So, I remember wanting to watch the Costa Rica vs Uruguay game. Wasn’t a huge, high-stakes match for me personally, but I felt like getting out of the house for it. Usually, I just catch these things on my couch, you know? But that day, I decided, nah, let’s do something different.
I ended up going to this sports pub across town. Heard it had a decent screen, never been there before. Walked in, and yeah, it was pretty busy. Finding a spot was tough. I eventually squeezed in at a shared table, right next to this older fella. He wasn’t exactly decked out in team colors or anything.
The game started, and it was alright. People cheering, the usual buzz. But halftime comes, and this guy starts chatting with me. Not even about the match, really. Turns out, he was way more interested in talking about his garden. Seriously, gardening. While Costa Rica and Uruguay were battling it out, metaphorically speaking.
He went on and on about his tomatoes. How tricky they were, but how rewarding it felt when you got it right. He was telling me about soil types, watering schedules, the whole deal. I’m sitting there, half-watching the screen, half-listening to this guy talk about cherry versus beefsteak tomatoes.
Getting Started
Honestly, I thought it was a bit weird at first. But he was so into it, you know? Passionate. He mentioned how much better homegrown stuff tastes and how it’s a nice way to, like, disconnect. He gave me a couple of basic tips, things he learned the hard way.
- Start small, he said. Don’t try to grow everything at once.
- Find a sunny spot. Tomatoes love sun.
- Don’t overthink it, just give it a try.
The second half kicked off, and we went back to watching, mostly. Didn’t talk much more. I left after the final whistle. Can’t honestly say I remember the final score vividly now. But the tomato chat? That stuck with me.
The Follow-Through
Got home, couldn’t quite shake it off. Found myself looking up balcony gardening stuff online later that week. It seemed… doable? Maybe? The next Saturday, I actually went out. Bought a couple of decent-sized pots, a bag of soil, and some tomato starter plants. Figured I’d give it a shot, what’s the worst that could happen?
So, I did it. Set them up on my little balcony. Started watering them, checking on them. Felt kinda silly at first, talking to plants.
It’s been a while since that Costa Rica vs Uruguay match night. My tomato experiment? Well, it’s a work in progress. Got a few small green ones showing up, which feels like a minor miracle. But the main thing is, I actually enjoy it. That little routine of checking the soil, seeing the tiny changes each day. The old guy was right; it is a good way to disconnect. Never thought watching a football match in a random pub would lead me to balcony farming, but hey, life’s weird like that.
