I am about to go to the allotment.

I know this is not earth shattering news. It is damp in Brum, and there are no doubts that I will interrupt a slug fest

There is little doubt that food tastes better when you have grown it yourself. At least, I believe that to be true. Others might beg to differ. It is interesting the variety of shapes that vegetables come in. They are not always as neat as presented in supermarkets. Allotment people do not reject misshapen carrots or spuds. There could be a lesson for life there.

On an allotment people muck in together. We borrow and lend. We share. We learn how to work with nature rather than against it.

In my 18 months as an allotment plotholder, I have learnt that nature can change the rules. It does so because it can. Nature makes the rules, and no amount of bellyaching from me can change that.

Allotment days for me are happy days.