We've been glardening this week. Yes, OK, so I made the word up, but if 'glamping' is allowed, and indeed 'flaffing' (yes, I'm looking at you Mr A-S), then I'm going for glardening (verb) - to garden in a glamorous fashion; to bring glamour to the outdoors.
You see, this week, I had a glimpse of what my life might be like. The very gorgeous Junior magazine was doing a photo shoot in the garden to accompany an article I'm writing for the July issue on making the most of your outdoor space this summer. Cue fashion directors, wardrobe assistants, photographers and hair and make up artists. Of course, this army of talented beautifiers and stylists were not here for me (although, Good Lord, I need them). No, they were here for the children.
It was quite surreal. Everything sort of looked the same, and yet, somehow different. Ava's hair actually looked brushed. The children were in stain-free clothes. Cath Kidston had apparently descended like some interior design angel to sprinkle my garden with designer bunting, kites and even radios.
Of course, it couldn't last. Oscar had a Naomi Campbell moment when asked to put on a shirt not to his liking and stormed upstairs (thank goodness he doesn't have a mobile phone to fling). Ava had a strop of her own when not allowed to be in charge of the kite at all times. Archie dribbled constantly and poor Hester, a hair and make up expert, was reduced to mopping his chin every 30 seconds.
To top it all, Oscar put on his third outfit of the day which included pristine white shorts, and then promptly fell up a step and left a very dark and noticeable mark right down the front. Only when I was brushing him down did I spot the label - Dolce & Gabbana. By this stage my stress levels were through the roof and I realised why we are definitely gardeners rather than glardeners.
I just hope the backdrop looked OK. I had been mentally willing the alliums and irises to appear - the former were on triumphant form on the day as my photo attests. However, I have now learnt that irises don't respond to psychic messages and as such shall not be appearing in print.
Test comment
Posted by: Victoria | May 13, 2009 at 12:16 AM
Victoria - it passed!
Posted by: Dawn Isaac | May 13, 2009 at 12:35 PM