Retail escapism

A former colleague once made a joke that nothing bad ever happens in John Lewis.

He reckoned that everything is so pretty and stylishly laid out, that you wander into his version of distilled perfection.

It made me chuckle, but I think he’s on to something.

If I’m ever slightly out of sorts, a bit grumpy or jaded, my mind wanders straight to two nearby places that’ll always transport me to temporary happiness.

The first is Burford Garden Company, between Cheltenham and Oxford. The other is Daylesford Organic Farm in Kingham, near Stow-on-the-Wold.

Today was one of those days. For various reasons, I was feeling a little off-colour and just wanted to get out of the house.

I picked up my car keys and before long was pulling up to say hello to my old friend Burford.

From the first crunch of gravel in the car park, to the gorgeous glossy greenery just waiting to be taken home, my bad mood evaporated and life looked A LOT better.

Instead of gloomily staring into a mug of coffee at home, I was entranced by colourful orchids, beguiled by a freestanding bathtub full of pretty and stunningly scented soaps, admiring artwork, picking up unique pieces of pottery and all the while being serenaded by a mask-wearing, piano-playing teenager in bright yellow Dr Martens. Fabulous stuff!

Burford unfailingly weaves its magic beneath twinkling fairly light adorned, oversized wicker lampshades. Everything from the food and drink hall to the outdoor plants and kiddies’ area really is beautiful.

I’m now the proud owner of a good handful of tulip bulbs - coppery La Belle Epoque, black Queen of Night and white and green Madonna. I might also have a bag of Pink Elephant hyacinth bulbs too, but my partner won’t know about those until later…

So not only is my mood now brighter but, come April, my garden will be looking brighter too!

Win, win! Who says retail therapy doesn’t work?!

For more information, visit www.burford.co.uk