- With English Translation
今天是小花束正式在 Workshopnumber29 登場的日子；
在這特別的一天，我想與大家分享我與 Toni 和 Tom 認識的故事。
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英國的二月，天氣依舊冷咧。夜幕低垂，採購完食材後，在回家的路上去了一間提了好多次的葡萄酒吧。儘管是平日，酒吧內卻一位難求，僅剩下門口落地窗旁的高腳座位。我們聊天品酒享受氣氛，然而窗外的景色卻並不如詩畫：街景被一輛貨車遮擋著。只見貨車的主人忙進忙出：搬運車上的裝飾到對向的商店，又從店內將物品移至車上。聊著聊著，突然一抹黑影迅速上車，發動車子，倒車，撞倒了葡萄酒吧放置在路上的廣告看板後加速離去，甚至連貨車旁的拉門都還未關上。
「是偷車嗎？我們是目睹了偷車的經過嗎？不然一般人怎麼會連撞倒看板都沒察覺呢？不可能吧！」我好興奮地說著。
正當我還躊躇著要不要報警時，那輛貨車又駛回了原本臨停的位置，而從副駕駛座下車的是一位身穿制服的小孩。隨後貨車的主人也下了車；這次，他關上了拉門，並朝向對面的商店走去——沒錯，那看板依舊躺在地上。
「哦！原來不是偷車賊啊～是我想多了！」
啜飲完那杯葡萄酒，我們離開酒吧朝著停車格走去。經過了店面，發現裡面一團亂；我記得之前剛搬來這地區並到處尋找合適家具時，我們曾來過這間店： 喜歡店內的風格也很喜歡他們所販售的商品。但那時並沒多做注意，因為店內陳列的大多是服飾類商品，或是家居小物。我們就這樣在門外站了一小會兒，討論裡面的衣服多麽的好看——太過於忘我，卻沒發現這舉止實在很難不讓人注意到。「嗨！你們好嗎？」典型英國招呼起手式。「嗨！我們很好，你呢？你們正在幹嘛呀？」一小陣寒喧之後，我們了解到他們正在更換店內擺設，所以才會看起來亂糟糟的。
每次逛街時，遇到人很好的店員/老闆我都會忍不住買東西，這次也不意外。
「我之前來時，有一個很喜歡的蠟燭，不曉得現在可以買嗎？」
其實一說完我就後悔，畢竟當時已經晚上九點多快十點，更別說人家還忙著呢！「當然呀！」他們的回應更是讓我吃驚，我心想：他們太誇張地熱情好客了吧！
儘管忙碌，Toni 還是耐心地讓我逐一確認我當初喜歡的味道，同時也向我熱情地介紹這手工蠟燭品牌。
那一晚意外地促成了這份難能可貴緣分，他們的友善也讓我更喜歡這地方——在那之後我們幾乎每週都去店內尋寶；荷包大失血，但卻停不下來。日子久了，也從客戶變成了朋友——我最喜歡的營業模式：與客人成為朋友。
-------------- 在我重拾花藝時，Toni 也不吝嗇地給予我的「芲」機會，讓它有一個舞台閃耀。
現在每兩週就能在 Workshopnumber29 看見我的創作，也有小花束們可以採購；每兩週都會有一個主題，同時我也會與大家分享作品背後的故事。
《那一晚》喝完葡萄酒後，我在店內買了一個 柑橘與橙花 香味的手工蠟燭。
本週花葉材：若翻譯有誤請不吝告知
金盞花
橘色重瓣鬱金香
長穗鐵莧
白色小菊
開心果葉(Pistache)
長穗鐵莧的垂墜感描繪紅葡萄酒從酒瓶中流出的型態，多瓣的橘色花朵們（金盞花、重瓣鬱金香）如同柑橘一般，白色小菊則象徵綻放的橙花。
Today is the official debut of Little Posies at Workshopnumber29. On this special day, I would like to share the story of how I met Toni and Tom.
In chilly February, there was one night after grocery shopping, we found ourselves wandering into a wine bar that we had been saying to visit countless times before. Despite it being a weekday, the bar was packed, and the only available seats were the high stools by the floor-to-ceiling windows next to the door. We chatted, sipped our wine, and enjoyed the atmosphere. However, the view outside was far from picturesque as it was blocked by a delivery van. The van's owner was busy shuttling back and forth, moving decorations from the car to a store across the street. As we continued our conversation, suddenly, a shadowy figure swiftly hopped into the van, started it up, reversed, crashed into the advertising signboard in front of the wine bar, and sped away, not even bothering to close the van's side door.
"Was that a car theft? Did we just witness a car theft in action? Otherwise, how could people not even realize they knocked down a signboard? That doesn’t make sense!" I exclaimed with a mix of excitement and disbelief. (Weirdo.)
Just as I was considering whether to call the police or not, the van returned to where it was parked, and to my surprise, a kid in a uniform got off the van. Soon after, the driver also got off, closed the side door, and headed towards the shop across the street. (Yeah, he forgot to put the signboard back in place, so it remained lying on the ground.)
"Oh! So, it wasn't a car thief after all. I was just overthinking!"
After having the wine, we left the bar and made our way to the parking lot. As we passed by a storefront, we noticed it was in chaos. I remembered that when we just moved to the area and were on the hunt for furniture, we had visited this store. We liked the style and the products they sold, although, at the time, I didn't pay much attention as most of the items on display were clothing and home accessories. Standing outside the door for a while, we got lost in our own world, discussing how fabulous the clothes inside looked—unaware of how conspicuous our behavior was. "Hey there! You alright?" A typical British greeting. "Hi! Not too bad, and you? What are you guys doing?" After chatting for a bit, we knew that they were in the midst of rearranging the store's displays, hence the messy scene.
To be honest, friendly store staff is always my softest spot. Whenever I encounter them while shopping, I can't resist buying something, and this time was no exception.
"I remember there was a candle that I liked when I came here last time. May I purchase it now?"
I regretted saying it as soon as it slipped out of my mouth. It was already past 9 o'clock in the evening, not to mention they were still busy! "Of course!" Their response surprised me even more. I thought to myself, “They are ridiculously warm and hospitable.”
Despite their busyness, Toni patiently let me go through each scent to find the one I liked and enthusiastically introduced me to this handmade candle brand.
That evening unexpectedly led to a precious bond among us, and their kindness made me adore this area even more. Since then, we visited the store almost every week, searching for all the treasures. It cost me a lot of money but I couldn't help it. Over time, we went from being customers to friends— Which is my favorite business model: Becoming friends with clients.
When I restarted practicing my floristry skill, Toni generously gave "Huā" a precious opportunity to shine at Workshopnumber29.
Now, you can see my floral works every two weeks at Workshopnumber29. You may also buy the posies there. There will be different floral themes, and I will share the stories behind the works with you, just as this time.
"That Night," I bought a Mandarin & Neroli handmade candle from the store after having a glass of wine.
Flowers/ Foliage of this week:
Orange Calendula
Orange Tulips double
Red Amaranthus
White Xanth
Pistache
The trailing Amaranthus represents the flow of red wine from a bottle, while the multi-petaled orange flowers (Calendula and Tulips) resemble citrus fruits (Mandarin), and the white Xanth symbolizes the orange blossom.