Overall it’s been fair to middling. There have been a few firsts, primarily camping and festivalling in the same weekend. I agreed to join in, pay a eye-watering contribution to stay at Alex James’ farm because we are ladies that glamp! on the basis that Britpop had passed me by (I was at the ‘wheels on the bus’ stage) and I still needed to get out more.

Remember all summer had been dry and glorious, then the forecast for August bank holiday was for rain and cold – not great for someone sleeping under canvas for the first time. Suffice to say, we packed far too many warm clothes that weren’t needed. I reconnected with the music, supported by cocktails, a funfair and cookery demonstrations and tastings. Everyone agreed it was my thing after all.

I’ve gone back to education, albeit part time via an apprenticeship. I’ll have an MBA just in time to retire.

The garden and allotment survived the heat and dry. There were regular harvests. There was a total broad bean failure. I’ve sowed Sutton variety in the greenhouse and plan to grow them in the polytunnel. I may do the same with peas as insurance against another greenfly plague.

The proposed flower field started with great promise but was thwarted by the lack of rain and the self sown ash trees that left the site in shade for most of the day. There’s been some winter pruning. The dahlias have been lifted and stored and I’m building new compost bins at the back of this area and will add more raised beds in line with the purple ones in the shot. The space vacated by the current compost area will be the new flower zone.

The named apple varieties I planted in the garden three years ago turned out not to be Pitmaston Pineapple but I suspect Bramley. After much huffing, I made apple sauce. A stern email was sent to the supplier, Chris Bowers who chose not to reply.

My local garden centre has an annual 50% stock clearance sale, there were a number of magnolias looking surprised they had survived the summer. I decided one would be perfect for the vacant planter in the front garden. There are spring bulbs that will hopefully appear in Spring.

The rhythm of growing has been pretty much the same; it’s the human plans that didn’t always work out.

I’ll be sowing onion and tomato seeds in the propagator in February. I’m planting fewer tomatoes in the polytunnel (she says again) and I plan to purchase a new seating area for the pergola, so I have somewhere shady where I can fully recline on a hot weekday afternoon aka escape the office!

So modest plans for 2026 but still planning to say yes to more than I decline – as long as it’s not on a Friday or clashes with assignment deadlines…

What are you planning for 2026?

Happy New Year to all of you xx