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BUYING TIME

My father-in-law is an avid gardener.  He visits local garden  centres at least three times a week, and always for a scone and tea lunch.  You might think this is a bit obsessive or even sad but it lends structure to their week and gives my mother-in-law, who has dementia, some sort of physical and mental stimulation.

Quite frequently he’ll also buy a plant or two.  Some might be bargains but some are quite expensive plants (at least by my parsimonious standards).

I asked him once why he shelled out such large amounts on fully mature plants, when I would get a much cheaper, smaller specimen.

He said “I’m 91.  I might never see the one you’ve bought mature.  You think I’m buying a plant.  I’m not.

I’m buying Time”.

◄ CORGIS

FROM KANE TO SON ►

Comments

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John Coopey

Tue 27th Sep 2022 10:23

Thankyou, Isobel and Graham. Apart from the obvious high-mileage mechanical breakdowns I find myself expecting to be able to do some physical activity that was no problem years ago - like putting my socks on standing up or loping across a busy road like a panther.

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Graham Sherwood

Mon 26th Sep 2022 09:43

JC the expression ‘borrowed time’ applies to us all somehow. It’s just that some of are more in debt than others.
A lovely piece John

G 👍

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Isobel

Mon 26th Sep 2022 09:32

I like this one John - so very meaningful to us older poets.

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John Coopey

Fri 16th Sep 2022 12:48

I think I see what you mean, Uilleam. It’s that feeling you get when you pull a handful of shrapnel out of your pocket and nearly all of them are £1 or £2 coins
And thanks for the Like, Holden.

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Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Fri 16th Sep 2022 10:48

On the occassion of my previous birthday I had somehow convinced myself that I was actually 1 yr older! Now I feel I've got an extra year.😊

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John Coopey

Fri 16th Sep 2022 08:02

And when we’re winning 1-0 going into 5 minutes of extra time the clock’s minute hands seem to get stuck, Graham.
And thanks for the Like, Julie.

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Graham Sherwood

Thu 15th Sep 2022 21:47

He was most surely correct JC.
Ever since my open-heart surgery I tend to treat time differently. Certainly something not to be squandered

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John Coopey

Thu 15th Sep 2022 18:33

Thankyou Stephen and Frederick. I’ve heard that time moves at different speeds; for example, for a fly or humming bird. I have personal experience of this. Eight hours of work lasted a fortnight while a fortnight’s holiday was over in a couple of days!
And thanks for the Likes Stephen A and MC.

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Stephen Gospage

Thu 15th Sep 2022 17:18

A deceptively profound statement on the subject of time and its passage, John. It has come up quite a lot recently.

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Red Brick Keshner

Thu 15th Sep 2022 17:09

This puts it all into perspective! Thank you so much John 👍

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