Wednesday 20 July 2011

Gardener





has been been a happy and not so happy subject on my blog several times. Remember the time he almost burnt the garden down?  Or when he cut back the beauty bush and other shrubs BEFORE flowering?  There was the time when he put great piles of the most pernicious weed in my garden, the blessed lesser celandine, in the compost heap and we had to discard a whole spring's worth of compost, tipping many barrow loads of  it on to the banks of the moat just outside the gate. Admittedly, since then we have had golden carpets of celandine right outside the garden every spring. He has learned quite a lot about gardens and gardening since his days as a cowman, but he'll always need somebody to keep a close eye on him.

Gardener has had a heart attack and I miss him dreadfully. Not only because I have to work three times as hard myself now but I also miss the stories he told during our tea breaks and while we were working side by side. Being a real, died in the wool, countryman of the old school, very conservative,  full of mischief,  I often get cross with him. On occasion, his right-wing opinions make me bite my tongue, something I would never do with anyone else.

The way he mangles the language is priceless. I love gardener-isms, but I'd never laugh at him. He must have some form of verbal dyslexia.

Only a week before he had his heart attack, he went to visit his terminally ill brother in a hostel, (hospice) he said. "They can't  keep on giving him blood all the time. It's getting too expensive. He has something wrong with his corsuples. What can you expect, he abused himself all his life, being an alocolic."

"And as for that worbal gloaming, I don't believe in it. It's nonsense. My chimmuck nearly caught on fire last winter, I had the fire going perament".

I've never found out what a "compensating nuisance" is or a "disaffectened MMR virus", but I have an idea what he means when he tells me he has been given a bottle of "sloane gin" and I definitely know what hides behind "I let my wife do the dirty". She is the one who deals with unpleasant telephone messages for him, both ringing clients he doesn't want to work for and fielding their irate phone calls to his house.

But gardener and I get on extremely well; we have worked out a relationship which suits us both. I am going to keep his job open for him. I spoke to him today and he told me that he'll give up various clients, but that he'll definitely come and do my 'bit of garden'. If a particular job is too much for him, he'll get me to do it, he giggled. He has a giggle for even the hardest, bleakest tale from his life.

I am glad he reckons that I'm worth cultivating. "We'll just have to have more tea breaks", he said when I spoke to him today. "Besides, you pay me cash".

48 comments:

  1. It is sweet to hear of two very different souls who have found common 'ground'. Sorry to hear of his heart attack - and hope that the relationship continues ... in whatever form.

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  2. He does have a mischievous look about him! I hope he recovers nicely and continues to engage you. ;)

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  3. You can see the mischief in that face, as well worn as it is. Hope he recovers enough from this setback to come and do your bit of garden. Thanks for sharing him and his malaprops, too...

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  4. Dear Friko: That was "Global warming" and "chimney"? Hopefully "The Gardener" sequel is in the works; what an interesting fellow. Hope he is feeling "betta" soon! Hard to find gardeners today!

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  5. i hope he is well...sorry to hear he is in the hospital...sounds like quite the guy...

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  6. What a character...actually the both of you. What fun and I am so sad to read that he must slow down. I hope you have many years ahead of gardening together.

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  7. What a dear story! Characters like your Gardener are precious, for sure. Living in a small community as I do, and volunteering in the thrift shop, I believe I've met most the "characters" around here, and I love it! They bring so much joy into our lives and remind us that different isn't strange or bad; it's just different! Treasure your Gardener!

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  8. You are a patient, tolerant soul. We need more like you in the world :)

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  9. He must sound just the way he looks, with that twinkle in his eye and the snaggleteeth. What a character! There are not enough characters in the world. Take good care of him.

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  10. Oh Friko, I do hope that your gardener will be having a steady recovery.

    I gather that you are in his fan club, and that he is in yours.

    Bravo to both of you. xo

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  11. Friko, I love this. I can't add to what you've written here but I loved reading it.

    Also--
    'Or when he cut back the beauty bush and other shrubs BEFORE flowering'

    Been (figuratively) guilty of this. Often. :(

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  12. I absolutely Love this post. What a chap he is, rough edges and all. May you continue to find common ground and plenty of time for tea. The world needs people who are exactly who they are.... ;)

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  13. The gardenerisms are priceless - by the twinkle in his eye, I can see he is the genuine article. Goods thoughts are sent his way in hopes of a complete recovery.

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  14. All best wishes for Gardener. His malapropisms remind me of one of my very elderly neighbors who spoke of a pain in his back as being like fire 'running up and down my vertables.'

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  15. Yes, I can certainly see that twinkle in his eye, Friko. I sure hope he gets well soon, because I know how you treasure the unique friendship that has sprung up between the two of you, based on shared work, tolerance, and patience. I admire it in you, and in Gardener, too.

    —Kay, Alberta, Canada

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  16. You have written a beautiful post about him; he sounds endearing. I hope he gets well soon.

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  17. I sure hope that Gardener recovers fully. You two have many cups of tea in your future. His twinkling eyes show not only in the photo, but in your fond words.

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  18. Oh how I've envied you your Gardener! I hope he recovers soon so that he's able to do the things he likes to do - and spend some time working in your garden and entertaining you!

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  19. one of your life treasures. Hope he is better soon - and that YOU stay well!



    Aloha from Waikiki;


    Comfort Spiral

    ><}}(°>


    > < } } ( ° >

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  20. Oh, your gardener and my Willadean would get together like a house afire - which might happen if he keeps that fire going perament in his chimmuck, worbal gloaming or not.

    Seriously, I love the relationship the two of you have, and so happy he has a job to look forward to when he recovers.

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  21. You know a person is quite special when they make mistakes or have opinions far different than your own, and you still very much enjoy their presence. I'm glad he will coming back to work so he can remain a part of your life.

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  22. Sorry to hear of his ails... hope it is a speedy recovery. Sounds like quite the special one, maybe a bit of the gardner of the soul as well.

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  23. This is a beautiful piece of writing, Friko! Please give your Gerdener our warmest wishes for a speedy recovery!

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  24. Sounds as though you have a diamond there, Friko. Every good wish to Gardener, for a speedy return to good health.

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  25. Hello:
    You write with great warmth and feeling about Gardener and we can believe, only too well, that a very special relationship exists between the two of you, established over mugs of tea, giggles and chat. The Malapropisms are a delight and would keep us, as we suspect you too, constantly amused.

    We do so hope that a recovery will be speedy and he will soon, once more, be there to frustrate all of your endeavours in the garden!

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  26. Ah Friko I love who you are and the quiet radiance of your spirit. Gardener's face is priceless and beautiful. So easy to see his mischief. I am so sorry he is unwell and will think of him with prayers. How blessed you both are to have this special friendship between you. Please do write more about him.

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  27. Friko, you have a moat? More pictures of your paradise and some history of the place. I never knew anyone with a moat. This is very exciting.

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  28. Friko, I pray your gardener gets well soon and that you take care as well! Don't overtax yourself! <3

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  29. it is nasty when your chimmuck catches on fire and very painful, or so i'm told.

    Seriously - i think we all take a certain amount of joy in life in knowing people who persistantly insist on being themselves, ie "characters"

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  30. Strange how we discover what people mean to us when a tragedy strikes! Hope he recovers!

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  31. Now you've hooked me with your well-told tale and I want to continue reading - your character sketches remind me of Maeve Binchey's, so well drawn and absolutely believable. Best of all, yours are real people!

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  32. Well, I liked you before, and I like you even better now. Crusty and snippy you might be sometimes, but you've got real heart. Not very hard to imagine you and Gardener over a cup of tea. I hope his ticker heals up well for his sake, and also for yours. He brings more than just a helping hand to you.

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  33. So sorry to hear about Gardener as I so love to hear about gardener.

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  34. I hope Gardener recovers quickly and continues to add to your fund of gardenerisms. With additional tea breaks there should be a sharp upturn in them;-)

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  35. I wish him a speedy recovery and many more years to fill with giggles , strong tea and verbal pirouettes .

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  36. I'm so sorry to hear that Gardener's suffered a heart attack, Friko. Wish him all my best for a speedy recovery

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  37. friko i love reading the details of gardener's time with you. you've brought goodness into his life and will almost certainly be a big part of his recovery. steven

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  38. Reminded me of one of James Herriot's characters. You, like Alf Wight for his, obviously have great affection for him.

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  39. I think you are well worth cultivating, and hope your friend returns to work soon. My corsuples are nearly fried in this 100 degree heat we are having today. Dianne

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  40. I love your stories of gardener, and I don't know that I've ever seen such a magnificent smile over a cup of tea. I send all good wishes for a strong recovery, and, meanwhile, I am pondering that delicious phrase, "compensating nuisance." Do you think one might apply it to the celandine?

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  41. Hi Frio,
    Thanks for this lovely posts.
    I think more tea breaks and stories.
    Love,
    Herrad

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  42. ps Great photo.
    Love,
    Herrad

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  43. What a sweet tribute to the gardener

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  44. Keeping my fingers crossed he will recover soon and well. Could do with a charming gardener like him myself ;-)

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  45. Hi Friko - he sounds priceless - in all senses of the word. I too do hope he recovers .. even enough to potter round your garden .. and have a cup of tea - that will give him a new lease of life .. it sounds as though yours will come from the extra gardening you'll be doing?!

    All the best .. not easy .. but glad you've captured the essence of him here .. Hilary

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  46. ja, er hat wohl etwas sehr Wertvolles an sich, Dein "Gardener", vielleicht eine Art Leben, wie es ist, in seiner ganzen Tragik und Einfachheit und dies berührt, natürlich...
    Dir ein ganz schönes Wochenende und auf dass wir bald Gutes hören, vom "Gardener"!
    Renée

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  47. He sure has a gardener's hands, and what a sparkle in his eye! You biting your tongue for him I see as a friendly gesture of respect. I have a feeling he comes around for the tea and conversation, but if you want to keep him you'd better keep paying cash!

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  48. I think this is right proper ground for inner development with you two...& then there is cash.

    ;-0. Love that. ~Mary

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