As the month of May slowly unfolds, I can leave April 2026 behind me.
It was a month of new beginnings and, unfortunately, also of saying goodbye.
Taking things a little more slowly is what I need right now, and that is why I am declaring May to be the month in which I need to recharge a little.
Slow living in May…
We had to say goodbye
Caring for new life
Alongside saying goodbye, there is also room for a new beginning. As every year, I find myself amazed by the way nature’s ancient rhythm reveals itself so beautifully once again, with plump buds unfolding into fresh green leaves on the hedges, trees, and plants around me.
Slow living and reconnecting with nature are exactly what I need right now, which is why it feels especially comforting to be sowing and planting again, and caring for new life.
Dressed in my old gardening clothes, I stand in the greenhouse, busy with little pots, sun-warmed soil, and packets of seeds.
Full of anticipation, I then check every day to see whether tiny hints of green are already cautiously emerging from the dark earth.
Once the seedlings are finally strong enough, they are planted out into the open soil of the vegetable garden, and the battle against the slugs begins, slugs that seem to find those tender young leaves particularly delicious. Raising all those vegetable plants successfully is therefore the greatest challenge of all.
But with a few helpful measures, I hope to fill many baskets with fresh, organic produce before long.
The tea somehow seems to taste even better here.
At the back of the garden, against the old garden shed and tucked between the vegetable plots, I placed a little bistro set simply because I needed somewhere to put it. Quite unexpectedly, it turned into a wonderfully cosy spot that has now become a favourite place for a slow-living moment and a cup of tea.
Often dressed in old gardening clothes and wearing our wellies, we sit here for a short break from our work. Sheltered between the shed and the hedges, with the large catalpa tree above us, it feels as though we are sitting in a tearoom somewhere in England. The tea somehow seems to taste even better here, and the lemon cake always feels especially successful. Isn’t it strange how such a magical little place can suddenly come into being, even though we have lived here for 25 years?
A whole list of painting jobs
Although I am taking things slowly and my energy levels are not quite what they should be at the moment, because of grief and, let’s face it, the menopause as well, there are still a few things that simply need doing. There is, in fact, a whole list of painting jobs waiting to be tackled in order to maintain the house and keep it looking beautiful.
Years ago, when my three children were little, life was far busier but I was also much younger, I would think nothing of it and could quite happily start painting with brush and tin even in the evening. Now, however, I notice that I have far less energy for it, and I no longer dread only the painting itself, but also all the mess and overstimulation that inevitably come with any decorating project.
Still, by taking my time and not rushing, I do manage to get things done here and there. Over the past few weeks, with a cup of tea and Jimmy always close by, and a podcast in my ears, I painted the garden doors, the back door, and all the doors and skirting boards in the utility room.
The paint colours appear lighter in the photographs than they are in reality. In truth, they were chosen to match the wall colours so that everything blends together perfectly.
There are still plenty of painting jobs left on my list: all the exterior window frames, the garden shed, the storage shed, the television cabinet, the office walls, and the kitchen ceiling. But we shall simply see how much we manage to get done this summer…
A lush mass of green branches and leaves
The sunshine and warmth of April, together with the rain at the beginning of May, created a lush mass of green branches and leaves. So it was time to bring out the ladder and the hedge trimmers.
This rather time-consuming and back-breaking task is certainly not the most enjoyable job, but here too we are taking things slowly, pausing regularly for tea in our new favourite spot, and throwing a ball for our Jimmy countless times in between trimming the hedges.
Beautiful sunrises
Where walking always used to feel like a form of mindfulness to me, allowing me to fully absorb the nature around me, some of that magic seems to have faded now that Charlie is no longer walking beside me. It feels incomplete, as though something is missing from the rhythm and dynamic. Of course, I know that this simply takes time, and that the feeling will gradually return.
Until then, I still try to notice as much beauty around me as possible.
April was dry and filled with beautiful sunrises, and although the beginning of May has been rather wetter, the rain has given nature such a vibrant burst of green that everything looks incredibly lush.
Looking through the lens of a camera and zooming in here and there, I find myself treated to the most beautiful scenes: the old paths I walk along, the buildings I wander past, and the glimpses framed by rows of trees and shrubs surrounding them.
That white gold
One of our morning walks took us, via the old paths here in Thorn, to Zegershof.
This wonderfully beautiful old farmhouse, dating from 1899, always gives me a sense of nostalgia and offers a glimpse of what life here must once have looked like. Situated out in the countryside around Thorn, untouched by modern polishing and renovation, the farmhouse could easily serve as the setting for a historical film.
At the farmhouse we bought delicious fresh asparagus. Perhaps it is a good thing that this “white gold” is only available for a limited time, because it keeps buying and eating it feeling special, a true delicacy of this season. I personally love rituals that return year after year, and going out to buy asparagus is one of them.
Strange things really, asparagus. Photographed up close like this, I honestly cannot decide whether I find them rather ugly or incredibly beautiful. But once peeled and cooked, I cannot help but admire them for their sweet, rich flavour.
Slow living evenings
Whereas I used to pick up a paintbrush after dinner and start yet another decorating job, these days I gratefully sink into a chair to rest and unwind before heading to bed early.
And really, that is how it ought to be. Life is busy enough already, and everything passes us by far too quickly. There is nothing lovelier than curling up in a chair with a good book and a cup of hot tea beside you.
Over the past few weeks, I have read the following books:
Detective novel – The Murders at Fleat House by Lucinda Riley
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and always looked forward to reading the next chapter. You may already know this author from her well-known Seven Sisters series.
Novel – River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer
This story takes place during the time of slavery in Barbados. Beautifully written and a truly moving story. For me it was especially fascinating because my roots lie in Barbados. My father was born there, and my ancestors were enslaved people too.
Novel – The Light Years, the first book in the Cazalet Chronicles, by Elizabeth Jane Howard
I absolutely loved this story because it is set in England just before the Second World War. The 1930s and 1940s have always fascinated me, just as series such as All Creatures Great and Small, Foyle’s War and Endeavour do. There is something wonderfully old-fashioned and atmospheric about that era, despite the terrible reality of the war, of course.
This book captures so much of that time: the clothing, the food, the houses, but also the uncertainty and fear surrounding the threat of another war. In reviews I repeatedly read that the story can be difficult to get into at first, and I do agree with that to some extent. There are many characters and names, and it takes a little while before they all begin to feel familiar. But once you move beyond that point, a beautiful story unfolds, and I am already very much looking forward to reading part two.
All three books are also available on Kobo Plus, so if you have a subscription, you can read them free of charge.
May is the month of expectation
Now that my energy is slowly beginning to return, I have been quietly working behind the scenes on new plans and small projects in between the painting jobs, things I may perhaps share more about later on.
For now, I shall end this blog here and wish you all a very lovely month of May.
Love,
Tanya and Jimmy too.
“May is the month of expectation, the month of wishes, the month of hope.”
Emily Brontë
You can find more inspiration on my Styling & Living Instagram account.
