I am getting a much clearer picture, looking into the window of possible retirement, with a carrot being dangled frequently by Old Mate about putting the cue on the rack.
She says: “Won’t it be great when we can spend more time together?” and “Think of all the things we can do around the house and in the garden”.
There is one flaw in her plan – well, actually, more than one. Money stands out as a major issue, but lately it has been in danger of being overtaken by spending time together in the garden.
Now, admittedly, over a period of time such as the past 43 years, things have changed. But, I must say, one of the only things that didn’t change with me is that, in 1983, I liked mowing lawns but hated gardening and that is still the case today.
Sure, I don’t mind picking up a mess Old Mate has made but don’t ask me to pot a plant and, God forbid, trim a tree under supervision. Not happy, Jan.
Potting plants and garden beds is not in my skillset. To her credit, Old Mate has someone come in to help her with that and he has done a great job in the potting department. Fantastic!
Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.
But that’s when everyone got a bit excited and decided to do garden beds. Old Mate got her calculator out and ordered 5 cubic metres of soil, dropped in the driveway on a tarp. It was originally 4 but she threw in another cubic metre for good luck.
Now, her helper comes once a week for four hours when it isn’t raining. With the rain and what has already been spread (which I have noted is about half the garden beds), at least 4.5 cubic metres are still left. It looks like a small mountain in our driveway.
The obvious question is: why don’t I just rip in and get it down? Simple answer? I still want to be married. If I do it, there is certain to be a broken branch or flower and it will end up like Question Time in parliament.
Just last week, I trimmed one tree while supervised. Then I got a bit cocky and did one all on my own. Bloody hell – talk about drama. I did learn a couple of things. When you cut branches, you have to do it on an angle so the rain doesn’t rot the branch. Wow!
I also learnt I will be working until my zimmer frame cannot carry the load any longer. I am reminded of this quote as I continue to stumble off to work: “When you retire, you switch bosses – from the one who hired you to the one who married you”.
Ashley Robinson is Metropolitan Caloundra Surf Club CEO, chairman of Thunder Netball and a lifetime Sunshine Coast resident.
