Wednesday 29th July 2026 - Sold Prior to Auction, Summer Fair, Allotments, Soft Fruit and Rubbish Gripe AGAIN!

What a joy it is to once again be sitting in the shade at the end of our garden, while I compose today’s blog on my laptop.  I had expected to be monitoring the Auction House’s property auction this morning to see whether the camping field (off Beach Close) sold and if so what was the final bid.  However, I noticed on Monday, Right Move have marked it, sold prior to auction.  No doubt, the Beeston Regis Group will be relieved to no longer own the site which, over the years, can hardly have earnt them much in the way of revenue.

Rain showers were forecast for Sunday but these did not materialise which must have been a relief for, Overstrand Together, the organisers of the summer fair.  We had a walk around in the early afternoon but I didn’t take any photos as I am aware not everyone wants pictures of themselves available for all to see (remember that Cold Play concert!), especially those that contain children.  Since then, a general email has been circulated with the amounts raised on the Tombola (£990) and the Cake Stall (£850).  These are very impressive amounts; the final figures are to follow, at a later date.

Still no sign of rain.  We totally sympathise with those who have planted and tended their allotments.  For them, the lack of any substantial rainfall is a real problem.  As much as I advocate ‘growing your own’, currently, it must be soul destroying not to have access to a water supply on the allotment field.  Particularly galling since there is water off the track, leading up to the allotments.  Given the Parish Council advocate biodiversity then maybe they should be investing in providing a water supply for allotment holders, instead of letting council tax payers’ money go up in smoke (more about this in my next blog).  Given the continued lack of rainfall, and therefore, the need to water crops daily must mean transporting a heck of a lot of water to ensure some sort of yield.

We are watering our garden sparingly, using watering cans and topping up the pond with the last remaining dregs in one of our water butts.  I keep hearing, that we need to change our garden planting to allow for hot summers and what it termed as, climate change.  I’m not sure I agree with this, one hundred percent.  I can remember writing blogs when the weather was so dire, I termed it as, the summer that never was, as well as recording, following rain and high winds seeing tents flattened on the camping field.  Not climate related; I will be making a change to the area where our soft fruit bushes are growing.  We’ve never had good yields from the two blueberry bushes and the blackcurrant has not produced many berries for a couple of years.  My plan is to take out these three and replace with two blackcurrants and an additional gooseberry.  The best time to do this will be in the late autumn: by then the ground should be damp.  In the meantime, I’ve been looking into which are the best varieties for our soil and location.  Nearer the time I’ll contact Josh at JD Planting to see if he will be stocking the bushes I want.

The village has been much quieter this summer but yesterday the car park was rammed.  Despite this, looking down from the cliff top, the beach was far from crowded.  I don’t know what goes on with the District Council, along with Serco who they’ve contracted for waste collection.  Some bins get emptied and others nearby don’t.  Once again, I’ve reported to Fix My Street, overflowing bins and rubbish stacked to one side.  It really cheeses me off, how the Council advocate the need for tourism and yet they can’t do a simple thing and ensure rubbish is collected, or put in extra bins during high season to cope with the additional litter.  On the other hand, why can’t tourists take their rubbish home with them (on the basis of you brought it with you so why don’t you take on the responsibility of disposing of it) instead of dumping it down at the side of the bins.

Regular blog readers know; I do like buying plants, especially bargains at the village’s weekly car boot sales.  Last year I purchased, late season, a low growing scabious (Scabiosa Incisa Kudo Pink).  I am impressed with the way it keeps producing flowers, it has to be the most successful flowering plant in our garden, so far, this year.  Today’s photo is one of its many blooms providing colour and interest in a border.