Ten Minutes Sitting In My Garden

Photo Copyright: Maggie May

I am sitting at the bottom of my garden on the first day of the school holidays taking notes on a pad.

The African Lilies (Agapanthus) are doing well this year. 10 heads of flowers. They like to be pot bound and this year they are well and truly wedged into an earthen ware pot that looks too small for them.

I usually protect them with fleece during the Winter but last year I didn't as I was feeling the effects of chemo and didn't even know if I would be alive in the Summer. It really didn't seem important. However, in spite of us having one of the harshest winters in living memory, the plant has thrived like never before. I will never bother to wrap it again.

These South African lilies must be hardier than they look.

As I said before...... I am sitting in the garden and listening to the sounds around me.

I can hear a clock chime the hour from a building nearby. I can hear traffic noises from the road close by. Something behind me is being unloaded from a van and there are thumps and crashes.

My shed is creaking in the warmth of the sun. There are crows in the tree behind me, calling out to each other. One of next door's cats is creeping about in the honeysuckle hedge waiting for me to go, so that he can sneak into my garden.

A piano is being played by a child and more children are playing and calling out in a garden nearby to my left.

Seagulls fly overhead squawking and shrieking as they go.

Now and then an aircraft roars overhead making quite a noise. We seem to be under a regular flight path here, though the planes are high up.

Another consignment of things are delivered to a business near by and doors slam and boxes thump. Men exchange greetings and instructions.

There seems to be a wailing/howling sound coming from somewhere on my right. It comes and goes sporadically.

Indian music comes from a radio in the far distance, as some workmen do repairs.

Bees buzz about my head, visiting what is left of the Ceanothus flowers near where I sit. Although the flowers seem to be dead, the bees and hover flies are still attracted to something or other. I know not what.

Swifts fly overhead, calling as they go. I love that sound of Summer.

I live in a city house with a small city garden. I like living here. I get used to the sounds. Anyone living here would know that it wasn't like living in the country. If it was peace and quiet that was wanted then you wouldn't choose to live here.

Next door's cat has now braved coming over and is drinking from my watering can.

Ah......... I forgot to mention my wind chimes......

There is a gentle breeze and the sounds come and go, but they are in tune!

Nothing has been said since the last onslaught over a week ago, but I might be premature in thinking this.

This morning an official looking man with a clip board knocked on my door and said he was from the Council.

"Oh," I said, "It must be about the wind chimes."

He looked at me as though I had gone stark raving mad. "No," He said, "Its about loft insulation. Didn't you get the letter?"