Life as a trainee gardener is suiting me very well. Often rain-soaked, nails gone to pot, sudden outbreaks of ivy rash, concrete dust and woodchips inside my bra - what the heck, I love it! I'm happy as anything.
Last week I dismantled fourteen sturdy fence panels on my own with a mallet and carried the whole lot out to a skip. It took a little time to get the hang of demolition, but soon the mallet and I were inseparable partners. Every whack a winner. After a while I heard the head gardener chuckling - Die! Die! behind me. I grinned back. Next day he asked after my shoulders. Having a little trouble going forwards actually I said, still where's that mallet?
The owner of the house came out while I was dancing in the skip, compressing the panels. Why are you doing this? he said. He wasn't talking about the dance thing - because I like it, because I can, I said. What I can't do is stay at home thinking about the shopping and the school run anymore. And I don't want to be another colleague locked behind a desk behaving well. I want to be outside, working hard and seeing results. I want every day to be a little bit different...
I could have gone on about the smell of the soil, the damp grass, the quietness, the green shoots, the birdsong, the hum of the world; but that would have made me sound utterly crazy. And it was risky enough to be declaiming like this from inside a skip... But here's the beauty of it, I have nothing to prove, no need to defend myself. I'm just happy being me, doing what I do.
Also
Following a strange exchange with another blogger, Mr Pineapples, comment moderation is on for the time being. It's a shame. Although everyone has a right to express an opinion, I'm not up for abuse. I may be Nice but I'm not Stupid... This is my place. Enough said -
Happy Spring!
39 comments:
I'm so happy for you. It's good to have a job that you truly enjoy & to be at peace with yourself.
If I were younger & physically stronger, I'd love to be doing that too! Good luck to you.
Yes, thanks for that Maggie :)
The pure joy of your approach shines thru that post!
You're very kind David, I'm still in the other post having trouble with Mr Pineapples - comical really, but nice to see you here anyway..
Hello Merry,
I, like you am out to find a job. I have found one but I was not as fortunate as you. I work in a dirty kitchen. I do have an interview with the State Fairgrounds grounds keeper. He is looking to hire, but only working up until Sept/Oct. So I am not sure it's in my best interest. But my hope is that he is looking for year round help. Congratulation on a cool job. Oh, I found your blog from blog hopping, from Maggie May I believe. A shout out to you Maggie May.
You can moderate my comments any time. You know, you make horticulture sound absolutely fantastic. I'm just at that "what shall I do next?" stage, and I'm wondering... But is there any cash in it? And if you're flabby and extra-tyre-ridden, does it matter?
How lovely to be working outdoors. The weather here is glorious and I'm sat at my computer!
With regards to Mr P, he tried it on with me too and ended up making a complete fool of himself. Whoever he is, there is no room for people like that on anyone's blog. It is a shame that we have to moderate comments. I thought about doing it also, but I refuse to let a prick like that spoil my blog.
CJ xx
i'm tickled that you found work you love so much. and you make it sound very attractive. you make me think i would like it, too. (even though i know i probably would not.)
well done. on many counts!
and let's send a giant raspberry toward mr. pineapple, whoever he may be.
Hi Mignon, thanks for hopping in - you're welcome. Kitchen work is hot and repetitive I guess - good luck with the grounds thing, sounds like maybe you really want that? It's difficult enough getting a decent job, let alone the right one - fingers crossed for you.
Iota - There's more cash in the heavy work than in a garden centre say... That's not flab, it's stored mid-life energy reserves; brought on by parenthood and provides an outer manifestation of inner mature responsibilty... Helpful? ;-)
Thanks for telling me that Crystal, so he's a serial nuisance is he, I see. How pathetic. No, he's not going to get in my way either. xx
Laurie - absolutely - fruit salad, yummy yummy. That's The Wiggles, kids entertainers, see I do need to get out more!
You sound much happier now Merry - and I'm so glad to hear that! It's amazing that Mother Nature has always known what's best for us - isn't it?
I think she's won through Aims, Father Time has gone for a rest... typical midlife stuff!
What a pleasure it is to read such a very happy and positive post!
So much doom and gloom (and sheer ghastliness - viz, your more loathsome correspondent!) about - it's a treat to read someone who writes only when she has something joyful she wants to celebrate and share.
And I'm simply delighted for you that the change of direction is turning out to be such a very good one!
Purpose, opportunity, sunshine - new things to learn and people to have a giggle with...
I still have to find a job at the end, but step by step I'll get there Bea. Thank you for noticing the difference!
Still awaiting your return :)
Good for you...moderation bit...and I'm with you, I am working in that yard from about 6 am till I can barely stand sometimes! I love it...and I'm glad you have a job that you love!
Congrats on the mention from David, he sent me over you know!
Sandi
Don't throw in the towel, er, trowel!!
Hello Merry. Found you through David's blog. Now I need to find out what a "skip" is. I suspect some form of cart or wagon?
As for comment control, I have used it many times to stop blatant attempts by businesses to allow them to sneakily advertise in my comments section. It's so easy to use. Be sure to thank Google. On second thought don't bother to try. I'm not sure anyone at Google ever reads anything we say.
Hi Sandi, I can only dream of four acres of garden - Thanks for reading it!
It's in my back pocket David, along with half a cheese sandwich and a little stamina :)
Hello Catmoves :) Thanks for visiting, I'll come and see you too. You're on the right lines,a skip is a huge rubbish container that's delivered and collected by truck.
(Google is a new-fangled God isn't it - omnipresent and hard to communicate with!)
What a very nice, chatty comments page (or call it a forum() this is turning out to be!
Sounds as though you've really found your niche. Glad you're enjoying the outside life. Wish I had done something like that instead of being stuck behind a desk all my working life. Hey Ho! Flick x
Hi Merry Weather, It sounds like you are really enjoying the great outdoors. I could never go back to an office job or spending 8 hours a day travelling in my car after becoming so "outdoorsie". I left a comment the other day for you to thank you for visiting me, but I can't find it. Either bloggers been playing up or I've been pineappled. Bonne Printemps. Debs x
Yes, nice chatty visitors Bea. The pineapple incident seems to have revitalised me - not such a bad thing after all!
Hello Flick - ho hum, still at least you're free to scamper about here on the internet. Nice to see you again.
Hello Debs, I like your style! No, I didn't get the other comment - how annoying! And I did have funny things happening on Blogger recently, I don't know if this happened to you too? The worst was little stars came up under each post for readers to click, ranging between "I hated this" and "I loved this" - I mean, do I not have enough problems already without being hate-starred I thought. Eek! It took ages to get rid of them, but that was mainly due to my technical incompetence!
Merry, I have felt for a long time that google programmers get ideas, then wonder how they will work and try them out on the bloggers willy nilly. They watch and if the idea only needs fine tuning they work on that. When they're ready to release them, they are announced as "new to Blogspot". If they fail, they are done away with or put on hold waiting for a different programmer to fix them in the future. (I've had a number of strange things happen and then just magically go away.) Sigh.
Ah, I thought it was just me Catmoves! See, it needs someone like you with clear thinking to puzzle it out. Thanks :)
Yes, Merry weather. I wonder if I'm not paranoid? giggle.
Isn't it because they're invisible powers Cat, that you cannot access directly, anywhere. Grr! That's not paranoia on your part, it's intelligent exasperation!
I am never really sure whether I enjoy gardening, or just the results of it. Gardens are wonderful to look at, of course, but the thing I really love the most is the wonderful smell, as soon as you open the back door. Our lilac is in full bloom, at the moment, and the perfume, in the evening, is fantastic. I'm glad that you are enjoying your job!
You and I have a lot in common...digging in dirt, planting and loving what comes up...have so much fun!
Sandi
Mean Mom - It's interesting you say that, because your garden looks gorgeous, judging by your blog photos. You must put in a lot of work on it... I have purple lilac blooming here - it's a joy for both colour and fragrance.
Sandi - You're so right!
Woman you are an inspiration. You make gardening - flippin hard backbreaking work - sound romantic and exciting. I am so with you on the not sitting in an office driving a desk - life's too short to be a drone when you can take charge of your life and health out in the open. Keep up the good work and can't wait to read more about your daily endeavours.
Don't mind the word verification on commenting - I had to do it for a few months after some 'life coach' nutter got onto my blog and said that the menopause was just a state of mind and that all you needed was positive thinking. Flippin nutter had a rant on my blog! I didn't know how to delete comments at that time but I do now!
Hi MOB - Cheers! My knees are creaky but I'm also getting stronger :)
Life coach on your blog? Good Lord, she was misguided! You're the last person who'd need one of those for heaven's sake.
Okay, get out of the yard and on the computer....need a new post here!
Sandi
That was a lovely blog. its great to be outdoors and to be "getting on with things" does give one a sense of empowerment! I gave up the girlie nails and the clean clothes for a life of horses, but the good side is that when i go out nobod recognises me as im clean and tidy and makes me feel jolly good! hope you keep enjoying your work.
merlins wizard
x
Sorry to leave another comment!! but i have just looked at the mr pineapples comments- how ignorant! i have had the pleasure of him and his smart mouth on my page, i have to say he is not very constructive.
take care and keep writing your "mudane blogs" i think they are great!
merlins wizard x
Right away Sandi! I know how John Wayne feels now! Only joking :)
Hey good for you Merlin's Wizard - we down-to-earth girls should stick together. Glad that idiot didn't put you off, especially as you've only just started! Coming to see you soon x
Good heavens above - I've not been over here for a few couple of weeks but when I do I find you've become the blogger's version of Rachel de Thame. And holding a soiree no less... ;-)
I'm glad - it sounds as if you've found a very interesting niche for yourself. I can smell that earth..
P.S It's me again - just laughing over your comment 'nails gone to pot'. I'm trying to resurrect mine after 10 years of gardeners neglect. I've spent the last few weeks trying to repair damaged cuticles and grow my nails - the manicure set told me 'don't use nails as tools'!! I now put on gloves and use a trowel. But I can't feel the roots half as well as digging down with my bare fingers!
I was ashamed of my non existent nails and earthy cuticles when I took up Bridge lessons 8-(.
Bridge is very interesting but I've yet to meet Omar!! ;-) x
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