If it ain't broke... just paint it! (AGGIL 16)

It's not exactly the colour of the shed that we want, though it is the colour of the shed that will do for now.

As you may remember, we've inherited this shed on our new plot; the plot next to our first plot at the allotments.  We've been growing on a second plot further down, about 100m away, though moving to this rather untidy plot will save time in the long run with watering and in numerous other ways.  

This plot wasn't going to come with a shed, as the then incumbent of the tenancy was going to dismantle it and move it to a new plot that he has moved to.  Then, after a number of delays and setbacks in us taking over the tenancy, the previous tenant suggested he leave the shed in-situ; a suggestion that was gladly agreed to!  To be honest that was a great relief as I'm not sure we'd have got around to getting a shed this side of the busy spring sowing season.

So, as you may have seen in our November plot tour (which came right at the end of the month!) the shed is in pretty good nick.  It's dry inside, especially given we've had lots of rain recently, though the outside did look a bit worn and forlorn.  It's certainly had a lot of wear and tear over the years from the ravages of the great British weather.

Another of the useful items left by the previous tenant was half a large pot of green shed paint.  On opening it it was all good to use, so on Friday I set to, halfway through the afternoon as the sun was going down and the temperature was dropping!  Now, painting is not something that Richard normally allows me to do.  I'm more of a 'splosh it on' type of person and not one that gets the edges straight and creates no visible brushmarks.  However, on this occasion, with winter really beginning to set in now and our nights touching 0°, it was best to get some paint on the shed to protect the wood over winter than just leave it for another for 5 months.  And before anyone says it, I know this isn't the perfect weather to paint a shed, though it was the perfect time to paint it so paint it I did!

Richard hasn't seen it yet, and I know he's looking for a much lighter sage green than this rather murky green, so this will do as an undercoat until Richard can sort out all the design styles and features of this (his?) new shed.

He did suggest in the November tour video that maybe we could raise the roof... I thought he meant opening a bottle of champagne which I thought a terrific idea... then I realised he did actually mean raising the roof of the shed, as he couldn't stand up straight!  Now, I'm not a great one for hammers and nails either, so in my head raising a shed roof is akin to the challenges of raising the Titanic!
​
However, as in all things, time will tell...

A Guernsey Gardener in London, Day 16