Read the title as you like... did I strike a blow for independence, or was I unsuccessful?
This what I ended up with, so the overall result was a win!
A small table and chair now fill the space between the front door step and the bay window.
I've lifted the pot of pansies off the paving onto the table as well. That corner gets all the morning sun, and is usually sheltered from the wind. So I decided I would scandalise our very conventional road of fifties semidetached houses and bungalows by Sitting in the Front Garden with my morning coffee when possible! I haven't bought a purple dress and red hat to wear. One step at a time... although, thinking about it, there's that red hat I bought for my cousin's wedding...
I've long been envious of the way my Canadian friends talk about sitting on their porch enjoying the sun. I think this far more customary over there than over here. In American novels (think 'To kill a mocking bird') the families sit on the porch and greet the passers-by.
The sun doesn't reach out seating area in the back garden close by the house until late afternoon these days, so if I want to sit in the sunshine it has to be the front garden.
My plan was to go out of the back door, trailing my 30ft oxygen tube, and carry the lightweight table and chair up the drive as far as the lead would reach - about halfway. Then I went out of the front door, but - horrors! The lead wasn't quite long enough!
Just then a lad came along walking to the sixth-form college. Aha!
'Excuse me,' I called. He didn't heat he, never even noticed me! He was miles away, ears full of the sound of whatever his ear phones were filling them with!
BB came hurtling out of the front door... 'I thought I heard you call'. My independence came toast sudden end, and in fact I was very grateful as he accomplished in under 2 minutes what I had spent a while doing.
Tomorrow, if it is sunny, I shall be out there, with a cup of coffee and a magazine and a cheery 'good morning' for any dog walkers, joggers, fetching-the-milk-and-weekend-papers, and anyone else as they pass by. You have be warned!
I think that's a lovely idea. I've often thought it would be good to have a wide porch/stoop whatever, just to sit and maybe swing, chat to people, drink a mint julep, read a book. However, our British reserve would probably put me down as a 'nosy old bat'.
ReplyDeleteI'll see how I get on... I confess to a little trepidation!
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