After day one
Today seems to have been a fairly relaxed one on site. Outside gardens are progressing well because of the good weather, and the showground seems tidier and less chaotic than it has on occasions. My team were in and unloaded by the time I arrived. The black polythene had been rolled out to cover the site, and the smell of marker spray paint was already on the air as the plan moved from paper onto the ground. Years of experience have taught them to remember everything: especially the white plastic picnic chairs for tea breaks.
During the day we decide on the various details of construction and the position of the largest trees which arrive on site in the morning. Ricky calls to say that one of the big Hippophae rhamnoides has been damaged in loading - we need to take this into consideration when positioning it. I know the show visitors wont notice, but the judges might.
I always worry that the paths, buildings, pools, paving and decking are taking up too much space, and there is not enough room for the plants. It always seems like that at this stage. I also know that the exhibit will seem to fill up quickly when the large shrubs and the rest of the trees move in next Wednesday and I will worry about where we are going to put the next few lorry loads of smaller material. These will then disappear as the exhibit eats its way through around 3,500 plants.
The paving looks great. Only one minor hitch; somehow I drew the plan 2 metres short so we need to improvise slightly to have enough slabs. The medals are still packed but the surface of the silver one has given us a glimpse of the sparkling effect they will create.
One of the main topics of conversation of the day has been the question of the height of the monument. I am so used to working alongside this great big chunk of granite I always assume that it is bigger than anything else: it always seems to tower well above whatever we create. However the lads have measured the distance between the names on the stone, and thereby estimated its height. It looks as if my mast will reach nearly to the top: scary. I expect this means another sleepless night worrying as to whether it will fit or not? What if it doesn't? What am I going to do with an 11 metre mast and silver sails? Do not answer that one - please!
One of the main topics of conversation of the day has been the question of the height of the monument. I am so used to working alongside this great big chunk of granite I always assume that it is bigger than anything else: it always seems to tower well above whatever we create. However the lads have measured the distance between the names on the stone, and thereby estimated its height. It looks as if my mast will reach nearly to the top: scary. I expect this means another sleepless night worrying as to whether it will fit or not? What if it doesn't? What am I going to do with an 11 metre mast and silver sails? Do not answer that one - please!
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