Time travel

Rabbits, Heidi and the garden life

I remember the old swing, that red rusted one to the right. My rabbit's hutch used to be positioned in front. My beautiful Netherlands Dwarf rabbit. He was tame and modest. Nosey was his name, he was my earliest memory and this serene garden was his home. Jump kicking his legs, the days he was allowed out from the hutch, myself and my sisters would wildly chase him round the fence. I sit here some days and remember the fond memories; it brings me back to the days I got him. I learned to calm an anxious teenage mind with an animal.

Going to the swing; I would sit placidly on it with my adorable rabbit on my lap, and all my teenage problems would sweep away into those trees to the left. My attention was focused on whispering rabbit language to nosey. I was careful not to let the neighbours hear me being a bit weird. Forgotten was tomorrow's Maths home work and my crush on the boy we drank cider with at the weekends. Now 2020, I sit here doing my adult work in the garden, trying to fulfil adult duties and realise lessons I can learn from the garden. Pets are therapy and relieve stress.

We also had a wild German Shepherd called Heidi, she kept us on our toes. Sometimes she would chase us and knock us off our toes. She charged into my old childhood friend one time but everyone loved her. I remember the day we got her as a puppy and she was sat playing in the snow. This garden reminds me of the seasons coming and going from snow to sun. It reminds me both can be embraced and I sit here thinking about Heidi! I think about Heidi and Nosey a lot. The memories never leave the garden and animals are precious!

May 3rd 2002 Lesson one

Neighbours, the garden and life

We threw a party for my sisters birthday yesterday, dancing and listening to music while social distancing it was a different party. I posted the story to my instagram and a message flooded in from my old neighbour. She pointed out my old house and noticed her fusty tree. I got emotional thinking about that jagged but symbolic fence, and all the conversations exchanged when we were teens. She has moved on, but the memories continue to live on. We went to the same school and socialised at the weekends. So we would gossip neighbourly over the fence on Sunday afternoons. Sometimes she would throw me sweets over and signal from her bedroom window when she wanted us to sneak out for a chat. Neighbours are special always make the effort. I felt a rush of nostalgia when she sent the instagram message. How one garden picture can be infectious and spread positivity to others.

Lesson 2 January 17th 2004

Free handstands, the garden and life

I remember when we did not care about breaking bones. When handstands were as easy as teeth brushing. My friends and I had competitions. We had handstand competitions in this garden. One day we went all out and invented the types that any kid could master. The first was the police man (straight legged handstand), the second was the genie (cross legged handstand) and the third was wobbly jelly (shaking all over the show in mid handstand pose). We used to run the show and invite the whole street in. My sister would judge everyone out of 10 and we would throw grass over the winner. I sat in the garden with my tea and thought what a blob I had become. I decided to frantically do a handstand while digging my hands into the garden. I tried wobbly Jelly man, let's just say it is a long road to success. Nevertheless the joy that came from trying was pure bliss. All the happy memories came back and stepping away from my phone to play just liked I used to was freedom. My nephew arrived (four years old) and I showed him the game. We sat for hours doing handstands and policeman positions, while shaking like Mr Blobby. Life does not have to be expensive! Who needs fancy gyms? My garden taught me how I traditionally worked out and how I still can.

Lesson 3 May 10th 2020

Magpies, water and my garden

I drink my peppermint tea and watch the Magpie. It comes each day and baths in the bucket water. It is too cute. I realise the simplicity of life and what a day can simply be. It brings me back to the purpose of water which is to clean but of course as a teenager it was to have ambitious water fights. The tap to the side was used to fill water balloons and buckets, someone would run to the kitchen sink and cheat. They would fill up a bucket and then plop it over our heads. Then out of nowhere would come the water pistol from the bathroom window. Splashed and drenched we would run around and scream uproariously. My 32 year old self, I decided to get a bottle of water and chase my sister round in circles splashing her with water. Linking the past with the present is a blessing. Somethings are still relevant no matter how digitalised they want to make the world. My garden reminds me nothing beats a water fight; not even a laser quest!

Branches and discovery learning from the garden

I was bored waiting for a new game, so decided to lift some branches rather abruptly. My nephew and I decided to have a sword fight with them. I realised as we did it, that, this must have been how someone got the idea for creating equipment in certain sports. I used to watch fencing on the olympics but thought it was far out f my reach, maybe I can do my own style in my back garden. Then I realised how hockey, hurling and other similar sports must have been created using things from nature. Looking deep into my country and their main sports and roots, I had a moment of discovery learning. As I sit and teach through Zoom, I realise the importance of learning through life. I know it seems so basis, but with so many disconnections from real life, I feel these things won't be so simply known for the future generations. Going in to nature and figuring out how things developed, how they were created and what materials were essential to our day to day living is vital. The sword fight commenced, as these thoughts rambled through my head and my four year old nephew kicked my ass! I think we both learnt and created our own little sport. Branch fighting and how to ground a family member in 2020.

July 2030

Perhaps I will attend a wedding under this tent in my back garden. Who knows how many more precious memories this green space can create?! I sit and fantasise the future with my friends and family. Who do you think will be next to fall over? Who will get married in the tent? How many more nieces and nephews will roam this garden? Will my parents eventually downsize and hand this garden gift over to someone else? Life is full of lessons everywhere! I left my life from overseas to come back here through the pandemic and my memories so far of this episode have been mostly in my garden. I will leave again but bring the leaves with me next time I go to work again overseas. My screen saver will be garden to remind me of everything I have embellished.

From one little picture of my garden, I realise how the past, present and future are inextricably linked. Sitting and meditating with a cup of peppermint tea or red wine is the way forward.