What changes have you made or would like to make?

Like a lot of people, we started growing food during lockdown - although we used to grow all sorts of things years ago, but not in the current garden. We're at the beginning of the learning curve, discovering what will grow and what's worth growing, but we've had some minor successes (lots of wild rocket!). It's very satisfying whe something actually grows!

DH loves to collect blackberries and other fruit - we often get apples and raspberries from next door. We put much of it in the freezer and I make mixed fruit jam at the end of the season. If there are lots of apples we juice some.

Hats off to you both. Sounds too much like hard work for me these daya.

Kim19 I won’t deny it’s often hard work, but particularly since COVID hit it’s been a game changer for me. We have a shed on the allotment with a lovely patio and the river runs just behind it, so if I take a couple of hours off to relax I can read my book or snooze to the sound of flowing water. Bliss.

And my freezers and larder are always full, so when the shelves in the shops really are empty I’ll be in high demand with my friends and family. Just a pity I don’t have an oil well too! ?

I really admire you, well done! It all sounds delicious. I have a cooking apple tree and make lots of things with those including jams, chutneys, crumbles etc combined with other things. I’d like to do more, and have done a few veg before, but we are never too successful.

Good questions.
Have made many healthy boundaries and been kinder to myself and still learning.
Would love to volunteer and help people realise anyone can write poetry when I find a rental and get settled ( middle of divorcing ) . I love poetry and writing and would love to encourage others.

I'm going to change the small bedroom into a study/refuge and get on with my writing. Both grandson and nephew are at college and university now so I doubt they will ever come to stay again sadly.

I’m very impressed grannyactivist! It all sounds wonderful and good to be eating ‘with the seasons’.

My small contribution on here is that I’ve finally mastered the art of saying ‘no’ kindly. I turn down invitations that I don’t fancy with a smile and a polite ‘perhaps next time?’. I’m such a people pleaser it was a hard transition for me!

I am with you on that Urmstongran Lockdown has enabled many of us to reassess our lives and look at how and with whom we spend our time. It is important to live our lives the way that we want to and not how other people dictate. Now I put my own needs first and say no to things I don't want to do and to people who use me for their convenience and what they think I can give them without giving me anything in return.

Tell you what runs through it all for me, ga. You have such a positive attitude. I love that in people. More power to your elbow.

The changes I mentioned above have been a gradual thing, but I think I’m pretty good at seizing opportunities as they arise even though sometimes it requires real effort and is not easy. Some people I know, and not always older ones, have become set in their ways yet can be heard complaining about the limitations of their lifestyles. I understand that for some people who’ve had traumatic life events change can be scary, but I genuinely don’t know why people complain about life, but never seek to change.

Thanks for the encouraging comments. ☺️