After finishing our work, we decided to celebrate with our friends. We invited close friends and family for a Saturday barbecue. Around twenty people showed up, and we had a lovely time relaxing, playing songs on the guitar, laughing, and reminiscing. In the end, I was happy we had managed to organize our space, and our loved ones were there to celebrate with us.
We own a small cottage in the countryside near York, a legacy from my wife. Each spring, we head there and stay throughout the summer until the first frost. While wintering there is possible, we find the city more convenient during the colder months. We enjoy being closer to nature, breathing fresh air, and relishing the peace and quiet.
In our small garden, we grow tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, cherries, currants, raspberries, onions, courgettes, greens, carrots, and beets. My wife takes care of the plants, while I slowly tidy up the house and look after the chickens we raise every summer.
Last year, I decided to build a gazebo, providing us a spot to escape the heat and enjoy some barbecue.
It’s not easy to do all this on my own. My wife helps as much as she can, but she also needs to focus on the garden and household chores. We reached out to our friends for assistance, calling almost everyone we knew, but they were all busy, even in retirement. Nobody was free for a few hours, even on weekends. It was disappointing, but they were under no obligation to help.
Once the work was done, we celebrated with our friends. We invited close friends and family over for a Saturday barbecue, where about twenty people joined us. We relaxed, played guitar, laughed, and shared memories.
Reflecting on this, I was pleased we had managed to complete our setup, with our loved ones joining us in the celebration.
“I’m really glad my wife and I could host you today, but it’s time to wrap up!”
And so it began. Almost the entire last summer, we had visitors. Some would come with grandchildren for a couple of days but ended up staying much longer. We could accommodate about five people overnight. Some came, others left. Of course, they brought a few things and bought some food, but everyone came for a visit and a holiday.
We wanted to enjoy some solitude; we were exhausted by the constant visits. My wife felt embarrassed about telling them outright since they were friends, not strangers. In such a situation, it’s hard to know what to say. Are you tired of us, and want us to leave? Nobody would blatantly say that.
So, I decided to take the matter into my own hands. One evening, when there were many people in the living room, I discussed my plans. I mentioned that I wanted to build a pond and described the entire work plan, then added:
“Since our home is never empty, I won’t need to look for helpers. We’ll do it together. I think we’ll start next week. You’re planning to spend your holidays with us, so there are a few of us, and those who come will also lend a hand. It’ll be lovely to relax by the water at dusk.”
After my little speech, there was silence. Everyone, with a forced smile, assured me they would come and help, but shortly afterward, our home was empty.
The next day, only the son of our closest friend showed up. He had heard about the plans and volunteered to assist since he works remotely. Together, he and I gradually constructed the pond.
Now, there’s silence. For some reason, our friends don’t even visit for holidays. Yet they still have some conscience.
