Where did those weeks go?

The moment when you realise you haven't written your blog for so long!
Sorry to any avid readers....not sure there are any yet but sorry just the same.
As I shared in my last blog I gave up smoking after having a chest infection and fever, the greatest news is that I have remained smoke free since - so now I'm in my 11th week.
It has not been easy and continues to be a struggle sometimes but I have managed this far and I am so proud of myself.
It is a filthy habit and one that I realise was a MAJOR part of my life, my habit is still niggling away at me and the after effects are only just beginning.
I have put on weight but I can lose it, I can't get new lungs, or a healthy respiratory system but I can lose weight.
While I have been trying desperately to keep busy and keep smoke-free I have been doing the garden, mostly raking leaves and putting them in bags for leaf mould next year.

 

I have been selling plants but sadly have given up my two days in Brixton market - I may be starting somewhere else - there's a new street market opening in South Lambeth Road, next to the Tate Library. I fancy I might help that get of the ground.
I've been selling from my garden too, small but steady business so if you are one of my neighbours and have just joined me I'll be doing the newsletter very soon.
I have also done a course in myofascial release - an addition my growing massage repertoire.
I've been busy.............

 

making Kokedama moss balls, which I will be selling at Christmas and next year, I have a company called Kokedama London. Making these is such a meditation, I will become obsessed - they are so beautiful - here are some hanging ones.

 

Caught a cold - running stall in the rain!

It was bound to happen - last Monday I set up the plant stall in the market as usual, as soon as I started the heavens opened and the rain pouring down became torrential. It pretty much lasted all day on and off, so business was so slow - I'm starting to think that the gardeners in and around Brixton have forsaken me - so I soldiered on. I started packing up around 4pm through the rain and by the time I got home I was drenched. Now I've got the worst cold and cough - feel bunged up and sorry for myself.

If anyone tells you it's easy running a stall don't believe them!
I am so proud of my daughter who owns and runs Flower Love London in Brixton Market, she has been doing this since November 2014 - through the cold, rain, sun, hailstones, wind - going to market at 5am in the morning, getting home at 7-7.30 at night. You've got to have a dream to keep that up.

Anyway, I am such a herbalist so when the cold came on it started with a sore throat - I picked some Thyme from the garden, boiled it up and drank the tea. Then I went out and picked some ripe elderberries and made a cough syrup with it - which tastes delicious and will stave off a bad cough. I am also drinking a lung tea mix, courtesy of Brixton Wholefoods recipe without the peppermint - so it contains hyssop, mallow, mullein, coltsfoot, yarrow - plus other herbs I can't remember now but it works to support the lungs and generally for respiratory problems.

Monday raining all day in Brixton Market

Drenched when I got home1

Making Elderberry cough syrup

Black Elder in the garden

Life after redundancy

I was made redundant in October last year, I decided to take the money and take my time to decide what my next move was. At the age of 62 getting a new job in a familiar industry is hard enough but I am done with office work, any work I do from now on will bring me joy - and an income. It's not too much to ask is it?

Initially I signed on to Jobseekers - not a great experience -you are required to spend over 30 hours week looking for a job applying and evidencing your efforts. I did what I was told to do applied for anything that looked feasible and got not one reply.

Soul destroying if you let it be, I decided that I would look at my skills/talents and try to come up with solutions outside the box.

So a few more months down the line I am starting a massage business - bodywork and natural facelift massage. I am working my daughter's stall two days a week selling plants (my passion) and I started writing. My first book will be about my experience of a son who became a Muslim.

It's early days but I am happy with my choices, thinking positively every minute of every day - I know this new chapter will work for me.