Jasmine

June 02, 2020 / Geoff Griffiths

Hello there, you brave, responsible soldiers. Please note how I avoided ‘old soldiers’ for reasons of propriety and the purpose of protecting my relationship with you! 😬 Here in Lockdown Hell we only have each other to rely on. So Mrs Cheoff is losing out almost 24/7. Never mind, eh.

We do also have the small distraction of a garden to look after. Some of it is just looking after itself. A particular case in point is the Jasminium Florifartibus which has spread a fan of foliage across one fence for years. But it’s never done what it just did before! Of course, all will be gone by the time you are allowed to be invited here. The excitement will be in waiting to see if there is a repeat next year.

Please wait for the reveal of something which I can only convey to you visually. Alas, the pungent fragrance cannot be communicated. Even at a distance one is transported to a world smelling of more perfumed fanny than you would get in an entire series of ‘Craddock Cooks’. Heady stuff!

Stair well. Stay well. And don’t let the bed bugs nick your cocoa.

Love from me and from the only reason I am half the man you can’t come and see before you today - the ever-lovely effervescence that is Mrs Cheoff. -xx-

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tags / jasmine, lockdown, beauty, flowers, gardening

Clever Girl

February 21, 2019 / Geoff Griffiths

Jan had already been a clever girl for years. I only began to be a clever boy when I met her and had enough good sense to use the magic given to me by the pixies to trap her in a meaningful relationship and glorious marriage (feel free to message Mrs. Cheoff separately for her take on events… she speaks for herself)

This post concerns just one recent manifestation of the creative talent which I regularly witness from the wife who is my woman.

‘Fleurtations’ has been our florist of choice for three decades now. Their service is terrific and the quality of the flowers, blooms, foliage and presentation is always top class.

The ‘voucher’ below was my 2017 Christmas present to Jan. After a busy year, early December arrived and it seemed better if we might try to extend the session into 2019. That’s when Tanya alerted us to her sister, Andy’s, full day course coming up before Christmas. Initial thoughts that this would never fit in with everything else were eventually squished and Jan signed up.

The day was piled high with pleasure and productive success… I got full-on second-hand joy looking at Jan’s work and hearing her enthusiastic account of the day.

Anyone wanting a way to develop their artistic leanings and do that in the company of a sympathetic and skilled tutor need look no further than ‘Fleurtations’. If distance puts you too far away it’s quite possible that you have an alternative nearby which offers a venue and people just as rewarding. Seek them out!

Here is what Jan made on the day and brought home to add yet more elements to make our Christmas special. And if you read far enough you’ll find details of what followed that first day of flower arranging… and is still brightening our home.

First project was a wreath. Which all seemed to go very well. The daft thing was Jan’s reluctance to hang it outside because it looked a bit classy compared to our neighbours’ efforts. I persuaded her to relent and we shamed the rest of the road for the festive duration!

Not a bad start, eh.

Next came something which Jan had negotiated beforehand. Measurements had been taken and our boxed-in ‘fireplace’ would hopefully have a custom decoration ready by the end of the day. Things went so well that Andy eventually asked Jan if she really hadn’t done this sort of thing before!

So we had another attractive feature. This one was carefully placed inside for our eyes only… didn’t want to upset the neighbours too very much.

Almost finished. But not quite.

More ‘oasis’, wires, container and plant selection ended up with the appearance of this piece which we moved around the house with us so as to give it maximum appreciation over Christmas.

That was it for a very productive and rewarding day’s work. But it generated another idea a few days later as Jan sourced the items for a centrepiece which was ready to grace our Christmas table in the time it took me to go and bring back family from Nottingham.

2019 arrived and the ‘bug’ had hit. No, no… we’ve both had our flu jabs! Instead, Jan was enrolled in night classes at ‘Fleurtations’ which have already produced more lovely artistic endeavours… and more eye-pleasing pieces.

Week One: Pot de fleurs

Week Two: Pillbox posy?

Week Two: 2-Way hand-tied

Week Three: ‘Untitled’!

Tulips on the way out; lilies coming to the fore. The display grows and develops over time.

The course continues tonight. I’m really looking forward to what comes home with Jan.

As I said, this is something great to try if you get the chance. Here’s hoping that you have a business as friendly and accommodating as our own ‘Fleurtations’. Definitely a way to explore colour and creativity and bring extra sunshine into life.

Mrs. Cheoff even says that it is worth the wrench of being apart from me for a couple of hours each week!

Of course many of you on seeing the title of this post will have been waiting for me to do my bounden duty before ending. Fine by me. I reckon this unbinds me.

scene from Jurassic Park (1993)

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tags / floristry, florist, creative, flowers, education, 'Fleurtations'

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Jasmine

Clever Girl