Three new clients to go and see next week, lucky me. All not too far away as well, so I don't have to spend hours and hours in the car. Busy time coming up!

I like the time before I go and see new clients. I only have the brief information that we've discussed on the phone; in this case, two town gardens requiring a contemporary, minimal touch including water and a modernish but cottagey house needing a garden to complement it. My mind is already mulling over options and suggestions. I won't pre-empt anything until I've had a really good chat with the clients, though: that would be a disaster. No preconceptions here!

I'm lucky that I can always see potential solutions to the design issues before I leave the garden on the first visit. I can think in three dimensions (four, if you count time) and this is a really useful gift. Mind you, I can't always then get the picture in my mind onto the paper! That's the bit that has me waking up at four in the morning, tearing my hair out and kicking the dog. I've never yet failed to find a way round it, though.

I'll let you know how I get on!