We had done a lot of work for the hotel before our move there and they really seemed to appreciate the can-do attitude we brought. When the hotel's management decided to set up an internal florist to take care of the hotel's floral needs, we were at the top of their list.
We're only a three-strong team, but we welcomed the challenge and had little to lose because we were allowed to keep external clients as part of the deal.
I live in Blackheath, in south London, and get up at 7am to make it in to the hotel on time. I'm not a breakfast person so I usually just grab a coffee, my first of many, and head for the train station. The trip itself isn't too far, at 18 miles, but the vagaries of London's transport system mean I always add 30 minutes on to my travelling time.
On my way to work I sometimes meet the other two members of the team in Covent Garden to collect the flowers we'll need for the day. We can order from the wholesaler by phone, but it's usually easier to be there in person - after all, I'm the best judge of what I want.
We load the flowers into the van the other two have brought down with them before I continue my journey on foot to the hotel.
We dress the main public areas of the hotel, including the lobby, coffee shop and restaurant Le Soufflé, so on arrival at about 8.30am I'll check how the displays are doing. We change them once a week, but some of the flowers can look tired sooner, if they've been zapped by the hotel's central heating system.
Being adaptable really is key in my role, because customers here arrive like London buses, with lulls in activity followed by several orders coming at once. It means my days are rarely nine-to-five, as satisfying the customer comes first.
The InterContinental is a five-star hotel, and the management believes guests shouldn't see workers. So when I dress areas such as the lobby, I'm up at 4am to get in and have it done by 7.30am. As the trains don't run this early, I catch the bus, which is packed with cleaners.
Back on a normal day, I'll help my colleagues unload the van with our supplies at 9.30am before having another coffee. It may be the fact that I'm in the basement under bright lights, but I find I dehydrate heavily through the day and tend to have a coffee every hour to keep going. Existing on so much nervous energy is certainly a useful aid in coping with deadlines, but it does mean I can be edgy and melodramatic occasionally.
Lunch is at 12.30pm in the staff canteen, but I work through if there's an order.
An example of how quickly things change came recently in the form of a phone call from the food and beverage department. The Bahrain royal family, four hours before arriving, decided they wanted a flower display 4ft by 4ft in size consisting of the islands of their kingdom and their family emblem for the function they were hosting at the hotel. We took on the challenge but needed a frame to mount the display. To their credit, the food and beverage department built a stand from scratch and supplied me with a blown-up copy of a map of the islands to trace. Thanks to fantastic teamwork we had the display in place on time and it looked great.
I suppose this is why I'm in the business. I get huge satisfaction from meeting people and interpreting their needs through my designs. The fact I'm now based in the hotel makes my work even more rewarding as I'm around to see the look of happiness on the customer's face when I get it right.
I usually leave for home between 5pm and 5.30pm, although sometimes I'm still working on an order at 9pm - the reality is that the client comes first, and if they're not happy, we don't get paid.
Interview by Chris Druce
Factfile
InterContinental London
One Hamilton Place, Hyde Park Corner, London W1J 7QY
Tel: 020 7409 3131
Web: www.london.interconti.com
Bedrooms: 458
Room rates: £320 (double) up to £4,000 (suite)
Just a minute...
Tell us a secret
In a previous job I worked for florists Moyses Stevens, near Victoria, London, who supplied flowers for the Queen Mum. On one occasion she sent a bouquet and hand-written condolence note to a funeral in Glasgow via the royal train, but the flowers got lost. Luckily, I was in the habit of ringing each station along the route as the flowers made their way north, and I managed to track them down in Inverness. I couldn't believe it but the delivery got to Glasgow on time.
What's the most popular flower for arrangements?
The rose, although it can be tricky to use in big displays.
And the most exotic?
We have heliconias in the lobby at the moment, which are from the Caribbean.
Your best advice?
Never panic. Well, at least not in front of the customer.