My new health regime, which consists mainly of going to bed at a sensible time and turning down offers of a second slice of cake, have paid off – I’m already feeling a lot better than I was at the start of the week.
Today turned out to be another busy day. The sales promotion has not only brought a surge in sales but an avalanche of enquiries – many of which are time consuming and lead nowhere. However, like many things, you have to sift through to find the nuggets and as one of the queries led to a £275 sale, it was worth the sifting.
Nothing else of note happened during the day. I watched a little TV, snoozed and ate stir-fried vegetables for tea. I’ve also been going through magazines of Readly. I’ve managed a bird watching magazine, two writing magazines, the TLS and an art magazine tonight. Not bad for a monthly subscription that is the equivalent of buying two magazines. OK, so I only browsed the last two as I wasn’t feeling very intellectual, but it’s still good value.
If anyone is doing ab thesis on the life of an average middle-aged man in the early 21st century – this is it. This what I spent 60 years training for – a life of quiet mediocrity and vegetables. I always wanted to be rich and famous and eat steak…
I had an article sent to my email about the cherry trees in Washington DC – very interesting. I like cherry trees. My Mum and Dad had several and when Julia’s Mum died the village planted a cherry tree in memory of her contribution to the local community., so they have always ben part of my life. Of course, now that I write poetry in Japanese forms I am virtually obliged to write about them.
I seem to be deficient in cherry blossom pictures, so you will have to make do with apple blossom.
Spring in the Mencap Garden
Apple blossom is very acceptable. I like the sound of your healthy regime. I am going to try to get to bed a bit earlier too in the vain hope that I might feel a bit less knackered. I share your sadness about not having achieved much in life but I feel consoled by the number of people who have done more than me and still feel unhappy.
Yes, despite the early bedtimes I can’t shake the napping habit. It is good to think that w are less unhappy than prince Harry and Donald Trump, to name just two people who don’t seem as happy as I would be in their shoes. Possibly our choice of wives has something to do with it.
It has everything to do with my personal happiness. As she points out from time to time, I wouldn’t last long on my own.
That seems familiar…
I love the cherry blossoms.
I have a selection of photos. When times are bad, I browse them. My favourite ones are the ones with cake… 🙂
Works for me…
That’s where I stole the idea from… 🙂
😉
My neighbour’s cherry tree is almost in blossom. Too early but will nonetheless be a welcome sight.
Are you sure you are an average middle-aged man? You must move in interesting circles if you think most write haibun and haiku. In reality, I doubt that many would have any notion of these forms of poetry.
I’m told we always assume that other people are doing better than us. maybe I am above average in some ways. 🙂 However, there are still a lot of ways I am lagging far behind.
It’s all a matter of opinion isn’t it? And no harm in being humble!
🙂 That is true.
😊
Average, you ain’t, my friend. I gave up buying magazines years ago. Books always took preference so the mags piled up unread.
Yes, I noticed that tendency with magazines – easy to buy, easy to skim, but nothing like as satisfactory as a book.
Beautiful!!!!! Brilliant!!!!!
Thank you.
Apple blossoms are always welcome. I expect most people’s lives are filled with everyday things. And besides, from what I have read, vegetables are better for you than steak.
They are better, crackers are probably better than cake if we start being sensible. 🙂
A life of quiet mediocrity and vegetables sounds perfect.
IT could be worse. Of course, human nature being what it is, I think it could also be better. 🙂
Yes we humans are like that.
🙂
Beautiful photos, Quercus! Our fruit tress have not started blooming yet, but will do so before too long now. The days are getting longer and somewhat warmer. It was in the upper 60s here today, and we got in some good garden time.
A Japanese friend of mine said that the blossom has come early this year – it is starting early here too. Of course, this is both good and bad.
Early blossom is a cheering sight, but as you say, not always a good thing. Our plum tree is completely blossom free at the moment, which is the way I prefer it. Several times we have had early blossom and no fruit after it was all blown away.
Yes, better for blossom without the wind 😊
Our pear tree usually gets nipped by late frost, so I am glad it has not bloomed yet. We may have a good pear year yet!
Fingers crossed!
Indeed. 🙂
Yes, it’s always a nervy time of year when you have one eye on the beauty and another on the crop.
It all sounds very hopeful. Our blossom is patchy. Neighbours with south-facing gardens are weeks ahead of us.