Ways to keep your children occupied and get them outside during lockdown half term… I know, boys, let’s all clean the plant pots ready for sowing the seeds. A suggestion swiftly cauterised with counter-requests to go on the Xbox (again), their feelings further expressed by squishing their faces up against the glass of the verandah doors in protest. Sometimes it’s like living with the Gallaghers.
I kind of knew it was a dead end anyway but it made me feel better to at least try and get them to do something I deem useful, plus it made me sort the pots out ready for me to clean – basically I just parented myself.
The sun was shining and the kids did need to get some fresh air though so I also did what I’ve been putting off and cleared all the fox poo from around the garden and trampoline. The boys duly came out and had an outdoor wrestle for about 10 minutes and then briefly climbed the magnolia tree, Iggy with gloves on his feet like a small frog because he couldn’t find any socks. I mean you just have to laugh. We then walked to the library in our fancy shoes (basically not wellies or hiking boots) to take back some 3-month overdue books but really because I needed a walk in the fleeting sun.
Meanwhile, an email came through to say my seed order was on it’s way and even though I said I wasn’t going to do much pre-sowing indoors or under cover, I seem to have arranged all the root trainers and pots ready to go. Perhaps it’s a spring addiction, annually triggered by a single ray of midwinter sun – the primal urge to sow and grow. I can’t wait until April and May for outdoor sowing in situ, I need to get going now, to see those first shoots spring up and nurture each tender cotyledon.
The bit where I always go wrong is the pricking out. So either I sow directly into bigger pots in the first place or I have to get tough and chuck some of the weaker specimens away. I then need to get a new hose because for some reason we cut the old one in two – I think for filling up the paddling pool with warm water! Anyway, I’ve made a start on the coming season and that feels spring good.