in Edgware, Middlesex (in the London suburbs), and then Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire until 2001.
Have you any pets
Yes I do ! I have a black and white cat called Sindy. I've had 2 cats before her and several dogs. When my daughter was very young I had a lurcher that she called Birdie! My last woofit was called Lulu. She was a dark brindle staffy and absolutely adored us all, and we loved her too. Lulu was affectionately called “Runs with no brain”, as she was so soppy! She sadly got run over on a main road near where I live, just before her ninth birthday. That was 5 years ago.
When my children were growing up they were allowed to have all sorts of strange 'pets'. I think they worked their way through a lot of the animal kingdom ...we had escaping stick insects, flying stick insects, a praying mantis called Marilyn Mantis, a python called Elvis, giant land snails, mice, rats, spiders, fish, bearded dragons, snakes and several birds. I'm sure there's much I've forgotten. It's the old brain you know!
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| Lulu affectionately known as runs with no brains |
What do you do in your day job and do you have to commute?
For the last 9 years I've worked on the children's ward at my local hospital as a Healthcare Play Specialist. It's a mixture of all my previous child work jobs, mixed with health. It's extremely rewarding and I trained with the University of West London to get my qualification for my role. It
was a big achievement for me getting my degree in my 40's s one of the oldest members of my cohort.
Sadly I do have to use the local buses. They are a trial all of their own, and painfully slow and full of grumpy people in the evening rush hour. I have a little white and lilic pedal cycle I sometimes use for going to my allotment though! It has a little basket on the front...I don't think I'm brave enough to ride it to work on the very busy main roads!
Share with us your leisure activities
My name is Helen and I am a gardenaholic! I love being creative and gardening is my way to do that. I like to plant to encourage wildlife. I also have a large allotment that I can walk to in less that 10 minutes. I take a short cut through a nearby cemetery to get to my lottie, and have to keep my eye on the time, as the gates to the graveyard lock at different times of the year. I've almost got locked in on a couple of occasions as I get carried away when I'm up there.
I'm rather good at making wine...!
Hm... thinks... wine maker... Ok here's a sip of water in exchange for wine. Oh for gods sake stop getting all needy and gushing I have a lurid reputation to maintain woman.
Your favourite place to travel in the world
I've not always been a huge traveler and really never liked flying at all. There's still so much of my beloved England and Great Britain that I want to visit. However in the last 12 months I've visited Canada 3 times! If somebody had said to me I'd be travelling 7000 miles and taking two planes by myself to get there I would never have believed them. It really is very liberating to conquer a fear of flying because the goal was huge and I needed to do it.. I'll be going there again soon...Squeeeeee! You see, there's this really awesome chap, not sure if you've heard of him. Writes books or something! Apparently loves dungeons! He has the hugest chest freezer ... in his basement! Yikes!!
Oh for goodness sake... sticks fingers down throat
What is your favourite food/drink
I love savoury foods more than sweet. I love Indian food the best, but also love a good old-fashioned Sunday roast with all the trimmings! Roast beef, Yorkshire puds, roast potatoes etc ...you get the picture! What I love about gardening and having the lottie is that often the veg I eat will be what I've grown myself, and it tastes so much nicer.
It’s a hot summer’s day and you are sitting in the garden with your favourite drink. What do you think about
It could be anything, often nothing in particular. I will be looking at a bee, or see something I need to potter about with. I will be enjoying the sun on my skin and i will be contented.
What genre do you like to read and why
Any, depending on what I'm into at the time. It could be fiction or non fiction.
Something that has happened in your life that has completely blown you away
Without sounding a bit twee, being a mum and grandmother, and overcoming all the crud that life has thrown my way and over-coming it and being stronger and happier. I was very proud of co-writing a chapter in an academic book about 4 years ago. It was great being asked for my contribution.
You’re obviously a very keen and successful gardener. Have you any tips for successful growing of plants and veggies. Have you had any failures.
Loads of failures, but a lot of it is out of our control, like the weather and bugs! Grow for the conditions you have and grow what you love to eat, and most of all don't let it be a chore. Gardening should be fun. if it's too tough, make it easier, and sit back and enjoy the fresh air and being outside. I have arthritis in my hands, and although it can be painful at times, I think keeping them active does help with strength in the joints and flexibility. A couple of my fingers look gnarly though. One of my index fingers doesn't point straight! Bit embarrassing really but it is what it is!
Oh I can soon remedy that. Stick you finger in this vice. Good girl you know it makes sense. Oh for gods sake stop screaming, it's only a vice and it's straight now albeit a bit broken. Get over it.
What do you prefer to do in your quiet times
Think, enjoy the calm. I rarely watch tv, unless it's Gardeners' World of course, or maybe Vikings, or Countryfile. Sometimes I watch a film, usually an old one I love, or maybe the news, but these days I catch the news on the internet, and listen to music on the radio or on cds. No pop! Errggh!
Is there any question that you would have liked me to ask and I didn’t. Nooo you can't talk about that subject it's far too soft. For god's sake grow a pair woman.
Can't think of anything...please don't hurt me! Ouch! What was that for?
Er ... 'cos I felt like it
So there you have it my little ones and so do I because I managed to do a deal with Helen's wine making. I'd better get her down or I won't get the wine.
I wonder who I'm torturing next? Ah yes...!
Laters potaters
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