They say this job was all about getting closer to nature!

I am up at 6AM six days a week.Fire up the computer and firstly check the four key Email accounts for any last minute work requests.I always have a peek at the spam folder in case the filter is over zealous. Thankfully all junk this morning. Funny that the spammers / con artists reckon I have 15 different bank accounts and they have all been compromised and I must log in to reset my password! Oh and they also reckon I have £200Mil waiting for me from various dead relatives and some dear friends in Africa! Not to mention pills that will change any part / size of my body!Then it’s to check out Landscape Juice to see what’s been posted. I always enjoy Pauls’ (Pro Gard’s) discussions – straight to the point and no messing about. Always bang on the nail with his expert advice as are so many others. Then a quick check on Claudia De Yong’s G-Spot blog – It’s a bit like a grown up version of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole but for gardeners. I am sure Claudia is trying for the longest blog never to be beaten title on LJN :-)Log into the company bank account and download the payments received and automatically post these against the client’s accounts. Somehow the computer application only manages to match up 75% at best so the rest are done manually.Then it’s Face book to check up on friends and family from around the world.And most recently twitter – The more I use it the more I like this application. I only have four people following me (I did have six at one point), Craig, Phil, Steve and a wonderful young lady called BettyHappy – I am not sure what her gardening interests are but I gather her “real name” is Amber and is 21 who is currently looking for work as a secretary at an office building and as webcam model. I quite like Amber so will let her stay in my gang.I am hoping that in time a lot of my clients will join me in twitter - See http://twitter.com/thebgsgrpThankfully I haven’t worked out how to “twit” from the mobile PDA – It’s hard enough driving and texting :-)As well as posting a daily “twit” if that's the right phase, I am following a few others and it is amazing what you learn. I have found out that Nicky Patterson likes fish soup and has recently turned to drinking Gin!And don’t get me started on Kirstie Allsopp! The woman twits every 30 seconds particularly when Strictly Come Dancing is on. I can see how addictive "twittering" can be but I don’t think Kirstie has any real friends!!Just time for a daily conference call and then print off the schedule for my round and then it’s off on the road for 8AM 1st visit.Work normally finishes by 4PM at this time of year but there is no let up.Fire up the computer and enter the daily sales receipts. Complete the various logs and checklists. Get other group income figures for the day and response to any Emails and voicemail messages.I also try to set aside half an hour an evening to work on my pet project – Solar and Wind Power. I have been working on this with a friend the last few months – well he has as he’s an engineer and likes building things. Hopefully if we launch this project it will help with my green credentials as a few members on LJN have questioned my commitment to saving this planet.I usually have one or two requests from various people asking for help on documentation so tend to knock these out whilst I’m waiting for the tea to brew.After dinner it’s back on the computer and usually have LJN up and occasionally join in with the evenings friendly banter.Job schedules updated. Clients proposal documents and other correspondence is taken care of and if I am lucky time to catch the 10 O’clock news.So from my calculation I do about 6 to 7 hours of getting my hands dirty and 7 seven hours behind a computer to support the day job!As it’s coming up to the end of the month, the risk assessment and H&S policies and everything else requires reviewing and updating as applicable.And at Agricultural college not once did they ever mention paper work, it was all about working with Mother Nature and being in harmony with the land, mind you in those days the C64 was all the rage and we never had Email!

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Comments

claudia de yong September 27, 2009 at 8:26pm

My god!! Twitter too. How many hours are there in the day Mr G!! Can't ad much to G Spot today as I have been ill in bed! Don't thnk I can go down twitter route like you though. Don't fancy being followed by any gnomes or russian girls !!
Graeme @ BGS September 27, 2009 at 8:33pm

Get well soon. Mr T can carry on the good work without you for a few days. But no update of the G-Spot will give me a few extra minutes free in the morning so might be able to grab an extra cuppa.
Hopefully Mrs. A will contact you about the design job in Gerrards Cross.

I like to think that Amber likes my twits! :-)
claudia de yong September 27, 2009 at 8:36pm

Keep twitting just be careful she doesn't want a husband and got the twit mixed up!! Sorry had to ad a bit to G Spot to ruin your morning cuppa!
Graeme @ BGS September 27, 2009 at 8:40pm

It's alright - I checked it tonight!! So when are you going to close the G-Spot and start your second follow-on book? :-)

Amber will be fine, I am sure she will find a nice office job with a pole!
Graeme @ BGS September 28, 2009 at 8:20pm

Sad news, Amber is no longer following me - Perhaps she has received a job offer! :-(
claudia de yong September 29, 2009 at 8:31pm

Maybe Amber used a pole!
Graeme @ BGS September 29, 2009 at 10:01pm

I am jealous Mr. J has more suspect young ladies following him than me!! :-) I trust your comments haven't put them off me Claudia?