November 2004
Monday 1st
The PR team, Bonnie and Nicky, have decided to go for an early December Press Launch this year so all the stops are out to produce the material for the press pack, invitations and paper needed for this event. I spent the day writing up the plant list for the Press Pack. This always takes ages as we have so many species.
Tuesday 2nd
Press Pack again. This time I have been working on the CVs of the contributors as well as the verbal description of the Garden.
Wednesday 3rd
Phil has returned from Sweden and the watercolour looks wonderful. We have a meeting on Friday this week and I know that the team will absolutely love the painting. It's strange how Phil's watercolours really bring the Garden to life for me. He has always managed to capture not only the concept of the garden but the atmosphere too. I really love this one.
Friday 5th.
4head team meeting. The meeting goes well and everyone is delighted with the watercolour of the Garden. I think it brings it alive for us all. The date for the Press Launch has been set for the 2nd of December. The final format for the Press Pack has been agreed. They will be produced while I am away on holiday. The cover of the pack is going to be 'lasercut', a technique which produces very finely cut out areas in the paper, almost like an old fashioned lace doily. The finished effect is like lace. There is only one machine in the country that can do this and strangely, it is just down the road from us, in Huntingdon. Once the Press Pack has been printed, it will take several days to lasercut.
Sunday 7th
I set off for 2 weeks holiday, diving in the Maldives. Diving for me is one of the most inspiring things I have ever done in my life. When I am on a diving holiday I rarely think of anything else but the things that I have seen that day. What a perfect way of relaxing.
Tuesday 23rd
First day back after the holiday and there seems to be a mountain of queries with reference to the Press Launch, which is in 10 days time. Nicky wants me to do a PowerPoint presentation to the press who will be attending. That is going to take some time to construct, as I need to source visual material for the presentation as well as writing it.
Wednesday 24th
I spend the morning talking to Essential Water Gardener about past Chelsea Gardens and about the design of the Garden for next year. They will be featuring the Garden in the April edition of their magazine.
Monday 29th
Philip and I visit Pots and Pithoi. Robin Lloyd has assembled this amazing collection of Cretan pots. I have several of these pots of my own, as I love the subtle tones and gentle curves of these wonderful clay pots from Crete. I need to select several pieces, some to take roses and others just to form a focal point. Phil and I choose four pieces that I feel will be perfect for the Garden. The subtle colours on one of the pots, created by different temperatures within the kiln when the pots are being fired, have given us a idea for the way in which we want to paint the wall.
Tuesday 30th
Steve has been keeping an eye on the Press Pack through its various stages of production. He visits the factory where the lasercutting takes place. It is a remarkable process which Steve said 'looks as if the whole thing is going up in flames' before the finished product emerges from the laser.
