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I made a huge mistake in naming a tree I liked at the garden centre. Now I can’t stop thinking about him, and I wonder if he’s thinking of me, too, or if he’s thriving in the garden of someone else. I miss you, Larry.
Ok, if I’m really good today and get all my work done, I’m going to walk to the garden centre tomorrow after the school run, and see if Larry’s still there, and if *whispers* he remembers me...
On my way to the garden centre. Nervous and excited to be reunited...
Yesterday got really busy, so I couldn’t update, but for those who are interested, I did go to the garden centre after dropping Ted at school. It was a beautiful sunny morning, the centre mostly empty, and everything glistening after a watering...
I found it hard not to run down the aisles of plants - I was so anxious to see if Larry was still there. But my husband was embarrassed of his ‘weird wife’ and insisted on a slow walk...
He kept saying ‘wasn’t it that one?’ as we passed each olive tree, but none of them were Larry. I felt panic setting in. I looked over into the restricted area at the trees that had been reserved by others and thought I saw him there - close but unreachable...
And then there he was, still there, majestic, unclaimed. I asked my husband to take a picture of us. He was deeply uncomfortable about it but took a quick snap...
I got in closer for some selfies...
Here is a lovely one of his beautiful trunk...
We walked around the centre, my husband pointing out other, more sensible things to buy. I nodded and replied but my heart was still with Larry. We circled around to look at him again, then moved on. I said I wanted to look at the statues so I’d have more time to think...
And I found myself so reluctant to leave him, so I told my husband that we’d look at him just once more, and on that final look, I knew I had to find a way to have him. So I did some maths and logical reasoning in my head...
Evolution is coming out in a few weeks - my sixth book. The garden centre in Evolution was inspired by this very centre and a big part of the reason why I visited last weekend and met Larry. I don’t usually buy myself publication presents because, you know, bills and stuff...
But maybe I could make an exception this time! Clearly the stars had aligned to bring me and Larry together. So I raced to the tills, scared that someone might steal him before I could secure him for myself. I had to make small talk with the staff members while I led them back...
to Larry, shining in the sunlight. All the while I just wanted them to understand the urgency of the situation, but they didn’t seem to appreciate my attachment to Larry and looked at me as though I was very strange...
But we got there eventually, they put a sticker on him with my name on it, and he is being delivered to me early next week so he can live with me forever. My husband is having to take down the lights and cabling in the garden so that he can be forklifted in...
But when talking about it this morning, he described Larry as ‘he’ by mistake, so I think, deep down, he appreciates that Larry is a very special tree. I will let you know when Larry arrives.
I just had the call: Larry is on his way!
Larry is being loaded on to the forklift by the bemused garden centre staff member...
He’s at a very precarious angle, so I’m worried...
Here he comes! (I am inside making sure the dogs don’t go nuts)
Tight angle getting to the front back patio but my husband is supervising. It’s very tense right now.
He’s being nudged into position...
Lots of thumbs ups going on for a job successfully manoeuvred. The delivery people hope we never order from them again.
Gates are shut, flip-flops on. I’m going out!
Larry by day and by dusk! 
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Larry in the rain...
