Well, finally we can start to play football and have a round of golf again. I feel so happy that these activities are available as they are a big part of my life. I also like the fact I can have a BBQ with friends and socialise a bit, I just hope the weather does not disappoint!
With all of the previous restrictions even the small things put a smile on my face. The other day a friend of mine sent me some pictures of the work he is doing in his garden and it was amazing what he had achieved in building an outside gym on the second tier of his garden. He had created a space and built decking to support a set of gymnastic bars and all of his fitness equipment. He had set in footings and cemented posts in place to allow the decking to be built on a frame – fantastic.
I was so impressed that I felt ashamed looking out at the, decaying, brick wall in my back garden. I have been saying that “I should really sort that out” for a couple of years now. There are bricks missing, mortar falling out and the top two layers of bricks have actually shifted forward due to poor drainage.
So, yesterday I got up and started to repair the wall. I dug behind the bricks to create some space and then went along the wall tapping the bricks back into line. Immediately the wall looked better, which motivated me more. In the afternoon I went to B&Q and brought an angle grinder and when I got home I started to remove the old mortar so I could re-point the wall. After an hour I had made some progress, but the football was about to start, so I packed the kit up and stopped.
This afternoon I have some spare time and will spend a couple of hours, finally, doing this wall. It will take me some time as I have never done this before and I will have to YouTube a few things but I will get it done before I invite anyone around for our first social BBQ. I also have to complete this as my wife challenged my ability and suggested that I pay someone to come and do it. How dare she! (Lol) I have to be honest, my DIY skills in the past have probably cost us more in the long run, due to the fact I couldn’t be bothered to do things right and just bodged things.
Although I have not learnt a new language, achieved a new qualification or learnt how to play a musical instrument, I have built a ‘lean to’ in my back garden, done some DIY (To an acceptable level) in the house and now I am doing the garden wall. I am happy with my lockdown activities! I realise that I do possess the ability to do some fixing or make improvements around the house and, with some assistance, I can do a good job.
With a tough year behind us I feel I need to concentrate on being grateful for what I have, and we was a family, have achieved.
- DIY – successfully completed.
- Fitness challenges taken on and achieved.
- Regular walks and talks to remain connected and even improve relationships.
- Being patient and calm, even when the internet fails.
- Appreciating and respecting what we do have, more.
- Realising that it’s not all down to me. Together we can do things even better.
I hope you are feeling mo