Wrestling with tags

I am a bit of a tag 'virgin' so this could go horribly wrong.

I have been tagged by Stuart at Gardening Tips 'n' Ideas to list eight things that I should be thankful for. After reading Stuarts tribute to his family I thought, regardless of my inner feelings, that I could not repeat the same things here.

Here are my eight thoughts.

1. For being in the right place at the right time - today and tomorrow is that time.

2. I could live without feet and I could live without arms but I could not live without sight. To be a gardener, the one sense, even above smell and hearing, is the ability to see the worlds natural beauty.

3. Having the 'creative' gene is something I would never pass over if I ever had my gardening time again.

I sometimes return, although not often, to the place I grew up and plied my landscaping and gardening skills. In gardens, scattered across my old 'manor' are my creations that are being used and hopefully loved by their current owners. I can picture, for example, the Prunus 'Autumnalis' outside the main entrance to Highfield School in Liphook which I donated after completing 15 years as their contractor and I was thankful for that opportunity.

4. For my freedom. In a world full of horror and sadness I am pleased to have the freedom to create and to share. It is that freedom that allowed so much expression in my 26 years as a gardener which continues today through this blog and my house building project in France.

5. For being imperfect - a strange thing to say you might think but it is this imperfection and the ability to know where my limits are that makes me strive for better things.

6. For the ability to help and encourage - we all need this, even me so I try to give graciously and help copiously.

7. For the tranquillity and wonder of life here in France - it has to be seen to be believed.

8. For the cup of tea at the end of a hard day with ten minutes to sit, unwind and ponder and just be thankful.

I am going to Tag the following. Be warned though, this is a very difficult exercise to complete!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Richard at Real Oasis

Bob at Gardener To The Big House.

Andrew at Lavendon Garden

Gill at My Tiny Plot (if she can find the time after here recent news :)

Richard at AtWaG

Open register

Neil at Complete Gardens

Funky at Garden Monkey