There is a time to weed the garden, to trim the trees that have grown too much in the summer, to cut the grass, and repeatedly cut the grass, trim the edges, and turn over the soil so it looks nicer.
There's another time to plant seeds, that you won't see for months, but when you see them, they will fill you with joy.
And a further time to plant trees or saplings, or whips (little hedges) that you won't see properly for years to come.
We moved house this year, the space we've got is massive, and the work it requires is extraordinary.
But from time to time, I still pass by the house that we were in before, the one where part of it still feels a little bit like home, but less and less each time I pass. On the front wall of that house are some beautiful little shrubs, they've actually grown to be a lovely size now, covering part of the wall, they look really classy. I planted those something like 13 years ago.
In the spring, the tulips will come up between those I planted too. They only last for such a very short time, but people would always comment on them, messaging us to say they'd seen the tulips. I can still get the joy out of looking at those, even though that's not mine. I'll still make a point of seeing the tulips when they come up, even though I think the people who have the house now are not so interested; it's a little surprise for them that they don't know it's coming.
But you know that this is a metaphor, as these blogs always are.
I've not been so grand at the end of this week and so some of the day to day had to fall away, just so that I could manage, but in the midst of all of that when things slowed down a little bit I was able to plan something new for September which could, if it works, be a complete joy to work with and then something completely and utterly extraordinary and unexpected for February next year.
And then finally, planting an acorn for something that, if it worked 7 years from now, would be financially stunning.
Then it will be time to get back to cutting the grass, weeding, trimming the trees, and waiting for those other things to grow.
Blog Post Number - 4406
Colin Campbell, Chris Barrow, and an intrepid group of dentists will be cycling across the plains of Tanzania from Kilimanjaro in early February 2026. If you would like to support the charity, Bridge to Aid, and this extraordinary challenge, please click here.
Thank you for your generosity.
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