Galway Advertiser 2003/2003_11_20/GA_2011_E1_034.pdf 

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34 F E A T U R E S

Galway Advertiser

November 20 2003

Behind the garden gate

Jamie
I have been busy writing to Santa this week! I'm so excited now that I have posted the letter off. I asked for a new skateboard, a computer game, a book, and a surprise. Jeannie asked for a new baby doll with a cot and a car seat, and a surprise. Now all we have to do is make sure we are both good between now and Christmas! I'm sure a lot of you will be writing to Santa in the next few weeks, so don't forget that you can also send your Santa letters to the Advertiser if you would like to see them published. All the letters are forwarded to Santa before Christmas as well. So what are you waiting for? Get writing! Bye for now, Jamie.

Joyce

F

or those of you who have never visited the Galway market of a similar such market, you have not lived! The smell of fresh fruit and vegetables wafting down Market Street on a Saturday morning is one scent that you will not forget. Nowadays many people live on processed foods, never knowing the `real' taste of an apple, carrot or an onion. Their tastes, ( that of the fruit and veg I mean ) being masked by a series of additives and their beautiful forms being hidden behind packaging. What a shame! Believe me, the beetroot on your table did not start its life in a jar of vinegar with a branded label. I grow my own vegetables and fruits and generally find that I am quite a welcome visitor at my friends' homes during the growing season, as other callers may arrive bearing gifts of cakes and biscuits while I usually arrive laden with leeks, potatoes, apples, grapes, etc. Mind you, there is method to my madness, as I often find that I am invited to stay over for dinner and am treated to my own fresh produce, cooked in the most tasteful of fashions Now is a very good time to dig over a plot in readiness for a kitchen garden. Add rotted farmyard manure and/or seaweed and allow the winter frosts to break it down. Ridges can be formed and planted in spring once the soil has been prepared thoroughly in advance. Over the autumn and winter months plant fruits of your choice. No greenhouse is necessary for fruits such as apples, pears, plums, currants, strawberries, etc. Contrary to belief, such fruits grow very well in our climate. You will however need a greenhouse or polythene tunnel to successfully grow grapes, kiwi fruits, peaches etc. Who knows, once you've grown the grapes you may progress to making the wine! I would recommend apples such as James Grieve

GARDENING
ANNE McKEON
(eating apple), Charles Ross, (eating apple), Katy, ( eating apple ), and Bramley seedling (cooker) though a much wider choice of good varieties is generally available. These all come in dwarf forms for smaller gardens and larger forms for sites with more space. It is worth noting that apples will not grow in soil where apples have been grown before as they are prone to `apple transplant disease'. Also, with apples, `it takes two to tango'. By this I mean that apples need to be grown in twos or more in order to aid pollination. Suitable self pollinating plums would be Victoria and opal while conference pears should also be considered at 12 feet apart approx. I find blackcurrant wellington XXX and gooseberry carless at four-feet intervals to be very successful in the west of Ireland. Also consider raspberry autumn bliss and strawberry cambridge favourite at 12 inch intervals. Do not be afraid to `grow your own'. You will get immense satisfaction from being able to go outdoors at will and dig up both your dinner and dessert. In fact, if you start growing your own produce this year, by next summer you could have your own stall and could be chanting, `apples, six for 50'. Happy Gardening! Anne.

Jamie's Jokes
Q: What kind of monkey can fly? A: A hot air baboon! Q: Which animal is the most cheerful? A: A happypotamus! Q: How do you count cows? A: With a cowculator! Q: How do you know if an elephant is hiding under your bed? A: Your nose is touching the ceiling!

Laura Reynolds from Renmore won my recent The Galleon Halloween party competition. Here she is enjoying the party at The Galleon on Halloween with her granny, mum, and brother.

Book of the week The Letter Box
Hello Jamie, Are you watching the rugby World Cup 2003? Are you grumpy in the morning? Carl Delaney, Galway. I'm only grumpy in the morning if I'm tired Carl, so I always go to bed early if I have to be up early for school! Dear Jamie, Thank you for printing my first and second letter in the paper. Could I have any book at all for my sisters Clare (6), Naomi (3), and my brother Tiernan (2), but they would especially like a book about Noddy. My teacher has been sick for three days and she might be sick for more days. My mother is going to New York to walk the New York City Marathon. She is going to get me something so there's no need to send me anything. Eleanor Whyte, Scoil Fhursa. My Polar Bear I have a big, white polar bear With eyes that shine so brown, He has a big smile on his face And he never frowns. He sleeps in bed with me at night And keeps me nice and warm, Keeps me from getting a fright, Especially when there's storms. His name is Chilly, He's from the North Pole, He used to help Santa, I hope he'll never be as black as coal. Laura Reynolds (10), Renmore. PS Hi to Chloe, Laura O'B, and Lauren if you're reading this! Hi Jamie, I'm Rachel and I'm in 5th class in Scoil Sailearna in Inverin. I always look for your page in the Advertiser. I would be grateful if I could have Noddy's Special Treat for my brother, and if you could spare one for my sister too. If you can thank you very, very much. Rachel Feeney, Spiddal. Dear Jamie, I would love to win Dazzling Danny because I love dancing. Every morning after my breakfast I dance (any sort) in front of my big mirror. The cover on it looks like the story is good. Please print this in the paper because I would very much like a copy of the book. It is my third time writing to you but I would be my first time I would have won the book. Eleanor Whyte, Knocknacarra. Dear Jamie, Could you please send me a copy of Dazzling Danny. I am 10 years old and I would love to read this book. Peter Higgins, Tuam.

Did you know that the Galway hurling team took part in the first ever All Ireland hurling final in 1888, or that we won the McCarthy cup for the first time in 1923? All About Hurling is full of great facts about hurling and camogie, and includes loads of information on the hurley, the sliothar, all the county teams, Croke Park, and the most famous players and commentators. The book also tells about the history of

hurling and the GAA, and it even contains a page of tips on how to hold a hurley and improve your playing skills. All About Hurling is written by Irene Barker and supported by Cumann na mBunscoil, the group which organises hurling, camogie, football, and athletics in primary schools. If you would like to win a copy, then just write to me at the usual address and ask for it! Good luck everyone!

You can send your pictures, letters, jokes, and photos to Jamie Joyce at The Galway Advertiser, 41/42 Eyre Square, Galway. You can also e-mail him at jamiejoyce@galwayadvertiser.ie

Send your queries to Anne at Garden Gate, Galway Advertiser, Eyre Square, Galway. or via email to gardengate@galwayadvertiser.ie

STORMY STAN THE LIFEBOAT MAN

C O M P E T I T I O N
To be won . . . . 3 Copies of the video

"Hobby

Gardening . . . A Beginner's Guide"
with Anne McKeon and 3 Calendars

"The Gardening Year 2004"
with Anne McKeon
To be in the draw, send your name and address on a postcard to Anne McKeon, "Behind the Garden Gate", Galway Advertiser, Eyre Square. For information on the video and calendar contact Anne on (091) 521186.