Wisteria is rampant, arum lilies showing off, poppies and peonies are vying for attention and the delphiniums are looking down on then all with haughty indifference. Just small glimpses of summer after the monsoon that was May. Please June, be kind to us, warm our earth and our bones and allow us a little optimistic basking. The A levels at least were sat in school halls were the rain sluiced down the windows, unlike anything students in previous years have experienced i.e swotting in searing temperatures followed by exams in stiflingly hot halls. Second son was thankful to sit his in the gloom and pass his driving test in similar conditions.
This last week, as the sun has hesitatingly peeked out of the clouds, it has found me fraught with activity. As I write, we are heading to pick up keys to our not only unvisited, but as yet unseen, house in Italy. It is a very quick trip – more PCR tests than you can shake a testing stick at and we will be sleeping in the van. In my head it’s all very romantic, I am Lucy Honeychurch to Hubby’s, George Emerson. I fear the reality however will be a lot less A Room with a View and more Alan Bennett’s, Lady in the Van. I am told that he house will have electricity but, just in case, I am qualified to provide an ample sufficiency of candles. If all else fails therefore, it will at least be a fragrant failure.
One of the scents, which we have newly created for Lucknam Park, captures roses and lavender from the Estate. We are also working on scents for a renowned multi Michelin starred French chef. It’s very exciting, but gosh, the pressure! The grey hair! Ooh, la, la!
We have also made another batch of our hand made porcelain candles imprinted with cow parsley, which were created by a talented local artist. They were evidently very desirable as they sold out almost immediately.
I shall try, in the next 36 hours, not to think further about wicks, wax scents and trimmings as we work out what is needed to be done to the Italian house and then traverse Europe on our journey hopefully before France closes its borders and traps us there! That is little to complain about though, and I shall do my utmost to enjoy this brief, and somewhat bonkers trip.
Thank you so much for all your support and I hope the sun shines on you all over this early summer, Bank Holiday weekend.
Love, Cathy x
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