And so, after completing the back garden, I return to the start. This is both the pleasure and pain of gardening.

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.

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 …

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 …

I thoroughly recommend Gardening Leave (of the non-disciplinary, botanical kind) for everyone. Great for the body and soul.

This frame has been a swing, goal posts, and now a makeshift gazebo for our grape vine. The changing face of our garden aligns with each period of our lives. Alhamdulilah.

A decent start and a good day’s work, alhamdulilah. God gives strength to whom He wills. Even when you think you can’t, you can. Ramadan is a time unlike any other for productivity. Strange but true.

Time to start on the other side of the garden. It always gets worse before it gets better. Now I remember why we have a sensible crossover hatchback. Need to get all this to the tip.

I’ve got the garden itch so badly that I find myself gardening in my lunchbreak. But, alas, I must leave the warming sun to return to my desk. A meeting awaits.

I could almost qualify as a karadeniz landholder, having separated all these Hazel limbs this afternoon. They would use them as poles for growing green beans. I’ll have to think about my use-case.

Counterintuitively, I work harder in Ramadan while fasting than at any other time of the year. Even so, I think I’ll call it a day now.

The worst part about gardening is getting rid of all the rubbish, but I’m getting there.

Who knew Cat Stevens was singing about mowing the lawn? It’s true, the first cut is the deepest. As you can see, I’m thoroughly enjoying my gardening leave. Beats sitting at a computer all day long. Maybe it’s best to do what you love as a hobby after all, and leave work in its own …

Start from the front and work backwards.