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Thursday, 8 April 2021

G for Gardening, Good Reads & Gratitude - A-Z Scottish Borders in Lockdown

A-Z Blogging Challenge 2021  - Scottish Borders in Lockdown
Recording my Everyday Life  - A Picture for Future Generations

GARDENING   -  I would be doing this anyway, and at the start  of the first Lockdown, it was high on my list of priorities to tidy away the  winter debris, get the grass cut. tidy up the shed, paint a trellis   -  and what is on my "to do" list a year on - the very same tasks.  We would be lost without the garden, and it must be dreadful for families confined to flats with active young children or depressed. stroppy teenagers.

Spring 2020. 

Heartening displays in our garden of cheerful colour later in the year:

 


 

GOOD READS - I enjoy reading and many years ago in an old exercise book I used to write reviews of the books  had read  - I hoped this would help boost my writing skills and remind me of enjoyable reads.  - It is is amazing how i  forget the title or even an author I have read.  It reminded me of a librarians's bane - people coming in and saying  "Can you heIp -  read this book and it was good,   but I cannot remember its title or author - but it had a red cover"

Then the Internet arrived and this website www.goodreads.com fills the bill ideally.   I record my titles, write a review, give it a star rating and can read what others have thought.  A pleasant site to look back on.  I recommend it. 

 
GRATITUDE  I have lots of  things I am grateful  for!  I realise I am very lucky -  my  husband’s companionship  and support; we live in a bungalow with a garden,  in a village in the beautiful rural Scottish Borders, which this week has been  named as the lowest  for Covid  cases in the UK - not just Scotland.  Yes, we fall into the "vulnerable " category through our age, but have no relevant underlying health conditions;  our daughter & family live in the same village, and have been a wonderful help with supermarket shopping etc;  and friends are at the end of a phone for uplifting chats. We could be far, far worse off!
 
The Gardens in Earlston Square 
 
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 ONTO H FOR HOBBIES, HAIR & HUMOUR IN ALL THINGS 
      
#AtoZChallenge 2021 badge
 
 
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6 comments:

  1. I agree with you that people confined to apartments with children must have done it tough along with those living alone without a garden or a pet. I do envy you having your family close by though. I too use GoodReads and give stars but I wish I could also write a simple review for my own records only.

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    1. Thank you, Pauleen. I did wonder why you were anxious to keep your book reviews private. In nine years on the site, i have found reviewers do not interact with others and I have only had a handful of comments on my posts - all perfectly civil.

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  2. The garden is one of my greatest blessings too, though mine is not as well kept as yours is. Goodreads is also one of my go to places for keeping track of what I have read and what my friends recommend. We can always find things to be grateful for!

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  3. Thank you, Mercy, for the time to comment - much appreciated.

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  4. Thanks for the reminder to be grateful. Like you I am fortunate to have a lovely garden that gives me vies from every window. I feel for those families with small children who don't have such a pleasant environment. Covid has also given me more time to read and work on my genealogy.

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  5. I love a good garden but am absolutely hopeless at gardening and feel defeated before I even begin. Are we friends on Goodreads? I am Alexandra Daw. I love Goodreads and yes, reviews are the only way I can remember books I've read. Yes, I try to practice gratitude every day and it really helps. But exercise is better for my mood.

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