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I have been overweight all my life. Joined Weight Watchers, loved the company by started to eat healthy food that I really enjoy with lots of fruit. Got an allotment and grew lots of fruit and vegetables. My advice would be find healthy foods and a way of excercising that you really enjoy. I now weight 21lbs less than I did as a teenager and feel wonderful.

Sloe Hedging is so prickly that neither animals or humans can get through. I have just bought plants for a mixed hedge from Hedging Direct, but they will take a few years before they are impassable. I have some rooted cuttings of cotoneaster, very small and would take two are three years to be of any use. Your son would be welcome to them, if you could call. Send me a P M if you are interested.

Hope you find him soon. It' s very upsetting.

Several plots have been broken into over the last ten days. Mostly power tools and generators have been taken. It would be wise for tenants not to leave anything of value on their plots. If any tenant sees anyone acting suspiciously , it may be helpful if they reported it to the committee.

I would be interested. How often were you thinking of meeting?

I worked at Firvale Infirmary as a pupil cook in 1959. If any wards ran out of food we had to take it so I remember a few of them. What is the only part of Firvale Infirmary still left and is now the administartion block was some administation and general wards for old people who were ill. I had to go to Matrons office, which was in this block, when I had some sick leave. There were many large units, which have now been demolished, for people with learning disabilities. There were just a few staff and the more able "patients" used to have to look after the severely handicapped ones. I remember the numbers of some of the units we used to cook for and one had 101 "patients" I don't know if staff were included in these numbers. There were some buildings at the botton of the drive for vagrants, but I can't remember much about them. Despite it being a massive institution, I have happy memories although the work was unbelievably hard, by todays standards.

There was an article in Grow your Own last month. It says put cardbaord down on empty beds. Then put compost on top and plant through it. (It doesn't work for seeds!) I'm going to try it this year.

Hi, Everyone seemed to get blight last year, even the guy on gardeners world. It was so cold and damp and blight thrives in such conditions. I only grow early potatoes. If I grow later ones the slugs get them before either me or the blight do!!! Best to keep potatoes and tomatoes growing apart and burn all infected foliage. The infection is spread on spores so try not to carry from one to another, on gloves tools or your clothes.

I know of two tomatoes that are sold as blight resistant. The are called Legend and Ferline. Thomson and Morgan sell then, I don't know if anyone else does.

Thomson and Morgan offer discounts for Allotment Societies. You have to have an order totalling at least £100.00 but the discount is 55% so really worth the effort if a few people want to buy seeds. Contact them for further information or send me a PM if you want any help.

Today I called in at the new shop at Markham Grange. It's called Helens Houses (Postcode DN5 7XB) What a treat. It would be interesting to anyone who likes quilting or miniatures. It is a lovely shop. It has a large range of materials for quilting and making patchwork and stocks reasonably priced sewing equipment. (Needle threaders 15p, priced 25p in Bakewell market.) The miniatures were delightful and quite unique. The handmade babies were absolutely beautiful. It’s a lovely find and I thought it was really worth they journey. Chris

Some people say they are surprised we have vacant plots on our site at Infield Lane. Currently we are collecting rents. By mid February we shall know exactly how many vacant plots we have. Anyone interested in looking round would be very welcome.If you send a PM we can arrange it.

Hi Damkina, Our subscriprion fee was one book of twelve first class stamps. ( As we had a Newletter every month) If it's just a group of people running a club for mutual advantage, it usually works out as everyone pays the postage themselves on the swaps. Ideally you need about six people to make a postal club work. I wonder who would be interested? I have never worked with 1/24th scale. I have a Lundy house in 1/16th and that is small enough for me. I think they sell synthetic snow in garden centres at Christams. Sue Ryder has a range of Christmas Lights which are quite cheap. I am making a Santas grotto. I need to pratice making dolls and can use up all my "failures" waiting in the queue. They can have coats with hoods if I haven't got the faces right!

Hi, The only Miniatures shop around is at Markham Grange, a Garden Centre at Brodsworth near Doncaster.They have quite a lot of stock, cheaper than DHE. Sue Rider Charity shops have some miniatures. The furniture is not very good but the lights are very good and cheap. A postal Dolls House Club is whatever you want it to be. Ours swapped gifts for Christmas and Birthday, had four themed swaps a year and a newsletter.It lasted about five years and we all enjoyed it, then members seemed to become ill or have other interests.

Hi Everyone, I had my miniature allotment in Sheffield Fayre on bank holiday and won first prize. I also had a diplay called the Allotment Fair to promote our allotment site. I have neglected my hobby for a few years but this has really got me back into it. I need to make dolls for my next display but I am hopeless. Their arms and legs keep falling off and "husband" has suggested I make a hospital scene instead. Any tips. Also anyone wanting to swap send a PM. I used to be in a postal Dolls House Club and suddenly really miss it.