This forum is a lifeline for me and my garden. I have no gardening friends or family and the local garden society folded several years ago. I LOVE the way I can ask simple questions and know that someone will be along soon to answer or advise. Long may they continue to post!
I moved to France in April, long way from friends & family & inherited a very large garden (& I don't mean that literally, if only).
The forum has been a life saver as far as the garden is concerned and the regular contributers have actually really helped with feelings of homesickness & loneliness that I have inevitably experienced from time to time.
Support & friendship only a click away. I read the news each morning on the laptop & then click on here to catch up, & usually drop in a couple of times a day, sometimes just reading other times commenting. I lead a very busy life but I find the forum a great part of sharing experiences and often some threads make you feel very lucky & give you a well needed boost.
Some people spend 8 hours a day stuck in front of a computer working, this is a much more positive experience and probably less than an hour of people's time in the main.
I love it.
“Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?” —Betsy Cañas Garmon
I moved to France in 1985, I wish there had been a forum then, was very lonely at first. I love being able to chat to people in England and I love my garden, which will open for the new French open gardens scheme for the first time this year.
I have met people through the forum, including Dordogne Damsel above, all lovely.
My laptop sits on the kitchen table so easy to read the forum and type a few words when I stop for a coffee. I'm retired, ex-nurse, mother of 4, bred Jersey cows, have horses, dog, big garden and many other things going on, past and present in my life.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
I love this forum too. Advice "on tap", always someone to talk gardening too, (when noone else I know in "real life" is really that interested in it), and plenty of smiles to be had.
I work full time, am out of the house 12 hour days, often have to work in the evenings too, have 2 kids, and spend every spare minute of "me time" thinking or doing gardening ....and still find time for the odd forum post.
not really sure why I felt the need to justify myself, but there you go
Hi cowslip, I love all aspects of this forum. I understand your comments on the time some people have to comment and post. I've been in both position of posting several times a day (and yes even in a way which has been obsessive, addictive and unhealthy), and then not posting for weeks end. I consider that I have friends and virtual friends on here. A forum is just what you want from it really (for me, at a point I probably needed the addictive part to help distract me from other things and concentrate me on healthy gardening...nut said there). Gossip and friendship is as vvaluable for some as it is frustrating and judged by others. Advice about particular topics is interesting for some and obvious(perhaps irritating to others). We are all here for our own reasons, reasons which change and are flexible. Maybe that's just me?
Hi Cowslip, I'm a fairly regular contributor and if that's what I want to do with my spare time then that's what I will do. I don't really feel I have to justify it to anyone. Sorry.
I was busy at work doing extra shifts and missed the forum for a while. When I came back and logged back in, some people had said things like " has anyone seen hostafan" I was genuinely touched. I've never "met" anyone from this forum, but was touched that I had been "missed" ( maybe in the way you miss the pain in a stubbed toe???)
Posts
This forum is a lifeline for me and my garden. I have no gardening friends or family and the local garden society folded several years ago. I LOVE the way I can ask simple questions and know that someone will be along soon to answer or advise. Long may they continue to post!
I moved to France in April, long way from friends & family & inherited a very large garden (& I don't mean that literally, if only).
The forum has been a life saver as far as the garden is concerned and the regular contributers have actually really helped with feelings of homesickness & loneliness that I have inevitably experienced from time to time.
Support & friendship only a click away. I read the news each morning on the laptop & then click on here to catch up, & usually drop in a couple of times a day, sometimes just reading other times commenting. I lead a very busy life but I find the forum a great part of sharing experiences and often some threads make you feel very lucky & give you a well needed boost.
Some people spend 8 hours a day stuck in front of a computer working, this is a much more positive experience and probably less than an hour of people's time in the main.
I love it.
I moved to France in 1985, I wish there had been a forum then, was very lonely at first. I love being able to chat to people in England and I love my garden, which will open for the new French open gardens scheme for the first time this year.
I have met people through the forum, including Dordogne Damsel above, all lovely.
My laptop sits on the kitchen table so easy to read the forum and type a few words when I stop for a coffee. I'm retired, ex-nurse, mother of 4, bred Jersey cows, have horses, dog, big garden and many other things going on, past and present in my life.
I love this forum too
. Advice "on tap", always someone to talk gardening too, (when noone else I know in "real life" is really that interested in it), and plenty of smiles to be had.
I work full time, am out of the house 12 hour days, often have to work in the evenings too, have 2 kids, and spend every spare minute of "me time" thinking or doing gardening ....and still find time for the odd forum post.
not really sure why I felt the need to justify myself, but there you go
How regular is regular? I come and go when I have time and interest tbh. I like problem solving and if I can help I will do so.
Hi Cowslip, I'm a fairly regular contributor and if that's what I want to do with my spare time then that's what I will do. I don't really feel I have to justify it to anyone. Sorry.
I'm not retired, I just enjoy the interplay and once in a blue moon I actually can answer questions helpfully.
I was busy at work doing extra shifts and missed the forum for a while. When I came back and logged back in, some people had said things like " has anyone seen hostafan" I was genuinely touched. I've never "met" anyone from this forum, but was touched that I had been "missed" ( maybe in the way you miss the pain in a stubbed toe???)