DERELICT ROSES

After a good service from our online Church, with a great sermon, we enjoyed a Zoom Coffee and Chat meeting with various Church members.  It’s not the same as meeting in person, but it’s good to hear how people are getting on in these difficult and challenging times.  Some are coping better than others, but it’s good to know that not only do we have our actual family supporting us, but we also have our Church family too.

After that we popped over to see some Church friends, Howard and Lillieth, and their two grown-up children, Kathryn and Aaron, to take them some of the “oodles” of lettuce that Mr. HCB has grown, together with four tomato plants that he had grown from seed, because we knew they would appreciate the gifts.  We didn’t leave empty handed either, because Lillieth makes wonderful coleslaw and there was a jar waiting for us to bring home.  

We wandered round their garden, with Mr. HCB dispensing advice about the tomatoes and then Lillieth told us that an area at the back of their garden had been commandeered by Kathryn, who intended growing some vegetables.  It’s not a very big patch, but I persuaded Aaron that he could help his sister by removing some of the stones and digging over the area.  He didn’t seem very keen, and made lots of excuses, but I explained that as he couldn’t go to the gym now, this could his “green gym” and he would soon feel the benefit.  His parents were laughing but I told Kathryn and Aaron it would be good to see the patch in tip-top condition within a week or so.  Time will tell - but I think they may need a little encouragement so I will be texting them - I have put a shot of them in as an extra - perhaps in a couple of weeks I need to go back and take another photograph to see how things are going.

On the way out, I admired their beautiful front garden, and saw these “derelict” roses - which fits perfectly for today’s challenge.  I love roses in any state and these look so good, even though they have “gone over” and are really past their best - well they may be to many people but not to my “Blip” eyes! 

As it’s Father’s Day, Mr. HCB heard from Julian, our son in Vietnam, early this morning - which of course, would have been afternoon for him over there, and once home, our older son, Martyn, popped round for a physically distanced cup of tea, before we had afternoon tea with the neighbours, then I cooked our evening meal.  Phew - a busy day one way and another so I think Mr. HCB will be glad to sit down to watch Countryfile and then the second half of the Liverpool and Everton football derby.  Julian is a Liverpool fan, so may very well be watching - but of course, it will be the middle of the night in Vietnam - not sure I would bother, but it's not quite the same watching a game once it's over!  

 “The optimist sees the rose 
     and not its thorns; 
the pessimist stares at the thorns, 
     oblivious to the rose.”
Kahlil Gibran