Two home delivery parcels today. Firstly, a 10kg sack of dog food for Nell which will last her a good 10 weeks. Secondly, a part for Andy’s car which, hopefully, will sort out the recalcitrant driver’s side electric window which sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t.
On the right of the photo is the car part. On the left of the photo is the box it arrived in. I mean, for goodness sake! What is WRONG with people? All that excess packaging for something that could have been sent in a padded envelope. Sheesh. The small box was even protected in the big box by a load of scrunched up paper. And there was me thinking we were trying to save the planet with a drive towards economy. I duly removed all the sticky tape and put the offending box in the recycling bin. I try to do my bit, although sometimes it feels like spitting in the wind.
I am currently immersed in my New Favourite Thing which is studying herbal medicine. I’ve joined The Herbal Society and my welcome pack arrived today, including a copy of ‘Herbs’ magazine, which I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this evening. I’ve also been doing an introduction to herbal medicine online course. Today was all about the respiratory system and talk of mucus and phlegm made me feel quite nauseous at times, but I soldiered on and passed the online test with 100%! It’s all fascinating stuff, and I’m jolly glad I’ve got a qualification in Anatomy and Physiology because trying to remember all the body stuff along with the herbal stuff would properly make my head spin. As it is, I am at least familiar with half of the content.
Of course, all this research and study has made me very keen to launch myself into this year’s gardening plans but I can’t because it is STILL raining on and off and the ground just isn’t having time to dry out sufficiently before the next shower arrives. Boggy swamps spring to mind. It’s very frustrating but at least I can get into the greenhouse and start some seeds.
It’s my Mum’s 84th birthday next Monday, and a couple of days ago I sent her a parcel of birthday ‘stuff.’ Unlike the car part company, I made sure the box I used was crammed to the hilt with goodies. No wasteful empty spaces for me, oh no siree. I FaceTimed Mum to let her know that a parcel would appear at some point, couldn’t say when exactly on account of the vagaries of the Royal Mail, but she FaceTimed back just after lunch to say it had safely arrived. ‘I suppose you want me to wait until Monday before I open it?’ she said, a somewhat wistful tone in her voice.
‘Mum,’ I said, ‘you are allowed to open your birthday present whenever you want to. Just don’t expect anything else to arrive on Monday.’
‘Can I open it now?’ she said. I thought, good grief, it’s like talking to a six year old.
‘Of course,’ said I. ‘I don’t care when you open it. It’s yours to do with as you like.’
‘I’ll open it this afternoon,’ she said, looking a bit gleeful and excited.
I’d do the same. If I ever reach 84 years of age I’d want to open presents as soon as they arrive, too.
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KJ