March 2005
Tuesday 1st
Steve, our IT man, had his operation for bowel cancer today, but he will have to wait two weeks to find out the results of the biopsy. The operation went well and he had his close family visit him in the evening.
Wednesday 9th
Phil and I visited the 'plantation' today - Squires Landscapes new outlet for specimen trees and shrubs. Our Olive trees are absolutely fantastic. Kevin found them quite by chance in the very last nursery he visited before flying back from Italy. Unusually, these trees had not been cut back. There were only five of them and we needed five. Obviously they were meant for us. We had them shipped standing upright in the lorry to ensure the heads weren't damaged. This left plenty of space for the artifacts and furniture which we bought last month in Cortona. These have, thankfully, arrived safely. I was very concerned about the old wine press which is extremely fragile, but it arrived intact, even the weeds are still growing in it. After inspecting all the plants, Kevin and I spent two hours going over the Itinerary for Chelsea - everything from the delivery of machinery to labour force and commodities required on a day by day basis. It looks as if we will be able to complete the design in the allotted time!
Sunday 13th
Steve came out of hospital today. I think it will be some time before he is working eight hours a days at his computer again, but he looks very well. His results came through today as well. He is clear of cancer and will not need any further treatment. Great news.
Tuesday 15th
I have been working most of this winter on a garden at Grantchester, near Cambridge. Managing the building side and the interior of the house, which is being completely restored, is Lizzie Menzies. Lizzie has been searching for some fabrics for me for the chairs and Phil's bench cushions. She arrived today with some fabulous samples of French fabrics which I think are perfect for the job. Lizzie has also found a selection of tiles which are perfect for the table top which Phil will be making.
Thursday 17th
I had spoken to David Root from Kelways (Iris specialists) at the end of last year, but needed to touch base with him again and firm up on my order for Iris - both for the wild areas and for the garden itself. I shouldn't have worried as David has everything in order. I have also ordered a number of different Iris from David Howard, mainly for the garden area.
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 21st
Have managed to speak to Simon at Lillies' Water Gardens. Simon is growing all my bog plants for me. He reassures me that everything is running according to plan.
Wednesday 23rd
The RHS require a copy of the itinerary. This year, all deliveries, especially of large trees and machinery, have to be scheduled in so that the RHS can manage the traffic on the site more effectively. It took me several hours to collate the data I had from Kevin with all the scheduled plant deliveries and labour force information which I held.
Monday 28th
I have to start thinking about writing the technical brief.
Thursday 31st
I had a meeting with Phil today He is about to start construction of the olive wood bench. We urgently need the dimensions of this as Lizzie needs some time to have the cushions made up. Phil has also got the paint which we are going to use on the walls. I want to try to generate an effect rather like the firing on the big Cretan pots we are using on the garden. The different temperatures in the kiln bring out different colours in the terracotta. Shades of creamy yellow, biscuit and pink. I would like to try and reproduce something like this when we paint the rendered walls. Phil has bought some plasterboard and is going to experiment with different colour techniques in order to create the desired effect.
February 2004