Do I change direction?

[wellie]

I used to be secretarial, then a pub landlady, now a gardener....and I'm really pleased I finally found what 'blew my frock up'. I went back to college one day a week and did a City & Guilds in Horticulture. Excelled at it because I really loved it. Never looked back.

Go for it, you've got nothing to lose, but a lot to gain.
X

[moggssue]

I am secretarial, very nearly became a pub landlady two years ago but decided I'd drink too much of the profits and am now debating something to do with gardening but not sure I could make enough to cover the mortgage. I'll see how the lottie/making my own goes this year and then maybe have a rethink.

So what do you do now Wellie, design gardens? - you lucky person you!!

[piskieinboots]

she gets down and dirty

[moggssue]

she gets down and dirty

Now that bit I should have guessed hahaha

[JennieAtkinson]

Both my OH and I changed career direction in our 40s - never regretted it. Hard work with the extra study and exams but as Wellie says, if you enjoy it, it fires you up and you have a whole new lease of life. (Just make sure there's no effect on your pension.)

[wellie]

Girls! (see Wellie giggle) but apart from one small garden design (and mine, naturally!) Piskie's dead right. I do get down and dirty. Diggin', Prunin', Plantin', Weedin', and although none of it's Rocket Science, I'm glad I did the Learnin', coz to know which shrub is which, when it flowers and when, why & how to prune is all in The Knowledge.
And it's dead impressive to Clients when you know the Latin answer to their question "What's this shrub?" (even in the depths of winter when it's go no leaves on!) Symphoricarpos alba Madam...

[moggssue]

Ohh, that'd impress me too honey - I doubt any amount of lernin' could make me recognise that many different plants let alone pronounce their latin names!!

So you gonna do the same thing in France? (Sorry, going totally off thread here)

[wellie]

If I get any free time to actually GO to work, then yes, definitely Moggie...

Are we helping you yet Piskie?!
X

[HeyWayne]

Have my utmost respect wellie.

I'm having trouble deciding what plants/flowers to have in my new bed/border that I'm planning. I have no idea how people decide such things even if you know the "normal" names (which I also don't).

Then add all that helioasperinium lorem ipsum talk into the mix...

I look at the catalogue and think - "ooh, that looks pretty", then discover it doesn't like where I wanted to put it, and so the search goes.

[moggssue]

Hopefully Piskie is reading all this and realising that a change of direction is definitely possible, and happiness through change of direction is evidenced by one Wellie !!

Piskie???

[SarzWix]

I'd really love to do gardening for a living *Sarah looks wistful*, but I tried helping out a friend who does my Dad's garden & I put myself in bed just trying to start the petrol mower, so I guess it's not for me yet

[wellie]

Utmost respect back Heywayne - I'm crap with technology, and you seem bl**dy brilliant at it, AND the rest of you!

Heywayne, if I can help at all with anything along the lines of your garden/border planning, just PM me and I'll gladly 'pitch in' with help and advice if you need me....

[piskieinboots]

I am just back from meeting with STBEC *does jig

The thread is certainly giving me inspiration AND guess what - I have just had an email from a local garden centre 'come and talk to me, we could use you'

[Keep It Green]

Nice work. Go for it.

I've been thinking about starting out on my own (Gardening with a few other ideas), it's pretty scary especially when the extra pressure of the mortgage lays on the shoulders.

I'm going to try a few ideas out over the summer before quiting and taking the plunge.

[wellie]

Oh that's great! Way to go! You can learn the names and habits of plants, and all manner of Hortcultural stuff whilst you're earning.......
Clever Piskie!