Blooming All Over

Yesterday afternoon I decided to go to the garden centre to spend some vouchers which have been burning a hole in my pocket since Christmas.

I have a love-hate relationship with gardening. At times I am notoriously lazy and avoid the tough, heavy and tedious gardening jobs. Then once I start, I can't stop particularly if planting up containers or growing anything edible, especially herbs.

Yesterday I treat myself to some new hanging baskets which I have filled with herbs. It dawned on me as a good idea to have the herbs above cat pee level. I have yet to see Delia or Nigella recommend 'herbs a la feline urine' in a recipe.

Whilst emptying some containers from last season I discovered at the bottom of one some polystyrene that I had put in as a drainage aide - a top tip from somewhere or other. This polystyrene was as firm and pert as the day it was put in despite being buried in moist compost and entwined by roots for well over a year. That made me step back a moment and shudder with the thought of all the crap we put into landfills. Time Team 3000 are going to be digging up an awful lot of packaging.

Today I went to the tip and threw out some more crap and packaging.

But back to yesterday. Befitting the day's theme of new growth my neighbour came round in the evening with the news she and her husband are expecting their first baby in October and she brought the first scan for me to see.

I dread people telling me they are expecting incase I do not seem excited enough. I don't want children and my congratulations to those expecting are heartfelt but perhaps lack the gushing overtones of those with a maternal/paternal streak. This does not mean I dislike children (which so many people assume when you say you don't want them yourself). I have no siblings myself but have, through friends, been granted a number of honourary 'Aunthoods'. I do Auntie very well. I spoil the kids as rotten as my purse will allow (and admit most buys are as much for me as them),I teach them fart jokes and then hand them back to their parents for the fallout.

I have given as much thought, if not more, to the decision I don't want children as people I know who have them or would like them. This is why I tend to get riled by people who look at me as if I am a simpleton and proclaim it is because I haven't found the right man yet.

I do not have, nor ever want, a season ticket to a football club because I do not like watching football. It is not because I haven't found the right team yet.

Comments

[St Jude]

'I do not have, nor ever want, a season ticket to a football club because I do not like watching football. It is not because I haven't found the right team yet.'

That's great! I have to hold my hand up and say I have children and grandchildren, but I have a couple of friends who have choosen not to. It has never ceased to amaze me over the years how much pressure 'society' and family have put on them to 'conform'.

[Kate]

Yes, same here. I have children, but I have friends who don't want any, and why should they? It is surprising how rude some people can be. My DH and I don't have children between us (my Boys are from my first marriage, Mr Blogs doesn't have any biological children) and it's amazing how often we are asked when we are planning to have one. The truth is we would have liked to, it just didn't happen for us, but I don't tell such people that, because it's none of their business.

I disagree about football, really you just haven't found the right team yet :-)