Graham’s home once more. He took one look out of the back window and announced that we are going to have to get a gardener/clearance man in to hack the ‘undergrowth’ down to the earth and take all the detritus away.
“You can’t possibly do it,” he said when I offered to have a go. ”And I’m not going to be here through the summer so we’ll just have to pay someone else to fix it.”
Come back ‘orriley men, all is forgiven.
Actually, clearing it isn’t too much of a problem. It’s what to do with the exposed soil that’ll be left over that needs careful thought and planning. For once, grass is not much of an option–the garden is shaded with overhanging trees and there’s no way we’re going to clear them away. We don’t cut down trees.
So, before next Friday, when he disappears to run the bars for a big wedding, I need to back him into a corner and hold him down long enough to work out the options and commit to a plan.
Then, two or three weeks after that, he’ll be off to that bloody holiday camp for the rest of the season. Again.
He’s been allocated a caravan once more for the duration, in a much better location than the last one, so Dolly and I shall be able to spend a couple of shortish breaks back in Somerset. Goodness knows what Dolly will think of it. I promised her we’d done with the darned place when we left last time. Come to that, I promised myself much the same.
Life’s a strange, disconnected drama when you come down to it. Thoreau had one or two one-liners that almost fit the bill. But not quite.
I shall just have to come up with a suitable statement for myself. All snappy and pithy in a full of pith way.
Is there a suitable ground cover for shade there?
I wish there was a local solution for Graham needing to go back into the bartender business.
Back about three summers, Jim had been seriously ill and was at home recovering, for months and months. I tried – but just could not keep up with the outdoor work. I finally hired a young fellow who was just starting out in the landscaping business and he did a wonderful job. Plus – it was easier to tell him what to do and he did it! With some of the ‘bigger’ more established businesses, sometimes they’re waaaay too expensive and they’re very opinionated. (Least they are here, anyway).
Sometimes – some things, are just worth paying for.
And – I just don’t think Graham would be happy working anywhere but where he is, eh?
I’m thinking bluebells, wild grasses, several woodland flowers I can’t call to mind but including anenomes, Bonnie. Graham is thinking posh multi-syllabic plants from gardening shows and books. We shall see…
I’m opening up enquiries into the local bar/club scene, Wayne. But, there is something special about Graham’s holiday camp, and it’s really up to me to reach out and connect with it. We’re not moving away from our house in Wales, that much I’ve been promised.
You’re right there, Kate…
It took us years to finally get around to having some of our trees cut down, but we are delighted with the results — the extra space and the extra sunshine — and we still have lots of trees.
Some not original suggestions are ferns and hostas. Also, I have periwinkle under a cedar and it does well. It’s pretty blue in the spring and dark shiny green all summer. I also tried sweet woodruff, but that gets some kind of mildew in mid summer.
It’s too bad Graham has to leave you alone. How long will it be? I know it’s really difficult to move cats. I have that problem when we go to Alaska. I don’t take her, and I have to get someone to stay here in the house just because of the cat.
I’d sure like to have a “little man” around here to do all the stuff that we can’t seem to get done. I thought all that holiday camp was a thing of the past! Here I was picturing you guys living happily ever after together, all year ’round, in Wales! It’s always something, and I s’pose that what makes your story so irresistable!
So there’s a little cloud on your summer skies, but it seems to be one you can live with…, it’s all white and fluffy!
Is he still keeping his blog going? I humbly admit to mislaying the address…….she says groveling.
Oh he is leaving again? I am sure you will miss him. I like flowers and ferns in the shade myself. I wish I had more shade in my backyard.
Thank you John. And yes, I like the wild yard VS the formal yard from the Nursery. Yes, get a yard man.
Is it a better caravan this time?