Sweet Violets

 I had my dental check up first thing yesterday morning. There was a frisson of tension on Monday evening when I was half expecting a text cancelling it AGAIN, but no - it was all systems go and I saw a different dentist to my usual one, who was an immediate improvement in that he was actually present for the appointment. Mind you, he looked about twelve years old and I had to concentrate on what he was saying as English wasn’t his first language, but he was cheerful and thorough and I left the surgery, all done and dusted, in under 10 minutes, albeit £40 lighter. I have booked next year’s appointment with the same chap. I am hoping he is more work-resilient than the previous one. 

On account of the current global ‘stuff’ that’s occurring, that I am trying mostly to ignore because it is SO miserable watching such futility, I went to check the status of our oil tank just to put my mind at rest. It’s not that we can’t afford the HUGE hike in heating oil prices because we can. No, it’s the principle of the matter that bothers me. That people in other countries are impacting my life, a life that I try to live quietly and peacefully, without negatively impacting others. I am minding my own business yet the cost of heating my home and water has almost doubled since I last filled up our oil tank because of the actions of a few warmongering arses. Of course, if I was a proper peaceful Earth inhabitant I wouldn’t be using oil at all but I’m not sure I have the capabilities to build a wind turbine in the garden and I am pretty certain the roof of our 175 year old house won’t bear the weight of solar panels, so until I can reconcile myself to living in my shepherd’s hut full time, I’ll have to stick with the oil option. Sigh…

Anyway, I dipped a garden cane into the oil tank and found out what I already knew which was we have enough supplies to last us well into the Summer, by which time (fingers crossed) the prices will have settled downwards and I can fill up again for next Winter without it making my teeth squeak. I am grateful we have our new wood burner for very efficient and instant heat and we also have an electric immersion tank for emergency hot water. But all will be well in the end, I am sure. And, of course, I am hugely grateful that I am not living in the middle of it all. My annoyance is tiny compared with the troubles of others. 

I found some white violets on the canal bank yesterday…

Aren’t they pretty? When I was a child I used to take my Gran’s poodle, Ringo, for walks and one of the lanes we travelled had a bank that was smothered in violets, both purple and white. I wonder if it’s still the same. Many wild flowers seem to be in decline. And to that end, I’ve decided this year that the grass in our mini-orchard will remain uncut, save for a couple of mown pathways. I want to nurture a little bit of meadow land, and am thinking I’ll grow some meadow flowers to spot plant and get things started. I don’t know if it will work, but you don’t know if you don’t try, do you?