Day 1699 Garden central

6th April 2022

The day got off to a slow start, my re-assembly of a drawer box ended in disaster when the repaired side panel split along the groove whilst I was trying to fit the floor panel.

Other repairs seem to go the same way, I guess it was not my day.

I searched for some oak timber that will be stronger and a better job all round.

Kelli had a doctors appointment, which is alway amusing for me when the doctor does some manipulation because she has such a low threshold for pain. It usually consists of cracks from the bones and shouts from her mouth.

Next on our list was a visit to Jonkers, a garden centre that we use frequently to fill up our garden with shrubs. We needed a bag of potting compost and one of manure to pot some recent deliveries, that would take their place in the greenhouse.

When we arrived at the place there were chains across the entrance meaning that the garden centre was not yet open to the public.

This meant our only option was to use the small shop next door that house all the indoor plants. Unfortunately there were no parking spaces at the front, due to a load of old saps already filling up the place, so Kelli then started on a different route. There was a narrow lane by the side of the shop leading to a small car park that she ignored, instead we proceeded further down towards a gravel drive close to the where the main greenhouses were. On she drove, the driveway then narrowed to a path, one I remember walking on many times, collecting our plants and grasses on a rattley old trolley, it certainly seemed strange traveling along it in a vehicle, it gave me a different perspective to the place. We passed, narrowly missing large pots and garden decorations as the path meandered slightly, but still she went forward, there was no chance of reversing. Eventually we arrived at the main car park, the one we couldn’t originally enter because of the chain blocking the entrance. The next plan was to drive across the deserted car park towards the shop. That exit was also blocked with a chain, we were imprisoned. In desperation I jumped out of the truck and unhooked it allowing Kelli through.

We went into the shop and were able to buy what we wanted, but we had to drive back though the chained entrance into the empty carpark to collect the bags. Of course I was now experienced in chain removal making it easy. We loaded up with our bags then drove back passed the chain now resting on the floor and finally exited the place.

If there is a surveillance video, I’m sure it will soon appear on YouTube.

There will soon be a time when we are buying more plants at the same garden centre, and whilst we push our trolly along these pathways, we will smile at the thought that not many people would have driven a truck through these paths of a deserted garden centre.