Sunday in the garden

Last Sunday the weather was pleasant, so I went into my small garden. I had done little to it because of spine, hip, and leg issues.

Noticing brambles were going places not granted permission to be there, I put on a pair of heavy-duty gloves and tackled the rogue plant, or one of them at least. The area is on a slight slope and terraced. Cautiously, I went to the top section, armed with a pair of secateurs, ready to do battle with the said plant. All went well, as long, sharp strands of bramble found themselves added to the pile on the grass a few yards away, removed from the legitimate plants in the area.

Progress was good, or so I thought. Although gently doing the work, I felt good about how well it was going. Have you heard the phrase, “pride before a fall?”

So, on cue, the next strand I pulled came away too easily. Backwards I went as my right heel pushed up against a protruding rock. With nothing to grab, momentum kicked in and the big boy travelled towards the ground, catching a rose bush along the way. A second later, I looked up at the sky. The lower back complained.

Trying to get up was tricky. The rose bush wasn’t an option, and the space to move, limited. I finally went from horizontal to vertical after much effort and grunts. Keep moving, I said to myself, and walked to fetch the garden bin to fill with the brambles already collected.

Two things came to mind. First, one’s age has to be acknowledged. I am 70 and my agility, balance, and body are not what they were in my youth. Second, the love of food has contributed little to a lean and supple frame. Hence the grunting and effort to get up.

Later that afternoon, seated in a comfortable chair on the lawn with a cup of tea, I looked over to where the fall had occurred. Because of health issues, some activities have been curtailed, or stopped. Is gardening an activity better suited to someone more able or qualified now?

Perhaps leaving the physical tasks to others and writing more books that readers enjoy may be the best way forward and a better use of my time. Would you agree?