A Washout?

Ms Mova and Ms Tagalong rubbed the sleep out of their eyes as they unpacked the car with the carefully prepared packs of chillies, lemon verbena, lemongrass, bunches of rosemary, pots of aloe vera and paraphernalia for the first appearance of a community garden at the Newcastle Show.

It was not promising. The rain had fallen all night, the ground was waterlogged, but inside the marquee it was dry if not cosy and warm.

The table was set, arranged and down came the rain. Streams, nay torrents raced through the marquee under the table and out the other side. Habitant in Harmony volunteers emerged from the sheeting rain like drowned rats. They should have got up early like Ms Mova and Ms Tagalong! Shouldn’t be rude, they dispensed some wonderful hot carob milk. (More about that at a later date)

As it was, it made for a very long, wet day with few viewers and even fewer takers. There was a highlight (there always is) Ms Mova and Tagalong were asked to judge the school scarecrow exhibition.

The task taken seriously they pondered, scratched their heads and carefully judged according to the criteria given.

Such wonderful prizes it seemed a shame more schools hadn’t taken advantage of the opportunity to show their artistic side.

Ms Tagalong dodged the showers and looked at the piglets, the baby goats and the very entertaining chickens. Some of them definitely needed to be kept behind bars.

Later, it was a damp, cool night for the Film in the Garden, but those who dressed up and came along enjoyed every minute of it. The group decamped to a member’s living room and were captivated by the charismatic Diana Vreeland.

The opening salvo set the scene.

‘You just have to arrange to be born in Paris. The rest is easy!’

What a character.

So don’t let the weather put you off, here at Tighes Hill Community Garden – it’s never a washout! 

It's great to have some feedback, so please leave me some comments.

Wear your badge with pride!

Ms Tagalong and Ms Mova never let the grass grow under their feet, so to speak! They see an opportunity and grasp the nettle! Stop the punning, we hear you say. 
 
Those of you who assidiously peruse each Facebook update with a fine toothcomb might have noticed the references to Timebanking. 
 
'What is it all about?' asked Ms Mova. Ms Tagalong was slurping her japanese noodles and trying to explain. 
 
'Well you know how our lovely volunteers come along to the garden and help, this actually encourages them more.' (As if the lure of the garden is not enough!)
 
'As they accrue hours of volunteering they can use these to maybe find another service someone else on Timebanking is offering. Like, perhaps, someone to paint their house,' she stopped, thinking of the unfinished painting on the front of her house! 
 
Ms Mova agreed that it sounded like a good idea and ate the last dumpling!
 
'So what do we do now?' she asked. 
 
'Well, I will register us as an organisation and then encourage all our participants to register too.'
 
Ms Mova's eyes glazed over, she was thinking of the massage she might need and probably could get from registering on Timebanking. 

 
So there we are; Tighes Hill Community Garden all registered and ready to go. 
 
Roll up, roll up for the next working bee and be able to claim hours!
 
Click on the link to register folks and remember you don't have to volunteer for an organisation like us to do so. 
 
Any questions or comments gratefully received and answered to the best of our ability!