FEATURE: GARDEN FOCUS


YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’VE GOT ’TIL IT’S GONE


Our gardening expert, Graham Paskett looks forward to getting outside again after a period of convalescence and urges us to enjoy what we have, which can sometimes be taken for granted.


T


he words of the famous Joni Mitchell ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ song from April 1970 flooded into my mind as I gazed


out of a window, surveying my autumnal, leaf strewn garden. “You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone”, she sang so prophetically all those years ago and my window view totally brought them an altogether new meaning. You see I have been temporarily banished from my garden for about six weeks following knee replacement surgery. Hobbling around the house, with occasional forays out to the bird feeders and pond, is the extent of my current horticultural activity. The


big highlight is going up to the greenhouse on Saturday mornings, accompanied by my wife, to water the plants.


The timing of my operation was deliberately planned for a period when immobility would not be such a big horticultural issue. It seems to be working out, but I did not take into account, in my planning, the emotional and psychological impact that the break would have on me personally.


On waking I start my daily exercise


routine, so important to ensure full mobility in the long run. The next thing is drawing back the curtains and checking all aspect of that part of the garden I can see. I maintain a mental notebook of jobs that must be tackled and also quite a few that I


meant to do, but didn’t.


It’s easy for me because I know that within a few weeks I shall be outside again in the fresh air and countryside and enjoying all the benefits this brings. But what about all those people who, for a whole range of reasons, do not even have a garden or green space to look out


on? The long-term difficulties this creates must be extremely traumatic to cope with. There is a mass of evidence confirming that being in a garden has a dramatic calming effect. Even sitting here writing about it, produces something similar. There is an old Russian saying that you only have to scratch the surface of a Russian and you will find a countryman. It must be the same with us. Many of us may well be consumed with technology but dig a bit deeper and, no doubt, you will find the rudiments of our ancient pastoral ancestors. So perhaps Joni Mitchell was right way back in April1970 and we don’t know what we’ve got ‘til it’s gone. Our job is to make sure we don’t lose what we’ve got.


Business Development Manager for Midlands/West England inc. South Wales


Full time: Permanent Ideal location: Midlands Basic salary:


Up to £27,500 + up to £10,000 OTE Bonus + Car


JMA UK are the UK’s leading key blank supplier part of the Altuna Group. As Europe’s No. 1 key blank producer our ambition is to be the first choice for all key blanks, duplicating machines and associated security products. We also supply a large range of Locks, Security and Hardware products, to the Locksmith and Hardware trades. We are looking for a professional,


competitive, enthusiastic business development manager with the ability


to promote and sell our


products. It will be down to your tenacious attitude to grow your customer base and boost our sales. This is an exciting and challenging


role, with the opportunity to join a flourishing sales team and company.


www.diyweek.net www.diyweek.net


• Be proactive in learning the JMA range of products


• Ability to demonstrate ‘Key


Cutting’ and ‘Security’ products to customers


• Participate in trade shows and other sales events throughout the year


Required Skills & Experience: • Hard working and self-motivated • Demonstrable Sales experience • Experience selling into or working within the hardware, locksmith, Ironmongery industry


The role will be a combination of managing existing accounts and also to develop new business opportunities


to secure new


customers. The role reports directly into the UK Sales Manager and has the overall objective of increasing the turnover and profitability of the business in the Midlands and West England inc. South Wales.


Key responsibilities include: • Visiting our existing database of Independent Locksmith, Hardware & Shoe Repairer businesses


• Be proactive, always looking to expand our customer base


• Planning and organising your journey/routes efficiently


• Achieve and maintain your sales targets


• Driven to achieve your sales target • Great personality - positive, likeable, good sense of humour, builds relationships easily Holiday entitlement is 25 days plus bank holidays. We offer a company pension scheme, additional leave for length of service and other company benefits. You will have use of a company car, phone and tablet. If you are looking for an exciting new opportunity then please send us your CV today. i.elverson@jma- uk.co.uk – no agencies thank you.


DECEMBER 2022 DIY WEEK 23 DECEMBER 2022 DIY WEEK 23


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