Sunday 21 September 2014

On The Bright Side



The last few posts have been a bit gloomy I know, it's how I felt, and still feel at times, but life must go on as normally as possible. The MRI scan is due in about three weeks, so they can check for a tumour, and as long as I don't have another dose of the shakes in the next six months, then at least epilepsy can be ruled out.

It's Sunday morning, 11.30am, and the sun is warm and bright as we both take a sofa each and share a copy of the Sunday Times. I have a load of green bottles sterilising in the kitchen, in readiness for bottling the latest couple of gallons of Elderberry wine that's ready. There's still loads of colour in the garden, this Canna being particularly stunning at the moment. I think we shall head out and start pruning and clearing in readiness for our great big shed arriving in a couple of weeks. For now though, the sofas are good, and the tea is on tap.


At various times during the life of Four Seasons, we get contacted out of the blue for specific requests. We have only gained more work through reputation and word of mouth, and as such new faces crop up all of the time. We had a phone call from a guy called Martin last week, asking if we could come over to his place in the prestigious Canford Cliffs and give some advice regarding his pots.

The entrance stood out from others as very new and modern, and we could hear some building work going on at the end of the drive. The van was left on the road, as more often than not space is limited when builders are around, and we strolled along the drive. We were faced at the end by three very large new houses, two were having some additional modifications added by the new owners, but the first, belonging as it turned out to Martin, was complete, and stunning, and huge, and tiered like a wedding cake, with views over Poole Harbour etc etc. You get my drift? All three houses had only just been built, bought and occupied by their owners

The entrance buzzer was pressed, and we announced that we had come to discuss the garden. The large electronic gates slid sideways, and on entering the grounds, they quickly closed behind us. We were trapped.
The rear garden that we were standing on, discussing requirements, was sitting on a vast slab of concrete that extended out over a steep slope covered in pine trees. A very large, and very old Crab Apple tree grew up and was allowed to continue growing through the slab, adding to the unusual layout of this rather special garden. We were excited, as none of the properties have a gardener at this point, and we chatted with Martin about just what effect he was after. 

With it being very modern, and rather minimalist, with vast areas of balconies, decking and 'infinity garden', it was decided that various combinations and clusters of specialist tubs, pots and planters would be the most appropriate, and we were given an ongoing open budget to deck the property out like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon (in a minimalist way of course), and to maintain and re-stock as necessary over the coming years. Are we excited......oh yes!

The added hope is that the owners of the other two properties see our work and ask us to take a look at their own gardens. We were so excited, that we forgot to take photos, but hopefully we will next week

The Parthenocissus covering our house.

Have a good week.

22 comments:

  1. oh wow! I'm not very garden literate but it sounds like a gardeners dream come true!
    good job!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Kylie,
      Planters and tubs can either make or break a house design, and so it is an exciting challenge.

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  2. Oh well another day in a life. Good to hear more positive news. Hope that things are on the up now.
    Peter all the way from a very sunny Llandudno!

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    Replies
    1. Hello Pete,
      Whether things are on the up or not will depend on the rest of the test results. Until then it's just business as usual I guess. Llandudno eh?.......the Monaco of the west welsh coast. Hope all is well as can be with you and Pam. Unsettled times.

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  3. Gary
    I did read about your seizure and subsequent tenting
    And I didn't comment straight away.
    You don't need comments from an ITU nurse at this time me thinks. However I am glad all the thinks I would have expected would be in place have been put in place.

    You are bound to be bleeding worried sick at times
    Effing normal....
    But you know that
    Email me if I can be of any help
    Even if it's to rant
    jgsheffield@hotmail.com

    Chin chin ( even with non alcoholic beers)
    John

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John, I guessed that you see this all of the time. Your blog has helped to keep my chin up, and I regularly share bits of it with Amanda. Thanks for the offer of an email rant, I may just take you up on it. Life is difficult in many ways, and all round at the mo. Enjoying a homebound pint of Peroni at the mo.....feeling rebellious!

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  4. All the best with your health and your work.

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    1. Thanks Adrian, liking your wildlife photography at the moment.

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  5. WOW, this sounds fabulous. Good news on the gardening front.
    I was just thinking of you yesterday so I am happy to see your post today.
    Good Luck with the waiting and tests.

    cheers, parsnip

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    Replies
    1. Good mornring Parsnip,
      It's a wonderful place to be asked to work at, and Martin is a lovely guy. Thanks for the well wishes, it's just a waiting game now.

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  6. Good news! I hope you get to do the neighbours as well and that the MRI scan turns out well.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Alain. Heres hoping on all counts. All three houses are unique in their own way.

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  7. All the best with the result of the MRI scan - life has certainly thrown something up these last few months and I wish you well for the future. The gardening project sounds very exciting. Gardening is such a healing therapy.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Molly.
      All would be much simpler if we weren't self-employed, and logistics of day to day life are the main problem.I agree, and have always found gardening to be a good mood leveller all through my life. 'One is nearer Gods heart' and all that.

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  8. I'm catching up on blogs after being gone for a week and trying to catch up on life at home and at work this past week. I see you have a great support team. So sorry your daughter had to deal with a medical issue too. Continuing to send you best wishes that you find a resolution to all of this. Keep loving and living.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Sherlock,
      I hope your week away was a pleasant one, and that you are once again on top of things at home. Life seems to go through cycles of throwing stuff at people, and I guess it's our turn around. Rebecca is much better now, and returned to work yesterday, albeit reluctantly.

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  9. So there are some good things in your life at this time. It sucks but is normal to be depressed at times when health issues arise.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Red,
      There are always good things in life, it's just hard to appreciate, or even sometimes see them when things get pressured. Hope all is well at Hiawatha House.

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  10. Dear Gary ~ The waiting is so hard. Your positive attitude and going on with life is a good thing.

    Congrats on the new client. That is GREAT news and I'd say rather exciting.

    Have a great week ~ FlowerLady

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  11. GOOD for you!! Sounds like a great opportunity and a fun job!! How I would LOVE to outfit someone's garden. .ANYONE'S garden. .with an unlimited budget!! I know you two will do a tremendous job!!

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  13. Oh my goodness Gary, while I've been whinging about our tiresome Scottish independence referendum you've had so many more serious things happening. Sending healing thoughts southwards to you.

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