This time next month I would have cycled 250 miles in the Rodolpi mountains in Bulgaria and walked 60 miles along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. So, how have I prepared for these physically demanding activities? Sadly, there hasn’t been a long, slow build in training. But I joined up for six hot yoga sessions yesterday and have already been once. So by the time I step off the plane in 10 days’ time, I will be mind and body ready, and my downward dog will be beautiful.
On Monday, I got one of those texts from Husband that he hates sending and I don’t like receiving..”Footy is cancelled (sad face emoji)”. Knowing that my Monday night had now been scuppered (although with no University Challenge or Only Connect, it’s usually a cooking programme Fest), I suggested a bike ride. “Yes please (thumbs up emoji)” was the reply. (As an aside, I have taken a dislike to the thumbs up emoji – not sure why but it just annoys me). On the train home from work, the dark clouds started gathering and by the time I got home it had started to rain and was quite cold – typical summer’s day. I don’t like to cycle in the rain and the cold and Husband wasn’t dressed in his cycling outfit. “How about some gardening?” – the words just tumbled out of my mouth. You probably wouldn’t know but I am not a gardener and Husband is even less of a gardener but I have recently started buying plants and flowers to ‘add some colour, texture and interest’ to my garden (yes, I know, a trip to Chelsea Garden Show and I am inspired for a week or two, tops). Husband was a little confused at the sudden change of plan but I threw the supper in the oven and we ventured out into the garden.
The family had been over on Sunday and I had sought their advice as to where I should put a few of the shrubs/plants I had bought and had been watering religiously in their plastic pots for a week or two. My dad suggested digging a bed in the front garden and planting them there.
So, Husband and I carried five plants to said patch of garden and set them roughly in place and, with string, marked out an oval shape. The aim was to dig out the top layer of grass (well, moss really) and then dig five holes to stick the plants in. Hmmmm. I can’t teach what I don’t know and Husband had never used a spade. It was now a lovely sunny evening and I momentarily thought it would be nice to be out on the bike….
An hour later after a lot of “No, don’t throw the soil all over the garden” and “Just dig straight down, not at an angle” and “Shall I do it, now?”, we had a rough circle shape which had five upright plants in it. I had got quite hot but Husband hadn’t broken a sweat at all. I think that says more than enough (see my Hot Yoga blog on the sweat reference). I think gardening does count as exercise but I don’t think this view is shared by my nearest and dearest.
Here’s hoping footy isn’t cancelled next Monday (and that the proper gardeners don’t despair at the scene of slight devastation in my front garden).
Snoo's kitchen 