IT WORKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No mention of the 'R' word and we had a whole31mm in one go giving a total for the week of 35mm. Still mild on the whole with a low of 5C on Friday and a high of 22 on Tuesday. The **** has meant that I have been able to make good progress with the digging but even so the ground is dry a spit down that is where the soil has not been disturbed for donkeys years.

I have lifted the first parsnip today 18 ins long and straight and very delicious it was too.

I am off to the UK for three weeks and I hope that Compost King will keep a record of the weather for me to post when I get back.

Good Gardening everyone.