Sunday 18 October 2020

happy as I am

 I can now, with Percy, walk gently to the bottom of my estate.   It is not easy because it is downhill all the way and Percy does not like downhill - he wants to romp away so I have to try and keep his brake on.   Coming back, uphill all the way, is much easier and quicker.   My walk today was straight after lunch and again I didn't feel like going out.   It is a quiet day weather-wise but when I got out I realised there was a very fine mist of rain in the air.  As I went down my drive L stopped outside.   L collects my medication for me from the Chemist.   I order it on line from the Medical Centre and L collects it for me from the town chemist three days later.   It works well and it is very kind of her.   I am no longer capable of driving into town, walking without Percy - with just my walking stick - climbing the three steps into the chemist and then doing the whole thing in reverse back to the car.  Percy has a good shopping box incorporated in his make up so I didn't have to go back inside to leave the drugs.

I suppose our walk daily is now about three quarters of a mile.   As the estate goes down towards the bottom on the whole the houses get bigger and more spacious, but they have smaller gardens and usually garages for one car.   Most houses seem to have two, or even three, cars which means that the drive and often the kerbside outside has a car parked most of the time.   This also makes the road quite narrow.  I must say I much prefer where I live at the top end - there is a closed-down feeling at the bottom end - a feeling I don't care for.  I always feel my spirits lift as I climb back up to the top.

I also have what is possibly the largest space of garden on the estate.   Many folk would not like this but I love it, especially now that I| have got half of it done with gravel and less labour-intensive.  One more small piece to go and two old trees waiting for my gardener to saw them down and I have finished.   It will be really good to stand and look out on a completely finished    - easy to care for - garden.   As I passed many front gardens today on my walk it is easy to see who loves gardening and who finds it a chore - I am sure it is the same wherever you live too.

15 comments:

angryparsnip said...

I would not like the bigger houses with smaller gardens either. You seemed to find the right home and garden plus I think you have said it is next to the open space behind your garden. Very nice.

Debby said...

I am curious about the term 'estate'. It sounds as if it might be what is referred to as a development here, which is: someone buys up a large parcel of land, and divides it into lots. The lots are put up for sale, and the buyer chooses the style of house that they would like, and the house is built (by the person who owns the parcel of land). Is that how it is there?

In any case, it is a wonderful gift to have neighbors who look out for you. You seem to have a spirit which draws out the best in those around you.

Bovey Belle said...

I am glad you have just the garden you wanted - I couldn't bare one too small either. The garden where we are moving is just right, and the "feral" bit which is fenced off, is perfect for planting an orchard. I am looking forward to seeing what blooms next year, but will add roses, as I don't think there are any.

3/4 of a mile, and some uphill too, is very good considering you aren't as mobile as you used to be. Percy is certainly earning his keep.

The Feminine Energy said...

It's sounds like you have life very well arranged as you like it and as you need it to be. Good for you! And I agree with Bovey above.. 3/4 of a mile is a VERY good stretch, especially with some uphill. Will you please allow me to say tho... please be careful walking downhill when the ground is wet or damp. Slips happen that way. Carry on... Andrea xoxo

Bonnie said...

You are getting some excellent exercise in your daily walks, especially going uphill! I'm so glad for you that you are happy with your end of the street and your home and garden. We live in a small house that was almost two small when my boys were still at home but now it is just right for the two of us. You have such kind friends and neighbors that help you out as they do. I love to hear about good people like that. Enjoy your Sunday!

Granny Sue said...

You are doing so well. 3/4 mile and half of it uphill is no small feat.

Where I live everyone owns at least several acres, and most have 40 or more acres. But few actually garden, even though they have the space. It always surprises me to see country homes with no flowers, and/or no vegetable garden. But that is more and more the norm. At least this year many people planted "Covid" gardens, many of them for the first time, or for the first time in many years. It's a good thing, I think.

You are blessed with good neighbors and friends.

Heather said...

That is good exercise for you, walking downhill and then up again. It works different muscles in the legs and having Percy helps keep you from shuffling. I hope the weather continues to stay dry(ish) so that you can do it most days.
Your part of the estate sounds much nicer than the lower section.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Debby - an estate here can mean one of two things - either a large area of land with a very large house surrounded by park land - or an estate like the one I live on where a local builder has got planning permission to build a number of houses/bungalows of different sizes which people then purchase. I am lucky that the estate I live on the houses and bungalows are so varied that there are rarely two the same - it makes it like a small village.

Joanne Noragon said...

My road is more narrow than any other and the cars make it feel closed in, like you noted. I don't like this aspect of my street. On the other hand, it is extremely quiet here.

Red said...

Keep on stretching the walking distance. We have to keep on moving

thelma said...

It is lovely to see you so settled, happy with garden and home and plenty of friends round to help. That is what I call good news.

Jan said...

Three quarters of a mile is a long way! I can't manage so far these days. However it sounds as if your world is becoming so much smaller if you can't go to the chemist or other places. You've said you can't get Percy into your car so have you considered getting a lighter weight/folding and more manageable version of him to keep in the car? If the reason for you not going is because of Percy it would make good sense as it obviously isn't the distance you have to walk. It's a shame to have your world so restricted especially in the current situation.

Librarian said...

You are doing so well with your walks, Pat! Good job Percy is obedient on the downhill bits when you apply the brake.
The amount of cars per household is creating problems wherever I look. My area, close to town center but quiet like a suburb, had only a few rather grand houses until it was built up more densely in the 1920s and 30s, and then again in the 1950s, the latter especially to accomodate the many refugees that had arrived during and immediately after WWII. Back then, very few people owned cars, especially not the ones moving into the blocks of flats newly constructed. Therefore, almost no parking space went into the planning of the streets and houses, and now they all park half way up the pavement, making it almost impossible to walk there when one has a walker like Percy, a pram, or is in a wheel chair.

jinxxxygirl said...

Where i live the deer pretty much keep gardening under control... Anyone who dares to garden must make their garden bed like Ft Knox... So i don't even try.. I do plant a few things i KNOW the deer will leave alone... Daffodils are one thing i splurge on.. So glad to hear your walking is getting better dear Pat.. And i hear you about living on top.. I think i'd always rather live on top of something instead of at the bottom... Hugs! deb

The Weaver of Grass said...

Jan - a good point I shall look into that - I only have a small Corsa car but definitely worth investigating

Thanks you dear folks - you make my day every day!