Let me introduce myself.

I have a hammock in my garden.

It's a handsome thing; solid wooden frame and a cream canvas sling secured each end with with great links of chain. Does that sound pompous? I saved up for it, dreamt about it, longed for it. And finally, I got it.
The first summer I had it I used it on every day off work. I lounged, swung, read, even slept in it. Me and my hammock; it was a love thing!
And then we moved house (and garden).

Since then it's languished on the lawn, comprehensively ignored whilst still adored from afar by me. Is it the weather keeping us apart you may ask? Nope. The trouble is I have a new garden and she is a demanding mistress.



I suppose I could just be content with a lawn and the view of the old oak in the field beyond. When we worked so hard in the last garden only to sell it and leave it behind I promised myself I wouldn't be such a slave to the next one and wouldn't put all my spare wages (after the numerous bills) into it. So, what am I doing, four months down the line and already 400 quid the poorer, starting another garden?

What can I say? For those of you who already garden you'll know it's a forgone conclusion. A done deal. I didn't have a chance.
For those who don't garden; run now before it's contagious.

And yet, I love it; love the feel of the sun on my back as I dig, love the satisfaction of a good day's work when I'm gingerly sinking into a hot, soothing bath, love the admiring comments when friends visit, love how I surprise myself most times by knowing what the plant is called. I love nearly everything about gardening and so just wanted to intrude into your lives a little to share my enthusiasm. I hope you will come along with me for the ride. It won't be a roller coaster although there'll be deaths ( some plants just don't want to survive), new life (some do), laughter (we share the garden with three bantam chickens who come along behind me and scratch up the seedlings I've carefully planted), tears (when the first plant up in my carefully planned black and white border was a dusky rose foxglove), mistakes (as with life, it doesn't always turn out as you've planned) and successes (the reward you get when those little heads emerge after a long wet winter and turn into the most spectacular of beauties).

So, for now, my long-wanted hammock is going to be an ornament; something for friends to laze on when they visit. And that's just fine with me.

I hope you enjoy our journey.....,