Karen Platt’s blog

Travelling light

When a life crisis hits you, it changes your life. You are forced to face facts, make decisions and sometimes it’s hard. Last year, around this time, 13th February 2007, to be exact, I was rushed into hospital and told I was going to die. If the NHS had had their way, their prediction might have been correct. I’m a tough old bird, and I’m still here and kicking. For about four weeks, I actually believed them, started to get rid of clothes, bears, music that I thought my son would not want to do when I’m gone. Then it suddenly dawned on me that I was not going to die. This was confirmed by the hospital some three weeks later. At that time, my thoughts turned to all the things I would have missed, had I died. Top of the list, after my son and family, was gardens. Having always been an avid traveller and enjoyed travelling to gardens most of all, followed by plant nurseries as a close second; I decided to set up a garden tour company. It’s a nice complementary business to my established garden writing and published books as well as photography.This took a lot longer to set up than I thought, but at least I have the satisfaction of knowing I have done it right.  I have joined an Association to protect clients’ money. I have selected hotels, transport and gardens on my own, so there are no other tours just like mine. I shall also personally lead each tour and write a garden and travel pack for each participant on each tour.It’s all rather exciting. The tours are now up on the website with full itineraries, including the fabulous Chelsea Flower Show and the Hampton Court Flower Show. If you are looking to do these tours, we have space for you - come and join us. We are taking credit card bookings and you’ll be in very capable hands. I think I am right in saying that I am the only person in England who has both exhibited at Chelsea and led tours to the show. As a Chelsea medallist, I can tell you what goes on behind the scenes.This is where I shall post the comments on the tours, my travels and memories. Stay tuned.