I thought I’d just say a quick hello. I’ve missed you!
The last month has been a madly busy time of packing; condensing our belongings from a generously Australian-sized four bedroom house to a London-proportioned, two bedroom house; preparing for a Masters exam (the big day is tomorrow); writing an assignment; and, oh yes, running a business. As you can imagine, I’m exhausted.
And the whole of January went past with not a single garden visit to be had. Thank goodness for birthdays, is all I can say. The perfect excuse for a break and a treat and this morning my dear friends Catherine and Steven took me for coffee and cake by the Potting Shed, to the newly planted Sydney Park Wetlands and then to my favourite of all, Cat Alley in Surry Hills. Wow! What a place this is. I need to move there at some point in my life. A total oasis in the city.
Cat Alley in Surry Hills, inner Sydney. What an extremely special place.
I’ll write it up soon, but here’s a picture to give you a taste in the meantime. The entire street, covered in plants from top to bottom, left to right. And the plants are just part of the attraction. It is a ‘beaut’, as they say!
Hoping to get back to normal blogging activity once we’re all packed up, client projects are finished and my Master of Horticulture demands return to a sensible level again. Until then, revision notes are calling….
Janna Schreier Garden Design 
Miseed you too Janna – but thought you would have been very busy! Not long now.
Missed not miseed (Fraudien slip)?
Forgot to say good luck with the exam!
Thank you. Yes, busy doesn’t really seem an appropriate word for the chaos! But it’s a relief to have got the exam done.
It seemed like the best present to give a garden-loving friend who’s going away (sigh). Something you can carry in your head and your heart, instead of your suitcase.
Now nail that exam!
You know me very well; I’d always prefer an experience over a thing (although admittedly, home grown bunches of flowers are pretty highly rated things in my book!).
It only seems the other day you were telling us of your amazing 40th. So much can happen in just one year. All the best with your exam although I’m sure you will blitz it. Look forward to your thoughts on Cat Alley.
It is incredible how things can change, isn’t it? I’m looking forward to collecting my thoughts on Cat Alley too; just need a few more hours in the day! I do miss writing.
Good luck with everything, Janna — and happy birthday! Deirdre
Thanks ever so much, Deirdre!
Oh What a life!! Good luck and hapoy birthday, although i think it was probably lost if the rush and the fog of exams!
Everything is a bit foggy at the moment! But thank you for your good wishes, Libby.
Eeeek. A belated Happy Birthday and hope all goes well with the exam. I’m sure you’ll be fine!
Thank you. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I certainly wasn’t short of things to write; just hope I wrote the right ones down! I was just happy that I managed to operate a pen for two hours solid.
Good luck on the move and happy Bday. London…you must feel like you’re flying!
Thanks so much, Marian. It’s certainly a big move. We’ve had a few significant shifts now but it still surprises me each time, just how hard it is, both from an emotional and logistical perspective. It’s exciting too though.
It looks beautiful! Paradise! And I wish you “Good Luck”!
Thanks very much! Yes, it really is Paradise. Mind you, your hellebores look pretty nice, too. Do you think they will last until we get to England in early March?
Yes, they should. I bought these hellebores from the nursery round about March last year
Oo, goody! I do love hellebores but they don’t like our climate here. There are lots of plants I am looking forward to seeing again.
You must share that list with us! 😀
I could write a blog post of all my favourite plants I have missed, to get me back into the swing of things! I’ve still got so many Australian gardens I want to write up too though. Oh for a bit of downtime!