How standing still made my body growSomewhere, I hope that many people recognize the moment I had last Sunday. You look at your body and clothes, and you want to put on those summer pants from last year, only to find out that they are much tighter than you could remember. That moment was such a confirmation of my subconscious, I had gained weight. And not one or two kilos, but TOO much. I can't pinpoint when it started. There was no big shock, no dramatic event, no cake orgy and yet... suddenly there I was. In the bathroom with pants that no longer fit me. My body has grown bigger. Too big.

Nature in the SmallBy chance, I saw the photo contest of @friendlymoose this week with the theme “Nature”. That really appealed to me again and convinced me to take the trouble to participate again. Not because I can win something, but because it was a nice excuse to write a blog again. And believe me, that may sound simple, but it is a theme that leaves so much room for interpretation that it almost becomes overwhelming. Do I go for landscapes, or do I focus on animals? Do I look for something impressive, which is an insurmountable challenge in itself, or do I stay close to home?

Time To WorkThe weekend looks the same for us as during the week. With the difference that my partner doesn't have to GO to work, but that he gets busy working at home ... the wooden sheds are thrown open early in the morning, the plug is put in through the kitchen window, and then slowly all the equipment starts to make itself heard. Working with wood can't always be quiet. That's how this weekend went. But besides a 'normal' working weekend, it was also a weekend where the sun automatically determines your day. Not because you have a very busy schedule or have to go from pillar to post. No, precisely because it is so nice to do nothing in the garden where everything grows and blooms, with a clear blue sky and a pleasantly warm sun on your skin.

Not so long ago I was discussing the garden with my partner. I wanted to go to a garden centre. Something I always want to go to as soon as spring really shows itself. And my partner thought that was a great idea. We went and bought a few nice additions, but not so long later my partner suddenly realised that we now have quite a few things in our garden, only we don't have YELLOW flowers.

Living in the countryside has advantages and disadvantages that you don't think about beforehand. And in recent years, I've noticed it more and more often when I'm sitting in the garden, for example. You probably know how it is: a cup of tea, a dog next to me, looking around at all the growing and blooming things around me. And it hits me. There are few to no growing and blooming things. It's not like it used to be when I was a child and could enjoy the wild flowers. No, what grows around me is grass, nettles, blackberries, and corn. The buttercups are gone. I don't see any forget-me-nots anymore. Daisies are nowhere to be seen, and we even have to sow the poppies if we want to see them.

Everything is getting more expensive (except your salary)Do you also feel like you have to think three times about every euro these days? I do. Life is rapidly becoming unaffordable. Everything is more expensive than ever, whether it's your daily groceries, filling up with gas, your energy bill, or even a simple day out. Prices are rising to unprecedented heights, and it seems like there's no stopping it. But our income? It's just lagging as if it's stuck somewhere halfway while the rest of the world keeps on going. And let's be honest: that worries me.