The Constant Gardener

By Rosemary Gow in Revision on Friday, May 8, 2009 @ 14:25

I’ve been bitten by the gardening bug.  It all started with a packet of seeds and the removal of a substantial swing from my back garden leaving a deep depression in the lawn.  The problem is that I’m not a patient person.  If I want rocket, I want it now and not in 30 days’ time.  This is apparently fast in the world of growing food according to my friend and allotment guru who suggested I start with something easy.   I planted the rocket and have to say it has been a bit disappointing to date.  A fairly feeble crop, though I did sprinkle it on top of the pasta for dinner last week, much to the amusement of my family.

They’ll have to swallow their mirth however when they see my runner beans.  In this fairytale staple I have found something that after a fairly slow start, (nothing happened for at least a week), now grows daily.  Indelible ink on the garden canes marks the progress.  I’m now so bonded that I’m not sure I’ll be able to eat them when the time comes.  

The more enthusiastic I am, the easier it becomes to want to learn more about gardening. The same is probably true of studying for MRCP exams.  Talking on the phone to the many doctors who lecture or write for PasTest and reading the evaluations after revision courses have run, I am frequently struck by the enthusiasm shown by them for teaching and how infectious that enthusiasm can be. My enthusiasm for my magic beans is even rubbing off on my family - now don’t get me started on my husband’s recently planted crop of potatoes …