Musings on work, growing fruit and vegetables, stress, success and gratitude in - business, home, self, and the garden in uncertain times.
Musings on work, growing fruit and vegetables, stress, success and gratitude in - business, home, self, and the garden in uncertain times.

Around eight years ago my daughter Jemima decided that she did not want her trampoline and gave it to her nieces. This made a space in the garden that we decided to use for some raised vegetable beds. Since then a steady amount of effort has gone into harvesting each Summer several baskets of yummy, juicy fruit and vegetables. This process includes naturally managing attacks from insects, birds, pets and the uncertain British weather. This year we have had to grow the vegetables from seed as it was not possible to get seedling plants due to lockdown. Thankfully, I have the support of my wife, Kathy, and our gardener & friend Mike to manage the weeding, watering, planting, pruning and picking.

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Reuben Miller
COVID JOURNAL - Spring blue skies
COVID JOURNAL - Spring blue skies

I loving the dreamy Spring blue skies, slow, calm, and holiday feel at the moment.

Yet this is an April like no other in memory. Mixed with the sunshine emotions, there are the clouds of our communal lockdown cabin fever - at times moody, angry, and sad feelings living with the necessary prison like restrictions.

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Reuben Miller
The certainties of Death and Tax

When sadly a loved one dies, as well as processing the loss and grief, there are a thousand practical tasks that need to be done by those left behind. Funeral arrangements, closing bank accounts, notifying friends and family.. And then If they were the owner of a property, the beneficiary and/or executor is required to provide a valuation to the Valuation Office, at HMRC whose preference is an RICS valuation, to determine whether any tax is payable. This was formerly known as a probate valuation, also known as death duty and currently called an Inheritance tax valuation (IHT).

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Reuben Miller
Worth getting up before the crack of dawn for

Last month I joined a breakfast networking group. Beyond the brutal shock of waking up in the dark and cold at 5.45 am and cycling to Wandsworth, I have really benefited from the friendliness & openness of the group! I am delighted to have a new family/team of other self-employed people to understand one another’s occupations and assist each other growing our businesses. I am inspired by the members competence, creativity and integrity.

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Reuben Miller
January HomeBuyers Surveys and Valuations around London

Last week I was standing in the rain and wishing that I had an umbrella and a friend to hold it, whilst I was making notes about the condition of the outside of the building for a HomeBuyers survey. Properties and the fluctuating market are like the changing weather- it’s best to be prepared, so it helps to have an expert surveyor to assist.

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Reuben Miller