Thank goddesses for 31 days in March. Allotment Fires and raised beds.

Intended for illustration purposes only(!) Sketching out the first raised bed.

I remember feeling a bit downbeat the last time I left the allotment. My spade and fork weren't making any impression in the mud, the whole place looked an utter mess and brambles threatened to take over my world. Now, the mud is still baked in, and is collecting puddles where I mistakenly attempted to dig before the rain came in, the place is still honestly, a total mess.
But now it's a total mess with some poles stuck in the ground, most of the brambles in a pile and a plan for some raised beds. The sun was out this afternoon, always helps, and I started to see how things could possibly look after some more work. My little cleared bed still looks fine and I'm ready to decide what I'm going to put into it. I feel better.

Our first slow worm.

On the downside, my little one's dad offered to come and help me build a fire to get rid of some of the brambles (have about three bin bags to go) and I accepted, and it didn't work out.
I want to do this allotment by myself (for many reasons) as much as I can. I have something to prove to myself, having come from a relationship where I am treated like I can't do anything for myself and any suggestion, almost any idea I had was met by an arched eyebrow and a mocking tone.To allow people onto my site when they take that attitude towards me is a risk to my mental health. The fact is, the fire did not work out despite my many hints that this fire would not work out because there wasn't enough dry material to sustain a fire versus the damp allotment cuttings. Instead of the fire starting small with kindling and dry matter and slowly increasing the amount of brambles as the fire got stronger was ignored. The fire ignited, heaps of brambles were piled on, it smoked. The fire went out. And I'm supposed to feel gratitude for this - despite running fast out of time to burn these sodding things. I know he meant well, and I know I'm complaining at offers for help, But Christ, much like BBQ season - sometimes men don't want to do the grunt work, they just want to turn up and light the fires. I'd prefer the digging help, you know.

So back again tomorrow. I need to make my planks at least double the thickness before I try to use them to frame my raised beds. Going to have to go to hardware store (mo money) and get some nails.Will plant the remainder of my stakes and start measuring and cutting the wood to fit. Also looking forward to putting cardboard, soil and weed suppressant membrane down in the area I glyphosated the brambles on today (Yes, I know. I have sinned. Hopefully the last time).