I haven’t blogged as much this year, neither writing nor reading. I can hardly say it’s because of my busy social life, though in some ways it is. For example, the world has opened up in as far I’ve been able to attend all manner of talks, albeit online.
However, I’ve also been less focussed on the garden this year. It’s been far more about compost, as I really really need to improve the soil.
The sum total of the amount of money I saved by eating the produce grown in the back garden is approx £107 this year. I can’t rightly remember the figure for 2019 but this year is definitely no better. Admittedly, the biggest producing apple tree decided to have a year off, so hopefully there will be a bumper crop next year.
One thing I am particularly glad of this year is exploring the great outdoors with my daughter and friends. Today, I showed a friend how to walk from Woodlesford Lock up to Skelton Lake Service Station at J45 of the M1.
The service station is, well, a service station, though it does have a good section selling Yorkshire produce. This may be a bit of greenwashing but if I was desperate for non-supermarket organic milk, at least I could get some there! It’s also only about twenty minutes’ walk to Temple Newsam, which used to be a favourite place to meet up with friends when my daughter was small. Shame I’m allergic to the birds at the pretend farm.
Anyway, we didn’t go as far as Temple Newsam today. No doubt it would have been heaving – the walk from the lock up to the service station was busy enough. With it being such a crisp, sunny morning, how could anyone resist?
Anyway, I feel that 2020 is ending well for me. I hope you feel equally positive and are looking forward to 2021 with the hope of the end of the thing I’ve been trying to avoid mentioning in this post.
* Margaret Macmillan, Historian, on PM, BBC Radio Four, 31 December 2020
happy new year to you helen! Hopefully next year will be great! xo
Thank you, Carol Anne. I hope 2021 will be a good year for you, too xx
Happy New Year Helen. Hopefully next year will be a good apple year (ours was very poor too). Here is to a productive 2021
Yes, here’s to our apple trees producting well 🍏🍎
🙂
I’m pleased you are getting about
Thanks Derrick. I hope you are still able to enjoy the countryside around you at this time
Yes – just nearer to home.
And hopefully the restrictions won’t last too long!
I enjoy reading about your explorations an discoveries. In the garden focusing on compost makes sense – an investment for the future of your growing and productivity. This year has been very strange and for some people incredibly challenging but there have been some upsides too and for me a lot of learning. All the best for 2021!
Thank you 😊. If I’d known in 2009 when I bought my house what I know now (not just garden knowledge but also the fact that there is a stables near me etc), I would have gone about things in a different way.
Anyway, I am glad you feel you have achieved something (learning) in 2020. I agree though that for some people it has been an incredibly challenging year. And even if we all get the vaccine very soon, a lot of people are still going to be jobless and homeless.
Hindsight is wonderful stuff. What a pity we can’t buy it at the opticians!
When I get fed up with the restrictions I remind myself just how lucky I am. There are are so many in a much worse situation.
Yes, so many in a much worse position!
A garden is a wonderful place for focus! Happy new year, Helen.
Happy New Year, Becky 😊
Wishing you all the best in this new year Helen. Hopefully it will be a bountiful one in so many ways.
Thank you Karen. I hope you will be able to travel more this year.
Wouldn’t that be nice. 😘
😊