Swings and Roundabouts – A Weekend with a Twist

Friday brought a surprise: a last-minute emergency booking came through via Rover — 3pm to 2am. Chickpea sprang into action, puppy-proofing the space and printing forms. Courtesy messages were sent… but no reply. No show. Just silence.

It was disappointing, of course. The space was ready, the mind prepared. But Chickpea’s inner voice quietly said: “Let it go — onwards.” So she did.

Sunday was a different story. A busy, grounding day spent in the kitchen, shopping bags in tow, and hands in the soil at the allotment. The last of the blackcurrants were picked — and in their place came the first tomatoes and early cooking apples of the season. Courgettes and beetroot are still going strong. And though chickpeas aren’t growing here just yet (one day, perhaps!), the garden is generous.

That evening, needing a pause before diving into apple purée, rice paper rolls, kombucha tending, and the final tidy-up, Chickpea took a walk. Just a few quiet steps to gather energy.

And there it was — a little box outside a house, offering freshly picked green gages to anyone passing by. Chickpea took six, smiling inwardly. Back home, ‘Lentil’ gave them a taste-test and approved wholeheartedly.

Something about the gesture sparked a wave of warmth. Chickpea scribbled a thank-you note, popped a jar of gooseberry jam, a handful of freshly picked blackcurrants, and apple purée into a paper bag, pegged the note to it, and set off to deliver it.

To her delight, the green gages were still there. Even the teenagers had eaten some, proving their universal appeal. With a big grin, Chickpea picked up twenty more and returned home, recharged and full of joy.

No photos were taken — just moments lived. And that was enough.