the Monday Musings column from that consultant bloke

Still here and breathing, so things are not too bad. We seem to be past the worst of the cold weather now and the garden is looking better. The snowdrops have come and gone, but have been augmented by another 75 purchased in the green and planted to extend the current swathes (well, small clumps).

The daffodils, and their assorted cousins, are up and, largely, out although this year, again, a lot have come up blind. It seems odd that these clumps of diffs that spring up each year in odd spots along the roadside do so well, but mine less so. One of life’s little mysteries.

On my virtual walk down Route 66 I am coming up towards 600 miles and am almost out of Missouri. Before I leave the state I will pass through the town of Joplin which has a Bonnie and Clyde connection that it seems proud of. Next up is a very short stretch through the bottom right corner of Kansas before I get into Oklahoma where I have a long East to West stretch across the state. By the time I get to the other side I will be nearly half way to the end of the route.

The Hastings Hottie and I are both avid readers and get through two or more books a week. I usually have at least two on the go at once; one an e-book to read on my ‘phone and the other probably a non-fiction book that I read in my armchair. I also have a growing collection of audiobooks and listen to one of those every day in the car on the way to and from work. Reading, for us both, has been a joy since childhood. I’m not sure if you can call it a hobby, but it is an interest that we share, even if our tastes in books differs quite a lot.

Books is actually one of the things that developed our relationship from colleagues to friends back in the Summer of 1989. We had many days out on business and found that we both loved books to the point that we loaned each other books. For a book lover there is no greater mark of trust than to lend someone your beloved books. Back then a hardback was still an expensive purchase, something that you treasured. We became good friends through books and it paved the way for us to become lovers.

Music is less important to us as a couple. Our tastes differ a lot, possibly because of our age difference, although I love most of the music of her youth as much as I do of my own era. In my darkest days music was my refuge, it was one of the things that saved me and, to a degree, I think that it became a private thing. We don’t have the radio on at home and do not possess a stereo system these days. If we have the car radio on it will be to listen to a talking book rather than music.

I like to put the headphones on, shut my eyes and get lost in my music. My classic iPod is still working and, although I have not been able to update the playlists for years, there is still enough set up on there to keep me amused, even on a long-haul flight. Some of it triggers memories, but mostly I just like to listen, to enjoy the interplay of instruments and voices. Music is still my haven.

The garden is getting attention again. I think that this year I will not plan very much at all and just do what I feel when I get the chance. We do need to make a few garden centre visits, but I have no real idea about what I will buy other than some tomatoes and stuff for the hanging baskets. I will just see what is there and, if I like it, and think that I have somewhere to put it, I’ll buy it.

Gardens are always a work in progress. You might get one to the point that you are satisfied, but stuff grows and needs maintaining, so you are never finished with a garden. I’ll keep on fiddling with it and, at least most of the time, enjoying it.

All for now. Stay safe wherever you are.