Happy May Day!

So, this is the beginning of summer according to one source. As I sit here listening to Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds at full pelt from the other room (DP has recently got ever-so into this) I can believe it. Hasn't it been glorious? And I, in a burst of luck, have not been in work. Feast or famine; supply is not a certain source of income and I need something better. I'll work on that. But in the meantime;





I have painted my bench and little picnic table. The garden has been weeded and the plants watered so that I can, this evening, take a cool beer out and enjoy the sunset through my trees. (must remember to take my hayfever tablets) I have got white geraniums to pot up and put at my front door and a red poppy, birthday gift from my Mum whom I dragged out to the garden centres today. I had a shopping trip yesterday and came back proud recipient of floral tins, wooden pegs (none better!) big shopping bags that will stop me using more plastic than I have to and a net canopy for the princess. Whoo! So much stuff on one little trip, but mostly from Home Bargain, so nothing cost more than £3!

These lovely early summer days make me happy. I begin to throw off the cold of winter and to look ahead to long, hot days spent in the garden, tip-toeing over warm pathing stones to tickle my toes on the too-hard grass. I can anticipate these days, even as I realise that the grass is still too cold (just) to lie on for more than an hour, that the warm days are followed by nights just too cold to set my bedding plants. That is a pleasure I save for my birthday, three weeks hence. For now, I stroke the plants in the garden centre and dream of owning a green house, a big one to walk inside and water. I buy my plastic jug for the summer ahead, and sip cool juice from coloured plastic glasses. I know that in two months time the sun will heat up the juice to warm unless I put in ice cubes, but that now the glasses keep their cool edge.

May as a month for me is all about anticipation; for the summer's heat, for holidays still to come, for my birthday & those of my family in June, for the heat that will drive me inside in the middle of the day and make me still. May is a month of doing, a busy month spent preparing for the high summer, the langurous heat and the months of pure being. Bliss.

You may have noticed, I managed to mention my birthday three times in that blogpost. I'm famous for that. I used to drop hints as subtle as bricks at home, a build up to my birthday that must have driven my brothers mad. I was the only summer birthday in the house, you see, so I could, if I worked hard make it last for two months. I'm not a lot different now. Eh bien, 39 and still the same. Except, I have learnt to share my birthday. So, in honour of my being ever so slightly more grown up than I used to be, I am holding a birthday competition. I am asking you to send me your thoughts on what I look like and what I'm really like. I haven't posted any pictures of myself, and I wondered what sort of person you all think I am. There are three prizes, one for the closest description of me in reality, one for the best description of me even if it bears no relation to what I'm actually like and one for the hell of it... that one will be a name pulled out of a hat. The prizes are still in discussion, but probably books, papers, thread or buttons. It'll be interesting to see what you think of me... or is it true that evesdroppers ne'er hear well? Looking forward to hearing from you!

PS.... I'll keep the contest open til Sunday 13th May & post results on the next Monday, so that parcels can be posted by 23rd... my birthday!

Post your answers before Monday 15th, I'll judge on the 16th and post everything asap after that.