Bloggle me this, garden me that

When I first started writing this blog, I watched the traffic with hawk eyes – and loved to see the view counter go up, up and up. On average, about ten people viewed my blog daily – I say viewed, because I can’t tell whether they just looked at the photos or actually read what I wrote. That number has since dropped, to about two per day. At first that didn’t sit too well with me, but since I’ve actually thought about it, I’m quite happy as things stand. Frankly, this blog is pretty dull – there are no flaring fights, no fiery passion, few strong opinions, nothing which would really hold the interest of a casual reader. And at times I do tend to go on and on about such trivialities, such dull every day stuff – if I stumbled across this blog, I’d probably move on fast, too.

And that’s quite ok with me. By popular standards my life IS pretty dull and void of passion – by my own standard, I prefer to think of it as steady. It wasn’t always like this, I have a hand-written diary full of passion – and none of it pleasant reading. It’s all rigtheous anger and fear, going from one extreme to the next. I was not happy, then. I am happy now. There are still a lot of things I see, even happening to me, which can seriously rile me – but rather than work myself up to some futile gesture to make a point or get my way; I rather expend my efforts and energy to learn to accept the things I cannot change. And rather put my effort and energy into changing the things I can. That way lies Serenity.

No, not the one created by Joss Whedon!

Sure, I use this blog also to vent some frustrations – but I do try not to go too far. And sometimes I think to myself “all this Tra Li La, hippy hoppy happiness would go on my ... nerves, if I had to read it” but well, that’s the part of my life I care to share. I’m not one to hang my dirty laundry all over facebook or any other media – social or otherwise. I may decide to start an anonymous blasting blog, if it gets too much, but that’s really no longer my style.

See? Another three paragraphs filled with blah-di-blah! Ha Ha!

Work was busy as can be, I’m quite exhausted! If you ever wonder how one can be exhausted from a desk job – try juggling a couple of objects in the air for eight hours straight, while someone else swops them with different objects at random intervals throughout the day! The physical movements aren’t tiring in themselves – it’s the high-level mental focus required that drains you! And it is expected that a secretary has ALL dates and figures in her head at all times – something no manager is expected to know, let alone recall as he’s going to the bathroom! That is why I am quite adamant about my lunch-time – I need that time to regroup for the afternoon. I used to ‘show willingness’ by helping even during my lunch time – and paid the price: getting home too pooped to even cook myself a decent meal. So, if people think I’m rude for insisting they come back AFTER lunch? Tough! They won’t cook my dinner, or pack my lunch.

Back home I was quite impressed with our gardener! Remember how the new picket fence I had put up this weekend was loose and rickety? He came up with a brilliant idea: He placed three support-poles strategically – two in front on the ends, one behind in the centre, practically wedging the fencing tightly between them! Absolutely brilliant! Such a simple, yet perfectly effective solution! He did shake his head quite a lot at the request to put that rolled up fence in a curve, around the Nasturtiums – a fence should be straight, not curved! My neighbour was quite insistent, though, so the flowers all fit behind the fence, safe from the garden disservice!

I couldn’t get all that I do out of the garden, without the help from the gardener. Yes, I pay him – but he really does an awfully good job! If his approach to work was anything like the garden disservice – I wouldn’t stand a chance! He was saying how those weeds are getting too big, they bother him – every time he walks past or sees them from next door. He was only appeased when my neighbour told him that I worked seven hours weeding on Saturday and another couple of hours on Sunday, as well. Some may think that is quite a cheek of him, but he’s one of those rare gems who really care for gardens. He takes a lot of pride in his work. I could name a host of business’ who could use his example!

Of course, all the care and hard work from our gardener would be meaningless if it wasn’t for my neighbour! The gardener arrives after I’ve left, and leaves when I arrive back home. I’m not there to discuss with him what I have in mind, nor there to make him lunch and a cup of coffee. And if either he needs to leave early (which is rare) or I’m late leaving work - I wouldn’t be able to pay him! My neighbour is kind enough to do all of that for me! Without her help, I could never have done and gotten as much done, as I have.

The garden really looks lovely now! The gardener went out of his way to cut every last thorn out of that hedge! He got a ladder and achieved a truly herculean task! He tackled the top, cutting out the thorns, trimming back what needs trimming, I think he even went so far as to dig out some of the thorns roots-and-all! There’s still a lot to be done, but we’re getting there!

The cactus also seems to be sprouting new life after I trimmed such an awful lot of it! I was a bit worried, though I had no choice – but there’s loads and loads of little red buds promising to grow into flowers!

There are also plenty of carnations alongside the path, the first one about to flower – any day now! Ah, it is such a joy, so much pleasure!