When not attending to garden tasks what other things have filled your day?

Seems very sensible.
These days you get little interest from a bank unless you tie it up in an ISA.
So it doesn't bother me that my energy supplier has several hundred quid of my money for a few weeks each year, because I chose to pay the same amount each month.

 

I've just received my statement from United Utilities, for my water consumption and sewage disposal charges for the year.
The good news for the environment, is that we've used 11% less water than in the previous 12 months.
The bad news for me, is that the charges are going up by 4% a month for the current year.
It's no big deal, despite the fact that it brings up my bill to £1000 a year. But it may be a hardship for some.
I can remember fifty years ago, when there was no charge for water, it was included in the rates, though a few years later, if you used a garden hose, you then had to pay an extra £15 a year.
Then the utilities were privatised.
Yes, there's been a history of profiteering and mismanagement since then, but there was a lack of investment in the infrastructure, by successive governments after WW2.

 

It's basically extortion, isn't it? Without calling it by that ugly name...

Just when anything nice happens, like we get a tiny break - Either the state, or the authorities (perpetual wet blankets which they habitually are) somehow find a way to put a spoonful of excrement into our cornflakes.

And this ladies and gentlemen, they do, not because they are sadistic by nature, (although that too they sure are) - But it's because they don't ever want us to feel content and relaxed... Which is because they themselves know that they are always incompetent. Actually incapable of being anything else except for being incompetent. So don't ever allow people to experience anything nice. Or else we'll start demanding better quality of service from them. Therefore always keep everyone in a slightly miserable state. So that we get use to their inabilities, and start seeing it as normal.

Be it government, private sector, or education - It's all reflecting these same characteristics everywhere in the world.

Remember that saying, about putting a frog in a pot of boiling water. And the frog will immediately jump out. But toss a frog in a pot of cool water. Than slowly bring it up to a boil, and the frog will never notice anything, until it gets boiled alive - Same thing...

 

At least our GardenStew is back online, after some downtime. So at least here we can all relax, and be happy at seeing what's growing in each other's garden.

Otherwise outside in the real world, I now honestly don't see much which is making me happy.

So I genuinely wish you thank all of you here. For making this the best possible place for relaxation.

 

I guess we're very fortunate in that financially we're, "bulletproof."
Mostly due to the fact that I started planning for retirement in my forties.
We will both be 86 this year.
My wife healthwise, is far from fortunate as she has MS and osteoporosis and can only get around the house with her walking frame.
Our grown-up kids too, have no money worries, nor will theirs.
We live in a quiet suburb in South Manchester. Our crescent has seen little change since it was built in the sixties, other than the installation of unnecessary speed humps and better street lighting. We don't do much now, holidays are out of the question, my wife rarely leaves the house and all I do, is go shopping and to my golf club, as fortunately, I'm still fully fit.
But we both have our hobbies and the garden, that keep us busy., particularly me!
Friends and family do visit, but apart from that we have little contact with the outside world and events that make the news headlines have little effect on us.