Allotment gardening

I am determined to finish clearing the last overgrown bed today. I still have a heavy cold which makes the job that little bit more difficult. The plot directly behind mine is empty and overgrown and because this last bed borders it,I have been a bit naughty. I have been digging up the top layer of soil - usually a big sod of grass - and then throwing it over the fence into the neighbouring plot. Not exemplary behaviour I grant you but then I think all sorts of rubbish was dumped on my plot when it was vacant. At one point I nearly do myself an injury. The clod is so heavy, it tears the fork from my hands which flies over the fence too - smashing me on the chin on its way down. I dust myself off and retrieve the fork and carry on. I am sure that some plot holders can see my offence. Joyce and Eric come to say hello and I look guiltily at all the clods of soil on neighbouring plots. Ah well. I nearly manage to clear the whole bed. I have about a square foot left to do. Then I will throw down some manure on the bed which is destined to be a potato bed. When I get home, I have had answers to my questions from the experts at the HDRA. They tell me that my small potato crop was not necessarily down to lack of water and offer some advice for this year. The e-mail also says it is not necessary to chit my maincrop of potatoes but that it doesn't do any harm. They will stay in the bedroom in that case. The expert also says that I should not harvest my stolen rhubarb in its first year. I'd guessed as much. It just means I'll have to put my thieving skills back into practice at harvest time.