Previous conversations with Ken, a vulnerable octogenarian, have been mainly around local history. Being born and bred in Runcorn, Ken has a wealth of knowledge about the area. Today, however, our conversation centred around gardening. I have a tiny strip of ‘garden’ at the front of my house, currently more plastic than greenery, but Ken used to have quite the show garden, at his previous home, which he shared with his wife, Shirley. We talked about the various flowers and garden ornaments that Ken had installed, and in particular, an automated ornamental goose that he’d bought! Whenever a certain friend of his wife visited, Ken would switch on the ‘goose’, so that it activated whenever she passed by it. The goose would make a loud cry and flap its wings, giving the friend quite a start...and giving Ken a good laugh! The friend would always say, ‘I don’t know why, but it only ever goes for me.’ Ken never did tell her that it was battery operated 😂 As for the flowers, Ken told me that his favourite flower to grow was marigolds. We chatted for quite some time and Ken told me how he was feeling a bit ‘fed up’, being in all the time. At the end of our conversation, he thanked me and said how he enjoyed talking to me. It is certainly a two-way Street as far as I’m concerned...I learn something new every time we speak. I’m looking forward to picking up some gardening tips next time 😁 Oh, yes, the photograph shows a tree growing just across the road from Ken, and just around the corner from me. I pass the tree almost every day, when taking the dogs for their walk...but had never noticed what was growing in it, until Ken pointed it out...mistletoe...and lots of it! Now I can’t understand how I could have missed it...the dogs are turned 5, so I’ve been passing it several times a week for five years, and not noticed it 😂 I must be constantly looking down at the dogs 😁🐶🐶