People

 It's been another year of extraordinarily tricky times, and the same by way of good times. Life eh? It would be a boring life without challenges, both good and bad. 

Work has been a challenge. Well, running a business in the current climate has, if truth be told. Gardening is still, well, gardening. Nothing has changed there. The dynamics within the business have changed, but it's still gardening. It brings, as always, hard work, time to reflect, to smile, get tired, to argue, to laugh. But the plants still grow. They all get along just fine, doing their own thing. Growing and trying to look their best whatever life throws at them....even, I feel smirking at us gardeners with our secateurs and stuff.

Our Buddha

What is, and has always been evident are people. They are the living things that can actually make the difference between a good day, an indifferent day.....and a hard day.

This year we have had some really hard meetings with people. All of them of 'the latter years', and completely unjustified in their rudeness. I dare say that in most cases it's just down to some sort of in depth bitterness brought about by old age, and maybe an awareness of years now ticking by, but we all face such challenges, and if only they knew it, possibly worse ones. But it's no excuse for the bluntness in comments that our team have had to face. I can't name specifics, because obviously if they read this, tomorrow would be a different day. Let's just say 'if the cap fits' eh?

We have also, thank you God, met and been involved with far more kind people through our work. Those with a soul full of kindness, generosity of spirit, an overall happiness and understanding that one can only ever hope to share time with. I personally thank them, and pray for next year to continue in those relationships. 

I shall personally continue to try and maintain the new friendships that I have found, both from my past and those that I have had for years. People matter, but it can be a difficult road to maintain. Let's face it, we get things wrong all of the time and can be misunderstood. But we must at least try.

Sunrise at Sandbanks

Sat in the van ready to leave early one morning, I think of our neighbours. A real mixture of characters, lives and interaction. They are all lovely and watch over one another where possible.

Travel Ted and the van Crimbo lights