“Where do you see yourself in five years?” Honestly? Not still sitting at a computer, pressing buttons all day. Though I suppose I’ll have to keep at it until the kids have graduated and settled. But ideally? I’d like to find a way to combine tourism, hospitality, and living off the land. Having been on …
And so, after completing the back garden, I return to the start. This is both the pleasure and pain of gardening.
How considerate. That’s never happened before. “Is there someone less senior you’d like me to contact,” asked a nice lady in another team, “for my trifling issues in future?” I thought for a moment. Well, all of my colleagues should be able to assist. But then I reconsidered. Our reality: ours is a team that …
It’s a shame I fell ill before finishing the garden. I was so close, but now I barely have the energy to do a thing. Instead, the brambles, ivy, bindweed, and dandelion are on the march, undoing my hard work. What a shame.
Oh dear, my pragmatism is throwing me into conflict with the exactitude of my colleagues. As it happens, I’m all for that precision. But only in relation to the important things. Indeed, I’m usually the one demanding everyone do things properly in that sphere. But being pragmatic for the wider good, in order to keep …
Generally, I don’t work very hard at work. Sometimes I do, naturally. If I have a deadline, or feel particularly engaged by a project. But, by and large, I am often distracted. To such an extent that I honestly feel undeserving of my salary. Those around me, though, don’t see it that way. They have …
This weekend, the YouTube algorithm chose to serve me a video of two sibling influencers cruising through New York in an open-top Maybach, puffing on cigars while waxing lyrical about their incredible success. Well, trying to anyway, for this is the impression it left me: if you’re going to film yourself in those circumstances, you …
I should know the limitations of my body by now. But no. In an effort to prove I am not weak, I completely over did it. Sure, the garden looks lovely now, my month of manual labour rewarded. But I’ve now been ill with fever for two weeks since the day I pushed myself too …
My body says, no, I can’t do this today. I feel nauseous, my legs weak. But my mind replies: don’t be lazy. There’s still way too much to do. So, here I am gardening when I’d rather not, my fatigued body protesting hard. Just a little longer, I tell it, as I dig over the …
After working on a project for months, I suddenly come to a halt, reminding myself: “You don’t actually have to produce anything.” And this I justify this way: And, in any case, now my garden calls. A far better creative enterprise. There, a better sense of satisfaction as it comes into bloom, a delight to …
For people who live in a flat without a garden, an allotment is a wonderful thing. It was for us. In those early days of marriage, we lived in a tiny flat in the roof of an old Ealing townhouse that had been converted into multiple flats. I won’t call them apartments, as that would …
A garden is like the heart. Easily neglected. And it then takes a mammoth effort to tame it again. Only possible with persistent vigilance and determined work.
