Prologue to 2020

January 2020 marks five years since I celebrated my birthday with old friends and family and new neighbours.  It is fifteen years since we travelled down to London with our much loved allotments in store for us at the foot of the Mount.

Looking back, it is twenty years since, as mature students at the University of Essex, we were aware of speculation that the 'Millennium Bug' would disrupt connections world wide. Thankfully the computer 'melt-down' that many feared was avoided and we remained connected, via the internet and face to face.

Connections make a great difference to my active retirement as I now await the State Pension.  Where once I was part of a diverse group of growers , I am currently more likely to be found at the library with its host of community activities.  I have started knitting, facilitate a book club, am about to join a poetry appreciation group, found myself on committee (not a major role, but it all helps), sing in harmony with my husband for an older persons group, play duets, am revising my Latin (thanks to the University of the Third Age), not to mention many and various duties at church.  

Some of my best moments are still out in the fresh air gardening alongside my husband.  But with a reputable store and other shops nearby, the need has diminished. I no longer feel that we quite literally have to 'eat the fruit of the labour of our hands'. Having said that, our small freezer is packed with last summer's raspberries, blackcurrants, blackberry and apple puree and runner beans.

I once hoped that we could do some voluntary work on a sustainable lifestyle based around 'growing your own', and also walking or cycling where possible, caring for our wildlife, reducing our use of plastic and all the other laudable small actions that remain to us in this rapidly changing world.  Perhaps it is better to post about this.  So that is what I shall continue to do alongside and including my observations on all the enjoyable activities that make up our life in the County Palatine.

May I wish you all a happy and healthy 2020.