Just as well this isn’t a race because we would be in last place at the very start. We wouldn’t stand a chance keeping up with the neighbours, unless it was about eccentricities and then the Quirky Museum would be a winner.
One of our neighbours upgraded their security cameras just as we came to the Quirky Museum; I’m sure it is a coincidence, it must be, surely? Then there are the smart cars on driveways, at least one with a special number plate. More recently a Maserati has been upgraded to a newer Maserati with a fashionable burbling sounding exhaust pipe.
It was when a neighbour told us of upgrading last year’s fence to a Brazilian fence for this year that we realised how we were being outclassed. Not only did the fencing get upgraded but the (then) trampled grass needed replacing with new turf. To enable this to happen, a skip appeared and was duly filled with the old lawn and then replaced by tons of new top soil and new turf.
Our alternative thrifty approach probably has a few eyebrows twitching as we potentially lower the tone of the neighbourhood. No classy cars here. In our garden we are simply trying to stay on top of things and we’re definitely not aiming for the Most Perfect Garden competition.
One of our three areas of grass is now dubbed ‘the meadow’ and we are not mowing it, instead a year of seeing what comes up. So far it looks pretty and promising with little violets and primroses smiling at us and the numerous flying visitors in the garden.
Our cars also point to our thriftiness. Hannah’s rather old Honda Jazz, which came covered with scratches and scuffs continues to provide reliable and thrifty transport. Our 2007 Toyota is brilliant and will hopefully continue giving us comfy, cost effective motoring until petrol gets phased out.
All of this adds up to us being outclassed in our little neighbourhood. Do I care? Not in a million years. I am happy to live here. I am grateful for the way our neighbours keep high standards. We will also be playing our part but alas not the same line in keeping up with such expensive tastes. Instead the Quirky Museum will develop as a nice interesting place, full of quirkiness and welcome for folk dropping by.
In other news
My mother has been to stay with us again. At 87 she’s done well to continue driving and through a little drive with her to the village petrol station, in my mind now I question how long she should continue for. That’s going to be a tricky conversation one day!
We are continuing to declutter, albeit slowly this week. This week we have managed to sell an off-cut of carpet for a princely sum of £4. Some surplus pillows have gone and some of Rachel’s mum’s clothes have found a new home. Most weeks our lady gardener, takes some odd bits of material for crafty purposes. So steady progress.
I spotted a telegraph pole was up for grabs (had been used as part of a tree house for 20 years). I was lucky not to break the suspension on my car or even get a ticket for a dangerous load as I drove it all home . Thankfully just a few hundred yards. Today Harry paid a visit with his chainsaw and axe, so another step towards staying warm next winter!