Preparations are in hand for our official opening on Sunday 1 December. We’ve decided to incorporate a winter fair with numerous stalls showcasing the wonderful work of some of my crowdfunders’ as well as highlighting some of the community groups that The Flower Bank works with. Colindale Food Bank will be with us and will happily take donations of tins or coats! They’ve just launched their warm coat campaign so if you have an old coat you’d like to donate to a good cause then please bring it. I’d love to hear from you if you or your group would like a stall, so do please get in touch. Tomorrow, Monday 18 November I’m running my first wreath workshop of the season with Grahame Park’s Independent Living Group on Grahame Park Estate. My thanks to Mary Mac for asking me but also accommodating the BBC London reporter I’ll have in tow. The reporter plans on doing a 3 minute feature on the work of The Flower Bank and interviewing the ladies for their thoughts on Christmas. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions on people to invite to cut the ribbon - Kim Wilde’s on tour so is unavailable but rather promisingly Simon Lycett, renowned florist might be available. Have a great week.

Painting in November is a paradox but really it’s one of the few thing remaining, apart from painting the sign above the door and the electrician’s final snagging before The Flower Bank can open its doors officially on Sunday December 1st at 2.00 pm - everyone is most welcome. Then, there’s just the slight issue of who will officially open the shop, from my own address book I can pluck the actor and The Flower Bank’s near neighbour who played Ricky in Grange Hill in the early 80’s whilst Antonio’s best friend is the man who wrote Typically Tropical’s one hit wonder “Barbados”. To be honest neither have little at all to do with re-cycling and floristry so if any kind soul knows of someone who might fit the bill please contact me - after 3 “it’s whoo, I’m going to Barbados...”

At last the builders are completing their final bits of snagging, they’ve spent the last 2 weeks creating a wonderful outside space, thankfully the weather’s been fine. It feels wonderful to be able to say it will all be over by Christmas. The grand opening will be on Sunday 1st December when you’ll be able to make Christmas wreaths and have a look round the space as well as visiting the community Christmas market we’re holding with the other shops on the parade so if you’d like to be involved either as a stall holder, to share your mulled wine skills or as a performer please get in touch with me. BBC London contacted me this week for a seasonal feature they’re planning (I can’t believe it was March that I was on the Jo Good Show) as they’d like to record me as I create Christmas wreaths with the many community groups I work with they’re hoping to be with us on 1st December too. The pumpkin in the photograph was created by a young offender at our session on Hallowe’en and I just love the way the sunlight falls on it. Have a great week. Ursula

Last Sunday I hosted a shrine box workshop for 7 at The Flower Bank hub (see photograph). The participants soon realised they were guinea pigs as they were faced with a handleless toilet door, countless ladders, paint tins, paintbrushes and a general state of unreadiness. This week is another week of firsts - today I’m dressing my first bar mitzvah, thanks in advance to Chris Bentil and Katie Musgrave for your support and help today, I’ll need it. On Wednesday I’m decorating the Arts Depot at North Finchley for the launch of Barnet’s cultural partnership and on Friday I’m starting a fortnightly floral activity at Barnet’s Well-being centre in Hendon between 11 and 1. Thanks also to Ollie the tree surgeon who has popped in this week with his gorgeous Jack Russell’s, 3 beautiful wooden shelves and a contorted willow branch which will look wonderful in the window. Antonio and his merry men are now working outside - I hope the weather forecast is correct as it’s supposed to be fine for the next couple of days.

To misquote the famous song by Dinah Washington, “What a diff’rence a year makes”. This time last year I was crowdfunding to raise the money for The Flower Bank Hub. I’ve met a number of strangers recently who asked me if I was the lady who left bunches of flowers on benches - it got me thinking that this random act would help bring some cheer during this period of political upheaval - so expect to see posts again. It’s always wonderful to get feedback from people and this week Lilian’s daughter told me that she’d felt very proud of her mum when she saw the flower arrangement she’d created. Today I’ve got a workshop for young adults 11 - 14 in partnership with Nomadic Youth it’s an experiment for everyone involved particularly as work is still afoot inside. the shop. Next week Antonio and the gang are going to complete the garden, let’s hope the weather stays dry. Many of you have asked when the official launch will be and it’s going to be in December when I look forward to welcoming you to The Flower Bank and thanking you personally for your support and bearing with me.

I can’t believe it’s mid October and I’m still homeless. By the end of the week I’ve been promised that I’ll be ok to move in, just as well as Nomadic Youth have their inaugural half term holiday club next Sunday. Antonio, recently returned from his holiday and delighted by building progress in his absence feels that he now needs to work his magic on the back garden!!! During the week I collaborated with Men in Sheds Muswell Hill branch on creating a number of designs for a sustainable bar mitzvah and art event. Men in Sheds is a wonderful national charity that provides informal and fun community spaces for groups of men to connect, chat and create. The activities, often similar to those you might do in a garden shed have been proven to help reduce loneliness and isolation. Rather serendipitously for me Mark the Wood turning expert lives on Clifford Road just a few moments away from the hub. On Thursday Haringey young Offenders helped me at an activity at the Holocaust Survivor Centre in Hendon. It was a great experience for everyone involved and the 3 young men who came along were brilliant at helping make flower arrangements in cabbages, a first for all. Thanks to Francine Liebert who was a brilliant hostess. Thursday was also world mental health day and from Friday November 2nd I’m going to be running fortnightly drop in sessions at Barnet’s well-being service at the Meritage Centre, Church End in Hendon as well as offering a monthly drop in at The Flower Bank Hub. Have a wonderful week. Ursula

Thank you Helena and Sue for responding to last week’s request for guinea pigs for Friday’s fun silver week activity. Although not quite complete it was great to get a feel for how the space will work. Apart from that this week has been momentous myself and countless organisations have been the lucky recipients of post Rosh Hashanah flowers I’ve collected insane amounts and have found many uses for them. Meanwhile back st the shop on Tuesday we had our flooring laid, Wednesday our flower chiller was installed and Thursday Haringey young Offenders and Zincstyles created a graffiti mural. All this was done in and around Steve, the most patient painter, decorator and Jack of all trades who unobtrusively continued his work. I will miss his company when he leaves next week because nothing phases him. Today I’ll be at Grange Big Local’s Fun Palace at Tarling Road Community Centre, London N2 - it’s a wonderful day where people demonstrate and swap their passions - I’m going to be demystifying the creation of the humble buttonhole using flowers from the Rosh Hashanah flower frenzy. As the project nears completion I’m still going to send out weekly posts but not via Spacehive if you still want to receive emails please contact me. Next week Antonio returns from his holiday and we’ll hear his verdict on the shop. Have a great week.

Many thanks Lianne and Janine who kindly answered last week’s call for a graffiti artist. This Thursday we’ve got Danny ‘zincstyles’ and Haringey young Offenders coming to create a mural on an outside wall, it’s going to be a great addition to the hub. I was also fortunate to be able to tick off another thing from my wish list, a trestle table. Barnet Council were moving to new premises earlier in the week and Young Barnet Foundation were invited to take any items they felt might be of use and I seriously felt like a lottery winner when they knocked at my door with the table. Yesterday afternoon myself and Lynne Buchan started planting our palette wall - the beauty of this is as the plants were free and destined for the bin it doesn’t matter if they’re taken. This Friday 4th we have our first activity at the hub by then we’ll have flooring, electrics, a flower chiller and a functioning kitchen for tea and coffee. We’re hosting the autumn wreath making event as part of Silver week - would any of you be willing to be guinea pigs on this first activity, if so I’d love to hear from you I’m looking for 5 silver volunteers please. Tonight is Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year 5780 so for those of you who celebrate Shana Tova and for the others have a great week.

We’re now in the home straight, Antonio the builder has, true to his word, gone on holiday leaving Steve behind to finish the final bits of snagging. The past 6 - 7 weeks have been a complete whirlwind of dust and decision making and I can’t quite believe that in a couple of weeks we’ll be open, though the official opening won’t be til nearer Christmas. Thanks in advance to Sandra who’s coming in later this morning to advise me on the best layout for the back garden. Last week I started an activity group at a home in Golders Green - we were able to work in the garden in the glorious sunshine. One resident commented that she’d really enjoyed herself and hadn’t thought about the pain in her legs for an hour! On Wednesday I’ve got visits from 2 of the larger backers of the crowdfund campaign Megan from the Mayor of London’s office and Jamie from the Re-generation team at Barnet Council who I’m thrilled to be able to show how their money has and is being spent. I’m still on the hunt for a few things a collapsable trestle table which could accommodate 6 - 8, volunteers to help on Mondays and Thursdays and a graffiti artist so if you can help in anyway please contact me. Have a great week.

This week I met Stefan who’s creating Nomadic Youth London a travelling youth club which will bring activities and events to free spaces across North London at an affordable and discounted price. The Flower Bank is down to run a Shadow Box Shrine workshop on Sunday 20 October. Meanwhile back at the hub building continues apace and every day there’s a massive difference and much to see. Next Friday the flooring’s going down and the following week the flower chiller. Today I’m picking up some external racking from the Wyevale Garden Centre at Potters Bar with the kind help of Tony, the electrician. Yesterday was the wonderful Tottenham Flower & Produce Show - it’s always glorious weather and a wonderful celebration of all things horticultural. I’d attended Priscilla Wakefield House on Friday morning where 7 residents had created flower arrangements to enter in to the cut flower arrangement category. I’m delighted to say that Mohammed & Joyce were awarded 1st and 2nd Place and wheelchair bound Doreen, fellow resident and entrant was able to collect their certificates. Yesterday, my stall was next to the Felix Project a charity that collects wasted food from supermarkets and distributes a staggering amount to schools and youth clubs. We resolved to collaborate on a sustainable wedding, bar/bat mitzvah reception where they provide the food for someone to cook and I would floralise the event. If you know of anyone who might be interested please get in touch.