Well even a gardener gets a day or so off you know!

I had a cracking couple of weeks last month - two weeks with my sister Dolly in Littlehampton where, I have to admit, I did absolutely nothing in the garden. In fact I didn't do an awful lot other than ferry her and the long-suffering backwards and forwards from shops and fancy stately homes and the like. I enjoyed a couple of bottles of ale now and again - but, to be honest, I've had a long old summer and I wanted a break.

The chaps at Rootgrow do work us hard you know – but I have to say that on my return I was looking forward to getting back into work and gardening mode - and then the lurgy struck! So, I've been on extended leave whilst my old bones and body get back to normal.

In the meantime, I've chucked a few shillings at the local kids to keep my old grass under control - and now that I’m back to fitness, I'm looking forward to a few weeks hard graft to prepare the place for what could be a long old winter.So what's on my list of things to do?

Well, I've been planting my spring bulbs - a nice mix of daffs, crocuses and hyacinths will be dug in this week. I'm also looking for my lad to bring me back some nice tulip bulbs after his little jaunt in Amsterdam this week. God knows, what state the bulbs - or he - will be in, but I'll take my chances! And naturally, I'll be using my staff perk - and putting a healthy dollop of Rootgrow in with them. Now, you watch those beauties grow!!

I've been sharpening the pruners too, to start attacking my roses - cutting back old flowering stems and tying in new shoots to the support. I've sown some sweet pea seeds in pots and these will go in my cold frame for the winter.

There's still plenty of goodies left in my garden too - and I'll be digging up more carrots, spuds and leeks for storage. Mind you, I only store the perfect specimens - my golden rule is to never store any produce showing signs of damage or infection.

The long-suffering has got one of those fancy cookbooks by some foreign bloke - and she now wants a load of herbs - so I've had to promise that I'll grow her some for use next year. So, into the greenhouse goes some Basil, Parsley and Oregano. I've told her she can start by using some of that mint and rosemary that's been around for years without her touching it. You can tell that I'm not a fancy food man can't you?

So that little lot will keep me busy for the next week or so.

Hard life isn't it?

My favourite time of year!

I love May.

Not just because I can actually work my garden with the chance of some sun on my back. And not just because of the pleasure I get from seeing the first of my perennials emerging. Or beacuse my hectic spring-time planting programme is in full swing.

No - it's because if it's May, it must be Chelsea!

I refer not, of course, to the under-achieving team of footballing mercenaries in West London but to the Chelsea Flower Show which I attended with my bosses from Rootgrow - I think they see it as a little perk for me! In fact, I have to be honest, I spend the whole of the February, March and April getting ready for it - and I love it! I suppose it's because I feel at home - people are generally very friendly, very knowledgeable - and they seem to enjoy my company too!

But, do you know, I actually find the Chelsea experience very similar to watching my favourite football team. In much the same way as an old fashioned and rather cumbersome Centre Half can sit and admire the silky skills of the multi-talented footballing superstars of Manchester United or Arsenal, I can, as a self-confessed hard-working, but practical gardener, stand back and admire the fabulous creations presnted to us at Chelsea each year.

And, of course, whilst I could probably never dream of matching those creations - I can, at least dream.

I'll bring you some nice photos that I took - just as soon as the much-beloved gets them back from Boots!