No,
your eyes were not deceiving you and that heading does not contain typing
errors. We really did have a lawn that
had appeared on stage.
It
was at our first house in Cowell Street, a tiny little cul-de-sac off Wherstead
Road, just near the railway bridge in south Ipswich.
I
had only recently started in estate agency in Ipswich and we purchased this
property as first time buyers in the spring of 1988 (see separate article).
The
property had a tiny garden, probably no bigger than about 8’ square and when we
moved in there was just a tiny shed and the rest was just a patch of dirt.
My
girlfriend at the time, prior to becoming my wife, worked at the Wolsey Theatre
in Ipswich as did her mother.
A
production was underway at the Wolsey which was sold out and as part of the set
they had turfed the stage. Sadly, I
cannot remember what the production was.
When
the run finished, having been viewed by 100’s of people, the set started to be
dismantled and there was discussion with what to do with the now very dry and
very brown turf.
My
future mother-in-law happened to mention that she had heard that we were going
to shortly be turfing the garden and we said yes, we were very interested. They piled up the rolls of turf at the back
of the Wolsey and I distinctly remember driving up in the car to collect it
with my girlfriend, only to draw up and see what I can only describe as rolls
of beige carpet.
The
lawn, in the absence of any water or sunlight, and under the heat of the
spotlights for the two week show. It was completely parched and bore no
resemblance in appearance or feel to real grass.
Our
hearts sunk.
I
had only just started in estate agency and, as a new first time buyer, funds
were understandably tight and this was a way we could have saved a few pounds.
We
were about to turn round and drive away empty handed but we went to a phone box
and I rang my mother, who is a gardening expert.
She
told us not to worry, that there was every chance that if we laid that turf and
watered it sufficiently that the grass would recover.
I
laid the turf/carpet tiles having prepared the patch of ground with masses of
watering but minimal elements of enthusiasm and totally no optimism for the
future prospects of this lawn.
I
believe it was also the summer, so the heat and dryness was not helping either. I followed my mother’s instructions with
copious amounts of watering and remember celebrating on returning home from one
busy day at the estate agents to see the first tiny signs of green appearing in
the grass.
Over
the period of the next few weeks the brown, dry turf transformed into nice,
green, lush grass.
I
don’t know where the Wolsey Theatre got the turf from but it clearly hadn’t cut
any corners – this was top quality grass.
The only problem now was that the grass was going so green and growing
so quickly we then discovered we hadn’t got a lawn mower!
More
funds had to be diverted for the purchase of a second hand push along lawnmower
(it didn’t need an electric one and it certainly didn’t need a petrol one!!!)
So
with all the dry, hot weather we are enjoying at the moment, keep your lawns
watered and never give up hope. However
brown they have become, if my lawn at Cowell Street could recover then anyone’s
can!!
That
property off Wherstead Road was in an area known as south Ipswich and had the
benefit of a short walk to the town centre.
Estate Agencyin Ipswich – - To view details visit our offices or our website.
625 Foxhall
Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 8ND
01473 721133
35
Buttermarket, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1BH
01473 281188
Bristol
Court, Betts Avenue, Martlesham Heath Business Park, Martlesham IP5 3RY
01473 620222
No comments:
Post a Comment