Counting one’s blessings is always a good thing to do, especially during times like these when there is much to moan and groan about. Just read a very good article by Angela Watercutter with the wonderful title of Doomscrolling in Wired. Warning: this short report contains no gloom, just enjoyable and beneficial activity, together with a bit of history, and praise for those who deserve it most.
Here are a few of my blessings which might be yours too.
1.The garden is growing well this year and we have time to work on it.
2. I have my health which, at my age, 87, is not always what people have.
3. I have a wife who is cheerful, full of good sense, hard working, gifted in many of the artistic fields and encourages me to rest before I collapse.
4. Our son Nicholas loves us and we love him. We have two dogs and a cat that are a joy to be with.
5. We have friends who recommend books. Two recent ones which are both winners to my mind, are The Lost Girls by D.J. Taylor and The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson, the latter is about Churchill and his family and ministers during the Blitz in 1940 and 1941. As a child my family lived near London and we were bombed occasionally but escaped a direct hit and lived.
6. Unlike during World War II in England, there really is no food shortage her in the USA today.
7. The world at the moment is divided into those who wear masks and those who do not, and those who know what six feet looks like and those who do not. I am of the mask wearing and the six feet school. I find that most people are sensible and will respect your mask wearing and distance keeping.
If you encounter a difficult non masker or non distanter, don’t confront them. Being challenged is what many of them love, so they can make a nuisance of themselves. Which they can’t do if you move swiftly out of the way.
8. I like bonfires very much. We have cleared a lot of brush and have been having bonfires in our fire pit. What a pleasure to see the flames spreading and to hear the crackling of the twigs and leaves.
Just to sit there staring into it. Better than any TV show. First you have to get it going, that’s quite an art, and then feeding it with just the right amount of brush to keep it in check so that it burns nicely but does not set fire to the county.
9. Things to look forward to: 1: Tennis. I have been introduced recently to two players both of whom have their own courts. 2: Borage, the beautiful herb with bright star like blue flowers has seeded itself all over the place from last year.
I had also sowed some borage seeds so we have it everywhere we look. It will be Pimm's every weekend from the beginning of July onward. The leaf has a cucumber scent and flavor, a must for Pimm's.The other essential when making Pimm's is to put a lot of gin in it. 3: Seeing people’s fully exposed faces again and taking their picture.
First and last thought: for ever bless, thank, admire, reward, applaud and respect doctors, nurses, and all their medical staff.
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