We are really sad to hear that one of our favourite writers and bloggers, Elspeth Thompson has died at the age of 48. We have followed Elspeth's work for years, sharing her experiences of cultivating two unruly London allotments and how she and her family converted two railway carriages into a lovely home. She had recently started a new blog Gardening Against the Odds, which we were eagerly anticipating.
Elspeth counted herself lucky that she was able to make a career from writing about the thing she loved most, gardening. Her newspaper columns and books, reflected her passion and ability to turn the ordinary into something very beautiful.
We never actually met Elspeth, but had lovely email conversations with her and she left many complimentary comments on our blog. We were planning to feature her lovely kitchen.
She posted one of her favourite poems by Kathleen Raine on her blog in January.
I BELIEVE NOTHING
I believe nothing – what need
Surrounded as I am with marvels of what is,
This familiar room, books, shabby carpet on the floor,
Autumn yellow jasmine, chrysanthemums, my mother’s flower,
Earth-scent of memories, daily miracles,
Yet media-people ask, “Is there a God?”
What does the word mean
To the fish in his ocean, birds
In his skies, and stars?
I only know that when I turn in sleep
Into the invisible, it seems
I am upheld by love, and what seems is
Inexplicable here and now of joy and sorrow,
This inexhaustible, untidy world –
I would not have it otherwise.
Elspeth had suffering from extreme depression for several weeks and tragically took her own life. It seems so much sadder that someone who celebrated simple things in life so much and seemed so at one with nature, should die this way. Our hearts go out to her family.
