Sometimes in order to understand and appreciate the present you must look at the past first...
Very poignant and true, and I say that in a fun tone rather than a serious one!
This post started out as what is supposed to be about the newly redecorated jungle hut. Although we finished the redecoration several months ago we haven't had the chance to post photos of it yet. As I started to sort out the photos we took last weekend and writing about them I kept having flashbacks too on what it looked like before. And remembering what it had been through.
To say that the Jungle Hut or the Jungle Veranda, an integral part of our garden had been through one roller coaster of a journey is an understatement!
So as I wrote about its present I kept thinking about its past and have then started to look through its photo archives and found myself actually having fun looking back at them. So instead of sorting out the new photos I ended up collating some of the old photos, sort of like a timeline from how it was then to how it came to how it is now.
And here it is:
It started out like this when we just moved in
Then in 2009
By Summer 2010
Then Summer 2011
The suns came up during Summer 2012
But then this happened in the Summer of 2013
Too damaged, the entire building had to be demolished and a new one built in its place but first a clean up!
And then it was demolished
And then the builders have started to their thing
Almost there!
Ta-dah! Resurrected but just needs 're-animating'
It immediately needed to serve a winter purpose though!
And did I say it needs 're-animating'? It needs some colour on its cheeks but what? Did we go for this shade?
But changes on the inside first, Spring 2014
That was good fun looking back! Now that I've had a good dose of the past I better start sorting out its present. And get the present photos posted soon!
Mark :-)
Very poignant and true, and I say that in a fun tone rather than a serious one!
This post started out as what is supposed to be about the newly redecorated jungle hut. Although we finished the redecoration several months ago we haven't had the chance to post photos of it yet. As I started to sort out the photos we took last weekend and writing about them I kept having flashbacks too on what it looked like before. And remembering what it had been through.
To say that the Jungle Hut or the Jungle Veranda, an integral part of our garden had been through one roller coaster of a journey is an understatement!
So as I wrote about its present I kept thinking about its past and have then started to look through its photo archives and found myself actually having fun looking back at them. So instead of sorting out the new photos I ended up collating some of the old photos, sort of like a timeline from how it was then to how it came to how it is now.
And here it is:
It started out like this when we just moved in
Then in 2009
By Summer 2010
Then Summer 2011
The suns came up during Summer 2012
But then this happened in the Summer of 2013
 |
| Oops! |
Too damaged, the entire building had to be demolished and a new one built in its place but first a clean up!
And then it was demolished
 |
| Bye bye! |
Almost there!
Ta-dah! Resurrected but just needs 're-animating'
It immediately needed to serve a winter purpose though!
And did I say it needs 're-animating'? It needs some colour on its cheeks but what? Did we go for this shade?
But changes on the inside first, Spring 2014
That was good fun looking back! Now that I've had a good dose of the past I better start sorting out its present. And get the present photos posted soon!
Mark :-)
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
What a nice look back! I loved your old Jungle Hut and am looking forward to seeing what you've done with the new one!
ReplyDeleteIt was nice to look back Peter, and have had moments wherein I said to myself 'oh I've forgotten about that'. Not the fire bit of course...
DeleteI love a heavily decorated outbuilding! I didn't realize that your jungle hut started out as a pretty simple garden shed, and that you added on that front porch. Can't wait to see the re-animated one.
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed, from a well built outbuilding that was already there when we moved in, with the veranda added later on Alison :)
DeleteLove seeing old photos of great gardens, especially the "just moved in" ones!
ReplyDeleteWhen you post the new photos, please tell what you changed when the new building was designed and constructed, and why. Those of us who don't have *any* garden buildings want to avoid mistakes on the first one. :)
That's a a good idea Alan, to include bits that were changed and modified from the design of the old one. It depends on what the building is used for really and since we also use the enclosed bit to store plants in the winter that was a major consideration for the new one :)
DeleteThanks for the photos, I love seeing this kind of before-during-after and I love the results! As I mention in my own current blog post, we have no idea what the future will bring, and sometimes it brings the completely unexpected! I'm sure it was a horrific shock at the time but it looks like you've recovered from it quite nicely!
ReplyDeleteThank you too John :) that fire event was an interesting phase to go through to say the least and happy not to go through again. But the end results has churned out something much better fortunately :)
DeleteIt's nice to have a look back to see what was and remember the trials and tribulations that followed the fire. It's clearly been a long haul! I'm looking forward to seeing version 2.0.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Kris, and may version 2 last a very long time this time :)
DeleteCan't wait to see the photos, but I'm already loving the bigger (deeper) veranda. As for that color you shared a quick photo of, I hope so!
ReplyDeleteThanks Loree! The deeper veranda is so much better now and the way the seats were arranged is more social as everyone sitting are now facing each other. We went for a colour similar to that pic :)
DeleteIts good to see the old version before you do the Grand Reveal, gives context, plus the old version was worth celebrating, you achieved an amazing transformation until the fire did its own "transformation"...
ReplyDeleteThanks Janet :) the reveal won't be that grand but nice to show the jungle huts new incarnate
DeleteWell, you certainly have us primed for the big reveal. Don't keep us waiting too long, please.
ReplyDeleteWill try our best Ricki :)
DeleteI'm so sorry you guys had to go through that. It must have been devastating. I must say though, the new version looks amazing.
ReplyDeleteIt's not too bad now Amy and sort of just look back at that episode in neutral tone. Wouldn't want to go through that again though...
DeleteGosh what a roller coaster of a timeline ! What a lot of hard work you have put in! It was very interesting to see your plot when you first moved in, as it gives a real sense of scale.
ReplyDeleteLots of changes since then Jane, was nice to look back ourselves :)
DeleteI can´t wait to see the new one!!! the old wan was beautiful, it´s nice to look back but I bet the new one is going to be even better!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa! We're really pleased with the new one :)
DeleteWhat a tease! Now I am really looking forward to your completed Jungle Hut! I enjoyed the look back, and I also appreciated a glimpse at your neighborhood. No one would guess what exotica lurks behind one of those homes!
ReplyDeleteThanks Debs :) glad you enjoyed the look back as much as we did!
Delete