salad spinners, flats and gardening









After Annie declared that I am the most miserable person she knows I decided to give myself a bit of a push and proof her wrong. Two years of lockdowns combined with increased workloads and shifting family dynamics have worn me down. Maybe adding a bit  

I went to the big planting day at local community garden on Saturday. The community garden is on a previous piece of overgrown waste ground, a chap in the neighbourhood secured charity funds to clear the ground and prepared it for use as a community garden. We should celebrate those neighbourhood movers! There was some heavy machinery involved, it was a jungle of brambles, knotweed and other spiky shrubbery. I knew about the project but I had not really thought much about it. But what can be better than going out and meet people and get your hands dirty?  For this first year of community gardening, seedlings were purchased rather than starting from seed. I had so much fun. My job was to water the young plants in. So many leeks, beans, courgettes, cabbages, broccoli etc, and flowers. Also berries and strawberries and lots of potatoes. I am quite good with the garden hose. I was mansplained with this, imagine that. I was rolling the hose back up to go to a different part of the garden but two blokes thought I didn't do this smoothly enough and moved in to rescue the situation (there wasn't a situation). The man doing the mansplaining promptly broke the connection... I swallowed my snarky comment and left them to it, focusing instead on the BBQ for a bit of refreshments

James and I watched Eurovision, not something that I had done in maybe 30 years. It was fun to watch, so much glitter and glamour and music. Every now and then, a bit of glamour is good for the soul. We stayed up until the final results came through, way past my bedtime. I liked the Serbian entry but also the final chap but I can't remember where he was from. 

On Sunday I took Jack for a walk but he didn't fancy it, he was digging his little feet into the pavement and refusing to walk. When I said "you win", he turned around, picked up the lead with his mouth and trotted homewards happily. He does that when he is in a hurry. I headed out on my own. I explored the grounds of Gartnavel Royal Hospital, a mental health facility. The grounds are glorious, perched around a hill. I walked through the walled garden, which is fabulous, full of scents and buzzing insects and birds. I wandered around the trails amongst majestic trees. I can't imagine a better place for a psychiatric hospital to be. So many beautiful places within a short walk from home. Glasgow is such a green place. I went to see the ducklings at Bingham's pond on my way home. They are really cute. 

Sam found a flat. I viewed it, explained who I was and who I was viewing on behalf of, asking some questions and making sure that the letting agent would remember later. There were quite a few other viewers but by some miracle, Sam was offered it. I completed my guarantor forms, my referee confirmed my earnings and Sam got a good credit score and paid the holding deposit. We are hopeful for a contract to be exchanged shortly. The flat is a bit tired and in need of redecoration but Sam is not bothered about that. It is in Govanhill, a residential area on the Southside. I had a wee wander around the neighbourhood, it looks nice. Sam's flat is in a tenement building, right on the corner of Govanhill park. I checked for litter and found hardly any. Always a good sign for a well cared for neighbourhood. He can shop at Lidl or Locavore, both just around the corner although the latter might not be in his budget (imagine zero waste organic local produce).

Our salad spinner broke. It was older than Sam and served us well. I looked for a replacement but it seems that salad spinner engineering has moved on and simple models are now difficult to find. I don't need an integrated grater or a soft touch handle, just something that spins. We picked ours up in one of those shops along Dumbarton Rd that sells everything and maybe somewhere in the dusty depths of one outlet sits a sibling to our broken salad spinner. Maybe a lunch time trip this week. Watery salad is underwhelming. 

This week, teaching for my biggest course concludes. Four final hours of tutorials, then I am done. Then I'll have just two courses running, which might be manageable.

Alistair has Covid. It was bound to happen but the timing is unfortunate because today the timetable changes and Alistair moves into the next year. 

Thank for visiting. Thanks also for all your tips on blog feeders. I have imported some already to my Blogger feeder. I didn't know I can add blogs hosted on other platforms there.

Comments

  1. That's great news about the flat. Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly and Sam can get settled in very soon. I hope Alex doesn't suffer too badly with covid. X

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  2. The community garden is such a good idea. Wish there was more of that kind of thing round here. his new home so quickly. Wishing Alistair a speedy recovery and well done to Sam for finding his new home so quickly. Have to admit I'm a big Eurovision fan. The Netherlands entry is on repeat in my head but, as I'm not fluent in Dutch, I can only sing the 'ooh ooh, aah aah' bits. Probably for the best.

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  3. I hope Alistair is all better soon. The community gardens sounds brilliant, except for the mansplaining, honestly, what are they like? So glad that Sam has found a flat, how exciting to have his own place. I hope it all goes smoothly. I am clearing out my dad's apartment at the moment (he died in January), I shall keep an eye out for a salad spinner. It seems that he had most things :) It is quite an undertaking, although all immaculately kept and looked after. Lots of things from fifty plus years ago, still in excellent condition. Obviously once things are brought here it is a different story... CJ xx

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  4. Glad that Sam has been able to find a suitable flat and I hope all goes well with the move both for him and you.
    Sunday walking in such a lovely tranquil setting sounds perfect for refreshing both mind and body.
    Have a good week Christina.

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  5. Im not surprised you feel a little frazzled after the last couple of years. Good about Sams flat and hopefully Alistair will have a quick recovery. The thought of Jack running home with his own lead made me laugh. Enjoy your walking in green spaces. B x

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  6. I hope the gardening project goes well. Sounds like the community is pretty involved, so that would seem to be a good thing. But those pesky mansplainers.

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  7. Care sent to Alistair. Neat re Sams flat. Jack taking himself home with lead in mouth made me smile. Beautiful flowers. I am trying to do a bit of colouring to sooth my soul 😀😀

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  8. Hi Christina - good to catch up here. I don't think you are miserable at all! The community gardening project sounds like a good idea. Do you share out the produce? I love gardening but for me it is a solitary activity as Paul only joins me if conscripted to assist with something I can't manage alone. I pleased that Sam got his flat. My Kate is at the stage of applying for jobs now and if she gets one in the area she is looking for, she'll be moving out for good as she plans to find somewhere with her boyfriend. I'll be happy but sad too.

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  9. The community garden sounds a great idea. I'm pleased to hear about Sam's flat, a shame about Alistair catching Covid, my husband and son had it too. Hope he feels better soon Cx

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  10. Fingers crossed for Sam getting his flat it sounds like you are very close. The community garden sounds wonderful, I hope it is a success, broken hose permitting. I know the salad spinner you mean, I think my granny had one of them, no idea where you would buy one, that sounds like the sort of thing you might find on eBay or in a charity shop/house clearance sale.

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  11. Dear Christina, I don't agree with Annie at all. From reading (& thoroughly enjoying) your blogs I think you are pragmatic and down to earth and curious and a very good sport indeed. And a great animal and family lover. Annie may come to see that we cannot be all things to all people but that you do a very good job of working full-time, mothering, running a house and also pursuing your own crafty interests too. Bravo. I have an excellent OXO salad spinner which I would recommend as it is compact, easy to store, an excellent spinner, it was pricy if I remember, but is as good now as the day I bought it.

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  12. You are one busy woman, I am glad you had some walking and gardening time this week. You have done so well to secure a flat for Sam. Sending you good vibes for the next few weeks. Jo x

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  13. Catching up with you 🙂. Glad to read that Sam has found a flat and well done for finding the enthusiasm to help with the community garden. It takes some doing being involved when you are already snowed under with work and dealing with post lockdown crashes. I’m sorry to read that Alistair has the dreaded COVID, hope he is soon on the mend xx

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  14. Of course, we all think that Annie was very unfair in her assessment, Christina, but then it does seem to have spurred you into doing quite a lot of activity. Funny hearing that jack takes his led and goes home alone. Good news on Sam's success in finding a flat and perhaps your visit helped him in getting it, parental interest can go a long way. Hope Alistair will be on the mend soon enough, but then from what I've heard from so many it's like saying someone has a cold/flu. yeh on the course ending, but drat on the salad spinner failing after so long. Guess things truly will NOT last forever.

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Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

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