Gardening in Ireland, our own garden, gardens visited and book reviews
Easter is the time when teachers’ unions hold their annual conferences and reports are dominating the news programmes today and will pop up again all this week. This, and a post on Facebook, brought to mind some reflections from my time as a teacher and one attitude which has remained with me since retirement. It … Continue reading Teacher Are the Worst Pupils!
There is no garden without work! Gardens do not simply happen; they are the result of our interventions, our planning and designs, our labour and maintenance and, though most will take the attitude that doing what you enjoy, what is your pastime and hobby, is not work in the usual sense of the word, it … Continue reading The Sweetness of Doing Nothing!
It has been said that we don’t have a climate in Ireland, only weather, as conditions change so quickly from one day to the next. Yes, a day of sunshine will have us dashing to the seaside, dusting off the barbeques to burn a few sausages and stocking up on beer and ice-cream. The threat … Continue reading Summer was on a Thursday!
I have become tired of myself, of my thoughts, of my words, of trotting out the same old, same old litany on every occasion I open my mouth. I have become a misery-guts. A kindly put question, though let’s face it generally a socially required opening line rather than one put with genuine concern, of … Continue reading All going great. Thanks!
There are simple things which add enormously to the enjoyment of life - to see a wild mink run across the road in front of me the other day, to hear and see four buzzards high in the sky above me and then to have two raucous ravens, obviously discussing some matter of contention between … Continue reading Getting Out and About
Time has been on my hands, an imposed stretch of confinement, but I have done my best to keep myself occupied and life has not been unpleasant. It is now over five weeks since I had a hip replacement operation. A routine has developed, interspersed with regular short periods of walking and set gentle exercises: … Continue reading Passing Time at the Windowsill
These last few days have brought miserable weather, cloudy on the best days and strong winds and heavy rains on others. We have reacted differently, Mary and I; she frustrated by the lack of opportunity to be outside and busy in the garden and I with my mind somewhat consoled that I am prevented from … Continue reading Window Gardening.
