SO PROUD!

You probably think that I make fun of Mr. HCB for always being out in the garden, but I am very grateful that he spends so much time out there - planting, weeding, and doing all manner of other little jobs that I probably don't even know about (but he is grateful to our older son for the gift of headphones, so that he can be in the greenhouse and still listen to the cricket commentary on the television - he'll be wanting a TV out there before long!)

He definitely takes after his Dad, who was an avid gardener, and who kept the family in fruit and vegetables almost all year - we were only speaking about him the other day, when Mr. HCB told me that during the summer months, his Dad would come home from a hard day's work at 5.30 p.m. quickly eat his tea, and then be out at his allotment, sometimes not getting home until it was dark at about 10.00 p.m.  That's dedication!

Mr. HCB is much the same, although he tends to do a lot of his work at the other end of the day - it's nothing for me to get up at about 8.00 a.m. to find him having his second cup of tea, having been out in the garden since 6.00 a.m.  That, too, is dedication.  

I know that his Dad would be so proud of him if he could see not only all the vegetables he has grown, but also the flowers - and especially these beautiful pinks.  

I know I have told the story before, but it bears telling again - Mr. HCB's father had been nurturing a beautiful yellow carnation that he had successfully propagated and when they went on holiday, Mr. HCB was tasked with watering this and looking after it.  Sadly, during that holiday, Mr. HCB's father had a heart attack and died so he never saw the carnation in all its glory, which I find incredibly sad, after all his hard work.  However, Mr. HCB's mother decided that the carnation would go in the coffin with her husband's body - so it did - and I like to think that in some way, he knew it was there.  

There is a saying : 

"To live in the hearts 
         of those we love 
                is not to die"

and this is so true - Mr. HCB's father lives in our hearts and for us, he will always be part of our lives - especially when we see these beautiful flowers.