Today has been fun.
The day dawned misty and damp with a cold wind and grey clouds. I knew that rain had been forecast for later on, and so after a quick breakfast I pulled on my boots, grabbed a spade, and headed down to the allotment.
It was quiet - but it was still before 9am and I imagine that the households surrounding the allotment on all sides were still concerned with the business of getting up and breakfasting. The silence was a good thing for me; it has been an intense week at work, and as well as making a start on preparing the soil for planting soon, I was looking forward to having the physical and mental space to simply be. Not to be anything in particular; just to be.
The membrane that was laid before Christmas was pooled all over with water that had clearly evaporated and been replaced a number of times; the puddles were ringed with a greenish mould and contained flotsam and jetsam that can only have come from larvae. As I peeled the plastic back from the earth and saw the various creatures scuttling, sliding, and flying away from the tide of dank water, and the cold light, I remembered how small a part in all of this mine is.
It is easy to lose yourself in enjoyment of the smell of the soil and grass as you drive your spade through it. It is difficult to describe the pleasure produced by the slightly sharp and gritty sound of a spade pushing into the resistance of the earth.
I forgot the time, and just worked until the arrival of rain eventually blinded me by covering my glasses. My mum came to help, but we didn't dig for long before we headed back to the house to wait for the rain to move on.
We dug again later, and then, after she had gone back home, I spent the rest of the day with T and B. T cooked a lovely meal, and B had a fun day too.
This evening I have helped a friend out with an Excel problem, chatted to another couple of friends using social networking, and written this blog all whilst watching Star Trek and drinking wine.
Happy days!
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