Purse strings.

What is a point of working full time? To get over the busy weekend, I think.
Having spent the entire day in the garden yesterday I have succumbed to few battle scars, a bit more sun damage to the old body, something flying into my ear (which I'm sure is still there!) and another hit to the purse strings. Actually I feel rather guilty at my extravagance. Granted, I do try to find the bargains and do hold on and on thinking I'm going to be sensible but every so often I have a splurge and go plant shopping; I think I've spent around £100 in the past week on them. I don't do it that often but I dread to think what I've spent this year alone on this garden. I could give you all the excuses about it being a brand new garden and needing some basics in to get it started but what's the point? Basically I love to see a beautiful garden and I enjoy getting out there and getting my hands dirty. What's so wrong with that?
Nothing really but a month or so ago our address was randomly picked to take part in a government research programme on poverty. One of the questions asked was, "Do you have more than one pair of all weather shoes?" I was shocked by this. That some families can only afford one pair of shoes each was something I never considered; having numerous unworn shoes myself (I thought all girls were the same) in my wardrobe. And there I was yesterday, nipping out just before the garden centre closed, to get a few fillers for my latest border planting. I'm ashamed to say I have no idea what it cost to get those last few plants. Somewhere in the region of twenty pounds but I am just guessing. It's a bit of a wake up call as to how some people live and how lucky I am that, despite economic pressures, I can still go out and buy plants. I'm a lucky girl.