So, the preparation begins. I decided that the first thing I needed were some proper grown-up tools, so went to Homebase on the way home and bought:

• Big spade
• Big fork
• Trowel
• Small fork
• Green string, labels, anti-poke-your-eye-out things for canes kit
• Canes
• A blueberry bush
• Strawberry plants
• Propagator trays
• Big bag of compost that I can't really lift

All I've really done today is dig over the patch (with the big fork) and poke at it in an attempt to assess the soil. Results: soil is full of worms, ivy roots and pebbles from the beach. I assume that the worms are a good thing (something about aerating the soil??), the ivy roots I keep yanking out and the pebbles are just plain irritating. I should probably sift them all out but not sure if I'd have the patience.

I've also attached some green string to the garage side and made a cat's-cradle type thing, where I'm hopefully going to grow some sweet peas, which I love. Once I've finished typing away I'm going to sow some of the sweet pea seeds in a propagator and put them on the kitchen windowsill to get growing. The other seeds I've got are: sweet william (not a vegetable either, I know, but I love those too), leeks, lettuce, beetroot, spring onions and carrots; so I'll have to read the instructions for whether to put them out or in the kitchen first. I've also got peppers, chives and a mint in pots, which will probably stay there as Carol Upstairs says that mint tries to Take Over The World if you let it out of its pot. The strawberry plants I'm not sure about yet, I just like strawberries so a bit of an impulse buy. I might have to get one of those things that's a bit like a chimney with holes in?

I'll try and take some pictures of the patch to properly chart progress! But for now, seeds to pot.