I read the book Allotted Time too. It was alright I guess. Me and my hubbie always joke about the 'friends' that turn up (especially on tv) to help people out, work all day then everyone has a party afterwards and eat lots of food and beer. I was in hospital for 3 weeks around the time everything in allotment had to be planted. All the promises that people gave us before I went in never materialised and in the end Ian and his mum with her bad back did it all , including planting 4 30 foot rows of spuds. Where do people find these mates?