I blog pictures of this housing estate in St. John's Wood every year when the daffodils come out, and I can't resist doing it again. I love the way they're planted in a long, curvy drift across the lawn. Monty Don on the BBC show "Gardener's World" is always reminding people not to plant their bulbs in rows, but in naturalistic scatterings. He recommends casting them on the ground and planting where they fall. This is a bit more calculated than that, perhaps, but still not overly regimented.
That's Leon's "Ideas" sculpture on the oxidized stone column in the middle.
And here they are at night.
Yesterday was another grind at work. When my boss asked me at 3:45 to start on another project (we close at 4:30) I actually complained to her that my job had become "relentless." I'd been busy all day covering books, checking out, helping change out two displays, working in the Lower School, re-shelving and other stuff. "It's a lot, I know," she said, and offered to help with this new task, but dear God, why do we have to be so non-stop? The atmosphere has changed so much and my workload is no longer commensurate with my paycheck. Twenty-three more days!
I had not one but two martinis last night.
Meanwhile, I have nothing specific to do this weekend. I'm hoping to do some reading and catch up in blogland, where I am way behind. (In addition to the laundry and gardening and plants and all that stuff!)
Those daffies are beautiful, year after year!
ReplyDeleteCan't blame you for the two martinis after the day and week you've had at work. Long before I started to have wine with meals on weekends and threw my first cockatil party for my birthday, I distinctly remember such a particularly relentless day at work (two employments before my current one); by the time I left the building and made my way to the train station, I felt breathless as if I'd just run a race, and for the first time in my life it crossed my mind that I could really understand why some folks wanted a drink after work.
After you're gone, she will realize all the things you do that she doesn't really see now, and they either hire two people to replace you or things will simply go undone until a crisis happens. I've seen it happen over and over again.
ReplyDeleteOur neighbour insisted on planted crocuses in his front garden in neat alternating orange and purple rows. It looked completely weird next spring...
ReplyDeleteThe daffs look great. Only twenty three days to go? You can take lots of walks along the Thames bank, and then you will be bored stiff and wish you were still working! No?
ReplyDeleteLate on a Friday afternoon, all schools wind down for the weekend. Nobody should begin new tasks unless they are absolutely vital. You ought to have told Margaret Thatcher to "**** OFF!" or held up your middle finger in the manner of the Leon's Ideas air-conditioning pipe.
ReplyDeleteI bet those twenty three days can't pass fast enough!
ReplyDeleteNo job should be relentless especially not a school library job. You used to have time to do special things for the kids. But only 23 days left (which are beginning to look like a year). Thanks for the annual daffodils. Ours in Guilford were much more random, but I love this look.
ReplyDeleteOnce to have your end date, work is much harder, but to ask you to start a new, I assume non urgent task late on a Friday afternoon is in my mind flexing her power over you. No one wants or needs a boss like that.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI'd love a whole curving bed of daffodils across the yard!
ReplyDeleteShe's probably counting down the days until you leave with dread versus your anticipation.
ReplyDeleteTwenty three days? That's nothing, when you think what it WAS! You've so got this. (That said -- really? 3:15?) I'm glad you were specific about what you had done all day. Sometimes when they look at "the list," it's pretty amazing that one person did that all at one shot. So, well done.
ReplyDeleteThose daffs are gorgeous. I like the zig-zag look. Yes, it's contrived but so unusual. They are a tradition!
Great minds
ReplyDeleteBrother Man , Please Go For A Walk This Weekend - Not Just A Walk , A Walk - Shoot Some Photos , Take Some Breaths , And Stay Visually Stimulated
ReplyDeleteYou Got This ,
Cheers
Friday afternoon at 3:15 is not the best time to attempt something new. Never mind, you've made your views clear to her.
ReplyDeleteI love those daffodils! And I like the idea of scattering them on the ground and planting them where they lay. Do you not get scheduled breaks at work? Do they do that in the UK? Ah well, like you say, 23 more days.
ReplyDeleteI really have nothing to say here except that your relief when those 23 days are marked off will be truly profound. Now have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we are taken advantage of. Cuts are made and they trickle down to the first line of employees.
ReplyDeleteThe marching daffies never get old. Clever way to plant them.
ReplyDelete23 days may as well be an eternity- your mind is made up, your job's increasing demands and two martinis makes me want to hang it up right NOW> 23 days can be a slow boil, I suppose. Looking forward to the day you close the library door for keeps and get on with your photography and adventure!
Oh my, it sounds like we have both had a crazy week. My boss did the same thing to me. I've already got three projects I'm working on and he gave me two more. It's nice that they value my work but if this pace keeps up, I may decided to retire too.
ReplyDeleteHow nice to see those lovely daffodils. Relax this weekend as much as you can.
ReplyDeleteIs the increased workload related to being short handed? Even so, to ask last thing on a Friday to start a new project is poor management. Most of what you do isn't wildly time sensitive, I'd have thought. Is she trying to get the most out of you before she loses you?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you spoke up. I just love the way those daffodils look!
ReplyDelete23 days to go and you will be free!
ReplyDeleteIf demands continue to be outrageous, I'd consider taking a few sick or personal days to do something fun. The manager will have to re-distribute the work to others which is going to happen again when you retire. Manager can practice her re-distribution skills!
The daffs are gorgeous in the long zig-zag pattern.
23 days--or is it school days. That's a whole different situation and it will DRAG. I wonder what's changed about the job, or is it the boss who has spearheaded this? I've planted my tulips in bunches so that I can plant annuals around them without accidentally digging up the bulbs. I don't do straight lines but I am rather regimented. (as befits my concrete sequential side)
ReplyDeleteI read your blog daily and love it. It is like a comfort blanket. And yet when you complain about having to work at work I do laugh I admit it. I have never known of a job where someone has time to do personal reading (even in libraries and even if they are poorly paid) and is allowed to do so. Isn't work called woek for a reason, ha.
ReplyDeletePerhaps they are trying to wring the last full measure of work out of you, prior to departure.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same as Allison. BTW, I love the winding trail of daffodils!
ReplyDelete