So to this Saturday, and a smattering of games in the area - but it's a Bank Holiday and all would have involved either a journey down the A303 and over the notorious Camel Hill, or a lengthy detour around the various bottlenecks on country roads. There was also the added hazard that of late, an increasing number of games are simply not taking place, as it's been such a topsy-turvy season that players and clubs have lost both the discipline and impetus to play - that's not in any way to blame them.
Ossie therefore took an executive decision to forego the footie, and, with Mrs O, we headed down to the Gillingham Town Meadow for the Grand Plant Sale raising funds for the Church, the local branch of Read Easy (volunteers provide one-to-one help for older folk struggling to read, including people for whom English is a second language), and various other local organisations. A 10 o'clock start, and knowing the locals here, they'd all be down there prompt. We made it for 10:30
.
Earlier in the week, we'd made our first visit to the local Blue Diamond Garden Centre since the pandemic first struck. We were always up there before, buying birthday cards, deli treats and casual clothing as well as plants, and frequenting the café where the Ostrich would indulge in a Big Breakfast (with a side-order of Mushrooms) whilst Mrs O settled for Eggs on Toast or a Yoghurty Granola or some such concoction. I was interested to see the café was back in action but it was "wait to be seated" and table service rather than the usual long queue with your trays at the self-service counter. We went in the afternoon; it seemed they weren't doing a fat lot of business which perhaps doesn't bode too well. My prime objective was to look at the vegetable plant stalls, and I picked up a couple of courgettes, a couple of peppers, and the last two chilli plants they had which looked a bit ropey, but I thought I'd see if I could nurture them through. They also had a load of paperbacks of the "2 for £5" variety on sale and Mrs O replenished her reading material. However, the main purchase, dear to Mrs O's heart, was a small stone bench for the patio, a curved seat set on a couple of plinths. £129.00 (with free delivery)
"It'd 'ave been cheaper if I'd just gone down to Stonehenge one evening and nicked a bit off it," grumbled Ossie
Anyway, having planted out the veg in Growbags, I still wasn't happy with the chilli plants, so I was rather hoping I might find a couple down at the Grand Plant Sale today, and after fruitlessly enquiring at all the stalls, my final throw of the dice was with the local Scouts - and "oh, yes, we've got plenty!"
"I've no idea what varieties they are, someone just gave us a load to sell ...."
"Well," says Ossie, "I'm not an expert, I just know that Scotch Bonnet is by far the hottest."
"Oh, that one's already gone, someone grabbed it first thing."
So the bird finished up with a Cayenne plant, and something unknown because the plant marker was smudged and unreadable - but they're both strong, healthy plants so that's fine.
Mrs O, who had purchased some marigolds, marched home with the plants while Ossie headed to Waitrose for some summer treats. First time for ages, they had a queue waiting to get in, about 20 folk, but it all moved along quite quickly and I was in the store within 5 minutes. Picked up a nice prepared leaf salad, baby new potatoes and some vegetable arancini, with a small bottled of Banrock (Aussie white), and we've just enjoyed them for supper.
There are a couple of footie fixtures next weekend, but I'll now declare my soccer season, (and therefore this thread
), duly closed. In theory, pre-season games start in July in preparation for the Leagues to commence at the beginning of August, but with Covid cases starting to pick up again and no certainty that there won't be a return to further restrictions ...... Will the wily Ostrich be back?
We'll just have to see what's what closer to the time ......
Rugby League prices?
