January 2005

Thursday 13th
My lucky day! All the forms have arrived from the RHS. These cover everything from tickets for show days to parking for lorries in Battersea Park. It usually takes me at least 2 days to go through them all and some of them have to be referred back to the sponsor, as they have to decide on such things as their guest list for gala night.

I also have to contact Kevin, as there is a huge wodge of material on health and safety which Squires Landscape deal with. I will take the forms with me to the regular 4head meeting next week and make sure that everyone has a copy of the form that is relevant to them.

Tuesday 18th
I phone the quarry, as Kevin tells me that the stone still hasn't arrived and Squires Landscapes are starting to get very busy. When the stone arrives Kevin has to keep two men in their storage area in order to sort it, as the fewer times it has to be handled, the better. As the stone comes off the lorry it is put into separate piles depending on where in the garden it is going to be used.

Wednesday 19th
4head team meeting at the sponsor's headquarters. The meeting goes well, though we have a considerable amount of material to cover. The PR girls, Bonnie and Nicky, have been very busy and have had a lot of very positive feedback from the press launch in December.

I have a number of radio and magazine interviews to do over the next 8 weeks. One of the magazines wants to photograph me in my own garden. My heart always sinks when this happens, as I am afraid a garden designer's garden is rather like the cobbler's shoes!

Monday 24th
I have a phone message from Robert Mattock. He is concerned that the pots we sent him are not going to be big enough for the root balls of the roses. I must try to get in touch with him as the pots we bought are huge and I can't quite understand where the problem lies. I suspect I will need to go to Abingdon in order to have a look at the problem on site.

Tuesday 25th
One of my prime concerns now is finding some Olive wood for Phil to make the bench in the garden and some furniture which has a genuine Mediterranean feel to it. I have looked around here, but I can't find anything suitable, so I speak to Hazel Murray, who owns a house in Tuscany, just outside Cortona. I met Hazel when I helped her at Chelsea in 2003. She designed a courtyard garden that year, depicting a Tuscan scene - entitled 'View To The Future'. The garden won the 'Best Courtyard Garden' award. Hazel has many contacts in Italy and as some of the stuff that I want is just 'junk', I thought that I would stand more chance with the help of a local than I would by just visiting the area on the off chance of finding the right things. The flights are booked for early February to fit in with Hazel's busy schedule at Sky TV.

Phil Game is coming along to help choose the Olive wood and artefacts for the garden. Colin is also coming to look at the vegetation with me, as I need to recreate an authentic look for the Olive terraces.

Monday 31st
Hazel has spoken to her Italian builder who seems to prune Olive trees in his spare time! Azelio has found some wonderful old twisted roots and branches from these trees, which we are hoping will be perfect for the bench we want to make. Hazel has also contacted a friend out there who is an architect. She has given us a list of places to visit for furniture and architectural reclaim, Italian style. I am hopeful that we are going to find the things that we need. Fingers crossed