Eastern Daily Press, Feb 2009: 

Written by Mike Turner

The snow is far preferable to the endless grey don’t you think?  At least the view of the garden is a magical one featuring a snowman instead of mud, man.  Right now you could be thinking of the hours you might spend outside when the weather breaks.  I’m serious.  Over the last few years June has been the best of the summer and that’s not far away.  If you want to set up an oasis of hedonistic sun worshiping then you need more than a barbeque.  The problem is always that our season is short, if you react rather than prepare you will miss the opportunity.  Outdoor furniture has matured into a huge marketplace with masses of choice.  But be careful.  Most of us need to keep the furniture outside and you really must buy the best quality you can afford or you will be wasting your money.  Look for durable woods with high natural oils like Teak or choose woven synthetic materials.  High quality plastics are woven over powder coated aluminium frames to create great shapes and amazing durability.  Hose it down, put the cushions on and lie back.  They may be rare moments but they take some beating.

Fabrics need to be chosen carefully too if they are likely to be outside for any time.  There are several new ranges of high quality outdoor materials that will not rot or fade.  Always ask about the specification before you buy and make sure the textiles are suitable.  Cotton and linen fabrics will perish very quickly under direct sunlight, the modern synthetics will give you thelook and feel you want and can be left out indefinitely. For further flexibility look out for modular seating that can be configured in a variety of shapes to create opposing seating, corner layouts or long runs.  Finally choose a cantilevered umbrella or two to overhang your seating or wall mounted retractable awnings.  If you are looking for inspiration try www.gloster.com or call into my shop for a brochure.  Keep things uncluttered and use plain fabrics for the large pieces with accent scatter cushions to compliment.  Mother nature is, after all, taking care of the decorating. 

Finally I would like to thank everybody for the cards and kindness I received during my recent illness.  I am recovered now and owe many drinks to many people especially at the N&N hospital. A debt I am looking forward to repaying!

Mike