Poems ,Stories and lot more .. By Maneesha Purandare

Today’s Chelsea floral display walk from Sloane Square was basically a marathon disguised as a flower show . From the giant zodiac installation woven with wicker, leaves and flowers…to Medusa staring dramatically into our souls…to moon landscapes, dragons and colour-themed window displays that looked straight out of a fantasy film…every corner was bursting with creativity. Absolute feast for the eyes…and mild punishment for the legs .Thankfully, there were abundant benches along the route where tired souls like us could recharge. The streets were overflowing with Instagrammers. Some had actual professional photographers following them around while they struck Pose No. 201 in front of the displays.  At one point, one glamorous model occupied an entire floral backdrop for so long that my wonderfully naughty mum simply walked straight into the frame and stood there smiling innocently. Even when politely asked to move, she pretended not to understand a single word  Needless to say...

So I did something wildly different … I booked a coach trip. Yes. Voluntarily!!! Why a coach, you ask? Because there’s something oddly poetic about sitting by a giant window, doing absolutely nothing, while the world scrolls past like a slow Netflix documentary. No driving stress, no Google Maps drama… just you, your thoughts, and comfortable seats. Now, unlike London coaches packed with energy and chaos, this one had a very… distinguished vibe. Let’s just say silver was the dominant hair colour. Not judging, just observing. I felt like the youngest intern on a wisdom retreat. Destination Sussex. Weather glorious. Mood joyful.. We reached just in time for a late breakfast and then wandered into a castle that looked like it had been rehearsing for a period drama. But honestly, the gardens stole the show. Tulips posing like divas, rhododendrons having a colour party, azaleas showing off, and forget me nots quietly gracefully displaying their beauty!  I of course clicked photos like ...