LIFE IS A JOURNEY

At some point in our lives we come to a crossroad.  That's when we take a step back and ask ourselves what we really want.

For me, what I really want is a place where I can just be myself.  I yearn for a simple life away from the hustle and bustle of the city, bright lights and congested lifestyle.  

The irony is that for most part of my life I've always been a city girl; growing up, living and working in the concrete jungle.

I have never imagined in my wildest dream the one day that I boarded a wooden boat was the day my adventure was destined to start.  The ride was just a little less than 10 minutes but it was enough to leave a lasting impression on me.  

On some days when the waves are a little unhappy, water splashes over you and you may even taste a tinge of saltiness on your lips.  At the same time, the wind creates havoc and whips your hair to a dishevel mess.  However.... that is the beauty of it all!

I have found my calling on this little island and it is here that my heart belongs to although home is still in the city.

Every trip is an adventure in itself whilst every adventure begins with a journey.  When the boat comes to a standstill, that's where the magic literally begins for me.

This is just the beginning.  Welcome to My Secret Garden, a home away from home on an island... 

Where I can just be myself... working in the garden with painted nails, streaks in my hair, perspiration dripping on my brows, holes in my pants and no one bats an eyelid.  Where dogs roam freely and birds chirp happily.  Where there are more bicycles than cars and flowers grow abundantly in the wild.  Where islanders bother to stop for a little chat and I am accepted as one.  This is the kind of life that I want in place of those bright billboards and neon coloured lights where people are simply too busy to even say a little "hi."  

MY SECRET GARDEN @ MSP

I've started a few blogs (3 to be exact) in the past but they never lived beyond their maturity.

I love writing (if you include all the junk that I write) and I used to fantasize being on the bestsellers' list (don't laugh please and don't ever ask if I still harbour that hope) and selling a million copies of a book.  It's probably hard for me to decide what genre of a book as I have a stack of incomplete writing (manuscripts sound too professional) and an equal stack of "already lost interest" work idling somewhere.  

Right now nothing can take away my love for nature and gardening.  Inspite of my painted nails and stilettoes that I love to supplement my height or rather lack of height, I am perfectly okay with dirt under my nails or soot on my forehead from a quick wipe of perspiration from my smudged palms. 

I would give anything to make a living out of gardening / growing produce but unfortunately land is scarce where I am.  There will never be a chance of me relying on whatever little that I plant, grow and harvest to pay the bills unless by some miracle I find truffles growing overnight in the grounds.  I still have to shop at supermarkets for fruits and veggies but I am trying to minimise that as much as I can by growing a mix of every little thing even if on some days I get to harvest only 2 tomatoes or a handful of chillies.  Well, there's always chips to go with that salsa! 

So with all determination, I am giving it another shot of keeping a blog again and this time being a "garden blogger."  I love exchanging ideas and definitely happy to share snippets of my fun, funny and often silly encounters whilst out here.

If you expect advices or tutorials, sorry to disappoint as I'm no gardening guru.  However I sure love to share my little adventures with you here in my lil' Secret Garden.  Come join me....!

Happy gardening with much love,

Annie @ MSG