I need to write a happy, upbeat blog. Over the last few weeks life hasn’t been all that great but it could have been a lot worse! I need to count my blessings, be grateful for everything I have and build a positive attitude about the future!
This is easier said than done. I come from parents who were often stressed and quite serious! They did have a sense of humour so not complete doom and gloom, but there was little spontaneity and a lot more of a measured and organised lifestyle. I know that I am old enough to make my own decisions and the time has definitely come to stop apportioning blame, but old habits die hard! I am a product of my upbringing and unfortunately have perpetuated the stressed, worried gene!
I am sitting in my conservatory with the sun beating down. The garden still hasn’t quite lost its sparkle although beginning to fade. A neighbour is mowing his lawn and will carry on for at least another hour! It always amazes me how long it takes him to mow. He must go over the same little patch again and again, just in case he has missed one blade of grass!
Now that is the pessimistic side of me! If I had been more upbeat my paragraph would have been different. I’ll try again, changing my attitude and see what happens.
I am sitting in the conservatory with the sun beating down. The garden is still looking good. A few butterflies are tasting the delights of the flowers on the budlia tree and the smell of freshly mown grass is wafting through the open windows. My bird feeder is alive with blue tits, long tailed tits and a nuthatch has just joined the party, pecking away at the peanuts.
The neighbour is still mowing his lawn!
The phone rings in the kitchen. Our main telephone line is seldom used by anyone other than nuisance callers. My husband, who always answers, is outside so I’m ignoring it. We have an answer phone if it’s urgent. I can also dial 1471 which gives the last number called.
So, I am really trying to be upbeat and positive! I’m sitting staring at my iPad. Blank. This is awful. I look out of the window. I have four hanging baskets, all filled with begonias. For umpteen years I have had them planted in three colours, red, orange and yellow. There is a cluster of what can only be described as salmon pink begonia flowers peering out between the yellows and reds. I’m feeling annoyed and look away.
When I collected my baskets from the nursery in June I had also ordered red, orange and yellow begonias to plant in tubs within the garden. That was when I noticed five trays of this strange salmon pink. ‘I don’t want those,’ I told the owner waiting to take my credit card to settle the bill. You know that I only want red, orange and yellow!
‘I know, she says in a patronising tone, ‘but they have introduced a new colour. It is really pretty so thought you might like a few plants to try.’
‘No’, I immediately retort. ‘I don’t like pink. I hope you haven’t planted them in my hanging baskets!’
A silence ensued. A young lad walked past carrying two very full baskets containing begonias.
‘Are those mine?’ I ask.
‘ Yes,’ came her prompt reply. ‘I’ve only put one of the beautiful pink plants in each of the baskets so you’ll hardly notice them’.
But notice them I certainly do! I tried to ensure that the pink plant was at the back, next to the wall. Unfortunately this must be a particularly robust strain and they have, over the last couple of months, become the predominant colour. But there are no pinks in my garden tubs! I changed them for reds!
So, I’m looking at a large bunch of salmon pink begonias with a small yellow flower trying to make an appearance in the front of the basket. Our maniac neighbour still hasn’t stopped mowing and is now right outside my window! Try as I might I can’t find any humour in the current situation. Our land line rings again. If I answer and it’s a nuisance caller I’ll probably explode!
So, best I try not to be too positive today. Maybe I’ll try again later! Or maybe I’ll go for a walk. By the time I get back every blade of grass will have been cut to within an inch of its life! I won’t look at my hanging baskets overrun by those awful pink flowers and the nuisance callers will have all gone home!
I get my trainers from the porch. I shout out to my husband, who is putting the umpteenth layer of varnish on the floor of our ‘teak house’ in the garden and leave the house. ‘Anyway’, I tell myself, no one’s perfect! I’ll try again tomorrow …..👠
Jenny Burrell 