One Word Update- June

My One Word this year is Yield. Two meanings – to produce something and to give way to something.

I have been taking comfort from the quote from Mortimer and Whitehouse in their Gone Fishing book.”the secret of success is not how to catch, but how to enjoy”. And so if my crafting has taken a back step this month I have been enjoying the fruits of my labour in the garden, the small amount of crochet I have done, the few books I have read (still wading through the pile from the library..down from eleven to four) and getting out and about for my photo challenge, and enjoying every moment.

So let’s look at Yield- to bend or break under pressure, to give up control or responsibility for something.

Well Yes. I mentioned on Friday a major blunder on my part.

I stood in the garden about four weeks ago and thought with envy of the garden furniture I see everywhere. Lovely comfy sofas, footstools, tables etc, and looked at my tatty table, chairs etc.

On my way home from the poetry group I popped into a garden centre for some plants, and there was a smaller sofa than ones I’d seen before..ooh I thought, I wonder.

Two weeks later I was passing by again and thought would it still be there? Well I bought a set, but was told it would be a week or so for delivery. I was so excited, not just a bit excited but a lot excited. Breakfasts outside, lunches outside, sewing outside . And the sun came out and the weather forecast improved. I cleared a way through the garage for delivery to the garden.

The day came for it’s arrival. the chaps were early. It was delivered.

It is FLAT PACK! The instructions threw me into a panic, the hundreds of screws and what not terrified me. And I cried.

It had been left in the garden. The two boxes were enormous and heavy. I had no choice but to unload the boxes outside, put the boxes in the garage and re pack them there.

I felt so stupid. It hadn’t occured to me for one second that it would be flat pack. The brochure didn’t say so, the webpage neither. The only sofas for the house I have had delivered came as complete sofas.

I really felt very silly indeed. As you know it was Father’s Day here in the UK and in the US and maybe elsewhere. Sons would be busy..indeed one was in Greece and one down in Dorset. Besides which their time is precious and if I see them I want to see them, not give them chores to do. The time will come when I will be forced to ask for help for even trivial things.

I gave up fighting this issue. I was silly not to have realised it, but I would just have to seek help.

So upshot is my friendly neighbourhood handyman Lee is coming to build my garden furniture..but not till the first week in July. Fortuntately for me I am owed a refund on my energy bill, which will cover the cost of the build and cleaning my patio.

It has been a salutory lesson for sure. I will share some before and after shots next month.

Meantime, I have made do with what I have already. I covered the table with a table cloth, I put cushion seats on the uncomfy chairs and put the rather tatty comfy recliner chair in the shade of my garden shelter. It may not be the lovely sofa yet, but I have spent many a happy hour enjoying my garden with crochet and a book.

I think I may be getting the hang of bowing to the inevitable. I just must learn to think good ideas through just a bit better. Although in this instance , no amount of thought would have led me to think that sofas came flat pack. Which reminds me to open the box the bird bath came in nearly two years ago, that too is flat pack, maybe I should pluck up courage and have a look , at least.

Joining with Carolyn and others who chose a word this year. Link here.. https://youronewordblog.wordpress.com/2024/06/24/checking-in-6-24/